Buko Pandan Sago Cooler

This is a very good dessert and so affordable, refreshing too if you serve it really cold. I made this in the night and chill overnight for best result.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo small white sago
1 litre fresh milk
1 big can condensed milk (380 grams)
1 can fruit cocktail (432 grams)
250 ml all purpose cream ( Nestle or any brand)
15 ml buco pandan flavor

different McCORMICK flavors

Procedure:
1. Cook the sago then drain and wash well after cooking to remove the starch and prevent it from sticking, then combine all the ingredients and refrigerate for few hours.
2. Serve and enjoy.

Special Binagoongang Talong

The price of the eggplants at the market today is very cheap that's why I bought a lot and decided to make some for eggplant binagoongan.

Ingredients:
1 kilo eggplant
2 tablespoons shrimp paste ( bagoong alamang)
3 cloves garlic
1 onion
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 cup water
salt if needed

Procedure:
1. Fried the eggplant then set aside.

2. Saute the garlic and onion then add the shrimp paste and simmer for 2 minutes add the ground pepper and water then let boil, add the fried eggplant and stir until mixed well, add salt if needed then turn off the heat.
3. Serve hot with rice :-).

Calderetang Kambing

I wanna share my family's tradition in cooking goat caldereta or calderetang kambing. I encountered a lot of our guests every time we have family gatherings, telling us that they do not eat goat meat because they do not like the smell, but once they have tasted our calderetang kambing, they're always amazed why it doesn't smell goat at all. It is because of our way in cooking it, grilling it first to remove the strong smell juices from the meat. I hope that you will try this style of caldereta, you won't regret. :-)



Ingredients:
1 kilo goat's meat ( grilled until light brown)
1 big onion ( minced)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 cup Sprite
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 cup pineapple chunks
2 pieces carrots ( sliced and fried)
3 pieces potato ( sliced and fried)
2 tablespoons calamansi or lemon juice
1 bell pepper
1 can liver spread
250 ml All purpose cream ( Nestle or any brand)
100 grams cheddar cheese
6 cups water ( add if needed)
200 ml tomato paste
salt and pepper to taste

grilled goat's meat

Procedure:
1. Chop the grilled goat's meat to your desired size and marinate with Sprite, 1/4 cup soy sauce, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste for at least 1 hour, then fry until brownish  and set aside.
2. Saute the garlic and onion then add the fried goat's meat then simmer for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and 1/4 cup soy sauce then stir well, cover and  simmer for 5 minutes, increase the heat to high then add the water and bring to a boil,  when boiling lower the heat and simmer until the meat is tender, stirring occasionally. 
3. When the meat is tender, add the rest of the ingredients and simmer until done.
4. Serve it hot and enjoy.

You can add green peas

Buko Pandan Gelatine with Peach

I made this last week for an afternoon snack with my neighbors' children, they enjoyed it a lot and asked for more.

Ingredients:
10 grams powder gelatine
10 ml buko pandan flavor ( I used McCormick brand)
4 cups water
1/2 cup white sugar
1 big can evaporated milk (370ml)
some peaches slices


Procedure:
1. Mix the sugar, gelatine powder with water, stir well until fully mixed, then bring to a boil stirring constantly until gelatine is fully dissolved, simmer for 8 minutes then add the  milk and buko pandan flavor simmer for a minute and turn off the heat. Let cool.
2.Arrange the sliced peaches in the molder then pour the cooled gelatine mixture and refrigerate for an hour or until chilled.

3. Unmold upside down to show the peaches, slice then serve

Ensaladang Pako

Thanks to my niece ( Miss Arianne) for sharing this fiddlehead fern salad or ensaladang Pako.


Health Effects of fiddlehead ferns
"Fiddleheads contain various vitamins and minerals, as well as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They are a source of antioxidants and dietary fibre.[2] They are low in sodium, but rich in potassium, which may make them suitable for people who need a low-sodium diet.[5]

Fiddleheads may harbour microbes, and should be washed and cooked before eating.[2]

Many ferns also contain the enzyme thiaminase, which breaks down thiamine. This can lead to beriberi and other vitamin B complex deficiencies if consumed to excess or if one's diet is lacking in these vitamins.[6]".
 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiddlehead_fern

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo fiddlehead fern ( Cut and cleaned)
1 onion 
3 tomatoes 
1 almost ripe mango 
1/4 teaspoon sugar or to taste
3/4 cup vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Boil 3 cups of water then blanched the fern, drain and set aside.
2. slice the onion, mango and tomatoes according to your desired size then combine it with the fern together with the vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well.
3. Serve and enjoy.




Contributed by : Miss Arianne Maravilla

Boiled Crab Claws

My friend gave me a present from her travel, it's not  something that I could keep forever :) but something special and delicious that I can cook. Crab claws! When she handed me the packet, I can't help but smile because I'm glad she gave me something for my blog. Here is a simple recipe that I made.

Ingredients:
10 pieces crab claws
1 bay leaf or laurel
1 1/2 cup  Coconut water
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. In a pot put the coconut water, bay leaf and garlic then bring to a boil.
2. Add the claws of the crab then boil for 10 minutes, add salt and pepper to taste, simmer for a minute then turn off the heat.
3. Crack the shell then serve and enjoy.

Ginisang Talong

Simple yet yummy.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo eggplant ( sliced to your desired size)
3 cloves garlic
1 onion
2 tablespoons soy sauce or according to your taste
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the eggplant and stir well over high heat. Cover for a minute then stir again.
2. Add the soy sauce and pepper then simmer over medium heat, add salt if needed then simmer until cooked.
3. Serve hot and enjoy.

Sweet Ginataang Monggo

 Sweet ginataang monggo or ginataang totong  is an affordable yet delicious dish that you can prepare for your family and friends. I love this so much since I was a kid. Really delicious! Try it.

Ingredients for 10-12 servings:

1 cup Glutinous rice 

1/4 cup monggo (toasted, cracked)
6  cups thin coconut milk
1 cup  pure coconut milk
1 cup sugar or according to your taste
5 pandan leaves (optional)

Crack the toasted monggo

Procedure:

1. Soak the glutinous rice for an hour, after soaking the rice wash it. then in  a big pot combine it with the toasted monggo, pandan leaves  and thin coconut milk then bring to a boil, simmer  over medium heat while stirring occasionally until rice and monggo is tender.

2. Add the sugar and pure coconut milk then simmer for a minute and turn off the heat.

3. Serve with a smile.

Kambing Sari-sari

I went to a nearby meat shop and found a good ingredient for a delicious dish which we called "sari-sari"  the typical sari-sari is made from the innards of pig,when I saw the goat's innards I bought a kilo because I wanna try cooking sari-sari using the goat's innards, here is the recipe my family loved it.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo Goat's Innards (lamang loob ng kambing)
4 cloves garlic
1 onion
thumb size ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
2 tablesoons vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
5 pieces chili ( siling haba)
5 stalks spring onion (sliced)
salt to taste

Procedure:
1. Boil all the goat's innards, make sure that the tenderness is right then slice into small pieces.
2. Saute the garlic and onion then add the rest of the ingredients, simmering and stirring occasionally until done.
3. Serve hot and garnish with spring onion.

Eggplant Steak

A simple dish that will surely satisfy you. Try it.

Ingredients for 4 servings:
1/2  kilo eggplant ( slice to your desired side)
2 onions cut into rings
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon or calamansi juice
salt  and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Fried the eggplant and set aside.
2. Saute the onion then add the fried eggplant, soy sauce and lemon juice then stir well.

3. Add salt and pepper if needed then simmer for a minute and turn off the ehat.
4. Serve with rice and do not forget to smile :-).

Buco Pandan Maja with Corn

The best maja from my kitchen :-). Super yummy, the aroma from the buco pandan flavor makes the maja flavor perfect!

Ingredients:
2 cups cornstarch
8 cups coconut milk 
1 3/4 cups white sugar
1 cup Nestle cream or any all purpose cream
1 can corn kernel ( drained)
5 ml buco pandan flavor

Look for buco pandan Flavor :)

 Procedure:
1. In a pot mix all the ingredients until the corn starch is fully dissolved, then let it boil over medium heat .Stirring occasionally until done.


2. Pour in a tray that you are going to use, then refrigerate for few hours before serving.

3. Slice then serve.

Nilagang Saging

Nilagang saging or boiled banana is the easiest way of cooking a banana by just boiling it until it is cooked.
Since I was young until now this is my favorite comfort food and I will never exchange this for burgers and pizzas.

To cook this, just put the banana in a pot and add water that is an inch above the banana level then bring to a boil and simmer the banana for 20 minutes or until cooked. Eat and enjoy.

Kare-Kare

"Kare-kare is a Philippine stew. It is made from a base of stewed oxtail (sometimes this is the only meat used), pork hocks, calves feet, pig feet, beef stew meat; and occasionally offal, or tripe. Vegetables, which include (but are not limited to): eggplant, Chinese cabbage, or other greens, daikon, green beans, and asparagus beans are added - usually equaling or exceeding the amount of meats. The stew is flavored with ground roasted peanuts or peanut butter, onions, and garlic. The stew is colored with annatto(extracted from annatto seeds in oil or water), and can be thickened with toasted or plain ground rice.[1] Other flavorings may be added, but the dish is usually quite plain, compared to other Filipino dishes as other seasonings are added at the table. Other variants may include goat meat or (rarely) chicken. It is often eaten with bagoong (shrimp paste), sometimes spiced with chili, bagoong guisado (spiced and sautéed shrimp paste), and sprinkled with calamansi juice. Traditionally, any Filipino fiesta (particularly in Pampanga region) is not complete without kare-kare."
Learn more about kare-kare by visiting the link below.
Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kare-kare

Ingredients:
1 kilo ox tail ( buntot ng baka) cut into serving pieces
1 tablespoon annato powder ( atsuete)
1 1/2 onion ( minced)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
2 pieces eggplant
4 cups stock
1 bunch string beans
1 banana heart ( cut into wedges)
3/4 1/2 cup peanut butter
salt and pepper tot aste

Procedure:
1. Put the ox tail in a deep pot and put enough water to cover, bring to a boil and simmer until tender. When tender, remove from the stock and reserve the stock to use later.
2. Saute the garlic and onion then add the atsuete powder and stir, add the stock and bring to a boil, once boiling add the banana heart and simmer for 4 minutes then add the meat, and simmer for 3 minutes.
3. Add the eggplant and string beans and simmer until half cooked, add the peanut butter, salt and pepper to taste then simmer until done.
4. Serve with sauteed shrimp paste and enjoy.

Note: You can add pechay for this recipe and 1/4 cup toasted flour for thicker gravy or sauce

Fried chicken wings

Wings are my favorite parts of the chicken, enough skin and bone for me to enjoy while eating :-).

Ingredients:
1 kilo Chicken wings
1/4 kilo all purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste
3 pieces calamansi ( squeezed)
1 egg beaten
oil for frying


Procedure:
1. Combine the chicken, calamansi juice, salt and pepper to taste then add the beaten egg and combine well, set aside.
2. Combine the flour, salt and pepper to taste then roll the chicken on the mixture to be fully coated.
3. Heat the oil then deep fry the chicken wings until golden brown.
Remove from oil and put in a paper towel to remove excess oil.
4. Serve and enjoy.

Ginataang Tilapia

Ginataang Tilapia is one of the easiest dishes to cook, and since tilapia is very common at the market you can prepare this anytime you want it. I cooked this for the laborers at our farm and they loved it.

Ingredients for 6 servings:
1 kilo Tilapia
3 cloves garlic ( crushed)
thumb size ginger ( sliced)
1 onion ( sliced)
2 cups coconut milk
1 bunch pechay
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
salt to taste

Procedure:
1. Sauté the  ginger, garlic and onion, then add 1 cup coconut milk, salt, ground pepper then bring to a boil and simmer for a minute.
2. Add the fish then simmer until cooked, add the pechay and simmer for a minute then add the rest of the coconut milk, simmer for a minute then turn off the heat.
3. Serve hot with rice, yummy!!!!

I am cooking something different

I am cooking something new and tasty in my kitchen for all of the followers of Mely's Kitchen, the online destination for easy-to-follow and mouthwatering Filipino recipes.

I am busy prepping and creating my newest masterpiece -- the new look and feel of my official website! The new and improved Mely's Kitchen website features a clean look and easy browsing options so you can search for your favorite recipes and make culinary masterpieces yourself fast and easy!

Here's a sneak peek (or better yet, a small taste!) of what I'm cooking in my kitchen. Let me know what you think! Feel free to give your comments and they will be greatly appreciated.

Have fun! Happy cooking, everyone! :-)

- Mely

Frog Steak

Frog meat really tastes like chicken, have you tasted it before? I cooked this when I visited my brother. After a heavy rain he went frog hunting with his friends and when they returned they brought around 2 kilos of live frogs. They cleaned it and I cooked it for them and here it is.

Ingredients:
1 kilo cleaned Frog
8 cloves Garlic
2 big Onion ( sliced into rings)
1/4 cup calamansi or lime juice
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
salt to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion and add the frog meat and ground pepper  cover for 3 minutes over medium heat, then stir to mix well.
2. Add the  calamansi juice and soy sauce then stir well then continue to simmer until done while stirring every now and then.
3. Serve with a smile.

Braised Chicken

A simple chicken dish but the taste is priceless.

Ingredients for 4 servings:
1/2 kilo chicken
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
2 medium size carrots ( sliced)
4 medium size potatoes (sliced)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 cup water
1 teaspoon corn starch dissolved in 1/4 cup water
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the chicken and braise until half cooked.
2. Add the soy sauce then simmer for a minute, add the water and simmer until the meat is tender.
3. Add the carrots and potatoes then simmer until cooked, then add salt and pepper to taste. Add the dissolved corn starch to thicken. Simmer for a minute then turn off the heat.
4. Serve and enjoy.

Crab in Coconut Milk

A  treat from my Nana ( my mom), she bought me some for our lunch and I cooked it in coconut milk. It's  so yummy.


Ingredients:
1 kilo crabs
2 cups coconut milk
3 cloves garlic
thumb size ginger
1 onion
1 bunch swamp cabbage ( kangkong)
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic, ginger and onion then add the coconut milk and bring to a boil.
2. Add the crab,  simmer until cooked while stirring occasionally, add the kangkong, salt and pepper then simmer until done.
3. Serve hot with rice.

Cheesy Macaroni Salad

My family's all time favorite macaroni salad, but they like it more if it is loaded with cheese. :)
Do you also like a cheesy macaroni salad? Happy eating my friends.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo elbow macaroni (cook according to its packaging procedure)
836 grams fruit cocktail
500 ml All purpose cream ( Nestle or any brand)
1/2  cup Mayonaise
1 cup raisins
1 kilo nata de coco
1 ( 390 ml) can condensed milk ( add if you want the taste sweeter)
1 (370 ml) can evaporated milk
180 grams cheddar or quickmelt cheese ( diced)

Procedure:
1. Combine all the ingredients then refrigerate for few hours.
2. Serve with a smile :-).