Mamon (Chiffon Cake) & Cherry Garcia Ice Cream

This is the very first time I attempted to bake mamon. I have always thought it is difficult to make and worried that the cakes will not rise properly, or they will have gigantic holes in them, or worse, they will be hard as bricks. This recipe which is widely available online proved me wrong. The cakes have a tight crumb, very moist and as delicious as the ones I had back in the Philippines. I baked half of the batter in large cupcake molds and the other half in a loaf pan which I sliced and made into mamon tostado.

mamon baked in large muffin pans

mamon tostado

Mamon

1 cup cake flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 large eggs, separated
½ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F.
• In a large piece of waxed paper, sift together flour and baking powder. Set aside.
• In a stand mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until merengue-like but not stiff. Add sugar gradually and continue beating for 1 minute. Add oil and vanilla extract, beat well. Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition. With low speed, add flour mixture. Finish mixing by hand with a spatula.
• Cut into the batter several times with a spatula to remove large air bubbles. Fill paper lined cupcake pans 2/3 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until tops are lightly brown.
• For the mamon tostado: Bake mamon in parchment paper lined loaf pans for 30 - 40 minutes. Cool completely, slice into 3 x 1½ x 1-inch pieces and bake in a 250°F oven for 20 - 25 minutes, turning the cookies after 12 minutes. Cool on a wire rack and store in an airtight container.

Cherries & Dark Chocolate Chips Ice Cream

Cherry Garcia ice cream is probably one of the most popular Ben & Jerry's flavors, the recipe of which can be found in many websites. My version has 3 times the amount of cherries and does not have egg yolks because I want the ice cream lighter, with less fat and sugar. I guess I can't call it Cherry Garcia then, just cherries and chocolate ice cream. This recipe makes 2 quarts of delicious, fruity ice cream.

1½ cups pitted and halved fresh bing cherries
1 bar dark chocolate, cut or shaved into small chips
2 cups well chilled heavy whipping cream
2 cups well chilled fat-free half and half
½ cups sugar

• Chill the cherries and the chocolate chips in the fridge for 2 hours. Combine heavy cream, half and half and sugar, churn in ice cream maker for 20 minutes. Add chilled cherries and chocolates and churn for 2 more minutes. Transfer into a container and freeze for 2 hours before serving.

LAKBAYAN: How Much of the Philippines Have You Visited?

I'm interrupting my 'vacation' to post this very interesting quiz that I got from Serious Fictions' blog. LAKBAYAN: How Much of the Philippines Have You Visited?

My Lakbayan grade is C+!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Have fun with the quiz!

I Need A Break!

I'm taking a much needed rest from blogging. Check back after a month.

that will be me for the next few weeks...

Spaghetti With Butter

Last Friday my daughter came home with her leftover dinner of spaghetti and veal scallopini. The container was so big I transferred the food in a smaller dish. The next day, when she woke up to have it for brunch she couldn't find it. She thought I threw it away. Well, somebody ate it. So to make amends I made a similar dish, Thin Spaghetti with Butter, Bread Crumbs and Lemon, and Beef Scallopini Marsala.

Thin Spaghetti With Butter
8 ounces thin spaghetti
1 tablespoon olive oil
¼ cup dry bread crumbs
zest of 1 lemon
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon chopped flat leaf parsley

• Cook spaghetti according to package directions.
• In a small skillet, heat olive oil, add breadcrumbs, stir fry until golden brown, about 1 minute, then add lemon zest. Set aside.
• In a large pan, heat butter until melted and slightly brown, add salt and drained cooked spaghetti, toss well, add bread crumb mixture and parsley. Mix well. Serve hot.

This spaghetti dish is so delicious, I love the hint of lemon and the texture of bread crumbs. This will go well with any meat dish, including KFC fried chicken.