Nope, I wasn't on a blogging hiatus. I was just busy (the happy kind of busy) with something for the past weeks. I will share the details on my next posts so watch out for it. :D

I have quite a number of posts about our family feasts here in this blog and more often than not, Ginataang Alimango is always included in the menu. I've been receiving messages and emails requesting me to post the recipe, but since it's my dad who always cooks, I don't really get to take pictures for the recipe.


Luckily, a couple of weekends back, I was able to finally cook Ginataang Alimango for the first time, of course using the recipe that I learned from no less than my dad. :)

When we were planning for the Mother's Day and Jaoey's 11th Birthday celebration, daddy asked if we could make a Graham refrigerated cake. And Gia and I, being very much excited for it, gladly obliged. :)

We've already made refrigerated cakes before with fruit cocktails and peaches, so we decided to use mangoes this time. And since we're also adding in some cheddar cheese, we coined its name as Queso Mango Float. Here's another recipe to satisfy your sweet tooth!

Queso Mango Float

Just like what I said before, I always make sure that I get to cook Mark's favorites whenever he comes over at my house for a visit. Aside from his all-time-favorite Kare-Kare, I also learned that he has come to love my version of Pork Steak. :D Thanks to my mom for teaching me the recipe. :)

Pork steak is actually a twist on the Filipino dish, Bistek Tagalog (Beef Steak), as it has the same ingredients and just differs with the main ingredient which is the meat. Paired with steamed rice plus Ensaladang Kamote (Camote Tops Salad), I'm sure this dish will be a family hit, just like how it has always been for our family. :)

Pork Steak

It was actually my baby brother, Jaoey, who first saw this idea on the internet moths back. He was delighted when he showed it to me and made me promise that we'll make some at home. And so one Saturday afternoon, I obliged. :)

I'm not actually sure with the name of this dish, but this is basically just the ordinary spaghetti that most of us grew up with, preparation- and taste-wise, but with an added fun and excitement to it. :D

The spaghetti noodles are stuck into the hotdog chunks, making it look like the noodles are oozing out from the hotdogs. :D

Hotdog Spaghetti

Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday which marked the start of the season of Lent. And since meat is not allowed during the season, the next best alternative would be fish.

Fried fish would always be a common dish during Lent, but this tends to be dry and bland, so I'm sharing with you this easy sweet and sour fish recipe that I'm sure you'll enjoy. It's basically deep fried cream dory chunks and deep fried tofu in sweet and sour sauce with pineapples, onions, and bell peppers.

I cooked this for lunch on Ash Wednesday and my family loved it! :D

Sweet and Sour Cream Dory with Tofu

Being a girlfriend of a bodybuilder for more than 8 years now, I have already known and mastered Mark's needs especially when it comes to food. I enjoy cooking and I love to cook especially for my loved ones, and that of course includes Mark. I know how strict his diet is but that didn't stop me from cooking for him. Thank God for off-seasons from competitions, Mark can get to enjoy my home-cooked specialties. :D

Whenever Mark comes over our house for a visit, if my dad's not around, I make sure to prepare something that will surely satisfy his big appetite. I also see to it that I prepare different dishes for him for his every visit.  I already cooked Kare-kare for him before, so that's definitely out of the list.  I knew how Mark loves to eat chicken so I decided to cook Chinese-style Roasted Chicken for him when he paid me a visit at home a few weeks ago. :D

I actually learned this recipe from my dad.  It's basically roasted chicken with soy sauce plus star anise, where the distinct Chinese herb taste comes from. :) I have already perfected this recipe and so whenever there is roasted chicken in the menu in our family feasts, I am always tasked to cook it. Here's one simple yet delectable recipe that I'm sure you'll enjoy just as how my family and Mark did. :)

Chinese-style Roasted Chicken

I celebrated my 27th birthday last January 3 with my loved ones over a simple lunch and dinner at home, since my dad had to go to work and my baby brother had to go to school. I knew that Mark was coming over for lunch and so I asked him what he wanted to have. Without any hesitations, he immediately replied "Kare-kare!". Haha!

Kare-kare is a Philippine stew made from peanut sauce with a variety of vegetables and meat which usually comes from oxtail, beef, and sometimes ox offal or ox tripe. Meat variants may also include goat meat or chicken, but I grew up eating Kare-kare made from beef and pork tenderloins. It is best eaten with shrimp paste (bagoong) over a hot steamed rice.

I first tried to cook Kare-kare back in college (using the recipe that I learned from my dad) when I was the acting chef at home that time since my parents were in the US. And as a first timer, my Kare-kare was a hit!

I already knew that Mark would answer Kare-kare since it's his most favorite dish. It's also my mom's favorite so I decided to cook it for my birthday lunch. :) And on my second time to cook Kare-kare, my family, especially my Mom and Mark, loved it so I decided to share with you guys this simple yet delectable recipe. :D

Kare-kare

Filipino-Style Spaghetti

My dad loves to cook, as all of you already know, and being a true blue Ilocano, Ilocano delicacies of course are one of his specialties. Good thing I have mastered his cooking skills over time. :)

One of the Ilocano delicacies that I can cook perfectly is Dinuyduy. :p It's basically a mashed squash soup. :D It's a perfect appetizer. It may also be paired with any fried dishes like pork, chicken, and fish. It's even perfect for children who are picky eaters especially when it comes to vegetables.

Dinuyduy

I've already posted before that buttered veggies with gravy may be a good complement for pork, beef, and fish dishes; and so I'm sharing with you this simple yet delectable recipe of buttered veggies paired with fried cream dory which I cooked for lunch a few weeks back. :)

Cream Dory Fillet with Buttered Veggies and Gravy

Arroz Caldo which literally means "rice soup" has always been one my family's favorite comfort foods.

"Arroz caldo is actually a Chinese congee that was adapted to the tastes of the Spanish colonial settlers who patronized Chinese restaurants in the Philippines." ~Wikipedia

It is commonly flavored with chicken, garlic, ginger, and safflower (or our local saffron, which gives the arroz caldo a distinct aroma and a bright yellow tinge). But my dad, being adventurous when it comes to cooking, has his own version of the arroz caldo which my family loves. With a squeeze of calamansi juice plus a dash of black pepper, a hot bowl of arroz caldo is a perfect way to warm our tummies especially on a cold weather.

I actually tried to cook arroz caldo using my dad's recipe one rainy afternoon and it turned out to be a hit! Try it! :D

Arroz Caldo

I so love cheesecakes and I've been wanting to make one. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance because I was busy the past few weeks.

I remember telling Gia weeks ago that I'll make her a blueberry cheesecake for her birthday, and so last Sunday, I lived up to my promise.

Special thanks to Gia and Jaoey for helping :D. Here's Gia's birthday cake! :D


She loved it as much as the rest of the family did, so I'm sharing you this easy to prepare and delectable no-bake blueberry cheesecake recipe. :)

No-bake Blueberry Cheesecake

Printable Recipe: No-bake Blueberry Cheesecake

Ingredients:

crust:

1 200g pack Crushed Grahams

6 tbsp melted butter

2 tbsp confectioners sugar

filling:

2 200g pack cream cheese

1 1/4 cups thick cream

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

2 tbsp unflavored gelatin dissolved in 1/4 cup hot water

1 tbsp vanilla extract

preserved or fresh blueberries for the topping

Preparation and Cooking Procedures:

For the crust, combine the crushed grahams and sugar in a bowl and mix well.


Add in the melted butter and mix until everything is well incorporated.


Press the mixture evenly over a pan.


Let the crust sit in the chillerr for around 15 minutes. Now we're ready to do the filling. :)

In a bowl, pour in the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract and mix until well incorporated. You may also use a blender or electric mixer if you have one, but your hands and mixing skills will always be a good tool. :D


Fold in the cream, mix until smooth and add in the gelatin mixture.


The crust should be ready by now. :)


Pour the mixture over the chilled crust and refrigerate until set.


Top the cheesecake with preserved or fresh blueberries. Of course, you may use any topping that you wish. :)



Serve and enjoy!!! :D

Printable Recipe: No-bake Blueberry Cheesecake

More recipes HERE :)

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Graham Refrigerated Cake

I think I already have a post or two of our family lunch or dinner with Buttered Veggies. Simple yet mouth-watering and healthy, this surely is a perfect side dish for fried or grilled chicken, pork, fish, or beef. :)

Buttered Veggies

Ingredients:

2 pcs medium-sized potatoes

1/4 kilo Baguio beans

1 pc medium-sized sayote

1 pc medium-sized carrot

50g butter
28g Mc Cormick Chicken Gravy mix
salt and pepper to taste


Preparation and Cooking Procedures:
Wash vegetables with running water. Peel off skin and cut into strips.

Melt the butter in a pan over medium heat. Pour in the sliced vegetables and stir, making sure that the veggies are coated with the melted butter. Add in salt and pepper to taste. Cover pan and simmer for 3-5 minutes.

Cooking time may vary. I usually want the veggies cooked just right and still crisp to the bite. :) Place the cooked veggies in a plate and set aside.

The vegetables are not limited to the ones listed above. You may add in other veggies like mushrooms or any other vegetable that you wish. :)


For the gravy, pour the Mc Cormick Chicken Gravy mix into a bowl and add in a cup of hot water. Stir well. Pour the gravy over the veggies and serve. Serves 5-6 people. :)

More recipes HERE :)

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