Pakbet

Pakbet is a delicious vegetable dish originated from the Ilocos region of the Philippines but popular across the country. This is one of my favorite Filipino vegetable dish, and here is my way of cooking it.

Ingredients for 10 servings:
1/2 kilo Squash
1/4 kilo string beans
1/4 kilo okra
1/4 kilo eggplant
1/4 kilo bitter melon ( ampalaya)
3 cloves garlic
1 onion
1/4 kilo pork
2 tablespoons shrimp paste
2 cups water
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute the garlic and onion then add the pork and saute until brownish then add the shrimp paaste and simmer for a minute, then add the water and bring to a boil.
2. Add the squash  and string beans then simmer until half cooked.
3. Add he rest of the ingredients and simmer until done.

4. Serve it hot with rice.

How to make Mushroom Gravy

Mushroom gravy is one of the tasty gravy that you can use in so many dishes specially fried and grilled dishes. it enhances the flavor that's why most people like mushroom gravy. Here is a simple way to make it.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
4 cups water.
1 small onion
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute the onion until brownish then add the mushrooms.

2. Combine the flour and water then add to the sauted mushrooms then stir and simmer until the sauce thickens.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste and simmer until done. It is now ready to use.

Bolinaw Inun-unan

Bolinaw is a Visayan term for anchovy (dilis) while Inun-onan is a Cebuano term for Paksiw. I do not like this viand before but everytime my older sister cooked this and encouraged me to eat because it is good for health, I obeyed her and I love eating this fish. Last week I remembered about anchovy and I researched about its health benefits and I felt grateful to my sister who taught me to eat anchovy. According to what I've read it's rich with omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, calcium, iron and other vitamins and minerals that is good is reducing the risk of hear diseases.
This is the reason why I cooked this today, enjoy this easy to cook nutritious fish dish.

Ingredients for 6 servings:
1/2 kilo bolinaw (anchovies)
thumb size ginger ( cut into strips)
3/4 cup vinegar
1/2 teaspoon peppercorn ( pamintang buo)
4 cloves garlic (crushed)
finger chili or siling haba
salt and pepper to taste

Bolinaw-anchovy

Procedure:
1. Put everything in a pot then cook over medium heat allowing to simmer until the soup almost dry then turn off the heat.

2. Serve it hot with rice.

Nilagang Mga Gulay

I like vegetables cooked simply in boiling water and just dip with fish paste ( bagoong) or any dipping sauce that you like. Yummy! "Busog sarap " :-).

Ingredients:
Okra
Eggplant
String beans
bitter melon (ampalaya)

Procedure:
1. Put 2 litres of water in a pot then bring to a boil.  Cook each kind of vegetable.
2. Arrange in a serving platter then serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Note: To maintain the natural color of the vegetable make sure that the water is boiling when you put them and increase the heat to high and do not cover the pot.

Hot and Spicy Nilagang Pata

Make sure you have a hanky while eating this hot and spicy pork hock stew. A real food adventure experience that is satisfying specially if you like hot and spicy taste. Try it.

Ingredients:
1 kilo pork leg (pata)
1 small onion
1/2 kilo cabbage
1 teaspoon crushed ginger
1/2 teaspoon whole black pepper
10 pieces chopped chili pepper (labuyo)
10 cups water ( add if necessary)
salt to taste

Procedure:
1. In a pot put the meat, water, black pepper,chopped chili, ginger and onion, bring to a boil then simmer until the meat is tender.
2. Add the cabbage and salt to taste then simmer until done.
3. Serve it hot with rice.

Sweet Potato Tops Salad

Most people, when they make talbos ng kamote salad they boil or blanch the leaves, have you eaten this raw? Raw vegetbles and fruits are alkaline food which is good for our body. Just like sweet potato leaves good to be eaten raw.

Ingredients:
3 cups sweet potato tops ( talbos ng Kamote)
1/2 lemon or 2 calamansi
2 tomatoes
1 onion
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt
        

Sweet potato tops

                                                                
Procedure:
1. Wash the sweet potato leaves properly, cut into strips.
2. In a big bowl mix all the ingredients.
3. Serve it with love and a smile :-).

How To Make Garlic Chili Paste

One of the yummiest condiments is the garlic chilli paste, if you love to spice up your food, it's a good thing to have a stock of this in your pantry. I've learned this recipe from my friend, Sheru. This is simple and easy to prepare. Perfect for siomai :-).

Ingredients:
24 pieces bird's eye chili or wild chili ( siling labuyo) remove the stems
1 cup oil
3  heads  garlic (skin removed and cleaned)
3 leaves  laurel/bay leaves
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of sugar

Procedure:
1. In a blender, put all the ingredients and blend slowly until the garlic and chili are blended into bits ( just bits not really powder!). Then pour in a pan.
2. Stir over medium heat until the garlic and chili are toasted and the oil has a nice color. Mmmmm so aromatic. ( Note: when it starts to boil, adjust the heat to low)
3. Turn off the heat when the garlic and chili are golden brown or until the desired texture is reached. Let cool but be careful because the heat of the oil will continue cooking the chili and garlic, so remove it from the stove and once the oil  cooled,  blend well.
4. Put in a jar and use it any time you want.

While waiting for the oil to cool I dropped some garlic cloves :-).

No Bake Cake a la Tiramisu

Watch out for my perfect tiramisu soon, God willing, but for now try this, simple version and you will not regret, it's really delicious!.

Ingredients for 6-8 servings:
12 pieces lady finger biscuits
400 grams all purpose cream ( 2 small tetra pack 200 grams each)
1 cup condensed milk
1/4 cup unsweetened choco powder
1 cup ready to drink coffee

Procedure:
1.Combine the cream and milk and set aside, then dip the biscuits in the coffee, then line in the mold that you are going to use, then cover with the cream and milk mixture, then cover with choco powder.

2. Do the same with the second layer.

3. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for few hours or until sets.

4. Serve and enjoy.

How to Make Munchkins

Enjoy the weekend with your loved ones, spend time making this delicious snack. Why go to the donut shops while you can make these munchkins at the comfort of your home? One way of spending a good time with your kids is doing an activity together. This is one of an enjoyable activity for the weekend. Have fun.

Ingredients:
2 cups powdered crackers ( graham, marie or any cracker with the same texture as graham)
1 cup condensed milk


For coating:
Choco powder
crushed or powdered peanuts
desiccated coconut
confectioners sugar

Procedure:
1.Mix the powdered crackers and milk until you form a dough-like mixture, by using your palms get a portion from the mixture and  roll into small balls until all the dough is done. Then coat in different coatings and serve.

 

with choco powder

with desiccated coconut

with powdered cracker

Click the link for the recipe of Chocolate munchkins
 http://melyskitchen.blogspot.com.br/2013/12/choco-munchkins.html

Mely's Kitchen Chicken Roll

For those who have not tried the chicken cordon bleu because you percieved it is difficult try this recipe, it is an easier and simpler version of chicken cordon bleu. I hope you will like this. Thanks Mr. Malley for helping me with this post.

Ingredients for 10-12 servings:
1 1/2 piece of chicken breast ( 3 halves of chicken breast for 3 rolls of chicken)
6 slices of cheddar cheese
9 pieces sweet ham
ground pepper
salt to taste
Oil for frying

Procedure:
1. slice each half piece of the chicken breast but leave it uncut, flatten it then sprinkle each with ground pepper and salt.

2. Put 2 slices of cheese and 1 slice of ham then roll it.

3. Wrap each rolled chicken with 2 slices of ham, then secure it with  toothpicks.

4. Deep fry until golden brown or cooked over medium heat.

5.Remove the toothpicks then slice and serve.