The original leche flan recipe was from my Mom but my sister Lorna reconfigured it to fit her tastes.

The perfect flan is such that when you slice through it, it barely quivers like jello. There is very little syneresis, that is, no weeping (or lots of holes in it!).

5 eggyolks
2 eggs
1 can condensed milk
1 can water (use the condensed milk’s can for measuring)
1 tbsp. vanilla to add to the mixture
1/4 cup to 1/3 cup sugar for caramelization

Get a pyrex loaf dish (or equivalent oval, square, or round dish).

Caramelize 1/3 cup sugar in it. Use your oven. When the sugar is starting to melt, make sure that you watch carefully. You don’t want the caramel to be too dark or it will taste burnt. Manipulate the dish until you are sure that the caramel is evenly placed on the bottom of the pan. Let the pan rest on the stove top.

Pre-heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.

These are the cooking times:

For the first 45 minutes: 325 degrees Fahrenheit
For the next 20 to 25 minutes, until the toothpick test shows that the flan is done: 350 degrees Fahrenheit

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My sister got this from a Southern States recipe book (I believe it was a Georgia recipe)… This is SO good — and so calorific! The calamansi will make the dish slightly sweeter. This is best made with lemons because of the grated lemon peel. I baked Lemon Squares for Christmas and it’s always one of the favorite treats in the family.

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

CRUST:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 tsps. grated lemon peel

1. Combine the ingredients in a mixer (with the paddle attachment). Beat at low speed for 30 to 90 seconds.

2. Press the crust mixture into the bottom of a 9″ square pan, using floured hands. Make sure that the crust is evenly distributed.

3. Bake at the center of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly brown.

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I can’t remember where I got this recipe but I think it might have been a TV cooking show with Nora Daza. Oh well, it doesn’t matter how I got the recipe. This recipe is one of the family favorites. The basic shortcake recipe is good for other fillings like Strawberry Shortcake.

If there is no mango available, try canned peaches.

SHORTCAKE:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsps. sugar
3 tsps. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter (1/2 bar)
1 beaten egg
2/3 cup full cream evaporated milk
1 tbsp. vanilla

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Sally, my mother started her bakeshop in 1966. Her inspiration came after watching a movie. She noticed that a lot of moviegoers bought “kutsinta” or “puto”. She started with two product lines only. Then one day as a nine year old girl, I find myself being asked to help around the bakeshop. The bakeshop just expanded. Our kitchen was not big enough anymore. Mom built a bakeshop building beside our main house for the baking and packaging. Our home kitchen was used for simpler tasks like a test kitchen.

Regarding our logo, itt was Rey Evangelista (ok, he was about 29 years old in 1966 — and he headed the Cebu Jaycees Children’s Art Contest at that time) who designed our logo and tag-line, “It’s Super-D-Licious!” I love the retro look. Our bakeshop was located in Lahug, Cebu City.

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The perfect chocolate cake has just the right amount of that chocolate-ness and fudge icing. I often bake this cake during birthday celebrations. Sometimes my relatives order this cake but I avoid baking for profit. I bake out of love.

Here I will share the cake recipe and the fudge icing.

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Ube (Purple Yam) Halaya is one of my favorite desserts that I remember with fondness. Mom often prepared Ube Halaya in a pyrex dish. I liked the natural purple color instead of the bright purple color that I often see in commercial ube halaya. The best ube comes from Bohol because of its aromatic fragrance and sweetness. Perhaps, this legend explains the gift granted to the Bohol Ube Kinampay. Kinampay is a kind of ubi, the most expensive kind yet there are many varieties that are named Kinampay. The Bohol Ube Kinampay can be found in Dauis, Panglao, Tagbilaran, Corella and other southwestern towns of Bohol.

Granting you have the Bohol Ube, here is a simple recipe of Ube Halaya prepration. There are many variations that use coconut milk and evaporated milk but I use condensed milk.

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Food for the Gods is such a delightful recipe to bake during the holidays when one doesn’t have the time to bake Fruit Cake. It entails less preparation and baking time. It’s the perfect dessert to prepare beforehand. Baked with a delightful blend of dates and walnuts, molasses, tinge of brandy and cinnamon, the taste is reminiscent of fruit cake sans the fruit glaze. You should try it. It’s simple to bake.

Here is my recipe to start you off baking a dessert fit even for gods.

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