Fruit and Vegetable Salad

Filipino Style Recipe: Fruit and vegetable salad is a simple yet healthy dish that is commonly serve as appetizer. This dish is consists of mixed fruit and vegetable then toss in salad dressing. Fruit and vegetable salad is ideal for those on diet and health-conscious.

Estimated time of preparation: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
1 medium-sized cucumber, sliced
2 medium-sized tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup pineapple, cubed
100 grams grapes
1 orange, sliced
1/4 cup watermelon, cubed
1 onion, chopped
lettuce leaves, cut into serving pieces
1/4 grated Parmesan or cheddar cheese
3/4 cup salad dressing(Caesar, thousand island or any dressing)

Procedures:
1. In a large bowl, combine fruit and vegetable.
2. Pour the salad dressing over the fruit and vegetable then toss to combine.
3. Sprinkle with grated cheese then serve cold.

Latik(Coconut Curds)

Filipino Style Recipe: Latik is a solid coconut curds made from coconut milk. The coconut milk cook until almost dry and curdle, this is usually serve together with suman, biko, maja blanca and other desserts.

Good for 1/4 cup latik

Ingredients:
2 cups coconut milk

Procedures:
1. In a sauce pan, cook coconut milk in a low heat while keep stirring until brown and curdle.
2. Remove from heat and drain then serve with suman or biko.

Creme Brulee

Filipino Style Recipe: Creme brulee also known as trinity cream or burnt cream is one of my favorite dessert. It is consists of heavy cream, egg yolks and sugar then topped with caramelized sugar. This is traditionally flavored with vanilla and sometimes can also be flavored with chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, lemon, orange or other fruits.

Estimated time of preparation: 15-20 minutes
Estimated time of baking: 40-50 minutes
Good for 6 ramekins

Ingredients:
6 egg yolks, beaten
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a sauce pan, combine heavy cream and sugar then simmer until sugar is dissolved. Let it cool.
2. In a bowl, combine beaten egg yolks, cream mixture, salt and vanilla then whisk until thick and well blended.
3. Fill up each ramekins with egg-cream mixture then arrange in a shallow pan.

Part 2
1. Fill the pan with hot water until halfway of ramekins then bake over 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40-50 minutes or until custard is set.
2. Let it cool then cover each ramekins with aluminum foil and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Part 3
1. Sprinkle each ramekins with sugar then shake off the excess sugar.
2. Caramelize the sugar using kitchen torch or broiler until color turns to amber. Serve!

Chocolate Brownies

Filipino Style Recipe: Chocolate brownies is another popular dessert specially in United States which is most likely between cake and cookie in texture. Brownie comes in different varieties and may include nuts, chocolate chips, frosting, whipped cream and other ingredients. This is usually serve together with coffee or milk.

Estimated time of preparation: 15 minutes
Estimated time of baking: 40 minutes
Good for 30 brownies

Ingredients:
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs

1 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)
nutella or other chocolate spread for frosting(optional)

Ingredients:
Part 1
1. In a mixing bowl, combine cocoa, flour, baking powder and salt then mix until well combined. Set aside.
2. Grease baking pan(9x13inch) with melted butter. Set aside.

Part 2
1. In a large separate bowl, Add melted butter, vanilla and sugar then mix well.
2. Add eggs one at a time, whisk well after each egg.
3. Gradually add cocoa mixture then mix until well blended.
4. Add nuts and stir using spatula then pour in a grease baking pan.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit then bake for 40 minutes or until done.(Brownies is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.)
6. Remove from the oven and let it cool then spread nutella on top. Cut into bars then serve.

Latik (Sweetened Coconut Sauce)

Filipino Style Recipe: Latik or sweetened coconut sauce is another variety of latik made from coconut milk and panocha made of sugar cane. This version of latik is popular in Visayas region. The sauce has a sweet and oily taste that usually serve together with suman or biko as dipping sauce.

Ingredients:
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 cup panocha, cut into small pieces
200 grams Muscovado sugar

Procedures:
1. In a sauce pan, pour coconut milk and bring to boil.
2. Add panocha and sugar then cook in a low heat while keep stirring until melts and thickens.
3. Remove from heat then transfer into bottle. Serve with suman or biko.

Strawberry Graham

Filipino Style Recipe: Strawberry graham is another variety of graham float dessert. It is usually made with a layer of graham crackers, condensed milk, cream, gelatin and strawberries. This dessert is one of the easiest and most favorite dessert of Filipinos specially during Holidays.

Estimated time of preparation: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
250 grams fresh strawberries, halves
2 boxes strawberry flavored gelatin
200 grams graham crackers
50 grams crushed graham crackers
1 big can condensed milk
1 big can all purpose cream

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In large bowl, combine all purpose cream and condensed milk. Mix well and set aside.
2. In a square pan, dissolve strawberry gelatin based on instruction then set aside until firm. Break into small pieces.

Part 2
1. In a rectangular container, arrange a layer of graham cracker then spread a layer of cream mixture.
2. Add a layer of strawberry gelatin and strawberry pieces.
3. Repeat steps up to the desired thickness(3-4 layer of graham crackers).
4. Add a final layer of cream mixture and sprinkle with crushed graham crackers then arrange strawberry pieces on top.
5. Store in refrigerator for 3 hours or overnight. Served cold.

(Thanks to Ms. Rochelle for sharing)

Sugar Beets Halaya

Filipino Style Recipe: Sugar beets halaya is almost similar to Filipino ube halaya. This dish has a pink-red color, sweet taste and has a thick consistency. The red sugar beets cut into thin slices then boil until soft. Cook together with evaporated milk, condensed milk and vanilla extract until thick.

Ingredients:
1 kilo red sugar beets, peeled and sliced
2 big cans(300 ml) condensed milk
1 big can(370 ml) evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract(optional)
1/2 cup butter

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a pot, boil water then cook beets for 30 minutes or until tender.
2. Drain and let it cool then grate or process in a blender. Set aside.

Part 2
1. Heat pan in a low heat then melt butter.
2. Add remaining ingredients and grated beets then cook for 30 minutes or until becomes really thick. Keep stirring.
3. Transfer to shallow pan and let it cool then refrigerate for 2 hours before serve.

Minatamis na Saging at Sago

Filipino Style Recipe: Minatamis na saging at sago is another famous Filipino dessert made up of plantains and tapioca pearls cooked in brown sugar syrup then usually served with ice or milk. This dessert is similar to saging con yelo which is easy and simple to prepare and usually serve for meryenda(mid-afternoon snack). Minatamis na saging at sago is commonly sold along the streets or carinderia and usually serve during summer season.

Ingredients:
6 plantains(saging na saba), peeled and sliced
1 cup cooked sago or tapioca pearls(see cooking procedure below)
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla

Procedures:
1. In a cooking pot, boil water then add brown sugar. Keep stirring until dissolved.
2. Add plantains, cooked sago, vanilla extract and salt then simmer in a low heat for 15 minutes or until soft.
3. Let it cool then transfer into serving bowl. Serve with ice and milk.

Sago Cooking Procedures:
1. Soak sago pearls in water for 3 hours then cook in boiling water for 15 minutes or until turn clear.
2. Stir constantly to prevent sticking then drain and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Set aside.

Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream

Filipino Style Recipe: Banana Peanut Butter Ice Cream is a healthy dessert dish made of banana and peanut butter mix together until soft-serve consistency then chill before serve. This dish is a perfect dessert specially during summer season.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes(plus freezing time)
Good for 2 servings

Ingredients:
8 pieces ripe bananas, peeled and slice into discs
4 tablespoons peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract(optional)

Optional Toppings:
* grind almonds
* chocolate chips
* crushed chocolate cookies

Procedures:
1. In a food processor or high-speed blender, place bananas then process until creamy and smooth.
2. Add peanut butter and vanilla extract then process again until well blended and soft-serve consistency.
3. Transfer into freezer-safe container then place in freezer for at least 2 hours.
4. Serve chilled with toppings.

Saging con Yelo

Filipino Style Recipe: saging con yelo or saging con hielo is another famous Filipino dessert made up of plantains cooked in brown sugar syrup then usually served with ice and milk. This dessert is easy and simple to prepare and usually serve for meryenda(mid-afternoon snack). Saging con yelo is commonly sold along the streets or carinderia and usually serve during summer season.

Ingredients:
6 plantains(saging na saba), peeled and sliced
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
ice, cubes/crushed/shaved
1 can evaporated milk(optional)

Procedures:
1. In a cooking pot, boil water then add brown sugar. Keep stirring until dissolved.
2. Add vanilla extract and salt.
3. Add plantains then simmer in a low heat for 15 minutes or until soft.
4. Let it cool then transfer into serving bowl. Serve with ice and milk.