kitchenmess:cooking is just common sense

Cinco de Mayo Recipe: Mexican Taco

2009-03-16T01:19:00.000-07:00

This recipe is included in my Cinco de Mayo recipes list. Mexican Taco is very easy to prepare. You'll just have to saute, heat and arrange! Here is the recipe numero uno for Cinco de Mayo!

Mexican Taco

Ingredients:

4 large taco shells
1 Tbsp. oil
1 onion, chopped
3/4 lb. extra lean ground beef
1 Tbsp. chili powder, divided
1/2 cup home-made or store-bought salsa
2 Tbsp. Reduced Fat Mayonnaise
2 cups torn salad greens
1 large tomato, chopped
1/2 cup Mexican Style Finely Shredded Four Cheese(can be substituted with cheddar and Monterey Jack)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Procedure:

On a large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat, saute onion in oil.
Add meat and chili powder stirring occasionally until brown.
Add salsa; cook 2 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally. Set Aside.
On a nonstick griddle, heat taco shells.
Spoon 1/4 cup of salad greens on each shell, top with a quarter of the meat mixture, tomato, cheese, mayonnaise and cilantro. Serve immediately.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!!

Cinco de Mayo Recipes

2009-03-16T01:02:00.000-07:00

Cinco de Mayo, obviously done every 5th of May, is a Mexican regional holiday. Cinco de Mayo is primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla. The celebration of Cinco de Mayo is not very well-observed in Mexico, but Americans, especially in California, are very keen in preparing "Cinco de Mayo meals" on this day. Cinco de Mayo recipes like Mexican Tacos, Enchiladas, and Burritos are the most commonly searched in preparation for this day. I have a collection of Cinco de Mayo Recipes here that will surely make your fiesta truly Mexican!

Cinco de Mayo Recipe #1: Mexican Taco

Cinco de Mayo Recipe #2: Chicken and Sour Cream Enchiladas

Cinco de Mayo Recipe #3: Burrito

Enjoy these easy-to-cook Mexican treats!

Lechon

2009-03-02T22:51:00.000-08:00

Lechon is a dish of roast meat. Lechon is usually whole roast pig but can also be done in chicken and beef. Lechon is very popular in the Philippines and in countries like Cuba, Puerto Rico and Argentina, and other countries with Spanish heritage. You will always see Lechon in festivals (fiestas) and celebrations like weddings, baptismal, and birthdays. Lechon is typically cooked by placing the whole pig (or cattle or chicken) in a spit and roasting it over charcoal while brushing the meat with fat and water (sometimes with Coke). This process will make the lechon's skin crispy. In the Philippines, La Loma in Quezon City was considered the Lechon Capital. Lydia's Lechon and Mila's Lechon are the top two Lechon restaurants in Metro Manila. Lechon de Leche is a "smaller" version of Lechon. Lechon de Leche is roast suckling pig. It is more tender than the regular Lechon because the pig that they use is much younger. Lechon baboy (pig), manok (chicken), or baka (cattle) is usually served with a liver sauce. This liver sauce for lechon (sarsa ng lechon) can also be purchased in bottles under brand names like Mang Tomas, Andoks, and UFC. If you are somewhere outside the Philippines, and you want to eat Lechon, you can always cook your very own Lechon right in your oven. One can also cook Lechon the Lechong Kawali way. Lechong Kawali is as simple as boiling a large pork hock or belly in a pot of water with salt, pepper, bay leaf and Monosodium Glutamate. When the meat is tender, deep fry! Serve with Mang Tomas and enjoy as Lechon! If you want a healthier way (oh, is there such thing as healthy lechon?), you can bake it in convection oven or turbo broiler.

Here is my recipe of Lechon for oven baking:

Lechon Recipe (Lechon using oven or broiler)

Ingredients:

8 lbs pork head/shoulder/hock/pata (with skin on)
salt and pepper
Monosodium glutamate
bay leaf
cloves of garlic
enough water to cover meat for boiling

Procedure:

In a large pot, combine ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer until meat is tender.
Preheat oven 350F.
Drain meat. (You can use the stock for soups and other stock-based dishes)
Put the pork on a large roasting rack placed over a pan to catch drippings.
Bake for 1 1/2 – 2 hours or until golden and crispy. Drain fat. Serve with liver sauce.

Enjoy your Lechon!!!

Where to buy Polvoron Molds|Order Polvoron Molders

2009-01-09T01:55:00.000-08:00

Polvoron is a sweet that's made of toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar and melted butter. They usually come in colorful plastic wrappers or wrapped in Japanese paper.

Filipinos love Polvoron, pulboron, polboron or however you spell it. However, I always hear, or rather read, questions regarding the polvoron molds or molders especially from our Kabayans outside the country. I guess they can't purchase polvoron molds in countries like the U.S., Canada, Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom, UAE or anywhere but Philippines. Is polvoron a native Filipino delicacy? Oh, by the way, I've decided I could help you with the polvoron molder issue. Presenting: Kitchenmess Polvoron Molder To Order!!! No, I don't produce polvoron molders, I'll buy it here in the Philippines and send it to you wherever you are (if the PhilPost permits). Of course, mail rates will vary, and the Polvoron molder price? Depending on the size and style. I think the Polvoron Molder price will be between $3-$9. Honestly, the mail rate will be pricier than the product! I will also toss in a free polvoron recipe! No, THIS IS NOT A SCAM!!! Hello, I'm a Filipino, too. My name is Susi De Leon Guillermo (Bataan, Philippines) and you can check my NBI Records. lol. For those who are not so paranoid about what kind of person am I and want to order polvoron molders, please leave a message with your contact info or email address at the comments area. Order your polvoron molds now!

I will update this post once I sorted the Polvoron Molders price list and the mail rates!

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe|Easy Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Topping

2008-11-22T07:22:00.000-08:00

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe|Easy Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Topping

This Sweet Potato Casserole recipe is very easy to prepare. You just have to pop it in the oven for 30 minutes and you'll have a delicious Sweet Potato Casserole.

Recipe for the Sweet Potato Casserole
Ingredients:

* 3 cups sweet potatoes, mashed
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 1/4 cup butter
* 3 eggs
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Topping:
* 1 cup chopped pecans
* 3/4 to 1 cup flaked coconut
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup flour
* 1/4 cup butter

Instruction:
Combine mashed sweet potatoes, granulated sugar, 1/4 cup butter eggs, vanilla, lemon juice, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg; blend well. Spoon sweet potato mixture into a buttered baking dish. Mix topping ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle over casserole. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.

Just follow these easy recipe and you'll have a Sweet Potato Casserole ready for the Thanksgiving dinner.

Sweet Potato Casserole Recipe|Easy Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Topping

Noodles With Black Bean Sauce

2008-10-26T04:48:00.000-07:00

I wanted to eat this since Witch Yoo Hee days, but I don't have time, and the recipe. After watching another Koreanovela, I googled it and found a recipe on She Bakes & She Cooks. I haven't tried it yet because I have to find a very important ingredient for Black Bean Sauce Noodles, the Black Bean Paste. I'm from the Philippines and there are lots of Korean Communities here so Im pretty sure I'll get that Black Bean Paste someday, when I have the time. I'll update this post when I have tried it. Special thanks to "Baker". By the way, I also found out that this Black Bean Paste Noodle is called jajang-myun in Korea.

Mahiwagang Tahong

2008-07-31T08:06:00.002-07:00

The ultimate Tortang Tahong (Fried Mussels Cake). I remember when we made this at school, and we planned to serve it on its shells. A classmate, she knows who she is, threw the shells in the garbage, but our menu said tortang tahong on shells so we have no choice but to wash the shells and use it, mmmm, yummy. No case of gastroenteritis.
Tahong (Mussels) is usually purchased by the "tabo" or gallon. We can usually buy tahong here in Bataan for only P10.00/gallon. I don't know the price range on other parts of the country though.

Fried Mussels Cake Ingredients:

oil

250 g tahong meat

2 onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 potato, chopped finely

salt, pepper and MSG to taste

2 eggs, beaten

2 tbsp. flour

Procedure:

1. Saute onions, garlic, bell pepper and tahong in a little oil.

2. Add potatoes and cook until tender.

3. Season with salt, pepper and MSG. Set aside.

4. Add flour to eggs and mix well with the tahong mixture.

5. Heat a little oil in a frying pan. Drop mixture by spoonfuls, and flatten gently. Cook until brown on both sides.

Korean Barbecue Recipe

2008-07-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

There's a sudden Korean craze here in the Philippines. First, there are the Korean students looking for colleges or universities, then investors, businessmen, their wives and kids, the boyfriend materials, the Koreanovelas, Korean stores, and Korean food. I haven't eaten in a Korean Restaurant; I don't know the taste of Kimchee either. The only claim I have about Korean food is the Korean Barbecue, which is not really Korean (my version, at least).

I altered the recipe and omitted some ingredients because I don't have this and I don't have that. Basically there are two types of Korean Barbecue Sauce, the one is Miso-based and the other is Soy sauce-based. I tried the latter one (because I don't have miso). The recipe originally asked for mirin, a kind of sweetened rice wine, but of course, I don't have mirin so I substituted 7-up. Then there's the chopped apple,which the very unfortunate me don't have.

So, here's The Not-So-Korean Barbecue recipe from a poor man's pantry:

For every 1.5 kilogram of thinly sliced pork loin pieces we'll need:

30 grams ginger root, finely chopped (about P3-5.00 at your suking tindahan)

4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

1 onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup fish sauce

8 oz 7up or Sprite

4 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 packet tomato ketchup (courtesy of McDonald's or Jollibee, about 2 tsp.)

2 Tbsp. roasted sesame seeds (optional)

PROCEDURE:

1. Combine all ingredients and marinate for at least an hour.

2. Preheat grill and cook meat.

3. Serve with rice or grilled vegetables.

Note: You can use bamboo skewers if you like but it'll take a lot of time (and sometimes blood, ouch!) for the newbies.

Love to eat, Love to cook

2008-07-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

I gathered recipes of the dishes and desserts that I love.

You'll notice that some recipes are altered and are using different ingredients from the original version. I used substitutes because: you can't easily find some ingredients here in the Philippines and some authentic recipes just don't suit Filipino taste.

I always say that cooking is just plain common sense. So prove that you have the sense, haha, and start creating these gastronomical treats.

Here's a recipe of Eggplant and Lasagna Bake. My friends love this, but unfortunately, they just love the act of eating, but the mere thought of preparing this dish scares them.

Ingredients:

375 grams Lasagna sheets, cooked according to package directions

2 tsp. oil

1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

500 grams ground beef

3 eggplants, sliced diagonally,grilled with a little oil

1 250 gram pouch Italian Style Spaghetti Sauce

2 tsp. dried oregano

1 chicken boullion cube,dissolved in 1/2 cup water

salt, pepper and sugar to taste

CHEESE SAUCE:

3 cups milk

1/3 cup flour

100 grams grated cheese

Procedure:

1. Heat oil, saute onion, garlic and beef, cook until beef is brown.

2. Add spaghetti sauce and boullion water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until thick, about 20 minutes. Season to taste.

3. Preheat oven to 180C. Spread a little of the meat sauce into the base of a 9x12 inch oven proof dish. Arrange a layer of lasagna sheets in the dish. Then top with eggplants and cover with meat sauce. Repeat layers, making sure it'll end with meat sauce layer.

4. To make cheese sauce, mix ingredients for sauce with a wire whisk. Cook over very low heat and continue stirring until cheese is melted. Cook until thick.

5. Spread cheese sauce over lasagna and bake for45 minutes to an hour.

Note:
Check the Lasagna after 25 minutes. If the top is browning too quickly, cover with nonstick baking paper or foil. Leave the Lasagna for 15 minutes before slicing.