Leche Flan Filipino Recipe

To other countries, it is known as Creme Caramel or Caramel Custard, but to us Filipinos, it is Leche Flan (Milk Flan). This very rich and delicious dessert consists of a custard base with a soft caramel on top. It is prepared by pouring sugar syrup into a mold and then adding the custard base.

The Filipino version differs because it uses more egg yolks and condensed milk which makes it more dense. The most common way of preparing it is by steaming over a stove top or open flame. The mold is a baking pan that is oval shaped called llanera, but nowadays, custard cups and ramekins are also utilized as molds.

The Leche Flan is very popular that any celebration is not complete without it, especially during the holidays. It is also very easy to prepare and the ingredients are easy to find. The basic ingredients are egg yolks, sugar, evaporated and condensed milk and flavoring, usually vanilla.

Try this Leche Flan recipe and enjoy this creamy and sweet delight that will keep you wanting for more.

Preparation Time: 20 mins

Cooking Time: 1 hour

Yield: 6 servings

Cooking Ingredients:

For the caramel

1 cup brown sugar

¼ cup water

For the custard

10 egg yolks

12 oz evaporated milk

14 oz condensed milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Directions:

1. To prepare the caramel, dissolve the sugar in water in a saucepan. Caramelize the sugar in low heat by swirling the pan gently without stirring. When you have achieved a light brown color, pour the mixture into the mold. Coat all the parts of the mold, including the sides.

2. In a mixing bowl, mix together the condensed milk, evaporated milk, egg yolks and vanilla extract with a whisk or a blender. Make sure that bubbles aren’t formed. Use the strainer if there are any solid particles.

3. Pour the mixture in the mold on top of the caramel. Fill it to about an inch thick. Cover the mold with aluminum foil.

4. Steam for around 30 to 40 minutes. To test if it is already cooked, insert a knife in the center. If it comes out clean, it is done.

5. Let it cool at room temperature. Loosen the flan by running a knife around the edges of the mold. Place a serving dish on top of the mold, and gently turn it upside down with the caramel on top as a sauce.

6. Put in the refrigerator for several hours before serving.

7. Enjoy!

Has it ever occurred to you why Filipinos speak English well whereas natives of other Asian countries struggle with the English language? Come to think of it, Japanese men and women seek Filipino tutors, whether it’s online or offline. Koreans have to go the Philippines to study English, and thanks to that, tourism and the economy in the Philippines blossomed, with Koreans flying in and out of the country, and buildings constructed and rooms set up to accommodate the Koreans’ need to  study English in the Philippines. As it turned out, many Filipinos are able to not only expand their network of friends but to find work as tutors to these Koreans.

Actually, why Filipinos have the ability to speak English rather fluently is because of their American influences. For a time, the Philippines was under American rule, and so the Filipino people are able to learn the English language by heart.

Not only that, in many schools, English is used as the medium of instruction. This has, in fact, elicited controversies since English is not at all the national language of the country. Needless to say, English subjects are being taught in schools across the nation. In grade school, kids are taught the American Alphabet, and how to read English as well. Grammar and correct sentence structure are emphasized early on. The highly advanced schools have speech laboratories which provide an ideal environment for students to practice speaking well, especially in public. With these kinds of training alone, it isn’t surprising to find most Filipinos becoming good communicators and writers of the English language.

It doesn’t end there. In many homes in the Philippines, the use of the English language is encouraged. In the middle and upper classes of society, the parents often talk to their children in English, and the children respond in English as well. Even caretakers of these children have to speak in English.

English movies and TV shows have also become a learning ground for Filipinos to learn English. It’s not so bad to sit in front of the “idiot box” after all when you think about it. Quite interestingly, children who are glued to cartoon or animated shows day in and day out are able to speak better English (with American accent) than those who are not. Now, I’m not saying I am encouraging watching TV. I am merely pointing out the fact that watching TV is also an educational experience if not abused.

This ability of the Filipinos to speak English gives them an edge over their Asian counterparts when it comes to finding and landing jobs in English-speaking countries. Filipino workers are highly favored and in-demand abroad because foreign employers deem communication skills as important, and they know that with Filipino workers, they will not have any major difficulty understanding one another.

But you know, the reasons why Filipinos speak English well become immaterial because what’s really important anyway is that they do, and that they possess far greater qualities than the ability to speak the English language.

My fiance works on a cargo ship which sails across many seas. We will get married in a month. I met him at a get-together, when a group of us went to celebrate my friend’s birthday. He sang passionately and I fell in love with his voice. I also enjoy singing, so we sang many songs that evening and we ended up exchanging addresses and telephone numbers.

Filipinos can be very romantic and my fiance is no exception. The word for romance in Filipino (Tagalog) is romansa. I told my fiance that he must have inherited a romantic gene because he is so nice. He laughed and said that that might be so. He speaks Tagalog (Filipino); a language spoken in the Philippines. Filipino (Tagalog) consists of Spanish, English and words native to the Tagalog language.

I still remember that night when my fiance serenaded me with “love songs” (awit ng pagmamahal) on his guitar. Every time he visited, he would stand outside and sing. He would bring me flowers and chocolates and leave them on the doorstep. That was so sweet.

Because he works on a ship, I rarely get to see him. We communicate mainly by email. During this visit he had been on a two month vacation. I decided that I wanted to get to know him better before he sailed away. My father met him and immediately liked him. The news that we were to marry spread quickly in my neighborhood. My mother overheard our neighbor saying, “Siya ay nanliligaw sa kanya” (he is courting her daughter). Traditionally, in the earlier days, a man would have to court the whole family if he was interested in the girl. In Tagalog the word for “marry’ is pakasalan and “marriage” is “kasal.” Today, men and women use their cell phones or computers to text each other with romantic phrases. In Tagalog the word for love is pagmamahalan.

Our big day arrived and we finally got married. He has one month of vacation left before he leaves to go back to the ship. He has promised to quit his job within two years and find permanent employment on land so that we can spend more time together. Among the things that he and I enjoy doing include going out and watching movies (pelikula). He does not like heavy drama (matinding drama) so we watch action movies and I like them too. During one movie he whispered, “mahal kita” which means, “I love you,” and I replied, “Iniibig kita” (I love you). Both mean the same thing and the meaning is different than that of “liking” someone. If you just “like” a person, you say, “gusto kita.”

My husband and I have made plans and among them are: we have decided that we would buy a house instead of renting and paying rent. We have also planned to move to another city.

Time flew quickly and my husband had to leave to join his ship. He confessed before leaving that he was a little nervous about leaving me but I felt reassured when he said the following romantic Tagalog phrase, “mahal kita ng buong puso ko.” which means, “I love him with all of my heart.” I made him promise to call me whenever he had the chance so that I could hear his voice. I wished him a safe trip and I was very sad when he left. I already miss him. I am now counting the days until he returns.

Are you looking for a beautiful Asian mail-order bride who can be an ideal life partner or a sexy Asian girl who can spice up your monotonous life? If yes, you should definitely not miss out the beautiful Filipino girls interested in inter-cultural relationships. When it comes to finding sexy Asian women singles online for dating or for marriage, women from the Philippines are most preferred by men all over the world owing to their attractive beauty, great sex appeal, and a humble nature.

But, most foreign men fail to distinguish between the charming Philippine ladies and other prospective Asian brides of different nationalities. As a matter of fact, the former are very different from the Thai, Japanese, Malaysian, or Chinese women. Following are some of their attributes that make them so different, so special, and the most eligible brides:

1) Their unmatched, immaculate beauty and innocent looks are sure to win your heart forever. Be it dating or marriage, these girls are very friendly and will always make you feel special once they fall in love with you.

2) They are well-known for their rich family values. They truly believe in having strong bonds and close relationships with all relatives.

3) Besides, they are best known for their strong religious beliefs. Most of them are Catholic or Christian in faith. However, a Filipina woman is so adaptable and broad minded that she would never mind to accept your faith and religion after marriage, if the situation demands.

4) They are brought up to respect their husbands and therefore, are very strong on their commitments, no matter what come may.

5) Besides being loyal and faithful, they are humble, polite, and romantic.

In short, Philippine women have a heart of gold. In order to impress them and win their hearts, you need to be really patient and truthful in your intentions and efforts. A Filipino girl is sure to add spice to your life and make it more beautiful than ever. You can meet these girls online or browse through their profiles on mail-order bride catalogs.

You can ask kids from the provinces what a buchi is and they will all tell you it is a delicious snack. It’s one of my favorites when I was still a schoolgirl and I love it until now. As a mom, I prepare it at home sometimes for my family to enjoy this delicious and chewy merienda (Tagalog word for snack). You can also serve it as a dessert but most Filipinos take it during snacktime.

It is very easy to prepare and anyone who has tried frying can do it. I used to think that it is hard to get it perfect. But when I tried it (using my aunt’s recipe), it was exactly how I wanted it to be. Just the same as the buchi that I bought from the school canteen when I was still a little girl.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice (soaked overnight and ground, then wrapped in cheesecloth and hung to drip)
• 1/2 cup mongo
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/8 cup water

Cooking Procedure:

• Boil the mongo and mash after cooking. Dissolve 1/3 cup sugar in 1/8 cup water. Add to mashed mongo and cook over moderate heat until dry. Cook then form into balls.
• Dissolve 2 tablespoons of sugar in 2 teaspoons water.
• As soon as the ground rice is dry, add the sugar solution and mash the mixture. Shape into small balls and flatten each small ball of rice dough in the palm. Thin out and wrap over one ball of mongo.
• Fry in deep hot fat until brown. Drain excess oil before serving.

Sapin-sapin is a very old Filipino delicacy which is handed down from generation to generation. It originated from Abra, a province in the northern part of the Philippines. Because it has been around for years, it is self explanatory why several versions are already spread throughout the country.

At present, you will find sapin-sapin almost everywhere, from school canteens, to Filipino restaurants and cake shops. This version that I’m sharing with you is a recipe given by my Grandma to my Mama. And yes, my Mama shared it with me. So enjoy cooking. sapin-sapin!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice flour (soaked in 1½ cups water)
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 coconuts (5 cups coconut milk)
• ½ kilo ube (pared, boiled, mashed and strained)
• ½ tsp powdered anis

Cooking Procedure:

• For the top layer, mix 1½ cups thick coconut milk (first extraction), ½ cup rice flour, and 2/3 cup sugar. To the rest of the rice flour, add the remaining coconut milk, sugar and anis. Stir well. Divide the mixture into two parts. Mix one part with the ube to be used for the middle layer. Use the other part for the bottom layer. Add yellow food coloring to make a light yellow mixture.
• Boil water in a carajay (large pan) and place a bamboo steamer with thick muslin and pour on it ¾ cup of the pink mixture for the bottom layer. Cover the carajay and steam mixture until firm. Pour over first layer the ube mixture and steam again. When firm, pour over ube layer the mixture for the top layer and steam again. When firm, remove from the steamer. Allow to cool. Slice into ½ inch wedges.
• Arrange on a platter lined with banana leaves and serve.

There are two unique positive traits that show the values of Filipinos in life. These values toward the truth, family, and respect to fellows are the foundations of the core strengths of the character of the Filipinos. As a Filipino, I can say that the Philippine nation is known for honesty or “katapatan” and its strong sense of family and community ties due to the orientation of its people.

Known as the value of “katapatan” in the Filipino language, honesty is one great positive attitude of Filipinos. This virtue of righteousness and truthfulness in both mind and heart makes Filipino workers world class. This virtue particularly strengthens the nation with trustworthy citizens.

This does not mean however that all Filipinos are honest. This article only explains that honesty is very visible among the Philippine society and even portrayed in every detail of life. In fact, honesty is always emphasized and highly regarded in movies and daily television shows in the Philippines. Thus, the Philippine audience is always attracted to stories of righteousness, a strong expression of their hope for better days in their choice in siding with the good.

Honesty results to the second positive trait which is the strong sense of family and community. This indigenous trait of the Philippine people is called “pakikipagkapwa-tao” in the native tongue. The strong family orientation is further extended in the community, encouraging cooperation among the neighborhood and at the work place.

To exemplify this strong sense of community, Filipinos are fond of interaction with fellow especially in times of crisis. You can see this in times of death where family, relatives, colleagues, and friends extend financial, moral, and emotional support at this depressed time. This concept of neighborliness is further shown in spending time with each other more with mutual visiting and even exchanging food.

These two values are unique positive traits of the Filipino people. Indeed, Filipinos take pride in their selves these values founded on a life of truthfulness with close family and a highly cooperative community.

Back in the old days, Filipino dating culture was very predictable. Showing interest in a Filipino lady was made public by visiting the woman at her home. He could serenade her on any given night or when the moon was full for a more romantic touch. It was either alone or with friends. The man had to win the favor of the woman and her family before he could visit the woman in her home.

Rivalry was very civil that sometimes both men would visit at the same time. It was prim and proper for the Filipina to entertain who came first and always made sure to give enough time for the one who came in last. Walks at the parks or beach were mostly what made a typical date out during those times and a chaperon was a must.

Today, dating has evolved and somehow has been influenced by the culture of the west. The Filipino dating culture now has lots of facets. Serenading has vanished, in urban areas at least, the dating customs has taken diverse applications. Dating has now become a fad. Public displays of affection are acceptable norms. With the rise of mobile phones and the creation of the internet, romance can develop from a brief courtship.

Loyalty, commitment accompanied with trust, and open communication play an integral part for a Filipino romance to be successful. Filipinas are intensely loyal and sensitive to their partners. The Filipino women also reassurance and emotional security from their partners to make their relationship more fulfilling. As long as these components are present in the relationship, then the relationship will have that a lasting bond.

Considering the close knit family ties of the Filipino culture, approval of the parents make the relationship worthwhile. It will make your bond stronger as partners since it will mean less stress on the relationship especially if the woman, though she may already be a young adult, still lives with the parents. Despite the radical changes of Filipino dating cultures, the family of the Filipina woman especially the parents still has a say in the end.

During the Spanish regime, all male Filipinos from 18 to 60 years of age were required to give their free labor, called polo, to the government. This labor was for 40 days a year, reduced to 15 days in 1884. It was in various forms, such as building roads and bridges, constructing public buildings and churches, cutting timber in the forest, working in shipyards, and serving the Spanish military expeditions. One who rendered forced labor was called a polista.

The members of the principalia (town aristocracy) were exempt from the polo. Rich Filipinos annually paid the falla, a sum amounting to seven pesos, in order to be exempt from forced labor. The local officials (former and incumbent gobernadorcillos, cabezas de barangay, etc.) and schoolteachers were also exempted by law from the polio because of their services to the state.

Evidently, only the poor Filipinos who had no social or political standing in the community were made to give forced labor. This practice greatly contributed to the widespread Filipino aversion to physical labor, which has only recently been overcome by attractive wages overseas.

The conditions for forced labor were (1) that it should be used only for necessary public works and constructions intended to improve the community; (2) that the workers were to be paid in full for their work; (3) that the alcaldes mayor should consider the physical condition of each laborer, that is, the weak should not be overworked; (4) that the laborers should not be sent to work in distant lands; (5) that the giving of service should be timed so as not to interfere with the planting or harvest seasons.

All this was good only on paper, however; the laws of forced labor were often violated. Laborers were seldom paid their wages. They were separated from their families by being made to work in distant areas. They were not given food, as required by law; they had to provide their own food instead. Moreover, they were shamefully overworked, and thousands of Filipino laborers died at the worksites as a result.

The Filipino Tribute to the Colonial Government

In order to get enough money to pay for the administration of the country and the construction of churches, government buildings, roads and bridges, and improvements in transportation and communication, the Filipinos were compelled to pay tribute called tributo, to the colonial government. The tributo was imposed as a sign of the Filipinos’ loyalty to the king of Spain. Those who paid tribute were individuals above sixteen years old and below sixty. At the start, a tribute amounting to eight reales was collected. The tribute increased in 1598 and a small part of it, called sanctorum, went to the church. Because of the widespread opposition to the tribute and to the abuses in its collection, the king abolished it in 1884. The cedula personal, the equivalent of which is the present residence certificate, was introduced in its place.

Aside from the tribute, the Filipinos also paid other taxes. There were the diezmos prediales, the donativo de Zamboanga, and the vinta. The diezmos prediales was a tax consisting of one-tenth of the produce of one’s land. The donativo de Zamboanga, introduced in 1635, was taxed specifically used for the conquest of Jolo. The vinta was tax paid by people in the provinces along the coast of Western Luzon to defend the area against Muslim pirates common at the time, as can still be seen from the surviving towers of stone (where bells were rung to warn the locality when Muslim pirates arrived).

If you are looking to celebrate the holiday season in the Philippines, it should be of great interest to you to find out how do Filipino girls celebrate New Year in their home country. This ought to make your vacation more memorable, and not only that; it might also bring you closer to the heart of a Filipina.

In the Philippines, New Year is not a separate event, but rather an extension of Christmas. And so there is pretty much of the Christmas cheer left come New Year’s Day.

A few days before New Year, vendors can be found in designated areas selling fire crackers (paputok), such as Baby Rockets, Rebentador, Jumbo Fountain, Whistle Bomb, Luisis, Watusi, Bulalakaw, and Triangulo. Actually the selling of firecrackers has been banned or already regulated because of the many accidents caused by these. Yet vendors continue to sell, and Filipinos continue to buy them. These firecrackers, lighted on New Year’s Eve, decorate the night sky and create loud, deafening noises, bidding goodbye to the year that was and welcoming the New Year.

Typically, the men take care of lighting of the firecrackers, while women busy themselves with the preparations for the New Year’s Noche Buena. They make sure there is an abundance of foods and fruits on the table at the strike of midnight.

Traditionally, Filipino girls celebrate New Year with their family at home. The more religious of the lot hear the New Year’s eve mass, while others prefer to stay at home and help out in the preparations in whatever way they can. If you want to make an impression with a Filipina, offer to accompany her in Church and if she invites you for Noche Buena, accept it and offer your services. She will make you feel welcome at home and you will have a great time with her relatives and friends. The celebration lasts until way past midnight.

Well, that’s how far as tradition goes. Modern Filipino women have other ways of celebrating the New Year. Some choose to have dinner in a hotel which usually has many exciting offers that include special dinner buffet and a spectacular display of fireworks at 12 midnight. And since it’s often dangerous to go back home with many Filipinos out in the streets still lighting their firecrackers, these modern girls end up spending the night in the hotel.

The day after is a bit lazy for everyone. People are in their homes, sleeping, resting, or just lying about. There aren’t many vehicles on the streets, no passengers waiting in terminals, no pedestrians crossing the streets. Most establishments, including malls and groceries, are closed, so there really is nowhere else to go but home. New Year’s day itself is very quiet.

Now that you have an idea how do Filipino girls celebrate new year, you have a choice of sticking with tradition or jazzing it a bit to make it more interesting for you and for the Filipino girl you choose to celebrate the New Year with.