Lasang Pinoy 16: Pinoy Holiday Food Gifts

I haven't been able to join a Lasang Pinoy event for so long...and I miss it. It was one of the the first food blogging events I ever participated in, and the first I ever hosted. This month, I swore to myself, by hook or by crook, I am getting back on the Lasang Pinoy wagon. After all, this is a food blogging event highlighting Filipino food, something I think deserves to be highlighted and something I think more people (including myself) should be encouraged to explore.

This month's theme for Lasang Pinoy is Filipino holiday food gifts and is hosted by Ala Eh! "Wonderful!", I thought, when I heard. I could make my own Christmas gifts, just like I did last year. As crazy schedules and the Christmas hustle and bustle would have it however, I was relegated to buying gifts this year...not that that was such a bad thing as I discovered lots of cool products made by young local graphic designers which I was happy to gift my friends with. But, moving on...

I have been starting to make my own jam and, so far, have been quite pleased with the whole endeavor. But even then, I think I knew where I would end up...with the fruit that I think is the best in the world, a fruit that has been equated with the Philippines, the fruit that my grandmother (and now my father) has been jamming since I was a child. I would end up making mango jam.

I have waxed poetic about mangoes before, and I truly believe they are a little bit of edible heaven. It was only natural that my fixation with jam-making and my love for this fruit would eventually collide. And what a sublime collision it was! After hurriedly conferring with my dad on the proportions, I set to work. I scooped out the meat of the mangoes with a spoon and came up with 570 grams of meat. To this I added 470 grams of sugar. My grandmother uses equal parts mango and sugar, but our mangoes are just so wonderfully sweet I decided that we could do with less of the sugar. I put the this in a heavy-bottomed pot and cooked it for about 45 minutes, stirring frequently.

The result was delicious, and, I think, my best jam attempt so far (ok, it's only my third...but best is best!). It was simply divine! Mango jam is a whole other level of jam for me...almost like a very decadent candy. And it's great with so many things! On toast with melted gruyere, in dressing, with yogurt, in pan de sal with fried kesong puti (local fresh white cheese)...I'm sure you could even do wonders with this in relishes and marinades. And, in fitting with this month's theme for Lasang Pinoy, they would make excellent presents. Just festoon the jars with ribbons, and any odd knick knacks, and you have a little bottle of sweet tropical life to give to the people you love.

This may have come too late for this years round of gift giving, but I guess everyone now knows what they're getting next year!

I hope everyone is experiencing a holiday season full of love and laughter! I wish you all the best...may life hold many sweet surprises for us all! :)

Food Blogger's Welcome Dinner

If I could have all the food bloggers over for dinner, what would I serve? A daunting question. For even if I have never met a nicer bunch of people, to cook for a group for whom food is an all consuming passion is, well, a prospect that is liable to keep me up for a couple of nights…recipes and scenarios running through my head like mad chickens.

That being said, I would also be beside myself with excitement at the thought of meeting all these terrific people who I have shared this corner of the blog-o-shere with. We have exchanged recipes, cyber-laughs, and virtual-hugs, and I must say at this point: Food bloggers rock! A more enthusiastic and supportive community I would be hard pressed to find. So, despite quaking in my heels, I will roll up my sleeves, batten down the hatches, and fix up a Food Bloggers Welcome Dinner…a project put together by one of the sweetest bloggers out there, Angelika of The Flying Apple.

(Cyber-laughs? Virtual hugs? Enthusiastic, supportive, a food blogger that rocks? Angelika is a prime example!)

I though long and hard about what I would serve. I am by no means an accomplished cook. Nor have I a lifetime history of growing up in the kitchen, cooking at my mother’s elbow. As such, my repertoire is neither expansive nor impressive. And although I would be sorely tempted to try some new and magnificent sounding recipes, I think we would all be better off with the tried and true. Simple fare, but dishes I would be confident enough to serve to a group of discerning bloggers.

To start:
- Marinated Olives: I marinate my own because the ones they sell here that are any good are also ridiculously expensive.
- Quezo Manchego and Idiazabal: Two of my favorite cheeses, especially Idiazabal!
- A variety of cold meats like jamon jabugo, chorizo Pamplona, vela de lomo, and salchichon iberico: My aunt imports a selection of Spanish products here so I have a steady supply :)

Salad:
Mixed greens with tiny cherry tomatoes still on the vine, topped with local goat’s cheese, with a balsamic vinaigrette – I love these tiny tomatoes that I found in the market! And with beans as part of the main event I wanted something very light.

Mains:
- Roast Chicken with herbs de provence, stuffed with lemon and garlic: Has never failed me yet!
- Roasted new potatoes: Tossed in olive oil, sea salt, and rosemary, and roasted with the chicken.

- Fabada: My specialty :) A humble bean stew but so satisfying! I make it with chorizo bilbao, Morcilla, and thick slabs of bacon. I also make the stock myself (with the bone of a jamon serrano if I can find it)...it really makes a difference. For a little kick I toss in some mild green chilis (sili pangsigang). It's not very photogenic...

- Baguette with garlic paste: Baguettes from my aunts who run and professional bread making business and whole garlic that has been roasted with the chicken. I usually press all the garlic out, mash in a bowl, then drizzle with some good olive oil.

Dessert:
Gâteau au chocolat fondant de Nathalie: I have made this before and it is always well received. It’s one of those almost flourless chocolate cakes that is rich and dark and packs quite a chocolate punch.

Coffee or tea: I love coffee and I love my coffee cups of white porcelain with pewter handles. So we can cup these in our hands and wind down and chat about anything and everything...

You would all be invited...Hope you enjoy this! Thanks Angelika for thinking up of such a fun project (even though I am so very late) and for being the sunny person that you are! :)