Mango Muffins

Filipino Style Recipe: Mango Muffins is my Filipino version of popular Blueberry Muffin. The muffins are moist and full of flavor. You can definitely enjoy summer in every bite.

Ingredients:
2 1/4 cup flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon buttermilk powder
2 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup ripe mango, diced

For Toppings:
4 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon butter, softened
2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the milk and buttermilk. Add the eggs and vanilla and stir until just combined.
3. Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture. Mix until just combined. Do not over mix.
4. Fold the mango into the batter.

Part 2
1. To make the streusel, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and butter until you form coarse crumbs. Sprinkle on top of each muffin.

Part 3
1. Line the muffin pan with muffin cups. Fill each muffin cup with the batter.
2. Bake in preheated oven at 350 Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes.
3. Remove from the oven and let it cool.

Queso de Bola Cheesecake

Love cheese? Then this yummy treat is for you. Your favorite cheesecake is even made more cheesy with grated queso de bola.

Ingredients:
For the Crust:
2 cups crushed grahams
6 tablespoon butter, melted
4 tablespoon sugar

For the Filling:
3 packs cream cheese, softened
1 1/4 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 cup sour cream
3 tablespoon flour
3 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup grated queso de bola

Procedures:
Part1
1. In a bowl, mix together the crushed grahams, butter and sugar until the mixture is moistened.
2. Press the mixture into round cake pan. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.

Part 2
1. In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and sugar. Using a mixer, beat together until well combined.
2. Starting at this point, all mixing will be done by hand and spatula. Add one egg at a time and mix until just combined. Add the sour cream, flour and vanilla, and mix until combined.
3. Pour the cream cheese mixture into the prepared crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven at 350 Fahrenheit for 60 minutes. After baking, let it stay in the oven for at least 2 hours.
5. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Top with the remaining queso de bola.

Assorted Pastillas

Filipino Style Recipe: Pastillas is one of the popular sweet delicacy in the Philippines. This delicacy is made of powdered milk and condensed milk mixed together until well blended. Mold into desired shapes then roll in granulated sugar. Pastillas can come in a variety of flavors (Pandan, Melon, Strawberry or Cookies and Cream).

Estimated time of preparation: 30 minutes
Good for 30-35 pieces

Ingredients:
2-3 cups powdered milk
1 cup condensed milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar for coating

Flavoring:
Pandan Pastillas:
McCormick Pandan flavor
Green food coloring

Cookies and Cream Pastillas:
Crushed Oreo cookies

Melon Pastillas:
McCormick Melon Flavor

Strawberry Pastillas:
McCormick Strawberry extract

Procedures:
1. In a mixing bowl, pour condensed milk and flavoring. Add powdered milk gradually then mix until well blended then set aside for 30 minutes.
2. Scoop a spoonful of mixture and mold into desired shapes then roll in granulated sugar.
3. Repeat until all the mixture are consumed. Wrap into cellophane or paper.

Chicken Asparagus Penne

Filipino Style Recipe:When you think of healthy food, you would imagine it to be boring and tasteless. This chicken asparagus penne recipe is low calorie complete meal that is oh-so-yummy and very easy to prepare.

Ingredients:
250 grams whole wheat penne pasta
1 can button mushroom
1/4 kilo chicken breast, cubed
olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup water
1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Cook pasta according to package instruction. Drain then drizzle with olive oil. Set aside.

2. Warm olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Saute garlic until transluscent. Add the mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes. Add the chicken and saute until lightly browned. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Pour the water on the chicken, cover and let it boil.Adjust the seasoning as desired.

4. Remove the cover and add the asparagus and cook until just tender around 5 to 10 minutes.

5. Add the cooked pasta, drizzle with olive oil and remove from heat. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, stir and serve.

Blackberry Muffins

Filipino Style Recipe:This blackberry muffin recipe has a bit of crunch on the outside and moist on the inside.It needs few ingredients and quick and easy to prepare. It’s another exciting flavor that you can try for variation.

Estimated time of preparation and cooking: 30-40 minutes.
Good for 6 muffins

Ingredients:
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tablespoon buttermilk powder
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup blackberry jam
1 tablespoon white sugar

Procedures:
Part 1
1.In a small bowl, combine buttermilk and milk and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and salt until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg.
3. In a separate bowl, mix together the baking powder and flour. Pour half of flour alternately with the buttermilk mixture into the butter and mix by hand until just combined. Fold in the blackberry.

Part 2
1. In a greased muffin pan, scoop the batter until just about full. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.
2. Remove from the oven and let it cool. Serve and enjoy.

Yogurt and Chocolate Chip Muffins

Filipino Style Recipe: I just happened to have some yogurt in the fridge so I looked for a recipe where I can use it. Luckily, I saw this recipe and I just knew this would be a good muffin. The yogurt made the muffins so moist and the chocolate chip/cinnamon topping gave them some twist. I also added chopped pecans on the toppings for some crunch.

Estimated time of baking and preparation: 30 minutes
Good for: 12 muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
1 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Toppings:
2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
2 tablepoon chopped nuts (peanuts, walnuts, or pecan will do)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a medium bowl, combine yogurt and baking soda.Mix and set aside.
2. In another bowl, mix eggs, oil, and vanilla until well combine.
3. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the egg mixture in three parts, mixing slightly after each addition. Add the yogurt mixture and stir until just moistened. Fold in the chocolate chips
4. Pour batter in greased muffin pan.

Part 2
1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients for the toppings. Sprinkle on top of the muffins.
2. Bake muffins in preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.

Oreo Cheesecake

Filipino Style Recipe: Oreo Cheesecake is one of the favorite cheesecake by most of us. The slight bitterness of the Oreos balances so well with the sweetness of the cream cheese and sugar.

Ingredients:
4 packs cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 tablespoon vanilla
3 packs Oreo cookies
4 tablespoon butter, melted

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Remove filling of Oreos and put into ziploc then crush 2 packs into slightly coarse crumbs. In a bowl, mix the Oreo crumbs and butter until well combined. Press into the bottom of a round 9 inch springform pan then chill in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
2. In a big bowl, mix cream cheese and sugar until well combined. Add vanilla and mix again.Add the eggs one at a time mixing using the hand until just combined. DO not over mix.
3. Set aside around 8 pieces of the remaining Oreos for topping. Remove the filling of the remaining oreos and break into pieces. Fold into the cream cheese mixture.
4. Pour the mixture into the prepared crust. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes.
5.After cooking, open the oven slightly and let the cheesecake cool inside for about 2 hours.

Part 2
1. Remove the cheesecake from the oven, top with the remaining Oreos and refrigerate before serving.

Lemon and Mint Water

Filipino Style Recipe: Lemon and Mint Water is a refreshing and healthy drinks made of fresh mint, lemon and water. This drinks is an antioxidant and a great source of vitamin C ideal for those on diet. It helps the body to cleanse any toxins in the system and aids in weight loss.

Ingredients:
2 lemons, thinly sliced
fresh mint leaves
1 2/3 liters water
juice of one lemon
ice cubes
honey to taste (optional)

Procedures:
1. In a large pitcher, combine all ingredients then allow flavors to infuse inside the fridge for a few hours.
2. Serve chilled.

Carrot Muffin

Filipino Style Recipe: Carrot Muffin is a delicious pastry that has a moist, soft, and just the right sweetness. While frosting is sweet and creamy which makes the muffins look like from a gourmet bakery.

Ingredients:
3 cups grated carrots
4 raw eggs
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
1 1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt

For the frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 pack (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, vegetable oil, white sugar, and vanilla.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Combine flour mixture, egg mixture and grated carrots then mix until well blended.

Part 2
1. In a muffin pan lined with paper cups, fill each cups 2/3 full of the mixture.
2. Cook into a preheated oven over 350 Fahrenheit for 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted on the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and let it cool.

Part 3
1. For the frosting, combine the butter cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla and beat until smooth and creamy.
2. Frost the mixture into muffins and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Tips:
1. For grating the carrots, use the bigger side of the grater (the one usually used for the cheese).
2. Do not try to open the oven until it is almost done (around 3/4 of the cooking time).

Garlic Cheddar Chicken

Filipino Style Recipe:Garlic Cheddar Chicken is another chicken dish that you can serve to have a variety from your all time fried chicken. It has lots of cheese so your kids will surely love.

Ingredients:
8 pieces boneless chicken breast, cut into half and pound thin
1/2 cup butter
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 pack cheddar cheese, grated
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, ground
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pan over low heat, melt butter then add garlic. cook until the garlic is tender. Set aside.
2. In a wide bowl, mix bread crumbs, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and dried oregano.
3. Brush or dip each chicken with the garlic butter mixture then press into the cheese mixture.
4. Arrange chicken in a baking dish. Drizzle any remaining butter and sprinkle any remaining cheese mixture.
5. Bake in preheated oven at 350 Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. Once cooked, remove from oven, server and enjoy!