American Style Spaghetti

My childhood bestfriend migrated to the US with her family 2 years ago. She had a short vacation in the Philippines last February-July 2014, and she cooked this recipe for our mini get-together. Everyone agreed that her American-style spaghetti is a winner. She taught me how to cook this amazing recipe and as expected, everybody in my family was impressed. This is very easy to prepare, and you can easily find the ingredients in your local grocery store. Experience the taste of expensive American restaurants at the comfort of your home with this easy-to-make spaghetti.


Ingredients:
1 kilo spaghetti Pasta
1 kilo Spaghetti Sauce
3/4 kilo Ground Beef
1 400g can Crushed Tomatoes (can be substituted by 250g Tomato Sauce)
1 400g can Sliced Mushroom
1 150g small jar Green Olives (pitted)
1 tbsp. Basil
1 tsp. Rosemary
1 tsp. Thyme
4 tbsp. Sugar
Garlic
Onion
Salt
Ground Pepper
1 block Cheddar Cheese
Parmesan Cheese (optional)

Procedure:
1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Set aside.
2. In a deep casserole, heat oil and saute garlic and onion. Add the ground beef and cook until brown.
3. Pour the spaghetti sauce and crushed tomatoes (or tomato sauce if not available) and simmer for 5 minutes in medium heat.
4. Pour the mushroom and green olives (do not drain these two, include the water).
5. Add the sugar, basil, thyme, rosemary. Put some salt (about 2 teaspoons) and ground pepper to taste. You can add more sugar if you think it's too sour, or more salt if you think it's bland, but don't add too much.
6. Add the grated cheddar cheese (you can set aside some of the grated cheddar for toppings). Cover the casserole and simmer for another 5 minutes in medium heat.
7. Turn off the heat. Prepare pasta in a plate and pour some of the sauce on top. Top with the remaining grated cheddar and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.


Contributed by: Maye Rianne Javier

Easy Pork Sisig

A recipe shared by a loving father of 2 kids, Mr. Orville Pañares. What I liked about this recipe, is the simple and easy way of doing it, good for all the beginners in cooking to follow. Thank you Mr. Pañares for sharing this.

Ingredients: 

1/4 kl. pork face (maskara) 

1/4 kl. pork ears 

6 cloves garlic (chopped) 

2 med. size red onion (chopped) 

3 pcs. thumb size ginger (crushed)

 1 small can liver spread
1 litre water ( add if needed)

mayonaise

 kalamansi

Procedure:

1. Saute half of the onion and garlic, together with all the ginger. 

2. Add the pork face and ears. lightly brown to extract flavors. 

3. Add the water, bring to boil then simmer till the meat is tender. 

4. Remove meat from water, then cut into small pieces. 

5. Heat ample amount of oil in a pan, pan fry sliced meats to add crisp to the meat. drain excess oil after frying. 

6. Saute remaining garlic and onions together with the meat. (optional: add chopped chili finger if desired) 

7. Add in the liver spread, mix well then serve while hot. (option: may use sizzling plate if available). 

8. Drizzle mayonaise on top and kalamansi on the side then serve.


Contributed by: Mr. Orville Pañares

Fried Egg with Tomato

Prepared by the two scavengers ( Bevs and Sienna) lol, perfectly fried with love :-). They shared this with me, really yummy!

Ingredients:

3 eggs ( beaten)

1 big tomato ( diced)

salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

1. Combine the beaten eggs and diced tomatoes then heat an oil. Pour the egg mixture.

2. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, cook until half cooked, then flip to cook evenly, increase the heat to give a nice brownish looks, then serve when it's done. Perfect with fried rice.

Pickled Eggs

"Fed up with your usual and normal routine of preparing eggs for family & guests?
Want something new to go in between:
sunny side up (or some call it red-up),
plain salted-scrambled, omelletes, over easy or poached?
Worry no more.
Get down and do this original simple innovation of mine...pickled eggs.
Kids will love its sweet bite-full aspect.
Once done ref them for months in its own pickling solution and withdraw as needed". Take this from the ingredients' specialist.


INGREDIENTS:
1 dozen hard boiled eggs de-shelled. Set aside.
500 ml. tap water (NEVER USE PREPARED STOCK. Don't let flavor of stock mess up with your eggs)
200 ml. cane vinegar
80 ml. ginger juice
150 grams refined white sugar
80 grams refined salt
8 grams garlic powder
8 grams onion powder
3 grams ground black pepper

OPTIONAL:
4 grams ground Spanish paprika (this gives extra exotic taste & light red color to end products)
10 ml. anisado wine (readily available at your nearest oriental store)

PROCEDURES:
1. in a suited glass jar, combine all ingredients and mix-tumble well until no lumps are visible. Adjust taste to your preference.
Add in sugar or vinegar or salt. Salty-sweet-sour taste must be evident.
2. add in eggs. Stir a bit.
3. shelve unto ref (DO NOT FREEZE)
4. ready to be enjoyed after 3 days. The longer eggs are pickled in ref the tastier they become.

Click the link below to read his restaurant reviews, food photography, recipes and more.
http://www.jdantemorados.com

Contributed by: Mr. Jose Dante S. Morados

Pinangat

A delicious light souped pomfret prepared with love by an ingredients' specialist. I am glad he shared his delicious recipes from his blog.

INGREDIENTS:
1 medium size thoroughly cleaned Pomfret
4 pieces medium tomatoes-each cut into 4 pieces
2 pieces large white onion roundedly-sliced (not chopped)
3 pieces banana pepper (or chili finger or "sili pansigang")
2 grams ground black pepper
8 pieces cleaned mustard leaves
10 ml. cooking oil
5 ml. "patis" (fish sauce)
200 ml. tap water (tubig lang sa gripo nyahaha) or fish stock

PROCEDURES:
1. Heat pan, pour oil.
2. Saute 1/2 of sliced tomatoes until overdone ("labug na labug na mga kamatis")
3. Pour in 1/2 of sliced onion, saute also to overdone state
4. Add in "patis" & black pepper. Toss a bit.
5. Pour in water (or stock) and bring to boil.
6. Upon boiling, slowly toss in Pomfret and let cook for 3 minutes each side.
7. When done, turn off or remove pan from fire.
8. Pour in mustard leaves & banana peppers...COVER.
9. Un-cover after 2 minutes, pour in unto serving tray
& garnish with the other half of tomatoes & onions.
10. Enjoy the aroma, taste and vibrance of this Pinoy comfort recipe.

For more delicious and nutritious recipes visit his blog. Click the link below.
http://www.jdantemorados.com

Contributed by:  Mr. Jose Dante S. Morados

Mr. Jose Dante S. Morados

Adobong Tokwa sa Gata

A healthy dish made from tofu contributed by Maureen Ava Fernandez. I will try this recipe soon.

Ingredients:
500 grams of Medium firm Tofu
1 can coconut milk
2 tbsp. of soy sauce
2 tbsp. of white vinegar
pinch of salt to taste
pinch of pepper to taste
Vegetable oil
Red or green chili pepper or Siling Haba
3 cloves of garlic
1 onion head

Procedure:
Fry the tofu ( tokwa) nice and golden brown
Set aside and cut it into  squares
Sauté  onion and garlic, put the fried tokwa , soy sauce and vinegar
don't stir let tokwa absorb  all the liquid from soy sauce and vinegar wait until reduced,
then add the  coconut milk, salt and pepper to taste . When almost done add the siling haba and serve.

Contributed By: Maureen Ava Fernandez