Champurado

I hear many people allude to globalization emerging with the advent of technology. With the invention of Internet and computers, people are connected with each other around the globe and able to share information, objects, emotions, and food. In the United States, when it comes to food, it is as if only recently has many Americans expanded their taste palate. Fifteen years ago when I arrived in California, Mexican food means burrito from Taco Bell, Chinese food equals fried rice, Filipino food is adobo and only a few have tasted Indian food. There were few Filipino markets in Bay Area selling staple food such as rice, fish, sinigang mix in a sachet. In those stores, it was not difficult to find sticky rice or malagkit na bigas. For this reason, champurado has always been in my kitchen in California.
Champurado is a Filipino dessert that unfortunately was not originally developed in Philippines. I learn that we share champurado with Mexican foodies. I was driving one day in the pockets of Los Angeles and I saw a taqueria with a huge banner that says "hot champurado for breakfast served here." I was shook by surprise and I had to actually pull over as I was not wearing my glasses to make sure I read the sign correctly. It turned out that I did not misread. By gullie, I was disappointed to find that champurado is not authentically Filipino. Though I could not trace back to the beginnings of champurado, I know that somewhere along Spanish colonization, Arab, Chinese, India, Malay migration, and Japanese invasion, champurado arrived in Philippines as a dessert/breakfast. This leads me to another question: Who said globalization just started? Globalization started a long time ago. Philippines and champurado are a manifestation of globalization that existed hundred of years ago. Although computers were not existent, many people from different nations have arrived in Philippines to trade goods in a fashion modernly stated as "up rise of globalization." With them, they brought champurado--sticky rice cooked in water with dutch processed cocoa powder, sugar, and milk. A modern version of champurado included in my recipe has 1 tsp of vanilla and cinnamon for dusting. In my short trip in Los Angeles, I learn that champurado is not originally Filipino and I learn to share what I thought was originally mine as a Filipino with other cultures who have brought champurado hundred of years ago in Philippines.

Cranberry Banana Pecan Bread

I'm not a big fan of cranberry. When cranberry is incorporated into bread or cake, I'll eat it. I'll also drink cranberry juice. I find cranberry tangy and sour for a tiny piece of fruit as small as an aratilis. When I found Rose Levy Beranhaum's recipe for Cranberry Banana Walnut Quick Bread, I had to try it for two reasons. I learn from making Rosy's recipe on The Bread Bible that she is a very good baker. I have tried many of her recipes such as Brioche, Challah, Royal Irish Soda Bread and Cranberry Banana Walnut Quick Bread is not far from what I had expected. Although this recipe is not originally her creation, I love it. After letting the bread sit for more than 12 hours, the cranberries have macerated and have mellowed its tanginess. The other reason is I want to use a big bulk of cranberries in my freezer. I want to make something out of a big bag of cranberries. I need to make bread for tomorrow and I decide to incorporate cranberries into my bread. I have two notes here. The only ingredient that I do not have available when making this bread is walnut. I substitute pecan for walnuts. I like pecans in banana bread and brownies and I want to try it with this bread. Perhaps if walnut can be substituted, cranberries can be substituted as well. It might be difficult to find cranberries in Philippines but as I have mentioned earlier these cranberries look like, although do not taste like aratilis. Why not? When your kids are hanging around the park and they bring home 2 cups of aratilis, make Aratilis Banana Pecan Bread. I know if I were in my house in Novaliches I would certainly try it.

Cranberry Banana Pecan Bread
Adapted from Rose Levy Beranhaum's The Bread Bible

2 cups minus 1 tb all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
4 tb butter, soft
1 c brown sugar
2 brown eggs
1 large very ripe banana
3 tb sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 c cranberries
1 c pecans toasted

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, cream the butter, sugar, then add eggs, banana, sour cream, vanilla. Add flour mixture and beat until incorporated. Add cranberries and pecans. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 45-55 minutes.

Solvang I

Ok kids, I am not in Denmark. This is Solvang, Ca is where you would find a Danish community that is true to her roots. From highway 101, you would have to drive 30 miles east. It is about 2 1/2 hours from Los Angeles. Solvang is so beautiful with patches of pastoral land, an existing mission, and a tourist attraction community. People are so friendly!
In Solvang, everything is so colorful and artistic. Look at this chair made by a local artist, quietly tucked in a corner.
They have the best danish pastries. It so de-lish-cious!
Here, they serve beer for breakfast. How awesome is that! I would love to move here. It so relaxing and so country.

Orange you glad you're home?

Orange, naranje, or sunkist--as I remember Filipinos call it, referring to a sticker which identifies the type of orange--I want lots of it. I feel so lousy today; I cant even get up from bed. My head throbs as if a giant is squeezing my head to fit in a small purse. My nose sniffs sinusitis in the cavity of my head. My ears can hear nothing; they are clogged like a bathroom full of hair. My stomach churns and turns; it has injected the flu. So give me orange, lots of orange, and water, lots of water while I get better to face tomorrow half filled with sorrow.

San Gabriel Mission III

More pictures around San Gabriel Mission. Below is a theater that has been around for a long time. At one point, officials shut down the theater. When the community complained they did not have any source of entertainment for the people, they allowed the use of building for theater production and plays. The front of the building is beautiful. I like the bells on the tower and the fountain in front of the building. The inside of the building has a elegantly structured foyer.

The cemetery is adjacent to the Mission. There are two. One is where christianized Native Americans were buried. Below is a Catholic Cemetery. On the day I took pictures, the clouds were rolling and gray. (It actually rained that afternoon.) The cloudy weather was an element to make this picture seem so gloomy as if someone was just buried. In addition, although Los Angeles County has a reputation of having only one season that is summer and temperature that stays in 80 degrees F, this picture is a testament that in Los Angeles season changes.


Would you play hide n seek here in the dark?