(Powdered Milk Candy)

Recipe origin: Philippines

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour, sifted
• 1 cup powdered milk
• ¾ cup confectioners sugar
• ½ pound (2 sticks) butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon lemon or vanilla extract
• ¼ cup water, measured 1 Tablespoon at a time

Procedure

1. Place sifted flour in a saucepan and toast over medium heat until light brown, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and cool.
2. Add powdered milk, sugar, melted butter, and lemon or vanilla extract.
3. Add water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds together and can be molded into balls.
4. With your hands, flatten into little cakes the size of a silver dollar.
5. Wrap individually in wax paper.

Makes about 60 candies.

Merienda means snacktime in the Philippines. Merienda is a meal in itself for those who can afford it. Merienda is important to the Filipinos because they find the gap between lunch and dinner too long, and they need to take many breaks from the intense tropical heat. Lumpia (spring rolls), puto (little cupcakes made from ground rice), and panyo-panyo (tiny pastry envelopes filled with mango and banana jam) are a few merienda dishes. Anything can be served with the snack except steamed rice. Steamed rice constitutes a complete meal, which merienda is not considered.