Lasang Pinoy 22 Entry-Binagoongan Rice
December 22, 2007
Through the kindness of another food blogger, Gay of A Scientist in the Kitchen, I discovered this blogging event called Lasang Pinoy 22, the Rice Challenge. If you read through her comments section, you’ll discover a person nice enough to help another. Thanks Gay!So here I am, RICING to the occasion with my recipe for Binagoongan Rice. I am providing a recipe for that here but check out my shrimp fried rice recipe for a discussion of the Filipino rice culture and another way to make use of leftover rice. Read more
Broil-in-Foil Tilapia (Broiled Mojarra)
December 21, 2007
A former classmate of mine, Monette, commented to me via a personal e-mail how she’d love to have easy-to-prepare recipes, kind of 20-minute type dishes. I agree! With career, traffic, household chores, picking up kids from school, “taking care of hubby”, PTA meetings etcetera, etcetera, a mother and wife has indeed a lot of balls to juggle. Who wants to sweat in the kitchen after a day of running around trying to please the boss at work? We want to whip up a meal and zip out of the heat in 20 minutes flat, right? Read more
Beef with Mushroom-Cream Sauce
December 19, 2007
It took me approximately three hours to have this dish ready. But the meat that’s almost falling apart in tenderness and swimming in cream sauce (with additional kick from pepper jack cheese) deserves those three hours! Besides, this dish didn’t really require “watching”. After simmering beef top round in onion soup and beef broth for around 2 1/2 hours (It was one tough beef!), the cream sauce wrapped up in around 10 minutes. Read more
Tortilla Maker
December 19, 2007
This tool can be purchased at most latino supermarkets or even at mainstream grocery chains. It is actually designed to flatten the masa to make fresh tortillas. The photo does not clearly show the process but basically a ball of masa or dough is positioned between the two platforms and the lever is pressed down to flatten the masa into round disks Read more
Cookie Press
December 19, 2007
Trash for some, treasure for another. I found this cookie press set, still boxed and wrapped, at my neighbor’s yard sale. I was passing by from my morning jog and she stopped me with a friendly hello. She had various odds and ends spread on a long table with asking prices ranging from $6 to $10. Dear me, $6 to $10 for items that Read more
Coconut Macaroons
December 19, 2007
These soft and chewy coconut macaroons are raised to a whole new level of deliciousness by dipping into melted bittersweet chocolate! The recipe is one of the Christmas cookies presented by Family Circle magazine for holiday gift giving. Read more
Sauteed Bean Sprouts and Tofu
December 16, 2007
This sauteed bean sprouts and tofu recipe is a one my favorites to make. It is fast, easy and a very healthy and economical source of protein. The dish cost around $3 for a serving of 4. It’s delicious paired with steamed rice and fried pork chops or fried fish. I usually double the amount I prepare and use the other half for my vegetable eggrolls. Read more
Finger-Licking Good Chicken Wings
December 16, 2007
Innovation results from need. I think this recipe is a perfect example of that.
My mother-in-law taught me a recipe on one of her visits at home. It’s basically marinating chicken with spicy vinegar and frying or broiling it. Very good! One day I had a hankering for some mighty wings to go with my favorite sauteed bean sprouts and tofu. I took out the chicken wings, cleaned and cut them into parts; opened pantry-no vinegar in the house! Checked for lemon-none! Hmmm? Describe vinegar? Sour. I remembered the packages and packages of dry tamarind soup base that I got on sale (3 for a $1) a week ago. I usually stock this as my daughter loves sinigang soups. Sinigang is a popular Filipino sour-based soup using a meat or seafood medium, guava or tamarind flavor and loaded with lots of vegetables such as bokchoy and eggplant. Read more
Zucchini and Cheese Omelet
December 16, 2007
A few years ago, I got pretty hooked on a high-protein diet. Wow, Did the pounds peel off! I dropped close to 40 pounds in three months by making wiser food choices and revving up my exercise program. Read more
Leche Flan
December 16, 2007
When two people are dating, there will come a point in the relationship when one is hit by the realization that liking is now loving. Actually, my realization came pretty fast. On our fourth date, while watching TV in his apartment, my then-boyfriend-now-husband states “I make the best Leche Flan”. Visions of me sitting comfortably on the sofa every night while he labors in the kitchen preparing our dinner came swirling in my head. I am marrying this man! Read more
