Remembering My Nanay Through Her Favorite Maja Blanca

“A mother is the truest friend we have, 

when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; 

when adversity takes the place of prosperity; 

when friends desert us; 

when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, 

 and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, 

and cause peace to return to our hearts.” 

- Washington Irving

I've always been very close to my mom. Though I grew up surrounded by good friends, I've always felt that she's the only one TRUE friend I have. Losing her to gastric cancer was truly devastating for me! I didn't only lose a mother, I also lost my best friend! And though almost 5 years have passed, there are still times when I couldn’t seem to grasp that she’s gone forever. Everyone said it would get easier with time but that doesn't seem to work for me. Losing someone who has always been there, looking out for me, cheering me up and giving me inspiration and encouragement is a big deal. It really saddens me that she's not with me anymore, and believe me, there are times when simple thoughts of her make me burst into tears. I often find myself so envious of those people who still have their mom around. Though I have Ryan and the girls (who definitely make me happy), the feeling of being a motherless daughter sucks! That feeling is worse on holidays and Mother's Day when everyone's thinking of their moms, buying them gifts and doing something special to thank them. That makes me so jealous and miss her even more! 

Today, in honor of Mother's Day, I want to dedicate this post to her...the wonderful woman who gave life to me and raised me to be the loving and responsible mom that I am now - 

ANSELMA LOPEZ FLORES

I truly love my mother deeply! She is the best, you know! I am sure a lot of people say that but I really mean it. While my mom was always a good mother, she was a lot more than that! She was my greatest teacher---she didn't just teach me how to read and write, she also taught me everything that aren't taught in school...she taught me to be honest, forgiving and to treat others the way I want to be treated...she taught me to be independent and to have my own opinions and thoughts instead of going along with everyone else...she taught me to always be thankful and appreciative of the simplest things I have and the things others bring to my life; she said saying thank you is a very simple thing to do but it means a lot...she taught me that laughter is indeed the best medicine but there's nothing wrong in crying and it can make you feel better too. My mom was also my biggest fan and cheerleader. She was always there for me and she never failed to give me the encouragement and support I need in everything I do, no matter how big or small. Above all, my mom was also my best friend. Our relationship was actually more like of sisters rather than of mom and daughter. We really did spend a lot of time together and whether we're eating out, watching a movie, shopping or just talking about anything, it was always fun. With her, I can totally be myself...I can tell her anything and she would totally understand. She accepted me and kept on loving me despite all my flaws! With her, I always felt safe and loved. I am truly lucky to have her as my mother! To her (and my dad, of course), I owe everything that I am today. Now that I am a mother myself, the thought that my Nanay has truly done motherhood so well inspires me to be the best kind of mother that I can be.  I know that I can never repay her for everything that she has done for me, but being able to pass on to my daughters her amazing legacy of selfless love would be a great way of honoring her!

To all of you who still have your moms around, treasure your time together and be sure to give her a hug and tell her how much you love her, not just on Mother's Day...but everyday!!!

And to all the wonderful mothers out there,

 I salute you for your endless sacrifice! 

You truly deserve all the love in the world!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

As I've mentioned many times before, I got my love of food and cooking from my mom. With that being said, this post wouldn't be complete without sharing with you something related to food. So as I remember and honor my beloved mother, I want to share with you a recipe of her favorite dessert called Maja Blanca. This dessert is usually served during fiestas and the holidays. Adapted from the traditional Spanish holiday dessert manjar blanco which means white delicacy, Maja Blanca is a Filipino dessert made primarily from coconut milk and cornstarch. It has the consistency of thick gelatine and is usually creamy white in color. 

Though the basic ingredients remain the same, it can easily be adapted to include other ingredients...like this manner of cooking that I got from my Nanay. If you noticed from the picture, my Maja Blanca is yellowish in color. This isn't just because of the corn but because it has cheese in it. I'm not a big fan of the regular Maja Blanca. It's good, but I usually don't get excited when I see it on the party table. But this one, I really love! It's cheesy and creamy and I just can't say no to that! I've seen and tasted other Maja Blanca with cheese...but only for topping, which I also like...but my Nanay's version for me is still the best! Adding cream and cheese in cooking it makes it even tastier!

 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1 *12oz. can evaporated milk
• 1 *13.5oz. can coconut milk
• 1 *14oz.can condensed milk
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 *15.25oz. can whole kernel corn
• 1 cup finely grated mild cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup latik (fried coconut milk curd) or toasted coconut

Procedure: 

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, pour coconut milk and bring to a slight boil. Add the condensed milk, cream, sugar and corn. Cook with frequent stirring for 15 minutes.

2. Dissolve the cornstarch in evaporated milk. Add the cheddar cheese and mix well.

3. Slowly pour the mixture into the saucepan, stirring quickly to avoid lumps as it becomes very thick. Stir for about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat.

4. Immediately pour mixture into molds. You may use a large dish or individual serving molds. Allow to completely cool down then chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.

5. Top with latik or toasted coconut. Slice and serve.

I really miss my mom...hope we could eat this Maja Blanca together...;-(