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  • Pork Meatballs with Water Spinach Egg Drop Soup

    This Pork Meatballs with Water Spinach Egg Drop Soup is very easy to prepare. It uses common ingredients.  The main ingredients are eggs, ground pork and water spinach leaves!  With these three (3) main ingredients, you can come up with an easy to prepare dish perfect for rainy or cold weather.  Your family will love this recipe. They will ask you to cook it always. In case you want to cook this dish again, use ground beef or ground chicken instead.

    Even beginner cooks will find that this soup is easy to prepare.  The steps are simple and easy to follow.

    Water Spinach in Filipino is called kangkong.  It is widely available in the Philippines.  Egg drop soup in its simplest form is very easy to make and is common in Chinese cooking.

    Pork Meatballs

    [adinserter block=”10″]

    Ingredients:

    Pork Meatballs:

    • 1/2 kilo ground pork
    • 2 egg yolks
    • 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
    • 1 tsp ground pepper
    • 2 tbsp fish sauce (patis)
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced

    Soup:

    • 1 bunch water spinach leaves
    • 1 thumb-sized ginger, julienned
    • 6 cups chicken stock
    • fish sauce (patis), to taste
    • ground pepper, to taste
    • 2 egg whites
    • 1 tbsp cooking oil

    Garnish (optional):

    • leeks
    • fried garlic

    Instructions:

    1. For the pork meatballs, mix the ingredients well until sticky and form into balls.
    2. In a pot, heat the oil and saute the ginger.
    3. Add the chicken stock and start adding the meatballs.  Boil until meatballs are cooked.
    4. Add the water spinach leaves and drop the egg whites.  Stir gently to mix.
    5. Season with fish sauce and ground pepper to taste.
    6. Garnish with leeks and fried garlic (optional).
    7. Serve

    Pork Meatballs

    Pork Meatballs with Water Spinach Egg Drop Soup

    This Pork Meatballs with Water Spinach Egg Drop Soup is very easy to prepare. It uses common ingredients. The main ingredients are eggs, ground pork and water spinach leaves! 

    Pork Meatballs

    • 1/2 kilo ground pork
    • 2 egg yolks
    • 1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
    • 1 tsp ground pepper
    • 2 tbsp fish sauce (patis)
    • 4 cloves garlic (minced)

    Soup

    • 1 bunch water spinach leaves , , to taste
    • 1 pc ginger (thumb-sized , julienned)
    • 6 cups chicken stock
    • fish sauce (patis) (to taste)
    • ground pepper (to taste)
    • 2 egg whites
    • 1 tbsp cooking oil

    Garnish (optional)

    • leeks
    • fried garlic
    1. For the pork meatballs, mix the ingredients well until sticky and form into balls.

    2. In a pot, heat the oil and saute the ginger.
    3. Add the chicken stock and start adding the meatballs. Boil until meatballs are cooked.
    4. Add the water spinach leaves and drop the egg whites. Stir gently to mix.
    5. Season with fish sauce and ground pepper to taste.

    6. Garnish with leeks and fried garlic (optional).
    7. Serve

    Recommended Cookware:  Masflex Induction Non-stick 22cm Platinum Casserole With Glass Lid.  A Stainless Steel Pot will also be OK.

    Other recipes may be found HERE

    This recipe also appears in So Yummy! So Easy!

  • Choosing the Best Convection Ovens

    5 of the Best Convection Ovens for 2019

    Convection ovens, also called as fan ovens, are a kind of oven with a built-in fan and exhaust system.  The fan blows the hot air around the food.  This enables the food to cook quickly and and be evenly cooked on all sides.

    There are many different models of convection ovens with various features, functions and sizes.  It may be difficult to choose which one to purchase. This article aims to help you choose a convection oven based on your needs and budget.

    Lastly, there is also a list of the recommended five (5) best convection ovens to buy online.

    What is a Convection Oven?


    First off, do not confuse a convection oven with a toaster oven.  An oven toaster simply toasts, bakes, and roasts.  Oven toasters usually only come with one rack and are generally smaller.

    Convection ovens have built-in fan and exhaust systems, while toaster ovens do not. The fan and exhaust make the hot air circulate around the food. This helps the food cook faster and evenly.  Convection ovens tend to cook faster and operate at lower temperatures than toaster ovens.  Convection ovens usually come with a rotisserie which allow you to cook meat on a spit.

    Convection ovens are more energy efficient than traditional toaster ovens.  They save on electricity in the long run as they cook food at lower temperatures due to the fan. If you enjoy cooking meats, a rotisserie convection oven is a good idea.

    Here is a YouTube video explaining how convection ovens work:

    Video Source:  Nuwave Oven Pro YouTube Channel

    The video explains the difference between a convection oven and a conventional (radiant heat) oven.  It shows how convection ovens cook faster and evenly than a conventional oven.  This results into energy savings.

    How to Choose the Best Convection Ovens (Buying Guide)


    Check-out the Features of a Convection Oven

     

    Convection Setting

    best convection ovens
    Convection Setting (Fans ON)

    The convection setting with its built-in fan and exhaust system (which distributes heat evenly), allows everything inside the oven to get cooked evenly.

    This is ideal for:

    • baking pastries
    • baking cookies
    • baking pies
    • roasting meat or vegetables
    • toasting or dehydrating foods

     

    Oven Setting

    best convection ovens
    Oven Mode (Fans OFF)

    best convection ovens
    Oven Mode (Top and Bottom Heaters ON)

    When at Oven Setting, the fans and exhaust will be off (top photo).  This converts our convection oven into a regular oven.  The heat will now come from the top and bottom heaters of the oven (bottom photo).

    Without the fan, heat concentration from the heaters will be at the top and bottom.  Cooking time will be slower as the temperature inside will be uneven.

    This setting is ideal for cakes or bread.  The uneven air temperature and slower cooking time results soft and moist cakes.

     

    Top Heater Only for Grilling

    best convection ovens
    Heat Selector on Top Heater

    Some convection ovens have settings which allow you to turn on the top heater only which is ideal for grilling.

    Using the top heater setting setting only applies heat directly on the exposed side of the food.  If grilling meat, fish, chicken or vegetables, you may need to turn them over to cook both sides.

    The top heater function is also ideal for melting cheese toppings like in baked macaroni.

     

    Bottom Heater Only for Slow Baking

    best convection ovens
    Heat Selector on Bottom Heater

    Activating the bottom heater only results into slow baking.  Heat concentration will be below the food.  This will be ideal for steaming food.

    On the other hand, using the bottom heater and convection function, will be ideal for desserts and baking pizza.

     

    Rotisserie

    best convection ovens
    Function Setting on Rotisserie Mode

    The Rotisserie function allows you to roast meat while skewered on a spit.  A spit is a long solid rod used to hold food while it is being cooked or roasted in an oven.  The convection oven on the photo above also allows you to turn on the fans.

     

    Determine Your Size Requirement

     

    How Much Space Do You Have?

    When choosing a convection oven, take into consideration how much space you have in your kitchen.

    The physical size of your convection oven needs to fit on the space available in your kitchen. Make sure that you take measurements before buying a convection oven.

    The area around the convection oven can get hot so there should be some free space around the oven for heat dissipation.

    Take note that the bigger ovens have more functions and have higher cooking capacity.

    Small convection ovens are as big as the standard oven toasters.  They will take less space in your kitchen. However, the smaller sizes mean that your cooking sizes may be limited.

    How to take measurements:

    best convection ovens

     

    Check the Capacity

    The capacity of the convection oven is the space inside the oven itself.  It is measured in liters.  The capacity determines how much food you can cook.  The bigger the capacity, the more food you can cook inside the convection oven.

    Although space is the primary factor in choosing a convection oven, please take note that there are convection ovens with the same physical size but have different capacities.  So try to go with the larger capacity convection ovens, you will not regret it.

    Typical sizes and capacities:

    • small (approximately 5 liters)
    • regular (approximately 8 liters)
    • large (approximately 15 liters or more)

    Large convection ovens are good for roasting chickens, pork belly and baking large batches of cookies.  They also have more options on rack placement.  They also allow you to use two racks at the same time.  This saves time and effort if you plan to cook a large batch.

    Small convection ovens, with their limited capacities, allow you to grill small pieces of meat or fish and bake smaller batches of cookies.

     


    5 of the Best Convection Ovens for 2019


    5.  Breville Smart Oven Pro BOV820

    best convection ovens
    Breville Smart Oven Pro BOV820

    Visit Lazada for more details

    The Breville Smart Oven Pro BOV820 is a smart oven with a slow cook function.  This countertop oven will help you bake the perfect pizza pie, crispy yet chewy cookies, toasts evenly and roasts succulent meat.  The convection setting reduces cooking time by up to 30%.

    It has five (5) independent quartz heating elements that move the heat above and below the food.  Each element adjusts automatically based on the setting you choose.  The right temperature is delivered at the right time ensuring a precise cooking process.

    The oven has has an interior oven light allowing you to view the food you are cooking.

    The Breville Smart Oven Pro BOV820 has ten (10) Pre-set cooking functions that include:

    • Toast
    • Bagel
    • Bake
    • Roast
    • Broil
    • Pizza
    • Cookies
    • Reheat
    • Warm
    • Slow cook

    The Slow cook function automatically switches to “keep warm” mode once the slow cook cycle is complete.

    SUMMARY:

    PROS

    • Energy Efficient
    • Smart Oven
    • Installment Mode and COD available

    CONS

    • May be expensive for some people

    Buyer reviews picked-up from LazadaPH:
    by Camille K.
    Love this oven! Consistent ang baking temperature. I use it for baking daily whenever I have cookie orders. Thumbs up dito! Might seem expensive pero super worth it! Took a week for the item to be delivered pero kebs! Masaya ko sa oven na ito! 🙂

    by Emilia F.
    Very much satisfied with my new Breville Smart Oven. I’ve already baked Chiffon Cake on a 9” pan, it’s perfect. The Meatballs I baked last night was done right on time & temperature indicated on the recipe. Thank you Lazada & IAJ Wellness Corp. Nice packaging & fast delivery!

    by Andrew S.
    Delivery was late. But very satisfied with the oven.

    A similar model, the Breville BOV845BSS, is available at AMAZON.

     

    4.  Imarflex IT-350CRS

    Imarflex IT-350CRS

    Visit Lazada for more details

     

    The Imarflex IT-350CRS is a 3-in-1 convection oven:  it can be used for turbo-broiling, baking and roasting meat in a rotisserie.

    With a 35 liter capacity, this allows you to roast whole chicken and pork belly with plenty of room to spare.

    The body is made of stainless steel and it comes with two (2) stainless steel racks and a stainless steel skewer spit.

    The double insulated glass door helps maintain the oven’s temperature.  The oven’s cavity is non-stick, making cleaning an easy job to do.

    SUMMARY:

    PROS

    • Large Capacity
    • Mid-range price
    • Stainless steel construction
    • Installment Mode and COD available

    CONS

    • The physical size may be an issue for small kitchens

    Buyer reviews picked-up from LazadaPH:
    by ascii31415
    Received this the day after ordering!! Box was in good condition, so was the oven. Everything as described. The door can be opened incrementally (can leave it open at 45°), which is cool.

    by maria S.
    Cooked 1 cheesecake one night, and 2 chicken gallantina another night. All went well. Totally satisfied with the oven.

    by Carlo H.
    Got the oven quickly. Okay na sana lahat pero sira yung timer. Too much of a hassle to return. Good thing I always use kitchen timers anyways. edit: after a couple of days, the timer started working. maybe it just needed to be broken in. 5 stars.

    3.  Imarflex IT-180CS

    Imarflex IT-180CS

    Visit Lazada for more details

     

    The Imarflex IT-180CS is a small convection oven in which you can bake delicious cookies or make french toasts.  It has an 18 liter capacity and the body is of stainless steel construction.

    At 34 x 45 x 32 cm, it may be small but it offers a convection heating system for you to savor a juicier and crispier chicken, pork and fish recipes.The Convection switch gives you control of the heat, so you don’t burn or under cook anything.  Cook and toast with ease!

    Even at its size, the Imarflex IT-180CS still delivers an ample amount of capacity.  You can even fry on the oven’s built-in pan. The tray is designed for easy cleaning.  

    SUMMARY:

    PROS

    • Small size ideal for small kitchens or single person use
    • Mid-range price
    • Stainless steel construction
    • Installment Mode and COD available

    CONS

    • The capacity may be an issue if you want to cook large meals
    • Limited oven functions

    2.  Hanabishi Electric Oven Heo 55

    Hanabishi Electric Oven Heo 55

    Visit Lazada for more details

     

    The Hanabishi Electric Oven Heo 55 is the largest convection oven in the list with a 55 liter capacity!

    The 55 liter capacity allows you to cook large volumes of food.  Ideal for parties or if you want to cook large batches of cookies or pastries.

    It has a 120 minute timer with bell ring.  Most ovens come with 60 minute timers only.  The timer can also be set to stay-on if you want to.  It has a sturdy tempered glass door. Construction is double-walled and has enough holes for proper ventilation.

    It has four (4) cooking functions:

    • defrost
    • roast
    • broil/rotisserie
    • broil/roast/ convection

    The defrost function makes this model different from the other ovens reviewed here.  This is ideal for quickly defrosting frozen meat for faster cooking.

    SUMMARY:

    PROS

    • Large capacity
    • 120 minute timer
    • Ideal for cooking large volumes of food
    • Installment Mode and COD available

    CONS

    • The physical size may be an issue for small kitchens
    • May be expensive for some people

    1.  Imarflex IT-480CRS

    Imarflex IT-480CRS

    Visit Lazada for more details

    The Imarflex IT-480CRS is another large convection oven with a 48 liter capacity.  This allows you to cook large quantities of food.  This is what I currently use.

    The body is made of stainless steel and it comes with two (2) stainless steel racks and a stainless steel skewer spit.  Even the heating elements are made of stainless steel.  It also comes with two (2) enamel coated baking trays.  The cavity is non-stick, making it easy to clean.  It has a 60 minute timer and tempered glass door.  The bottom has a removable crumb tray which is a plus factor for easy clean-up.

    The cavity has five (5) tray slots allowing for versatile cooking.

    The interior light allows you to see what is inside the oven.

    Functions:

    • roast
    • broil/rotisserie
    • broil/roast/ convection

    The Imarflex IT-480CRS has four (4) control knobs:

    • Function Selector
    • Heat Selector
    • Temperature Control
    • Stay On / Timer

    Being very functional and versatile, the Imarflex IT-480CRS is highly recommended.  

    SUMMARY:

    PROS

    • Large Capacity
    • Stainless steel construction
    • Installment Mode and COD available
    • Multi-functional and versatile
    • Easy clean-up

    CONS

    • May be expensive for some people
    • The physical size may be an issue for small kitchens

    Summary


    Convection ovens tend to cost more than oven toasters so expect to pay more for them.  Since convection ovens come with different functions depending on the manufacturer, choose them according to your needs.  But it is also wise to invest in convection ovens with more features as they may come in handy in the future.  You may think that you are a beginner now and you only need the basic convection oven, but who knows?  Tomorrow you might become an expert cook!

    Choose the best convection oven for you taking into consideration the following:

    • space in your kitchen
    • kinds of food you cook
    • quantity of food that you often cook

    Look out for convection ovens that include the necessary accessories.  This saves you money rather than buying those accessories separately. The accessories that come with your convection oven are guaranteed to fit into the cavity. These accessories may include baking trays, skewer spits, racks, and pizza trays.

    I hope this list was able to help you choose the right convection oven for your everyday cooking.  Please feel free to comment below in case you have other thoughts or recommendations.

     

    For other GADGETS, click HERE.

    For FOOD & RECIPES, click HERE.

    Check LAZADA for other convection ovens by clicking HERE.

  • Pigs in a Blanket Recipe (Hotdogs, Puff Pastry and Cheese)

    I have always been fascinated when watching videos of cooking with puff pastry. I figured that making pigs in a blanket would be good start to experiment with puff pastry.

     

    pigs in a blanket

    What is Puff Pastry?

    Puff pastry is a light, flaky, leavened pastry that is often bought pre-made. I searched for home-made puff pastry recipes but I find them difficult to make.

    Puff pastry is used to make tuna turnovers and simple appetizers for parties (like the recipe in this post).

    While it is difficult to make, one advantage is that you can easily buy frozen puff pastry sheets in supermarkets. Just check the frozen goods aisle and look for it.

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    What is Pigs in a Blanket?

    Pigs-in-a-Blanket is sausage based food that is small in size and can usually be eaten in one or two bites. They are often served as appetizers in parties.

    Our pigs in a blanket recipe only has three main ingredients: hotdogs, cheese and puff pastry. Very easy to make!

    Ingredients:

    • 10 pcs square puff pastry sheets
    • 10 pcs hotdogs
    • 10 pcs cheddar cheese slices

    Instructions:

    1. Preheat oven to 220˚C (425°F).
    2. Place a slice of cheddar on top of each puff pastry piece.
    3. Place a hot dog on the cheddar, then roll it up.
    4. Slice each roll into 2 pieces, and arrange the pieces evenly on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    5. Bake for 15 minutes, until golden brown and flaky.
    6. Enjoy!

     

    pigs in a blanket

    Other recipes may be found HERE.

    This recipe alos appears in So Yummy! So Easy!

  • Beef Lo Mein with Broccoli

    This beef lo mein recipe takes only less than 30 minutes to cook.  All you need is to have all the ingredients ready and the noodles cooked.  For this beef lo mein recipe, I used spaghetti noodles instead of lo mein noodles (egg noodles).  Why?  Because I already have the spaghetti noodles available in my pantry.  For a traditional Chinese food experience, you may use lo mein noodles instead.

    What is Beef Lo Mein?

    Lo mein is a Chinese dish cooked often with egg noodles. Also, it often contains vegetables and meat or seafood. Beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or wontons are the meat or seafood used. Some people cook lo mein with only vegetables which is probably the simplest to cook.  Traditionally, lo mein is almost a dry variation of wonton noodle soup.

    Aside from the spaghetti noodles, our main ingredients for this beef lo mein recipe are beef and brocolli.  Therefore, it is very simple to cook!  Another alternative is to replace the beef with chicken or pork.

    After cooking this beef lo mein dish, this has been a family favorite.  As a result, the kids always request for this!

    If you are a busy parent, this is one home cooked meal that everybody will love.  Most noteworthy, it looks and tastes complicated but in reality very easy to make.  Try this and certainly everyone will classify you as a very good cook!

    [adinserter block=”10″]

    beef lo mein

    INGREDIENTS:

    INSTRUCTIONS:

    1. In a large pot cook the spaghetti noodles according to package directions.
    2. In the last 5 minutes of cooking the noodles, add the broccoli and cook until tender.
    3. Drain the noodles and broccoli.  Set aside.
    4. While the pasta is cooking, add olive oil to a wok.
    5. Cook the steak until no longer pink.
    6. Add the garlic, and carrots and cook for two minutes.
    7. In a small bowl mix the brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper flakes and finally the black pepper.
    8. Add the spaghetti to the wok and pour the sauce on top and mix.
    9. Serve hot.

    beef lo mein

    Lo Mein with Beef and Broccoli

    Lo mein is a Chinese dish cooked normally with egg noodles. It often contains vegetables and meat or seafood, like beef, chicken, pork, shrimp or wontons. Some people cook lo mein with just vegetables. Traditionally, lo mein is a dry variation of wonton noodle soup.

    This lo mein recipe takes only less than 30 minutes to cook if you have all the ingredients ready and the noodles cooked. In this recipe, instead of using lo mein noodles (egg noodles), I used spaghetti noodles as I already have it in my pantry.

    After cooking this lo mein dish, this has been a family favorite. The kids always request for this!

    • 1/4 Kilo flank steak (sliced)
    • 225 grams spaghetti noodles
    • 3 cups broccoli florets
    • 1 tbsp olive oil
    • 3 pcs garlic cloves (minced)
    • 1 pc carrot (medium , shredded)
    • 1/4 cup brown sugar
    • 1/4 cup soy sauce
    • 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
    • 2 tsp sesame oil
    • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
    • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
    • 1/4 tsp black pepper
    1. In a large pot cook the spaghetti noodles according to package directions.

    2. In the last 5 minutes of cooking the noodles, add the broccoli and cook until tender.
    3. Drain the noodles and broccoli. Set aside.
    4. While the pasta is cooking, add olive oil to a wok.
    5. Cook the steak until no longer pink.
    6. Add the garlic, and carrots and cook for two minutes.
    7. In a small bowl mix the brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper flakes and black pepper.
    8. Add the spaghetti to the wok and pour the sauce on top and mix.
    9. Serve hot.

    Other recipes may be found HERE.

    This recipe also appears in So Yummy! So Easy!

  • Pork and Chorizo Stew

    Here is a pork and chorizo stew recipe that is very easy to cook.  This pork stew recipe is certainly very good for a Sunday lunch.

    What is Chorizo?

    Chorizo in English is a pork sausage.  From Wikipedia:

    Chorizo is a type of pork sausage. Traditionally, it uses natural casings made from intestines, a method used since Roman times.

    In Europe, chorizo is a fermented, cured, smoked sausage, which may be sliced and eaten without cooking, or added as an ingredient to add flavor to other dishes. Elsewhere, some sausages sold as chorizo may not be fermented and cured, and require cooking before eating. Spanish chorizo and Portuguese chouriço get their distinctive smokiness and deep red color from dried, smoked, red peppers.

    Due to culinary tradition and the high cost of imported Spanish smoked paprika, Mexican chorizo is usually made with native chili peppers of the same Capsicum annuum species, used otherwise rarely in Mexican cuisine, but is used extensively in Mexican-American restaurants.  Spanish-American cuisine adds vinegar instead of the white wine usually used in Spain.

    Chorizo can be eaten sliced in a sandwich, grilled, fried, or simmered in liquid, including apple cider or other strong alcoholic beverages such as aguardiente. It is also sometimes sliced and used as a pizza topping in a similar manner to salami and pepperoni. It also can be used as a partial replacement for ground (minced) beef or pork.

    pork and chorizo stew

    For this pork and chorizo stew recipe, we used Chorizo de Bilbao.  This is a type of sausage with lots of paprika and is either canned or vacuum packed with lard.  Popular belief is that this type of chorizo originated from Bilbao, Spain but it seems that this is a purely Filipino term as there is no such variant in Spain.

    [adinserter block=”10″]

    Ingredients:

    Instructions:

    1. Saute garlic and onions.  Add pork until brown.
    2. Add chorizo de bilbao, red & green bell pepper, tomato sauce, pork broth and white wine.  Let boil.
    3. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add the potatoes, laurel leaf and black olives.  Let simmer until the potatoes are cooked.
    4. Serve hot.

    pork and chorizo stew

     

    Pork and Chorizo Stew

    Here is a pork and chorizo stew recipe that is very easy to cook. This pork stew recipe is very good for a Sunday lunch.

    • 1/2 kilo pork (cut into cubes)
    • 4 cloves garlic (crushed)
    • 2 pcs onions (sliced)
    • 2 pcs red and green bell peppers (cut into strips)
    • 1 cup Chorizo de Bilbao (sliced)
    • 1 pack tomato sauce (250 grams)
    • 1 cup pork stock/broth
    • 2 tbsp white wine
    • 1/2 cup black olives
    • 1 cup potatoes (cut into cubes)
    • laurel leaf
    • salt and pepper (to taste)
    1. Saute garlic and onions. Add pork until brown.

    2. Add chorizo de bilbao, red & green bell pepper, tomato sauce, pork broth and white wine. Let boil.
    3. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the potatoes, laurel leaf and black olives. Let simmer until the potatoes are cooked.
    4. Serve hot.

    Other recipes may be found HERE.

    This recipe alsp appears in So Yummy! So Easy!

  • Aglio Olio with Beef Tapa and Poached Egg

    What is Aglio Olio?

    aglio olio

    From Wikipedia:

    Spaghetti aglio olio (“spaghetti with garlic and oil” in Italian) is a traditional Italian pasta dish coming from Naples.

    The dish is made by lightly sauteeing sliced, minced, or pressed garlic in olive oil, sometimes with the addition of dried red chili flakes, and tossing with spaghetti. Finely chopped parsley can also be added as a garnish, along with grated parmesan or pecorino cheese, although according to some traditional recipes, cheese should not be added.

    Many New York Italian-Americans refer to aglio olio as “alla-ul” due to the influence of Southern Italian pronunciation in the area.

    Beef tapa is often served tapsilog style (tapa, fried rice and fried egg).  This recipe shows us a different way to serve beef tapa.  We need to cook the beef tapa in advance prior to preparing this pasta dish.  Check out the beef tapa recipe HERE.

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    You will need poached eggs for this recipe.  Below is a video from YouTube (not mine) that shows how to prepare poached eggs:

     

    Ingredients:

    Instructions:

    1. Make the beef tapa (recipe is HERE)
    2. Shred the beef finely.
    3. Cook the pasta and set aside.
    4. In a saute pan, heat the olive oil in medium.
    5. Add the garlic, chili flakes, and a pinch of salt.
    6. Add the cooked pasta and toss well.
    7. If needed, add pasta water.
    8. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
    9. Carefully spoon the poached egg onto the tapa or pasta.
    10. Garnish with Parsley (if desired).
    11. Serve.

     

     

    Aglio Olio

    Aglio Olio with Beef Tapa and Poached Egg

    Spaghetti aglio olio (“spaghetti with garlic and oil” in Italian) is a traditional Italian pasta dish coming from Naples.

    Beef tapa is often served tapsilog style (tapa, fried rice and fried egg). This recipe shows us a different way to serve beef tapa. We need to cook the beef tapa in advance prior to preparing this pasta dish.

    • 300 grams cooked beef tapa (shredded)
    • 400 grams Spaghetti Noodles
    • 4 cups Water
    • Olive oil (as needed)
    • 12 cloves Garlic (peeled and minced)
    • 1 tsp Chili Flakes
    • 30 mL Extra Virgin Olive Oil
    • 30 grams Flat Leaf Parsley (finely chopped (optional))
    • 4 pcs Poached Egg
    • Salt (to taste)
    1. Make the beef tapa.

    2. Shred the beef finely.
    3. Cook the pasta and set aside.
    4. In a saute pan, heat the olive oil in medium.

    5. Add the garlic, chili flakes, and a pinch of salt.

    6. Add the cooked pasta and toss well.

    7. If needed, add pasta water.
    8. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.
    9. Carefully spoon the poached egg onto the tapa or pasta.
    10. Garnish with Parsley (if desired).
    11. Serve.

    Other recipes may be found HERE

    This recipe also appears in So Yummy! So Easy!

  • Beef Tapa Banh Mi

    What is Banh Mi?

    From Wikipedia:

    Bánh mì or banh mi refers to a kind of sandwich that consists of a Vietnamese single-serving baguette. This baguette is also called banh mi in Vietnamese. Split lengthwise, various savory ingredients fill the baguette.

    A typical Vietnamese sandwich is a fusion of meats and vegetables from native Vietnamese cuisine such as chả lụa (pork sausage), coriander, cucumber, and pickled carrots and daikon combined with condiments from French cuisine such as pâté along with jalapeño and mayonnaise.  However, there is a wide variety of popular fillings, from xíu mại to ice cream. In Vietnam, sandwiches are typically eaten for breakfast or as a snack; they are considered too dry for lunch or dinner.

    The baguette was introduced to Vietnam in the mid–19th century, when Vietnam was part of French Indochina, and became a staple food by the early 20th century. During the 1950s, a distinctly Vietnamese sandwich developed in Saigon, becoming a popular street food. Following the Vietnam War, overseas Vietnamese popularized the banh mi sandwich in countries like the United States.

    Banh Mi in Vietnam

    In Vietnamese, the word banh mi is derived from bánh (which can refer to many kinds of food, including bread) and mì (wheat). It may also be spelled bánh mỳ in northern Vietnam. Taken alone, banh mi means “bread” but is understood to be the Vietnamese baguette. Via synecdoche, it may also refer to a sandwich, with the term banh mi kẹp being used to disambiguate. In particular, banh mi often refers to the sandwiches made on Vietnamese baguettes, which may be called bánh mì Sài Gòn, after the city in which they were popularized. However, even in Vietnam, “a bánh mì for breakfast” implies a meat-filled sandwich for breakfast, not just bread.

    A folk etymology claims that the word bánh mì is a corruption of the French pain de mie, meaning soft, white bread.  However, bánh or its Nôm form 餅 has referred to rice cakes and other pastries since as early as the 13th century, centuries before French contact.

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    banh mi

    This banh mi sandwich recipe is a little bit different from the traditional banh mi recipe as we are going to use beef tapa as our meat.  Think this way, Vietnamese cuisine in fusion with Filipino cuisine. Beef tapa is often served tapsilog style (tapa, fried rice and fried egg).  This recipe shows us a different way to serve beef tapa.  We need to cook the beef tapa in advance prior to preparing this sandwich.  Check out the beef tapa recipe HERE.

    Ingredients:

    • 500 grams cooked beef tapa (recipe is HERE)
    • Baguette (or any similar bread)
    • Pickles
    • Soy Dressing

    Pickles Ingredients:

    • 1 pc small Carrot, finely julienned
    • 1 pc small White Radish, finely julienned
    • 8 tbsp White Sugar
    • 1 cup Cane Vinegar
    • 1 pc Red Chili, chopped

    Soy Dressing Ingredients:

    Instructions:

    1.  Cook the beef tapa as in the recipe found HERE.

    2.  Prepare the pickles:

    • In a bowl, mix the cane vinegar, white sugar, and red chili until the sugar is dissolved
    • Add the carrots and radish
    • Chill for an hour or more

    3.  Prepare the soy dressing:

    • Combine mayonnaise, liquid seasoning, onions, bird’s eye chili, and garlic in a mixing bowl
    • Chill for at least an hour

    4.  Assemble the sandwich:

    • Slice the bread in the middle, lengthwise
    • Lightly-toast the bread
    • Line the insides of the toasted bread with soy dressing
    • Add and distribute evenly the cooked beef tapa
    • Top the tapa with the pickles

    5.  Serve with potato chips

    banh mi

    Beef Tapa Banh Mi

    This banh mi sandwich recipe is a little bit different from the traditional banh mi recipe as we are going to use beef tapa as our meat. Think this way, Vietnamese cuisine in fusion with Filipino cuisine. Beef tapa is often served tapsilog style (tapa, fried rice and fried egg). This recipe shows us a different way to serve beef tapa. We need to cook the beef tapa in advance prior to preparing this sandwich.

    • 500 grams cooked beef tapa
    • Baguette (or any similar bread)
    • Pickles
    • Soy Dressing

    Pickles

    • 1 pc Carrot (small, finely julienned)
    • 1 pc White Radish (small, finely julienned)
    • 1 cup Cane Vinegar
    • 8 tbsp White Sugar
    • 1 pc Red Chili (chopped)

    Soy Dressing

    • 2 pcs Red Onions (small, sliced)
    • 1 pc Bird’s Eye Chili (to taste, chopped)
    • 3 tbsp Knorr Liquid Seasoning
    • 1 cup Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise

    Cook the beef tapa.

    Prepare the pickles:

    1. In a bowl, mix the cane vinegar, white sugar, and red chili until the sugar is dissolved

    2. Add the carrots and radish
    3. Chill for an hour or more

    Prepare the soy dressing:

    1. Combine mayonnaise, liquid seasoning, onions, bird’s eye chili, and garlic in a mixing bowl

    2. Chill for at least an hour

    Assemble the sandwich:

    1. Slice the bread in the middle, lengthwise

    2. Lightly-toast the bread

    3. Line the insides of the toasted bread with soy dressing
    4. Add and distribute evenly the cooked beef tapa
    5. Top the tapa with the pickles

    Serve with potato chips

    Other recipes may be found HERE

    This recipe also appears at So Yummy! So Easy!

  • Beef Tapa | Filipino Beef Tapa Recipe

    Beef tapa is a type of cured meat of thin slices of tender beef.  Filipinos prepare beef tapa by using thin slices of meat. The meat is cured with salt and spices as a preservation method.  Beef tapa is often cooked fried.  Beef tapa is a popular breakfast that is usually served with fried egg and fried rice. The combination of fried beef tapa, fried egg and fried rice is Tapsilog. That is short for TAPa, SInangag (fried rice), ItLOG (egg).

    beef tapa

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    This is how (Beef Tapa) Tapsilog is normally served:

    beef tapa

    Kguirnela at English Wikipedia, Tapsilog, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Did you know that this Beef Tapa Recipe can be used as the base protein for other meals?  Watch out for the recipes for the two meals shown below:

    beef tapa
    Aglio Olio Pasta with Beef Tapa and Poached Egg

    beef tapa
    Beef Tapa Banh Mi

    Ingredients:

    Instructions:

    1. Combine the Knorr Liquid Seasoning, cracked black pepper, brown sugar, half of the minced garlic, Knorr Rostip Chicken Seasoning Powder, chili flakes, and Knorr Tamarind Soup Base in a bowl.  You may adjust the seasonings according to your preferred taste.
    2. Pour this marinade over the beef and marinate for a minimum of an hour or overnight in the chiller.
    3. To cook the marinated beef, heat the oil in a saute pan.  I used a Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Stainless 5-1/2-Quart Saute Pan and it looks like this:
    4. Saute the other half of the minced garlic until fragrant.
    5. Add the marinated beef and cook until it is cooked through and the sauce has reduced enough to glaze it.
    6. Garnish with garlic chips and spring onions.

    beef tapa

    Beef Tapa | Filipino Beef Tapa Recipe

    Beef tapa is a type of cured meat of thin slices of tender beef.  Filipinos prepare beef tapa by using thin slices of meat. The meat is cured with salt and spices as a preservation method.  Beef tapa is often cooked fried.  Beef tapa is a popular breakfast that is usually served with fried egg and fried rice. The combination of fried beef tapa, fried egg and fried rice is Tapsilog. That is short for TAPa, SInangag (fried rice), ItLOG (egg).

    • 1 tsp Cracked Black Pepper
    • 2 1/2 tsp Brown Sugar
    • 4 tsp Garlic (minced)
    • 1 1/2 tsp Chili Flakes
    • 1/2 tsp Knorr Sinigang Sa Sampalok Mix
    • 1/2 kilo Beef Sirloin or Breakfast Steak (sliced into 1-inch pieces)
    • 1/4 cup Canola Oil
    • 1 1/2 tbsp Garlic Chips
    • 1 1/2 tbsp Spring Onions (finely chopped)
    • 1 tbsp Knorr Liquid Seasoning
    • 1/2 tsp Knorr Rostip Chicken Seasoning Powder
    1. Combine the Knorr Liquid Seasoning, cracked black pepper, brown sugar, half of the minced garlic, Knorr Rostip Chicken Seasoning Powder, chili flakes, and Knorr Tamarind Soup Base in a bowl. You may adjust the seasonings according to your preferred taste.

    2. Pour this marinade over the beef and marinate for a minimum of an hour or overnight in the chiller.
    3. To cook the marinated beef, heat the oil in a saute pan.
    4. Saute the other half of the minced garlic until fragrant.
    5. Add the marinated beef and cook until it is cooked through and the sauce has reduced enough to glaze it.
    6. Garnish with garlic chips and spring onions.

    Other recipes may be found HERE.

    This recipe also appears in So Yummy! So Easy!

  • Fried Okra | Fried Okra with Green Sambal

    Fried Okra | Fried Okra with Green Sambal

    This recipe for fried okra is easy to prepare but packs a lot of flavor.

    From one of the recipes in this blog:

    Okra, also known in English speaking countries as  Lady’s Finger or Gumbo, is always used in common Filipino vegetable dishes and every vegetable stall in the markets should always have this. The health benefits of okra include:

    its ability to lower total cholesterol levels
    improve digestive health
    improve vision
    boost skin health
    protect infant health
    prevent certain cancers
    strengthen bones
    improve cardiovascular health
    aid the immune system
    lower blood pressure
    protect heart health

    Aside from the fried okra, this recipe also comes with green sambal.  Green sambal is a spicy Southeast Asian sauce made with chili peppers.  The sambal ingredients used are green chilies (green peppers such as Anaheim (mild) or jalapeno (spicier)), garlic, shallots and olive oil. Since I am from the Philippines, instead of Anaheim Chilies, I used a combination of siling haba and green bell pepper.  WARNING:  This could get spicy!!!

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    You could also buy Green Sambal if you wish:

    For frying, I like to use cast iron skillets because they offer superior heat retention and even cooking.  Cast Iron Skillets look like this:

    Ingredients:

    • 2 bundles okra
    • Olive oil
    • 4 siling haba
    • 2 small green bell pepper
    • 3 green bird’s eye chilies (siling labuyo)
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • 10 shallots
    • salt to taste

    Instructions:

    1. Heat olive oil over high heat, and fry the okra (lady fingers) briefly until they are bright green in color, but still crisp. Remove the okra from the pan and set aside.
    2. Add the peppers, green bird’s eye chilies, garlic, shallots, salt and enough olive oil to a blender. Blend until nearly smooth.
    3. Reheat the oil in the pan, and sauté the blended paste.
    4. Serve the green sambal with the fried okra.

    Fried Okra | Fried Okra with Green Sambal

    This recipe for fried okra is easy to prepare but packs a lot of flavor.  Aside from the fried okra, this recipe also comes with green sambal. Green sambal is a spicy Southeast Asian sauce made with chili peppers.

    • 2 bundles okra
    • Olive oil (for frying)
    • 4 pcs siling haba
    • 2 pcs green bell peppers (small)
    • 3 pcs green bird’s eye chilies (siling labuyo)
    • 1 clove garlic (minced)
    • 10 pcs shallots
    • salt to taste
    1. Heat olive oil over high heat, and fry the okra (lady fingers) briefly until they are bright green in color, but still crisp. Remove the okra from the pan and set aside.

    2. Add the peppers, green bird’s eye chilies, garlic, shallots, salt and enough olive oil to a blender. Blend until nearly smooth.

    3. Reheat the oil in the pan, and sauté the blended paste.

    4. Serve the green sambal with the fried okra.

    fried okra

    Other recipes may be found HERE.