Filipino Purple Yam Cookies

Hopia (Purple Yam Cookies) are a very popular treat in the Philippines

To me they tasted like a patty of pastry crust surrounding a sweet filling, much like a miniature pie. I have never had sweet potato pie, but I imagine it might taste similar to this interesting confection (No offense meant to true aficionados!)

Here in Canada (or at least in my hometown of Prince George, British Columbia) you can only find them frozen so they aren't quite as good. However, they are still quite tasty!

My delightful Filipino girlfriend loves these potato pastries and prefers to eat them straight out of the refrigerator.

My wonderful girlfriend has nostalgic childhood memories of her mother buying Hopia all the time, making sure to keep plenty in stock. There is also a sweet bean (or red bean) variety, but her family have always preferred the Ube (Purple Yam) cookie.

If you are in the mood for trying a new cookie or want a gift to impress your Filipino friends, a pack of tasty Hopia may fit the bill!

Dry, Dry Dilis

 Do you want to try an authentic Filipino snack food? Look no further than Dilis, spicy fried anchovies that will delightfully burn and scrape your mouth.

 My lovely Filipino girlfriend says she loves "how they remove your mouth" and while that might be a slight overstatement, the amount of cayenne she liberally seasons these little guys with definitely packs quite the punch, both in taste and in the homemade tear gas that erupts from the frying pan while they are cooking!

 Dipped in an spicy vinegar, these tiny fish make an excellent appetizer or drinking snack. The combination of the salt, oil, and spice result in one of those finger foods that your brain cannot seem to stop your hand from shoving in your face.

The recipe we used to make them was quite simple. perfect for whipping up on short notice for guests.

Ingredients:

Dried Anchovies

Any Neutral Oil

Cayenne Powder

Spicy Vinegar (Datu Puti)

Recipe:

Heat some oil in a pan, chuck those anchovies in, and season to your liking with Cayenne. 

(Pro-tip): Make sure the windows are open and the stove fan is on if you want to avoid coughing for the near-foreseeable future. 

For that authentic "burning and scraping" sensation, make sure to be heavy handed with the Cayenne.

Serve with the Spicy Vinegar in a dipping bowl on the side and enjoy.