Foot and Fire

SUMMER ROLL is how you call it if it is made of moistened rice paper with freshies inside. It is named so because it is usually eaten diring hot summer days as this is served chilled or at room temperature. It is more like our fresh lumpia! On the other hand, SPRING ROLL is the one we call pritong lumpia which is usually delish when served after frying...  SUMMER ROLL Cucumber Carrots Lettuce Mango Rice paper Water Julienne or slice matchstick thin all ingredients.  In a clean surface, lay the ricepaper and moistened it with water. It need not be soft right away as it will soften as you assemble the freshies.  Place small portions of all ingredients horizontally and work on folding it.  Repeat until done. PEANUT SAUCE 2 T peanut butter 1T Agave syrup (or dissolved brown sugar) 1t apple cider vinegar 1t soy sauce 1/2 cup hot water Mix all ingredients in a glass bottle with lid. Close and give it a good shake. Serve beside the rolls. 

     Twelve or more eggs are the staple of every prosperity bowl because eggs represent fertility and beginnings. Rice is also a staple as it represents a bountiful harvest. Well, look at the grains which you can't count and imagine if you were given riches which you can't count. At home, we have to fill our rice keeper full so that we won't want in the coming year.  I added gold chocolate coins this year because a friend gifted me a pack. I usually have the real coins only. The 20-peso coin the Philippines is handsome for this purpose so I use them. Just don't forget to first get rid of the bad energy by sprinkling salt over the coins, letting it sit for a moment, and throwing away the salt outside the house. Further, I used bay leaves for the first time because I learned that traditionally, bay leaves are used on most prosperity rituals.   Prosperity Bowl 12 eggs 12 chocolate coins 12 20-peso coins bay leaves Orange as centerpiece 12 paper bills ***

Patty 500g beef 1 block tofu (approx 500g)  1 cup bread crumbs Onion Garlic chives Salt and pepper Oil for frying Pandesal or round bread In a bowl, place all ingredients except oil snd bread. Mix well using hands. Form into ball and press between palms.  Heat oil in an iron pan, cook patty in medium heat for about 3 minutes on each side.  Serve patty between bread with coleslaw. Coleslaw Cabbage Mayo Tomato ketchup Salt and pepper Slice cabbage thinly. Add mayo and ketchup. Add salt and pepper. Mix well.

As I said once and I claim it once more, Prosperity Bowls and The 12 Fruits are the new flower vases!  The 12-fruit basket is the most favorite new year table offering. The reason? Well, after its display, the family gets to eat it!!! This year, I got grapes, apple, oranges, banana, pineapples, pomelo, kiwi, papaya, watermelon, guayabano, pears, and persimmons! Of course, in the course of days of assembling them, I ate the ripening chicos, I discarded ripened guayabano and darkening bananas... Oh, the art of making The 12-fruit basket centerpiece every year is a bit challenging.