Combine first 6 ingredients in a blender, cover with lid, and process until smooth. Add ice to make 4 cups; process until smooth.

Combine first 8 ingredients in a medium bowl; chill.

Flatten each bread slice with a spatula or rolling pin. Combine garlic and butter in a small bowl, and spread evenly over each side of bread slices.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add flattened bread, in batches. Top with a smaller skillet or press down with a spatula to flatten bread a little more; cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Repeat procedure with remaining flattened bread slices. Spoon tomato mixture evenly over each bread slice. Sprinkle with cilantro. Serve immediately.

Sort and wash beans. Place in a large Dutch oven with water to cover 2 inches above beans; cover and let soak 8 hours. Drain, discarding water.

Remove casings from chorizo, and slice diagonally. Sauté chorizo and ham in olive oil 5 minutes or until meats begin to brown. Add onion, and sauté 10 minutes; add garlic, and sauté 30 seconds.

Stir in flour. Gradually add water, whisking constantly until sauce is smooth. Stir in beans, ham concentrate, and next 6 ingredients. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 2 1/2 hours or until beans are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in spinach, and remove from heat. Spoon soup into individual bowls.

*For testing purposes, we used Goya ham concentrate.

Combine flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl; cut in lard and butter with a pastry blender. Stir in egg and enough water to make a soft dough. Cover and chill 30 minutes.

Divide dough into four portions. Place one portion of dough on a lightly floured surface. Chill remaining dough.

Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness; cut dough into 6 circles using a 3 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, re-rolling dough if necessary.

Place 2 teaspoons Spinach Filling in center of circle; brush edges lightly with water. Fold edges over, and press firmly with a fork to seal. Set aside. Repeat with remaining dough circles and filling.

Pour oil to a depth of 2 inches in a Dutch oven; heat oil to 365°. Fry empanadas, in batches, 2 to 3 minutes or until golden. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately.

Boil potatoes in lightly salted water 15 minutes or until tender; drain and cool slightly.

Cook bacon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat 3 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon, reserving drippings in skillet. Add bell pepper to skillet; sauté 4 minutes or until tender. Add garlic, cook 1 more minute, and turn off heat.

Place cooled potatoes on a lightly greased jelly-roll pan. Using the palm of your hand or the smooth side of a meat mallet, crush the potatoes (just enough to break them open). Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with cumin, salt, and pepper. Top with bacon, cooked bell pepper and garlic, green onion, and cheeses. Broil 5 minutes or until cheese melts.

Remove casings from chorizo, and slice. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chorizo, and cook 5 minutes or until browned, stirring often. Remove chorizo; drain on paper towels. Add chicken to pan, and cook 5 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove skin and bones, coarsely chop chicken, and set aside.

Add onion and bell peppers to pan; cook, scraping bits from bottom of pan, 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add garlic, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Add broth and next 4 ingredients. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 25 minutes or just until rice is tender.

Meanwhile, heat remaining tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add scallops, and cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove from pan; set aside and keep warm. Add shrimp, and cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until shrimp turn pink. Remove from pan; set aside and keep warm. Melt butter in skillet, add shallot, and cook 2 minutes, stirring often. Add white wine, scraping bits from bottom of pan. Add mussels; cover and cook 2 minutes or until mussels are open, discarding any that do not open.

Gently stir reserved chicken, scallops, shrimp, oysters, and peas into rice. Top with mussels, pouring the cooking liquid over rice.

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs and egg yolk, one at a time, beating until blended after each addition. Beat in vanilla and next 3 ingredients.

In a large bowl, combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture alternately with whipping cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Pour batter into a well-greased and floured 12-cup Bundt pan.

Bake at 350° for 50 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan. Poke holes in cake with a wooden skewer, and brush Rum Syrup over cake. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Note: For miniature Bundt cakes as pictured, fill each mini Bundt pan two-thirds full, and bake 35 minutes or until a wooden skewer inserted in center comes out clean.