Himalayan Rock Salt Sprinkled Fil-Am ROULADE.

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HIMALAYAN ROCK SALT SPRINKLED FIL-AM ROULADE
(MY 3RD RECIPE IMPERFECTION FOR THE YEAR
…BESIDES BEING PERFECTLY YUMMY)
A bit of “story-telling-a-lie” prelude.
Why imperfection?
Of 37 years involvement with food ingredients’ blending,
 each time I create a new and/or innovate dish
(either for our own offering or for client-restos) , all angles,…repeat
…all angles are considered & set to matter in the final come-out:
*from “just needed ingredients’ mix” to utilize
 *to systematic and chronological order of pouring them in
to attain desired aroma, flavor and whole-roundedness
*up to final “simple appetite-stimulating flare” capped-off by
photographic angle shots.
Two times this year I blundered, not with ingredients’ blend,
but 1: overlooking a better part of pork to use
than the one in client-submitted recipe
2: being contented with a “so-so” angle snap
that it was quite late to redeem the already published shot.
Why sprinkle Pakistan’s Himalayan rock salt?
For aesthetics, exotic-ity in a dish and the subtle saltiness it renders.
(Never mind if you don’t get this. Ordinary table salt will do)
Why Roulade?
Roulade is a French term meaning to roll,
where sliced meat  is rolled over fillings.
Different countries have their signature fillings like:
1.    bacon & onion for Germany that they call theirs Rouladen
2.    eggs, crumbs and cheese for Braciole the Italian Roulade
3.    SZUZ for the Hungarian minced meat filled Roulade.
and a lot more.
The MORCON of Pinoys, which in itself is a Roulade, is erroneously termed as such
for Morcon is a Spanish word for big intestines,
the very reason why I did not call this dish as such.
Why Fil-Am Roulade?
At left of picture is the type that contains ham, hotdog and cheese
as fillings thus, American in nature.
At right the local fillings make it a Filipino: vigan longaniza, cheese,
red & green bell peppers etc.
AND WHAT’S THE 3RD IMPERFECTION?
Honestly, 2:
1.    I sliced the beef so thinly that during braising some fillings slipped off
2.    I forgot to pour the ultra sumptuous full flavored braising sauce
that made the beef in pic looks so DRY.
DRY? Ah never mind. Dyahi but still I have to post.
Anyway, let’s do it and babawi na lang ako next time..
INGREDIENTS:
1 kilo fully cleaned beef, ¼-inch thick rectangularly/squarely-sliced sirloin or top round (or brisket or short plate).
Try to come-up with 2 sheets.
Should there be trimmings on ends in creating square or rectangle
beef-sheet, slice thinly & include them in the fillings.
10 grams coarse sea salt
5 grams ground black pepper
500 ml. tomato sauce
400 ml. tap water
100 ml. palm or soya oil
enough thick thread for tie-ing
AMERICAN FILLING:
3 slices of your fave ham
2 pieces hotdogs
1 & ½ hard boiled eggs
3 slices of cheddar cheese
3 pieces celery stalks
½ sliced red bell pepper
½ sliced green bell pepper
FILIPINO FILLING:
3 pieces vigan longaniza
1 & ½ hard boiled eggs
3 slices of cheddar cheese
½ red bell pepper
½ green bell pepper
30 ml. Tabasco sauce
PROCEDURES:
1.    Dust 2 beef sheets with salt & pepper
2.    Line up in the middle all the fillings of the American type.
3.    Do the same with fillings of Filipino type.
4.    Roll into round log.
5.    Secure with thick thread.
6.    Heat oil at medium temp. One at a time, brown fully each side-all around beef rolls.
May take 10-15 minutes each roll. Set aside.
7.    In suitable casserole, line at bottom both rolls.
Pour in water, tomato sauce and the left over browning oil. Stir well.
8.    Bring to boil. Once boiling starts set temp to lowest and simmer
for 1 hour 45 minutes.
9.    When done, slice, arrange in plate, garnish and scrape-off OPTIONAL rock salt on top
or sprinkle with ordinary coarse sea salt.
10. Serve with left over sauce as side dip.

Saba Con Hielo

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SABA CON HIELO
(COFFEE-FLAVORED SWEETENED “SABA” IN SHAVED ICE & MILK)
Another quick-prep dessert loved by kids.
Simple to create with all ingredients at hands’ reach.
Different taste.
Coffee flavor rounding off with sugar syrup.
INGREDIENTS:
6 pieces ripe-sliced “saging na saba” (Cardava banana)
120 grams brown sugar
15 grams instant coffee granules
(NOT the 3-in-1 blended ones but the plain coffee powder.
Nescafe Classic is a good one to use)
150 ml. evaporated milk
300 ml. tap water
enough shaved ice
your cooked “gulaman” for garnish.
PROCEDURES:
1.    In suitable casserole pour in water and heat.
2.    As water starts to simmer, whisking constantly,
add in sugar and instant coffee.
3.    Pour in sliced “saba” and cook to desired done-ness.
4.    Scoop-in shaved ice in a bowl. Scatter cooked “saba” on top and sides.
5.    Garnish with your “gulaman” strips.
6.    Drizzle with leftover sugar-coffee-water mixture
and finish with generous evap milk.

“Ni-LATIK-ang Turon (Hindi Po NILANTAKANG Turon)

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NI-LATIKANG TURON
(HINDI PO NI-LANTAKANG TURON)
Mely’s Kitchen creates a good and special turon”
the one with “langka” (jackfruit) in it.
Great and yummy. Check for her recipe here:
http://melyskitchen.blogspot.com.br/2014/05/special-turon.html
Similar with a bit change in filling and dusts.
This is what we serve in our outlets.
Here we go.
INGREDIENTS:
6 pieces halved ripe Saging Na Saba” (Cardava or Saba Banana)
12 pieces “balat ng lumpia” (spring roll wrappers)
120 grams “latik” (sweetened coconut milk) [Lady’s Choice is a good brand]
50 grams confectioner’s sugar (ground sugar or icing sugar)
enough palm or soya oil for frying.
PROCEDURES:
1.    Lay 1 piece Saba” unto 1 spring roll wrapper.
2.    Drizzle with “latik” about 10 grams per.
3.    Log-roll and fry unto heated oil to desired done-ness.
4.    Before serving, shower with confectioners sugar
and drops of “latik”.
5. Simply done for a more Filipino touch.

Steamed Maya-Maya

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STEAMED MAYA-MAYA
(LEMON & GINGER JUICE MASSAGED STEAMED RED SNAPPER)
Again, for you busy bodies, blue-collared on weekdays,
housewives (or house-bands) on weekends…this simplest, no-sweat quick prep,
health-focused Thai-bent fish dish is herein dedicated.
INGREDIENTS:
1 fully cleaned medium Maya-Maya” slitted on each side
to enable massage-marinade to penetrate flesh.
MASSAGE MARINADE:
20 ml. Thailand’s fish sauce (any brand)
10 ml. calamansi or lemon juice
8 ml. ginger juice
2 grams ground black pepper
3 grams white sugar
OPTIONAL 2 grams MSG
GARNISH:
1 big bunch of  “dahon ng mustasa” (mustard leaves) joint end cut
3 pcs. tomatoes sliced (see pic)
3 pcs. “sili labuyo” (bird’s eye chilies)
3 pcs. “sili pansigang” (finger chilies or banana pepper)
1 medium sliced white onion
PROCEDURES:
1.    Blend and whisk massage-marinade ingredients in a bowl.
2.    Scoop via teaspoon and pour on all sides of fish with one hand,
especially inside the slits and head,
while the other hand scatters, rubs and massages along its flesh a bit. Set aside.
3.    In suitable steamer, fill underneath water vat with enough tap water.
Bring to boil.
4.    Brush with enough palm or soya oil the top slotted-container of the steamer
to prevent fish sticking to it when cooking.
5.    Once boiling, steam fish 3 minutes on each side.
6.    Remove fish. Set aside.
7.    Line up mustard leaves on slotted top container and lay fish again.
Garnish with tomatoes, labuyo, sili pansigang and onion.
Cover and simmer for another 1 minute.
8. Done. Serve on same slotted steamer with calamansi-soy sauce as dip.

The truth about “extenders” in the food we eat (2nd of 2 series). TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) What are these?

TVP
(Textured Vegetable Protein)
(or sometimes called Textured Soya Protein)
My major premise (again & again): NOTHING IS WRONG WITH TVPs.
It contains 50-65% protein.
You are not aware of it.
Producers label their food products so flowery-nice that these “extenders” are left un-noticed.
Different “extenders” are used by manufacturers to cut down on costs of goods sold unto you:
1. Chicken MDM (Mechanically De-boned Meat) (explained in 1st Series)
2. TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein or Soya Protein)
(below elaborated now)
There are other food “extenders” that you’re not aware of:
3. Bread & milk.
4. Modified Starches, different types of flour, rice & cereals.
5. Meat trimmings, internals & skins.
Rendering the name “textured”, these are manufactured from soya beans,
converted into paste then extruded into different shapes, sizes, color,
protein content and hydration capacity (the capacity to absorb water).
Sold by the sacks of 25kilos, red, white, natural light brown or caramel color, 50-65% protein content,
best quality ones are from USA, Israel and Brazil.
Argentina, Turkey, India and China joined the industry as demand keeps on rising year after year.
Prices are based on protein content, absorption capacity & size.
The higher the protein & absorption rate, the higher amount you shell out.
Normal absorption capacity is 1 part TVP:3 parts water.From above rate you will note that a kilo of TVP, approximately P75.00/ or U$D1.70/,
when hydrated with 3 kilos of water (in seconds) will come out 4 kilos of “seemingly like ground meat”
…at that P75.00/kilo price. Great cost cutting.
98% or processed meats (canned or frozen-packed), here & worldwide, contain TVP.
Some are manufactured with little meat (pork, beef, chicken etc.) plus TVP as extender and some,
aside from TVP, in conjunction with such, still add Chicken MDM plus other “extenders”.How low, do you think, will the production cost be if this formulation (TVP + MDM + other extenders) is employed?Your favorite most vaunted burger patty, almost ALL,
repeat almost ALL types of sausages & longanizas, luncheon meats, meat & beef  loaves, embutidos, dimsums, dumplings, meat & beef balls, corned beef etc and etc and etc…TVP plays the major role.
TVP is as basic as Tylenol, or Tempra or Biogesic when you have fever or wish to ease a pain.Let’s disect the widely bragged item…corned beef.
Why do you think a “low-cost” 100-gram can of corned beef can be sold at below P14.00 (U$D0.31)?
A kilo of good quality CARA-beef (or India’s buffalo meat) demands P130.00/ (U$D2.95/). By just plain division: P130/1000grams (1000 grams to a kilo) = P0.13 X 100 grams (100 grams can) = P13.00
So how can you sell it at say P14/can? MIRACLE?
The manufacturer makes ONLY P1/can?
Where do they charge product cost, labor, utilities, can, label, marketing expenses?
How about the profit of the dealers or distributors?
AND WE ARE TALKING OF INDIA’S BUFFALO MEAT, YET.
NOT THE REAL CATTLE BEEF which is much higher in price.

Oh really? Don’t pull my crump-prone leg guys.

Further, what if the label & ad campaign claim is: “made from Angus beef”?
Does real Angus beef mean TOP (1st rated or the EMIRP…you have to read this backwards) or the CHOICE (2nd rated) cut?
THINK. THINK VERY DEEPLY. Even if they double the price
…I will be too stubborn…as I will NEVER believe it’s Angus.
Check this out:
* The “chicken” in the “sotanghon soup” you buy…that’s white TVP-strips not chicken.
* The “beef” in your comfort food cupped-noodle soup are hydrated caramel TVP-minced.
*The highly popularized canned corned beef now, bragging of pure beef, the one used is
 red (or caramel colored) TVP-powder.
And once way too large volume of TVPs is used,
how do they mask the soya aroma & taste of the end product?
Flavors, concentrates of food extracts, add-on spices/herbs/condiments/chemicals etc. come to use.
THINK.