Sauteed Baby Potatoes

One of the easiest side dish I can get my hands on. Prepared this for the New Year Family Lunch and they liked it! My mother-in-law and a Tita asked for the recipe, so let me also share this to you.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 kilo baby potatoes

1 tbsp olive oil (butter is an option)

3 cloves garlic, pressed and sliced

1/4 cup chicken broth

1 tbsp bacon bits (can use real bacon, minced)

parsley, roughly chopped

salt & pepper to taste

1. Soak potatoes in water for a few minutes. Then wash each potato in running water by gently scrubbing it with your hands, to make sure dirts are removed. Set aside.

2. Heat pan and put in olive oil. Add garlic and sautee until light brown.

3. Add potatoes and sautee with the garlic for about 2 minutes.

4. Gradually add in chicken broth, but just half of the mixture. Then cover potatoes and let it cook for 10 minutes.

5. Check potatoes once in a while, making sure it has not dried out. Add in remaining broth. Continue to simmer until potatoes are soft enough when poked with a fork.

6. Add a dash of pepper and salt, and taste accordingly. Then sprinkle bacon bits and add in parsley.

7. Prepare in a dish and serve.

Grilled Chicken and Mixed Veggies

One of the fastest dish I can prepare in a jiffy...

INGREDIENTS:

4 pcs. chicken fillet, thigh
2 cups mixed veggies
2 tbsp, lemon juice (or calamansi)
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Squeeze in lemon juice. Set aside.
2. In a pre-heated griddle, add oil and butter. Grill chicken until cooked, turning it over until each side is a little brown. Only takes about 2-3 minutes per side.
3. Using the same pan, add in mixed veggies on the side. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 3-4 minutes until it turns bright in color. Do not overcook.
4. Prepare in individual serving dish, with the veggies on the side. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Fish Tausi

A healthy choice of your favorite fish, tofu and tausi beans...

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 kilo cream dory or any fish fillet of choice

2 pcs. tofu squares, cute into small cubes

1 tbsp. tausi, save juice

3 tbsp. flour

1 medium size green and/or red bell pepper, sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium size onion, sliced

vegetable oil for frying

salt and pepper to taste

chives or leek, optional

1. Season fish with salt and pepper and in a bowl, sprinkle flour until meat is covered. Set aside.

2. In a pan, deep fry tofu squares. Using the same oil, prepare fish. Keep warm.

3. In a separate pan, sautee garlic, onion and bell pepper. Add fried fish and tofu squares.

4. Add 1/2 cup water and let it simmer for 1 minute.

5. Add in tausi beans and a sprinkle of the tausi juice. Adjust taste.

6.Arrange in a serving dish and add chives or leek for garnish, if using.

7. Serve hot.

Stuffed Bell Pepper

Found these colored beauties in the weekend market and decided to stuff it.

INGREDIENTS:
3-4 salad bell peppers
1/4 kilo ground beef or pork
1 cup bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
3-4 tbsp. barbecue sauce
1 medium onion, sliced
2-3 cloves garlic, sliced and minced
mozzarella or cheddar cheese (optional)

1. In a bowl, mix meat with garlic and onion. Add in bread crumbs and sprinkle salt and pepper according to taste.
2. Cut bell peppers on top, saving it for cover later. Clean inside and remove seeds.
3. Stuff meat in the peppers, careful not to overstuff it. Put barbecue sauce on top of meat, pressing a bit to squeeze it inside. Add a slice of cheese if using, before covering it with the top part of the pepper.
4. Arrange in a baking dish, and cook it in a pre-heated oven (350) for an hour.
5. Serve hot.

Beef and Gravy Stew

One of my kitchen experiments. Beef with my favorite gravy, a perfect match!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 kilo beef
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, sliced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced and sliced
2 tbsp corn starch
1 pack McCormick Beef and Gravy mix
2 cups water

1. Slice meat and remove extra fats(litid). Cook in a pressure cooker for 30-40 minutes, or until tender.
2. In a pan, sautee garlic and onion. Add meat and simmer for 3 minutes.
3. Pour gravy mix in 1 cup water, then pour in. Simmer for another 2 minutes.
4. Mix corn starch with the remaining cup of water and add to concoction. Adjust taste.
5. Prepare in a warm serving dish and serve.

Garlic Broccoli

One of the only few vegetables my little girl eats. And you can just prepare this dish in a flash, so that will give you more family time.

INGREDIENTS:
1 medium broccoli
5 cloves garlic
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste

1. Wash broccoli and cut florets. Steam for about 5 minutes, or until cooked. Set aside.
2. In a pre-heated pan, add oil and then toss in butter. Sautee garlic until light brown.
3. Add broccoli and sprinkle salt, simmer for a minute.
4. Add 2 tablespoons water, and adjust taste accordingly.
5. Prepare in a shallow dish, and serve immediately.

Pepper Shrimp

A very simple but tasty way to cook shrimp.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 kilo medium shrimp
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper, ground

1. In a bowl, wash shrimp and remove heads, if preferred.
2. Sprinkle salt and pepper and mix a little.
3. In a pre-heated pan, add shrimp and let it cook, until it changes to a bright orange color. Add some more pepper, if desired.
4. Prepare in a shallow dish and serve.

Chili Pork Steak

Another one of Hubby's personal favorites. Tomato-based with a little spicy twang, just perfect!

INGREDIENTS:
4 pork steaks
2 tbsp margarine (or butter, but it browns too fast)
5 tbsp tomato paste, mix in 2 cups water
2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp oregano
1 tsp worcestershire sauce (optional)

1. In a frying pan, brown meat in margarine.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix a little.
3. Cover and simmer slowly until tender, about 45 minutes, stirring and turning meat accasionally. Add some more tomato paste if needed, to maintain consistency.
4. Serve hot.

Creamy Potato Salad

It is the Holidays, time for giving and sharing. And of course that includes giving in to your gastronomic desires. ;-)
I have prepared this side dish for Noche Buena and everybody just loved it. Adding celery is an option, but opted to remove it from the list since Hubby doesn't really like it. I used Japanese mayonnaise, or you can also use the non-fat version, for those diet-watchers. I also sprinkled a tablespoon of bacon bits to add color and taste. Simple and easy, but totally yummy!

INGREDIENTS:
6-7 medium potatoes
2/3 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing
1/4 cup celery (optional)
1/4 cup thinly sliced green pepper
2 tbsp chopped onion
2 tbsp evaporated milk
1 tsp prepared mustard
1 tsp vinegar
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 hard-cooked egg whites, coarsely chopped

1. In a covered saucepan, cook the potatoes in boiling water for 20 to 25 minutes or until just tender. Drain well. Peel and cube potatoes.
2. In a large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise or salad dressing, celery (if using), green pepper, onion, milk, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. Add the cooked potatoes and egg whites. Toss lightly to mix.
3. Cover and chill for 6 to 24 hours. If desired, stir in a little additional milk before serving to make the salad the desired consistency. And lastly sprinkle bacon bits, if using.

Pata Tim

Using the same procedure from the Pata Tim - Humba Style, this is a delictable recipe common in Chinese banquets.

Follow the same steps, and instead of adding banana blossom, use cabbage and carrots:
1 pc. medium carrots, sliced thinly
5 pcs. cabbage leaves

Get 3 cabbage leaves and cut into squares, setting aside the two whole leaves. First add in carrots to concoction and simmer for 2 minutes. Add cabbage just before serving. In a plate, set the whole cabbage leaves as mat and arrange pork in the center. Then add sauce and vegetables.
Serve hot.

Adobong Sitaw

Another Adobo favorite...
You can add small chunks of left-over meat ot about half a handful of ground meat. I liked it plain better.

INGREDIENTS:
8 pcs stringbeans, cut about 2 inches long
3-4 cloves garlic, minced and sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
5-6 tbsp. soy sauce
2-3 tbsp. vinegar

1. In a pan, sautee garlic and onion until slightly browned. Follow meat if using, and cook for 2 minutes.
2. Add stringbeans then pour soy sauce and vinegar according to taste.
3. Cover pan and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Adjust taste, adding more soy sauce or vinegar, if preferred.
4. Serve hot.

Saucy Beef and Broccoli

It has been weeks since my last recipe post. And I missed it, so much that I was so excited to wake up this morning to head down to the kitchen.

I personally love beef meals, and today was a little special, after weeks of vacation from cooking. :)

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 kilo beef (tenderloin), cut into strips
250 gms. broccoli, sliced
3 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. oyster sauce
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 tbsp. corn starch
3-4 cloves garlic, sliced and minced
1 medium onion, sliced
1-inch ginger, sliced

1. Place meat in a bowl and mix soy sauce and ginger. Set aside.
2. In a pan, heat oil and sautee garlic and onion. Add in meat.
3. Add about half cup of water and simmer, until meat is tender.
4. Add oyster sauce and adjust taste. Using 3/4 cup of water, melt corn starch and pour in.
5. Lastly add broccoli and simmer for another 2 minutes before serving.

Speedy Chicken Curry

I had chicken breast fillet thawed and I figured it will be best for this recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 kilo chicken breast, cut

1 pc. medium eggplant, cut into rounds (optional)

1 cup evaporated milk

1 tsp. curry powder

1 pc. medium onion, sliced

3 cloves garlic, minced and sliced

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

salt and pepper to taste

chili powder (optional)

1. Heat pan and sautee garlic and onion until soft. Add meat and let it simmer for 2 minutes.

2. Add milk and the eggplant slices, if using. Lower the fire and simmer for another 2 minutes.

3. Add curry powder, then salt and pepper. Can add chili powder if preferred. Adjust taste.

4. Serve hot.

Grilled Liempo

Hubby's personal favorite. I used my convection oven for this, but you can opt to char-broil it.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 kilo pork liempo

7-8 tbsp. soy sauce

1 tbsp. brown sugar

1 pc. medium size onion, sliced

2-3 cloves garlic, sliced and minced

1 pc. lemon or 3 pcs. kalamansi

1. In a bowl, mix onion and garlic with the soy sauce and sugar. Squeeze in lemon or calamansi juice.

2. Place meat and marinate it for a couple of minutes at least. The longer the better.

3. Prepare griller and grill meat until cooked. Baste it with remaining marinade once in a while.

4. Remove cooked meat from griller and slice it into 1-inch thick before serving.

5. Prepare a dip of soy sauce and kalamansi. Serve hot.

Pork Adobo-Sweet Style

This is my Mama's version of sweetish pork adobo. Kids would definitely love it, with whole eggs and slices of banana to add zest to its taste.

And since my 3-year old is a self-confessed egg monster, this was a hit!

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 kilo pork, sliced
4 pcs. cooked egg, shells removed
5 pcs. saba, sliced in half
4 tbsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. vinegar
2-3 cloves garlic, sliced and minced
1 pc. medium onion, sliced
1 tsp. black pepper
1 cup water
salt to taste

1. Cook eggs, remove shells. Fry sliced bananas. Set aside.
2. In a pan, combine meat with all the ingredients except the eggs and the banana slices.
3. In a medium heat, cook meat until tender. Can add some more water to retain enough liquid to cook.
4. Adjust taste by adding a pinch of salt. Add eggs and bananas and simmer for another 3 minutes.
5. Serve hot.

Beef Steak

Another personal favorite... and what I prepared for lunch today.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 kilo beef sirloin
1 pc. big white onion, cut into rings
3 cloves garlic, sliced and minced
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tbsp. vinegar
water

1. In a bowl, combine 1 cup water, half of the soy sauce and all of the vinegar. Marinate meat for at least 2 minutes.
2. Heat pan and pour marinade with the meat. Let it boil until meat is tender, or all liquid is absorbed.
3. Placing meat in the side of the pan, add the vegetable oil. Sautee garlic and half of the onion. Mix with meat.
4. Prepare another marinade with 1 cup water and the remaining soy sauce. Pour over pan and let it simmer for another 2 minutes. Adjust taste, can add some more vinegar if preferred.
5. Prepare in a dish and garnish with remaining onion rings before serving.

Pata Tim - Humba Style

This is my version of Pata Tim, Humba style. I'm supposed to use chinese cabbage and carrots, but since the latter is the only one available in the criper, I decided to make it 'humba' style. My hubby and my li'l girl loved it!

INGREDIENTS:
1 kilo pork leg (pata), partly sliced
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
4-5 cloves garlic, sliced and minced
200 grms. banana blossom
1 pc. medium onion, sliced
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 cup corn starch

1. Place pork in a deep pan, half-filled with water. Boil meat until tender. As an alternative, you can also use the pressure cooker, cook it for 15 minutes. Remove meat from pan and save broth.
2. In a separate pan half-filled with water, boil meat again to remove excess oil. Discard water.
3. In a bowl, mix soy sauce and sugar. Set aside.
3. Place meat back to the deep pan, with 4-5 cups of the pork broth. Add the soy sauce mixture. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes.
4. In a frying pan, heat vegetable oil and sautee garlic and onion. Remove from heat and add it to the concoction.
5. Dissolve corn starch in 3/4 cup water, mixing it well before pouring it in, until sauce thickens. Adjust taste, adding some more sugar if preferred.
6. Lastly add the banana blossom before serving.

Tofu Steak

Tofu - a good and healthy alternative to meats... especially for those on a diet. Tofo, a soybean product, is rich in protein, unsaturated fat, and a good source of calcium, iron, phytoestrogens. The protein in tofu or soybean is complete with all the amino acids, which makes soybean protein comparable to animal protein.

Realized that we were eating meat straight these past few days, so I decided to cook one tofu meal earlier.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pack tofu, cut into triangles

300 gms. shitaake mushrooms

2-3 tbsp. soy sauce

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 tbsp. butter

1/2 medium onion, sliced

3 cloves garlic, crushed and sliced

1. Clean mushrooms in a bowl of water and discard stem. Cut lengthwise.

2. Heat oil in a skillet and add butter. Sautee garlic and onion until tender.

3. Toss mushrooms and simmer for 2 minutes.

4. Add in soy sauce and mix well. Gather mushrooms on one side of the skillet, placing the tofu triangles on the other.

5. Let tofu simmer for 2 minutes on each side, giving enough time to absorb the sauce.

6. Place tofu triangles on a serving dish, pouring sauce and mushrooms over. Serve warm.

Beef Caldereta

One of my special favorites. I prefer the meat with less "litid", since I like it all tender. To get that ideal tenderness of the meat, I use my ever-dependable pressure cooker. I pre-cooked it for about 45 minutes and it was just perfect!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 kilo beef
1 small can, liver spread
1 small can, cooked green peas
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/4 cup cheese, (cut into small subes if not quick-melt)
2-3 pcs. potato, sliced
1 pc. medium carrot, sliced
1 pc. medium red bell pepper, cut into squares
1 pc. medium onion, sliced
3-4 cloves garlic, crushed and sliced
salt to taste
chili powder (optional)

1. Pre-cook meat until desired tenderness. Reserve cooking liquid.
2. Heat oil in a pan and sautee garlic, onion and bell pepper. Follow meat.
3. Pour about 1 cup of the cooking liquid and add in carrots and potatoes. Add the cheese. Make it to a boil and simmer for 2 minutes.
4. Add liver spread to the concoction and follow the tomato sauce. Add salt according to taste. Add more cooking liquid of desired, and simmer for a few more minutes until vegetables are tender.
5. Add a dash of chili pepper, if using. Pour cooked green peas just before serving. Serve hot.

Honey Grilled Pork Chops

I had 4 tenderloin chops to prepare for lunch. As I was thinking on what to do with it, I happen to see the glass of honey. And that gave me the idea. An easy recipe with less ingredients, simple yet sumptuous.
The chops can be grilled or baked in the oven. I used my convection oven to grill it, then pouring the drippings over the cooked chops just before serving. One important thing to remember though, discard the marinating liquid, and do not use it for basting or gravy, as it contains raw pork juices.

INGREDIENTS:
4-6 pcs. pork chops
1 cup honey
1 small onion, chopped (optional)
soy sauce

1. Pour honey in a bowl and add in soy sauce. The amount of soy sauce can be depending on your taste, more if you want to balance the sweetness of honey. Stir mixture until sauce has a syrupy consistency.
2. Add onions if using, mix well. Separate about 1/4 of the mixture, for basting later.
3. Let chops marinate in a bowl or cake pan and cover with the sauce. It can be marinated for as long as you wish, for stronger flavor, but can also just be dipped before grilling. Either way works.
4. Place chops on grill, basting with the remaining sauce as needed, until cooked.
5. Serve warm.