Black Bean Salad with Corn and Avocado

I have been making all different kinds of Dips these past few weeks.

I can say, So far they are all good.

Check the Appetizer section on the Recipe tabs to check it all.

Today, I want to share this one that I made last weekend. 

Perfect for Mexican night or just you want a Dip that is fresh and light.

What is good with this is that you can add anything you want!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15-ounce) can corn kernels, drained and rinsed
• 1 medium tomato, diced
• 1 medium avocado, pitted, peeled, and diced
• 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
• 1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped
• 1 medium jalapeño, ribs and seeds removed, finely diced
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 1 lime), plus more as needed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Look at all of the colors!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Toss all the ingredients together in a large bowl. Taste and season with more lime juice or salt, if needed.

   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   Perfect with chips or crackers.

   Let me know what you guys think!

   
   

   xoxo

   -Jen

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   
   

You Glow Different...

"You glow different, 

When you're actually

HAPPY"

 

Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita

 

It's been so much fun making refreshing refreshing, fun drinks lately.

I don't know...Drinking it makes me imagine its nice and warm outside. 

It's so refreshing!

It's not quite summer yet, so I'll just keep dreaming about it while drinking drinks like these.

These are so good.

It's perfect for Mexican night!

FOR THE CHILI SALT:

• 2 tablespoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon chili powder

FOR THE MARGARITA:

• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 jalapeño slice
• 1/4 cup Tequila
• 3/4 cup pineapple juice
• 1/8 cup triple sec
• Optional: Pineapple wedges and additional jalapeño slice for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make the chili salt by combining salt and chili powder. Rim glass with chili salt mixture.
2. Muddle the jalapeño slice with lime juice in a shaker. (If you don’t have a muddler, use the handle of a wooden spoon).
3. Place 1-1/2 cups ice in the shaker and add tequila, pineapple juice and triple sec. Shake vigorously and pour into a rimmed glass. Garnish with pineapple wedge and jalapeño slice, if desired.

Let me know what you guys think!!

xoxo

-Jen

Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies Cups

 

Okay.. I have been making a lot of Filipino goodies these days.

I feel selfish for making all the good stuff just for me.

So I decided to bake something for hubby. 

He likes Asian food but not all of it. 

I know would never say no to a Reese's dessert so I made it 

just in time before the weekend. 

I highly suggest putting the cookie dough in the fridge 4 hours or overnight

before baking it though.

I usually do that on all of the cookies I make.

It just makes it easier to bake. 

Let me know what you guys think!

Ingredients

• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 36 unwrapped Reese's miniature peanut butter cups

Instructions

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a miniature muffin tin pan and spray with cooking spray. Set aside. 
• In a small mixing bowl, add the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a whisk to break up any clumps. Set aside. 
• In a larger mixing bowl, cream together the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter. Beat for 1-2 minutes until lighter in color and fluffy looking. 
• Add vanilla, egg, and milk. Beat until combined. Stir in the dry ingredients and mix by hand, with a wooden spoon just until combined.
• Roll the cookie dough into 1" dough balls and place one in each miniature muffin tin. Cook for 7 minutes. Cookie cups will look puffy and lighter in color, but should NOT be browned at all on the sides. 
• Immediately after taking cookie cups out of the oven, gently press an unwrapped miniature Reese's peanut butter cup into the center of each one. Let cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. 

7 minutes at 375 F is the perfect time to make it guys.

But, feel free to do a few batch to see how cooked you want it.

It was so good.

Perfect quick snack or dessert.

Enjoy!

xoxo

-Jen

Pantry Goals

I have been having so much fun organizing our new home. 

My priority so far are the ones we use more.

Of course on the top of the list is the Pantry. 

I'm so in love with our organized pantry.

Sometimes I just stare at it and it makes me feel relaxed.

Is it just me???

Okay, you can call me crazy. haha!

This door rack was awesome. 

We bought most of the stuff that I used for the Pantry in Amazon

and so far they are all awesome.

Link for the Door door rack is ( Here )

The baskets are my old Baskets from target.

I used it for Baby's room before.

I just figure I could use it now for something else.

I put random stuff in, which is perfect because you can't really see whats in it that much.

These Storage  you can pretty much buy these anywhere but the 

cute touch is what makes it good.

Making it labeled makes it look more organized.

Pantry labels are bought ( Here )

Then can rack is probably my favorite.

I've been wanting to have one. 

It makes all the canned good looks really nice.

What nice about this is you get 2 when you order.

Link ( Here )

You can also use that as your spice rack.

Thats all I use for now.

I love it so so much.

Do you organize your Pantry?

New ideas would be awesome.

xoxo

-Jen

Fried Galunggong with Salted Egg and Tomato Salad

After having meaty dishes these past few days.

Cooking some fish and light salad is good.

I love eating leftovers but I'm more of a variety kind of person.

I could probably eat leftovers just few days and then after that I need to cook something fresh.

This Dish was so good.

Something simple, flavorful and fresh. 

Reminds of me my motherland.

Frying Galunggong without cornstarch should be fine if you don't have any.

I just like it a little crispy. 

So, its really up to your preference.

Let me know what you guys think!

Ingredients

For the Galunggong



• 4 pieces medium round scad galunggong, cleaned
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 cup Cornstarch or flour
• 1/2 cup Cooking oil

Salted egg and tomato salad 

• 1 salted egg, sliced
• 2 tbsp red onion, chopped
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• 1 tablespoon  scallion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon olive oil

Instructions

• Rub salt all over the fish including the cavity. Dip the fish in cornstarch/flour then let it stay for 5-10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the salted egg and tomato salad by combining all of its ingredients in a bowl. Gently toss. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a frying pan.
• Once the oil gets hot, put the fish one after the other.  You will know that the fish is ready when the crackling sound from the pan mellows down. 
• Turn the fish over and do the same step to the opposite side. Remove the fish from the pan. Let the oil drip.
• Arrange in a serving plate with salted egg and tomato salad.
• Serve with spicy vinegar or your favorite seafood dip.
• Share and enjoy!

I can have this kind of meal everyday.

Enjoy!

xoxo

-Jen

 

Ube Pianono

Ube Pianono is a Filipino version of Swiss roll.

Purple Sweet potato flavored bread, filled with butter and coated with sugar. 

I remember how much I love this bread when I was still living in the Philippines, Almost a decade ago!

Being able to afford to buy these makes me happy.

Makes me feel so grateful that now I can make it whenever I want. 

It's actually not hard to make.

If you've been baking this will be easy peasy.

Just make sure you follow the steps.

I accidentally put the flour in the eggs that's been sitting out to be room temperature. haha!

So I had to wait for another set of eggs. hahaha!

It's not a problem though, It was worth it.

Baking is therapeutic to me.

It's not perfect all the time.

But, I love learning as I go.

Let me know what you guys think!

Ube Pianono

Ingredients 

• 4 egg yolks from large eggs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3 tbsp canola oil
• 2 tsp liquid ube flavor
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tbsp baking powder
• 4 egg whites, from large eggs
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2- 3/4 cup  softened butter or margarine, for the filling
• 1/4 cup sugar, for the coating

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease an 11x7 inch baking pan and line it with parchment paper. Grease the parchment paper.
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the yolks and sugar until the mixture is lighter in color. Add the milk, canola oil, and ube flavor. Stir well. In another bowl, whisk together flour and baking powder. Add this dry mixture to the yolk mixture and stir until the batter is smooth and lump-free.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, use medium-high speed to beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form. Fold the meringue (beaten egg whites) into the yolk batter in three additions until the batter is uniform in color.
4. Pour and scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at 350 F for 8 minutes (see notes), or until a toothpick inserted at the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool slightly then slide the parchment paper into a wire rack to cool the cake completely.
5. Once the cake is cool. Peel off the parchment paper backing. To do that, sprinkle about 1 tbsp of powdered sugar on top of the cake. Cover the cake with parchment paper and top it with another baking pan of the same size. Invert everything over. Remove the pan and parchment paper from the cake and peel off the parchment backing. Reposition the parchment paper and another baking pan over the cake and invert everything over. The cake should now be upright again and resting on top of an inverted pan.
6. Spread softened butter or margarine across the cake surface using an angled spatula. Starting on the short edge close to you, lift the parchment paper and start to roll the cake forward until you get to the other end. Wrap the cake in the parchment paper and gently press its body to reinforce the shape. Unwrap the cake and gently roll in granulated sugar to coat.
7. Slice the ube pianono into your desired thickness. (see note) and arrange on a serving platter.

Notes

• Eggs should be large. Separate the whites from the yolks while they are cold and allow them to sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before starting with the recipe.
• This is a thin cake so it is done in around 8 minutes or so. Every oven is different so monitor the baking time closely. You don't want to overbake the cake as it will dry out. There should be no brown spot on the cake surface but it should spring back to the touch. This is important so that the cake is not too dry that it will crack upon rolling.
• If the cake cracks a bit as you roll, continue to roll it forward and when you get to the end, press the roll firmly with your hands to mend the crack parts. You can see here why it is important that the cake is not too dry.
• When sliced into 1-inch thickness, the ube pianono roll will yield about 7-8 slices.
• You can store the leftover pianono in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Refrigerate for longer storage.

Soo good guys!

I love it so much, still taste so good like I remember.

xoxo

Jen

 

New year's Weekend in Iowa

Happy 2021 Everyone!

How was your New years??

Tomorrow the kids goes back to school so we are trying to

relax today as much we can. 

We spent New year's in Iowa!

We decided its time to visit after 4 long years!

The drive was not bad at all.

We only stopped once for potty break!

..And we got welcomed with lots lots of Snow.

Thank god it wasn't snowing though.

It was also the kitties first road trip!

They did really good.

We made it just in time to prepare for New year's eve!

It was a safe, simple, quiet celebration.

It was still fun!

All I needed was the midnight kisses and I'm good!

For New year's day.

We decided to play in the Snow!

The boys never really get to enjoy this much Snow.

Every time we experience snow it's never this much.

So, it was a great time!

For dinner.. We had some Mexican food!

Our favorite Mexican restaurant was closed for New year's day (bummer)

So we tried the new one.

It was not bad at all.

It was a good dinner.

Their food was awesome!

So grateful for to start the new year with a fun trip.

Have a good week!

xoxo

-Jen

 

Okay, 2021...

 

Okay, 2021..

I'm ready for you! 

Happy New year! :)

"The best is yet to come."

"The best is yet to come."