Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Lime Macapuno Bar (and Lemonade Award)



[js]
Oh, lime macapuno bar, you come and go at a drop. . .

See, this was one of the desserts we made for our Starry, Starry Night celebration. Impromptu, though.

The day before, while we were prepping the ingredients, I begged TS to make me a key lime bar, because I really, really, really wanted one. I love me lemon and lime bars.

I even enticed her with the promise of macapuno strings, saying that this will be a fitting dessert for our theme.



Macapuno, Mutant Coconut
[ts]
Before researching for this post, we didn't actually know what macapuno was! Well, we knew it was coconut, but didn't know that it's actually a mutant coconut. How 'bout that!

Apparently, there is no way to predict if a coconut tree will bear macapuno. Although, supposedly, there are coconut trees (aka "macapuno trees") that have been developed to bear about 80% macapunos.

How are they mutant? Well, the flesh of the macapuno is thicker than a regular coconut's and has a different texture, softer and more jelly-like. The macapuno also doesn't really have coconut water within. It's usually available in jars like the above picture, stored in syrup.

Now I understand why the label says "Coconut Sport"! I guess it's more appealing than "mutant." =)

Making the Bar
[ts]
I based this bar on Bittman's Key Lime Pie in How to Cook Everything.

He called for using a tart shell or a graham cracker crust. Well, I wasn't about to make a pie crust in the middle of all the party prep! We also didn't have any graham crackers in the house (not a pantry item), so I made a chocolate cookie crust.

I simply buzzed the cookies/crumbs in the foor processor and added a little melted butter until it was coming together. I pre-baked the crust for about 10 minutes in a 350F oven.

The filling was simply egg yolks and lime juice sweetened with condensed milk. I must admit, the condensed milk helped JS convince me to make these. I love condensed milk.

The filling went into the crust and was baked until it set. The recipe also called for a meringue topping, but we didn't bother with that.

We didn't actually have the macapuno until the day after. Hence, we could only use it as a topping instead of adding it to the filling.



[js]
During the party, with all the hullaballoo around the ube ice cream star cake and the bibingka, we forgot to put out these Lime Macapuno Bars!

Oh well, then there was going to be more for me. Although it was not as lime-y as I would like -- it wasn't very lime-y at all, something that would have to be remedied in the future -- it was still a good version of a lime bar.

I was happy. I was eating a square every day for the next three days.

Until the rest of the bars fell to the floor!

Darn it.

The fridge is always so full that I just stuck the bars there. While taking out something else, the bars just made a break for it and dove to the ground.

Oh, lime-macapuno bars.

You come, then you go.

Macapuno information
Philippine Fruits
Coconut-Info.com

Market Manila
http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/macapuno

Marvin of Burnt Lumpia made Macapuno Ice Cream
http://burntlumpia.typepad.com/burnt_lumpia/2007/05/macapuno_ice_cr.html


Before we go to the recipe, we would like to thank Joelen of Joelen's Culinary Adventures for giving us the Lemonade Award!

The Lemonade Award is given to blogs that have a refreshing outlook, style, vibe, etc. These blogs offer recipes & cooking/baking techniques that are unique, interesting and refreshing.

Thanks, Joelen!



Key Lime Pie
Makes 8 servings

Ingredients from How to Cook Everything.
Method/procedure paraphrased by TS. Meringue portion of recipe eliminated.

4 egg yolks
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
(We would add even more lime juice next time.)
pinch salt

1 Chocolate Cookie Crust
See post for crust information.

1) Preheat oven to 350F.
2) Prebake crust for about 8-10 minutes.
3) To make filling, beat egg yolks until just combined. Beat in condensed milk, then lime juice, a little at a time. Mixture will thicken.
4) Pour filling into warm crust. Bake until filling is just firm, 10-15 minutes. Remove and cool on a rack for about 10 minutes.




We're submitting this post to Weekend Herb Blogging, a world-wide food blogging event (created by Kalyn's Kitchen, now maintained by Haalo of Cook (almost) Anything at Least Once) with the goal of helping each other learn about cooking with herbs and plant ingredients.

If you'd like to participate, see
who's hosting next week. WHB is hosted this week by the gang at The Daily Tiffin.

22 comments:

  1. What a bummer to lose your bars like that!

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  2. Gasp! I'm sorry for the delicious loss :( The bars look fantastic though!!

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  3. That is too bad about the bars - the macapuno looks interesting!

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  4. Argh! You know, on days when the hunger is so much that the acid eats away at my stomach, I think of all the food I didn't finish or I lost this way... :( At least you got to taste the condensed milky yumminess... (not a fan of macapuno, but I can set that aside ;)

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  5. Poor you! They look great though. :)

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  6. Oh that is such a bummer...argh...I'm so, so sorry!

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  7. Your bars look great! I've never heard of that coconut mutant before. I wonder if it's on sale anywhere here.

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  8. I have never heard of this coconut. I can't believe it just produces it or not. I will say it looks very "molecular grastronomy" with the coconut on top of the lime bars. (in a good way!!!)

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  9. oh no..poor bars...They looks really delicious! I've never had macapuno...

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  10. Ha, ha, ha this was a hylarious post! Love to hear this kind of story in a post :D

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  11. Mutant coconut . . . intriguing. I think that if you want a stronger lime flavor, your best bet is to add grated lime zest. Adding more lime juice will change the consistency of your batter without giving you that much more lime flavor. Good luck!

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  12. Those key lime pie squares look good! This is the first that I have heard of macapuno strings. I will have to keep an eye out for them.

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  13. oh darn! but on the bright side, be thankful.. all those calories would have gone to your hips :o)

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  14. Oh, no! At least you got to have 3 bars. :)
    Macapuno puts these bars over the top, yum! Wonder if I can use kalamansi instead of limes.

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  15. Truly a tragic loss, the macapuno are going on my hunting list. What else are they good for?

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  16. Looks nice... Haven't had macapuno since I left PI. Need to grab a jar at the local Filipino store or something.

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  17. Oh, I'm so glad you posted about this recipe--I have had it bookmarked in the book (my How to Cook Everything looks like a pack of post-its exploded on it). Lime and sweetened condensed milk--yum. Sorry for the loss!

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  18. Macapuno string is new to me but your lime macapuno bar looks and sounds so delicious n irresistable! Btw tks for dropping by at my blog.

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  19. There's nothing better than lemon or lime bars, or even lemon-lime bars, for that mattter. I'd never heard of macapuno, and am so glad to learn about it. Now I need to keep alert to try and find it!

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  20. I did see that coconut sport and thought it a little pervy, but was too polite to say anything. Obviously.

    :o)

    Fascinating info though, and I love the mix of flavours with the lime and the sporty coconut :)

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  21. kat:
    Joelen:
    Sara:
    Dragon:
    noble pig:
    pigpigscorner:
    Cynthia:
    Jescel:
    Good thing we already sort of finished up half of the tray before it happened!

    Manggy:
    Don't judge the macapuno just because it's a freak!

    Jessica@Foodmayhem:
    It's probably hidden away in Asian stores.

    Manger La Ville:
    Haha... I know! I thought macapuno was just a preparation of coconut. Didn't know it was a mutant!

    Núria:
    Teehee. I'm sure we have more than our fair share of kitchen disasters.

    Ben:
    I actually remember macapuno more from macapuno ice cream. =)

    Helen:
    Thanks!

    Kevin:
    Thanks! They're should be available in Asian supermarkets... If not, then it has to be a Filipino store.

    Caroline:
    Kalamansi would be goooooooood!

    Maggie:
    Usually there's macapuno ice cream. Or it's used for halo-halo (the Philippine dessert with sweet red & mung beans, taro or purple yam, jackfruit, shaved ice, ice cream and evaporated milk). It's also added to the Philippine "fruit salad" (a dessert item).

    Jude:
    Actually, me too. This is the first in a very long time.

    laura:
    Yes, the condensed milk sold me too. =)

    Food For Tots:
    Thanks!

    Jeanne:
    Haha, LOL. Maybe then it would be better if thay had put MUTANT instead!

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