Join “Jayni’s Kitchen” this week for “Cinco de Mayo at Cielito Lindo.”

Host Jayni Carey and her guest, Cielito Lindo’s Santiago Zaragoza, will prepare the following recipes: Caldo de Albondigas (Meatball Stew), Arroz Blanco (Mexican-Style Rice), Pollo con Crema (Chicken with Creme) and Ensalada de Fruta Mexicana (Mexican Fruit Salad).

Meatball Stew (Caldo de Aibondigas)

Meatballs:

1 1/3 pounds ground beef

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped

1 tomato, finely chopped

2 tablespoons mint leaves, finely chopped

1/2 cup uncooked white rice

2 eggs

1 teaspoon salt

1 tomato, cut into wedges

1 garlic clove

1/2 cup water

1 cube chicken bouillon

1 teaspoon salt

2 whole cloves

3 potatoes, peeled and diced

3 carrots, peeled and sliced

Meatballs: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, onion, finely chopped tomato, mint, rice, eggs and 1 teaspoon of salt. Form the mixture into balls and set aside.

In a blender, combine the tomato wedges, garlic clove and 1/2 cup of water and blend until smooth. Set aside.

Bring 6 cups of water to a rolling boil over high heat. Stir in the bouillon, 1 teaspoon of salt and the whole cloves. Add the potatoes and carrots to the boiling water. Lower the meatballs into the water and return it to a boil. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low. Simmer the meatballs and vegetables for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and the vegetables are tender.

To serve, ladle the meatballs, vegetables and broth into shallow bowls. Serves 4 to 6.

Chicken with Cream (Pollo con Crema)

8 chicken legs

1 tablespoon salt

1 7-ounce can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (use 1 or 2 chipotle peppers)

1 garlic clove

1/1/2 cups media crema

Media Crema, also called “table cream,” is a canned dairy product. It can be found in grocery stores where Mexican or international products are sold.

Mexican-Style Rice (Arroz Blanco)

11/2 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 cups rice

4 cups chicken broth, warmed

1/4 cup mint leaves, chopped

1 cube chicken bouillon

Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook for about 1 minute, until softened. Add the rice and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes more. Add the chicken broth, mint leaves and bouillon and raise the heat to high. Bring to a boil, stir and cover. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 13 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Serves 6.

Mexican Fruit Salad (Ensalada de Fruta Mexicana)

4 apples

30 ounces sliced, canned peaches, drained

30 ounces canned, crushed pineapple

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

2 7-ounce cans media crema

Media Crema, also called “table cream,” is a canned dairy product. It can be found in grocery stores where Mexican or international products are sold.