Lumpia (Philippine Egg Rolls)

Wrappers (Doilies)
3 cups flour
5 cups water, less 2 tablespoons
Salt, to taste

Filling
3/4 pound ground pork or beef
5 ounces raw shrimp, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and finely chopped
1 (4 ounce) can bamboo shoots, drained and finely chopped
1/2 stalk celery, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 small carrot, finely chopped
1 (16 ounce) can bean sprouts, drained
1/2 cup raisins, chopped
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 egg white, lightly beaten
Vegetable oil

Lumpia Sauce
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup catsup
1/2 teaspoon vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/2-inch cube ginger, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch

To make wrappers, combine flour, water and salt to taste and mix thoroughly with a wire whisk to remove lumps.
Batter should be about the consistency of crepe batter.
Add a little water if it is too thick.
If the batter thickens as it sits, you may have to add more water.

Heat a 6-inch crepe pan and wipe out with lightly oiled wax paper.
Pour on batter quickly to cover the bottom.
Pour off excess. Allow to cook over low heat until the edges begin to curl and pull away from the sides of the pan.
Remove and place on clean, dry surface.
Repeat, oiling pan each time.
Do not stack wrappers on top of each other until each has cooled.

Before filling, cut off excess batter to make a perfect circle.

To make filling, cook pork or beef in a large skillet until pinkness is gone.
Drain off grease.
Add shrimp, onions, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, celery, garlic and carrot; cook until carrot is almost tender.
Stir in remaining ingredients except the egg white and oil.
Mix well.
Cook until bean sprouts are limp.

Pour mixture into strainer and cool, allowing as much liquid as possible to drain off before filling rolls.
Use about 1 heaping teaspoon for each wrapper.
Place filling near one side.
Roll wrapper over filling a couple of times; fold in sides and roll up tightly.
Seal flap with a little egg white.

Deep fry in vegetable oil heated to about 375 degrees F until rolls are golden.

Drain thoroughly on paper towels and serve with sauce.

Boiled Rice Cakes (Palitao)

2 cups sweet rice powder (sold in Oriental food stores)
1/2 cup water
1 cup grated coconut
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 cup granulated sugar

Combine the sweet rice powder and 1/2 cup water and blend well.

Boil 1 1/2 quarts water in saucepan.
Form the mixture into small balls, flatten, and drop into boiling water.
When dough floats, remove from water and roll balls in grated coconut.

Spread sesame seeds on cookie sheet and toast at 350 degrees F until brown.
Mix seeds with sugar and sprinkle on top of palitao.

Bagoong Alamang

2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 small onion, sliced
1 small tomato, sliced
4 tablespoons alamang

Sauté garlic, onions and tomato in a little oil. Add alamang.
Sauté for another minute.