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Bubba

Dec 16, 2005, 12:27 PM

Post #1 of 18 (12630 views)

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Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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This recipe is from El Informador today, December 16, 2005. The newspaper claims this is the original recipe dating from the 16th century:

125 Grams of Jamaica (Hibiscus flowers)
75 Grams of Shelled Tamarinds
125 Grams of Currants or Pecans (I would say both)
250 Grams of Prunes
250 Grams of Tejocotes (Hawthorn) seeded
1/2 Kilo of Guayabas quartered and peeled
Three Apples cut into large Cubes
Two Slices of Sugar Cane cut into cubes
Pilloncillo or sugar to taste
A Cinnamon Stick

Dark Rum or Brandy to Taste.

This should be cooked up.

Serve this with dried or fresh cod according to El Informador. Personally, I would skip the Bacalao and just drink the Christmas Ponche.

(This post was edited by Bubba on Dec 16, 2005, 4:09 PM)

jennifer rose

Dec 16, 2005, 1:02 PM

Post #2 of 18 (12626 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Tell you what, Bubba. That ponche, which is heated way beyond the boiling point and tastes like cough syrup, only appeals to me when it's really, really, really cold and there's nothing else to drink.

But since I love bacalao, I'll trade you my serving of ponche for your bacalao.

TlxcalaClaudia

Dec 16, 2005, 3:11 PM

Post #3 of 18 (12616 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Ponche
Another thing I love about having married into a Mexican family. Yuuuummmm! I love this drink and look forward to it every year. One year my SIL didn't make it; I mentioned it and 3 of my BILs went out on Christmas day to get the ingredients and made a potful (being spoiled by my Mexican fam is yet another thing I love about them). Bacalao is what I am waiting to try next Christmas. Mi suegra gave me the recipe (in Spanish) and whatever it was I made was NOT what the fam was expecting. I goofed it so I need to see how she does it next time.

Cough syrup? Add some water if you must.

And now, I want to look up this idea of ponche being fromthe 16th century. Tis true? Rolly?

Claudine

Bubba

Dec 16, 2005, 4:04 PM

Post #4 of 18 (12611 views)

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Re: [TlxcalaClaudia] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Claudia:

This is El Informador of Guadalajara talking now, not Bubba.

According to that newspaper, this ponche dish "surged" in popularity in 1521 in convents. What were those nuns thinking? I'll bet they had fun when adding the rum but how they explained the little virgin births later is another matter/

I happen to like cough syrup so Jennifer and I may disagree on the merits of ponche and bacalao. I will admit that I have had decent bacalao from Portugal in the past but I have never mastered the art of making it personally El Informador has recipes for both bacalao fresco and bacalao desalado today but I ain't gon' repeat them. Codfish is not one of my favorite 'things since I went deep sea fishing in Northern California 20 years ago and caught about 100 of those bottom suckers whcih I never ate. Disgusting.

TlxcalaClaudia

Dec 16, 2005, 4:53 PM

Post #5 of 18 (12602 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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This is El Informador of Guadalajara talking now, not Bubba.

Since southern gentlemen know everything, you disappoint me on this one. No worries, I suspect Rolly will find the answer and let me (us) know.

16th century drink or an op-ed hype?

Meanwhile...

Looking for last year's rum for this year's Ponche.

;0
Claudine

Rolly

Dec 16, 2005, 5:27 PM

Post #6 of 18 (12592 views)

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Re: [TlxcalaClaudia] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Sorry, I haven't a clue, and it seems mi amigo Sr Google doesn't either.

I do know how Doña Martha makes it http://rollybrook.com/ponche.htm

Rolly Pirate

Bubba

Dec 16, 2005, 5:33 PM

Post #7 of 18 (12588 views)

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Re: [TlxcalaClaudia] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Jesus Claudia:

Surely you understand that pontificating on notions of which you have no notion is a Southern characteristic Not knowing what one is talking about is a fundamental characteristic of Southerners and everybody else for that matter If you knew about that which you were talking you would not be talking about it.

It's very simple. .

TlxcalaClaudia

Dec 16, 2005, 6:16 PM

Post #8 of 18 (12582 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Rolly, No find on my part yet either. Bothersome. Still searching. There MUST be something on this or I will become fruitier than the ponche. Meanwhile, in response to "bama"boy...

Jesus Claudia:
I prefer Dona Claudia, but thanks. (@#$% how to I get the tilda??)

Surely you understand that pontificating on notions of which you have no notion is a Southern characteristic Not knowing what one is talking about is a fundamental characteristic of Southerners and everybody else for that matter If you knew about that which you were talking you would not be talking about it.

It's very simple. .

Exactly, and, as I suspected, you, a fellow southerner full of himself like all of us southerners tend to be, took note that I was reflecting sarcastically bcause really, for a moment there, I sensed a bit of humility on your part, thus I was in awe since SouthernUSA men are not humble sorts! Furthermore I am impressed at your progression, I say, must be France working on you;she is a gem,why, just look at how polite you have become lately. (do I win for the longer run-on? At least mine had commas).

Claudine

Bubba

Dec 16, 2005, 7:56 PM

Post #9 of 18 (12569 views)

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Re: [TlxcalaClaudia] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Claudine:

The French person has screwed up my sense of certainty but, on the whole, it has been a positive relationship.

I like your sense of humor.

Bob

Anonimo

Dec 16, 2005, 8:58 PM

Post #10 of 18 (12556 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Skip the ponche; drink the rum.

Saludos,
Anonimo

sfmacaws

Dec 16, 2005, 9:21 PM

Post #11 of 18 (12554 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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I pretty much agree with Anon, I bought ponche alongside the road in Colima last season. They had different flavors, with pieces of the relevent fruit in the bottle. I bought pomegranite, it was OK but I'd pass on it in the future.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

manda405

Dec 19, 2005, 12:53 PM

Post #12 of 18 (12483 views)

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Re: [Anonimo] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Skip the rum, drink tequila.
My favorite holiday drink, rompope. Jello optional.

What happens down in Mexico...Stays in Mexico.

sfmacaws

Dec 19, 2005, 5:48 PM

Post #13 of 18 (12467 views)

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Re: [manda405] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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You must be talking about those little jello shooters made with tequila, I sure hope you aren't making jello with the rompope.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

esperanza

Dec 19, 2005, 7:27 PM

Post #14 of 18 (12455 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Mexican Eggnog "Jello" (Gelatina de Rompope)

Ingredients:
3 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup water
2 cups rompope
1 cup milk

Additional rompope to pour over gelatin just prior to serving.

Preparation:
Mix the three envelopes of gelatin with water so that they foam immediately. Heat the milk and the rompope until they simmer. Then add the foaming gelatin and stir well.

Pour into an 8" square pan and refrigerate until set.

To serve, cut into cubes and divide the cubes into individual portions in small bowls. Serve chilled with additional rompope poured over each serving.

This is a traditional and delicious preparation of gelatin here in Mexico. I ate it most recently at El Camino Real (the restaurant at the Pemex station) in Pátzcuaro.

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

(This post was edited by esperanza on Dec 19, 2005, 7:28 PM)

Don

Dec 19, 2005, 7:46 PM

Post #15 of 18 (12450 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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"I pretty much agree with Anon, I bought ponche alongside the road in Colima last season. They had different flavors, with pieces of the relevent fruit in the bottle. I bought pomegranite, it was OK but I'd pass on it in the future."

That is a different kind of ponche. Usually made with one fruit and with alcohol. The one made at Christmas time is "Ponche Caliente de Fruta" and has several different kinds a fresh and dried fruits mixed in it. Usually made with no alcohol so all can enjoy. Those who want the alcohol usually add rum or brandy to their drinks.

If you can translate Spanish, you can see many, many tradicional Mexican recipes at this location
http://mexico.udg.mx/cocina/cocinamex.html

(This post was edited by Don on Dec 19, 2005, 8:09 PM)

esperanza

Dec 19, 2005, 8:29 PM

Post #16 of 18 (12442 views)

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Re: [Don] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Thanks for posting, Don! You beat me to the (ahem) punch, as it were.

The recipe on the UdeG website for "Ponche de Frutas Decembrina" is the one I always use. It's marvelous.

Some of my friends like it with charanda, some with rum, some with tequila, and some like it plain.

Jonna, you drank it at my house a couple of Christmases ago. Remember, Xill was pouring charanda that night!

http://www.mexicocooks.typepad.com

sfmacaws

Dec 20, 2005, 2:23 AM

Post #17 of 18 (12432 views)

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Re: [esperanza] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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Yes, I remember and it was good. Not the same as the stuff I bought.

Glad you posted that recipe for rompope jello made with plain gelatin, I was trying to imagine what flavor of jello you'd use. Still think I like my rompope liquid.

**rain on the horizon and my sat connection is going in and out, don't know if this will post.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

se me antoja

Dec 16, 2010, 8:58 AM

Post #18 of 18 (11532 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Traditional Mexican Christmas Punch

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I'm not much of a fan of ponche (or tejocotes), but I've made the recipe at this website several times of my Mexican husband and in-laws, and it always goes over very well with them!

http://issuu.com/semeantoja/docs/decjansmaengfinal

Also, rompope paletas are the best, if anyone ever finds themselves in Veracruz on a hot summer day!!