Uraro (Arrowroot) Cookies

Uraro cookies are a childhood favorite of mine, and of many Filipinos I know. These are dry crunchy cookies that have very simple clean flavor, not too sweet, and slightly buttery and milky. My preferred drink with these cookies is iced whole milk. Makes me feel like a kid again.

Although these cookies are occasionally available at the Philippine grocery stores, most of them have more tapioca flour than arrowroot. Since arrowroot flour is now available at most grocery stores, I made them..twice. The first batch was plain, and delicious BTW, and I added chopped dried fruits into the second [half] batch which didn't turn out great. Plain is better IMHO but I'm thinking of adding puffed pinipig or rice crispies next time.

Uraro Cookies
8 ounces sugar
3 large eggs
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
12 ounces arrowroot flour
4 ounces tapioca flour
2 ounces very fine dry milk powder

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place the sugar in a blender and blend to a powder.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the eggs until thick and light yellow in color. Transfer into a small bowl.
• Place the butter in the same bowl and beat on medium-high until light and fluffy.
• Blend in the beaten eggs and vanilla extract on low until thoroughly combined.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, and milk, and slowly add into the butter mixture, beating on low until well incorporated. Sprinkle more arrowroot flour if the dough appears too soft; or refrigerate the dough for 10 minutes until firm enough for the cookie press.
• Fill cookie press. With flower or snowflake design plate, form cookies onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Transfer cookies on wire racks to cool completely. Store in airtight jars. Yield: about 120 1½ inch cookies.

Baked Root and Leaf Vegetable Crisps

taro, sweet potato, and beet crisps

kale crisps

One of the leafy green vegetables I love is kale. It's so good simply sauteed in extra virgin olive oil, garlic, onion, and sea salt, and is an excellent addition to soups. My favorite preparation of kale is baking them until crispy. The kale crisps are nutty and have an appealing slight bitterness. Absolutely delicious and addicting. Baked root vegetable crisps such as sweet potatoes, beets, taro, and parsnips are also very good for snacking.

• To make root vegetable crisps: Sweet potatoes, parsnips, and beets: scrub well, leave unpeeled; peel taro. Slice thinly using a mandoline slicer or by hand. In separate bowls, drizzle each root with olive oil, lightly toss, and sprinkle with sea salt. Place a single layer on baking sheets and bake in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes. Flip the pieces and bake for another 10 minutes or until the edges are curly and browned. The beets will take longer to bake, about 10 minute more.
• To make kale crisps: Remove the leaves from the stem and tear into bite size pieces. Wash and spin dry thoroughly. Drizzle olive oil, lightly massaging it on the leaf surface. Sprinkle with sea salt and place a single layer on baking sheets. Bake in a 325°F oven for 10 minutes. Flip the leaves and bake for another 6 to 10 minutes.
  

José Andrés Red Wine Sangria

According to José Andrés, his red wine sangria is one of the most popular drinks in his Jaleo restaurants and I can understand why. The boozy drink is refreshing and can be taken any time of the year, not just during summer. This not-your-typical sangria goes very well with Spanish food, of course.

I used tiny mandarin oranges because that's what I have on my kitchen counter. The original recipe has 1 piece of peeled and sliced [regular size navel] orange.

Red Wine Sangria
adapted from Made in Spain by José Andrés

1 bottle fruity red wine
¼ cup brandy
¼ cup Cointreau
¼ cup vodka
a splash of ruby port
2 mandarin oranges, sliced
2 granny smith apples, diced
1 strip of lemon zest
1 cinnamon stick
¼ cup fresh orange juice
a splash of soda water

• Combine the wine, brandy, Cointreau, vodka, port, orange slices, apples, and cinnamon stick in a bowl and refrigerate for 4 hours.
  
• Pour the mixture into a pitcher filled halfway with ice. Add the orange juice and soda water, give a quick stir and serve.

• Make sure each glass gets ice and fruit.

Check out José's White Wine Sangria recipe here, and a recipe for regular Red Wine Sangria here.

Food Friday: Pilipit

Pilipit, Tagalog word for twisted or twist, are hard crunchy sugar-glazed bread twists...one of my favorite snacks back in the Philippines. I have been waiting for them for months now to become available at the Philippine grocer. I made some because I couldn't wait any longer and I really have the munchies for them. It's not complicated to make but isn't easy as pie either.

Pilipit
bread twists
2 cups bread flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg
½ cup milk
oil for frying
glaze
1 cup sugar
¼ cup water

• Pilipit: In a medium bowl, mix all the ingredients except oil and knead on the kitchen counter until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes. Divide into 2 equal portions, wrap one half in plastic and set aside. Roll the other half into 1 inch thick log and cut into 1 ½ inch-long pieces. Roll each piece into a pencil-thin rope. Roll both ends in opposite directions which will twist the rope. Bring the ends together, pinch, and twist. Lay each twist on a flat surface, cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes. Repeat with the other half of the dough. Heat the oil to 375°F and fry the pilipit until golden brown. Drain on colander lined with paper towels. Let cool completely on wire rack/s.
• Glaze: Heat the sugar and water in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until sugar has melted. Let simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and dip the cooled twists one at a time. Let dry on a wire rack, turning them so that both sides dry completely.
• Store the Twists: Keep the glazed twists in a jar and leave for a few days until they become hard and crunchy.