Foot and Fire

When I got back to Doc J Stopover after more-than-a-year-ago visit, I observed that there are many plants added to the garden. One of the new thing for me there is this Stevia plant. Stevia plant is a healthy sweetener promoted as an alternative to sugar in the market. Here some facts from Wikipedia.  One worth mentioning is that  "With its steviol glycoside extracts having up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar, stevia has attracted attention with the rise in demand for low-carbohydrate, low-sugar sweeteners. Because stevia has a negligible effect on blood glucose it is attractive to people on carbohydrate-controlled diets."

*** I wish your young love sweet joy* For Ma. Christine Antonette and Mark Partrick 1.25.2014 I wish your young love will grow like a raton planted in a potent soil, Or will thrive like cut canes inches above the ground. I wish your growing love will mature like newly cut cane turned into molasses; Or will be purified like the crystal white sugar. I wish your maturing love will survive like a cane standing despite the slashing, Or will triumph like a cane shooting despite the burning. Above all, I wish your surviving love will nourish each other like sugar bits compacted into cube, And will flourish like sugar giving sweet joy to a home in every way. *copyright 2014 by Gerlie M. Uy

*I baked these squares some time ago and I will try my best to remember the proportions I have used here. 3 cups flour 3 tsp baking powder 3 cups sugar a pinch of salt 3 eggs 1 1/2 cup banana syrup (made from banana and sugar) 1 1/2 cup canola oil *For simple banana cake I added raisins *For chocolate banana cake I melted some chocolate and spread on top of the banana squares... Mix all dry ingredients. add the egg and oil a few amount each time and mix until the batter is free from lumps. Bake at 350 F temperature.

25 pcs banana, saba variety, cut half lengthwise 50 pcs lumpia wrapper Mascuvado sugar Canola oil for deep fry In flat dish, put mascuvado sugar and roll a slice of saba banana.  Place one rolled slice in lumpia wrapper and wrap.  Repeat procedure until all bananas are wrapped. In a deep pan, add oil.  Deep fry each rolled piece until golden brown. About a minute on each side. Drain remaining oil in paper towel or tissue paper. Serve hot and crispy.

One of the best sugarcane strains is called la carlota... It is robust with purplish green peeling and quite expensive and a delicacy back then. Pang us is exclusive hiligaynon term for eating or chewing sugarcane and extracting its juice while it is still in the mouth! Munching is not an exact translation of pang us but it can do... Here is my nephew munching his sugarcane stick and the remnant of his chewed and juiceless portions.... Munching tubo is a happy childhood activity which is great to be revisited from time to time by a "batang negros."

By GERLIE M. UY glazed pili nuts on top! up close with the muffins! still stuck on the tin! Hot.. first tray... my batter! a sure hit, these muffins were gone in no time. More of the muffins; evidently more time to take photos!!! a closer look at the muffins... 1 cup butter 2 c brown sugar 3 large eggs, beaten 3 c flour, sifted 1 1/2 t baking powder 1/4 t iodized salt (omitted) 1 1/2 c evaporated milk 1/2 t vanilla (omitted) 6 cups of mashed over ripe banana a handful of glazed pili nuts Pre-heat oven to 350F. Grease a medium muffin tins. In a mixing bowl, cream the first three ingredients until well-blended. Set aside. Combine the sifted flour, baking powder and salt. In the mixing bowl of creamed ingredients, alternately add mixed flour and milk, a little at a time. Blending the mixture each time the ingredient is added in order to avoid lumps. Put together the last four ingredients and add to the mixture. Place mixture in each muffin tin, then put pili nuts on top. Bake muffin for ...

By GERLIE M. UY 250 gms Nido milk (or any powdered milk) 1 can condensed milk 6 packs crushed wafer refined sugar In a bowl, place the powdered milk saving a portion for dusting, slowly adding the condensed milk and then add crushed wafer. Form into balls and use the remaining powder to manage rolling. Let roll in refine sugar. makes about 110 balls. Store in sealed container.  

By GERLIE M. UY 8 cups shredded cassava (some like it grated) 6 eggs, lightly beaten 2 cans condensed milk (about 300ml each) 1 small evaporated milk (1 cup or 250ml) 4 cups brown sugar 1/4 cup butter cheese for toppings (optional) Lightly wash shredded cassava with two cups warm water and drain liquid. Do not press. Pre-heat oven for 300F. In a deep bowl, mix all ingredients together except cheese. Reserve a portion of butter for greasing of pan. Strain and reserve a cup of liquid from the mixture. Grease two one-inch 7 X 11 pans. Pour half of the mixture in each pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, cook in medium heat the reserved cup of mixture and put the cheese. Set aside. After 30 minutes, put the cheese mixture on top and bake for another 5 minutes until melted. info on cassava http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassava http://www.cassavachips.com/cassava.html http://www.agriculture-ph.com/2010/04/cassava-banana-production-boost-in.html

By GERLIE M. UY TONGUE OUT. The boy is salivating over the mutant coconut aka macapuno. gelatinous and smooth, that is macapuno sans sugar. chopped macapuno. dissolved sugar. bringing the sugar into boil. Cool a bit and this is ready to go!!! 1 T sesame seeds 1 small macapuno coconut (mutant coconut) water 2 cups washed sugar 1 cup water 1T vanilla syrup Toast sesame seeds. Set aside. Shred or chop macapuno coconut and this will yield about two cups. Bring water to boil and put the macapuno for about five minutes. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, in a bowl, dissolve sugar in 1 cup water. Transfer mixture in a small casserole under medium fire and stir constantly for about five minutes until dissolved. Add the macapuno and let simmer uncovered for another ten minutes. Add vanilla and toasted sesame seeds and remove from fire. Let cool and transfer in a glass container.   Serve with bread, as is or as toppings to fave fruit.

By GERLIE M. UY How to enjoy Avocado? Slice in half, remove seed, scoop and put mascuvado sugar and with no much ad, eeeeat!!! avocados abound here... The seed and the peels that resembles a boat. The flesh, clean and yummy! scooped avocado laid with mascuvado sugar (raw sugar) Our simple delight!

By GERLIE M. UY 2 RIPE MANGOES, seeded 2 MEDIUM CUCUMBERS, peeled and cut into pieces 3/4 to 1 cup mascuvado (or white sugar, if desired) 2 cups ice cold water ice crushed Blender first three ingredients while gradually adding water.  Place in jar or individual glasses and put crushed ice. Garnish with sliced cucumber and/or mango