Life all of a sudden shifted from excitement and adventure to fear and uncertainty. I can’t help but think this is a way for the Earth to heal from us humans continuously destroying the planet with our selfish ways. Air pollutions are going down and rivers are clearing up. Everybody is staying at home, quarantined to lessen the spread of a deadly virus. Finally, the Earth can breathe.

It is now our chance to take a break from this fast-paced life. We're always trying to be ahead with everything. This sudden change encourages us to reflect on what is truly essential and important in our lives. Being isolated from others forces us to cook for ourselves at home. I've been gravitating to Filipino dishes since it makes me feel closer to home. The nostalgic flavors give me joy and wonderful memories. The point of this recipe is to show that comfort food is more than just a meal that we were used to eating growing up. It delivers a sense of warmth that gives us nourishment not just physically but spiritually. Food means more than just filling up an empty stomach. It is a form of comfort and safety that we all need not just in these trying times, but in our daily lives to help us through difficult situations. I encourage everybody to embrace their comfort food and share them with the world. It as personal as it can be, but if it helps you heal, maybe someone else in this world could try it and have that sense of comfort like you did. So here’s mine. Just one of the plenty that truly humbles me and brings me back home. The classic Filipino egg roll.

For Filling:

2T Olive Oil

1/2C Carrots, grated

1C Onions, small diced

1C Mushrooms, small diced

1T Garlic, minced

1# Ground Beef

1# Ground Pork

4T Soy Sauce

Salt

Pepper

Heat olive oil, then saute carrots, onions, mushrooms, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Sweat until everything is tender. Lay the veggies flat on a sheet pan to help it cool down faster. Once the veggies are completely cool, mix them with the ground beef, ground pork, and soy sauce. Fry a small patty with a little oil to taste the seasoning of the filling. Adjust the seasoning with soy sauce, salt, and pepper.

1pack Lumpia Wrapper

1/2C Water

Canola Oil/Frying Oil

Sweet Chili Sauce

Peel each sheet of wrapper separately from each other. Cut each sheet into squares, making four squares per sheet. For each square, use a 1 teaspoon of filling. Place one corner the wrapper facing you, it should look like a diamond shape. Add the filling just below the middle of the wrapper, forming it into a little log. Fold all the corners in as you roll. Dip your fingers in the water and spread a little bit on the edges and the last corner to help seal the wrapper. In a deep pot, add about an inch high of canola oil or frying oil. Heat the oil to about 350F. Fry the lumpia rolls in small batches so each roll can move around freely. Flip and stir them occasionally for even cooking. Cook until golden brown and place them on a wired rack or on a plate with paper towels to absorb excess oil. Serve with sweet chili sauce.