Life is Short, so Eat your Dessert First!

Posted on April 18, 2012 | by Ray

“Life is short, so eat your dessert first!” A gentleman named Rick told me this the other day and my reaction was just laughter. I thought it was funny coming from someone who said he loves to cook and eat. I got home still thinking about the phrase and still smiling about it. But I stopped for a moment and I thought; “hmm… maybe I was taking what he said on its face value.” Perhaps he wasn’t talking about food? What if he was talking about life in general? You know, like how we sometimes take other important things for granted. We get so occupied with making a living that we tend to forget how to enjoy life and all the things that are part of it like our loved ones. I just thought I’d share that with you.

Well since we are on the topic of dessert, why don’t we try one of Filipino classic dessert that is easy to prepare. It is called Ginataang Halo-Halo. “Ginataan” in Filipino means prepared and cooked with “coconut milk” and “Halo-Halo” literally means combination of everything. This treat is a combination of different types of sweet potatoes and yams, sweet rice flour shaped into little balls, and jack fruit. I’m sure you will love this dessert. Well, let’s start cooking, so we can eat our dessert first!

By the way, in case you’re curious, Rick is neither a Chef nor a cook by profession; he’s a cemetery plot salesman.

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Ginataang Halo-Halo

INGREDIENTS:

2 medium sweet potatoes - any type
1 medium purple yam
2 pcs burro bananas sliced into 1/2 inch rounds.
1 cup jack fruit - sliced to 1/4 inch strips
3/4 cup Mochiko sweet rice flour
1/2 cup water
3 cans coconut milk with 10 grams of fat or less
2/3 can condensed milk
1/4 cup sugar or to taste

Chopped yams and sweet potatoes.

DIRECTIONS:

Prepare the Rice Flour Balls.

Combine flour and water in a bowl.
Mix it until fully combined.
The consistency should be grainy and not pasty.
Mold each to a 1 inch ball.

Dang!!! Those Fingers are FAT! They remind me of Michelin tire character!

Cooking the Ginataan

Pour all the coconut milk into medium pot.
Place pot over medium heat and let it simmer.
Add rice flour balls.
When rice flour balls start to float, add jack fruit.
Let it boil for another 2 minutes.
Add all the cut potatoes and yams
Let it boil until potatoes and yams are tender.
Serve hot or room temperature.
ENJOY!

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52 Comments → “Life is Short, so Eat your Dessert First!”

Michelle @ delishiono

1 year ago

I remember when I was a kid, I would always get so excited when they’d have ginataang at a party. I loved picking out the mochi balls to eat first. YUM. This is probably the first recipe I’ve seen using condensed milk with the coconut milk — gotta try it
Michelle @ delishiono recently posted..Lamb Stew with Plums and Wild Rice

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  You should really try it with condensed milk, it’s good! Thank you, Michelle!
  
  Reply
Ariana Lemarr

1 year ago

Yummy desserts…… love to eat them all at one gallop.. hehhehehe..my hub usually tells me to eat what you love to eat as life can’t wait for your enjoyment.
Ariana Lemarr recently posted..Choisir lunette de tir

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- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thank you, Ariana! Your husband must be a very smart man.
  
  Reply
Gio of The Hungry Giant

1 year ago

This looks great! I would add sago/tapioca pearls for good measure but this will do as well! This is the epitome of a lazy Sunday afternoon in our household.

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Oh yes I remember back home my aunt putting sago whenever mochi was not available. Thank you, Gio!
  
  Reply
peachkins

1 year ago

One of my favorite meriendas! You just made me crave!

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thank you, my friend!
  
  Reply
Karyn18

1 year ago

This is the best and refreshing food ever! It’s so hot in this country, and we all need to have a bowl of this Ginatang Halo-halo!
Thanks for sharing your version of Ginatang Halo-halo.
Karyn18 recently posted..My attorney wasn’t nice to me

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Jeno @ Week Nite Meals

1 year ago

Hi Ray! Really enjoyed your intro before the recipe today! I am in need of a daily reminder to enjoy life and not focus on the daily grind. I am amazed you rolled the flour balls yourself, lazy little me would have just used the pre-made ones in the freezer section. Bet the dessert is delicious, I absolutely love taro roots and sweet potatoes!
Jeno @ Week Nite Meals recently posted..Slow Cooker Teriyaki Wings

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- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thank you, Cindy! Yeah, I thought about buying the pre-made ones but I said, what the heck it’s better, so I can showcase my hand! Haha!
  
  Reply
Tina (PinayInTexas)

1 year ago

Love the vibrant colors of your ginataang halo-halo, Ray! Hope I could find fresh purple yam the next time I make this yummy dessert.
Tina (PinayInTexas) recently posted..PiTCC Goes Japanese with Nikujaga from Just One Cookbook

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- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thank you, Tina! I’m sure you will find some at the Pinoy market near you.
  
  Reply
bamskitchen

1 year ago

Dear Ray,
Thanks for sharing the recipe for the rice balls as I use these in many desserts and sometime they do not have the pre-made ones in the market here in HK. Lovely delicate sweet soup. Take Care, BAM

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thank you for the compliment, Bam!
  
  Reply
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time

1 year ago

I have to admit that when I first saw the purple yam, I thought it was cooked ham and was a little grossed out. Now that I know what it really is, it looks delicious! I don’t think your fingers are fat, by the way.
The Mom Chef ~ Taking on Magazines One Recipe at a Time recently posted..Parsley Vinaigrette from Bon Appetit Magazine, April 2012

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Imagine if they are ham? It’s really gross. Hay, Yam, Ham they rhyme! Haha! Good to see you, Christiane!
  
  Reply
Kiri W.

1 year ago

I love this – all the ingredients are wonderful, and I have a huge mochi weakness. Beautiful colors, too!
Kiri W. recently posted..Arabian Style Leg Of Lamb

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- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Yes, me too I love mochi. Thank you, Kiri!
  
  Reply
Elizabeth @Mango_Queen

1 year ago

OMG! Guinataan with those “bilog-bilog” balls are my absolute favorite! I can just smell the aroma of the langka, and savor the ube flavors. I always had the “bilog-bilog” last because they were the best. Thanks for sharing this with us, Chef Ray and reminding us always that dessert is the most important meal of the day!!!!! Thanks for stopping by over at my blog! Your kindness and support mean a lot. Salamat po!
Elizabeth @Mango_Queen recently posted..MANGO CARAMEL ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Yup, what’s a ginataan without the mochi? Thank you too, Elizabeth.
  
  Reply
LinsFood

1 year ago

We used to have something similar to this, growing up in Singapore. I love it, am going to have to make yours! And you’re right, it’s all about the dessert!

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thank you, Lin!
  
  Reply
Amy @ FragrantVanillaCake

1 year ago

This dessert sounds amazing! I love coconut milk, and all of the ingredients together would be delicious! I have never heard of this so thanks for sharing !
Amy @ FragrantVanillaCake recently posted..Savory Roasted Beet and Green Garlic Almond Tart

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  You are welcome and thank you for visiting. I appreciate your comment.
  
  Reply
Carla

1 year ago

I miss this my grandma cook this to me during my vacation in Philippines. Love it!

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thank you, Carla!
  
  Reply
Carolyn Jung

1 year ago

The best part about Filipino desserts like this? They’re sweet, delicious and a total meal unto themselves.
Carolyn Jung recently posted..You Say “Tomato”? I Say “Tomato Bread”!

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thank you Carolyn for your comment.
  
  Reply
Sissi

1 year ago

Whether it’s about food or life in general, we should remember about the “dessert” every hour and every minute of our lives. Sadly, few of us do…
The dessert is once more very unusual (for me at least!) and beautiful!

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  I totally agree with you, Sissi! Thank you.
  
  Reply
purabi naha

1 year ago

This sounds like an amazing and healthy filipino recipe. I loved this recipe as well as the pictures!

Please drop by my blog http://cosmopolitancurrymania.blogspot.com/, where some awards are waiting for you!

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thanks, Purabi for visiting.
  
  Reply
the wicked noodle

1 year ago

I absolutely agree that life is too short and dessert should always be eaten first! Especially when it looks this lovely, Ray!
the wicked noodle recently posted..spanikopita

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- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  That is a really sweet comment, Kristy. Thank you!
  
  Reply
Javelin Warrior

1 year ago

This is so beautiful and simple – and unlike any dessert I have ever seen. I love how the combination of colors and textures… I am featuring this post in today’s Friday Food Fetish roundup (with a link-back and attribution), but please let me know if you have any objections. I’m new to your blog, but it’s a pleasure to be following your creations…
Javelin Warrior recently posted..Food Fetish Friday 4/20/2012

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Welcome to Wok with Ray and thank you for featuring this post, Javelin.
  
  Reply
Raymund

1 year ago

Very nice! I love the composition in this photo. I love this recipe as well, we usually have them for snack, dessert or even breakfast, I even love mine cold
Raymund recently posted..Ube Halaya

Reply
Mikai

1 year ago

Life is definitely short so make the most out of it.. Be sure to do anything that makes you happy because who knows, there might no tomorrow anymore..
Mikai recently posted..Sharepoint Hosting

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Mark

1 year ago

Looks delicious Ray! This one is quite similar to a Malaysian dessert called Bubur Cha Cha. I’m sure all the countries in SE Asia have their version.

Is it possible to get fresh jackfruit in California?

By the way, talking about eating your dessert first, that was one thing I was surprised about living in SE Asia. I am always being served dessert first like red bean soup, green bean soup, ais kacang, cendol. I was surprised, but you know, I never complained:)

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- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Hey Mark! Oh yes, in most larger Asian supermarkets fresh jack fruits are available. I always want to us fresh but they are too big. Thanks for dropping by, Mark!
  
  Reply
Nami | Just One Cookbook

1 year ago

Hi Ray! I’ve seen this dessert before and it seems and sounds wonderful although I haven’t tried one. I love taro, sweet potatoes, coconut, condense milk, the rice flour balls…I can imagine how all of these in one bowl! I love the rice flour balls and Japanese makes similar (but different flavor) dessert called anmitsu. I should make that one day. I can take what Rick says literally and eat this dessert first…. =)

Reply
Karen (Back Road Journal)

1 year ago

Your dessert looks like it should be on the cover of a magazine.
Karen (Back Road Journal) recently posted..Szechuan Crispy Orange Beef

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Hester @ Alchemy in the Kitchen

1 year ago

You are so right, Ray. I think that definitely applies to life and what a dessert you’ve cooked for us! I love that it has lots of healthy ingredients so I won’t feel too bad going for a second helping
Hester @ Alchemy in the Kitchen recently posted..Chocolate Éclairs – a ‘First Class’ Pastry !

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Heidi19

1 year ago

Wow! what a mouthwatering desert you have here Ray! I’m so excited to try this. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us. Love it!
Heidi19 recently posted..Different Stages Of Arowana Fry Still Attached To the Egg Yolk For Your Viewing Pleasure…

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Juliana

1 year ago

Oh Ray, this is one of my favorite desserts…and yours is loaded with all kind of flavors, colors and textures…I wold love to have a bowl of this dessert right now.
Have a wonderful week ahead

Reply
Reem | Simply Reem

1 year ago

This looks really good Ray, I have not seen or tried this before but I have to now…
I love how much I learn here on ur website… Beautifully!!!

Reply
Rochell Harrison

1 year ago

This dessert look like delicious…Where does this recipe originated its unique?
Rochell Harrison recently posted..RSA QLD Course

Reply
- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  From the Philippines, Rochell. Thanks for asking.
  
  Reply
mjskit

1 year ago

What a very interesting dessert! I don’t see many dessert with such savory ingredients, but yams and sweet potatoes – makes sense. Those are naturally sweet vegetables and with the coconut milk, I can only imagine the combination of flavors! Those little rice flour balls look interesting. I’m very curious as to their taste and texture. Thanks for sharing such a unique dessert!
mjskit recently posted..Baked Pork Loin Chops

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- Ray
  
  1 year ago
  
  Hi MJ! You are right, the potatoes and yams are naturally sweet. The mochi balls gives a little bit of chewy texture in contrast to the soft texture of the yams and potatoes. Thank you for visiting, MJ!
  
  Reply
Magic of Spice

1 year ago

I am all for dessert first…both actually and metaphorically I have never tried this delight, but it looks and sounds wonderful!
Magic of Spice recently posted..Food Tip~Taming the Artichoke

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