S’mores Graham Balls

Filipino Style Recipe: S’mores Graham Balls are simple and easy on the budget. The Graham balls are sweet snacks filled with marsh mallow that you and your family could enjoy. These is commonly serve in any occasions specially during holidays.

Estimated time of preparation: 20-25 minutes (plus refrigerating time)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup crushed graham
1 can (300ml) condensed milk
3 tablespoons powdered milk
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
marshmallows for filling
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine crushed grahams and condensed milk then mix until well incorporated.
2. Add the powdered milk and cocoa. Use hand to make dough. (Add more grahams if mixture is still sticky and hard to make ball.)

Part 2
1. Scoop a spoonful of graham mixture and create a ball by rolling into your palms.
2. Push one marshmallow into the center of the ball then seal and roll it until the shape is round.
3. Roll the graham balls over confectioner’s sugar.
4. Repeat steps until all the mixture is consumed.
5. Put into sealed container and refrigerate until ready to serve.
6. Place each ball in a small muffin liner then serve.

Green Salad Tocino

Filipino Style Recipe: Green Salad Tocino is another variety of green salad incorporated with Filipino twist by adding our favorite breakfast such as tocino or ham. The honey added to the Greek dressing adds to the sweetness of this salad.The anchovies and cheese gives it the right amount of saltiness for contrast.

Ingredients:
1 pack romaine lettuce
1/4 cup leftover cooked tocino or ham
2 tablespoons olives, pitted
2 tablespoons dried tomatoes
6 pieces cherry tomatoes, halved
2 tablespoons capers
6 pieces boneless anchovies
2 tablespoon ground Parmesan cheese

For the dressing:
1/4 cup Greek dressing
2 tablespoon honey

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, combine Greek dressing and honey then mix well.
2. In a big bowl, tear lettuce into serving pieces.
3. Add the olives, dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, capers, anchovies and tocino.
4. Add the honey dressing then toss.
5. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Chicken Macaroni Salad

Filipino Style Recipe: Chicken Macaroni Salad is comprises a chicken and macaroni pasta as main ingredient. Combine with mayonnaise, carrots, raisins, pickles, cheese, salt and pepper. This is commonly serve as mid-afternoon snack (meryenda) or side dish.

Ingredients:
500 grams chicken fillet
500 grams ditalini or elbow macaroni pasta
1 large carrots
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 sweet pickles, chopped
1 small pack pineapple tidbits, drained
1 cup grated cheese
salt and pepper to taste
100 grams ham (optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, boiled chicken in water with 1 tablespoon salt then cook until tender. Drain and let it cool.
2. Remove the chicken and allow to cool before shredding the meat into a large bowl.

Part 2
1. Boiled carrot for 3 minutes then drain and allow to cool. Remove the skin and cut into small pieces. Set aside.
2. Cook ham then cut into small pieces. Set aside.

Part 3
1. In a large bowl, shred chicken then add mayonnaise. Mix until just blended.
2. Add the rest of ingredients then season with salt and pepper according to taste. Mix until well blended.
3. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before. Serve.

Basic Cupcake with Cheese and Bacon

Filipino Style Recipe: Basic Cupcake with Cheese and Bacon is a basic white cupcake that you can frost with your favorite frosting. However, in this recipe, i tried to make a twist by using grated cheese and bacon as topping.

Ingredients:
1 cup white sugar
1/4 cup butter
1 3/4 cup cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 tablespoon Powdered buttermilk
2 eggs at room temperature
2 tablespoon Vanilla
1/4 cup vegetable Oil
1 cup milk

Procedures:
Part 1
1. Cream butter and sugar with a mixer at low speed for about 4 minutes.
2. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. Add to the butter and mix until well blended.
3. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, and oil and pour to the flour mixture. Mix at low speed until just combined.
4. Still at slow speed, add milk to the butter and mix until just combined. Do not over mix. The batter will be a bit liquid.

Part 2
1. Fill muffin pan with cupcake liners about 1/2 full and bake in preheated oven at 350 Fahrenheit for 15 minutes.
2. Remove from oven and top with grated cheese and bacon.You can also opt to frost with your favorite frosting like Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Frosting.

Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Frosting

Filipino Style Recipe: Cream Cheese Chocolate Chip Frosting has a thick consistency similar to chocolate chip cookie dough. The sweetness of frosting is balanced by the cream cheese . This can be use to frost any cupcake specially my favorite red velvet cupcake.

Good for 30 cupcakes

Ingredients:
4 ounce (half pack) cream cheese, softened
5 tablespoon butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoon milk, can be adjusted to achieve desired consistency
3 cups confectioner’s sugar, can be adjusted to achieve desired consistency
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Ingredients:
1. In a mixer, cream butter and sugar at medium speed until smooth (around 4 minutes).
2. Add vanilla, flour and brown sugar then continue mixing until well blended.
3. Add the milk and confectioner’s sugar then beat until you reach the desired consistency. It will be a bit thick like a cookie dough. Add milk if you feel it is too thick or add confectioner’s sugar if it is too thin.
4. Fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Frost your cupcakes. You can use a piping bag or just scoop it on top.

Chocnut Cheesecake with Caramel and Bananas

Filipino Style Recipe: This recipe is made from two of my favorite desserts, choc-nut and cheesecake. It is a fusion of an international recipe with a Filipino twist using our childhood favorite choc-nut. Talk about a delicious throwback!

Ingredients:
banana slices for toppings

For the crust:
24 pieces choc-nut
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup crushed grahams

For the cheesecake:
3 packs cream cheese, softened
1 cup sour cream
3/4 cup white sugar
1 tablespoons vanilla
1/4 cup milk
3 eggs

For the caramel sauce:
1/2 cup muscovado sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup milk

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a mixing bowl, combine crust ingredients then mix until well blended.
2. Press the mixture into false-bottom pie pan. If using regular pan, put a parchment paper at the bottom so you can easily pull later on.
3. Bake in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

Part 2
1. In a mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
2. Mix the sour cream, vanilla and milk then gradually add the eggs. Mix until well blended.
3. Pour cream cheese mixture into prepared crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.
5. Once the oven stops, open the oven slightly and let the cheesecake stand for about 30 minutes.

Part 3
1. In a pot, heat the brown sugar in medium heat until it melts.
2. Lower the heat then add the muscovado sugar until it also melts.
3. Add the butter and milk, stir and remove from heat and let it cool.
4. Pour into the cheesecake then chill for at least 4 hours. Add sliced bananas for garnishing then serve.

Banana-Choco Crepes

Filipino Style Recipe: Banana-Choco Crepes is a popular dessert made of very thin pancakes originated from France. It is consists of flour, eggs, milk, vanilla and salt whisk together then cooked and swirl in hot pan with butter until almost set. Crepes can be serve with different variety of fillings.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 5 minutes
Good for 6 crepes

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract(optional)
1 ripe plantain, sliced
chocolate ice cream
chocolate syrup
confectioner’s sugar

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, combine flour and eggs. Whisk well.
2. Add milk, vanilla extract, butter and salt. Mix until well combine.

Part 2
1. In a non-stick pan, melt butter then scoop and pour 1/4 cup of batter.
2. Swirl the batter then cook for 20 seconds or until almost set. Flip and cook the other side.
3. Transfer to serving plate then place the banana slices and a scoop of chocolate ice cream in the center.
4. Fold both side to form a triangle then pour chocolate syrup on top. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar then 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).

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.

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!