Bayohan & Vanessa's Journey: easter

Besides Easter being a time to be grateful because Jesus died for our sins, here in the Dominican Republic is also a week full of traditions and a time to take tons of pics and create great memories!

People like to go on vacation that weekend.

I remember when I was little that we always went to a beach resort.

And as I got older and married we still do the same.

Whenever we can we go to the beach...

Or the river.

Or have family and friends over for a big dinner.

Last year I decided to bake some Easter cupcakes to start a tradition.

But no Easter is complete without Habichuelas Con Dulce (Sweet Beans) the Dominican Easter dessert (trust me this taste nothing like beans and it is really good; recipe here), every house you go to they will offer you that and this year I didnt even made any because we received like 15 different jars from neighbors and patients here in Los Cacaos.

Hope you had a great Easter :)

Did you though I forgot my promise for the Dominican Easter Dessert? I was just waiting for Easter to be over, because we had some visit over for Easter and the house was crowded and lots of things to do :)
This recipe is called Habichuelas con Dulce (Sweet Beans), a lot of people have a first reaction when they hear this: yuck! Beans that are sweet!, but trust me on this one, because this taste nothing like beans, so if you are feeling adventurous and want to try something new and 100% Dominican/Caribbean this is for you!
You have to start the night before you want to do it...
Get one pound of red beans and one cinnamon stick in a large bowl. Remember that you have to rinse those beans first to make sure they are clean.

Cover them in hot water, like 2 inch above the beans.

I told you it was hot, see that smoke coming out :) Cover them and go to sleep!

Next morning they will look like this...

Add some more hot water and boil them in a large saucepan for 1 hour (check the water level and add more if you need).

While you are boiling those beans, get 1 pound of sweet potatoes; peel, cube and boil them in salty water.

Turn them off and set aside once they are soft. See you later sweet potatoes!

Blend the beans in the water that you cooked them.

Pass the blended beans thru' a colander. You probably wont be able to blend them all together, so you will have to divided them.

When you are putting it thru' the colander, help yourself with a spoon, because it will be thick, but you want to make sure you got all the liquid out. It should look like this in the end, and that is what you will discard.

It's normal for the liquid to have white foam (bubbles) so dont freak out!

My saucepan is a caldero is made here in DR, but you can use any saucepan or pot.

Add 2 cans (2 2/3 cups) evaporated milk and 1 can of coconut milk.

Taking pictures while pouring liquids is hard!!!

Turn the heat on and ignore the fact that my oven looks old and dirty (bean water spilled on it before :P).

Add 1 cup of sugar.

1 can (1 1/2 cups) of sweetened condensed milk.

And spices: 1/2 tsp. nutmeg powder, 8 cloves and 2 cinnamon sticks.

Cook on medium heat for 15 minutes and stir every once in a while ;)

This should give you time to rinse the salty water out of your sweet potatoes!

Here in DR sweet potatoes are white, but I am sure you can use anyones you find.

Add the sweet potatoes.

1/2 cup of rainsins

1 tsp. salt

2 tsps. butter

and 1 tsp. vanilla essence

dont worry those butter stains will dissapear :)

Stir...

Cook on low heat for 15 minutes more and dont forget to stir every now and then :p

This is my family's personal touch, some people here in DR do it, some people dont (so it is really optional) add a pinch of ground ginger...

After the 15 minutes it should have a the right consistency.

You can serve them hot or cold (I like mine warm, but Bayo loves his cold!)

To serve them add some milk cookies; people here eat them with this cookies or cassava bread.

The cookies have a milk-y flavor, try to find something similar and crunchy!

This cookies are sooooo famous for this easter dessert and practically is the only brand people buy for them, that they even come with a little cross!