A Family Favorite: Kinilaw na Talaba

          Kinilaw na Talaba or Oyster Ceviche is our family's favorite. Everytime we go to Pangasinan, we look for plump and juicy oysters for this recipe. Sometime we even add grated unripe mango.

          This recipe is so easy, even kids can make it. It is best served with Pinakbet and Inihaw na Liempo.

Ingredients:

1 kilo talaba (oysters), removed from shell
1 medium red onion (sliced)
1 thumb size ginger root (thinly sliced)
3/4 cup vinegar or sukang tuba, or coconut vinegar
3 pcs red chili or labuyo (sliced)
3 pcs long chili pepper (siling pangsigang)
Salt and Pepper
Boiling water

Cooking Time!

1. Clean and wash oysters in running water and remove dirt.
2. Transfer it on a mixing bowl and pour boiling water into the bowl, just enough to cover the oysters.
3. Drain the meat. Wash and clean it well under running water if needed.
4. Transfer oyster meat into another mixing bowl. Add chopped onion, ginger, vinegar, and chili. Mix well.
5. Season with salt and pepper. Adjust flavor to suit your taste.
6. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Veggie Fix: Ginisang Sayote

          It is a must that we include a vegetable dish every dinner, especially during weekends.

          So when we do our weekly groceries,  we always buy vegetables that can last for a long time in the fridge. These vegetables are chayote, carrots and potatoes. The good thing is that chayote is very cheap. It is also very versatile, it can be added to Tinola and it can be made into atchara.

          Let's cook a quick and easy dish, Ginisang Sayote.

Ingredients:

3 pieces sayote sliced into strips

1 piece carrot sliced into strips

5 ounces pork kasim sliced into thin pieces

1 piece onion chopped

5 cloves garlic crushed and minced

1 3/4 cups water

Ground black pepper and salt to taste

Cooking Time!

1. Heat a cooking pot. Sear pork until brown and oil is extracted.
2.  Saute until garlic and onion.
3. Pour 1 ½ cups water. Let boil. Cover the pot and continue to boil in low heat until liquid completely evaporates.
4. Add chayote and saute for 2 to 3 minutes.
5. Add carrots. Saute for 2 minutes.
6. Add ground black pepper and salt to taste .  Cover the pot. Cook for 1 minute.

Veggie Bread Pizza: A Healthy After School Snack

          I always get a text message from my daugther minutes before she arrives from school. She always reminds me to prepare a hot and tasty merienda for her.

          Biscuits and cupcakes from the grocery is not her thing. She wants something hot, fresh and savory.

          This is one of her favorite snacks, no meat all veggie for something healthy.

Ingredients:

slices of  bread
Pizza sauce or tomato sauce as needed
½ to ¾ cup cheese grated (mozzarella or pizza cheese)
1 small tomato
1 cup spinach

Cooking Time!

1. Put pizza sauce in bread.
2. Add tomatoes and spinach
3. Add cheese
4. Bake in toaster or in pan.
5. Serve hot.

The Bitter Choice: Ginisang Ampalaya

          Ginisang Ampalaya is one of the most challenging vegetable dish for kids. Since it is made out of bitter melon, kids tend to evade the table when this dish is served.

          So what we do is we soak the bitter melon in water and salt for a few hours then we squeeze it to remove the bitter taste. It is best though for kids to get used to the bitter taste as not to deplete the vegetable's nutrients.

          Now let us prepare the ingredients and start cooking!

Ingredients:

2 pieces ampalaya cletaned and cut into thin slices
3 tbsp cooking oil
1 tbsp garlic minced
1 large onion sliced
500 grams ground pork or beef
2 eggs beaten
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
salt to taste

Cooking Time!

1. Heat the pan and place the cooking oil
2. Saute the garlic and onion.
3. Add ground pork or beef. Cook well.
4. Add the ampalaya mix well.
5. Add egg, stir until egg is distributed evenly.

Meatballs Congee: Our Rainy Day Comfort Food

          Sometimes we get tired of the usual Arroz Caldo or Sopas during rainy, so we decided to make some meatballs congee. It is so simple, you can even make the meatballs in advance and then freeze it for future consumption.

Ingredients:

500 grams ground beef or pork
1/4 cup onion, diced
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 egg
salt and pepper to taste
chicken ginger stock
Malagkit Rice
Ordinary Rice

Cooking Time!

1. In a food processor, grind onions.
2. Add pork, cornstarch and egg until mixture is sticky.
3. Boil water. 
4. Make meatballs using two spoons. Shape the mixture into balls.
5. Drop the meatballs in boiling water.
6. Once cooked, drain the meatballs and set aside.
7. Add chicken stock in a casserole.
8. Add malagkit rice and ordinary rice.
9. Add salt and pepper to the congee to taste.
10. Serve the congee with meatballs.