Chickpea Salad

Garbanzo or chickpea is a legume that is high in protein and a good source of iron. The first time I ate it I fell in love with its yummy taste, very creamy and nutty. You can use chickpea in different dishes but for now enjoy this delicious and nutritious salad :-). Below are the basic ingredients but you can add more when you serve it, like sesame seeds and basil leaves.

Ingredients:
250 grams chick pea
1 cup cherry tomato
1/2 cup black seedless olives
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lime or lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Cook the chick pea until tender ( I pressure cooked it for 20 minutes) if pressure cooker is not available, just use a pot and boil until done.
2. When tender, drain and put in a mixing bowl.
3. Add the cherry tomatoes, olives, olive oil,  salt and pepper then mix well.
4. Serve with love and do not forget to smile :-) .

Roasted Baby Potato

Simple yet satisfying. A perfect side dish and replacement for rice, I served mine with pork adobo, sprinkled it with sesame seeds, wow it was so good.

Ingredients:
1 kilo baby potatoes ( wash very well)
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Sprinkle the potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper then add the rosemary.
2. Preheat the oven at 210C then put the potatoes in a baking pan then roast for 20 minutes or until done.
3. Serve and enjoy.

Fresh Lumpia

Fresh lumpia or lumpiang sariwa is a very good and affordable dish that you can serve for the whole family. This one is a recipe from Nanay Pining, she's making this when I arrived that's why I was able to take pictures and told her that I will post it for my blog. This is really delicious. She served some for me after she made it.Here is how to make fresh lumpia.

Ingredients for the filling:
1/2 kilo shrimps
1/4 kilo ground beef or pork
1/2 kilo carrots 
1/2 kilo potatoes ( french cut and fried)
1/2 kilo cabbage
1/4 kilo green beans
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 onion (minced)
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure for the filling:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the ground meat and saute until the pinkish color is gone then add the shrimps and simmer for a minute.
2. Add the carrots and green beans then simmer until tender.
3. Add all the ingredients and simmer until cooked.

Ingredients  for the wrapper:
4 tablespoons flour
1 cup cornstarch
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 cups water
2 whole eggs

Procedure:
1. Mix all the dry ingredients then add the egg and water then mix throughly.
2. Cook in a non-stick pan for a perfect result.

Ingredients for the Sauce
1 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoons soy sauce
5 cups water
5 cloves garlic ( minced)
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

Procedure:
1. Mix all the ingredients then bring to a boil over medium heat until thickens.
2. Remove from heat, then add the minced garlic and mix well.
3. This is now ready to be used :-).

To assemble:
1. Place the wrapper properly then put the lettuce and add the filling.

2. Wrap well and place in a plate. pour with a sauce and minced garlic and peanut then serve.

Contributed by: Nanay Pining

Nanay Pining

Suam Mais (Corn Soup)

Suam Mais is a corn soup dish from Pampanga, Philippines. Delicious and easy to prepare.

Ingredients:
4 pieces young white malagkit corn
1/4 kilo pork
3 cups water (add if needed)
2 cups camote tops ( talbos ng camote)
3 cloves garlic
1/2 onion
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the pork, stir until it is brownish,  add the corn and simmer for a minute.
2. Add the water, salt and pepper, simmer until the corn is tender.
3. Add the  camote tops and simmer until done and turn off the heat.
4. Serve it hot.

Simple Ratatouille

Ratatouille (/ˌrætəˈtuːiː/ rat-ə-TOO-ee; French: [ʁataˈtuj]) is a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice. The full name of the dish is ratatouille niçoise.[1]

Origin
The word ratatouille comes from Occitan ratatolha and the recipe comes from Occitan cuisine. Ratatouille originated in the area around present day Occitan Provença (French: Provence) and Niça (French: Nice); the Catalan samfaina and the Majorcan tombet are versions of the same dish.[2] The southern Italian ciambotta is a related spring vegetable dish.
To read more click the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille

Piperade Mixture/ Sauce:
 1 Onion chopped
 2 Carrots unpeeled and grated 
4 Celery sticks 
1 Tablespoons Minced garlic 
1 Red bell pepper Charred, peeled, seeds and ribs removed 
1 yellow bell pepper charred, peeled , seeds and ribs removed 
2 Red chillies charred, peeled, seeds and ribs removed. (Optional) 
850 grams tomato sauce
2-3 Tablespoons Olive oil 
6 Fresh basil leaves. 
Salt and Pepper to taste

Vegetables:  
2 Zucchinis sliced 
2 Japanese or Chinese eggplants sliced 
6 Roma tomatoes sliced 

Procedure for the piperade mixture: 
1. Saute the onion with the olive oil until translucent ( do not brown). Add the celery, carrots, garlic and continue to saute until softened. 
2. Mix in the bell peppers,chillies and the can tomatoes.
Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook the mixture until the water from the tomatoes is evaporated. Add the basil leaves. Set aside
3. In a blender, blend the whole mixture into a thick sauce. Pour the mixture into a large pan (oven proof) / casserole dish. 

To Assemble the ratatouille:
4. Take a slice of each vegetable, put them together and stick them half way in the sauce 
5. Repeat the process and arrange the vegetables all over the pan in a circular or preferred design. 

6. Finally, drizzle some olive oil on top, salt, pepper and some dried herbs (basil, oregano and thyme). Cover with an aluminium foil. 
7. Bake it in the oven (300 F for about 2 hours). Remove the foil and bake for 45 minutes at 350 F to caramelize. Serve and Enjoy.


Contributed by: Gabriel Eli Ndegwa

If yellow squash is available you can add it for this recipe

Now, it is time to watch the ratatouille movie :) 

Stuffed Potato ( Relyenong patatas)

Affordable, easy and yummy. Try it.

Ingredients for 3 servings:
3 pieces potato Medium size
100 grams ground beef
1 carrot ( grated)
1/2 cup chopped broccoli
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 onion (minced)
salt and pepper to taste


Procedure:
1. Boil the potatoes and remove the skin then cut into halves, remove some part in the middle to make a space for stuffing, then set aside.
2. Saute the garlic and onion then add the ground beef and simmer for 2 minutes add the carrots and broccoli, stir well then add salt and pepper to taste and simmer for a minute and turn off the heat.
3. Get the potatoes and fill each slice with the  filling, put together each pair with a toothpick, dip in a beaten egg and roll over the bread crumbs, secure with a toothpick, then bake in a pre-heated oven for 13 minutes at 200C.

4. Remove the toothpicks, slice then serve and enjoy.

The potato parts  that I removed to make a space for stuffing, I also sliced it and add to the filling. :-)