Calamansi Muffins

Filipino Style Recipe: Calamansi Muffins is another thick, soft, and sour pastry made from flour, baking powder, milk, sugar, salt and calamansi juice. The muffins is ideal to serve with coffee or as meryenda (mid-afternoon snack).

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes
Estimated time of baking: 20 minutes(plus chilling time)

Good for 18 muffins

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
2 raw eggs
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Wet Mixture:
¼ cup milk
¼ cup calamansi juice

Dry Mixture:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt then mix until well blended.
2. In a separate bowl, combine milk and calamansi juice then stir well.

Part 2
1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the butter, sugar and vanilla extract until just blended.
2. Add egg one at a time then whisk well.
3. Add half of dry mixture and half of wet mixture then mix until blended.
4. Repeat the procedure until all the mixture are consumed.

Part 3
1. Prepare muffin pan by brushing with butter and sprinkling with flour.
2. Pour the filling into muffin pan then bake in a preheat oven over 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until center springs back when touched.
3. Remove from oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan.. Serve.

Carrot Cake

Filipino Style Recipe: Carrot Cake is a delicious pastry that has a moist, soft, and just the right sweetness. While frosting is sweet and creamy which makes the cakes 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. Pour the mixture into greased and floured 9×13 baking pan.
2. Cook into a preheated oven over 350 Fahrenheit for 40-50 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 cooled cake 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).

Beef Picadillo

Filipino Style Recipe: Picadillo is a Spanish dish similar to Arroz Ala Cubana. The dish is consists of ground beef cooked in tomato paste, sweet peas, bell peppers and carrots then season with salt and pepper. This is another simple and easy to prepare recipe.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes.
Estimated time of cooking: 40 minutes.
Good for 3-4 persons.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo ground beef, pre-boiled
1 medium carrot, cut into small cubes
1/4 cup green peas, cooked
1 green bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
2 pieces bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 tablespoons grams tomato paste
1/4 cup water
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon parsley, chopped

Procedures:
1. In a casserole, heat oil then saute garlic, onion and bell pepper.
2. Add ground beef then continue cooking until light brown.
3. Add carrots, green peas, bay leaves, cumin, salt and pepper then mix well.
4. Add tomato paste, water and parsley then simmer for 8-10 minutes. Adjust seasoning according to taste.
5. Transfer to serving bowl then garnish with parsley. Serve immediately with steamed rice.

Simple Sugar Cookies

Filipino Style Recipe: This is the simplest and easiest cookies I have baked so far and they are delicious. Buttery and creamy, soft and chewy, just my kind of cookies. The ingredients in the recipe are simple, you might already have them in your kitchen.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 raw egg
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 3/4 all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
sugar to roll the batter

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla.
2. In another bowl, combine together the flour, baking powder, baking soda.
3. Gradually blend dry mixture into the butter mixture.

Part 2
1. Scoop a teaspoon of the dough then form into ball and roll into sugar.
2. Place into ungreased cookie sheets. Repeat until all the mixture are consumed.
3. Bake into preheated oven over 350 Fahrenheit for 8-10 minutes.
4. Remove from the oven and let it cool for 2 minutes before transferring them.

Tip:
1. The dough will expand and spread when baking so leave at least 2-3 inches in between.
2. If you want a thin cookie, you can press it a bit when putting into the cookie sheets.
3. The cookies might seem too soft when you take them out of the oven but they will firm up once they are cooled.

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Frosting

Filipino Style Recipe: Red velvet cupcakes with Frosting is one of the most popular type of cupcake nowadays. This recipe has a nice dark red color and soft moist cupcakes topped with frosting.

Estimated time of preparation: 30 minutes
Estimated time of baking: 15 minutes
Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
4 tablespoon red food color
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting:
200 grams cream cheese, softened
60 grams butter, softened
2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
A dash of salt

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda and salt then mix well. Set aside.

Part 2
1. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (around 5 minutes).
2. Beat in eggs one at a time then mix in the sour cream, food color, and vanilla.
3. Add flour mixture gradually until just blended. (Do not overbeat as this will make the cupcake dry and hard.)

Part 3
1. In a muffin pan, line muffin cups then fill-in batter up to 2/3 of the muffin cup.
2. Bake in preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until done. (Cupcakes is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.). Let it cool.

Part 4
1. In a electric mixer, whip butter on medium speed for 5 minutes or until becomes creamy.
2. Add cream cheese, sour cream, vanilla and salt then keep mixing for another 5 minutes or until becomes light and fluffy.
3. Add sugar then beat until smooth.
4. Scoop and spread the frosting on top of cupcakes. Refrigerate before serving.

Banana Crumb Muffins

Filipino Style Recipe: Banana Crumb Muffins is another delicious pastry similar to banana bread. Mainly made up of bananas mixed together with muffin mixture, topped with crumb. This muffin has a very delicious and good smell while the crumb gives a crunchy texture.

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes
Estimated time of baking: 20 minutes
Yield: 10 muffins

Ingredients:
Banana Mixture:
4 medium overripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Flour Mixture:
1 1/2 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Crumb Mixture:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon flour

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon until well blended.
2. In a separate bowl, mix together the bananas, white sugar, vanilla, and egg until well blended.
3. Combine the banana mixture with the flour mixture until just blended or sticky. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and sugar until it they form small crumbs.
2. In a muffin pan lined with muffin cups, spoon the banana-flour batter until almost full.
3. Sprinkle the crumbs on top then bake in preheated oven over 350 Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.
4. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving.

Dark Chocolate Muffin

Filipino Style Recipe: Dark chocolate muffin is a rich chocolate taste pastry topped with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles. This is a perfect treat for your kids and guests.

Good for 8-10 muffins

Ingredients:
1/2 cup dark chocolate, chopped (I used Beryl’s Gourmet – Dark Compound)
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup sugar syrup (dissolve 1 cup sugar in 1/4 cup water)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Frosting:
1/2 cup chopped Beryl’s Dark Compound chocolate bar
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp sugar syrup
1 tsp vanilla
choco sprinkles (optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Prepare muffin pan by brushing with butter and sprinkling with flour.
2. In a separate pan, melt the butter and sugar syrup over low heat then stir in chocolate until melted. Remove from heat.
3. Add sugar and eggs then stir. Add vanilla and flour then mix until just blended.
4. Pour the mixture into the muffin pan and bake in a preheated oven over 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until center springs back when touched.
5. Remove from oven and let it cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan.

Part 2
1. To make the frosting, combine butter, sugar syrup, and chocolates over low heat until melted. Remove from heat then stir in vanilla.
2. Frost top of the muffins then add sprinkles. Serve and enjoy!

Shrimp and Sausage Pasta

Filipino Style Recipe: Shrimp and Sausage Pasta is another simple yet delicious pasta dish that is made of sauteed shrimp, sausage, tomatoes and herbs then toss together in pasta drizzle with olive oil.

Estimated time of preparation: 15 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 15 minutes
Good for 4-5 persons

Ingredients:
500 grams linguine or spaghetti pasta
250 grams shrimp, peeled and deveined
150 grams Chinese sausage, cut into thin slices diagonally
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 head garlic, minced
1 onion, minced
1/2 tablespoon ginger powder
1/4 cup coriander or parsley
a dash of chili flakes
4 tablespoons olive oil
fish sauce and pepper

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a large pot, prepare pasta based on cooking instructions. Drain and set aside.
2. Reserve 1/8 cup pasta water. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a pan, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil then stir cook sausage until browned.
2. Add shrimp and cook until color turns to pink. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Part 3.
1. In a same pan, saute garlic, onion and tomatoes until softened.
2. Add chili flakes, shrimp, sausage, ginger powder, coriander, fish sauce and pepper to taste.
3. Add pasta, pasta water and olive oil then toss to coat evenly.
4. Transfer to serving plate, top garnish with remaining coriander. Serve.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Filipino Style Recipe: Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies is a quick and easy to prepare dish. The cookies are chewy, not too soft nor crispy. You can replace the chocolate chips with nuts or raisins for variety.

Good for 24 cookies

Ingredients:
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups quick cooking oats

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine eggs, vanilla, and raisin then mix well. Set aside for an hour.
2. Sift together the flour, cinnamon, and baking soda. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream the butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.
4. Add the flour mixture and mix until blended. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips.

Part2
1. In a cookie sheet, drop a spoon of mixture about 2 inches apart.
2. Bake into pre-heated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until light brown.
3. Remove from oven and let it cool for about 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely.

Red Velvet Cupcake

Filipino Style Recipe: Red velvet cupcake is one of the most popular type of cupcake nowadays. This recipe has a nice dark red color and soft moist cupcakes.

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes
Estimated time of baking: 15 minutes
Yield: 12 cupcakes

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
4 tablespoon red food color
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda and salt then mix well. Set aside.

Part 2
1. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy (around 5 minutes).
2. Beat in eggs one at a time then mix in the sour cream, food color, and vanilla.
3. Add flour mixture gradually until just blended. (Do not overbeat as this will make the cupcake dry and hard.)

Part 3
1. In a muffin pan, line muffin cups then fill-in batter up to 2/3 of the muffin cup.
2. Bake in preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes or until done. (Cupcakes is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.)
3. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving.