Ginisang Buko

A must try recipe!

Ingredients for 3 servings:
2 cups young coconut meat (buko)
12 pieces shrimps
2 cloves garlic
1/2 onion
salt and pepper to taste

buko/young coconut

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the shrimps and saute until the color is pinkish.
2 Add the coconut meat, salt and pepper then stir for 2 minutes or until done.
3. Serve it hot.

Ginisang Sayote at Carrots with Fishballs

Simple and budget friendly vegetable recipe, I hope you will try this.

Ingredients:
2 sayote ( cut into strips)
2 carrots ( cut into strips)
1 cup cooked fishballs
3 cloves garlic
1 onion
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1.  Saute the garlic and onion then add the carrots, sayote, salt and pepper then stir every now and then until half cooked.
2. Stir in the fishballs and turn off the heat then serve it hot.

Spring Vegetable Pouches

I recently was blessed to review Eat Well and Stay Slim: The Essential Cuisine Minceur

From the million-copy bestselling author of Cuisine Minceur. Over 140 exquisite recipes fuse traditional flavors with the global influences that are redefining French cuisine, all with astonishingly low calorie counts.

This book is the mecca for healthy scrumptious recipes. Tons of mouth watering photos with easy to follow directions. I would say this is the go-to book for people who want to eat healthy, but still want foodie quality food. Get yours here: Eat Well and Stay Slim: The Essential Cuisine Minceur

So today I have adapted a recipe from the book. With some changes of course.  These over-sized ravioli are scrumptious and nice and light. so great for the waistline. Enjoy! 

Spring Vegetable Pouches

adapted from  Eat Well and Stay Slim

1/2 cup peeled and shredded carrots

1/4 cup celery

1/2 cup sweet onion, sliced

1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced

1/2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 tsp fresh tarragon, finely chopped

8 large won ton wrappers - or fresh squares of pasta dough

1 3/4 cup vegetable stock

salt and pepper to taste

fresh tomatoes and chives for garnish

Cut up your veggies. 

In a medium-sized covered saucepan, gently sweat the carrots in the olive oil for 3 minutes, then add the mushrooms an sweat for 3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the finely chopped tarragon and set aside. 

Place 4 squares of pasta dough or large won ton wrappers.on your work surface. Place some of the cooled vegetables in the center of each pasta square. 

Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the edges of each square with water. Lay another pasta square on top and then gently press the edges of the pasta squares together, making sure that there are no openings. 

Add your vegetable stock to a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Add ravioli and cook one at a time for 5 minutes. Serve, topped with fresh tomatoes and chives! 

Ginisang talbos ng Camote at Kalabasa

A newly harvested camote tops plus  freshly sliced squash is equals to a delicious and nutritious vegetable dish.

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo squash

2 bunches of camote tops ( talbos ng camote)

1 cup water

1/4 cup soy sauce

3 cloves garlic

1/2 onion

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the squash and soy sauce then simmer and add the water, let boil for a minute.
2.Increase the heat then add the camote tops and stir for a minute or until done then turn off the heat.
3. Serve it hot.

Kalingking

A really yummy sweet potato recipe from Nanay Linda of  Cavite.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo sweet potato (sliced into french)
1/4 kilo all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 kilo sugar
2 cups water ( add if needed)
1/4 teaspoon salt

Procedure:
1. Mix the sugar, water, salt, baking powder and flour, combine well until the batter is smooth then add the sliced sweet potatoes. Mix well until the batter is thick and firm, if it's too dry add water.
2. Scoop a portion then deep fry over medium heat until golden brown.
3. Serve it hot, if you want it sweeter, you can sprinkle some sugar.

Contributed by: Nanay Linda

Pandan Gulaman Drink

An aromatic refreshing drink that will really quench your thirst.

Ingredients for 5 litres:
1 sachet red unflavored gelatine
1 sachet green unflavored gelatine
15 pandan leaves
1/4 kilo sugar (add if needed)
4 litre water
Ice

Procedure:
1. Combine the 2 sachet of gelatine then cook according to its packaging procedure, refrigerate to harden then slice into dice or small cubes.
2. Put the water in a pot together with the pandan leaves and boil for 30 minutes or until the pandan essence will be extracted. Remove the pandan leaves. Let cool.
3. Caramelized the sugar then add 4 cups of pandan water (from the boiled pandan leaves) let boil until the sugar is fully dissolved. Let cool.
4. When everything has been cooled, combine together ( make sure it's not hot or else the gulaman/gelatine will be dissolved). Put ice as needed.

5 Serve and enjoy! :-)

Tomato and Cucumber Appetizer

This appetizer is simple and easy to make yet so delicious. It will surely boost your appetite specially if you pair it with fried or grilled fish or meat.

Ingredients for 4 servings:
2 big tomatoes (diced)
1 big cucumber (diced)
1 onion (diced)
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil ( optional)
1/2 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste
chili


Procedure:
1. Combine all the ingredients and mix well until fully combined.
2. Serve with fried or grilled meat or fish.

Buko Maja

A friend requested this recipe. It's yummy and so creamy.

Ingredients:
2 cups cornstarch
5 cups coconut milk
1 cup Nestle cream or light cream
1.5 cups white sugar
2 cups evaporated or fresh milk
1 cup shredded young coconut ( buko)

Procedure:
1. In a pot mix all the ingredients,mix well until the cornstarch is fully dissolved then cook over medium heat stirring well to avoid it from settling at the bottom of the pot. Continue stirring until the mixture becomes firm and smooth, allow to simmer for a while before transferring to a molding tray.
2. Pour to your desired container or molding tray then allow few hour to cool. Unmold it then serve

Paksiw na Tilapia

My favorite fish dish, I can eat it anytime of the day :-). Sometime I want it a little sweet taste sometimes I want the sour taste strong, it is always goes well with fried rice or steamed rice.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo tilapia
3/4 cup vinegar
4 cloves garlic ( crushed)
thumb size ginger( strips)
some chili
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. In a pot put all the ingredients and let it boil then simmer until cooked.
2. If the taste of the vinegar is so strong, you can add a little water.
3. Simmer for few  minutes until done.
4. Serve it with rice.

Special Spaghetti Carbonara (Filipino Style)

It's my friend's birthday that's why I cooked this dish, really yummy.

Ingredients for 6-8 servings:
1/2 (500g) kilo Spaghetti Pasta (Cooked accprding to its packaging procedure)
3 tetra packs or 600g all purpose cream/Nestle cream
1/4 kilo ground beef
4 cloves garlic
1 small size onion
3/4 cup sliced button mushrooms
1/4 cup toasted bacon
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1.. Saute the garlic and onion, then add the ground beef, cover and simmer until the beef is fully cooked.
2. Add the mushroom and simmer for 2 minutes then add the all purpose cream, mix it well then simmer for a minute.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste then  simmer for a minute and turn off the heat, mix together the pasta and sauce then too with bacon.
4. Serve it with a smile

Hatch Chile Fettuccine with Cilantro Pesto

Pesto is a sauce originating in northern Italy and traditionally consists of crushed garlic, basil, and European pine nuts blended with olive oil, and Parmigiano Reggiano.  Most Americans tend to think only inside this four (five including garlic) component box:  basil, pine nuts, olive oil and Parmesan.  If you haven’t done a variation on pesto, I really recommend you do so – there are some amazing combinations which will make you look back only for the occasional traditional fix.  My caveat: the only ingredient I always use in any pesto is garlic…

Here is my quick and easy Pesto Variation List:

1. Green Stuff:  This is usually basil, but try cilantro, Italian parsley, spinach, kale, mint, arugula, or even tarragon or thyme instead.  The result is dramatic and an amazing difference.  If you are really adventurous you can go ‘un-green’ and use corn, carrots, or beets!  The Green Stuff can be a mix & match of more than one.
2. Nuts:  Instead of traditional pine nuts, try almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans or hazelnuts.  I recommend you toast your nut choice first, a simple act which enhances the rich nut flavor.
3. Olive Oil:  extra virgin olive oil will give you richness, but you can also add or use instead a lemon olive oil (like our Meyer Lemon Olive Oil), sesame oil, lemon, lime or orange juice, champagne vinegar, even honey.  Try kicking it up a notch with red pepper flakes, or something spicy.
4. Cheese:  of course, Parmigaino Reggiano is the classic choice, but there are other ‘hard’ cheeses which can be used or added to give new flavor profiles.  Try Grana Padano, pecorino romano, or Cortija.  Think of in terms of nice ‘hard’ grating cheeses.

For this pesto we are going more Mexican/New Mexican, hence the use of cilantro and the classic Mexican cheese; cortija.

We paired this with our unique Hatch Green Chile Fettuccine.  Unless you are from the southwestern part of the U.S., you probably don’t know this chili.  It is celebrated in New Mexico and its primary flavor is fire roasting goodness but not overly spicy.  I give it about a 3 on a heat scale of 10, similar to a Poblano Chile.  There are, however, other choices from our pasta selection in which this will work well:

• Beet, Carrot & Sweet Pea Penne
• Fresh Cracked Pepper Fettuccine
• Lemon Pepper Linguini
• Thai Citrus Linguini

ingredients

• 2 bunches fresh cilantro, washed and patted dry
• 1/2 heaping cup blanched, slivered almonds
• 3 tablespoons cotija cheese (or Parmesan), crumbled
• 1 large garlic clove, smashed and peeled
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• juice of 1 lime
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• one package Pastamoré Hatch Green Chile Fettuccine

In a small skillet add the almonds and toast until golden and fragrant over medium heat.  Allow to cool.

In the bowl of your food processor add the garlic and the cooled almonds, pulse until coarsely chopped.  Add the tops of the two bunches of cilantro, the cotija cheese, salt and the lime juice.  Pulse until coarsely ground.  With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the olive oil.

Remove and refrigerate until ready to use.  This makes about one cup, which is more than you will need to coat the pasta (depending on your personal sauce to pasta ratio).

Prepare the Pastamoré pasta using the instructions on the side of the package.  Remember to use a large pot and a lot of water – the key in making great, evenly cooked pasta.  Add a tablespoon or two of salt to the water before adding the dried pasta.  Cook to al dente.

Strain cooked pasta and return to hot pot.  Add a large dollop or two of the pesto (to taste) and toss.  Serve immediately in pre-warmed individual serving bowls.  If you have some extra cortija, grate on top.

Serves 4.

Vegetable Fritter

This is easy to cook and the ingredients are simple and easy to find, I cooked this for few friends who are craving for a Filipino dish called ukoy or okoy.  Since we do not have shrimps I made it like this.

Ingredients:
2 potatoes ( shredded)
1 carrot (shredded)
1 big sweet potato ( shredded)
2 eggs ( beaten)
1 onion ( minced)
1 cup flour ( add if needed)
1/4 cup water ( Add if needed)
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Combine all the ingredients and mix well.
2. Spoon a portion and deep fry it until golden brown.
3. Serve it hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

Sinabawang Tilapia

Today we went fishing and we caught some tilapia that's why we decided to cook it in a soup because it is very fresh.

Ingredients:
2 regular size tilapia ( cut into halves)
2 tomatoes
1 onion
2 cups water
some camote tops ( talbos ng camote)
salt or patis to taste

Procedure:
1. In a pot put the onion, tomatoes, salt and tilpia, then cook over medium heat, simmer for 5 minutes then add the water and bring to a boil.
2. Simmer until cooked then add the talbos ng camote and turn off the heat.
3. Serve it hot.

Corn and Cheese Puto

I love mja blanca with corn and cheese that's why I decided to make a puto with these ingredients to see if it is also yummy. The result is 100% yummy. Try this recipe and let me know.

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup fresh milk
1/2 cup diced cheddar cheese
1/2 cup corn kernel


Procedure:
1.Combine the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder then sift it.
2. In a mixing bowl combine together the sifted ingredients and milk then mix very well until the batter is smooth in texture. Add the corn and cheese then mix very well.
3. Fill the puto molder with the batter and if you have extra corn and cheese you can put on top for extra beauty of the puto or you can put the batter in a big molder and have a 1 big piece of puto.

4. Steam for 10 minutes if you used the small molder and 20 minutes or until done if you used a big molder, allow to cool before unmolding, then serve.

Note: To avoid sticking, add 1 tablespoon of oil in the mixture then mix well or add a soften butter.

Puto Cheese

I re-cooked the Mely's kitchen version because I was disappointed with the result of the cheese that I used, I tried Eden cheese for this and the result was good.

Ingredients for 15 medium size Puto:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 beaten egg
2 cups fresh milk
1 teaspoon butter (soften)
cheddar cheese for toppings (I used Eden )

Procedure:
1.Combine the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder then sift it.
2. In a mixing bowl combine together the sifted ingredients, egg and milk then mix very well until the batter is smooth in texture.
3. Fill the puto molder with the batter around 3/4 full then top the cheese and steam for 10 minutes or until done.

Mely's Kitchen Banana Delight

Yummy! The best for your parties or special gatherings, this is also budget friendly.

Ingredients for 8-10 servings:
3/4 kilo sliced banana ( you can use lakatan, cavendish, latondan)
1/2 cup condensed milk or according to your taste
1 1/2 cup Nestle Cream
1 cup chocolate coco crunch
1/2 cup corn kernel
some chocolate coated wafer

Procedure:
1. Combine the milk and cream then add the sliced banana, and mix well.
2. Cover and refrigerate for few hours, decorate with corn kernel, coco crunch, chocolate wafer, or anything you want to use for decoration then serve.

Buko Pandan Puto

A delcious buko pandan flavored puto that will surely capture your heart.

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cup fresh milk
2 tablespoons Buko Pandan flavor
1 tablespoon oil or soften butter
1 piece coconut ( shredded)

Procedure:
1.Combine the flour, sugar and baking powder then sift it.
2. In a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients then mix very well until the batter is smooth in texture.

3. Fill the puto molder with the batter around 3/4 full and steam for 10 minutes or until done.
4. Let cool then unmold and serve.

How to Make Cheesy Ensaimada

Delicious cheesy ensaimada for the whole family.

Ingredients:
3 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons yeast
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon salt
200 ml of warm milk
1 cup grated cheese

Procedure:
1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk for 10 minutes or until bubbly.
2. Mix all the dry ingredients, make a well in the middle, then crack the eggs and beat it there.Pour in the butter and milk with yeast, mix well and fold the mixture, then knead  until you form a dough. Roll it nicely into a ball. Be sure to knead it very well.

3. Let it rise for 2 hours by covering it with a damp cloth.After 2 hours knead the dough for a while then slice it, make sure each slice should be around 80 grams to make one serving of bread.

after letting it rise, the size doubled

4. Knead each portion and roll it into a long dough o that we can make  knot easily.

5. Twist it and form it into ensaimada bun, and let it rise for 45 minutes.

the bun after 45 minutes of rising

 8. After 45 minutes ( it should be double in size too, if not doubled or at least almost doubled let it rise more) bake it in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes at 180C.

9. When it is done brush it with butter or margarine then sprinkle with a little sugar, and top with grated cheese. Delicious cheesy ensaimada.

Ensaladang Gulay

This raw vegetable salad is packed with nutrients from fresh vegetables and is good for digestion.

Ingredients:
2 big tomatoes (sliced)
2 cup sliced camote tops (talpo)
1 small onion ( sliced thinly)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon or calamansi juice
1 cucumber ( sliced)
salt to taste

camote tops

Procedure:
1. Combine all the ingredients and mix well.
2. Serve with a smile.

Hot and Spicy Eggplant Omelette

Eggplant omelette or tortang talong is yummy specially if it is hot and spicy.

Ingredients:
1 big eggplant ( boiled and skin removed)
1 tablespoon flour
1 beaten egg
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 onion (minced)
a pinch of chili powder
salt to taste

Procedure:
1. Combine the egg, flour, ground pepper, chili powder, salt and pepper, mix well until fully combined and smooth.
2. Put the eggplant then flatten it,  coat well with the batter and fry both sides until fully cooked.
3. Sprinkle with sliced spring onion then serve.

Puto Pao

This delicious Filipino dainty  uses the batter of puto and a filling of siopao that is why it is called Puto Pao. Easier to make than siopao but the same delicious taste. I made this as simple as it can be so that all my friends can follow easily, I hope you will try this and let me know.

Ingredients for 15 big puto pao:

For the Batter:
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup fresh milk ( add if needed) batter should be like the one in the picture
some slices of salted egg

For the Filling: You can use any meat that you like and cook it the way you want it.
1/4 kilo lean pork ( boiled and diced or shredded it's up to you)
1 teaspoon calamansi juice
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 teaspoon tomato sauce
2 clovess garlic
1 small onion ( minced)
ground pepper to taste

Procedure for the filling: You can adjust the ingredients according to your taste.
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the pork and simmer for a minute
2. Add all the ingredients, simmer and stir until the flavors are well blended, turn off the heat and let cool.

Procedure for the Puto Pao
1.Combine the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder then sift it.
2. In a mixing bowl combine together the sifted ingredients and milk then mix very well until the batter is smooth in texture.

3. Fill the puto molder with the batter only 1/4 parts of it then put the filling in the middle and add more batter to cover the filling, top with salted egg.

4. Boil the water in the steamer, then steam the puto pao for 10 minutes or until done ( you know it is done when you insert a toothpick in it and the toothpick comes out clean.)

5. Let cool for few minutes, scrape the sides then unmold the puto and serve with a big smile :-).