Green Mangoes with Bagoong Alamang

Bagoong alamang or also known as shrimp paste is my favorite for dipping green mangoes. Here in the Philippines it is really a great combination for unripe mangoes and what I like the most was Indian mangoes which is available in summer season.

I also do like shrimp paste in kare-kare which is a famous dish here. But anyway I will be posting kare-kare some other time, but for now I have to talk about green mangoes. This was given to us by our auntie in Sta. Rosa Laguna where they have mango trees which keep on growing sweet green Indian mangoes.

I remember when we were kids; we just wash off these mangoes and eat it straight away without using any knife for removing the peel. Now that my teeth are already weak after I gave birth, I can’t do the same thing.

I do like shrimp paste that are spicy hot, but this one on the photo was without chili because my family would not like much chili on it.

My Son loves Pizza Seafood Marinara

If I have money I will buy this kind of pizza which was really addictive and yet not expensive. We bought it at only P170.00 which was sliced in 8 pieces of yumminess. It has tahong (seashell), anchovies, squid, shrimp, koros (smallest shrimps), crab meat, onion and cheesy cheddar.

We bought it at Chef Arnolds Pizza just nearby our place and it was my first time to hear this type of pizza joint but it was really a steal if you would ask me since I really love their pizza when I tasted it. I will want to buy and try more of their other pizza variants such as New Yorker, Hawaiian, Pepperoni and Mushroom, Margherita, Chicago, Wild Wild Mushroom Cajun Pizza and more.

By the way if you ask me, I only gave my little one some pieces of seashell, anchovies and shrimp, not yet the squid meat. He also likes to eat cheddar cheese.

How I wish I can get juice more on my online money so that I can buy these delicious pizzas on my mothers’ birthday and also to celebrate another month milestone for my little one. I also like to add in the list and celebrate Father’s Day next week. How I really have a lot of things in mind, wishing all the best. Have a yummy and tasty food trip to all.

Want some Dimsum soup?

We checked this soup long time back before doing our monthly grocery and I can say that it is not my regular soup. It can look so yummy especially on a cold rainy day and you can really perspire after eating it. This soup though is not what I really favor of because it was a combination of ingredients which on my own opinion was a mismatch. But its okay, we do have different tastes for food and I really respect if you would like this too. This soup is with pork wanton, crab meat, chicken bits and boiled egg. It might have missed the real flavor that I really wanted and expected, but anyway, it was something for the tummy to get filled. The noodles was not really cooked well since it was that hard and rubbery. The price was just affordable in the pocket, but if I may have to get back again in the restaurant, I will still prefer to order other menus that they have.

Looking oily on this photo, but it was just fine. You can just add some fish sauce, calamansi (local lemon) here in the Philippines and some ground black pepper to make it more delicious. You can also add some chili oil if you want it spicy hot.

Who wants some Squid Adobo?

Adobo is a famous dish in the Philippines. Whether you have tasted it or not, it has different ways of preparing it depending on region. For us, we do include the black ink of the squid, although some countries may find it yucky and somewhat taboo if they really don’t eat squid. You just need to clean the squid and remove the plastic looking strip inside it as you cook it. You don’t even have to include much water since when you cook squid, it will automatically remove off the water in its body. So when preparing this dish, what we do is to put all the ingredients in the squid like soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, black pepper, bay leaf, oil, salt and tablespoons of water. Sorry I won’t be including the quantity of the ingredients since this depends on the number of squid you include plus the taste will vary too, if you like it less salty or if you would like it not too sour since it has vinegar, you need to taste the mixed sauce in the ingredients before putting it together with the squid. This recipe is easily cook so you don’t need to overdo it and you don’t want it to be so dry so slow to medium flame in stove will be enough to cook this wonderful and yet delightful dish. Again, as I have said a while ago, some may never like this dish because of the blackish color of the squid ink. It may not be that appealing to some, but to the regular customers eating adobo, I mean the original Adobo nation, Philippines, this is one delicious recipe that you should not miss out particularly if you visit the country Philippines. You can eat this recipe with hot rice. I haven’t tried eating it with flat bread or any types of bread. But there is nothing wrong in trying out other types of food to pair it with since this is still Adobo recipe. You can never go wrong with Adobo food. But if you have any allergic reaction to seafood, then you may skip on this recipe to be safe. Have a nice day friends!

Buco Pandan for Dessert

Everybody here at home loves Buco Pandan Salad. It is a famous dessert here in the Philippines with a lot of varieties that you can find such as buco pandan ice cream, buco pandan drink and much more. Buco pandan is just easy to prepare, all you need is buco strips, gelatin, all purpose cream, tapioca or pearl balls, sweetened milk and pandan leaves to make the scent more sweet and aromatic.

Just scrape the buco into strips, then cook your gelatin with pandan leaves to make that aromatic scent. Keep the gelatin aside and then cut it into cubes. Place the buco strips and mix it all together with the gelatin with all purpose cream, sweetened milk and your small tapioca balls or pearl balls.

If you may ask what gelatin to use, you can try Alsa gelatin mix, with no flavor of course. You can try the colored green gelatin for this recipe but if that gelly is flavored aside from buco pandan, then don't buy it. It will destroy the flavor if your gelatin is apple flavored.

Anyway I did not include the step by step photos for preparing this recipe. I just have the finish product, anyway if I have the time, I will do post it here. Hope you like this dessert recipe. Enjoy and have a nice day!

Potato croquettes and Californian Maki Roll

Just tried Californian Maki roll and some potato croquettes in Karate Kid Restaurant in Landmark Mall Makati City, Philippines. Actually, I was not familiar with this restaurant. It was just timely that we went for a grocery and our helper was the one who bought this food items and he shared it to us and it was lovely.

I will have to try again for their Californian maki because it was tasty and the dips were just perfectly fine. I will also opt to try other offers like sushi and other types of rolls available in their restaurant.

Potato croquettes was just crunchy and fine although I don't find it quite interesting since there was no twist into it. Its like a regular potato that I got used to it that is why, if there is what you call "next time", I won't be ordering potato croquettes again.

But surely their maki was delicious, so I will really recommend this. Have a nice day!

Food trip to remember

Last February we went to Shakeys for a treat when our cousin came back to Philippines to have his short vacation. It was also timely because we were also having our vacation. So after we have fetch him at NAIA terminal no. 2, we went straight to the restaurant to eat.

It was such a voluptuous meal indeed. We selected Monster Deal Meal with extra order of two bowls of soup and fresh salad which was not that interesting since the dressing was not enough and it was too dry for me.

The chicken was not that fresh and juicy anymore. It was dry and rubbery in the mouth when you chew it. I don't have anything about Shakeys because this is still our favorite restaurant and we will always go there to eat but that branch was really not promising to me.

Anyway, what is important is that the treat was really great. We had a bonding time with family relatives and this does not happen everyday. Do you have some bonding time with family relatives too. How often and what is the occasion? Have a nice day!

Summer Time means Halo-halo time in Philippines

Yes, at last, after so many months of waiting to be back in my own country, baby and I were able to relax by enjoying our vacation in the Philippines.

 Truly it is hot and summer is in. I do like summer in the Philippines although one thing I don't like is the unpredictable weather change in our country. But for now, what I can say is that I enjoy here in Makati City. The sun is high, the sky is blue, ahhh some breeze over here and there. Baby took a bath outside and it was fun seeing him enjoy his ball toy while splashing water in the wash basin. Anyway, this blog is still going to talk about food.

 It is about Halo-halo, one of the most favorite summer snack treat of the Filipinos. Halo-halo is a sweet, cold treat for everyone who has a sweet tooth. Halo-halo or in layman's term is called mixed mix in English is composed of different ingredients like sweet potato, pearl balls or tapioca, gulaman or gelatin, leche flan, ube, langka or jackfruit, with sweetened white beans, garbanzos, corn kernels, some evaporated milk and sugar for blending it and ice cream if its really a special order.

                                                 Have some Sweet treat this summer

 Well, my brother bought this halo-halo in the neighbor and we just added ice cream that we bought yesterday. It was really a fun way treat for this Holy Week and were on stay-cation (just at home and stay). You can add more concoction for halo-halo if your adventurous and quite playful when eating like nata de coco (one of my favorite ingredients), kaong and macapuno strips.

                                                Yummy Ice cream on Halo-halo

The invention is endless and the fun stays even more when shared with families and friends. How about you? Have you tasted Halo-halo? You can just crush ice and mix it with the ingredients I have mentioned above.Try it now to cool you down on a hot summer day!

                                                      Tempting isn't it ?! heheh!

Mataar Paneer (Green Peas with Tofu)

Wow, I haven't posted anything for so long and this time ,I'm glad I can post again after being a mommy. Well anyway this food is one that I prepare for my baby although I don't cook it with too much spice so that it can be palatable for baby. The authentic mataar paneer recipe is kinda chilli since this is original Indian recipe and a favorite and easy to prepare. All u need is green peas, be it fresh or frozen there's no issue what you can use. You also need all purpose cream to make it creamy and yummy. Soft tofu which is made of soya not the milk since the tofu produced from milk is more tough and hard and I don't suggest it. What I prefer is the soft tofu or made of soya. Just slice it into bigger cubes and you don't need to fry it. 

 Ingredients:
 200 g. Green peas
 1 big onion
 2 medium tomatoes
 2 cloves of garlic
1 tbps. ginger garlic paste
a pinch of turmeric powder
 a pinch of chili powder (optional)
 garam masala (1/4 teaspoon)
 tofu (soya paneer)
salt to taste
oil
water
all purpose cream
 wansoy or fresh coriander leaves (for garnishing)
1/4 tsp. jeera or cumin seeds

 How to cook:

 Put oil and when the oil is hot, put the jeera seeds and then saute garlic and onion and put salt to your onion. After that you can put turmeric powder, ginger garlic paste, chili powder and masala powder. After this you can now put the chopped tomatoes and put a bit water. Once the tomato is mushy and soft you can now add the green peas. Cook the green peas well so that it won't be hard and difficult for your little one to eat. Once your green peas is done, you can now add the tofu and then put the all purpose cream and sprinkle the chopped coriander leaves or wansoy. Just check the taste if you still wanted to add salt.

YUMMYYYYYYY!!!!