Burger Steak in Mushroom Gravy

In a bowl, combine ground beef, minced onions, salt and pepper. Form into medium-sized patties. Fry until brown. Set aside.

For the mushroom sauce:
Saute minced onions in butter. Add a little flour and mix using a whisk to avoid lumps. Add the sliced mushrooms (make sure to drain it; do not to use the water from the can in making the broth because it can make your gravy too salty). Add 2-3 cups of beef broth (if unavailable, just combine hot water with beef cube) and white wine (about half a cup). Simmer for a few minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over the beef patties and serve.

Fish and Chips

Fish: Drench cod fillets in egg mixture (egg, flour, salt, pepper) and roll in corn meal. Deep fry until crispy and golden brown. Serve with tartar sauce.

Chips: Slice the potatoes into desired shape and size. Marinate in salt, pepper and liquid smoke for 20 minutes. Deep fry until golden brown. Bake in the oven for 15 mins at 350 degrees.

Lazy Sunday Zesty Garlic Pasta

Cook pasta to al dente. Don't forget to add oil, salt and pepper while it boils. Drain and set aside.

In a medium pan, saute minced garlic and chopped mushrooms in olive oil. Add a teaspoon of lemon zest or grated lemon peel (use orange zest if lemon is not available) and squeeze in a few drops of pure lemon/orange juice. Mix. Add chopped fresh spinach and parsley. Mix. Pour the pasta over the mixture and continue mixing. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

Paella

Heat olive oil in a wide, shallow pan (use a paellera if you have one). Stir fry the cubed chicken breast and chorizo (or any kind of sausage you have on hand). Set aside.

Saute garlic, onion and diced bell peppers (use red, green and yellow to add more color to your dish) in the remaining oil. Add diced tomatoes and continue mixing for about 2 mins. Put 1 cup of rice (spanish, arborio, jasmine or just regular rice) and continue mixing. Season with paprika and saffron (kasuba). Pour a can of chicken broth in the mixture and let it boil. Stir occasionally to avoid rice sticking to the pan. When rice is already cooked, continue to simmer until enough water has evaporated leaving the paella only a bit sticky but not too dry. Add the fried chorizo, chicken and sweet peas. Adjust the taste with salt, pepper and a little sugar. Garnish with fresh lemons.

To make a seafood paella, substitute the chicken and chorizo with mixed seafoods (clams, lobster balls, shrimp, squid, etc) but there is no need to fry it (just make sure it is cleaned well and cut into desired sizes...if using shrimp, just peel it all the way thru the tail but keep the head intact -- or your choice of course!) When rice is cooked, top it with the mixed seafoods and cover the pan with aluminum foil. The steam will cook the seafoods.

Pork Loin in Sour Cream Gravy

Marinate the pork loins (preferrable boneless) in equal portions of smoked paprika, salt, pepper and chopped garlic for 30 minutes to an hour. Fry in medium heat until golden brown. Set aside in a plate.

To make the sauce, combine a cup of sour cream, white pepper, salt, mustard and a pinch of curry powder. Stir mixture over low heat for 5 minutes. Pour over the pork loins then garnish with chopped parsley.

Lobster Omelette

Caramelize the onion in olive oil and gradually add finely chopped lobster meat. Sprinkle with paprika, salt, white pepper and parmesan cheese. Continue mixing until the lobster is cooked. Set aside.

In the same pan, pour the egg mixture -- that's 2 beaten eggs with a teaspoon of milk and sour cream, salt and pepper. When the egg is almost done, put the lobster mixture at the center and flip the egg from the side to form a half circle. Sprinkle with more parmesan cheese or top with a teaspon of sour cream.

Pork Ginger Vermicelli

In a medium pan, fry pork cubes in oil until brown, followed by sliced ginger, minced garlic and onions. Add just enough water or chicken broth to boil the meat. When the meat becomes tender, add the vermicelli noodles and continue mixing. Put as much water/liquid broth as needed because the noodle will absorb the liquid. Season with fish sauce and ground black pepper for better flavor.

Chunky Creamy Potato Brocolli Soup

In a medium pot, boil the brocolli florets and diced potatoes with a little salt until tender. Drain. Set aside the broth.

Then using a blender or food processor, process half the cooked vegetables until smooth. Chop the remaining vegetables and set aside.

In the same empty pot, melt butter and saute minced white onions, adding flour until the mixture becomes bubbly. Add chopped celery (optional). Add milk and reserved broth, stirring constantly. Bring this to a boil and adjust the taste with salt and pepper. Add in the chopped vegetables -- this will give texture to the soup. You may also add cheese (cheddar or processed cheese is the best option). Serve with bread on the side.

Chicken Enchilada

Spread about half a cup of refried beans in a 10-inch flour tortilla. Mix cooked chicken (you may use leftover fried or roasted chicken) with sour cream and cream of chicken then pour it to the tortilla. Top with shredded cheddar or processed cheese. Wrap the tortilla and place it on a greased baking dish. Make 2 to 3 more tortillas or as many as you want as long as it fits the baking dish. Pour enchilada sauce over the tortillas and sprinkle with ripe olives or green onions. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes without cover. Serve with sour cream or guacamole (a kind of dip which is made by combining avocado and salsa) on the side.

Baked Sweet and Spicy Chicken

Marinate chicken in brown sugar, sliced ginger, soy sauce, paprika, salt and pepper. Set aside for 30 minutes to an hour. Bake in the oven at 450 degrees for an hour (you may use a cookie sheet covered with foil if you do not have a roasting dish). Then put the oven to 'broil' mode for 5 minutes.

You may serve this with your favorite soup or side dish. For this recipe, I chose mushroom soup with diced potatoes. Just heat butter in a pan, then saute diced potatoes, add evaporated milk and a little flour, salt and pepper and finally, add a can of mushroom soup. Stir until the soup is hot enough but make sure it does not boil or it will lose the right consistency. Garnish with flaked parsley on top.

Easy Ribs

This recipe is as easy as one-two-three.

One: Boil the ribs (beef or pork) with just enough water, onions, salt and pepper.

Two: Marinate the boiled ribs in your favorite barbecue sauce for half an hour.

Three: Broil the ribs in the oven for 20 minutes.

You may use the grill instead of the oven, but remember to keep basting while the ribs cook.

Elvis' Sandwich

Here's a nice idea for a quick, healthy and unique snack.


Grab a hotdog bun or any kind of bread you like. Spread with peanut butter (I used Nutella in my recipe) and pop in a couple of slices of ripe bananas. You can add ground hazelnuts or use a chunky peanut butter instead. You can also experiment by using marmalade or your favorite spread. Be creative.

Smothered Ziti in Mozzarella

Heat pan over low heat and put a cup of butter or margarine. Saute minced white onions and let it caramelize. Add 2 tablespoons of flour, evaporated milk or 2% milk and cream of mushroom. Stir until thick. Add a generous amount of grated parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. Mix. Remove the pan from heat.

Drench the cooked penne pasta in the mixture and sprinkle two handfuls of shredded mozzarella cheese. Continue mixing until pasta is evenly covered. Place the pasta in a microwavable dish and top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5 mins at 350 degrees. To make that crusty, golden brown cheese topping, switch the oven to 'broil' and let the pasta cook for another 3 mins.

I've Been Tagged!

I've been tagged. Twice. And so as not to lose that certain culinary 'feel' of my blog, I let my taste buds speak about 8 facts that a lot of people might not know about me.

Here are the mechanics:

>>>In the 8 facts about [name], you share 8 things that your readers don’t know about you. At the end, you tag 8 other bloggers to keep the fun going. Each blogger must post these rules first.

>>>Each blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

>>>At the end of the post, a blogger needs to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

>>>Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Now, time to know more about your online chef wannabee!

1) I will not eat peanut butter sandwich unless it's Nutella -- the original, creamy hazelnut spread from Ferrero. It's quite expensive but it's really the best.

2) My all-time specialty is chicken soup. However, my secret ingredient will remain secret.

3) At 6 yrs old, I discovered my true passion for cooking when I saw my lolo cook Kare-Kare using carabao meat. Carabeef, as they call it, is indeed tastier and more succulent than regular beef.




4) Next to the electric light bulb by Thomas Edison, I think the latest and greatest American invention is Hot Pockets.



5) My least favorite Filipino food is palabok. Reminds me of halo-halo placed on top of cooked pasta.



6) I get serious headaches when I drink coffee or anything with coffee in it. But when I unusually crave for coffee, I drink it with the strongest antacid I can find.




7) I find it most difficult to cook adobo.



8) You can take me to KFC for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack and I won't get tired of their fried chicken. I just can't get enough of it. Me and my best friend even call it our 'friendship fastfood chain'.

So to Eliza, Jaya, Lois, Aimee, Karl, Helen, Abi and Chat.....it's your turn! You've been tagged!

Happy tagging everyone! =)

Not So Wild Buffalo Wings

To make the breading, combine flour with equal portions of rock salt, paprika, ground black pepper, garlic powder and cayenne powder in a bowl. (In this recipe I used a teaspoon of each spice for 1 cup of flour).

Cover the chicken wings evenly with the flour mixture. Freeze wings for an hour to let the breading stick to the meat and let flavors seep in. Deep fry until golden brown. Set aside.

In a small dish, combine melted butter and hot sauce. Baste the meat with this mixture. Serve chicken wings with dunking sauce -- ranch dressing or barbeque sauce.

Kare-Kare

Boil pork or beef until tender. Set aside.

Saute garlic and onions in oil. Add the meat and stir fry for about 5 mins. Pour the coconut milk (3 cups for 1kg of meat). Let it boil. Add peanut butter or ground peanuts (you can put as much as you want). Simmer until sauce thickens. Sprinkle with a little salt and 1 tbsp sugar. Add the vegetables -- 1 whole cabbage cut into quarters, pechay, string beans, eggplant cut into small portions and banana blossoms (optional). Cover pot and simmer again for 10 mins. Serve with shrimp paste (bagoong) on the side.

Dinuguan

In a large pan, saute garlic and onion in oil. Add some fish sauce, followed by the pork chunks (I used 1kg of pork) and innards. Cook until tender. Add 3 cups of vinegar and banana peppers. Simmer for 20-30mins. Add the pig's blood and stir ocassionally until sauce turns into a deep brown color and becomes thick. Season with salt and sugar. Serve with rice or puto.

Pinoy Meatloaf (Embutido)

Prepare all ingredients -- about half a kilo of pork, 2 raw eggs, chopped red bell pepper, chopped pickles, finely chopped raisins, vienna sausage cut into small pieces, grated carrots, chorizo de bilbao (optional), grated cheese, pan americana cut into cubes (you can put as much as you want), salt, pepper, little sugar.

Combine all these ingredients in a bowl and mix until well-blended. Get 2 handfuls of the mixture and roll it in aluminum foil. Cook in a steamer for 45 mins to 1 hr.

If using an oven, put the mixture in a baking dish or mold and bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins.

Kani Salad

Combine crabsticks, ripe mango and cucumber (all cut into very thin strips) and bamboo shoots in a bowl. Add Japanese mayonnaise. Mix, mix, mix.

Beef Caldereta

Boil the beef chunks in a casserole until tender. Set aside.

In a deep pan, saute garlic, onion, beef chunks and chopped bell pepper. Cook for 2 minutes over medium heat. Pour the beef broth and let it boil. Add tomato paste (one small can) and minced hot chili pepper. Lower the fire and let it simmer. Add chopped potatoes and pitted green olives. Season with salt, pepper and a little sugar. Simmer again for a few minutes until potatoes are cooked. Add cheese and liver spread (one small can) and allow sauce to thicken. Finally, add the green peas and cook for another minute.

Tuna Pasta

Boil the pasta in water with oil and salt for 10-15 minutes. Set aside.

Saute garlic, onion and 2-3 pieces of tomatoes in oil. Wait for the tomatoes to cook thoroughly before adding the tuna chunks (you may use albacore tuna in water or simply tuna chunks in water). Continue stir frying all the ingredients. Add some ground oregano or basil, salt and pepper.

Arrange pasta in a deep platter (this way the pasta will maintain its temperature). Place the sauce on top and put lots of grated cheese.

Sweet n Sour Meatballs

To make the meatballs, combine ground pork, salt, pepper, paprika, chili pepper, an egg, and some flour. Shape the pork mixture into 1-2 inch meatballs. Fry until golden brown. Set aside.

In a hot pan, put some oil then saute minced garlic and chopped bell peppers. Add the meatballs, a small can of pineapple tidbits, some vinegar and brown sugar. Cook until the sauce thickens.

Leche Flan

Use a hand mixer or a beater to combine the custard ingredients -- 10 egg yolks (preferrably duck egg), a big can of evaporated milk, a big can of condensed milk and 2 cups of sugar. Add half teaspoon of grated dayap peel or lime zest.

To make the caramel, pour 2 cups of sugar in a small pot over low heat. Stir the sugar when bubbles start to appear. Wait until sugar is dissolved. Pour the caramel into flan molds or custard cups, followed by the custard mixture.

Cover the flan molds with foil or plastic wrap (you may fasten it with rubber bands). Place the flan molds in a steamer and cook for an hour or until mixture is firm.

As an alternative, you may use oven to cook the flan. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Put the flan molds into a bigger tray filled with water (adding water every 20 minutes). Bake for an hour or until mixture is firm.

Humba Lumba!

Brown the pork in oil. Do not cook thoroughly. Set aside.

In a large pot, combine minced garlic, peppercorns, bayleaf, oregano (optional), star anise, banana blossoms, cinnamon bark, a cup of sugar, a cup of vinegar and a cup of soy sauce. Add in the pork. Simmer until vinegar is cooked.

Laing

Saute garlic, onion, pork and a teaspoon of minced ginger in a pan. Add 3-4 handfuls of taro leaves (dahon ng gabi) and pour in a cup of coconut milk and half a cup of water. Do not mix yet. Just let it simmer until the leaves are cooked. Pour another cup of coconut milk and hot chili pepper (siling labuyo). Add salt to taste. Simmer for another 10 minutes.

Baked Mc!

Cook the macaroni (or any pasta shape you wish including lasagna) to al dente. Set aside.

For the Red Sauce:
Saute garlic, white onions and ground beef (may use pork or corned beef). Add chopped bell pepper, grated carrots and a small can of tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce. You may add ketchup if you want it Filipino style. Simmer until bubbly. Add a teaspoon of soy sauce, a pinch of salt, a dash of pepper and a teaspoon of sugar. Simmer again for a few minutes and add grated cheese. Set aside.

For the White Sauce:
Heat pan over low heat. Add in butter, a teaspoon of flour, 2 cups evaporated milk and cream of mushroom. Stir until thick. Sprinkle a dash of nutmeg and remove from heat. Set aside.

Combine cooked macaroni and white sauce. Distribute evenly.

In a medium oven-proof or microwavable dish, put in half the macaroni, followed by the red sauce. Create another layer of this. Garnish with grated or sliced cheese on top. Preheat oven at 250 degrees for 10 minutes. Bake the macaroni for 20-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly burnt. If using a microwave oven, bake the macaroni for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Haw Haw Beef Salpicao

Combine olive oil, a bulb of minced garlic, salt, pepper and paprika in a bowl. Marinate beef chunks (you may use leftover beef or steaks) in this mixture for an hour. Saute the marinated beef in oil. Add remaining marinade and simmer until sauce thickens. Add oyster sauce. Simmer again for a few minutes. Add a teaspoon of butter and remove from heat.

Bihon Guisado

Saute diced pork or chicken, shrimp, garlic and onions in oil. Add the chopped carrots, chicharo, string beans and cabbage. You may try adding chopped siling labuyo for an added kick. Stir fry until done. Pour in stock and soy sauce and let it boil. Toss in the noodles then season with salt and pepper. Simmer until noodles are tender. Garnish with fried tofu.

Fishy Lumpia

Mix flaked cooked fish meat (best to use leftovers), minced onion, carrot, garlic (optional) and pickles (optional).

Place filling in lumpia wrappers and roll tightly. Use cornstarch and water to seal the lumpia.

Deep fry lumpia in oil until brown.

Mmmmmorcon!

Marinate beef (sliced into 3/4" thick whole sheets) in soy sauce and calamansi extract for 30 minutes.

Prepare the stuffing (strips of bell pepper, strips of pickles, strips of canned sausage/chorizo de bilbao, hard-boiled eggs sliced into quarters, strips of carrot, strips of pork fat, strips of cheese) and roll into the sheets of meat. Tie with kitchen twine.

Sprinkle the morcons with flour and fry until brown.

On a separate pan, saute onion and tomatoes in oil. Add remaining marinade or beef broth, and a small can of liver spread. Add salt, pepper and a teaspoon of sugar. Simmer for 30 mins.

(Tip: Use tomato sauce instead of fresh tomatoes for longer shelf life.)