Molotes

I bet that most people have never even heard of Molotes! I know them because I was born in a place that many people absolutely love making and eating them. I was born in Puebla, Mexico and moved to Colorado, USA at a young age. Where I grew up it was very rare to find other people that have even heard of molotes. I want to change that and share my joy with more people.

For as long as I can remember, if molotes are being made then it is an amazing day! Although the name of the dish is Molotes, I know them as Molotitos due to the great affection that I have for this delicious dish.

As a child growing up in a single parent household, money was always tight. My mother was always out working to provide for us: meals were always quick and easy recipes. Molotitos are not hard to make, they just take time that my mother usually didn't have. Knowing how much we enjoy eating and making these tasty meals, my mother would surprise us with it on special occasions. We would wake up at sunrise to catch the bus to the grocery store with her. We would help her choose the ingredients and to carry them back home. then we would help cook the chicken and mix the dough and finally put it all together for dinner. On these occasions we would make more Molotitos than we could eat. I have always loved sharing so sometimes I would even take some for my teachers to try. That was always a well received surprise and would even ask when the next time they could try it would be.

Today I want to share this dish with you so others can enjoy the taste of home that I love so much. The beauty of this recipe is that it can be changed to fit anyone's lifestyle and diet.

First the ingredients you will need are:

1. Corn Flour (about 2 cups)

2. Warm Water (about 1 cup)

3. Salsa (red or green)

4. Oil (enough for frying)

5. Your Choice of Stuffing. (ex. chicken, cheese, mashed potatoes, etc.)

My mother personally would use chicken every time and a mild red salsa. Everyone can modify the ingredients to better suit your lifestyle and tastes. Now to put it all together!

1. Mix the flour and the water together. This can be done with a spoon or (if you're cooking for yourself) with your hands. You want a consistency where the dough sticks to itself but not your hands/spoon. You might have to adjust flour or water accordingly.

2. Once you have your flour ready, roll them into little balls for easier handling. I usually go for about 1 inch diameter.

3. To extend the dough you can use your hands but I would recommend using a tortilla press.

4. Once pressed put your stuffing in the middle and wrap it. You can wrap it anyway but I go or a more traditional look of the empanada.

5. Make sure your oil is hot before you put your molote in to cook.

6. After your molote is done cooking, put them somewhere that will allow the oil to drain away.

Once your molote is done, feel free to serve it anyway you want. I usually serve my plates with 3 molotitos, rice and salad. On the molotes I will pour some salsa, cream and lettuce. Pair with a glass of your favorite drink and it's time to enjoy with your loved ones.

The biggest reason that this is my favorite dish isn't how absolutely delicious it is; rather it is the memories of coming together to make the most of our days together. What if your favorite childhood dish?