Chili Prawns

Cook the prawns in water with salt for 5 minutes. Make sure not to overcook it. Set aside.

In a separate pan, fry some minced ginger and garlic, gradually adding the cooked prawns. Set aside.

Using the same pan, mix together some ketchup, vinegar, sugar and dried crushed chili pepper (you may use chili powder or ground black pepper as substitute). Turn up the heat and add the sauted prawns to the mixture. Mix until the prawns are coated evenly with sauce.

from my table to yours

Happy Christmas!

Bagoong Rice

For this recipe, you will need leftover rice.

Heat butter in a wok. Fry the chicken (or pork)strips, minced garlic and onion altogether. Gradually add bagoong (shrimp paste). Add the cooked rice and scrambled eggs (chopped into strips). Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped fresh tomatoes, radish and chopped green mangoes (if available).

Bistek Tagalog

Marinate thin slices of beef in soy sauce and lime for at least an hour.

Heat oil in a small pot and saute some garlic until brown. Fry the beef slices until half-cooked. Add some water and the remaining marinade. Simmer until the beef is tender, adding water ocassionally to keep it from drying. Adjust the taste by adding a little oyster sauce and ground black pepper. Lower the heat and add onion rings. Simmer for another 5 minutes and serve.

Tocino with Coleslaw

Slice the pork into thin strips. Marinade for at least 2 hours in a mixture of sugar, salt, ground black pepper, banana or tomato ketchup and 2 tbsp. of vinegar.

In a frying pan, boil some water and place the pork strips carefully one by one. When water is almost gone, pour the remaining marinade and mix until the sauce thickens. Put some cooking oil and fry until quite dry. Serve the tocino with fried rice and coleslaw.

Corned Beef Sinigang

Boil the chopped onion, garlic, tomato, radish and 1 whole banana pepper in a pot. You can put gabi and string beans if you like. When the radish is tender, add sinigang mix. Adjust the taste with some salt and a little sugar. Cover the pot and simmer for about 5 minutes. Add the corned beef (best to use Palm or Ox and Palm brands) and stir carefully. Simmer for another minute and serve.

Pork in Coconut Gravy

Boil the diced pork. Set aside. Saute with chopped garlic in a pan using peanut oil, adding some of the broth, red wine, white pepper, sliced ginger, chili pepper, sugar and salt. Bring to a gentle boil then add coconut milk. Simmer until cooked.

Chiliiiiiiiss Con Carne

Heat oil in a casserole and add finely chopped onion. Cook gently for a few minutes until soft. Add minced garlic, red or green bell pepper, red chili pepper and chopped jalapeno peppers. Increase the heat before adding the minced beef, stirring until browned. Sprinkle some chili powder and paprika, then add the chopped tomatoes and tomato puree. Pour a little soy sauce and a dash of ground pepper. Bring to a boil then add some salt and sugar, adjusting the taste. When almost cooked, add the red kidney beans and boil for another 5 minutes. Serve with nachos or rice.

English Adobo

Pan-fry some onions, garlic and bay leaf. Add diced British rashers. When meat is slightly brown, pour equal portions of vinegar, soy sauce and water. Bring to a boil then add pineapple chunks and baby potatoes. Sprinkle some ground and whole black pepper. Simmer until vinegar is cooked. Serve with steamed rice.

Igado

Saute onions and garlic in a deep pan, followed by the cubed pork (some prefer to use ground pork) and pork liver. Add some water and a cup of vinegar, just enough to tenderize the meat, and some fish sauce. Add in the chopped bell pepper and green peas (for this recipe I used young corn instead). Sprinkle with ground black pepper. Simmer until vegetables are cooked. Chili pepper is optional.

Tinolang Manok

In a deep pan, fry the chicken pieces with minced garlic, onions and chopped ginger. When half-cooked, add 2 tbsp fish sauce (patis) and 4 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Add the sliced chayote or green papaya and chili leaves or spinach.

Simmer until tender. Adjust the taste by adding more fish sauce or salt.

Carrot Potato Soup

Heat oil and butter in a pot. Saute garlic and onions. Add grated potatoes and carrots. Put some water and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and lime extract.

Special Omelette

15-minute meal courtesy of my good friend, Jane.

Saute garlic and onion in a pan, followed by chopped fresh tomatoes. Let it simmer for 5 minutes. Put the sliced hotdogs. Simmer again for 5 another minutes. Add the beaten eggs, salt and pepper. Best served with fried rice!

Ham and Bacon Sub

Because it is very easy to prepare, this is one of my favorite 'baon'. A submarine roll with layers of ham, crispy bacon, cheese, lettuce and mayo.

Sinangag Mix!

Heat some sunflower oil in a pan. Saute the following in order: minced garlic, scrambled egg, green peas and carrots. Add cooked rice. Mix until the rice is slightly brown. Season with salt and pepper.

Ginataang Pinakbet

Brown diced pork in oil. Set aside. Saute garlic, onion, diced tomatoes in the same pan and combine the pork. Add shrimp paste (as much as you like) and hot pepper (optional), followed by the squash and coconut milk (about 2 cups) and a cup of water. When squash is tender, add the aubergines and put the string beans last. simmer until vegetables are cooked.

Prawn Pasta in Garlic Alfredo

Heat oil in a pan. Melt some butter and with it, saute the thinly sliced garlic until brown. Add prawns and cook for a couple of minutes. Put the sliced mushrooms in and stir fry. Pour the cream and let it simmer. Season with chopped parsley and ground pepper. Sprinkle with cheese. Pour over cooked fetuccine or spaghetti pasta and serve with Cornish pasty or empanada.

Bicol Expresssssss!

In a deep pan, stir fry cubed pork until brown. Add grated ginger, minced garlic, onions, chopped bird's eye chili, and shrimp paste. Mix. Pour some coconut milk and simmer for a few minutes. Add your choice of chopped vegetables (for this recipe I used frozen spinach). Season with fish sauce.

Chili Chicken Breast Fillet

Heat oil in a pan. Fry the chicken fillet until brown. Then saute it with garlic, onions, chopped chili and sliced mushrooms. Add soy sauce and tomato sauce. Mix. Pour a cup of water and simmer for 15 minutes or until tomato sauce is cooked. Serve with steamed rice.

Arroz Valenciana

Prepare 5-6 cups of cooked glutinous rice. Set aside.

Brown garlic in a pan, add onions, fish sauce, chicken meat and liver. Simmer until chicken is fully cooked. Add the cooked rice. Then pour 3-4 cups of coconut milk. Sprinkle with salt, little sugar and turmeric. Mix to even the flavors. Leave for a couple of minutes to cook. Add raisins and carrots. Simmer for 20 mins covered with banana leaf. Serve in a bilao or in a shallow pan.

Maja Blanca

Prepare the mixture in a large pot -- a box of cornstarch, 8 cups of coconut milk, sugar, yellow food coloring and a can of cream style corn. Cook over very low heat while constantly stirring. Stir until it thickens -- this may take about 30-40 mins. When done, pour the mixture to a container and let it stand for about 30 mins. Sprinkle with latik or grated cheese.