Ingredients:

2 lbs. beef top round, fat removed (choose large pieces)

juice of 1 lemon (zest the lemon first and save)

3 tbsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. chopped rosemary

white pepper

Filling:

1/2 lb. ground pork

4 mushrooms, chopped

zest of 1 lemon

1 tsp. sugar

6 pieces sweet pickles, coarsely chopped

1 carrot, julienned

1 stalk celery, julienned

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 cup sultanas or white raisins

4 hard boiled eggs, cut into eighths, lengthwise

Other Ingredients:

corn oil for saut?ing

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

1 cup chopped tomatoes

1 tbsp. tomato paste

salt and pepper to taste

springs of parsley, chopped (for garnishing)

Methods:

1.  Freeze the beef for an hour or until firm but can easily be sliced.  Slice the beef into 5” wide x 6” long x 1/4” thick portions.  This will translate into approximately 10 thin slices.  Season the beef or marinate for an hour in lemon juice, soy sauce, rosemary and pepper.

2.  Combine the filling ingredients except the eggs.  Season with salt and pepper.

3.  Remove the beef from the marinade and save the marinade for later.  Lay the beef flat on foil-lined surface.  Then scoop 2 tablespoonfuls of the filling and arrange 3 slices of eggs on the filling.  Roll the beef just like you would in a jelly roll.  Secure the morconittos with toothpicks along the body and 2 ends.  Repeat for the remaining portions.  Heat the oil in a pan and sear (or brown the outside of) the morconittos.  Set aside.

4.  In a large deep pan, saut? the onions and add the tomatoes, tomato paste, marinade and 2 cups water.  Season with salt and pepper.  Drop in the morconittos and simmer for 30 minutes or until the beef is tender.

 5.  Rest the beef for 15-20 minutes or until it has cooled enough to slice.  (Note:<D>  Remove the toothpicks before slicing.)  Sprinkle with parsley before serving.

Household Hints:

1.  I learned this technique in using my clothes dryer over the years. Throw a load in the dryer and use the “less dry” setting if your dryer has it.  Otherwise use less minutes for your drying time.  Then just tumble dry and hang your clothes in open air in your laundry room to finish drying.  This way, your clothes will last longer, you have cut your cycle time, and most importantly, you have saved on your electric bill.

2.  Grease spots on your tablecloth can become permanent if you do not treat them immediately.  This happens to me every time I have a party.  As part of my cleanup routine, I promptly treat the stains with a waterless hand cleaner, the kind that you can buy from automotive stores.  I gently rub the spots with this cleaner with a soft bristle toothbrush for a minute of two.  I then throw the table cloth immediately into the washing machine to prevent any further damage to the fabric.

Editor’s note:  Mrs. Evelyn S. Bunoan is Owner/Master Chef, Philippine Oriental Market & Deli (with more than 29 years of  service to the  Filipino-American community) - 3610 Lee Highway, Arlington, Virginia;  (703)528-0300;  Master Chef (French cuisine), Le Cordon Bleu, London, UK;  recipe creator, improviser, food stylist, cake designer, and culinary writer;  kitchen-tested and mastered more than 300 recipes, and counting.  Host of the cooking show – “Evelyn’s Kitchen – Cooking with Friends”.