Chocolate Turon

Last Tuesday was Erika’s “room” warming party. After being friends for eight years, she is now my flat-mate. And no, we’re not lesbian  lovers. I was getting tired of the usual menu I prepare for get-togethers(grilled cheese sandwich, Charlie Chan copy cat Asian spaghetti, creamy fruit salad etc) I had to make a new one.

- Stewed Tomato Spaghetti
- Spicy Fried Chicken with Buttered Hot Sauce
- Chocolate Turon

A quick and easy dessert was needed, one that would fit into our room warming food budget. The chocolate turon was all I could remember that I saw from Heny Sison two years ago in her old baking/cooking show in IBC 13. What ever happened to that show? My brother and I love that show. Lazy Sundays back then meant drooling in front of the TV with all the sugar induced dessert she was making. Para syang fairy, *fairy dust* — “Ito na po ang ating finished product “ and a piece of either cake, cookies, brownies would appear from under the oven.

I Googled the recipe but stumbled upon this Pinoy version of the recipe from 80’s Breakfast. Credit is hers. It was rather brilliant to think of Pinoy flavored Chocnut and Flattops. However, when I reached the supermarket Flatops was out of stock. Wow, there is a shortage of Flattops in the Philippines? The Balikbayan’s are hoarding them! I used Curlytops instead as a substitute. You can pretty much use any chocolate you want. Do a kitchen test and experiment I think this would go well with Andes Chocolate Mint or any chocolate that has nougat, caramel for additional texture.

I modified the recipe a tiny bit and just added one ingredient that made the difference – cinnamon powder. The turon was instant hit at the party, many were asking for the recipe.

Ingredients:

Saging na Saba (Ripe Plantain)
Spring Roll Wrapper
Brown Sugar
Chocolate of your choice
Pandan leaves
Cinnamon powder

Use spring roll wrapper then cut banana’s lengthwise. Just add alternately the chocolates on one side. Put the sugar on the other side side. Use only one half lengthwise banana because one whole banana is a bit harder to wrap and cook. Plus we don’t want a fat turon, do we? Use only about half teaspoon sugar as chocolate is already sweet.

Then the one ingredient you don’t want to forget – dash turon with cinnamon powder. I love cinnamon so I put at least 1/4 teaspoon in each turon. Cinnamon makes the difference! I tried it before without cinnamon but preferred the version with it.

Wrap like you would wrap your lumpia, seal sides with a bit of water. Tie it with a pandan leave. This will make if fragrant. Deep fry in low heat. Sugar and chocolate have a tendency to get burnt easily so cook it with low heat. Cook both sides until golden brown.

Tadah! You can drizzle it with a bit of melted Belgian chocolate.

Filed under: Cuisine , chocnut, chocolate, curly tops, delicacy, dessert, flatops, peanut, pinoy, richoa, spring roll, turon

Philippine Fashion Week 2009 Spring Summer Holaboo

I saw the FIP gang a couple of days ago in the Halloween party. I came so underdressed — like an outfit straight from the gym. As John said “Anong custome mo? Tindera ng DVD sa St. Francis” LMAO. We were discussing about the recent fashion week. Sorry, no pictures of half naked men and women this time. I only attended one show because I was busy somewhere south of Luzon archipelago.

So, one of our friends, let’s call him “F” was apparently banned from the PFW shows from here on and then. According to sources F was seated in the first frow.  He was in Anna Wintour outfit complete with hair and a Balenciaga bag. During the curtain call at the end of the show wherein the all models make their final walk, F stood up  and followed the models as if he was part of the show but instead making the exit to the other stage he went straight out of the exit of SMX in a diva walk. It was a riot I heard. The audience was laughing. I bet it was hilarious but the organizers were not amused. Just hearing about it makes me wish I was there.

The thing is even if F was banned he could always disguise himself easily.

Filed under: Fashion, Humor