Mango Ref Cake a la Maya dela Rosa

Okay, so technically it's not Maya's version of this recipe but my version. It's just that I'm having trouble with the title of this post. I mean, Mango Ref Cake is a very popular Filipino dessert - sweet, refreshing and so easy to make. Maya had her version, I made hers. So hmmm... the title should have been "Mango Ref Cake a la Maya dela Rosa" a la Bake Happy or Mango Ref Cake [(a la Maya dela Rosa) a la Bake Happy]. But that's just too long so I had the cut the title somewhere.

Anyway, if you're Filipino (anywhere around the globe) you probably know who Maya is. Just in case you don't, Maya is the lead character in the morning series Be Careful with my Heart. Along with Sir Chief (yeah, I really had to say that).

At first, it was just a show I was able to watch since I was still at home by the time it airs every morning but little by little, it kind of grew on me (so my dear Bake Happy friends, if you don't see many posts on my blog, you have Maya and Sir Chief to blame, it's not my fault - totally out of my hands). When it was first aired, I  was skeptical at first. The plot is very typical, very reminiscent of Sound of Music, Wanted Perfect Mother, The Nanny. A lonely widower with troublesome kids, enter a very bubbly, energetic and optimistic nanny to take care of them all and turns their lives around. A simple plot it is but I guess what made it work is that the attack on the story is fresh. It is not how a typical Pinoy series goes. There are no kidnappings, no heroes or heroines with amnesia, no scheming antagonists. You really won't get stressed watching this show. All I can say is I am addicted - hook, line and sinker.

Probably one of the reasons why it clicked was the unbelievable chemistry between Jodi Sta Maria (Maya) and Richard Yap (Sir Chief). It reminds me so much of Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in It Happened One Night. Though I think many would disagree with when I say Clark Gable has better chemistry with Claudette Colbert than with Vivien Leigh but I digress, that's another story (and perhaps a future post). With Jodi and Richard, it just seems so effortless. Though I must admit I didn't see it at first. Good thing I am a baker and not a casting director at ABS CBN (or they might lose millions in revenues). And if there's such thing as a perfect cast, this show has got it. From Maya's uber optimistic and happy family, to the cast at Lim's residence, Luke, Nikki, Abby (I made a cupcake topper out of her here!), Doris, Sabel, Manang Fe and Joma. Too bad Fred left the show, that slum book scene will go down as one of my favorites in the series (so far).

But the phenomenal success of the show can't just be attributed only to the cast, the people behind it surely did a great job. From the brilliant writers who never fail to make us swoon with delight (I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one) to the directors who work hard to nail each scene every time. And I just have to mention the beautiful musical scoring the show has. The scoring behind the scene with Maya and the coffee maker is "wagas"! Kudos to all of you.

Anyway, there was a story line in the show where Maya has a mock interview in her school (and after a disastrous yet hilarious practice interview with Sir Chief) she nailed it and to celebrate, she made a Mango Ref Cake. So I thought, hmmm... why not make a version out of her version? I rarely make desserts that are not baked so I guess it is definitely high time for one now.

Come to think of it, Maya could probably come out with a cookbook of her own. Although the story is not centered in food, the sweet ones featured certainly peaked my interest - saba con hielo, suman na may latik, egg sandwich and of course, the Mango Ref Cake. Here's my version:

Mango Ref Cake

What we need:
18 sheets Graham crackers
3 ripe mangoes (the sweetest you can find), sliced
16 oz (2 packs) cream cheese, room temperature
1 can (300 ml) condensed milk
1 and 1/3 cups whipping cream
Chocolate syrup
Chocolate shavings

Here's how:
(1) Mix cream cheese until smooth. I know I already said you should bring the cream cheese to room temperature but it is a must. We don't want a lumpy cream, do we?

(2) Add in the condensed milk. 

Mix until smooth. 

(3) In a separate bowl, whip cream until soft peaks form

(4) Fold in cream into the cream cheese mixture one big spoonful at a time.

Okay, so here are the sliced mangoes. We're ready to assemble the dessert. 

I have a nice plate here, but you can make it in a deep baking dish or in a container you prefer. 

(5) Spread some cream into the plate to help the crackers be in place.

(6) Add the crackers

(7) Then the cream, spread it evenly.

(8) Arrange the mangoes on top. No need to be artistic about it (yet).

(9) Repeat until it's as high as you want. 

(10) I got up as high as four layers (but you can add more, the cream is thick anyway). Then I add the mangoes - this is where you can get, artistic (arrange it diagonally, vertically, spell out a name), drizzle the cake with chocolate syrup and top with chocolate shavings. 

Chill overnight (or not - totally okay, I won't hold it against you) and enjoy! :)