Ginataang Hipon at Kalabasa


Ingredients:
500 grams shrimps
1/2 squash(kalabasa), peeled and cut into cubes
1 bundle string beans(sitaw), cut in 3 inches long.
1 tablespoon shrimp paste
1 can coconut milk
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
2 pieces green chili(siling haba)
cooking oil
salt and pepper to taste

Ingredients:
Part 1
1. In a saucepan, heat cooking oil and saute onion and garlic.
2. Add shrimps then stir cook for 2 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a same pan, add shrimp paste and coconut milk then bring to boil.
2. Add the squash then cook 15 minutes or until soft.
3. Put the sauteed shrimps back then add string beans, cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add green chili then season with salt and pepper according to taste. Add water if necessary.
5. Cook for 2-3 minutes then remove from heat. Serve and enjoy.

Choco Mocha Cheesecake

Christmas is just around the corner and you might be planning on what to include on your Noche Buena. You may consider this cheesecake recipe and prepare it ahead of time (like a day before) and keep in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:
For the crust
1 cup crushed grahams
1/4 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoon sugar

For the filling:
2 packs (8 ounce) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup sugar
5 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup dark chocolate,melted
2 teaspoon mocha flavor (I used Ferna)
Chocolate shavings for garnish

Procedures:
1. To prepare the crust, combine the ingredients and press into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan. Chill in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
2. In a bowl, beat the cream cheese using an electric mixer until smooth and no lumps remain. Gradually add the sugar until well blended. Add egg yolks one at a time, beating after each addition until just incorporated. Do not over beat at this point. Add the vanilla until well blended.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the egg white until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Get 1/3 of the egg white and fold into the cream cheese mixture until well blended. Add the remaining egg whites and fold.Divide the mixture into two.
4. For half of the mixture, fold in the dark chocolate. For the other half, mix the mocha flavoring. Get the crust from the refrigerator and pour the chocolate mixture. Then gently scoop the mocha mixture over the chocolate mixture to form the second layer.
5. Bake in preheated oven at 350 Fahrenheit for 50-60 minutes or until the outer layer is no longer wet but still jiggles when shaken. Note: do not open the oven to check no earlier than 45 minutes. When done, slightly open the oven and let the cheesecake stay inside for about an hour. Then remove from oven to let it cool completely before refrigerating. Garnish with chocolate shavings before serving.

Meatballs Noodle Soup

Ingredients:
Meatballs:
1/4 kilo ground pork
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 medium onion, minced
2 tablespoon spring onion chopped finely
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 egg
1/4 cup breading
oil for frying

Noodle Soup:
3 cups water
1 medium onion,sliced in half
2 3 cloves garlic, smashed
1 bullion shrimp flavor
1/4 kilo thick noodles
1 piece pechay baguio cut into 2 inches
1 small carrot cut into small chunks
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
1. To make the meatball, combine all the ingredients except the oil and using the hand, form into balls around 1 teaspoon each. Heat pan with oil and fry meatballs until brown on all side.
2. In a pot, boil water with onion, garlic, sesame oil,and bullion. Add carrot and meatballs and simmer for 5-10 minutes until the carrot is soft. Add the noodles and pechay then let it boil for a few seconds then remove from heat. Transfer to serving bowl and top with hard boiled egg and spring onions.

Easy Wonton Soup

Ingredients:
For the wonton:
1/4 kilo ground pork
2 cloves garlic, ground
1 teaspoon ginger, ground
1 medium onion, minced finely
1 scallion (1 tablespoon), chopped finely
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil
a pinch of ground pepper
20 pieces wonton wrapper

For the soup:
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, smashed but not sliced
1 thumb size ginger, smashed not sliced
1 scallion
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
1. In a pot over medium heat, add all soup ingredients and let it boil (covered)for 10 to 15 minutes. Turn off the heat.
2. To make the wonton, combine all the wonton ingredients in a bowl except the wonton wrapper. Mix until all the ingredients are evenly combined.
2. Take a wonton wrapper on one hand and brush edges with cold water using your finger tip. Put ½ teaspoon of filling in center of wrapper. Fold in half, triangle shape and seal it tightly by pinching edges together with your fingers. Brush one of lower side corners of triangle with water and bring right and left corner together and press well. Repeat until you finish with wonton filling and wrappers. Set aside.
3. Remove all solid ingredients from the soup and turn on heat and let it boil. Add the wontons simmer for 10-15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with chopped scallions.

Pork Meatball Curry


Ingredients:
1/3 kilo ground pork
1 teaspoon parsley leaves chopped, reserve some leaves for garnish if desired
1 medium onions chopped
salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoon curry powder dissolved in water to form a paste
4 tomates, chopped
1/2 cup string beans, cut into 2 inches length
1 green chili, cut diagonally
Oil for frying

Procedures:
1. To make the meatballs, season ground pork with 1 teaspoon salt at dash of pepper, add ground parsley and half of the chopped onion. Mix well, scoop about a tablespoon and roll into ball. Do the same for the rest. Put oil in a pan over medium heat and cook meatballs until brown all over. Remove meatballs from pan.
2. In the same pan, reduce the oil for sauteing.Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the curry paste and cook until fragrant. Add the tomatoes and about 1/2 cup water. Simmer uncovered stirring occasionally until tomatoes are soft around 5 minutes.
3. Add back the meatballs and put the beans. Cover pan and simmer until the beans are tender,around 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to serving bowl and garnish with parsley.

Korean Braised Beef


Ingredients:
Marinade:
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 medium onion, grated
4 cloves garlic, grated
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
1/2 Kilo caldereta cut beef or ribs
1 medium onion
1 thumb ginger, sliced into strips
4 cloves garlic
white part of the scallions, chopped into 2 inch length
1 can shiitake mushroom, liquid removed, and sliced into half
1 medium carrot cut into chunks
sesame seeds for garnish

Procedures:
1.In a large pot over medium heat, put 4 cups of water and bring to boil. Add the beef, scallions, onion, ginger, and garlic. Keep in boiling and cook for 30 minutes. Remove scum on the top.
2. Strain the stock and set aside.
3. To prepare the marinade, combine the soy sauce, sugar, honey, sesame oil, grated garlic, onion and ginger, pepper and teriyaki sauce. Add the beef and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
4. After marinating, add 3 cups of the stock to the marinade and cook over medium heat. Cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes or until the beef is tender.
5. Once the beef is tender add the mushroom and carrots and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Transfer to serving bowl and season with sesame seeds and remaining scallion leaves.

Chocolate Chip and Mango Muffin

The most common recipes I encounter for muffins calls for blueberries. However, blueberries can be pretty expensive since they are not usually grown locally. This muffin is using ripe mangoes which are commonly available in the market all year round. The mango gives this muffin a summery tropical feel that you got to try.

Ingredients:
For the muffin:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon buttermilk powder dissolved in 1/2 cup milk (or water)
1 cup mango, seeded and diced
1/2 cup chocolate chips

For the coconut streusel:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon white sugar
3 tablespoons desiccated coconut
1 pinch salt

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, beat the butter, sugar, and salt until smooth. Add one egg and beat until completely blended. Add the second egg and beat again.
2. In a separate bowl, combine the flour and baking powder. Stir into the butter mixture alternately with the buttermilk in 3 parts. Toss the chocolate chips in flour (to avoid sinking at the bottom of muffin) then fold into the batter together with the mango.Fill the prepared muffin cups.
3. To prepare the coconut streusel, combine flour, the cinnamon, sugar, the coconut, and 1 pinch of salt in a small bowl. Mix in butter until completely incorporated into the flour. Sprinkle on top of the filled muffin cups.
4. Bake in preheated oven at 350F for 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted at the middle comes our clean.

Coconut Crusted Chicken

This recipe is a twist on the usual breaded chicken. Using desiccated coconut as crust gives the necessary crunch to this chicken recipe and a nice aroma.Dip with your favorite sauce such as sweet chili sauce or garlic mayo.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo chicken breast fillet, halved or chicken tenders
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, finely ground
2 egg whites
1 cup desiccated coconut
vegetable oil for deep frying

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, combine the cornstarch, salt, cayenne, and black pepper,
2. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites until frothy.
3. In another bowl, put the desiccated coconut.
4. Pound chicken fillet to tenderize. For each piece of chicken, dredge in cornstarch mixture, shake off excess. Next, dip into the egg white. Then, press each side into the coconut to coat.
5. Heat oil (deep enough to cover the chicken fillet) into a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the chicken until cooked, around 5 minutes on each side. Remove the chicken and drain excess oil. Serve with sweet chili sauce.

Ginisang Sitaw at Kalabasa with Fried Tilapia

Simple, budget friendly, and healthy dish that you can serve to your family. Best served with steaming rice.

Ingredients:
1 piece tilapia, cleaned and halved
1/2 squash(kalabasa), peeled and cut into cubes
1 bundle string beans (sitaw), cut into 2inch long
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium-sized onion, chopped
2 medium-sized tomatoes, chopped
cooking oil
1 cup water
salt
fish sauce and ground pepper to taste

Procedures:
1. Wash tilapia, dry, and sprinkle with salt. In a frying pan, heat oil and fry tilapia on both sides until brown . Remove from pan and set aside.
2. In another pan, heat oil then saute garlic and onion.Add tomatoes then continue sauteing for 5 minutes or until soft.
3. Add vegetables and stir cook for a minute, then add water and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Season with fish sauce and pepper according to taste.
6. Cook until veggies are tender, add the fried tilapia and let it boil for 1 minute. Transfer to serving plate and serve.

Red Velvet Cupcake

The all time favorite red velvet cupcake is very simple to do. On this recipe, I used buttermilk powder instead of my usual sour cream. The output is still the same soft and velvety cupcake. The perfect frosting for red velvet which is cream cheese frosting is also included in the recipe.

Cupcake Ingredients:
1 tablespoon buttermilk powder
1/2 cup water
1 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
3 cuos sifted confectioner’s sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heart Shaped Sprinkles (optional)

Procedures:
For the cupcake:
1. Preheat oven at 350 degrees F. Dissolve buttermilk powder in water and set aside.
2. In a bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.In another bowl, beat the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Mix in the egg, buttermilk, red food coloring and vanilla.
3. Add the dry ingredients and stir into the batter until just blended. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar and baking soda. Stir and pour into the batter and fold.
4. Spoon batter into prepared cupcake cups.Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let it cool before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting
1. In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners’ sugar. Frost cooled cupcakes and add spinkles.