Pandan Suman

Filipino Style Recipe: Pandan Suman is another variety of Filipino delicacy from glutinous rice wrapped in banana leaves together with sugar, salt, coconut cream and pandan extract. This delicacy is cook in a boiling water for 2 hours then serve with your favorite dip.

Estimated time of preparation: 40 minutes(plus soaking time)
Estimated time of cooking: 2-2.5 hours

Ingredients:
4 cups glutinous rice(malagkit)
2 cups white sugar
a dash of salt
1 teaspoon Pandan extract
2 tablespoon coconut cream
banana leaves, cleaned and cut into bigger sized
cotton strings or any food-safe string

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, place glutinous rice and water then soak for at least 3 hours.
2. Singe the banana leaves into flames for a few seconds but do not burn. Let it cool then wipe with clean cloth.

Part 2
1. Wash and rinse the glutinous rice then drain excess water.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine glutinous rice, sugar, salt, pandan flavoring and coconut cream then mix until well combined.
3. Arrange 2 pieces banana leaf on a flat surface then scoop 3-4 tablespoons of rice mixture, fold the leaf to wrap the rice mixture.
4. Grab 2 pieces of wrapped rice mixture then tie with folded sides together using cotton string.

Part 3
1. In a big pot, arrange the pieces then pour enough water to cover the wrapped rice mixture.
2. Bring to boil in a low heat for at least 2 hours or until done.
3. Unwrap then transfer to serving plate. Serve with your favorite dip.

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.

Chicken Binagoongan with Gata

Filipino Style Recipe: Chicken Binagoongan with Gata or Chicken sauteed in shrimp paste with coconut milk is almost similar to binagoongang baboy. Normally the chicken sauteed until light brown then cooked in shrimp paste and chili. Add coconut milk for more flavorful and creamy taste.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes(plus marinating time)
Estimated time of cooking: 20-25 minutes

Good for 3-4 persons

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo chicken, cut into serving pieces
1 1/2 tablespoons bagoong alamang (pre-sauteed salted shrimp paste)
1 cup coconut cream
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
2 pieces tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
3 pieces bird’s eye chili(siling labuyo), chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
5 pieces calamansi, juice
1 teaspoon dried rosemary(optional)
chopped spring onion for garnishing(optional)

Procedures:
Part 1
1. In a bowl, marinate chicken in calamansi juice and dried rosemary for 15 minutes.

Part 2
1. In the pan, heat oil and saute garlic, onion and tomatoes until soft.
2. Add marinated chicken and continue sauteing until color turns to light brown.
3. Pour water and shrimp paste then simmer for 10 minutes or until tender. Add more water if necessary.
4. Add brown sugar, chili, ground pepper then continue cooking for another 3 minutes in low fire.
5. Add coconut cream then simmer until thickens. Keep stirring.
6. Transfer to serving plate then sprinkle with spring onion. Serve with steamed rice.

Pork Guisantes

Filipino Style Recipe: Pork Guisantes is a simple yet delicious tomato-based pork dish cooked in tomato sauce together with green peas. This dish can be served together with steamed rice during lunch time.

Estimated time of preparation: 10 minutes
Estimated time of cooking: 30-40 minutes
Good for 3-4 persons

Ingredients:
500 grams pork, cut into serving pieces
1 small pack tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 tablespoons green peas
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
3 bay leaves
2 tablespoons fish sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Procedures:
1. In a pan, heat oil then saute garlic and onion until translucent.
2. Add pork then continue sauteing until light brown.
3. Add fish sauce, bay leaves, water and tomato sauce then simmer in a low heat for 20 minutes or until tender.
4. Add green peas, cover and cook for another 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Transfer to serving plate then serve with steamed rice. Enjoy!

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!