Coca-Cola and Deep Frying

By Jermaine Beltran

I had my cousins as visitors last week from the United States of America. They are the so called "balikbayans". During lunch, I took the opportunity to ask what were their oddest foods in America? Some of them said a bunch of weird foods that they encountered in Texas and New York.

However, I got interested with Kuya Philip's food trip in Dallas, Texas - Fried Coca-Cola?

What? Now, that is odd enough that I had the urge to do research about Filipino's favorite beverage.

I searched through the Internet and came across the website, WFTV.com, where the website featured the unusual way to drink or eat Coca-Cola, even I got confused.

According to the WFTV.com Food News Story, a certain Abel Gonzalez created the Fried Coke for the State Fair of Texas. The gelatinous cola-infused snack won the "most creative" title at the Texas State Fair in Dallas last month. Since then, the deep-fried phenomenon has spread to North Carolina and Arizona.

The Fried Coke's inventor, concessionaire Abel Gonzales Jr., is a fanatical fryer — last year he sold 20,000 fried peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwiches. Fried Coke appears to be an even bigger hit: He sold 16,000 cups in the first two weeks of the fair, which runs through next week.

And unlike Coca-Cola, Gonzales has also had more success modifying his formula. He reworked the recipe to make the dough more absorbent so it would soak up more of the cola syrup.

For the rest of the story, visit WFTV.com.

If you are interested, try this simple recipe.

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups Coca Cola
Oil for deep frying

Topping:
1 cup of any favorite syrup
whipped cream
cherries for décor

Instructions:
1. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour and baking powder.
2. Mix in eggs and Coca Cola and stir until a smooth batter forms.
3. Preheat oil in a skillet or deep fryer.
4. Pour 1/3 cup of batter into a funnel and in a circular motion pour batter into the hot oil.
5. Fry up for about a minute on each side and drain on paper towels.
6. Serve while still warm and top with syrup, whipped cream and a cherry.

I tried this recipe myself and it is quite awkward for me to eat something that traditionally, should be sipped out of a straw. It is gooey and sweet, of course. Just think of it as Coke left on the desert for almost a day. It is just like Coke that have been made into a very soft Tootsiroll.

What would be next? Pepsi cakes and San Miguel omelet? I will leave it to your imagination.

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The Invented Food Series: Tuna Shake Anyone?

By Jermaine Beltran

Recently, I was able to have time to relax just for a few hours, thanks to food, beverage and the company of friends.

One of my favorite beverages are shakes. Any kind of fruit or vegetable shake would be right for me, so long as it is sweet.

Last Saturday, I invited some of my college friends for dinner in Ridgewood Residence. I ordered some beef and a fruit shake. As I was playing the straw in my shake, I said, “Eureka!” and my seatmates were startled. “What if I try a tuna shake?” I got my inspiration through the tuna pizza that we specially ordered at the Baguio Country Club.

So I consulted with the resident chef of Ridgewood and he gave me this simple but healthy shake.

The On-the-Go Tuna Shake

2 cans of chunk white tuna packed in oil
2 tsp of WHITE Worcestershire sauce (Black is the same just that it does not look pleasant)
1/2 clove of garlic
1/4 Sweet Onion
*Optional: White or muscovado sugar if you are not used to seafood shakes.

Place the contents in a blender and set to "puree" for 90-120 seconds.
Pour in a large bowl and allow to chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Add crackers for extra yum and texture.

The Tuna shake tastes like tuna, of course. However, if you want to supplement your diet with a healthy alternative for your usual drinks, this is for you.

I personally like it because I love tuna, either cooked or raw, solid or pureed. It is suitable for those having a workout in the gym because of the fish's high protein content and Omega 3 which makes the body leaner and healthier. I recommend it to everyone who wants to change their lifestyles, from fatty to lean and healthy.

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