#palitaw

Philippines Palitaw

INGREDIENTS

2¼ cups glutinous rice flour 1 cup water room temperature 2 cups fresh grated coconut 1 cup light or dark mascovado sugar ^ 3 tbsp. toasted sesame seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine glutinous rice flour with water and mix with a spoon until a dough is formed.

Knead the dough just until smooth and softened.

Scoop about 1 heaping tablespoon of dough then shape it into a ball and make another ball until you’re done with the dough. I made 18 pieces of glutinous rice balls.

Lightly wet your hands so it won't stick on your palm then flatten the rice balls using the palm of your hands, and set aside.

Boil water in a cooking pot then put-in the flattened Palitaw dough, in batches don’t overcrowd your pot to avoid sticking from each other.

When Palitaw dough starts to float, just leave it for 2 minutes more before you remove them from the pot. Use a slotted spoon so that the water will drip off.

Roll the Palitaw in freshly grated coconut then arrange it on a serving plate and sprinkle big amounts of mascovado sugar on top, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, and serve immediately.

Saturday well spent.

I went to my bestfriend’s today and yes we did a lot! First she surprised me by bringing her painting stuff out! We painted! (not totally though) I just finished drawing my subject but it was cut because we watched the first episode of ‘Lovecraft Country’! We loved it! Jordan Peele will not disappoint!

Good ol’ spaghetti filled our tummies and palitaw and ice cream with brewed coffee that goes well with cookies and cream not the chocolate one! Haha!

I returned her Kerby Rosanes book and in exchange I lent her my Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Not only that! See those books? Color coordinated by her sister! I borrowed one of course! The Happiness Project!

Christmas Traditions

25 December 2020

Tradities — Traditions — Tradisyon —

in The Philippines starts very early. Literally, on the first day of September, you will already hear Gary V’s “Pasko na Sinta ko” or José Mari Chan’s “Christmas in our Hearts” belting their songs on the radios and in the malls.

First let me tell you some facts about my country. We were a colony of the Spanish from 16th-19th century. We were liberated from Spanish rule on June 12, 1898. Then the Americans came from 1898 to 1946. We were finally independent as a nation on July 4, 1946.

Since our country is a mix of Spanish and American culture we celebrate the season in a unique way. It is not clear why Christmas celebrations start so early in the country as it hasn’t always been this way. But we loved it anyway and we passed it on through generations.

Now let me walk you down the culture scene of my favorite holiday of the year ... All the wonderful, magical and nostalgic memoirs of CHRISTMAS!

Simbang Gabi / Misa de Gallo

Traditionally, the feast starts with the nine-day novena called Simbang Gabi (dawn mass) or Misa de Gallo – literally called Rooster Mass from 16th - 24th December, when a midnight mass is held.

I miss these foods... Puto Bumbong, Bibingka and in the middle Palitaw! This photo was taken from one of my visits to Via Mare!

Christmas On Display

One of my fondest childhood memory was going to Araneta Center to visit “Christmas On Display”. Every year, COD Department Store staged this narrative and themed spectacle. A grand display of life-size moving mannequins, with colorful lights and flashy ornaments. It’s WONDERFUL & MAGICAL ...

Christmas Lights

On every street, mall ... practically everywhere. There’s one street in my hometown of Mandaluyong where virtually every house is turned into a milkyway of fairy lights!

GIFT-GIVING

This is one of the best things I’ve learned from my half-sister Ate Luz. She makes everyone feel happy, thrilled and excited with every gift opened on this day. She’s a living Mrs Santa Claus!

My Ate inspired me to be generous and to do something special for everyone. I remember when I was in college, I used to save my school allowances and buy gifts to all my nieces and nephews. Then I will wrap it all up myself. For me the true meaning of gift giving isn’t extravagance, it’s sentimentality.

Foto credit: my husband took the photo with some of my wrapped gifts this year ...

FAMILY

The one thing I truly miss now is getting together as a family to celebrate the feast and commemorate the birth of Christ.

Since last year my father is living in Batangas with my brother and his partner Arnie. The family went to visit them on the 20th of December this year!

CHRISTMAS

Don’t forget ... that “The gift of Jesus is good news for everyone. No matter where on earth you call home, Jesus’ birth is God’s offer of love and peace to you. And all who find new life in Christ, from every tribe and language and people and nation will one day celebrate God’s glory forever and ever (Revelation 5:9)”.

Tradisyon

Palitaw - Floating Cake recipe from Texas, USA (once aka "New Philippines")

This is our food, this is how we eat…

Recipe from Mrs. Aurea L. Reyes of San Antonio, Texas.

“Mix flour and water. Form into 10 to 20 small balls. Flatten each ball into a round or elongated shape and drop into 8 to 10 cups boiling water. As each cake floats to the surface, remove from water with a slotted spoon. Roll in gated coconut and coat with sugar and sesame seeds. Serve with hot or cold tea. Makes 4 servings.”

Interesting to know, “Nuevas Filipinas and Nuevo Reino de Filipinas were secondary names given to the area of Texas above the Medina River.”

“Following the explorations of Alonso (Álvarez de) Pineda  in 1519 and that of Pánfilo (de) Narváez  in 1528, Texas became known as Nueva Filipinas – New Philippines- for over 200 years.”

Sources:

-The Institute of Texan Cultures of the University of Texas at San Antonio. 1977. The Melting Pot. Ethnic Cuisine in Texas. San Antonio, Texas. 224 pp.

Bilog na palitaw