funny side up

Pork mechado , a staple Filipino dish. Filling on its own but best served with warm rice! Op kors! Mechadong masarap ito!  It's like Afritada , but its not. Like Menudo , but it's not. Like Caldereta , but it's not. 😜 It's a ONE POT stew  with a taste appeal all its own! 🍲 Ingredients: 500g pork loin, diced 1 Onion, diced 2 Garlic, minced 2 Potatoes, big,diced 2 Carrots, medium,diced 1 Sayote or 2 Celery, diced Salt & pepper Oyster sauce, 1 tsp Brown sugar, 1 tso Tomato sauce, 1/2 cup Water, 1/2 cup Bayleaf, 1  Liverspread, 1 small can Slurry (cornflour + tepid water), 2 tbsp Cooking oil 🍲 Tools Knife & chopping board (for meat, for veggies) Medium-depth pot Ladle Bowl for  slurry Tasting spoon/cup 🍲 Steps Heat oil in the pot, medium heat. Saute garlic & onion, stir so garlic does not burn. Add pork slices, add salt and pepper. Let it brown. Add potatoes and carrots, let it cook for 5 minutes,stirring gently. Add sayote / celery last (since it cooks f...

A fun drink without the headache! 😁 Mocktails are kids-safe ✅ This is refreshing lychee with yummy bits. Pop in that bobba straw and slurp away! 🥤 Ingredients Lychee, 1 can, mashed lightly Lychee syrup, 1/2 of can Lychee juice Nata de coco, 1 pack, w/o syrup Water, 3/4 of pitcher 1 / 2 lemon juice Mint leaves, 2 washed (optional). Honey, 1 tbsp (optional), to taste. 🥤 Steps Drop all in a jug. Mix well but gently. Taste test. Pour! Enjoy!

My brood loves pasta dishes. To shake things up a bit, we tried one with the Asian twist. Always fun to do a twist 😁💃 🍝 pasta noodles, al dente ginger, 1 smallest knob, shred Garlic, 1 small knob, shred Spring onion, white 1 onion, diced 1 Chili, sliced bias (optional) 🍝 Sauce - Soy sauce, 1 tbsp Sesame oil, 1 tbsp Peanut butter 1 tbsp Lemon juice / vinegar, 1tsp Pasta water, 2 tbsp Chili flakes, 1 tsp (optional) 🍝 Toppings - Crushed nuts Spring onion, greens Chili flakes Toasted sesame seeds Tips- - careful adding more lemon juice or vinegar to the sauce. Ver2 request-  Charlie Chan pasta version. less sour and more PB taste, please! (for EZ) 💡Inspired by:  Aaron and Claire Peanut Spaghetti

Pita wraps and cream bring fond memories, of me in my 2nd-trimester 1stborn baby bump with a HUGE craving for a pita-wrapped goodness of creamy tuna. So fortunate that Ayala Cebu, just across my workplace then, had a stall that sold a very satisfying version of this!  🎶 Yes, " Pita wrap dreams are made of this "... 🎵🎶 A very welcome healthy twist to tuna wraps is the iron-rich spinach leaves add-on, which my current town has plenty supply of. Other alternatives would be kale, and other similar greens. And here was 1 of my many takes. Ingredients - 2 garlic shredded 2 generous knobs of butter* 2 cans of spicy tuna in oil Pinch of salt Dash of pepper 1/2 tsp chili flakes 1 can cream 1 pack of spinach leaves 1/2 cabbage diced (optional) 1/2 apple diced (optional) 1 tsp lemon juice pratha or wraps Steps - Saute garlic in butter, add salt. Add tuna, cook for 3 minutes. Optional to add a bit of the oil from the can. But for healthier version, leave that out. Spinach goes in, sau...

As requested by my teeniebop M, pasta but with the Singapore twist -- salted egg sauce !!! Easy & yummy-loaded!  SHIOK! 🥚 Ingredients Olive oil Curry leaves (optional) Chili padi, whole Chili flakes, 1 tsp Spring onion, julienne Butter, 1 knob 2 packets salted egg mix Evaporated milk, 1/2 can Water *follow packet instructions, then add more to desired sauce consistency. 500g pasta, cooked al dente. 🥚 Tools knife &  chopping board can opener Measuring cup & teaspoon spatula pasta pot & strainer sauce pan 🥚 Steps Cook pasta in pasta pot according to package instructions. Save 1cup of pasta water for the sauce.  Strain pasta and set aside. Heat sauce pan (medium). Add olive oil. Saute chili, curry leaf,spring onion for a minute to release flavors. Remove and set aside. Add butter.  Add salted egg mix and stir well until dissolved and foamy. Add water. Cook for 5 minutes. Add chili and spring onion. Add evaporated milk. Add pasta water, to desired con...

Looks pretty & fancy schmancy 🤵 .  For something VERY flavorful, the steps to make this is fairly easy & straightforward, makes sense that it's pinned up in my fam's menu. 📌 A reunion family dinner at Dakong Balay, and my precious   niece ordered this dish.  Elegant, Savory, Filling and Rich.  I was  inspired! A week later, this was our star dish for Media Noche, to welcome New Year 2025! 🐔 TOOLS meat mallet / kitchen hammer / burger press non-stick pan sauce pan chopping board cheese grater serving plate 🐔 INGREDIENTS chicken fillet, "butterflied" or chick leg boneless butterflied & flatten with meat mallet. salt pepper flour 2 eggs breadcrumbs cheese, grated (cheddar, mozzarela,  parmesan, etc. Got the authentic Italian parmiggiano? Even better! ) cream or beschamel sauce (my Z does NOT like cheese) so this one's for her 😉 parsley 2 tomato, diced 1/2 onion, minced tomato sauce 🐔 GOALS -FLATTEN protein / meat -THIN flour coating only -HOT...

Sweet and tangy meatballs with soft-boiled eggs.  Great balls of, umm, not fire, but flavors and textures. A perfect pair. Kids love this, especially when reaching home, tired and hungry from school. This dish is simply tasty, filling, and comforting like those happy days at home. Missing eggs in the picture.😅  All went straight to our happy bellies. 🧆 Tools   Chopping board & knife Mixing bowl (stainless steel/aluminum for raw meat) Platter (for balled minced pork) Not-shallow-not-deep pan Ladle Small Bowl (for boiled eggs ice-cold water soak) 🧆 Ingredients 250g Minced pork aka ground pork 3/4 Onion, minced 1 Celery, minced (or Chayote, optional, this is a meat extender) 1 Carrot, minced (optional, also a meat extender) 1/4 Onion, sliced 2 Garlic, minced 1 carrot, sliced like flowers Pineapple slices (optional) Soft boiled eggs Oyster sauce Brown sugar Pineapple sauce Ketchup or Tomato sauce Water Cornflour & tepid water (for slurry) 🧆 Steps ***Prep the meatb...

Up for a rich & hot protein  double whammo  dish?  Try this Mapo Tofu ! This is an easy & flavorful dish with its signature red color   a nd spicy taste  f rom its use of the Sichuan peppercorn. It is  a  popular  traditional   Chinese dish,  hailing from Sichuan province. "Mapo" in Chinese means 'pockmarked old woman' . It is said that this dish was invented by one who was nicknamed the same. Here in the Lion City, there are numerous variations to Mapo dishes, like Mapo Eggplant, Mapo Noodles, etc. (i think i saw a Mapo Burger ad somewhere? 🤔) The possibilities are endless, I suppose! And dare I say, they will all taste absolutely great. Here was our take of Mapo Tofu Rice Bowl , and my oh my !  A little less on the heat, so our boy could take it. But oh was it still good.  Silky tofu, savory meat, and that little red bite. The latest  pin to the family menu.🔨 🌶️ Tools Chopping board & knife Grater (for ...

Another crispy veggie.   Mm mm mm mushroom .  Need I say more? 🍄Tools Mixing bowl (for batter) Strainer Kitchen towel or cooling rack 🍄Ingredients 1 + 1/2 pack enoki mushroom 1 + 1/2 cup All purpose Flour 1/4 cup Cornstarch 1 tsp Salt 1 tsp Ground Pepper 3 tsp Garlic powder 3 tsp Smoked Paprika Cooking oil for frying 🍄Steps *** Prep enoki Unpack, lay flat on chopping board.  Chop off the bottom, but leave off 1/4 inch to hold the shrooms together. Slice enoki horizontally. Place in a basin and wash gently but thoroughly.  Check each bunch for stray roots and dirt.  Wash again as needed. Drain well. Place on a kitchen towel and pat-dry. *** Prep batter In a mixing bowl add flour, cornstarch, salt,pepper,and choice herbs / spices. Mix well. Set aside for frying time. *** Cook enoki Heat the deep-frying pan to high.  Add cooking oil. When oil is hot enough (do the chopsticks oil test), dip the mushroom into the batter, shake excess off, and drop gently...

☀️A strudel hack makes our weekend brunch  so easy like a Sunday mornin'🎵❤️ . This Pratha Strudel is hands-down in my top fave hacks because it gives me more time with my family, especially on weekends-- we get to enjoy each other's company, sip our coffee while it's still warm (milk for the kids), nibble our crispy pastries, our morning unhurried and pleasant. 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨👶👩👧☀️ ---and isn't that a most precious well-spent time? Easy to prepare, c risp and delicious. Tools Sauce bowl Fruit bowl Baking tray Baking paper Teaspoon Knife Chopping board Fork Ingredients Pratha Fruit jam or apple sauce Fresh fruits, diced Steps Line your baking tray with baking paper. Prepare the filling. Prepare the wraps. Preheat toaster or oven at 180°C for 5mins. Add   filling to the wrap, just enough so you can "seal" without oozing out. Form the strudel (see the picture). "Seal" all sides with a fork ( very important! ) as you would a puff pie. Toast or bake for ...

Camaron Rebosado + Pratha. 2  cultures combined =  shiok ! I remember I love a good camaron rebosado, dip it in the sour sauce and its a heavenly bite. 🤤 Just like the huge ones i used to have at  AA's BBQ  in  Cebu City  way back when. I've always wanted to let the kids try at home. And then i bumped into this pratha hack. (Oh yeah oh yeah oh yeah 🕺🕺🕺).  A t last, Camaron Rebosado is served! 🍤Tools Knife Tray Frying pan Ladle Spider-ladle Strainer / cooling rack or tray topped with kitchen towel 🍤Ingredients Large shrimp, peeled, deveined Salt Pepper Pratha wraps 🍤Steps Wash & tap-towel dry the shrimp. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Slice the pratha into 6 strips. Wrap each shrimp with pratha dough (s ee demo at 1:11 ). Place on the tray.  Heat the frying pan, add the cooking oil.  Once the oil is ready for frying (do the chopstick bubbles test), gently put the shrimps in 1 by 1. Turn the shrimp around using tongs, to make sure ea...

🏮Bring Lunar New Year vibes to the table with Bak Wa & Mantou.  Vibrant colors, savory, fresh, crisp, tangy, soft and warm, Mmmmm to the senses.🤤 It's a sensational meal that's a big hit for both kids and grown-ups. Tools steamer sauce pan ladle Ingredients 1 tsp cooking oil Mantou or Pao, steamed Bak Wa, warmed Pineapple slices, lightly roasted Mini- Romaine Lettuce PineApple Sauce  Steps Steam mantou or pao buns according to package instructions. Slice the bakwa and lettuce proportional to the size of the bun. Ready the pineapple slices. Ready the PineApple sauce . (see  recipe )  Best served while the buns are warm. Enjoy!  Here was our colorful spread: *Beside bak wa is our ymca-ed sweet sour meatballs. (Yesterday's Meal Cooked Again 😅) Yup,a bun meal is very versatile! 🪷 Kung Hei Fat Choi! 🪷  🎊 💡Inspired by: CNY feels in the red dot

My 1st time to make the "ham" sauce base and it's so easy and tastes like Christmas.🌟 Thanks to the  🥫  applesauce shared by Mom from my big sis. (Oof! Must find good recipes before it expires! 😅) Tools small sauce pan ladle spoon for tasting Ingredients 1/4 cup Pineapple sauce 1 tbsp Oyster sauce 3 tbsp Apple sauce 3 tbsp Water white Sesame seeds Steps On low heat, warm the sauce pan. Add the pineapple sauce and oyster sauce, cook for a minute. Add apple sauce and water. Simmer while stirring for a minute. Add sesame seeds and simmer for another minute. Transfer to a sauce bowl. It's great with salads and fried meat. Enjoy! 💡Inspired by: Christmas family memories🎄😍

"Bak kut teh  ganyan?  A ng ibig koy lagi kang pagmasdan? Umula't umaraw di pagsasawaan ang iyong katangian. Ang gutom ko'y ibang iba kapag nakahain ka sa mesa."😅 Sing with me now 🎙️🎶  pun intended...😂 Bak Kut Teh. This is one soup that comforts yet awakens your soul at the same time. The zing of peppery, garlicky broth with savory fall-off-the-bones tender pork. It's a dish that I would say most Pinoys love here in SG. It's like a taste of home... reminiscent of pochero and nilagang baboy , though slightly different. 🧄🥩Tools Thermal cooker, or claypot, or any deep enough and thick enough pot that you use for soups and stews Soup cloth Ladle Meat strainer 🥩Ingredients- ribs prep 2L water 750g pork ribs 🧄Ingredients- spice prep 4 bulbs garlic, unpeeled but clean and crushed gently 1/8 cup peppercorn 1 tsp soy sauce 1.8 L water 1 pack Song Fa bak kut teh mix (includes 2 spice packets inside)🧄 🥩 Steps ***Remove the scum from the ribs Boil 2L water. Add...

With the Lunar New Year season on this red dot, McDonald's offers this festive combo of  Prosperity Buns ,  Curly Fries , and  Cherry Blossom Pie . 😋 Every year, my family gets to enjoy it. The black pepper sauced chicken, sweet onions on warm buns are our family's favorite. This year, we make it again in our kitchen. With so much more onions, more sauce, and more curly fries!!!  😉 Oozing, overflowing with goodness!  福 (blessings!) Tools Wok Sauce pan Ingredients ***Protein 1 tbsp Oil 500g or 1/2 pack Chicken Fillet, jullienned dash of Black pepper ***Sauce Black pepper 1 tbsp Butter Onion, sliced Oyster Sauce Soy sauce Sugar Salt Water Cornflour / cornstarch Sauce details, see here:  black-pepper-chicken-easy yo!   *** Sides Ok 💡 Inspired by McDonalds 😄 P.S. As we usher in the chinese new year-- wishing us all abundant blessings from our Good God above to us all! Gong xi, Gong xi Fa Cai! 🥳🎊🎊 Here was our prosperity buns spread- CNY eve capped w...

This is an easy weeknight dish that's packed with flavor. Herbs, lemon, butter, and roasty chicken-- what's not to love? 🤤 🌱Tools Mixing bowl Bowl lid or plastic wrap Tongs Butter knife 🌱Ingredients 1 pack chicken thigh, skin scored 1 tbsp butter* * 2 garlic minced* * 1 tbsp oregano* * 1 tbsp thyme* * 1 tbsp evoo or grapeseed oil* * 1/4 lemon, juiced* * If you prefer this dish to have more sauce to drizzle over the chicken and/or your paired carbohydrates or greens, make and sauté an extra portion of the marinade * . 🌱Steps Mix very well in a bowl, slathering every nook and cranny. Cover and let it marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours to overnight.  When ready to cook, heat a wide pan to medium heat. Add butter, let it melt and spread around. Add the chicken 1 by 1, skin side first. Let it brown, about 5 minutes.* Turn over to cook the other side.* Add butter, as needed. Garnish with lemon rinds or lemon slices. Serve and enjoy with a cuppa rice, boiled potatoes or v...

If you love nibblin on a sweet corn and you also love a good juicy steak, (and u love corny dad jokes. 😁🤭) knock yourself out with this healthy snack. 😃🥰 Steps : Prep the dry-rub Mix well in a small bowl the following- 1 tbsp Garlic powder (or shredded garlic, or garlic paste) 2 tbsp Smoked Paprika 1 tsp Red Chili Flakes* (to taste) 1 tsp Pepper* (to taste) 1 tsp Salt Prep the corn ribs 2 pcs whole sweet corn, cleaned, sliced to bite-sized "sticks" Place the corn ribs in a big non-staining* mixing bowl. (*paprika powder can leave stains it seems) Add the dry rub and rub gently ALL OVER the corn. ( *viz iz va secret to oozing great taste 😉) Leave to rest for at least 15 minutes. Heat up a grill pan or frying pan to medium heat. Melt a knob of butter. Arrange the ribs on the pan, do not crowd. Grill each side for 5minutes. Transfer to mixing bowl/platter. Prep the sticky sauce Saute in a small pan- 2 heads Garlic, minced & 2 knobs butter  Pour the sauce onto the bowlf...

"Sosi ka ba?" 😅 For the "saucy" eater who enioys pairing gustatory delights with the perfect sauce... Here's our take on the viet/thai sauce.   🍶 Ingredients: Garlic,peeled and crushed Spring onion, minced 1/4 Lemon, juice squeeze 1 to 1.5 tbsp Fish Sauce 2 tsp Sugar pinch of Salt dash of ground Pepper 1 tbsp Red Chili Flakes 1 tbsp of ketchup or tomato sauce 1 tbsp Sriracha (optional) 4 tbsp of warm Water (very important! this balances the acid) Enjoy it with favorite dishes 😃

I was that day old when I learned that there is also a Torta Monggo !!! 😅 We tried it and true enough it was delish.  This is a very welcome addition to the  classic torta talong and torta hipon in our menu staple. Easy to prep n' cook, tasty and ticks my required veggie % intake for every meal. The whole bunch loved it. 😋 Here was our 1st take: 📝 Ingredients : 1 cup Monggo beans (boiled, drained well) 1 small Onion, minced 2 cloves Garlic, minced 1 cup Malunggay leaves (optional) 2 tbsp Flour 1 tbsp Oyster sauce Salt, Ground Pepper to taste  1 to 2 eggs 250 g Minced Pork (optional, also add 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce). *the size of the eggs may vary in some regions, so check the consistency-- it must be pasty and not runny. 📝 Steps : 1. In a mixing bowl, put all the ingredients. 2. Mix well- gently but thoroughly. 3. Heat up a shallow frying pan on low-medium. 4. Add 2 tbsp of preferred cooking oil. 5. Scoop a generous tablespoon of the mix and push gently onto the pan....

Tom Yum, Yum!! item: Thai tom yum mix  name: Tom Yum Paste  brand: FairPrice  Verdict: 👍👍👍👍 4 stars from my tribe :-) The littlest one has yet to acquire this taste, a tad too spicy for his palate. But for majority of us, this absolutely tastes Tom Yum.  We prepped this as Fish Tom Yam Soup 🥣🔥, and it was sooo good eats! Sits so warmin the tummy given the cool rainy season this start of the year. 1 pack Suchi fish. Any veggie (eggplant, bean sprouts, cucumber, carrots). 📝 Tip:  serve with egg noodles side by side this hot soup and its perfect!

Yum!! Ready the garlic! Keep skin on, but of course peel off some if it's dirty.  Slice the top portion of the garlic head. Place garlic heads on aluminum wrap. Slather each head with oil, salt, pepper. Seal the wrap. Toast / bake for 30mins at 200°C. Remove from the oven and unseal the wrap (careful, its hot!). Let cool, until able to handle the garlic, or opt to use kitchen gloves. Squeeze out gently the garlic from the skin. When toasted well, it should fall out easily. Catch onto a mixing bowl. Squish and mash with a fork, and mix with melted butter, and other preferred herbs. And that's it, this garlic butter mix is ready for some serious yummy slatherin'.

Crispy dumpling pancake is like lumpia in another form. They are from the same "family" I would say 😉. A beloved dish in a new fun way to eat. 📝Ingredients- Minced chicken Oyster sauce Carrots Celery Onion Salt, pepper Sesame oil Vermicelli noodles (optional, it doesnt get crispy inside as i imagined it would.  It serves more as an extender ). Wanton wrap 📝🥟Prep: Heat oil in large pan or wok. Stir fry meat. Season with a bit of salt & pepper. Stir-fry veggies. Add oyster sauce, mix well until the whole thing's stirfry-cooked. Last, drizzle some sesame oil. Add a spoonful of the cooked mix to each wanton wrap.  Pinch the top together to close.l the dumpling.  Flatten the dumpling on your palm/plate. Set aside.  Repeat until its a wrap! 🤭🏁 🔥🥟Fry time:  Fry well, both sides. Rest on paper towels to remove extra oil. Serve with favorite dip. 💡Inspired by:  Cici Li

I wanted a homemade Yuzu Sauce... But this turned out just a bit like one. So let's call it (my) Dark Yuzu Sauce instead.😉 Aromatic, tangy, bit salty, and with a bit of a kick from the chilis!🍋🍋‍🟩🌶️ Ingredients: Soy sauce (alternative to tamari) Lemon juice (alternative to Yuzu) Water Salt Sugar Sesame oil Sesame seeds (optional) Chili flakes (optional) Steps: Mix, whisk in a bowl. Pour to sauce dish. Serve with your greens and proteins, or whatever floats your boat.  👌