Lasang Pinoy ..the best pa rin talaga

I was in the mood to cook last Sunday,we got alot of Filipino hotdogs so I decided to make a spaghetti,of course,Pinoy style,I used Jufran Ketchup and a Spaghetti sauce plus ground beef...We had a good meal for the whole day.

As I Said,iba pa rin talaga ang lasang pinoy...the best!!!

Fra Lippo Lippi......i

I really love this song,so meaningful and inspiring..Enjoy!!

and I am missing this

If you are from Zamboanga City ,Philippines,I am sure you are like me who loves to eat this kind of food.All my friends and classmates way back shared the same appetite when it comes eating this.I been dying to find-out how to make this,especially the sauce but it seems no one I know knew the secret ingredients,that is if there is any. I've been calling some of my friends who knew the owner of the best place where to eat and make this recipe but sad to say,he wasn't able to get any clue or even just hint.I am talking about Satti,one of the best food I ever tasted.Maybe you wonder what is Satti?I think the picture itself will give an idea what it is and how delicious it is. It made off sweet and spicy sauce,beef in a small stick,and rice that covered with coconut leaves,we called it "puso".If anyone out there reading this and know how to make/cook Satti please......can you share it with me?Begging mode here.

Arroz Ala cobana

This is one of the recipe that I learned in my younger years.I still remember the first time I made this,mommy-lola was still with us at that time and oh dear she really loves to cook.She cooks without measurement and it came it out so delicious.

I am not saying that this version is soooooooo good but I am proud to say that it has taste and everyone in the table enjoy it.We love to have fried eggs and fried saba with this kind of food.I ate with my bare hands and lotsof rice with it.For me,it is one of my comfort food where I feel I am close to home though I am not.

Our Quick Lunch

Today no one seems to bother to cook for our lunch since I am in the mood to cook,I made our lunch,it was one of the easiest food to prepare and it is really good,especially to those who loves pasta with bacon on it.Everyone enjoys and we are full.

mashed potato and Ground beef Croquettes

We have lots of mashed potato from our lunch last Sunday so I decided to make a croquettes out of it by using lean ground beef.It is a lot of work and sometimes I ended up throwing away the first that I made.This time I made it just right,no waste.It is just our counter top was so messy coz of the potatoes and ground beef that fall from my palm.

You need to have enough patience when making this recipe,you have to handle it love and care(laughing).This is my favorite recipe when I am having my summer vacation in my mommy-lolas house in Manila.She really made it very delicious and the shape and thickness is perfect,I wonder how she did it.If you wanted to try it,here is the recipe:

• Ground beef about a pound
• mashed potato bout 6-7 pcs( just prepare it like you do with mashed potato but less butter)
• 1 medium onion,sliced finely
• 3 cloves of garlic,minced
• 2 eggs,beated
• breadcrumbs for coating
• oregano just a pinch
• salt and pepper to taste.

Directions:

• put the ground beef in a wok and let it cook with its own oil.Remove and drain the excess oil.
• Get a tsp of oil from the beef and sautee the garlic and onions.Mix the ground beef stir.Put some oregano,season with salt and pepper.Be sure that the ground beef is not too wet but not too dry.Cool it down completely.
• Scooped some mashed potato and put it in palm,press it lightly.
• When the beef is ready,put some on top of the mashed and covered.
• Press lightly but with a bit a pressure,be sure that it is totally covered.
• Dip into the eggs.
• Roll in breadcrumbs and coat it perfectly.
• In a frying pan heat some vegetable oil,in a medium heat.
• Fry the croquettes until it is lightly brown.
• Be sure you obtain that consistent heat of the oil so it will not break.
• it is good with ketchup or with thousand island.Steam veggies is recommended if you want.

My "Pansit"Guisado

I have been craving for Pansit guisado,my moms version.My biggest problem was,we don't have the noodles that we used way back home.My craving was killing me,I really wanted to eat it.One night Hazie and I talked about what food we missed from our hometown,of course the pancit from Savoury,one of the local restaurant in Zamboanga City surfed-in in our conversation.Literally,I can taste their pansit and I was mad at myself cause I can get it out of my head. Today,I saw a pork meat in our freezer,my imagination works,so what if I don't have the fresh noodles,as long as I have something to substitute for it,all well be fine,since it is taste that really matters and we'll satisy my craving and growling tummy at the same time.Now I can smile and craving is gone.I really like the taste though the noodles is not as good as what we have in the PI. Still,I am so grateful and happy that I know if you are just willing to explore in cooking,nothing really is impossible,anyway,I used fettucini noodles,I boiled it like what it says in the instruction.I will be cooking this again.....

Beef Kaldereta,Little girl's request

My little cousin loves filipino dishes with the exception of sea foods due to her food allergy,beef caldereta is one of them,she loves the black olives and potatoes.Last time we made goat caldereta and she said that it wasn't the usual caldereta that she had tasted,she stated that the meat is "yucky",I told her it was goat and she dramatically said that goats are about to be extinct,silly girl. So last night,I made the beef caldereta,you can see from her face that she has really enjoying it,she hummed while eating and to see that kind of happiness in little girls face is really priceless.

If you would like to try it here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

pack of beef short ribs,sliced according to your wish. 4 medium potatoes,sliced into halves carrots,sliced how you wanted it. black olives drain green olives,drained 1 can of pineapple chunks,drained red and green bell pepper,sliced 1 small can of tomato paste 1 large bottle of ufc tamis-anghang banana ketchup onion,sliced thinly cloves of garlic,smashed or minced oil for frying salt and pepper to taste. Directions:

• Put oil in a pan and saute garlic and onion til fragrant,add meat and brown each side,don't fry just brown.
• Put enough water to cover the meat and bring to boil.Lower the heat til the meat is tender enough.
• Add the tomato paste and ketchup,add some water if needed.
• simmer then add the potatoes,carrots,black and green olives,plus the pineapple chunks.
• Simmer until the veggies are cooked,add the green and red bell peppers.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with steamy rice.

Chicken Leg Adobo

Adobo is one of my favorite Filipino dish,it can be pork,chicken,beef,or fish.Last night I made some chicken tinola and there were like 12 pcs of chicken legs left so I decided to make some adobo.I cooked it with a little bit of changes,i made the sauce thick and I browned all the sides of the chicken legs for a change.

I know that most of us Filipinos knows how to cook this kind of food,I would be surprise if someone will say that he/she doesn't know how=).Unless that person have no interest in cooking at all.So here is my Chicken Adobo.I had sauteed spinach as my side dish.Yuuuum!!!!and of course,with the thick sauce,you can eat it either with hot rice or mashed potato.

Here is the Procedure:

12 pcs of chicken legs

5 cloves of garlic,minced

1 medium onion sliced like ring

1/2 cup of soysauce

1/4 apple cider vinegar

3-tbsp olive oil

2-tbsp of brown sugar

pinch of salt and pepper

1/2 cup water

2tsps of cornstarch+1/8 cup of water(dissolved)

few drops of hot chili oil(optional)

Procedure:

• Heat oil in a wok,brown all sides of the chicken .Removed and set aside.
• Saute the garlic til it fragrant.
• put back the chicken and simmer over medium heat for like 5 mins.
• Add the water,soysauce and vinegar,simmer but don't stir.Remove the scum.
• When it is boiling,add the brown sugar and taste.If you want to adjust the taste then season it according to your taste.
• continue simmer until the chicken is cook.Add the cornstarch,bring to boil til it thickens.
• Add the onion rings and cover the wok but turn-off the heat.
• Since I like mine with a kick,I put few drops of hot chili oil.It is optional anyway.

Enjoy!!!!

Milk Fish with Sour Broth

I been dying to eat "tinolang bangus",but everytime I go to the Asian Store,I can't get a whole milkfish that is good for this recipe,this is one of my all-time favorite comfort food,I don't care if the fish is full of bones,I just simply love it.Period!!

Yesterday my aunt went to the city and she passed by a small asian store,there she found the fish that I been looking for,I already have the vegetables that I planned to put on it but the fish is the missing,when she told she got it,I told her "You are the best Tita",take note:Aunt doesn't eat this kind of food,the fact she is scared of this fish or any other fishes,she eat chosen fishes that she tasted and knew how to cook.

The moment she arrived,I got the fish and it was very "good-looking",fresh and firm.I cleaned it up and cooked.I have a very good lunch,Bossing ate some too.I have some left-over that I planned to bring tomorrow at work.With this food you have to eat it with rice.The "espadang sili"were kinda expensive so aunt just got one but big and it was good enough to gave the broth a spicy taste which I really liked.

The fun Begins ...Australian Open

(Rod Laver Arena,Melbourne,Australia) Let the fun begin,fore me anyway,I have been waiting for the first grand slam of the year in tennis game and last night,I watched the first round game.All was struggling especially the top-seeded players and the qualifiers are eager to make their presence in the game that they are intimidated by the veterans.Of course,I know it is tough to put up a good game when the weather is pretty hot.

That's the complain of American guys who lost in the first round,they can't take the heat,well you can't blame them,just feel how cold in here but for andy Roddick and Mardy fish who advanced for the 2nd round this is the best time to play the sport that they love more than their lives,I guess.

I always wonder who will captured the most anticipating trophy this year?I wonder if Roger Federer will captured his number one spot back and tied up with Pete Sampras having a 14 career grand slam under his belt,maybe he will or maybe not.How about Novak Djokovic?Can he protect his title here this year?What about RAFAEL nADAL,who ended up Rogers Federer reign as the number tennis in the world last year when he beat Roger in Wimbledon last year?Will he reach the final this time?That is about to be seen in this coming days. To those who loves tennis like me,TUNE IN!!

Kalderetang Kambing

Yesterday we went to Asian store to buy some rice,veggies and fishes,as I was browsing the meat aisle,I saw goat meat I thought I would try to make some "kalderetang kambing"goat meat stew.I don't eat goat meat way back home,I have no reason why,just I don't like the taste. Somewhere in Oct.of last year,a friend of aunt cooked some and I tasted and I liked it.I asked the recipe and thankfully she was happy to share it with me.So lastnight I made my first kalderetang kambing ever,I cook beef kaldereta but this chevon stew is different for I didn't use any tomato sauce or paste,I used ufc spicy ketchup. All in all it was really good though it was really spicy for aunt tastes but it was fine with me for one reason,I love spicy food.I don't have specific measurement when it comes to cooking,I always approxiamated everything.I cook it according to my own taste and that is the very reason I am not goin to post the recipe here,but if ever you are interested,I am happy to share it with you,just do your own approxiamation.I put lots of ingredients that you can't find in beef caldereta and I guess that is the very reason why it tasted so goooooddd!!!!=)

I made it at Last;)

I have been thinking to make some Jelly Roll since I saw the recipe from kusina ni Manang,my problem was,I have no idea how stiff the eggwhite should be,though the procedure is easy I am reluctant to do it.So i took a deep breath and I said I will do it,if it is a failure then I can do it better next time. But to my surprise,it came out perfectly,my loyal taster Kat was there waiting and eager to have a slice,when she saw me rolling the Pianono she asked me right away,can I have a bite?of course she can.So there,she got a small plate and a fork and ran back to the living room were she was doing her homework.

Addicted

Everyone in the house had been teasing me lately that I am addicted to baking,I didn't really notice that until yesterday when Bossing asked me what I am doing with the butter and flour bread,without thinking I replied "i will bake pandesal and will try to make some spanish bread as well",he laughed hard and said,"naku adik na si Wena sa baking".With that remarked,I myself was suprise,indeed I become addicted to baking lately since I got the kitchen aide from aunt. Honestly,I can't wait what to bake this coming few days,of course,I am still in the trial and error period but I can say that I made successful batches of pandesal,pan de leche and some cheese bread,last night my spanish bread came out pretty good and we ate it this morning as our breakfast. Most of my free time lately I spend in the kitchen and reading some gourmet books of aunt,I am having fun especially if it came really good,if it is a failure the dogs is like having a feast,=)I can't wait for my next baking adventure,I will be making Pianono....my favorite merienda when I was still in the PI.Thank God found this great blogsite of a filipina doctor,who baked and cooked really,really good. For my lunch today,I made some fried rice with sauteed shrimp paste and pork with fats,I was so full that I was having hard time breathing.It is good to eat food that you thought you will never taste again because you are in different country but honestly,it is just around the corner and it is up to you to find it.

Anak ng Puto...Ay!!! Siomai

I don't know what gets into me lately but I am in the mood to cook.Looking back,I never really thought that I can cook,just the thought of cooking rice before was dreading me,maybe because I know when I opened the pots I have something to eat and someone will cook it for me My passion for cooking didn't come naturally,honestly I hate it,no,I hated it.I started to appreciate the beauty and value of cookbooks when we moved here in far-away kingdom where there is no way you can eat the usual filipino dishes by going to the restaurant,if you want it,you have to cook it.Way back in Ca.if we like to eat something,even just for fried fish or giniling with ampalaya,no big deal because 10 minutes away from our home was a filipino carenderia.So now I have no choice but to learn and cook it to feed my hungry tummy. We have a small chinese buffet in our town but the problem is,I got this very scary experienced when I bought Siomai from them,it's been a while since I eat siomai and now I wanted to eat it,the problem is I don't know how to wrap,until one day I saw Tyler Florence of Food Network did the easist way to wrapped it so I waste no time,I went to the grocery store and get what I needed.Well,it is not really that pretty but I can say the taste was really good. I made Puto for our "merienda" when Kat told me if I know how,I had this filipino kakanin book and I kept it well cause I know somedday I will need it and that day is today,it's my very first attempt so I have to make more practice and more patience especially when it comes to beating the white eggs and form it into what they call"mountain peak",whatever it is,I don't care. I know my creation is not that good but I am proud to say that they good and edible...Maybe someday I will learn how to make a pretty presentation,not that soon,I have to learn more..

I am Craving FOR..........................................

OK,ok,once in a while we are craving for something,like our favorite food that we don't know how to make it,or if we know but not really that good and your palate is really screaming for the delicious one. After a long hours of searching in the internet to find the perfect recipe of the food that I was craving for days,Voila!!!!I found it,not just delicious but with a twist,the best that I have tasted...so far...I won't stop searching if there is still a better one.You might wondering what I am craving for....it is just a Biko,a sweet glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk and brown sugar..I have tried ,tasted and cooked different kind of Biko,but this is the keeper.It is moisty and with the topping like this one,ohhh...you will not stop eating until you will finished the whole thing.WE usually baked Biko and it will last for about a week or two in the fridge then down the trash because nobody wants to touch it anymore.But this one,the moment it cooled down,it was almost gone. Note:If you would like to try this,just ask me for the recipe.

Crabs with Coconut Milk and Bamboo Shoot

I have been craving for crabs lately and I can't find the one I want in our local supermarket,all they have were Alaskan Crab Legs. When my friend told me she is goin to the Asian store,I tagged along with her and thank goodness,I found an alive crabs.I was happy and smilling big when I went home I cooked it right away.I put some coconut milk and a can of bamboo shoot.My lunch/ dinner was really good and my full tummy was very satisfied.

Out of my comfOrt Zone

Baking is not really my thing,you can make me cook everyday,clean up the house or do the laundry and ironing,just don't let me bake.But lastnight,I really tried to make an effort to bake something,so I decided to make the Pineapple Upside Down and at the same time bake the chocolate-coconut bars.I had having difficulty but I took a deep breath and said to myself that I can do this...So here are my finished products:

quotes about LIFE..

I saw these quotes online and I think it is worth sharing with you here,hope you take time to read,for sure you learn something. " You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love." "Most people go on living their everyday life: half frightened, half indifferent, they behold the ghostly tragi-comedy that is being performed on the international stage before the eyes and ears of the world." Albert Einstein "If you wouldst live long, live well; for folly and wickedness shorten life." Benjamin Franklin Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Kahlil Gibran "If I were to begin life again, I should want it as it was. I would only open my eyes a little bit more." Jules Renard "It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute...that gives meaning to our lives." Anthony Robbins "We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill A life without love, without the presence of the beloved, is nothing but a mere magic-latern show. We draw out slide after slide, swiftly tiring of each, and pushing it back to make haste for the next." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe "There are moments in life, when the heart is so full of emotion That if by chance it be shaken, or into its depths like a pebble Drops some careless word, it overflows, and its secret, Spilt on the ground like water, can never be gathered together." Henry Wordsworth Longfellow "You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, this is no other life but this." Henry David Thoreau "Why should we live with such hurry and waste of life? We are determined to be starved before we are hungry. Men say that a stitch in time saves nine, and so they take a thousand stitiches today to save nine tomorrow." Henry David Thoreau "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." Martin Luther King "Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars." Henry Van Dyke "Happy is he who still loves something he loved in the nursery: He has not been broken in two by time; he is not two men, but one, and he has saved not only his soul, but his life." G K Chesterton "Thou wilt find rest from vain fancies if thou doest every act in life as though it were thy last." Marcus Aurelius Antoninus "Where there is love there is life." Gandhi "In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." Robert Lee Frost

Road rules/Real World " the Island"

I am an avid fan of this show,since i can't watch it during their original airtime,I am just glad to watch it in reruns.This is really a tough competition,sort of like "The Survivor",but this show is full of characters,if you are weak you are not for this competition.The casts are mean,very rude and opinionated.They will eat you alive. What is really funny when one of the contestant/contender said that they have no strenght because they have been eating rice and fish it made me laugh so hard.In my country,having rice and fish is a great blessing.It is more than enough to give us fuel and strenght to go on for the whole day. I wonder who will be send home next week,most of the guys are are such a whiner,selfish...this is DOG eat Dog show..so goodluck to them....and thanks for entertaining us.