HOW TO BAKE A CAKE WITHOUT OVEN

HOW TO BAKE A CAKE WITHOUT OVEN -I think everyone loves cake because of its sweet and creamy taste. This time, I am going to share with you my very easy cake recipe. If you do not have an oven in your home, don't worry because I made this recipe for those who do not have oven. This quick and easy cake is great because it only require 4 ingredients and those ingredients are not hard to find because they are the common ingredients we use in our daily cooking. What we are going to use in baking this cake is rice cooker although this cooking tool does not have baking feature, we can still use it for other cooking purposes like cooking noodles and baking cakes. In this recipe I am about to share with you includes 5 ingredients but like I said earlier, it only requires 4 so the other one is only optional. You can improve this recipe by adding whip cream as icing and also you can use cherry syrup to add more taste. Chocolate is also welcome to my recipe so you can garnish it chocolate flakes together with your whip cream icing at the top. Here is how to do it:

HOW TO BAKE A CAKE WITHOUT OVEN

INGREDIENTS
2 eggs
1/4 cup cold water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder


STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND BAKING DIRECTIONS FOR CAKE
1. In a blender, combine eggs, water and sugar. You can add 1 teaspoon of vanilla but that is optional.
2. Blend for 2 minutes. If you do not have a blender, you can hand-whisk it until the consistency becomes gooey like a thin sauce. Transfer in a wide mixing bowl.
3. In another wide bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Mix thoroughly then sift twice to make sure the mixture is perfectly incorporated.
4. Gently fold in the flour to the egg mixture and gently stir until well incorporated.
5. Grease the rice cooker pot with oil from the bottom up to about half way of the pot.
6. Gently pour in the batter to the pot and cook. When the rice cooker turns from hot to warm, check on the cake, continue cooking if it's not yet cooked. When the cake smells sweet and the side of the cake turned brown, then your cake is ready.
7. Remove from the pot and let it cool down.
8. Decorate with whipped cream, marshmallows or candies. Enjoy!

HOW TO BAKE A CAKE WITHOUT OVEN

HOW TO MAKE CREMA DE FRUTA (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE CREMA DE FRUTA (RECIPE) -this delicious dessert is very similar to what we call graham cake. The process is the same  only adding fruits and gelatin to crema de fruta. There are some graham cracker cakes that use fruits as one of its layer but others do not like the idea of combining fruits and milk. But that did not keep the people from making crema de fruta because this creamy dessert is very delicious. Making this food is very easy and simple. You co not even need tons of ingredients because all you need is the basic ingredients used in making graham cake. But of course graham crackers, heavy cream, condensed milk, gelatin and fruits are equally important in making this dessert. In the recipe I am about to share with you, you can replace the cocktails with fruits you want, either pineapple, mango or mixed berries but make sure the fruits will compliment the taste of cream and gelatin. Here is my recipe:

HOW TO MAKE CREMA DE FRUTA (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
250g fruit cocktail
250ml heavy cream
250ml condensed milk
250-300g graham crackers of your choice
1 pack gelatin powder
cocktail juice

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING CREMA DE FRUTA
1. In a mixing bowl, combine together cream and condensed milk. Mix thoroughly or whip until doubled in volume.
2. In the graham cake tray, arrange the first layer of crackers until the whole area is covered.
3. Pour cream mixture until all the crackers are covered generously.
4. Arrange another layer of crackers and pour cream mixture once again.
5. Arrange fruit cocktails as one layer.
6. Repeat the steps until you run out of the ingredients but make sure that fruit cocktail is the top layer.
7. In a skillet, combine together cocktail juice and gelatin powder. stir and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes over low heat.
8. Let the mixture cool then pour gently over the cocktail layer.
9. Chill in the fridge before serving. Enjoy!

HOW TO MAKE CREMA DE FRUTA (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE HASH BROWN

HOW TO MAKE HASH BROWN -this dish is very popular in fast food chains. We think that this dish is very fancy, well, I promise you, it is not. This food is very easy to make and cheap as well. There are many ways to make it but what I am going to share with you is the basic one and from here, you can improve your hash brown to suit your taste and preferences. One very important characteristic of hash brown is its crunchiness. To make it crunchy, patience is a must because you need to drain the potatoes as much as possible because water can keep the potatoes from being crunchy when cooked. For frying, you can either use butter or cooking oil, but i prefer butter to make my hash brown crunchy enough but different texture in the inside. If you have time, you can cut your hash brown into shape you want but it will require you to refrigerate it so that the shreds will hold. Here is the recipe:

                                                    image source: wikipedia.org


HOW TO MAKE HASH BROWN

INGREDIENTS
4 Idaho potatoes, peeled (or any kind)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon red onion, minced (or shallots)
2 tablespoon potato powder
2 tablespoon corn starch
4 tablespoon rice flour
2 tablespoon water
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
cooking oil


STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING HASH BROWN
1. Shred your potatoes into thin strips.
2. In a bowl, soak up the shredded potatoes in the water for half an hour to remove the starch.
3. strain the water from potatoes as much as possible. Squeeze with your hands then put in a clean cloth and squeeze again.
4. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients except cooking oil. Mix thoroughly until well incorporated.
5. Transfer the mixture in a plastic wrapper and cover it with another sheet of plastic cover.
6. Flatten the mixture into 1cm thick using rolling pin.
7. Refrigerate for 5 hours.
8. Cut the potato mixture into desired shape, either rectangle or triangle.
9. In a deep pan, heat oil.
10. Fry the hash brown until golden brown.
11. Put the cooked hash brown on paper towel to remove excess oil. The oil can reduce the crunchiness.
12. Let it cool down and serve with maple syrup. Enjoy!

HOW TO MAKE HASH BROWN

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE GRAHAM CAKE (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE GRAHAM CAKE (RECIPE) -this sweet dessert is made of graham crackers with textures similar to cake. Graham cracker is actually crunchy but since this cake contains milk, the crunchy state of the crackers become soft like the real cake that is why it is named that way. This dessert is very easy to make because the ingredients are very common and easy to find in the market. Also it does not require any cooking. in this recipe I am going to share with you, I used fresh pineapple but if you feel like using other than pineapple, I would suggest to use ripe mango, apple or cherry. You can even use canned fruit cocktails as filling. In the Philippines, I have seen many versions of graham cake. I wish I could share those recipes with you but I regret to say that I do not have much free time to do so. You can experiment on this one though. Just do not go far from the amount of the ingredients I used. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE GRAHAM CAKE (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
2 200gram packs graham crackers
250ml evaporated milk
2 250ml all-purpose cream
2 250ml condensed milk
500grams pineapple (sliced into thin strips)

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING GRAHAM CAKE
1. In a bowl, combine together condensed milk and all-purpose cream. Stir thoroughly until well incorporated.
2. In another bowl, pour the evaporated milk.
3. Dip cracker in the evaporated milk and gently arrange it in the plastic container until the area for first layer is covered (dip every cracker in the evaporated milk to moisten the crackers.)
4. Scoop mixture of condensed milk and cream and pour generously over the crackers.
5. For the next layer, gently arrange pineapple strips until the whole area is covered.
6. Repeat the process for all the remaining ingredients.
7. When done, cover the container and chill before serving.

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE GRAHAM CAKE (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE CHOCOLATE CHIP (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE CHOCOLATE CHIP (RECIPE) -it is December, month of the most favorite holidays on earth and it means tons of foods are prepared during this month, from simple spaghetti to fancy fruit delights. I would like to share with you this very delicious but not so expensive sweet dish I always make when New Year comes. Chocolate chip is not hard to make and this one cheaper than the traditional chocolate chip because what we are going to use is the Otap. Otap is very common in the Philippines but if you do not have it in your nearest bakeshop then I would suggest to replace it with any crunchy thick bread. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE CHOCOLATE CHIP (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
24 pieces otap
300 grams pineapple, cut into strips (thinly sliced)
3 tablespoon sweet condensed milk
4 tablespoon chocolate chips
500ml heavy cream

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. In a dish container, arrange the otap cookies.
2. Whip the cream until it has doubled in size. Fold in condensed milk into the cream.
3. spread cream generously on every layer of otap.
4. Place a strip or two of pineapple, another layer of cream, another layer of otap and garnish with cream on top.
5. Repeat the process for the rest of the ingredients.
6. cover the container and refrigerate before serving.

HOW TO MAKE PINEAPPLE CHOCOLATE CHIP (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE MANGO GRAHAM BALLS (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE MANGO GRAHAM BALLS (RECIPE) -Graham cake has become popular in the Philippines and also in many parts of Asia. Though graham cake is not an Asian food, the Asian people has adopted this dish because of its unique and delicious taste. This one is also great alternative for common cake. This time, instead of doing the usual way of making graham cake, we are going to make graham balls instead. The ingredients are the same so if you are about to make the cake one, you do not have to worry about missing some ingredient by shifting to this recipe I am going to share with you. The process is very easy and simple, just make sure to use the right amount of the ingredients in this recipe. Here is how to make Christmas graham balls:

HOW TO MAKE MANGO GRAHAM BALLS (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
5 cups graham crackers (coarsely crushed)
250ml  sweet condensed milk
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 3/4 cups finely shredded coconut
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup ripe mango cubes

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE FOR MAKING GRAHAM BALLS
1. In a mixing bowl, combine together condensed milk, graham crackers and evaporated milk.
2. Form mixture into cupcake-sized balls.
3. Place mango cube in the center of every ball.
4. In another mixing bowl, combine coconut and powdered sugar. Mix well.
5. Roll the balls on coconut and sugar mixture.
6. Put in the container and chill before serving.

HOW TO MAKE MANGO GRAHAM BALLS (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS LECHE FLAN (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS LECHE FLAN (RECIPE)-I have already shared with you my leche flan recipe like 2 years ago but this time I am going to share with you another leche flan recipe but this one is different because I made changes to my old recipe so that it can suit the weather and the holidays we are having this December like Christmas and New Year. the secret key to a great leche flan is the degree of creaminess and the degree of sweetness so I considered those two factors in changing my old leche flan recipe and I even did experiments on combining the two factors until I got the best result (at least best to me.) Here is my new Leche Flan recipe for Christmas and New Year:

                                image source: wikipedia.org


HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS LECHE FLAN (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 cups sugar
6 tablespoon water
600ml sweetened condensed milk
4 cups evaporated milk
8 eggs
8 egg yolks

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE FOR LECHE FLAN
1. Combine water and sugar in a pan. Stir and cook in low heat until caramelized.
2. Divide the caramelized mixture into 6 moulds or "llaneras" and set aside.
3. In a bowl, combine condensed milk, evaporated milk, whole eggs and egg yolks.
4. Whisk thoroughly.
5. Gently strain the mixture to get rid of bubble formation.
6. Pour in the mixture to the moulds and cover with aluminum foil.
7. steam in low heat not longer than 50 minutes.
8. Remove from heat and let rest to cool down.
9. Refrigerate before serving.

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS LECHE FLAN (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS FRUIT SALAD (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS FRUIT SALAD (RECIPE) -fruit salad can be seasonal depending on how you are going to make it. Canned fruits would be the best because it is preserved so you won't have to worry if the fruits you are going to use is in season. There are some fruits that you can not find in a fuit cocktail so if you want to use fresh ones, it can be very expensive when it is not in season. but I would like to advice you to use alternative fruits that are abundant during months of December because it can be cheap to buy. These days, the most common fruits used in making salad is the canned cocktails because you do not have to bother looking for the fresh ones you want in the market plus cocktails have the most commonly used fruits for salad. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS FRUIT SALAD (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
1 large can fruit cocktails (about 800grams)
1 small jar Nata de Coco
1 small jar Kaong
4 cups shredded young coconut
250ml sweet condensed milk
250ml all-purpose cream
1 cup raisins (optional)

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE FOR FRUIT SALAD
1. Drain all the fruit ingredients including kaong and nata de coco. We only need the solid fruits.
2. In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix well until perfectly incorporated.
3. Cover the bowl and refrigerate to chill before serving.

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS FRUIT SALAD (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS CREAMY CAPPUCCINO

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS CREAMY CAPPUCCINO -coffee is part of our daily lives and the day seems incomplete without having coffee in the morning and in the afternoon. But since Christmas has come, we would like to make our coffee more special than the usual way we drink it. So instead of brewing it like the old way, making cappuccino coffee would give us a special taste to make us feel the holidays more appealing. This one is very easy to make, there is no cooking involved except for, of course boiling water. The amount of the ingredients are based on my taste so if you feel like there is some lightness in the amount of some of the ingredient, do not feel so obligated. adjust the amount to suit your taste. Here is how to make it:

                               image source: wikipedia.org

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS CREAMY CAPPUCCINO

INGREDIENTS
1 cup sweet condensed milk
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 liters water
1/2 cup coffee powder (instant)

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE IN MAKING CAPPUCCINO
1. In a kitchen water heater or kettle, bring water to a boil.
2. Remove from heat. Add the coffee and stir.
3. Stir in the evaporated milk.
4. Pour in the mixture to the cups.
5. Drizzle with condensed milk.
6. Serve while hot.

HOW TO MAKE CHRISTMAS CREAMY CAPPUCCINO

HOW TO COOK CREAMY BEEF STEW (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK CREAMY BEEF STEW (RECIPE) -one of the first posts I did on this blog is the beef stew. That one was the very common and traditional way of cooking stew but this time, we are going to cook creamy beef stew to suit the holidays we are having this December. It is very simple to do but it will give you a special taste like you are not having a stew at all. December is cold so this dish is good to eat during Christmas because this stew is beast served hot. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO COOK CREAMY BEEF STEW (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
1 lb. beef (cut into strips)
2 1/2 cups water
2 pieces carrots (chopped)
6 cloves garlic (minced)
1 red onion (chopped)
2 pieces potatoes
1 piece red bell pepper (cut into strips)
250ml all-purpose cream
cooking oil
salt and pepper to taste

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE FOR BEEF STEW
1. In a pot, pour water and bring to a boil.
2. Add the beef and simmer until tender.
3. Separate the beef and stock.
4. In a pan, heat oil. Saute garlic until light brown.
5. Add the onions and saute until softened.
6. Add the beef and saute for 1 minute.
7. Add the stock and simmer for 5 minutes.
8. Add the potatoes, carrots and bell pepper. Simmer until almost cooked.
9. Add the cream, salt and pepper. Stir. Simmer until all the vegetables are cooked.
10. And serve with loaf bread while hot.

HOW TO COOK CREAMY BEEF STEW (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK ADOBONG BALAT NG BABOY (PORK SKIN ADOBO)

HOW TO COOK ADOBONG BALAT NG BABOY (PORK SKIN ADOBO) -it is another way of cooking adobo in the Philippines. Pork is not cheap in the country so there are many alternative meats used in cooking adobo in the Philippines and pig's skin is just one of those meats. Pig's skin is way cheaper than pork tenderloin or just pure pork. You can buy a kilo for only a 80-100 pesos in the market and you can buy it even cheaper if you go directly to slaughter house. There are many dishes that can be cooked with this meat like sisig, kilawin, chicharon (cracklings) and adobo. Making this dish is not so expensive yet delicious and I think skin is a bit healthier than pure tenderloin but I am not sure about that, it is just my opinion. What I am sure about is that you'll like it. This dish is recommended to mummies who are trying to figure out how to save some money without jeopardizing their meals. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO COOK ADOBONG BALAT NG BABOY (PORK SKIN ADOBO)

INGREDIENTS
1/2 kilo pork skin
6 cloves garlic (minced)
1 red onion (thinly sliced)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon vinegar
cooking oil

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. Slice the skin into strips.
2. In a pot, pour water. Bring to a boil.
3. Add the skin and simmer for half an hour. Remove from broth and set aside.
4. In a pan, heat oil. Saute garlic until light brown.
5. Add the onion and saute until softens.
6. Add the skin and saute for 2 minutes.
7. Add 1/2 cup water or broth, soy sauce and pepper.
8. Simmer for 10 minutes.
9. Add the vinegar and simmer for another 3 minutes.
10. Transfer in a serving dish and serve with rice.

HOW TO COOK ADOBONG BALAT NG BABOY (PORK SKIN ADOBO)

HOW TO COOK CHAKALAKA (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK CHAKALAKA (RECIPE) -this dish is a South African spicy dish usually made of beans, onions and peppers. In African provinces, this dish is commonly served with bread sometimes as a filling.  Amasi or sour milk is also one of the common dishes served with Chakalaka. Many versions of this dish are made from various towns of South Africa especially in Johannesburg where this dish has originated. By the looks, you could say this dish is similar to pork and beans. This food is not good for the small children because it is too hot and spicy for them so if you want to cook it for your kids, just put the spices in minimum amount. Here is the simple recipe:

HOW TO COOK CHAKALAKA (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
1 can or 15 oz. beans (baked in tomato sauce)
3 tbsp cooking oil
1 large size sweet onion (chopped)
2 small bell peppers
3 red chili peppers (minced)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
2 tsp curry powder
3 tomatoes (diced)
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. In a pan, heat oil. Saute garlic until light brown.
2. Add onions ans saute until soften. Add the chili, bell pepper, garlic and curry powder. Saute for 5 minutes.
3. Add the tomatoes and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to medium-low heat and simmer for 4 minutes.
4. Add the baked beans, salt and pepper and stir. Cook for 1 minute.
5. Serve with pizza and enjoy!

HOW TO COOK CHAKALAKA (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK GINISANG MAIS WITH AMPALAYA

HOW TO COOK GINISANG MAIS WITH AMPALAYA -Ginisang mais is another sauteed dish in the Philippines. This is one of my favorite vegetable dishes. I like its taste because when I eat it, I can taste that it's like milky or something creamy is included in the ingredients. It is very Filipino because the main ingredients here are some of the main agricultural products of the Philippines. We are going to need "sahog" for this one but you can choose whatever you want as long as It is not going to ruin your ginisang mais. One of the common sahog used is dried shrimp or you can simply use tinapa flakes. In making this dish, you will need corn kernels. You can buy it in the market and ask them to grind it for you or you can slice off the kernels from the corn ear, it is easy to do but a bit messy. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO COOK GINISANG MAIS WITH AMPALAYA

INGREDIENTS
3 cups ground corn kernels
2 cups ampalaya leaves
5 cloves garlic (minced)
1 red onion (thinly sliced)
3 cups water (or more)
1 teaspoon salt
a pinch of MSG
1 cup dried shrimps
cooking oil

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. In a deep pan, heat oil. Add garlic and saute until light brown.
2. Add the onion and saute until soft.
3. Add the kernels and saute for 1 minute.
4. add the water, bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes or until the soup becomes gooey.
5. Add the salt, dried shrimp, MSG and ampalaya leaves.
6. simmer for additional 3 minutes.
7. Remove from heat and serve with rice.

HOW TO COOK GINISANG MAIS WITH AMPALAYA

HOW TO COOK ADOBONG PAA NG MANOK

HOW TO COOK ADOBONG PAA NG MANOK -eating chicken feet is part of the Filipino culture. Adobong paa ng manok is a tagalog term for chicken feet adobo. Chicken is very abundant in the Philippines in fact the Pinoys have our own native chickens but it is not the usual ones we are going to use for this dish but the broiler's or cobb vantress' because it is more fleshy than the native ones and easier to find in the poultry and meat section of the markets. Philippines is not the only country who make dishes out of chicken feet like South Korea for instance. Many food shops and food carts in the country offer this kind of dish, in fact, when the sun is setting, street vendors start to come to the downtown area with their carts and grills offering various street foods and Chicken barbecue is one of those. Cooking adobong paa ng manok is not that hard to do and I can say it is one of the easiest dishes to cook. I would like to say that it could be gross if the preparation is not right so make sure the nails and scales  are removed. Here is the easy recipe:


HOW TO COOK ADOBONG PAA NG MANOK

INGREDIENTS
1 kilo chicken feet
6 cloves garlic (minced)
1 red onion (thinly sliced)
2 thumb-size ginger (thinly sliced)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 cup water
3 pieces red hot chili (optional)
1 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon vinegar
cooking oil

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare the chicken feet by removing its nails and scales. The ones sold in the meat section is already clean from scales but still have nails.
2. In a deep pan, heat oil. Saute garlic until light brown, add onion and saute until soft.
3. Add the chicken feet and saute for 2 minutes.
4. Add the water and ginger and simmer until the water ran dry.
5. Add the soy sauce, vinegar, pepper and chili. Simmer until the sauce thickens.
6. Remove from heat and transfer in serving dish.
7. Serve with rice and enjoy!

HOW TO COOK ADOBONG PAA NG MANOK

HOW TO COOK GINATAANG TILAPIA

HOW TO COOK GINATAANG TILAPIA -Tilapia is one of the most famous fish in the Philippines. it is very easy to find in the country and in fact you can find it in almost every wet market in the Philippines. Ginataan is one of the usual dish cooked with tilapia because coconut is very abundant in the country and as abundant as tilapia. Ginataan is a Tagalog term for any dish cooked with coconut milk. Coconut and tilapia are not expensive so it is not very expensive to cook. There are many versions of this dish, one of these is the one very similar to bicol express which is super hot because it has tons of chili in it. Here is a simple but delicious Ginataang Tilapia recipe:

HOW TO COOK GINATAANG TILAPIA

INGREDIENTS
1 kilo tilapia
1 cup pure coconut
1/2 cup pure coconut milk combined with 1 cup water
6 cloves garlic (minced)
1 red onion (thinly sliced)
2 finger-size ginger (minced)
6 pieces green chili (siling panigang)
1 1/2 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 bundle bokchoy
cooking oil

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare the tilapia by removing its gills, innards and scales. You can ask the store keeper to clean it for you. Wash thoroughly to remove slimy odor and substance.
2. In a pot, heat oil. Fry the tilapia half cooked. Set aside.
3. In the same pot, saute garlic until light brown. Add the onion and saute until transparent.
4. Add the salt, pepper and ginger then pour coconut milk and water mixture. bring to a boil.
5. Add the tilapia, green chili and bokchoy, simmer for 5 minutes.
6. Add the pure coconut milk and simmer for additional 5 minutes or until the bokchoy is cooked.
7. serve with hot rice and enjoy!

HOW TO COOK GINATAANG TILAPIA

HOW TO MAKE BOEREWORS

HOW TO MAKE BOEREWORS -this dish is a very famous meat dish in South Africa. but this is not commonly available in supermarkets outside the country. Boerewors is made of prime beef and coriander. This is very similar to bratwurst of Germany and sausages in the United States. Basically, this dish is often barbecued but there are many versions of it that do not require to barbecue the meat. Boerewors is two African words combined that means farmer's sausage. By its name, we could say that this dish was first created by the farmers of South Africa though I am not sure about that. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO MAKE BOEREWORS

INGREDIENTS
1 kilo prime beef
1/2 kilo pork
250 g pork bacon
5 teaspoon coriander
1/4 teaspoon cloves
3 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
50 ml vinegar
pork casing

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND COOKING DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare the coriander by placing it in the dry pan, heat and stir until it turns into light brown.
2. Grind and sieve so that the husk will be remove. Grind until becomes powder. You can use a rolling pin or a nut grinder or you can even use coffee grinder for better result.
3. Chop the beef and pork into 1" x 1" cubes.
4. Slice the bacon into small parts.
5. In a mixing bowl, combine beef, pork, bacon and all the seasoning and spices.
6. Add the vinegar and mix perfectly.
7. Refrigerate the mixture for 2-3 hours.
8. Mince the meat but do not mince it too fine.
9. Fill the casing with meat stuffing and seal both ends with clean kitchen string.

HOW TO MAKE BOEREWORS

HOW TO COOK GINISANG AMPALAYA WITH EGG

HOW TO COOK GINISANG AMPALAYA WITH EGG -Ampalaya or bitter gourd is a very abundant vegetable in the Philippines. There are many dishes cooked with ampalaya and most of those dishes are sauteed. Pinakbet is one example of dish with ampalaya which is very popular in the country most especially in the Ilocos region in the Northern part of the country. Ginisang ampalaya also has many variations like sauteed with pork, or chicken -these dishes are very common but what we are going to cook this time is sauteed bitter gourd with egg or ginisang ampalaya with itlog. In this recipe, we are going to need not so many ingredients and those ingredients are very easy to find in the market. If you are in a country where bitter gourd is not so easy to find, you can replace the bitter gourd with chayote or papaya because these vegetables are also good to cook using our recipe here. I would like to advice you that if you are going to use a bit mature ampalaya, you should cut it lengthwise then remove the seeds or you can do the same even you are using the young ones. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO COOK GINISANG AMPALAYA WITH EGG

INGREDIENTS
1/2 kilo long bitter gourd (thinly sliced)
2 tablespoon rock salt (for preparing the ampalaya)
6 cloves garlic (minced)
1 red onion (thinly sliced)
4 eggs (whisked)
1 cup diced tomatoes
1 cup water
1 teaspoon salt
MSG or vetsin (optional)
cooking oil

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. In a large bowl, combine ampalaya with salt. Mix thoroughly for 10 minutes, this process will remove the bitter taste of ampalaya.
2. Rinse with water three times.
3. In a skillet, heat oil. Saute garlic until color turned light brown.
4. Add the onion and saute until turned transparent.
5. Add the ampalaya and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
6. Add the salt and water, simmer for 5 minutes.
7. Add the tomatoes and simmer until the ampalaya is cooked. Add water if necessary. This time you can add the MSG if you want to use some.
8. Add the eggs and stir. Cooking is done when the eggs become solid.
9. And serve.

HOW TO COOK GINISANG AMPALAYA WITH EGG

HOW TO COOK GINISANG UPO (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK GINISANG UPO (RECIPE) -Upo or bottle gourd is a very abundant vegetable in the Philippines. Many dishes are cooked with upo in the country like pesang isda with upo, sinibak na upo, etc. But Ginisa is the very famous and it has many ways to cook. In english, this dish is called sauteed bottle gourd which is literally means sauteed in onions and garlic with additional ingredients to boost the texture and flavor like pork or fish. Shrimp and sardines are also used. Bottle gourd may not be available in your country but if you want to try this recipe, you can replace upo with chayote or young papaya. In this recipe I am going to share with you, we are going to use Tinapa flakes or you can use any fried fish flakes as replacement. If you are into eating tuna flakes, it is also good to use canned tuna just use the plain flakes and oil. Very popular version of this dish is the one with tomatoes but some people do not like the idea of combining the taste of Upo and tomatoes so in this recipe, we are going to use pepper corn instead of tomatoes to make it a bit unique but delicious. Here is the Ginisang Upo Recipe:

HOW TO COOK GINISANG UPO (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
1 upo (about 1 kilo)
6 cloves garlic (minced)
1 medium size red onion (thinly sliced)
1/2 teaspoon peppercorn (ground)
2 cups deboned tinapa flakes (smoked fish)
cooking oil
1 teaspoon salt (or more depending on your taste)
1/2 cup water
MSG (optional)

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. Wash the upo well before peeling. Peel and thinly slice.
2. In a skillet, heat oil, saute garlic and onion until light brown.
3. Add the sliced upo and stir-fry for 2 minutes.
4. Add water, pepper and salt, cover the skillet and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add the tinapa flakes and MSG, mix a little and continue simmering for 3 minutes.
6. And serve with rice.

HOW TO COOK GINISANG UPO (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE TORTANG HIPON

HOW TO MAKE TORTANG HIPON -hipon or shrimp is one of the very abundant aquaculture products in the Philippines. There are many kinds of dishes cooked with hipon and  i am going to share with you one of these dishes. Torta is a very common way of cooking in the Philippines and shrimp is one of the ingredients that can be used in making torta. Torta is actually made of eggs and sometimes flour. In this recipe, we are going to use the combination of eggs, flour and shrimp. Ground pepper can also be added to the ingredients to give it more appealing taste. condiment is another key to its great taste. You can either use vinegar or sauce and even catsup can also be used especially when you have kids in your home. Here is the simple recipe:

HOW TO MAKE TORTANG HIPON

INGREDIENTS
1/2 kilo raw shrimp (the smallest kind would be the best)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
cooking oil

for vinegar dip
1 red onions (chopped)
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 pieces red chili (cut into halves)
1/2 cup vinegar

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. In a mixing bowl, combine together shrimp, pepper, salt and egg. Mix well.
2. Add the flour and mix. You can add water if the mixture is too dry.
3. In a pan, heat oil. Scoop the mixture and pour in the pan. The amount depends on your preference.
4. Flip the torta when the other side turns light brown and cook until the other side turns light brown. Repeat the process for the remaining mixture.
5. Let cool down a bit.
6. In a small bowl, combine together all the vinegar dip ingredients. Stir until the salt is dissolved.
7. Transfer the torta in a serving plate and serve with vinegar dip.

HOW TO MAKE TORTANG HIPON

HOW TO COOK FILIPINO STYLE PORK BARBECUE

HOW TO COOK FILIPINO STYLE PORK BARBECUE -Barbecue is not an original Filipino food but since the Philippines is partly influenced by Western culture, barbecue has become one of the dishes commonly prepared and served in the Philippines not only in the fancy restaurants but also in many small food shops and food carts. This delicious dish is always present in the table whenever there is an occasion like birthdays, baptismal, weddings and even family reunions. There are many versions of barbecue cooked in the Philippines like the bistek style barbecue, sisig style barbecue but the most common of them is the Filipino style. To me, this one is the best because it gives me sweet, sour and salty tastes with a little hotness just right making it good for the kids. In this recipe I am about to share with you requires calamansi but if you don't have calamansi you can replace it with lemon or orange. Also we are going to use soda pop like Sprite or 7up. You can use your favorite soda pop like for example you want to use Mountain dew. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO COOK FILIPINO STYLE PORK BARBECUE

INGREDIENTS
2 lbs pork loin
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup soda pop
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoon calamansi extract
6 cloves garlic (minced)
1 red onion (minced)
1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
6 tablespoon banana ketchup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar

Barbecue sticks
grill

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. In a bowl, combine together all marinade ingredients. Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved.
2. Cut the pork into thin strips good enough to skewer.
3. Add the pork into the bowl and marinate for 4 hours.
4. Skewer the pork using bamboo stick skewer.
5. In a charcoal grill, grill the pork for 15 minutes. Spread pork with marinade using a clean barbecue brush from time to time.
6. Do the grilling process for the rest of the pork.
7. And serve with red wine.

HOW TO COOK FILIPINO STYLE PORK BARBECUE

HOW TO COOK KINILNAT

HOW TO COOK KINILNAT -Kinilnat is a Filipino dish very famous in Ilocos region in the Philippines. This dish is a vegetable salad usually made of vegetable leaves. Instead of using mayonaise, Fish sauce or bagoong isda is used as condiment for this dish. Raw tomatoes and onions are also commonly used as ingredients. There are many kinds of vegetables that can be used in making Kinilnat like sweet potato tops, eggplants, chayote tops, green chilli, pumpkin blossom, string beans, etc. Also many kinds of souring agents can be used too like tomato, calamansi, vinegar, cooked tamarind extract etc. Kinilnat is best serve with fried fish or chicken because these foods compliment the taste of sour and salty steamed vegetables. Here is the recipe:



HOW TO COOK KINILNAT

INGREDIENTS
1 bundle sweet potato tops
fish sauce or bagoong isda to taste
5 pieces cherry tomatoes
1 red onion
MSG (optional)

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare the sweet potato tops by removing the hard stems and wash thoroughly.
2. In a pot, pour 1 cup of water and bring to a boil.
3. Add the sweet potato tops and cook for 3 minutes. Do not overcook.
4. Remove the vegetable from hot water and transfer in a bowl.
5. Was the tomatoes, cut into dices and add to the bowl.
6. Wash the onion and thinly slice, add to the bowl.
7. Add a pinch of MSG if you like.
8. Serve with rice and fried fish. Enjoy!

HOW TO COOK KINILNAT

HOW TO MAKE BELEKOY (RECIPE)

                                image source: 365greatpinoystuff.wordpress.com
HOW TO MAKE BELEKOY (RECIPE) -Belekoy is a very popular sweet Filipino dessert in the Philippines. This pastry is made primarily of flour and sugar commonly coated with sesame seeds. I am not sure but i think this sweet food originated in Bulacan province where pastries and cracklings industry is booming. There are many pastry stores and shops in the country where you can find Belekoy but the most common place to find this delicious dessert is the bus, yes, you hear me. Many street vendors ride buses to offer their products like cold water, nuts, burgers, cracklings and candies. One of these products is Belekoy. This soft candy is not expensive at all, in fact, you can buy a small pack for only 20 pesos. What I am going to share with you is a fruit-flavored version of this candy. It is not the original one but you can still have the taste of the original flavor that this candy has to offer. Here is the Belekoy recipe:

HOW TO MAKE BELEKOY (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
3 cups glutinous rice flour
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 litro pack instant apple juice powder
2 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla syrup
4 tablespoon sesame seeds (toasted)

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. Put a skillet over low heat, put the rice flour and toast while mixing until the color turned light brown. Do the process for sesame seeds.
2. In a pot, pour water and bring to a boil. Add the sugar and juice powder and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Add the vanilla and toasted rice flour and cook until the mixture becomes thick and solid enough while folding.
4. Remove from heat and let cool down.
5. Cut the cooked mixture into desired shape.
6. On a very clean board, scatter sesame seeds.
7. Roll the belekoys over the sesame seeds until coated.
8. Wrap the belekoys with cellophane.
9. Good for kids as baon.

HOW TO MAKE BELEKOY (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT TIRAMISU

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT TIRAMISU -Tiramisu is an Italian dessert made of coffee and ladyfingers dipped and layered with creamy egg and sugar mixture. There are tons of Tiramisu recipes in the world and this dessert has many versions. This dish has also been evolved into many varieties of cakes and pastries. The history of Tiramisu originated in Veneto, italy in the 1960s. The original ingredients is composed of finger biscuits, sugar, coffee, egg yolks, cocoa and mascarpone cheese. This dessert is very similar to graham cake. Tiramisu can be made in round or tile-like shape. If you are going to use biscuit, I would suggest that you make it shape like a tile. I have seen many Tiramisu made with many different creamer ingredients. Most of the cakes and pastries ingredients can be used in making Tiramisu like chocolate, almonds, pineapple, yogurt, raspberry and coconut. In this recipe I am going to share with you, we are going to make Tiramisu inspired with tropical twist. Here is the recipe:

   image source: wikipedia.org

Prep Time: 25 min
Yield: 5 servings

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT TIRAMISU

INGREDIENTS
1/2 tablespoon nescafe classic coffee
2 tablespoon brown sugar
7 oz. coconut milk (divided into two)
8 tablespoon toasted coconut (shredded)
1/2 cup milk
2 oz. instant pudding (vanilla or maple flavor)
4 oz. whipped topping
1 pack soft ladyfingers (separated)

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. In a bowl, combine together  coffee, 1/2 cup coconut milk and milk. Whisk thoroughly until the coffee is dissolved.
2. Beat together pudding mix, remaining milk and remaining coconut milk for 2 minutes. Add whipped topping and stir.
3. Dip the ladyfingers in coffee mixture to coat. Arrange in one layer at the bottom of a square pan. Add half of the pudding mixture to cover the first layer and do the process for the remaining mixtures and ladyfingers to do the layers. Garnish with toasted coconut. Cover with lid and Refrigerate.
4. Serve with mango juice.

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT TIRAMISU

HOW TO MAKE PATUPAT

HOW TO MAKE PATUPAT -this dish is a Filipino delicacy made from glutinous rice wrapped in banana or coconut leaves. It is very traditional because Patupat is always present in most Filipino homes during occasions like birthdays and Christmas. In the Philippines, All Souls' Day is not complete without this dish. Patupat is very popular in Ilocos and Kapampangan regions in the country where sugarcane and glutinous rice are the main agricultural products. This dish is very easy to make. You will only need 3-4 ingredients. Glutinous rice is the main ingredient of patupat. Sweetener for this food has many options like sugarcane extract, brown sugar and sinuklob. Patupat is very similar to Suman but the difference is that Suman is not as sweet as Patupat and also, brown sugar or sinuklob is not used in making Suman, unless you want to dip your suman in it. You can even tell which is which by just looking at their appearances. Suman is shaped like a bar or log and Patupat is shaped like a cone. There are many households in the country that have a hard time getting fresh coconut milk, so instead of using it, they use heavy cream as a replacement. Here is the easy Patupat recipe:

HOW TO MAKE PATUPAT

INGREDIENTS
1/2 kilo glutinous rice
2 cups coconut extract
8 tablespoon brown sugar

for wrapping (not meant to be eaten)
banana leaves, cut into 1/2 x 1 ft rectangles
culinary string

WRAPPER INSTRUCTION
Wash the banana leaves carefully. Singe the banana leaves in fire for few seconds but do not burn it. It is needed to avoid the leaves from tearing.

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. In a bowl, pour water. Soak the glutinous rice not less than 3 hours.
2. In a rice cooker, cook rice with coconut milk and sugar. When the coconut is absorbed by the rice, remove from heat.
3. Using a plastic cup, scoop glutinous rice, 1/2 cup at a time and wrap it with banana leaves. Form and shape it like a cone.
4. Tie both ends with string to secure it.
5. Using a steamer, steam the cones for an hour.
6. Remove from heat and cool down.
7. Serve with hot or cold drinks.

HOW TO MAKE PATUPAT

HOW TO MAKE BURONG MUSTASA

HOW TO MAKE BURONG MUSTASA -Mustard Green or Mustasa in Filipino is a leafy vegetable commonly used in making vegatable salad and stews. This vegetable is very abundant in the Philippines especially during the months of October and November. There is almost endless possibilities for this vegetable to be cooked and prepared. One of these dishes is Burong Mustasa or Pickled Mustard Green. This dish is very similar to Burong Mangga and Kimchee of the Koreans. This dish is very easy to make but requires longer time for the preparation because the fermentation process is needed. The ingredients for Burong Mustasa are not hard to find, in fact, you will only need four but container jar is needed for the fermentation process. Here is the recipe.

HOW TO MAKE BURONG MUSTASA

INGREDIENTS
1 kilo raw Mustard Green (Mustasa)
2 cups cooked rice
6 cups water
salt
4-5 jars with cap or lid

STEP BY STEP PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. Wash the mustard with running water. Expose the Mustard in an open sunlight for the whole day.
2. In a pot, boil 6 cups water. Add the rice and simmer for 5 minutes while stirring.
3. Using a colander, separate the liquid from the rice. Set aside to cool down.
4. Clean the jars thoroughly.
5. Fill the jars with Mustard. Add 1 table of salt for every jar.
6. Fill the jars with rice water. Put the lid and seal.
7. Store the jars in a cool and dry place for 5 days.
8. Best serve with fried fish.

HOW TO MAKE BURONG MUSTASA

HOW TO COOK CALLOS (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK CALLOS (RECIPE) -Callos is a traditional stew dish in the Philippines made of beef tripe. This dish originated in Spain but as what the history tells us, Philippines used to be a colony of Spain for 300 years and that made some of the cultures of Spain adopted by the Filipinos. Callos is just one of those cultures. The common ingredients used in making Callos are beef tripe, chickepeas, bell pepper and chorizo. This dish could smell bad but there is a way to remove bad smell, this requires boiling the meat in a lemon and water mixture several times or if you do not have lemons, you can substitute it with calamansi or the more traditional guava leaves. If you are not into eating beef tripe, then you replace it with just pork tenderloin. You can also replace chickpeas with mungbean sprout if you can't find it in your local supermarket. Here is the recipe:

                                image source: sweetkalamansi.blogspot.com


HOW TO COOK CALLOS (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
1 kilo beef tripe
1 beef foot (chopped into serving pieces)
2 small pieces lemon (or 6 pieces calamansi, 20 leaves of guava)
1 red onion (minced)
8 cloves garlic (minced)
5 green chili
1 red bell pepper (cut into strips)
1 1/2 green peas
1 1/2 cup chickpeas
1 cup dark/black olives
3 cups thick tomato sauce
2 pieces chorizo (cut into halves)
oil
salt to taste

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. Prepare the meats by washing beef tripe and foot thoroughly with running water.
2. In a pot, pour water enough to cover the meat. Add lemon extract or calamansi.
3. Bring to a boil, drop the meat and simmer for 5 minutes. Repeat several times until the smell is no longer bad and until the meat is tender. Remove the meat and set aside both meat and stock.
4. In a skillet, heat oil. Saute garlic and onion.
5. Add chili and bell pepper. Saute for 3 minutes.
6. Add chorizo and and stir fry until almost cooked.
7. Add chopped foot and tripe and continue stir-frying for 5 minutes.
8. Add stock and simmer for 10 minutes.
9. Add all the remaining ingredients and simmer until all the vegetables are cooked.
10. Transfer in serving plates and serve.

HOW TO COOK CALLOS (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK PANCIT ESTACION (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK PANCIT ESTACION (RECIPE) -this dish is originated in the town of Tanza, province of Cavite somewhere in southern part of the main Island of Luzon in the Philippines. Although this dish is not made of noodles which is commonly used in making pancit, it is still called pancit because the main ingredients used which is the togue looks like some sort of noodles and also the sauce used is very similar to the one used in making palabok. The name Estacion is a Spanish term for Station. It is believed that this dish was first sold in a train station in Cavite so that is why it is named that way. Pancit Estacion is one of the famous products of Cavite and many tourists do not miss the chance of eating it whenever they visit the province. Many food shops and food carts sell this dish for very low prices and many variations are offered in many restaurants not only in Cavite but also in greater Manila area. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO COOK PANCIT ESTACION (RECIPE)

Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 cups crushed roasted peanut
2 cups crushed pork cracklings
1/4 cup minced garlic
2 onions (minced)
2 cups water
2 cups fried fish flakes
1 kilo mungbean sprout (togue)
fish sauce to taste
2 tablespoon achuete (soaked in 1 cup water)
2 cups flour (dissolved in 4 cups water
3 eggs whisked
15 pieces kamias (cut crosswise thinly)
cooking oil


1. In a skillet, saute garlic and onion until light brown.
2. Add 2 cups water, flour mixture, achuete water, fish sauce and eggs. Stir thoroughly until thickens.
3. In a pot, boil water. Add togue and simmer for 3-4 minutes.
4. Remove the togue from the water and transfer in individual serving plates.
5. Pour sauce over the togue. Garnish with crushed peanut, cracklings, fried fish flakes, and kamias.
6. Serve and enjoy!

HOW TO COOK PANCIT ESTACION (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK SINANGLAW (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK SINANGLAW (RECIPE) -this is a native dish in Ilocos region in the Philippines. It is made of beef innards and sometimes with cow's face and ears. This dish is similar to pinapaitan because they both have innards and bile extract in the ingredients. Sinanglaw is commonly cooked as hot and spicy soup that is why this dish is one of the best sellers during rainy reason and also during the months of November to February because those months are the coldest season in the Philippines. Not all the markets sell innards so if you are having a hard time searching for it in your town, do not worry because you can replace the innards with just your favorite meat. And also if you can not find bile extract, you can use bitter gourd. Sinanglaw is also cooked as sour soup and the good news here is that you can use almost any sour ingredients like, kamias, tamarind fruit or tamarind leaves, vinegar, etc. If you are a traveler and happen to visit the norther part of the country, Sinanglaw is very abundant that you can have it in any local eateries. If you do not eat blood like myself, I would like to advise you to ask the waiters if the sinanglaw they serve has blood in it. It is better to ask because sometimes it is hard to distinguish the blood from liver. Here is the recipe:

HOW TO COOK SINANGLAW (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
1/2 kilo cow innards (chopped into small cubes)
2 tablespoon bile extract (or 1 cup chopped bitter gourd)
1 thumb-size ginger (thinly sliced)
5 cloves garlic (minced)
1 medium size onion (thinly sliced)
5 pieces kamias, sliced (or 3/4 cup white vinegar)
cooking oil
5 pieces green chili (siling panigang)
salt to taste

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE AND DIRECTIONS
1. In a pot, boil water. Add the innards. Simmer for half an hour or longer depending on how tender the meat is. Remove the scum when boiling.
2. Separate the innards from broth and set aside.
3. In a skillet, heat oil. Saute ginger, onion and garlic.
4. Add the innards and bile extract and saute for another 2 minutes.
5. Add the broth (or 6 cups of water if you don't want to use the broth) and simmer for half an hour then add the vinegar, salt and green chili. Continue simmering for another 10 minutes.
6. When simmering, the fats and cholesterol will emerge. Scoop them because those are not healthy to eat.
7. Remove from heat, transfer in the serving bowls and serve while hot.

HOW TO COOK SINANGLAW (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK ESTOFADO (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK ESTOFADO (RECIPE) -Stofado is a Filipino dish made of pork that has many variations. The most common is the sweet and chewy one. The meat is cooked with soy sauce and sugar but not necessarily cooked the way the adobo is. In the Philippines, this dish is commonly served as appetizer but can be the main course served with rice. Some versions use plantain banana for the ingredients to add sweetness to the dish. Estofado originated in Spain but since the Philippines was a colony of Spain for 300 years, this dish has evolved into many variations that it has even become traditional because this dish is always present whenever there are occasions in the country like weddings, baptismal, birthdays and family reunions. To me, this dish is like a combination of Patatim, Pochero and adobo and I could taste the three dishes when I am eating Estofado. I would not recommend this dish to anyone who has high blood pressure though because this dish is too fatty for them, we do not want anyone to end up in the hospital after eating it. In this recipe I am going to share with you, we are going to use pork fats but you can replace it. Here is the recipe:

                               image source: wikipedia.org


HOW TO COOK ESTOFADO (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS FOR ESTOFADO
1/2 kilo pork fats with skin (sliced into strips)
1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
4 tablespoon vinegar
6 cloves garlic (minced)
4 teaspoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 large size red onion (sliced thinly)
8 tablespoon tomato sauce
1 cup pimiento (cut into thin strips)
5 plantain banana or saba (cut into halves and fried)
cooking oil

STEP BY STEP COOKING PROCEDURE
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine together all the ingredients except oil, tomato sauce, pimiento and plantain banana.
2. Mix well until the sugar is dissolved.
3. Cover the bowl, refrigerate and marinade for 3 hours.
4. Remove the pork from marinade and set aside.
5. In a frying pan, heat oil. Fry the pork until browned.
6. Remove the excess oil from the pan. Pour marinade.
7. Add 1/2 cup of water and bring to a boil. When boiling, lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
8. Add tomato sauce and pimiento and continue simmering for another 5 minutes.
9. Transfer to serving dish and serve with fried plantain banana.

HOW TO COOK ESTOFADO (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE HAMONADO (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE HAMONADO (RECIPE) -Hamonado is a traditional dish in the Philippines that is always cooked during christmas and new year. This food is made of pork or roasted pig which is processed to be more like Ham. Hamonado is the best alternative for ham when you feel like you do not want ham. One of the few differences between ham and hamonado is that ham is a bit more salty than this dish. And also hamonado is added with ingredients for it to be become a little sweet and sour like pineapple and calamansi extract. Basically, this dish is marinated in a mixture of pineapple juice and calamansi but what we are going to do using my recipe is we are going to use lemon extract instead of the traditional calamansi extract because lemon is more abundant globally than calamansi. But I think any citrus fruit will do as long as it possesses the taste we need for this dish. Making Hamonado is very simple and easier than you think but it will require more time and a bit of patience because this dish requires curing. This time we also need to fry the pork to keep the taste of marinade in the pork. There are many ways to make Hamonado like baking it together with the sweet and sour ingredients but I find that curing, frying and simmering it is the best. To me, this food is way better than ham, maybe it is because I like sweet and sour food like this one or maybe it is just easier for me to make Hamonda than making ham. You can adjust the amount of the ingredients in my recipe to suit your taste or you can replace some of it with your preferred ones but if you are going to experiment first, I would like to advise you to just experiment using small amount of the whole ingredients because you would not be so sure if you would like the outcome of you experiment. Here is the recipe for Hamonado:

                                image source: muntingtinigngpateros.blogspot.com

HOW TO MAKE HAMONADO (RECIPE)

Prep Time:
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 7 servings

INGREDIENTS FOR HAMONADO
3/4 kilo pork tenderloin
2 cups pineapple chunks
2 cups pineapple juice
5 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup lemon extract
4 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
cooking oil
freshly ground pepper to taste
salt to taste

DIRECTIONS AND PROCEDURE ON MAKING HAMONADO
1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except pineapple chunks and cooking oil. Mix until sugar and salt are dissolved.
2. Cover the bowl and marinade the pork overnight in a fridge.
3. Remove the pork from the marinade. Set the marinade aside.
4. In a skillet, heat oil. Fry the pork until cooked or browned.
5. Pour the marinade, bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Add the pineapple chunks and continue simmer for another 5 minutes or until the marinade sauce thickens.
7. Remove from heat, slice into 7 parts.
8. Transfer in serving plates and serve with red wine.

HOW TO MAKE HAMONADO (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE MYEOLCHI BOKKEUM (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE MYEOLCHI BOKKEUM (RECIPE) -Myeolchi Bokkeum is large amount to preserve so that this dish is always available and ready the time they are having their meals. Sometimes this dish  is kept in a fridge for a long time that it can even stay good for weeks even month. The secret to making Myeolchi Bokkeum to preserve is the saltiness. Its taste is good even it is salty because the sweetness of this dish compliments the saltiness. Another good thing about this food is that it can be served without the need for reheating. In tropical countries, this side dish is good for lunch because it gives refreshment when it is eaten right out of fridge. What I am going to share with you is the simple and easy way to make Myeolchi Bokkeum.

                                image source: wikipedia.org
HOW TO MAKE MYEOLCHI BOKKEUM (RECIPE)

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:
2 cups anchovies (dried)
1 tablespoon oil
1 small size bell pepper (cut into strips)

3 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoon rice wine
1 teaspoon sesame seeds (toasted)

Preparation and procedure:
1. In a pan, heat oil, saute anchovies and bell pepper.
2. In a saucepan, combine together soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, rice wine and sesame seeds. Stir and bring to a boil slowly.
3. In the pan, combine together the sauce and anchovy mixture and saute for 3 minutes.
4. Let rest and cool down. Transfer in a container and refrigerate.

HOW TO MAKE MYEOLCHI BOKKEUM (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE BURONG MANGGA

HOW TO MAKE BURONG MANGGA -this is a very popular condiment in the Philippines that is made of unripe mangoes. Mango is very abundant in the Philippines especially during summer time. Its name is derived from two Filipino terms, 'buro' which means fermented and 'mangga' which is a tagalog name for mango. Making this dish requires the process of fermentation only this time, we are not going to make beer but a condiment which is good to combine with fried fish. Burong Mangga is very similar to pickled stuff and to me, I would prefer to call it pickled mango. In the main Island of Luzon in the Philippines, this condiment is very abundant that you can even find it in the grocery stores and supermarket sold in jars and bottles. Making this condiment is very easy but will require longer period of time for pickling process. Not all kinds of mango are used for burong mangga but the one called 'kinalabaw' and the Philippine native mango which is a smaller kind of Kinalabaw. Take note that we need only the unripe ones and it is a lot better if we use the younger mango which the fiber coating of seed is not yet developed. This recipe I am going to share with you is very easy that it only requires 3 ingredients -mango, salt and water. But of course we will need jars with lid for storage because we do not want our Burong Mangga to catch some unwanted microorganisms that can ruin our Buro. Here is the recipe:

                               image source: myfoodscenes.wordpress.com


HOW TO MAKE BURONG MANGGA

INGREDIENTS
12 pieces unripe mangoes
1/2 cup rock salt
4 cups water

PICKLING PROCEDURE
1. Prepare the mangoes by washing and peeling.
2. Cut the mangoes into halves, then cut the halves into sticks.
3. In a pot, boil water and salt not longer than 5 minutes. Set aside and cool down.
4. Put the mango sticks in 4 clean jars.
5. Pour water and salt solution in the jars. Place the lid and seal.
6. Put the jars in a cool and dry place and let it stay for 3 days.
7. To preserve, store the jars of Burong Mangga in the fridge.

 HOW TO MAKE BURONG MANGGA

HOW TO COOK BULDAK (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK BULDAK (RECIPE) -Buldak is a Korean chicken dish that has become popular for its hot and spicy taste. Many young people like this dish especially to those Soju lovers because this dish is very good to accompany alcoholic beverages. Its name derived from the Korean term 'Buk' that literally means 'fire' in English and the term 'Dak' is for the chicken. It is really like fire chicken because from the very first bite, you'll feel the very hot and spicy character of this dish. The industry for this dish is rapidly growing because this dish is not old as Kimchi but has earned its very good reputation. Many restaurants and food carts are serving this dish because they find this Buldak thing as a considerable contributor to their growing sales. Soup and stews are served with this dish to suit the taste of the customers. Many restaurants offer many kinds of combo dishes to choose from which the Buldak is the main dish. Almost any part of chicken are used in making this dish. The most common part used is breast and drumstick. Wing is also abundantly used depending on how much per serving the Buldak is offered. Also, many variations of sauce are offered in the market, from super hot and spicy to sweet and sour that kids always love. To me, Buldak is similar to chicken barbecue only this dish is always served with the touch of hot chili from many degrees of hotness. In Korea this days, you can barely find bars that do not offer this dish. Here is the recipe:

                               image source: wikipedia.org


HOW TO COOK BULDAK (RECIPE)

Cook Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:
3 small chicken breasts (cut in halves)
cooking oil

For the marinade
3 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon pure honey
2 tablespoon rice wine
1/4 bundle spring onions
2 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
sesame oil

For the sauce
3 tablespoon hot chili powder
2 jalapenos
1/2 cup Asian pear
1 small onion
4 cloves garlic
3 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoon brown sugar
2 teaspoon pure honey

Preparation and Cooking procedure:
1. Prepare the chicken by washing through running water.
2. In a bowl, combine together the ingredients for the marinade.
3. Marinade the chicken for 1 hour.
4. In a pan, pour cooking oil. Fry the chicken until golden brown.
5. In a blender, combine together all the remaining ingredients including the marinade. Puree the mixture.
6. In the same pan, combine together all the ingredients and cook for another 4 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
7. Transfer in a serving plate and serve with rice or beer.

HOW TO COOK BULDAK (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK JEONBOKJUK (RECIPE)

HOW TO COOK JEONBOKJUK (RECIPE) -Jeonbokjuk is a very thick rice porridge from Korea. It is very similar to Jook of China only Jeonbokjuk is way thicker which is more like risotto. There are many rice porridge in Asia that I put in my favorites list and one of them is this Jeonbokjuk porridge. There are many kinds of ingredients used in this dish. From simple carrots to cilantro, green onions to black pepper. Many street food carts and food shops in Korea offer this dish. We know that many street food carts roam in downtown Seol and most of them serve Jeonbokjuk. I would like to share with you this recipe because the winter is coming and one of the best dishes to eat during winter is this food. It can warm you up especially when you ate the hot and spicy version. But what I am going to share with you is the simple yet delicious version. It is not that spicy so everyone would love it even the small kids but if you want a hot and spicy one, there is no problem at all, just add chili powder or freshly ground pepper to the recipe. We are going to add Laver but this is just optional. You can remove it from the ingredients according to your preference. Here is the recipe.

                                image source: wikipedia.org


HOW TO COOK JEONBOKJUK (RECIPE)

INGREDIENTS
1 cup glutinous rice
3 small abalone (chopped)
3 teaspoon sesame oil
8 cups water
1 teaspoon rock salt
1 teaspoon fish sauce (patis)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
5 stalks spring onions (chopped)
4 tablespoon minced carrots
1 bundle cilantro (chopped)
1 pc laver (roasted)

Preparation and cooking procedure
1. In a bowl, wash the glutinous rice and soak up in the water for 1 1/2 hours. Drain after.
2. In a pot, add sesame oil. Add garlic and minced until light brown.
3. Add carrots and abalone. Saute for half a minute.
4. Add the rice and saute. Stir until the rice is almost translucent.
5. Add the water, close the lid, bring to boil and simmer for half an hour. Stir from time to time to keep it from burning at the bottom.
6. When almost cooked, lower the heat. Add the fish sauce and salt. Stir so that the salt and fish sauce mix perfectly with the rice.
7. Pour in the individual serving bowls and garnish with spring onions, cilantro roasted laver sheet.
8. And serve while hot.

HOW TO COOK JEONBOKJUK (RECIPE)

HOW TO MAKE SOJU

HOW TO MAKE SOJU -Soju I think is the most popular wine in Korea. It is very abundant that you can find it from almost every food carts in the city of Seoul. I am not a drinker but I could observe that when the sun sets in the evening, many Koreans are gathering all around the downtown eating some food and drinking Soju. Brewing your own Soju is advisable because you can have the power of controlling the amount of alcohol and sugar content of your Soju according to your personal preferences. Making Soju is not that hard. All it takes is only  less than a month for the wine to be brewed completely. There are few things to remember when making Soju: First, when brewing, make sure the content is undisturbed to guarantee its higher alcohol content. Secondly, you can adjust the amount of sugar if you want to make it a bit sweeter than usual. Thirdly, you can add water to the finished product if you want to lower its alcohol content. Lastly, check for gas build-up in the container, if this happens, lightly open the lid to release the pressure. Here is the procedure:

                              

HOW TO MAKE SOJU

INGREDIENTS
water (cold)
1/2 cup Nuruk enzyme
1 regular pack beer yeast
1/4 cup sugar
2 cups rice

Preparation and procedure for brewing Soju
1. In a colander, put the rice and wash thoroughly with running water.
2. Transfer in a bowl and add the cold water. Soak for an hour.
3. Using rice steamer, steam the rice for an hour. Remove from steamer and let rest for 6 minutes.
4. Put the rice in a container with sealable cap. Add 4 cups of cold water, Nuruk enzyme and yeast.
5. Stir perfectly to dissolve yeast and nuruk enzyme. Put the cap and seal.
6. During the first 5 days, stir the mixture two times each day and put back the cap and reseal.
7. After the first five days, make sure the mixture is undisturbed until the last day of brewing.
8. After 25 days of brewing, the mixture is ready to be filtered.
9. Using a cheesecloth, filter the mixture to separate the wine from the rice.
10. Add sugar to the wine and stir until the sugar is perfectly dissolved.
11. And serve.

HOW TO MAKE SOJU