Sayote with Egg

This is a quick and easy to prepare sayote dish, just perfect to eat with or without rice. Light in taste but satisfying.

Ingredients:
2 sayote
250 grams shrimps (de-shelled and cleaned)
2 eggs beaten
3 cloves garlic
1 onion
1/2 cup fish sauce ( patis)
pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then shrimps and stir for a minute. Add the sayote and stir it very well then simmer for 2 minutes.
2. Add the fish sauce and pepper then simmer until half cooked, add salt if necessary.
3. Stir in the beaten eggs then simmer until done.
4. Serve with a smile. :-)

Mini Veggie Burger

I made this mini burgers for my friends who spent their weekend over my place, they are health conscious that's why I made the patty from shredded vegetables, this is delicious and even taste better than meat patties. They loved it.

Ingredients:
1 apple ( shredded)
1 carrot (shredded)
2 potatoes ( shredded)
1 onion ( shredded)
1 beaten egg
1/2 cup flour
salt and pepper to taste
some mini buns
some cheese
some lettuce

Procedure:
1. Combine all the carrot, apple, potatoes, onion, egg, flour, salt and pepper then mix well.
2. Spoon a portion then flatten and fry until golden brown or cooked, let cool.
3. Slice the bun, put lettuce, the fried vegetable patty, and cheese.
4. Serve with a smile.

Mely's Kitchen Ensalada

This salad is a very good appetizer, the diverse flavors from all the ingredients blended well, making this salad so appealing to your taste buds. Try this and let me know.

Ingredients:
1 mango ( not too ripe) (sliced into strips)
1 cucumber (sliced into strips)
2 tomatoes ( sliced into strips)
1 small bitter melon (ampalaya)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoons vinegar
pinch of sugar

Sliced ingredients

 Procedure:
1. In a mixing bowl combine all the ingredients and mix well.
2 Serve with fried fish or meat and enjoy.

Sawsawang Bagoong Isda

Ang mga Filipino ay mahilig kumain ng may sawsawan, at isa sa ginagawang sawsawan ay ang bagoong na isda lalo na ang katas nito, nilalagyan ng sili at kalamansi, ganyan lang kasimple at siguadong lalong sasarap ang isasawsaw mong ulam, lalo na ang inihaw na talong at mga nilagang gulay :-).
Ano ang gusto mong isawsaw dito kabayan?

Beef Ampalaya

Simple and easy ampalaya dish.

Ingredients for 5 servings:

1/2 kilo bitter melon (amplaya)

3 cloves garli

1 onion

1/4 kilo beef

3 tablespoons oyster sauce

3/4 cup water

salt and pepper to taste

Ampalaya-bitter melon

Procedure:

1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the beef and simmer until the pinkish color is gone.

2. Add the water and simmer the beef until tender, then increase the heat and add the ampalaya, stir until half cooked, then add the oyster sauce and ground pepper, then stir until done. Add salt if necessary.

3. Serve it hot.

Kuih Sagu

Kuih sagu or sago cake is popular in Malaysia and other neighboring countries, this is very easy to make and delicious. Here is my simple way of making it.

Ingredients:
 1/4 kilo any color  sago (cooked according to packaging procedure) drained
1/4 kilo sugar
4 pieces pandan leaves
1/4 kilo grated coconut
1 cup water
pinch of salt

Procedure:
1. In a pot put the water, sugar and pandan leaves then boil until it become syrup, then turn off the heat, remove the pandan leaves then add the cooked sago and stir well until fully mixed.

2. Grease an 8 inches pan then pour the tapioca with syrup and stem for 30 minutes.
3. Mix the grated coconut and salt .
4. When the sago is done let cool and cut into small pieces then roll over the grated coconut.

5. Serve with a smile :-).

Basil Parmesan Oven-Grilled Flatbread

Here is a simple idea to be used as a snack or as a side to soup or salad.  Prepared flatbreads are more common these days in higher end grocery stores, and you can also use pitas or 'naan' for this recipe.

This recipe demonstrates the use of our Basil Parmesan Oil, but any of our oils will do, especially our Pastamoré Rosemary with Roasted Garlicor our Pastamoré Meyer Lemon Olive Oil. 

 ingredients

• one package flatbread
• a leafy herb such as Italian parsley, cilantro or basil, chopped & to taste
• Pastamoré Basil Parmesan Dipping Oil
• course sea salt, to taste
• freshly ground pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 350°. Using a purchased flatbread or ‘naan’ (pictured is a Safeway brand), drizzle/brush a small amount of Pastamoré Basil Parmesan Oil over the surface. If you have a leftover herb in the fridge, chopped and sprinkle on top (we used Italian parsley here). 

For more richness add a generous sprinkle of Parmesan. Last, add a pinch of course salt for texture and flavor, and a grind of black pepper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until golden. Cut into random triangles and serve.
 

Nature's Best Beef Stew

A beef stew cooked with 100 % natural spices, I used fresh tomatoes for this recipe, an excellent flavored stew that you will surely like. Healthy and yummy.

Ingredients for 5 servings:
1/2 kilo beef (tnderloin)
4 cloves garlic
1 onion
3 big tomatoes
2 potatoes
2 carrots
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 tablespoon atsuete powder ( annatto)
3 cups water
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the tomatoes and saute until soften.

2. Add the atsuete powder and stir well, then add the beef and simmer until the pinkish color is gone.
3. Add the water and bring to a boil, then simmer the beef until tender.
4. Add the carrots and potatoes then simmer until tender. Add salt and pepper to taste then the bread crumbs to thicken the sauce and simmer until done.
5. Serve it hot.

Tapioca Pearl Dessert

You can make this dessert as colorful as you can by adding different colors of gelatine or gulaman.
I only have green gelatine  in my pantry, but I can't wait anymore to make this, so here is the simple recipe for this delicious dessert.

Ingredients:
1 sachet green gulaman ( cooked and sliced into cubes)
1/4 kilo Tapioca pearls ( cook the tapioca then drain)
1 1/2 cup condensed milk
1 cup Nestle cream or all purpose cream
1 cup evaporated milk

Procedure :
1. Combine all the ingredients then refrigerate.
2. Serve with a smile :-).

Beef Broccoli

An easy to prepare dish that is great to serve with rice. The oyster sauce made the taste tangy and delicious.

Ingredients for 4 servings:
1/2 kilo broccoli
1/4 kilo beef
1/4 cup oyster sauce
3 cloves garlic
1 onion
1/2 cup water ( add if needed)
salt and pepper  if needed

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the beef and stir until the pinkish color is gone.
2. Add the water and simmer the beef until tender.
3. Increase the heat, then add the broccoli, give it a good stir and simmer until almost done.
4 Add the oyster sauce and stir it, add salt and pepper if needed then turn off the heat.

5. Serve it hot.

Puto Ube

Craving for an ube flavored puto but there is no ube in my place :(  I just used the ube flavoring, but still the real ube is the best for this.

Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
20 ml ube flavor concentrate or 1/4 cup ube powder
1 1/2 cup fresh milk
cheddar cheese for toppings

Procedure:
1.Combine the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder then sift it.
2. In a mixing bowl combine together the sifted ingredients, ube flavor 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 20 minutes or until done.
4. Let cool before unmolding it then serve it with a smile :-).

Inihaw na talong

Isang napakadaling ihanda ang inihaw na talong, masarap ito lalo na kung lalagyan ng bagoong, siguraduhing marami ang kanin kapag ganito ang ulam ninyo dahil siguradong matataob ang caldero :-).

Mga sangkap:
talong
bagoong isda
camatis
sili labuyo
calamansi or dayap

Procedure:
1. Ihawin ang talong, balatan ito kapag luto na.
2. Timplahan ng bagoong, calamansi, camatis, at kung anu-ano pang mga pangpasarap na sangkap ang gusto ninyong idagdag
3. Ihain kasama ng pagmamahal :-).

Almondigas

Almondigas simply means meatballs or bola-bola in Tagalog, but the almondigas dish in Philippine cuisine has a vermicilli rice noodles or misua in it, its the distinguishing characteristic of almondigas Filipino style from other countries. 

Ingredients for 5 servings:
1/4 kilo ground beef
1/4 cup flour
1 onion (minced)
5 cups water
70 grams misua
3 cloves garlic
2 tomatoes
spring onion
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Mix very well the ground beef, flour, onion, salt and pepper, then get a portion from the mixturee and form into balls, then fry and set aside.
2.Saute the garlic and onion then add the tomatoes, simmer  until soften then add the water and bring to a boil. Add the almondigas (meatballs) then simmer for 3 minutes and add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Add the misua and simmer for 2 minutes or until done, turn off the heat then put the spring onion

4. Serve it hot.

Note: It is also okay if you just drop the almondigas into the soup without frying it.

Ampalaya with bola bola

I will not refuse bitter melon any time, because this vegetable stimulates digestion  which can be helpful in relieving indigestion and constipation problems. This is also good source of Niacin (vitamin B-3), Pantothenic acid (vit.B-5), Pyridoxine (vit.B-6) and minerals such as iron, zinc, potassium, manganese and magnesium. To those who do not like bitter melon, start eating this now :-).
Ingredients for 4 servings:
1/2 kilo bitter melon (ampalaya) sliced
3 cloves garlic
1/2 piece onion
2 beaten eggs
1/4 kilo ground pork ( made into small balls)
salt and pepper to taste

Bitter melon

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the meatballs and simmer until cooked.
2. Increase the heat then add the bitter melon and stir until half cooked then add the beaten eggs and give a good stir, add salt and pepper to taste, then turn off the heat.
3. Serve it hot.

Rice Puto

The first puto that I've tasted when I was around 5 years old. Every weekends my older sisters and their bestfriends are always spending time at our house making this puto. That's why it became my favorite, I loved the sweetness and creamy taste in every bite.

Ingredients for 15 Puto:
2 cups rice flour ( giniling na bigas)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 cup coconut milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
Wilted banana leaves ( cut into circles enough to fit the molder with an overlapping allowance)

Procedure:
1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar, then pour the coconut milk into it and mix well, until the batter is smooth in texture.

 2. Put the banana leaves into the molder properly then pour the batter around 3/4 full.

3.Steam for 30 minutes or until done.
4. Serve anytime you want it.

Refreshing Avocado and Milk

Cool yourself with this refreshing drink made from a delicious fruit, avocado. Loaded with ice and blended with the creamy taste of milk, nothing beats this. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 servings:
1 ripe avocado
2 cups evaporated milk
3 cups crushed ice or more
sugar to taste

Procedure:
1. Scrape the avocado meat and put in a jar then add the milk and sugar, mix well until sugar is fully dissolved.

2. Add the ice and allow few minutes for it to be melted, you can add more ice if you want.
3. Serve and enjoy.

Pancit Molo

A comfort food that originated from Molo district of Iloilo city. I learned this dish from my parents who are both Ilonggos. This Filipino noodle dumpling soup is really delicious yet very easy to prepare and this is how I like this soup, with pancit, you can click the link at the bottom for molo soup, I wrote there on how to make the dumplings. The original recipe do not have noodles, but my family like it this way, because we love pancit ( noodles).

Ingredients for 5 servings:
10 pieces molo (cooked)
1/2 kilo pancit ( blanched)
10 cups chicken broth or water
1/2 cup minced carrots
salt and pepper to taste
spring onion for garnishing

Procedure:
1. Saute garlic and onion then add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.
2. Add carrots, salt and pepper to taste, just allow to simmer over very low heat so that when we pour the soup over the noodles it's really hot.
3. Divide the pancit into 5 serving bowls, put each bowl with molo and spring onion, then pour the soup.
4. Serve it hot.

You might also like this recipe
Molo Soup

Mely's Kitchen Puto Cheese

This puto cheese is a result of finding out a perfect batter for the puto, I think this one is very good, it's just perfect! I am talking about the batter, because I was not happy with the cheese that's available in my place. I hope you will try this recipe.

Ingredients for 15 medium size Puto:
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cup fresh milk
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon butter (soften)
cheddar cheese for toppings

Procedure:
1.Combine the flour, salt, sugar and baking powder then sift it.
2. In a mixing bowl combine together the sifted ingredients, butter. 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 20 minutes or until done.

4. Let cool before unmolding it then serve it with a smile :-).

Sunday Dinner February 2, 2014

Today is a very challenging cooking experience because at the middle of my cooking activity the gas tank was emptied, oh no!!!!! There is no LPG shop that is open during Sundays in my place, so it means we can not purchase a tank of gas, and there is no electric stove, so I used the oven and rice cooker to finish my cooking. So instead of pork adobo, it became a lechon, then I cooked the beef stew  in the rice cooker, I'm still thankful to God, I have finished my cooking on time.

The starter: 

The main course:

Rice

Lechon

Beef stew

Baked Lasagna

The Dessert:

Tapioca dessert