EVERY year, people take note of April Fool’s Day, which is today. I hope I don’t make a fool of myself with what I will share with you today. Instead of playing pranks on people with rubber frogs or snakes today, why not fry franks and surprise them instead with your kindness. Surprise them this year with food that have hidden treasures.
The thesis is simple. Give ordinary food some twist so that when your family or friends eat them, they will say, “Wow, I didn’t know the burger had this ‘hidden treasure’ you were talking about.”
Treasure here does not mean a gold ring or necklace, unless you’re proposing to your bae (girlfriend, uncle Gustave, and thanks for asking). Hide cheese cubes, or olives or ham cubes in food you commonly serve your family. Here’s a short overview of my thesis.
Darling at the Ball. Meatballs hide edible treasures easily. Make your usual meatball recipe and hide a cheese cube in each piece, or a cube of ham, a piece of olive or a slice of fried Chinese ham.
If you don’t know how to make meatballs, have the following: one-half kilo ground pork, six pieces garlic chopped, three pieces green onion minced, one small carrot grated, two eggs, flour enough to bind the mixture, salt, pepper and other flavorings you want.
Press your hidden treasure on a handful of ground mixture and form into a ball. Deep fry until golden brown.
Fish-tastic. Fish is another place you can hide treausres. I got this idea from a commercial that teaches people one way to use cheese.
For the fish-tastic dish, instead of cheese, fill the cavity with cooked ground pork mixture (ground pork, minced carrot, minced potato and raisins). Tie fish with string and deep fry.
Another filling uses grated carrots and singkamas (jicama or Mexican turnip), minced shrimps, onion and garlic. Saute and drain off liquid. Fill fish with the vegetable mixture, sealing the fish belly with toothpicks. Grill or deep fry.
Pork it Over. Pork chops can also hide treasures. Marinate pork chop in light soy sauce, lemon juice and garlic for 30 minutes. Slit the pork chop to make a pocket. You have a lot of choices for hidden treasusres such as a thin slice of pineapple, ham, bacon or hotdog stick.
Serve these dishes with half-cooked vegetables, light soup and fruit in season for dessert.