Dia de Los Muertos/ Day of the Dead (Nov.2nd) is a beautiful remembrance of the departed…. I made this Caramel Chocolate Almond Rice Krispie Treat as a dedication to my Uncle Robert.  It was one of those days…. I was missing my Tio who passed away 3 years ago.  With Dia De Los Muertos/ Day of the Dead (Nov.2nd) around the corner, I decided to start building an alter in his name.  I put on his favorite song “Miss You” by the Rolling Stones and played it loud on repeat.  Choked up with tears stuck in my throat, I tried my best to belt it out and get to the rest of the song without a complete break down.  The title “Miss you” seemed perfectly appropriate.  My Tio loved Rice Krispies, he use to eat them all the time.  He also loved his caramel, so why not combine the two to make the perfect treat.  My family has always observed Dia de Los Muertos but it takes on a completely different meaning when you are honoring a close family member dearly missed.  I dedicate this recipe to him and hope that where ever he is now, he’s eating his favorite foods with his friends having the best time.

Ingredients for Caramel Almond Dia de Muertos Rice Krispies Treat:

Non-Stick cooking spray

1 – stick butter (melted) or smartbalance

6 – cups vegan marshmallows

2 – tablespoons 1/2 and 1/2 or almond milk

50 – caramel candies (plastic wrapper off)

1 – box of Rice Krispies cereal (12 oz.)

1 1/4 – cups whole almonds

I decorated my calavera with the following items:

Royal icing

sugar cookies

smarties

mini vegan marshmallows

raspberry gummies

Fruit Loops

edible metallic decorative balls

colored sprinkles

pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Spray the whole room with non-stick cooking spray. Just kidding  just spray a 9×13 pyrex glass baking dish, one pot, a big mixing bowl, and mixing utensil.  Set to the side.

1. Place the pot over a medium flame and in add butter and vegan marshmallows.  Mix until marshmallows are completely melted and smooth.
2. In an additional pot add 1/2 and 1/2 and caramel over a low flame and mix until melted and smooth.
3. Then take both mixtures and combine in a big mixing bowl.
4. Fold in the Rice Krispies and almonds along with the marshmallow caramel mixture.
5.   Press  into 9×13 sprayed pyrex dish and continue to press down to make mixture even. Allow to cool completely in pyrex.
6. Once cooled, flip over onto a cutting board.
7. Using a calavera (skeleton head) stencil made out of a piece of wax paper cut around the edges of the stencil.
8. Remove excess pieces and either eat or use later for decoration.

DECORATE:

Decorate as you wish.  Pull inspiration from my photo or anything else that makes you happy. To you and your loved ones departed or living this Dia de Muertos.

In my world making Cafe de Olla is a serious process.  If you’re having family and friends over and want to clean up the house, make food, dress up to look nice, decorate your entertaining space, select good music and make your guests feel comfortable…. making cafe de olla is one more daunting task.  I’m tired just thinking about it.  As you all may or may not know, Cafe de Olla is the finishing touch especially when honoring Dia de Los Muertos / Day of the Dead (Nov.2nd).  Nestle just took one less worry off our hands with their new instant Cafe de Olla.

I was invited to the Nestle Headquarters a few weeks ago to speak with experts on papel picado, Dia de Los Muertos history and to learn to paint the perfect calaca face. I have taken part in Dia de Los Muertos year after year and celebrate it at home and make it a point to visit the annual Hollywood Forever Cemetery fiesta.  Click here to see my photo diary from last year’s Dia de Los Muertos celebration.

Above photo of face painting courtesy of PearMama, opening photo by Nicole Presley

Thank you Nestle for inviting me to this fun event.

 I’ve been celebrating Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) since I was a young girl.  As I get older, the holiday grows in importance.  Over the years I have lost many who are near and dear to me.  Death is such a sad, wild reality, but one we must all face.  I have spent many days mourning the death of loved ones lost and find Dia de los Muertos is a happy medium.  Its a day to honor and remember a departed loved one’s spirit by offering their favorite food or beverage.  Many people build private alters in their homes (we did), and some build them at events for remembrance and festivity.  This weekend we went to the 12th annual Dia De Los Muertos Celebration at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.  In my opinion it is one of the BEST events that takes place here in Los Angeles.  I go every year and wouldn’t think of missing it!  You can expect everything from Aztec dancers, Mayan rituals, paper mache skeleton procession, costume contest, ballet dancing, performance art, craft and art vendors, yummy mexican food, micheladas, and some of the best altars you’ve ever seen!  Here is a nice collection of photos from the event.  If you don’t live in Los Angeles, Google a Dia de los Muertos event in your city.  The actual holiday takes place Nov. 2nd.

All photos taken by: Mando Lopez and Nicole Presley

Pan de muerto is traditionally offered to the spirits in the upcoming days leading to Dia de los muertos (Day of the Dead), which is celebrated Nov. 2nd.  You can leave it at the gravesite of your loved one along with their favorite food or at a homemade altar.  Here is a simple recipe for you to make your own.  BTW….. it’s not just for the departed, the living find it tasty too!

Ingredients for pan de muerto: 

1/4 – cup milk

4 – tablespoons butter

1/3 – cup sugar

1/2 – teaspoon salt

1 – package active dry yeast

1/4 – cup warm/hot water

2 – eggs (beaten)

3 – cups all-purpose flour

1/2 – teaspoon anise seed

1/4 – cup orange juice

1/4 –  teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 – cups sugar plus 2 tablespoons

In a sauce pan over a low medium flame melt butter and stir in milk. Bring to slight boil and remove from heat.  Add in 1/3 cup sugar and salt, and mix well to combine. Set to the side.

In a very large bowl, mix yeast and warm/hot water together and stir until yeast is dissolved. Let it rest for 15 minutes to cool down then add the milk mixture.

In a medium bowl mix flour and anise seed together . Then add flour and anise seed mixture to yeast/milk mix, and gradually work in the beaten eggs. Mix until dough forms into a ball.

Flour your work surface well and place dough in the middle. Knead for 5 minutes or until dough is nice and soft. Place it back into the large bowl and cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let dough rise in a warm place (inside your oven when it’s off) for an hour and a half to two hours. Meanwhile, grease a baking sheet and set to the side.

Then remove dough from large bowl and punch it down and shape it into one large loaf or several small loaves. Reserve a small portion of dough to make a knob on top of loaf or braids around the loaf, or little strips to represent bones. Form your loaf then place on greased baking sheet and cover loosely with plastic wrap or kitchen towel for another hour (in a warm place) or until it’s doubled in size.

Then preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit, and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. If you make small loaves then 35 minutes…. if you make one big one 45 minutes. About 5 minutes before the pan de muerto is done baking….. make the glaze.

In a small saucepan over a medium flame add orange juice, cinnamon, and 1/4 cup sugar. Bring to a boil and remove from flame. Set to the side. Next remove pan de muerto from oven and let cool slightly, then brush with glaze. Then sprinkle glazed bread with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar! Celebrate Dia de los muertos by offering your loved one a pan de muerto this year!

Con mucho amor!