Arrozcaldo (congee with chicken)

Arrozcaldo…its a type of congee, it can be eaten alone or you can add variety of meats like chicken, tripe or even fish. It is also best with a fried tofu & pork on the side..wheew!!! It is often considered particularly suitable for the sick as a mild, easily digestible food(When we are sick, we usually have this meal))…Did you know that Rice is a great source of complex carbohydrates which give us the energy we need. It provides 20 percent of the world’s dietary energy supply. ..

ingredients (serves 4-6 persons)

• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 clove garlic minced
• 1 medium onion sliced
• 50 gms ginger sliced
• 6 pcs chicken wings
• 1 cup white rice
• 1 /2 cup glutenous rice
• 1 liter of water
• salt & pepper
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1 tsp kasugba
• slices of onion leeks (for toppings)
• 6 cloves crushed toasted garlic

procedures:

• In a large sauce pan, boil white & glutenous rice in one liter of water until cooked. approx 30 minutes.
• In a pan, heat oil and saute garlic, ginger & onion.
• Add in chicken and saute for about 3-5 minutes then seasoned salt & pepper.
• Pour saute chicken into the sauce pan of boiling rice. add in kasugba, and seasoned with fish sauce.
• Adjust your desired thickness by adding water.
• Serve hot in a bowl and garnish with toasted garlic & onion leeks
• Enjoy!!!

Omelette – Ham, Cheese & Onions

Omelette…An all day breakfast dish that is so popular in our cafe…specially this ham, cheese and Onions. Its a simple dish that everyone can cook and enjoy…best serve with salad greens or just a toast of bread….Did you know that eggs are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system….Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%…

Ingredients (good for sharing)

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 medium onions
• 3 pcs of eggs beaten
• 2 tbsp white sugar
• 1/4 cup cream
• 1/4 cup cheese
• 2 pcs of ham
• salt & pepper
• chopped parsley

Procedures:

• In a small pan, heat oil and saute onions. let it caramelize for 2-3 minutes in low heat settings. then add in sugar for quick caramelization… add in ham, salt & pepper & parsley. set aside.
• in a mixing bowl, beat egg & cream & pinch of salt. beat well.
• In a teflon pan. add a little oil the pour over beated egg mixtures. form a pancake look a like. dont over cook the egg.
• add in your ham & onions mixtures on top, pour over cheese then bake it to 180 degrees for just a minute or less. when your omelet is fluffy but still juicy, remove from oven. and serve hot!!
• Enjoy!! best paired with salad greens or a garlic bread.

Egg & Vegetable Fried Rice

Egg & vegetable fried rice……. usually when it’s my day-off  or weekends, I cook this for my family on our breakfast. Because that’s the only time we can eat decent breakfast together.  The kind of rice we used is “long grain” . We paired this fried rice with hotdogs, fried fish or even just by itself…..Did you know that rice provides fast and instant energy, good bowel movement, stabilizing blood sugar levels and providing essential source of vitamin B1 to human body. Other benefits include skin care, resistance to high blood pressure, dysentery and heart diseases….

Ingredients: good for sharing

• 1 tbsp oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 medium onions
• 50 gms mixed veggies
• 2 pcs egg (beaten)
• 2 tbsp rice wine
• 1 tbsp chinese light soy sauce
• 2 cups cooked rice or all your left over rice
• salt & pepper to taste

Procedures:

in a wok, heat oil and saute garlic & onion, add in veggies, rice wine & soy sauce.  then pour in egg beaten and cooked rice. seasoned with salt & pepper…serve hot..

Great with fried dishes…

Sapin-sapin (Sticky rice coconut cake)

This was made by my wife..It took her lots of courage to do it. We had fun doing this recipe, . Do you know why? We are trying to translate it in English without seeking to our friend “google”, The choice was….”Top top” or ” sheet over sheet”….hahahaha…Then finally we ask our friend google!!! It’s a sticky rice coconut cake……..Did you know that by eating a bowl of glutinous or sticky rice before bedtime can put insomiacs to sleep….  Scientists have discovered that starchy rice boosts two key sleep chemicals that make you fall into a slumber faster (tryptophan and serotonin, two brain chemicals involved in sleep)

* but adding red meat or other high protein foods to the starchy rice meal could remove the sleep-enhancing benefits.

Ingredients:

• 750 grams glutinous rice flour
• 500 grams semi-brown sugar
• 500 ml coconut milk (or more)
• 2-3 tbsp cooked mashed sweet potato (Kumara)
• 2-3 tbsp ube yam
• food coloring – orange & violet

 For 1st  topping:

• grated coconut
• 1/2 tsp brown sugar

For 2nd topping:

• 1-1/2 cup coconut cream

Procedure:

• Mix glutinous rice flour, sugar and coconut milk in a large bowl.
• Divide the mixture in three parts in 3 separate bowls.
• On the 1st part of the mixture, add the ube yam and put in some drops of the violet coloring, Mix well.
• On the 2nd part, add in the mashed sweet potato and put in some drops of the orange coloring. Mix well.
• On the third part, nothing to be added.
• Boil water to be used for steaming.
• Grease round pan (optional: line the greased pan with banana leaves and grease the leaves)
• Pour the 1st mixture (ube) and spread it evenly. Cover the pan with foil or cloth then steam for 20-30 minutes till firm.
• When cooked, put the 1st part (ube) in a round plate or tray (optional: line the plate with banana leaves)
• On the used pan, pour the 2nd mixture (Sweet potato). Cover it and steam again for 20-30 minutes till firm.
• When cooked, put the 2nd part (sweet potato) on top of the  cooked 1st part (ube).
• And for the last part, pour it again in the used pan, cover and steam for 20-30 minutes till firm.
• When cooked put the 3rd part on top of the 2nd part (sweet yam).
• For the 1st topping (budbod), fry grated coconut in a pan ( I used desiccated coconut as a substitute) till brown and add half a tsp sugar.
• For the 2nd topping (latik), on a pan pour 1-1/2 cup coconut cream. Wait till the latik comes out and scrape of the pan to get the latik.
• Put the 2 toppings on top of the sapin-sapin.
• Serves 8-10 persons. Enjoy….

Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin soup…I will consider that this soup is the healthiest kind of them all. To make my pumpkin soup exciting, I added a bunch of vegetables such as potato, kumara, onions, carrots & celery…hmmmm, sounds really healthy….Did you know that pumpkins are also high in Lutein & Zeaxanthin which protect the eyes against free radical damage and prevent formation of cataracts and degeneration of the eye tissues….

Ingredients: serves 12-15 bowls

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onions (diced)
• 1 stalk celery (diced)
• 1 pc medium carrots (diced)
• 1 medium potato (diced)
• 1 big pumpkin (approx 1.2-1.5 kls)
• 1 cup cream
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 cups water or chicken stock
• salt & pepper to taste
• parsley for garnishing

Procedures:

• Roast pumpkin for in oven at 180 degrees for 45 minutes or until well cooked. peel and let cool.
• In a  large sauce pan, heat olive oil and saute onions for 2-3 minutes. add in all vegetables except pumpkin. seasoned with salt & pepper. simmer for about 5 minutes. add in water/stock & sugar, let it boil for another 5 minutes. add in pumpkin and stir well.
• seasoned and adjust your taste through salt & pepper. lastly, add your cream and turn off fire.
• puree soup into a blender or food processor in a little quantity (1-2 cups at a time)
• best serve with garlic bread..
• Enjoy!!!

Korean Style Beef Barbe-que

Korean style beef bbq…this recipe is not mine, this is the recipe of my previous korean boss. We had this bbq when we had a christmas party at their house. It’s a must to try. It’s very tender & tasty. It’s really best for their korean beer (i forgot the name)…Did you know that sesame seed are used in traditional medicines for their nutritive, preventive and curative properties. Its oil & seeds are sources for some phyto-nutrients such as omega-6 fatty acids, flavonoid phenolic anti-oxidants, vitamins and dietary fiber with potent anti-cancer as well as health promoting properties.

ingredients: makes 15-20 skewers

• 500 gms beef tenderloin (tendered and sliced thinly)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce(kikoman)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3 tbsp sesame oil
• 1/4 cup brown sugar 
• salt & pepper
• sesame seeds
• 3 tbsp rice wine
• 15 pcs small skewers

procedures:

• In a container, mix all ingredients except beef, mix well. then add beef and rubbed evenly. place on skewers.
• marinate for a minimum of 2 hours.
• best grilled using charcoal. grilled on your desired donenesss
• Smile & enjoy!!!

Italian Style-Chicken and Mushrooms

This is the recipe I created when I had a trial on the spot cooking interview at restaurant in takapuna, auckland…I was really surprise and did not expect a cooking on an interview…The chef wants a chicken meal that is something healthy. This is the first thing that come in my mind, I need to have a meal with veggies….the outcome is, the chef loves it. I was hired on the spot! but due to some personal reason, I did not pursue with my application….Did you know that Mushrooms are the only vegetable and the second known source (after cod liver oil) to contain vitamin-D in edible form. They are rich in calcium (good for bones), iron(benefits in anemia), potassium(very good for lowering blood pressure), copper (anti bacterial) and selenium (very good for health of bones, teeth, nails, hair and as an anti oxidant).

Ingredients: good for one serving

• olive oil
• 1 medium onions
• 80-100 gms chicken fillet (cut in bite size)
• 30-40 gms chicken liver
• salt & pepper
• italian red wine vinegar
• 4-5 pcs dried mushrooms (soaked in 2 tbsp red wine vinegar & mix herbs & 1/2 cup water)
• 1 tsp soy sauce
• 2-3 pcs baby potatoes (boiled half tender)
• 1/2 pc small carrots

Procedures:

• in a pan, heat olive oil & saute onions, chicken & liver for at least 2 minutes, add in carrots & potatoes.
• add in mushrooms and its juice. seasoned with soy sauce & salt pepper. reduce until sauce is thickened.
• Enjoy!!

Sweet N’ Sour Pork – Hongkong Style

Sweet n Sour pork… I made my version hongkong style, I fried the pork(flour coated) in chunks and the usual bell peppers, lots of carrots & onions . I never been to hongkong, but I’ve worked in macau, they are both good in cantonese cuisines…Did you know that carrots are rich in beta-carotene, a substance which converted into vitamin A. lack of vitamin A causes night blindness… According to some  research, people who ate more than six carrots a week are much less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or more…

Ingredients: good for 3-4 persons

• 1 tbsp oil
• 150 gms pork chunks (double flour coated with salt & pepper, deep-fried)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 medium onions(jullienne cut)
• 1 small carrots (jullienne cut)
• 1 small bell pepper (julliene cut)
• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup sweet chilli sauce
• 1 tsp cornflour dissolve in 1 cup water
• salt & pepper
• dash of sesame oil

Procedures:

• In a sauce pan, heat oil & saute garlic and onions, add in bell peppers & carrots. don’t over cooked
• add in rest of the ingredients and toss with fried pork.
• Serve hot!!!
• enjoy!!!!!!!

Lumpiang toge(beansprout roll)

Lumpiang toge….This is one of the streetfoods in the philippines. I remember when I was a child, they sell it for 3 for 5.00 pesos..(maybe 20 cents approx to nz dollar)..originally it was only compose of mixed vegetables such as beansprout, carrots, cabbage, onions & more. To make it a little exciting, I include mix of seafoods inside. . . Did you know that beansprout contains all of the nutrients found in the various fruits and vegetables. It has protein, carbohydrates, major vitamin contribution: B vitamins, folate, vitamin C Major mineral contribution: Iron, potassium. thus, some studies says it may help with weight loss and improve risk markers for cardiovascular disease….

Ingredients: (makes 25 rolls)

• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 medium onions
• 10 pcs fish balls (cut thinly)
• 10 pcs shrimps (peeled and cut into small size)
• left over fried fish (if you have)
• 200 gms beansprout
• 100 gms carrots jullienne
• 100 gms cabbage jullienne
• 2 stalks of coriander
• salt & pepper
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 25 pc wanton wrapper.

Procedures:

• In a pan, saute garlic & onions, add in seafoods for 2-3 minutes. then add in rest of vegetables. don’t over cook. seasoned with salt & pepper & soy sauce
• Let it cool…Wrap in a wanton wrapper or lumpiang wrapper then deep fry.
• Serve with vinegar sauce (1/2 cup vinegar, 3 pcs chillies, 1 small onions, salt & pepper)
• enjoy!!!!!!!!

Great for starters.

Lechon Kawali (pan fried crispy pork)

Lechon kawali….its a deep fried crispy pork (in tagalog-pampabata)… Usually if you dont want to live long, eat this(just joking)..this dish is best paired with burong mustasa, pakbet or other veggies… Did you know that pork is a great source of protein in your diet. A 100g portion of pork provides you with about half of the protein you need in the day. Warning: eat reasonable portion size of pork, cause excessive eating may cause heart related problems…..

Ingredients:

• 500 gms pork belly
• 2-3 pcs bay leaves
• 1 tbsp peppercorns
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 liter water
• oil for frying

Procedures:

• in a frying pan, heat oil then fry pork. whisk with water to become crispy. just be carefull because oil may splash.
• fry until golden brown and crispy. cut into serving size, best served with mang tomas or vinegar mix (onion, vinegar, chillies, garlic) and best paired with burong mustasa..(see my blog’s burong mustasa recipe)
• Enjoy!!!!!!!!!