FOR PILI NUT LOVERS

Maiba naman tayo. Let's talk about cooking. Remember Fely Jacob's request for recipe for pandecillos and pili tart? .... and Ed Canela's post of the recipe provided by his friend from ADB, not just for the two but for numerous other pili delicacies?

I'm heeding the advice of Ed to post the memorable, worthwhile emails into our blog for easier retrieval. So, I'm creating a new label for our archives entitled "Cooking". Cooking ng ina mo! (That's the name of a restaurant. And what's the name of a competitor who opened a resto a few meters away - "Cooking ng ina mo rin!"

Here are the recipes. At the end of this, I'm re-posting Fely Jacob's kilometric but entertaining email for everyone to relish.

I grabbed the pili nut pictures from http://lafang-mikemina.com. Thanks!

PILI RECIPES

PILI CHOCOLATE CRUNCH Ingredients: ½ kilo pili nut 1 kg. chocolate premium Procedure: 1. Toast the pili nut in an oven at low temperature. 2. Cool and set aside. 3. Melt the chocolate bar in a double boiler. 4. Distribute the nuts in moulders. 5. Pour the melted chocolate while hot to coat the nuts. 6. Place the mixture inside the freezer for a few minutes or until the moulder becomes cloudy. 7. Unmold 8. Wrap using chocolate wrapper. 9. Pack and store.

POLVORON Ingredients: 1 kilo flour 2 bar fresh butter 1 cup toasted pili nut (pounded) 2 ½ cup refined sugar ½ kilo skimmed milk Procedure: 1. Toast the until golden brown 2. Melt butter and set aside. 3. Combine sugar and skimmed milk into flour and mix until well blended. 4. Add the melted butter and pili and mix well. 5. Mould the mixture and wrap in colored cellophane. 6. Pack and store.

PILI BUTTER SPREAD Ingredients: 1 kilo pilinut - toasted 2 cups sugar 2 cups toasted flour ¾ cups corn oil Procedure: 1. Toast the pili until golden brown. 2. Mix the first three ingredients. 3. Grind and add the corn oil gradually. 4. Pack in sterilized bottles. 5. Seal

PILI TART Ingredients: Crust Filling 1 kilo ordinary flour ½ kilo ground pili 2 bars fresh butter 1 can condensed milk 1 cup sugar 1 cup sugar 1 cup cold water Packaging Material: Colored cellophane P.E. Plastic Procedure: 1. Measure ingredients needed for crust and filling. 2. In a bowl combine sugar and flour, with a pastry blender or two knives, cut in fresh butter until it is the size of small peas. 3. Add cold water a little at a time, moving to the side the pieces of dough as they hold together. 4. Form into balls. Roll each ball into 1/8 inch thick. 5. Press dough to shape of tart. Prick sides and bottom. 6. Bake for 20 minutes. 7. In another bowl, combine condensed milk and sugar. Mix well. 8. Fill up baked crust tart top with sliced pili. 9. Bake until golden brown. 10. Let cool before wrapping, pack.

CRISPY PILI Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut ¼ cup sugar 4 tbsp. karo syrup ¼ cup water oil for frying Procedure: 1. Blanch the pilinut and remove seed coats. 2. Combine sugar, syrup and water. Stir until dissolved. 3. Soak pilinut syrup for 10 minutes. 4. Drain. Fly until golden brown. 5. Let it cool down on a piece of cheese cloth. 6. Pack in P.E. plastic or jars of desired size and seal. 7. Store in a cool dry place.

SPICE GREASELESS PILINUT Ingredients: 2 cups pilinut 1 cup water salt powdered pepper garlic powder Procedure: 1. Boil pilinut in water until soft. 2. Add salt, garlic and pepper when most of the water has evaporated. 3. Cook over medium heat until nearly dry. 4. Dry further in a mechanical dryer or in oven at 50 degrees Fahrenheit until pili become crispy. 5. Cool and pack.

PILI EMPANADITAS Ingredients: Crust Filling 3 cups flour ¼ kilo pilinut 1 cup margarine or butter 1 small can condensed milk 4 tbsp. sugar ¼ cup sugar ¼ cup cold water ? Combine and cook until thick. Procedure: 1. Prepare and measure all the needed ingredients. 2. Sift together the flour and sugar. 3. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or blending fork until pieces are size of small pass. 4. Sprinkle water, one tbsp. at a time over part of mixture. Gently mix with fork, push to one side of bowl. 5. Sprinkle next tbsp. water over dry part, mix lightly, push to moistened part at one side. Repeat until all are moistened. 6. Gather up with fingers, form into balls. 7. Flatten slightly and add the filling. 8. Seal edges. 9. Bake in an oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-40 minutes until golden brown.

PILI KISSES Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut-roasted 2 pcs. egg white ½ cup refined sugar or confectioner sugar ¼ tsp. cream of tartar Procedure: 1. Grind the pilinut. 2. Separate the eggwhite from the yolk. 3. Beat eggwhite till fluffy. 4. Mix cream of tartar. 5. Continue beating until mixture form bubbles or foam. 6. Add sugar gradually while beating the mixture. Beat until stiff foam is formed. 7. Add the ground pilinut and fold the mixture. 8. Place small cones in baking sheet. 9. Bake for 40 minutes at 135 degree Fahrenheit. 10. Cool and pack.

PANDECILLOS Ingredients: Filling ½ kilo ground pili 1 can condensed milk ¼ cup sugar 1 pc. egg yolk ¼ box Dough 8 cups all purpose flour 1 bar fresh butter 6 pcs. egg yolk 1 can evaporated milk 1 ½ cup refined sugar 8 tsp. baking powder Procedure: 1. Combine the needed ingredients for the filling except the cheese. 2. Sift together the flour and baking powder. 3. Blend the melted butter with egg yolk and sugar. Mix well. 4. Add the evaporated milk alternately with the flour mixture. 5. Gather with fingers and form into roll. 6. Spread the filling on top and sprinkle grated cheese. 7. Roll and cut into desired length. 8. Place in a greased pan and bake in oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.

PASTILLAS DE PILI Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut -roasted 1 cup skimmilk 1/3 cup suagr 1 tbsp. vanilla 1/3 cup water pinch of salt Procedure: 1. Grind the roasted pilinut finely. 2. Mix sugar and skimmilk thoroughly. 3. Add water and mix well. 4. Stir in pilinut and vanilla. 5. Continue mixing until homogenous. 6. Cook on medium heat with constant stirring until such time that the mixture stick as one ball. 7. Spread on greased trays and cut into desired sizes. 8. Roll over sugar and wrap.

SUGAR COATED PILI Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut (roasted) 1 cup sugar (refined) ½ cup water ¼ tsp. flour 2 tsp. margarine Procedure: 1. Mix all ingredients in a cooking pan. 2. Cook over moderate heat and continue mixing until syrup is almost dry. 3. Remove from heat when pilinut are coated with syrup.] 4. Spread on tray. 5. Let cool and pack.

PILINUT CANDY Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut ½ cup sugar 2 tbsp. karo syrup ½ tsp. margarine ½ tsp. baking powder 2 tsp. water Procedure: 1. Remove outer skin of pili. Grind coarsely. 2. Combine sugar, water and syrup in a pan. 3. Cook on medium heat until the sugar us dissolved. 4. Add the ground pilinut. Mix thoroughly. 5. Cook until sticky. 6. Add margarine and mix well. 7. Pour on greased tray. Add baking soda and stir thoroughly. 8. Spread immediately and cut into desired sizes while hot. 9. Cool and wrap.

PILI BAR Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut ½ cup sugar ¼ tsp. vanilla Procedure: 1. Blanch pilinut and remove seed coats. 2. Boil pilinut into soft, then drain. 3. Grind the boiled pili finely. 4. Mix pilinut and sugar thoroughly. 5. Cook over moderate heat until boiling. 6. Remove from fire spread on a wooden board. Continue mixing until the mixture stick as one ball. 7. Knead the mixture while hot by using a rolling pin. 8. Cut desired sizes.

MAZAPAN DE PILI Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut - roasted ¼ cup water 1 tbsp. cheese 1 tsp vanilla 1.4 cup skimmilk 1/3 cup suagr 1 pc egg Procedure: 1. Grind pilinut coarsely or chop using mortar and pestle. 2. Mix sugar and skimmilk very well. 3. Add water equal to the weight of skimmilk and stir thoroughly to a smooth consistency. 4. Stir in pilinut and ¾ parts of total amount of beaten egg. 5. Add cheese and vanilla. 6. Cook on medium heat until sticky. 7. Distribute the mixture on greased paper cups place in muffin pans. 8. Brush beaten eggs on top of each mixture in the cup. 9. Bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.

PILI BRITTLE Ingredients: 1 cup pilinut 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. margarine 8 tbsp. sugar 4 tspb. Water 4 tbsp. corn syrup Procedure: 1. Dry pilinut under the sun or in a mechanical dryer. Cool and remove seed coats. 2. Combine pilinut, sugar, water and corn syrup in a pan. 3. Cook over medium heat until syrup turns golden brown or when threading occurs. Remove from heat. 4. Add margarine and mix well. 5. Add baking soda and stir thoroughly. 6. Spread on grease wooden board and cut while hot into desired sizes. 7. Wrap in cellophane when cooled..

PILI CAKE Ingredients: 1 kilo pili (chopped) 2 can condensed milk 2 cups refined sugar 4 pcs. egg yolk Procedure: 1. Mix ingredients all together. 2. Cook over moderate heat until thick. 3. Mold. 4. Bake until golden brown. 5. Cool. 6. Wrap in colored cellophane.

"Feast your senses on unique and exquisite delightful treats! Pies, cookies, cinnabuns, tarts, carrot cakes and scones. Freshly baked with Bicol's pride: the PILI NUTS. Everything's coming up Pili! Guaranteed to satisfy your cravings for one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience!"

Mocha pili nut pies - Ps. 350/box Pili Carrot Cakes - Ps. 400/box Pili Cinnabuns - Ps. 150/box Pili Drop Cookies - Ps. 80/box Pili Sultana Scones - Ps. 20/pc Pili Swedish Pilla - Ps. 20/pc Pili Boat Tarts - Ps. 15/pc Pili Coco Jam - Ps. 90/jar Pili Brittle - Ps. 140/jar

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Fely Jacob's Request

Holed up here at the outback of Tralala(not necessarily Australia) I chanced upon your message complaining about the skyhigh price of pili nut nowadays. Am coming out from lurking in the dark (hello EdC) for this. Maybe I can offer you a good deal by supplying your pili needs hopefully regularly as a raw material for delicacies you process. But before i go any further I may need a short reintroduction, i'm sure am not familiar to you. Am a bonafide member of Class 67 from the 'bundok' of San Vicente, the quite type in class, a member of the bunch like Bert best described by him as the guys who can't completely turn our heads 180 degrees (forgot the symbol) to our right in the direction of lady classmates. Back to my offer my price for you per kilo will be 350, low enough? That's the lowest I can afford and your minimum order should be 5 kls. to save from transport and delivery cost. Lesser order means higher cost. Will make a small profit from this but this is also to encourage you to continue with your generosity giving away pili candies per Bert’s mention. Another purpose is to help lower your cost of production so you in turn can offer lower price for our classmates who might be interested to buy. If I knew how to make the candies myself I’ll gladly do it. For selling you low priced pili I’ll request for a trade off, please provide me with the formula for making pandecillos and pili tart. I know they are baked nothing more. If you are interested please post your reply here soon so you’ll have all the time to prepare the delicacies some of our classmates particularly those coming from abroad might want to order for them to bring back home. Of course samples must flow freely during the grand reunion. For now I have about 5 to 6 kilos I can send you in 2 days time.

Looks like adrenaline is rising when the grand reunion nears. Per Marybeth’s latest post no more welcome party for Fechie’s early morning arrival? Just asking, who knows my flying ‘walis’ might obey my command and touch down at the doorstep of the coffe shop not at the airport you guys will go to after Fechie’s arrival if the original plan is still go.

Here’s another service I can offer mainly for classmates coming from abroad. If you have jewelries genuine or otherwise needing repairs or plating(tubog) bring them with you and I’ll take care of the job. Will charge you absolutely AT COST, a cup of coffee is good enough compensation for me. Am offering this only for dear classmates who’ve been away for so long para naman may souvenir sa akin. I’ve been doing this for years for some relatives from the US and Canada that’s why I know how expensive it is to get them done in those places.

If Boboy is really good and will find Roberto Manly in two weeks time before the reunion then he really deserves to be given a reward and am sure Fechie will be more than willing to shoulder the cost.

Mayo na, sarong kilometro lang.

FAJ

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Five (5) lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.

Thanks a lot Bing for sending this beautiful message. I am forwarding this back to you and at the same time, I'm posting this in our blog to share these lessons to all the visitors of this site.

(The following was sent by Bing Celis-Hisano.)

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor
gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
and had breezed through the questions until I read
the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last
question
blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if
the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers,
you will meet many people. All are significant. They
deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an elderly African-American
woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway
trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had
broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally
unheard of in those conflict-filled 60s.. The man
took her to safety, helped her get assistance and
put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his
address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a
knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a
giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A
special note was attached..

It read:
"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway
the other night. The rain drenched not only my
clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying
husband's bedside just before he passed away... God
bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving
others."

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and
studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice
cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress
came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had
to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if
anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness. The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her."
As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his
sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning
to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Now you have 2 choices.

1. Delete this email, or
2. Forward it to people you care about including me.
I hope that you will choose No. 2

"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching."

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More about the lies and scandals of the NBN-ZTE Deal

“The Senate has better things to do. Bring it to court. It is only there that the “real” truth can be brought out, not in the Senate which is doing the investigation in aid of grand-standing” – Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye.

Former Senator Jovito Salonga, heading the groups Kilosbayan and Bantay Katarungan accepted the dare and filed plunder and graft charges against Mrs. Arroyo before the Office of the Ombudsman. They know they can’t secure a conviction between now and 2010, when she leaves office (Kung aalis!) and sheds her immunity. But there is nothing in the law that prevents the Ombudsman from investigating their complaint now.

But here’s the reaction of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Lorelie Fajardo ……. “That’s harassment!. Being a staunch Constitutionalist, Salonga should have waited for the Senate to end its investigation before filing any complaint…. Everyone is jumping on the bandwagon of reckless judicial action against the president.” …….. (Ano raw? …. Maghilamos ka nga muna para matauhan ka, natutulog ka yata sa pansitan ng magsalita iyong boss mo.)

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Latest pulse Asia Survey results showed that three out of four Metro Manilans disapprove of the President’s performance while 76% distrust her. Another Deputy spokesperson Anthony Golez agreed that the survey results reflected the effect of the unraveling NBN ZTE controversy on the President’s popularity. “But we know for a fact that the President has already made some unpopular decisions but with a net beneficial effect that will improve the lives of majority of the Filipinos, particularly the poor.” … Golez said. (Isa pa ang doktor na ito, ano ba ang magandang idudulot sa mahihirap nitong ZTE deal na ito!)

Business as usual, there’s nothing to worry, the President will attend to her official functions (according to Malacanang last Friday). But all entry and exit points to Metro Manila were heavily guarded. Military troops and tanks were on standby at Crame.

Police checkpoints blocked the contingent of protesters coming from Southern Tagalog in Cabuyao, Laguna and students from De la Salle University at Dasmarinas, Cavite and prevented them from proceeding to Makati. Sinisiguro lang naman ng mga pulis ang kaligtasan ng mga demonstrador. May balita daw kasing guguluhin iyong rally. So, kailangan isa-isang icheck ang ID, at mga gamit for possible concealed weapons. E iyong mga jeep na gamit? Kelangan i-check din ang mga registro. E paano eto, wala sa linya ng prankesa nila ang biyahe di bawal yan! pero kahit maayos ang lahat ng iyan, hindi pa rin makaklusot kasi may malalaking bus na nakaharang. Nasiraan daw iyong mga bus, e wala pa iyong mga mag-to-tow sa kanila. Kaya pasensiya na, di pa rin makakadaan. Ang galing talaga!

ABS-CBN’s Sky Patrol (chopper) was already taking aerial shots as the rally was about to start but at past 4 pm, it was ordered out of the area. Biglang naging “no-fly-zone” ang Makati Business District.

Meanwhile, there’s a small group of urban poor camping out at the Welcome Rotonda in support of GMA, mga KASANGGA (Iyan yata ang pangalang nakalagay sa streamer). Kawawa naman, ni hindi alam ng ibang na-interview kung bakit sila nandun.

And what about GMA? She dug herself at Camp Crame. Kahit pa gwardyado na ang Malacanang, nagpasiguro pa rin. Gustong sabihin TAKOT! Nagpa-briefing daw tungkol sa weather condition and calamity situation in Bicol and Eastern Samar. But who were the other officials at Camp Crame? Defense Secretary Teodoro, ES Ermita, Sec Mendoza, Sec Romulo, Gen. Esperon, etc. Itong mga tinamaan ng _______!#@! Na mga taga Malacanang, akala ba nila may naniniwala pa sa kanila?

From Mareng Winnie Monsod:

"Should GMA resign?As far as I am concerned, (weighing the pros and cons), I think that she should stay (as long as she exiles the spoiler). Why? Because the good of her resigning will likely not be permanent; there is no assurance that Vice President Noli de Castro will not make the same mistakes and will not have similar political debts to pay to other people. At the same time, there is no assurance that he will be able to manage the economy as well as she has."

“kung bad ka, lagot ka!” That’s the political slogan of Joker Arroyo during the campaign. Sino ba ngayon ang bad? I regret voting for Joker. Arroyo nga pala ito.

I am prepared but not preparing (to take over from GMA) ---- Veep Kabayan Noli
Magkaiba daw ang gustong sabihin nun. Uy, pinapakaba mo naman niyan si GMA!

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CROSS OVER TO THE LIGHT - Fr. Jerry M. Orbos, SVD

It's Sunday today. Let me quote what Fr. Jerry Orbos wrote in his column in today's issue of the Phil. Daily Inquirer:

"In today's Gospel (Jn. 9, 1-41), Jesus opened the eyes of a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus then went on to declare Himself as the "Light of the World". During these days of darkness, confusion and division in our country, may we all recognize and see the light and the Light Himself as we humbly pray: "Open our eyes, Lord".....

Notice how children on a trip keep asking the question, "Are we there yet? If is stimple, spontaneous question, but it is a very deep question we adults should raise especially during these times of searching. With all the events unfolding around us, if we are not even raising this question, then we are blind and out of touch with the realities of the here and now. It is amazing how some people do not even care, or simply belittle the battle between light and darkness. The battle is real. Which side are you on? At the very least, MAKE A STAND."

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Students have awakened from the slumber. In last Friday's interfaith rally, they were one of the organizers and they were the ones who made a stand not to allow the politicos to take center stage. In fact, the brief appearance of Cory and Erap became an issue. (Sa akin okey na iyon, one minute lang naman. Mayor Binay acknowledged their presence and he was the one who asked the two to come up the stage. But they did not deliver speeches.)

Still from Fr. Orbos's column: "Student power is in flower. One very good fruit of all the pruning we all are going through as a nation right now is the involvement of the youth and the students. They are coming out from their comfortable world of malls, computers and gimmicks, and going to the streets to be counted. Yes, they are showing us adults that they have substance, and that they do matter."

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And from retired Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban:

"In the meantime, what should the citizens do? I say, RAGE ON! RAGE FOR TRUTH! Press on with the demos. Make them more massive. Intensify the media blitz. Sharpen the Senate investigations. Hasten the Supreme Court decision that, I believe, would unshackle Romulo Neri. Fill our churches during Masses for truth and justice. Pray with our bishops, priests and nuns until "communal action" shall lead us to a new type of people power that would liberate us from corruption and restore integrity."

So, classmates, if you're unable to join the rallies or attend the masses, I hope you'll not be one of the "so-called silent majority (?)" who were angry at the thousands of people who have crowded in Ayala as doing nothing more than just derail traffic.

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