The signs were there. The yelping of the dogs as the car parked into the garage. The welcome smiles of our loyal house helpers as we surrendered our bags to them. The strong smell of tsokolate. Slippers and house dusters laid out and ready.
Showing posts with label chocolate pie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chocolate pie. Show all posts
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Forever Daughters, Forever Sisters
The signs were there. The yelping of the dogs as the car parked into the garage. The welcome smiles of our loyal house helpers as we surrendered our bags to them. The strong smell of tsokolate. Slippers and house dusters laid out and ready.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Cedes, Berning and Gemma
I cried as I watched the movie “The Help”. I cried because of the poignant storyline—how black household help were treated in the turbulent years of the ‘60s. Yes, they were free but they were not equal. But storyline aside, deep inside, I cried because of some similarities in the movie with that of the many helpers that served my family. Growing up, I remember that our house had two rooms and one bathroom. My parents had one room and my then 2 sisters and I had the other room. The 2 helpers slept in the pantry that had a double-decker bed located behind the kitchen. The helpers took their baths in a tiny hut at the edge of our property and it was made of galvanize iron sheets. It also doubled as the laundry area. Their toilet consisted of an outhouse behind the poultry we had at that time. But as soon as the financial standing of my family improved, so did the conditions of the accommodations accorded our helpers.
Like the movie, my family has its share of loyal helpers. There was Manang Cedes, our laundry woman and charged with the care of the animals— dogs, chickens, pigs, and the occasional goat. Oh, the amusing stories about her many escapades after returning from her late afternoon “cocktails” at the corner store. She cried the hardest at the wake of my father. There is Berning who continues to serve my mother for the last 44 years. The offer of retirement last year only made her cry. So that offer was shelved and she now spends her days taking care of the plants at my mother’s house. Then there is Gemma. She came to work for my family when she was just 12 years old. Just a few years older than my youngest sister, she was also a playmate and confidant. Like one of the movie’s character, Gemma obediently moved from my mother’s employment to my household when I moved to Manila; to my sister when she needed a nanny; and, yet to another sister when she, too, needed a nanny. While still watching over my niece, Gemma married, got pregnant but continued to watch over her ward until it was time for her to give birth. Her son is about 5 years old now and she is back at my mother’s house. This time, she cheerfully returns to take care of my mother.
Admittedly, my family had its share of troublesome helpers but I would rather remember the helpers that were exceptional in their care for my family.
With the remembrance, I also cried as I recalled how my father scolded me for shouting at a helper for a task that was not done well.
“Do not ever shout at the helper,” was my father’s reproach. “They are human beings just like you.”
I also cried because I was grateful. And I thank all the helpers that passed through my door and the ones presently working for me. To a great extent, they were and continue to be a blessing to me and my family.
§ º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º
In “The Help”, there is a scene when the help brings a chocolate pie to her employer. The employer gushes about how delicious the pie was and wondered what the secret ingredient could be. I will leave it at that so as not to spoil the surprise as this scene is crucial in the telling of the story. Instead, I share with you my mother’s recipe for such a pie. No secrets here.
Mommy’s Chocolate Cream Pie
Ingredients:
1 Baked Pie Crust
Tricky Crust-- it's a touch and go on this one-- check out other recipes and work out on one that would give a thick and crunchy crust. I found the following video very helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjQ0GSSVymU
My mom’s pie crust:
Mix the dry ingredients ( ½ t sugar and 3 c AP flour) together in a bowl.
Add ¾ c chilled butter (cut to cubes) or margarine and cut it into the dry mixture with a fork or two knives to ensure that you make a flaky pie crust. (Cut the butter or margarine into the flour until the texture of the mixture is like corn meal.)
4. Gather the pie crust mixture into the center of your preparation surface and create a well in the center of the mixture.
5. Gradually add 3 tablespoon of ice cold water approximately 1 tablespoon at a time, to the center of the mixture. Work the dough with a fork or hands until it starts to pull away from the preparation surface to create one lump. The goal is to use the least amount of water possible.
Scrape and clean your work surface, then cut a sheet of wax paper— a little larger than your pie pan. Sprinkle a little flour in the center of one wax paper and place your dough ball over the flour.
With a rolling pin roll out the dough to a size larger than your pie plate—about 2 inches larger than the diameter of your pie plate.
Carefully turn over the resulting pie crust over a pie plate. Remove the wax paper as you fit the crust into the pan.
Using a scissor or knife, trim the dough evenly so that it is two inches larger than the diameter of your pie plate.
Fold over the extra two inches and crimp this extra dough all the way around the pie plate.
Brush the edge of the pie with 1 egg yolk and prick your crust with holes using a fork in order that the crust will not expand and balloon when baked.
Put the pie crust in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least 10 minutes.
Pop into a 350 oven and bake until edges are golden brown.
Chocolate Cream:
3 large egg yolks ( 4 if small), slightly beaten
4 T heaping tablespoon of cocoa powder
1 can (396 g) condensed milk
1 can hot water (using the can from which the condensed milk came from)
1/3 c cornstarch plus 1/3 c water
1/2 t cinammon, 1 t vanilla
2 T butter
In a double boiler over medium heat, stir together the cocoa and the condensed milk. Add the hot water and stir. Take about half a cup of the mixture and stir slowly into the egg yolks. Then add this yolk mixture to the cocoa-milk mixture and stir. Add the cornstarch-water mixture to t double boiler and continue to stir. To avoid a lumpy consistency, always stir the mixture. Once the mixture thickens, add the cinammon and vanilla. Next, blend in the butter.
Pour the chocolate cream into your baked pie crust. You may use the egg whites to come up with a meringue topping or add whipped cream-- depending on your preference.
Option 1: Top pie with meringue and pop in a hot oven until tips of meringue turn golden.
Option 2. Cool pie and refrigerate. Before serving, top with whipped cream.
Enjoy and let’s all remember the number one rule when treating another human being — R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Like the movie, my family has its share of loyal helpers. There was Manang Cedes, our laundry woman and charged with the care of the animals— dogs, chickens, pigs, and the occasional goat. Oh, the amusing stories about her many escapades after returning from her late afternoon “cocktails” at the corner store. She cried the hardest at the wake of my father. There is Berning who continues to serve my mother for the last 44 years. The offer of retirement last year only made her cry. So that offer was shelved and she now spends her days taking care of the plants at my mother’s house. Then there is Gemma. She came to work for my family when she was just 12 years old. Just a few years older than my youngest sister, she was also a playmate and confidant. Like one of the movie’s character, Gemma obediently moved from my mother’s employment to my household when I moved to Manila; to my sister when she needed a nanny; and, yet to another sister when she, too, needed a nanny. While still watching over my niece, Gemma married, got pregnant but continued to watch over her ward until it was time for her to give birth. Her son is about 5 years old now and she is back at my mother’s house. This time, she cheerfully returns to take care of my mother.
Admittedly, my family had its share of troublesome helpers but I would rather remember the helpers that were exceptional in their care for my family.
With the remembrance, I also cried as I recalled how my father scolded me for shouting at a helper for a task that was not done well.
“Do not ever shout at the helper,” was my father’s reproach. “They are human beings just like you.”
I also cried because I was grateful. And I thank all the helpers that passed through my door and the ones presently working for me. To a great extent, they were and continue to be a blessing to me and my family.
§ º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º § º
In “The Help”, there is a scene when the help brings a chocolate pie to her employer. The employer gushes about how delicious the pie was and wondered what the secret ingredient could be. I will leave it at that so as not to spoil the surprise as this scene is crucial in the telling of the story. Instead, I share with you my mother’s recipe for such a pie. No secrets here.
Mommy’s Chocolate Cream Pie
Ingredients:
1 Baked Pie Crust
Tricky Crust-- it's a touch and go on this one-- check out other recipes and work out on one that would give a thick and crunchy crust. I found the following video very helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjQ0GSSVymU
My mom’s pie crust:
Mix the dry ingredients ( ½ t sugar and 3 c AP flour) together in a bowl.
Add ¾ c chilled butter (cut to cubes) or margarine and cut it into the dry mixture with a fork or two knives to ensure that you make a flaky pie crust. (Cut the butter or margarine into the flour until the texture of the mixture is like corn meal.)
4. Gather the pie crust mixture into the center of your preparation surface and create a well in the center of the mixture.
5. Gradually add 3 tablespoon of ice cold water approximately 1 tablespoon at a time, to the center of the mixture. Work the dough with a fork or hands until it starts to pull away from the preparation surface to create one lump. The goal is to use the least amount of water possible.
Scrape and clean your work surface, then cut a sheet of wax paper— a little larger than your pie pan. Sprinkle a little flour in the center of one wax paper and place your dough ball over the flour.
With a rolling pin roll out the dough to a size larger than your pie plate—about 2 inches larger than the diameter of your pie plate.
Carefully turn over the resulting pie crust over a pie plate. Remove the wax paper as you fit the crust into the pan.
Using a scissor or knife, trim the dough evenly so that it is two inches larger than the diameter of your pie plate.
Fold over the extra two inches and crimp this extra dough all the way around the pie plate.
Brush the edge of the pie with 1 egg yolk and prick your crust with holes using a fork in order that the crust will not expand and balloon when baked.
Put the pie crust in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least 10 minutes.
Pop into a 350 oven and bake until edges are golden brown.
Chocolate Cream:
3 large egg yolks ( 4 if small), slightly beaten
4 T heaping tablespoon of cocoa powder
1 can (396 g) condensed milk
1 can hot water (using the can from which the condensed milk came from)
1/3 c cornstarch plus 1/3 c water
1/2 t cinammon, 1 t vanilla
2 T butter
In a double boiler over medium heat, stir together the cocoa and the condensed milk. Add the hot water and stir. Take about half a cup of the mixture and stir slowly into the egg yolks. Then add this yolk mixture to the cocoa-milk mixture and stir. Add the cornstarch-water mixture to t double boiler and continue to stir. To avoid a lumpy consistency, always stir the mixture. Once the mixture thickens, add the cinammon and vanilla. Next, blend in the butter.
Pour the chocolate cream into your baked pie crust. You may use the egg whites to come up with a meringue topping or add whipped cream-- depending on your preference.
Option 1: Top pie with meringue and pop in a hot oven until tips of meringue turn golden.
Option 2. Cool pie and refrigerate. Before serving, top with whipped cream.
Enjoy and let’s all remember the number one rule when treating another human being — R-E-S-P-E-C-T.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
A Tea Party
I took from the drawers
Cups and saucers.
Tea and coffee
All ready by three.
I skip, I hop
I can’t be stopped.
My guests are here,
Now pass those cupcakes, dear.
It seems that I have always had a fondness for parties. When I was little, I would be in awe as I quietly observed the grown-ups at parties at my fraternal grandmother’s house. My grandmother took her parties seriously. She ensured that the invited guests would be comfortable with each other; the food superbly matching the occasion, and little details, like flowers and music, were in place. The perfect eventologist!
Although parties at my parent’s house were not as big a production as that of my grandmother’s, my mother put into practice what she learned from the parties organized by my grandmother. And we did have quite a lot of parties at home albeit at a smaller scale. And unlike my grandmother, who would normally have her parties catered, my mother would cook all the main courses, including desserts, that would be served—sometimes feeding as many as 50 guests. It’s amazing how she still had the energy during the party to chat and laugh with the guests—fresh as if she came from a spa.
But the parties that I loved best were the small, intimate gatherings at home or at friends’ homes. These were the ones with no more than ten friends or relatives casually dressed and relaxing with a cup of coffee, tea or a cool drink. To keep the conversation flowing, there were usually a plate of homemade cookies or cupcakes, deity sandwiches and some sliced fruits for the grown-ups. The kids would have their own treat with ice cream thrown in for good measure. The talk would take a leisurely route— first off would usually be family updates; then to the latest office rumors, followed by the new fashion trends and the movie star of the hour. The talk trails off with other light subjects like hobbies and recipes. Nothing serious nor threatening. Somehow the hours just slowly matched along and then with a startle, someone notices the time. Good-byes are the longest when happy times were spent together with those whose company we enjoy having.
I sometimes wished that life could be just one tea party after another. But then I think about all the pounds I would put on from all the eating and sitting around. So I content myself with the occasional invite and busy myself with the planning, the calling, the cooking and the bringing out of my good cups and saucers.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
I recently found the occasion to hold a tea party in my garden. To be truthful, there were three occasions!! All three gatherings were a breeze to have: a casual set-up with some garden flowers in small vases, scented candles to ward off wondering bugs and an uncomplicated menu. At all three gatherings, my guests immediately felt at home and pampered all because they were comfortable with each other and they noticed that I had the best plates, glasses and cutlery set out for their use. No paper plates nor plastic spoons, please.
Now if you are thinking of having a tea party soon, let me share a great idea: serve a chocolate pudding pie in tiny tea cups. Not only will you impress your guests but there will be less washing ups later.
Chocolate Pudding Pie
1. Have ready three egg yolks that have been slightly beaten. Set aside.
2. Mix ½ cup cornstarch with ½ cup water. Set aside.
3. Place some water on the lower portion of your double boiler. Set on the stove and bring heat to medium.
4. On the top pan of a double boiler, mix 1 can condensed milk with ½ c cocoa powder.
5. As the mixture heats up, stir in 1 ¼ cup of hot water.
6. To ensure that your pudding doesn’t get lumpy, add a tablespoon or two of the chocolate mixture to your egg yolks and stir.
7. Slowing add the egg yolk mixture to the content on your double boiler.
8. Stir gently and continuously.
9. Add the water-cornstarch mixture to the chocolate pudding and stir.
10. The mixture will come to a pudding consistency and you can add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 tablespoon of butter to give it a shine.
11. While hot, spoon the pudding into teacups whose bottoms have been lined with graham cracker crust.
12. Cool and refrigerate.
13. Before serving add a dollop of chilled cream on top of each teacup.
Note: This can be done a day or two before the party and kept in your fridge.
Graham Cracker Crust
Mix together 1 1/4 cup crushed graham crackers and 1/3 cup melted butter. Divide into 12 portions of about a tablespoon for each teacup. Press each portion into the bottom of each tea cup. For presentation purposes, it is best to use tiny tea cups.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)