“Arsenic and Adobo” and the Art of Baking Ube Cookies
Have you ever read a book that made you crave a specific dish? That's what happened to me recently after reading "Arsenic and Adobo" by Mia P. Manansala. The book is a charming murder mystery with a touch of romantic comedy that revolves around a Filipino family and their restaurant. I'm not finished reading the book yet, but I wanted to share a recipe inspired by my reading experience so far.
In this post, we'll be making some delicious ube cookies. Ube is a purple yam that is popular in Filipino cuisine and is used in a variety of sweet dishes, including ice cream, cakes, and cookies.
Ingredients:
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups of ube jam
2 cups of flour
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of baking powder
1/2 cup of confectioners sugar
Purple food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
In a large mixing bowl, cream the sugar and vegetable oil together until the mixture is fluffy and pale.
Add in the egg and mix until fully incorporated.
Add in the ube jam and mix until creamy. If desired, add a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Slowly add the flour, a half cup at a time, and mix until the dough is tough. If desired, add some purple food coloring for a more vibrant purple hue.
Add the baking powder and salt, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for two hours.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Sift the confectioners sugar into a separate bowl.
Scoop out spoonfuls of dough and roll into balls about 1-2 inches in diameter. Roll the balls in the confectioners sugar.
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes or until slightly golden.
Let the cookies cool for a couple of minutes on the baking sheet, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Enjoy your delicious ube cookies with a cup of coffee or tea. I hope you enjoy this recipe inspired by "Arsenic and Adobo" as much as I did. Stay tuned for my full review of the book. Happy baking!