Filipino Desserts Recipes

Celebrity chef, model Daniel Green, shares tips on healthy eating

MANILA, Philippines -- Growing up in a Korean household, healthy eating came naturally. My mom was very keen on the nutritional value of every dish she placed on the dining table. Even when it comes to variations in color she aims to have at least 5 colors because every color represents unique flavor and nutritional value.

On the other hand, I have also been “Filipinized” in my festive and indulgent way of eating many times too often. So when I found out that Daniel Green, celebrity chef and author will be in Manila to debut “Eat Well, Feel Well” program I was all over it.

Daniel Green fell in love with healthy cooking and eating many years ago when he lost 65lbs. As a teenager, being the typical junk food loving kid, he struggled with obesity. But at 18 he turns his life around with a three-year diet. After which, he spent next few years traveling all over the world as a professional model before deciding to help others change their lives in the way he had changed his – through healthy-eating.

In collaboration with Dusit Thani hotel, the model chef had a three-day event to showcase his recipes and share his knowledge and passion. “Dusit Thani Manila is truly privileged to kick off the ‘Eat Well, Feel Well’ Dusit International tour as we introduce the signature dishes of Daniel Green has exclusively designed…” shares Prateek Kumar, the hotel’s general manager.

On Tuesday, July 5, during the media launch, I had the opportunity to interview Daniel and he couldn’t hide his excitement despite having arrived at midnight and lacking sleep. “There will certainly be a lot more culinary knowledge exchange and innovations to help people manage their life through healthy eating, everyday. I believe healthy food can be cooked to a brilliant standard, full of flavor with great eye-appeal…” He also expressed his interest in Filipino cuisine and how he can contribute to tweak the recipe to make the dish healthier.

He even walked me through every dish prepared for the guests, cooked according to his own recipe.

Filipino Dessert Recipe – Crema de Fruta

Have yourself a treat with a delicious dessert that comes from Asia, Crema de Fruta. To make this dessert delicious, you need to have the right ingredients for it. As such, you need to have Graham crackers. You can use any available Graham Crackers that you have. A can of pineapple slices and fruit cocktail would do. Also, you need to have a can of condensed milk and as well as a box of heavy whipping cream. To add some flavor in it, you need some vanilla, a bunch of chocolate chips and a gelatin in any flavor would be great.

In doing this dessert, you need to have a mixing bowl for your ingredients. Pour now your condensed milk on the bowl. Then follow it up with your heavy whipping cream and some vanilla. Mix them together and put it at the side as you prepare your glass baking pan.

In the glass baking pan, place your Graham crackers at the bottom of the pan to serve as its bottom layer. Pour now a little bit of your cream mixture until the Graham crackers have been covered and sprinkle some chocolate chips on top of it. After so, make another layer of Graham crackers on top of it then pour some cream on it then follow it trough by sprinkling over some chocolate chips. Do it all over again as much as you like. For the top most layer, after pouring out your cream, instead of putting some chocolate chips on it, file now your pineapple slices and sprinkle over your fruit cocktail. You can put it now on the fridge and let it cool until it becomes solid.

To add up some color into it, you can dress it up by having a strawberry flavored gelatin to put on its top. In making a gelatin, heat up some water and pour your flavored gelatin on it. Stir it until it becomes jelly. You can add up some water while you are stirring it to have your desired consistency. After doing so, pour now your liquid gelatin on top of your dessert and eventually put it back on the fridge and let it chill.

Now you have a great dessert to be served during parties and holidays for you and your friends to share with.

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