pandan?!" A ha! The answer to your question is a sweet creamy dessert with slippery rectangular jello, shredded pieces of coconut, and chewy tapioca balls. I can see it right now as if I was actually staring at it with my mouth wide open, and my shiny eyes wide with hunger.
Flashes of memories popping up one by one in my head, slowly remind me how important this dessert is to my family. In my head, I see my mom wiping her forehead before that drop of sweat beats her, as she makes the jello. I see my dad scoring a coconut shell, and the little white pieces of coconut fall into the bowl like the first break of snow in the winter. Then I see my grandma taking the finished jello and coconut, mixing them together along with the sweetened milk, tapioca balls, and nestle cream. Then I am the one who puts the oversized heavy bowl into the refrigerator.
Everyone is so tired and sweaty. I am the first one who jumps in the shower, and takes a long cold bath. My dad banging on the door impatiently yells out, "You've been in there for 15 minutes! When are you coming out!" "UGH", I squeal in my head. "I'll be out in like a minute dad! Be patient", I respond back. I feel his heavy foot steps shaking the tub slowly fade away as he stomps angrily back to the couch.
When everyone is now fresh, clean, and with a better attitide, the reward we have been waiting for is now on the table. The buko pandan sits there looking lip-smacking. We all grab our plates, but before we do the eldest in our family stops us. "We must first pray and thank the Lord for all of the blessings he has given us, especially this dessert." So we all listen to "Nanay Cleofe" ( meaning mommy cleofe) and take each others' hands and pray. Then we all say together "AMEN". Then my uncle shouts,"LET'S EAT!" And all of the kids grab their bowls, and take as much as they want. I fill up the small styrofoam bowl to almost to the top. I like to observe my food before I eat, making sure everything is perfect. I stare at it retraining myself from devouring it. The jello is a shade of light green. The creamy sauce and milk looks thick and white. I bring the bowl closer to my nose, and sniff the sweet smell of the sauce, and the tiny hint of coconut. Then I take my first bite. MMMmmmmmmm........I feel the jello slideing from side to side in my mouth, and the tickle it creates as it goes down my throat. I gnaw on the chewy taro balls. I can taste the individual flavors, and at the same time together. THe combination of them is like a parade in your mouth. Flavors moving all over on your tongue making sure you can taste them on every part.
At the end of the day, we all critique on how the buko pandan tastes, whether it needs a little bit of this, or a little bit of that. But this time, no one has anything to say. The buko pandan was PERFECT. You could tell by the silence that filled the air, that everyone was full. We then all tell stories about what happened to my family over the week. And sometimes we reminisce about the past. I think quietly to myself that this dessert not only is delicious, but it brings the people you love together.
