Friday, May 25, 2007

All Mixed Up


Michael over at The Wonderful World of Nothing Worthwhile, is hosting this Friday's edition of the Carnival of the Mundane, and his topic is summer.

Summer is on its last legs here in the Philippines; the rainy season is coming soon, hurrah! I'd totally love the rainy season if it weren't for the flooding it brings. Still, it's a welcome change from the exhausting heat that makes me feel like a limp noodle.

One of the staples of summer here is something called halo halo. The English translation would be "mix mix," simply because after you put all the ingredients into a tall glass or a big bowl, you mix 'em all together until the whole thing becomes a gooey, cold, sweet dessert. It's practically everywhere during summer: street corners, restaurants, parks. Just about everyone makes and buys halo halo.

Among the things in halo halo are melon, coconut, mango, beans, chick peas, jello, jackfruit, banana, milk, and crushed ice, topped with pounded roast rice, purple yam, a scoop of ice cream, and leche flan, a kind of sweet pudding.

This concoction has millions of Filipinos addicted to it. Not me, though. I can't stand the stuff. I'm happy with chocolate.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

We have something similar to halo halo here too. It's called "ais kacang". The ingredients used are very much alike to those used in halo halo.

[:

H said...

Aw Man. Liz you just gave me another reason to salivate over the Philippines. Halo Halo sounds absobluminlutely delicious in this very very street food way. You have NO idea how achy-for-travelling you've just suddenly made me feel.

I can almost taste it! Yum.

They should make you tourism ambassador for the Philippines. seriously.

Odat said...

Would you mind sending some this way? I'd like to try some!!;-)
Peace

Michael C said...

Man oh man that sounds good!!!

little things said...

OMG that sounds incredible - what a great combination of tastes!! Over here in Texas, we avoid fruit. We just eat Twinkies.

Serena Woodward said...

I'd be on board with the fruit and the ice...the beans, milk, rice and jello I'm not so sure about. I'd try it though.

y.Wendy.y said...

I'd have a halo halo for sure, but without the beans and jello..otherwise, it sounds dee-vine! I could do with one now actually - it is hot hot hot and a storm is brewing....later it should be spectacular with the lightning over the hills. Oooh la la la - summer is coming!

Karl said...

Mmm, halo halo doesn't sound at all appetizing. I'm with you, give me chocolate. Here from the Carnival.

Scott from Oregon said...

I would prolly go for a halo halo if it were before beer o'clock...

Scott from Oregon said...

Once I have that beer, though, no more halo for me...

Foofa said...

It totally depends on the flavor. I'm not a real fan of flan like things so i'd leave that off. Red bean ice cream is surprisingly good so I can see how it would work with halo halo

Unknown said...

Coconut? Mango? Beans? Roast rice? Flan? Ice Cream?

Would have been perfect for me during pregnancy...

Schmoop said...

Thank halo halo thing kind of describes what my morning smokers hack produced this morning. Cheers!!

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

Now if you leave out the beans and chick peas, it might just sound enjoyable....

Anonymous said...

We've had a meeting and the terrible Goddess and I have decided we are with you - chocolate is the bee's knees - the 86% stuff, for health reasons obviously.

Lizza said...

Kyels: I think we have many similar dishes. Hope everything's going well.

H: You just have to come over someday! Just like I have to come to India to visit you, Prometheus, Iz, and Julia.

Odat: If only the ice wouldn't melt. :-( Filipino restaurants in NYC might have it though. :-)

Michael: Millions of my people think so. :-) Thanks for letting me participate in the Carnival!

Marlayna: Haha! I hear the Texas heat can be something else. Halo halo might come in handy.

viciousrumors: You can totally customize this dessert. Thanks for dropping by.

Wendz: It's always hottest at the calm before the storm. Sending you some virtual halo halo right now!

Karl: Haha, yes, it can turn some people off. Thanks for visiting.

Scott: I can't have dairy products after beer o'clock. Some people have cast-iron tummies, though, and eat anything and everything.

Natalie: Red bean ice cream? I haven't tasted that. Sounds like something different to try out!

Sanni: Something to keep in mind if you decide to have a little one again.

Matt: Hahaha! Ewwwwww. Lovely image.

Bond: Oh, but you can leave those out and add whatever you want. :-)

DaddyP: I can never sing the praises of chocolate enough.

Nikki Neurotic said...

Those look good, though, the ingrediants aren't stuff I normally eat.

magickat said...

Oh my god there are so many ingredients in Halo Halo. I like them all individually but I don't think I could handle them all at once.

Came for the Carnival!

Lizza said...

Silverneurotic: Some of the ingredients I eat normally, others I don't really like. Thanks for dropping in.

Kat: Oh, me too. :-) Thanks for visiting.

houseband00 said...

Hala, try mo kaya ang Razon's. Baka makain mo yang sinabi mo, so to speak. =)

Glamourpuss said...

"the exhausting heat that makes me feel like a limp noodle."

I went out with a man lkike that once - it didn't last long. I prefer men who aren't flaccid.

Puss

Anonymous said...

That sounds insanely wonderful (I am a big fan of all the fruit) - but being female, I can't turn away from the chocolate either

Here from the carnival...

Lizza said...

HB: I really prefer mais con hielo. Halo halo, noooo. :-)

Puss: Why am I not surprised a vamp like you wouldn't be happy with a limp guy? ;-) Thanks for stopping by.

Ellen: I like fruit too, but not prepared like this. I hope you get to try it someday. Thanks for visiting!

Unknown said...

We have been talking a halo halo for about a month at work.

Our new GM who is Korean went to the Philippines on a mission and got one there.

Our new EWS is also Filipino.

Fe knows the people who run the Filipino market and said they would make us some but a certain someone has to be working.

We called but she wasn't there yesterday.