Blackmail and Bibingka Quotes

“There truly was a separate stomach for sweets.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“Bibingka had a soft and spongy texture, like a chiffon cake, but with a flavor all its own. Modern bibingka was simply baked in an oven, but it's traditionally grilled using charcoal. Lola Flor had a grill behind the restaurant that she used for occasions like this, and her bibingka was miles ahead of any other version I'd tried. My sweet tooth preferred the simplicity of the sugar-topped ones, but the complexity of the salted duck eggs against the other ingredients made me keep reaching for another piece.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“FOOD

Adobo (uh-doh-boh)--- Considered the Philippines' national dish, it's any food cooked with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and black peppercorns (though there are many regional and personal variations)
Bibingka (bih-bing-kah)--- Lightly sweetened rice cake, commonly consumed around Christmas. There are many varieties, but the most common is baked or grilled in a banana leaf-lined mold and topped with sliced duck eggs, butter, sugar, and/or coconut.
Buko (boo-koh)--- Young coconut
Champorado (chahm-puh-rah-doh)--- Sweet chocolate rice porridge
Lambanog (lahm-bah-nohg)--- Filipino coconut liquor
Lumpia (loom-pyah)--- Filipino spring rolls (many variations)
Matamis na bao (mah-tah-mees nah bah-oh)--- Coconut jam (also known as minatamis na bao)
Pandan (pahn-dahn)--- Tropical plant whose fragrant leaves are commonly used as a flavoring in Southeast Asia. Often described as a grassy vanilla flavor with a hint of coconut.
Pandesal (pahn deh sahl)--- Lightly sweetened Filipino rolls topped with breadcrumbs (also written pan de sal)
Patis (pah-tees)--- Fish sauce
Pinipig (pih-nee-pig)--- Young glutinous rice that's been pounded flat, then toasted. Looks similar to Rice Krispies.
Salabat (sah-lah-baht)--- Filipino ginger tea
Tuyo (too-yoh)--- Dried, salted fish (usually herring)
Ube (oo-beh)--- Purple yam”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“What I wouldn't give for a jibarito joint in Shady Palms," I said, ladling heaps of arroz con gandules on my plate. The rice and beans looked so simple, but one bite was like tasting the rice of the gods.
Xander groaned. "Oh man, jibaritos. I still haven't mastered making them at home. You'd think it wouldn't be too hard since I can make tostones, but somehow smashing and double-deep-frying plantain discs is different than doing that to a whole plantain to make a sandwich."
Jibaritos were a Puerto Rican specialty, consisting of steak or pork, lettuce, tomato, onions, and garlic sauce sandwiched between smashed, fried plantains. They were both simple and utterly decadent, and when a craving hit, nothing else would do.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“If I said my karaoke song was 'Adore You' by Harry Styles, what would that say about me?"
I tilted my head. "I'm not familiar with that song, actually."
He grinned. "Great. That means I'm up."
A funky pop song started playing and Jae put his all into portraying a guy who didn't need his lover to say she loved him, he just wanted to show how passionate he was about her. Jae's musical talent mostly extended to playing instruments, but what his voice lacked in smoothness, he made up for with enthusiasm and sincerity and oh my gulay, he was looking me dead in the eyes as he sang as if there was no one else in the room and I was ready to melt under his heated gaze. Ready to do lots of things, honestly, none of which would be appropriate in front of a crowd, particularly one that included my aunt and grandmother.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“I finally came up with a cake base that seemed right and debated whether the coconut should go in the cake or be sprinkled on top. Hmm, probably better to test both and see. Cupcake trays filled and in the oven, it was now time to come up with the right frosting. I decided to go with cream cheese, both to mimic the cheese slices that usually top the bibingka and because cream cheese frosting was the best frosting. Don't @ me.
It was delicious but tasted like a regular cream cheese frosting. It needed some oomph, something that let people know it was a bibingka cupcake. As I analyzed my grandmother's bibingka, layer by layer, I realized what was missing: the salted duck eggs. I was a huge fan of the sweet and salty combination and knew if I used the salted duck eggs sparingly, I'd have a winning combination on my hands.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“Nisa and Poe were curled up in her large dog bed together, napping peacefully. Poe's tongue was out in a permanent blep as he slept, and Nisa's head was tucked under Poe's chin, narrowly avoiding his tongue.
"Oh. My. Gulay. This is the cutest thing ever!" I whipped out my phone and started snapping a million pictures.
Elena nodded. "I know. I had no idea I needed small dogs spooning in my life, but this has made my entire week. They are so sweet together.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“I tightened my hold on Nisa's leash since Longganisa and his dog, Poe, if I remembered correctly, were barking and circling each other warily. Nisa calmed down after a few good sniffs. Poe still had a low growl going till Xander stooped and rubbed his neck---Poe's eyes half-closed and his tongue flopped out in pleasure. What a good boy.
"This is Longganisa," I said, stooping down. "And that's Poe, right? Could I pet him?"
"Sure. He's quite friendly; just make sure you don't move too quickly since sudden movements startle him."
I held out my hand for him to sniff, and when he lowered his head to me, I gave him a good scratch behind the ears. "Nisa absolutely loves attention, so feel free to pet her if you want."
Xander obliged, and he soon had Nisa flopped on her back for belly rubs. He squatted beside the dogs, both of them vying for his attention, which he gladly gave.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“My aunt said a quick grace, then everyone helped themselves to the myriad dishes on the table: chicken afritada, bangus a la pobre, adobong pusit, beef nilaga, lumpiang togue, kang-kong in oyster sauce, and a vegan dish she was experimenting with, as well as mounds of steamed white rice.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“She sat on the couch with Longganisa, my adorable dachshund, on her lap. Longganisa was wearing the newest outfit that Naoko Sato, my friend Yuki's daughter, had designed for her---a reindeer costume, complete with an antlered hood. You'd think Longganisa would hate it, but she was all about cute head coverings. Anytime the hood slipped off, she'd butt her little head against your hand until you pulled the hood back up, and then she'd bask in her maximum cuteness. I loved my vain little girl.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“I slid the cookie platter in front of them, which contained the four holiday cookies I'd come up with as well as peach-mango crumble cookies, my special of the day. The buttery, sweet base was topped with a dollop of my homemade peach mango jam, shortbread crumbles, and a generous dusting of powdered sugar.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“Food for the Gods was a rich, buttery date and walnut bar, which doesn't sound all that special, but there was something absolutely addictive about it. Bernadette claimed to hate dates, yet she could eat an entire tray of these bars all by herself, they were that good.
Between the five of us, we demolished Lola Flor's desserts, despite how full we were before they arrived. There truly was a separate stomach for sweets.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“I pulled one of my individual buko pandan trifles out of the refrigerated tote bag I was carrying. Considering how little time I had to come up with the recipe, I was proud of how they'd turned out: bright green pandan chiffon cake brushed with a lambanog-spiked pandan sugar syrup, coconut custard, thin slices of juicy red strawberries, all topped off with coconut whipped cream, strawberries, and glittery nonpareils.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka

“If you've turned up after all these years just to break Tita Rosie's heart again, I'll kill you. I'm serious. And Ate Bernie will help me hide the body," I said, bringing up his ex-girlfriend and my cousin/friend.”
― Mia P. Manansala, Blackmail and Bibingka