Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Embotido (Filipino meatloaf)


Embotido 



Steamer has been my favorite thing to use in the kitchen these days.
There's just so many Food, especially Filipino food that I miss and I want to cook!

One of them is this one. 
It's a Filipino version of Meatloaf. 
It's just one of the best Meatloaf version I've ever had. 

Let me know what you guys think!





Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Ground pork
  • 1/4 Cup garlic,minced
  • 1/2 Cup onion, minced
  • 1/4 Cup carrots,minced
  • 1/2 Cup red bell pepper, minced
  • 1/2 Cup green bell pepper, minced
  • 1 Tbsp sweet pickle relish
  • 2 Tbsp raisins
  • 1 pc. chorizo, finely chopped
  • 1/4 Cup grated cheese
  • 2 Tbsp. liver spread
  • 1 egg beaten 
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce 
  • 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
  • 1 Tbsp Filipino ketchup
  • 1 Tbsp all purpose flour
  • 2 Tbsp Bread crumbs
  • 2 slices whole wheat bread, flaked and soaked in 1/4 Cup evaporated milk.
  • 2 Tsp salt 
  • 1 Tsp pepper

For Filling:
         
        3 Eggs, hard boiled & quartered
        3 Beef franks, halved lengthwise

Procedure:

  • In a bowl, season ground pork with salt and pper.
  • Add the garlic, onion, carrots, bell peppers, pickle relish, raisins, chorizo, cheddar cheese, liver spread, soy sayce, oyster sauce and ketchup. mix well.
  • Add the bread and milk mixture, bread crumbs, flour and the beaten egg, mix thoroughly.
  • On a slightly greased sheet of aluminum foil, place a cup of meat mixture and flatten it, leacing about 3 inches of space on both ends of the foil.

  • Put the sliced beef franks and sliced boiled eggs on the middle of the meat mixture.
  • Roll the foil to foam a log locking the sausage and egg in the middle. Lock the foil by twisting both ends.

  • Oven medium heat, cook in a steamer for 1 hour.
  • Remove from the steamer and allow to cool down. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Unwrap and slice. Serve with hot rice and your choice of dip.


Enjoy, and have a great week!!!

xo
-Jen








Monday, June 13, 2016

Chocoflan



Hello everyone!
How is your weekend so far??
So my In-laws are visiting tomorrow.
I find it a good reason to bake something special!
I have been wanting to make this for a while now and I'm so glad I got to make it.

I was so worried that It won't turn out good. 
..And with how busy I am these days, I'm so glad to have time to bake today.
This was actually not that hard.
As long as you have all of the ingredients and you follow the instructions it will
turn out really good!







Chocoflan

Ingredients:
For the Cake:
  • 10 Tbsp butter, room temperature
  • 1 Cup sugar
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/4 tsp Baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 Cup buttermilk
  • butter or baking spray for greasing
  • 1/2 cup or more caramel topping
For the Flan:
  • 1 12 oz can of evaporated milk
  • 1 12 oz can condensed milk
  • 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
Directions:
 
  • Preheat oven to 350 F
  • Grease a 12-cup bundt pan with butter or baking spray. Pour 1/4 cup of caramel at the bottom of the pan. If the caramel is too thick, warm it up so it will settle evenly on the bottom of the pan.
  • Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the egg and beat until light and fluffy.
  • Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt in a separate mixing bowl.
  • Beat the 1/3 of the flour mixture and half of the buttermilk into the egg mixture. Repeat, ending with the last of the flour mixture. Blend well.
  • Spoon the cake batter into the pan.  Carefully drag a fork on the top to even it out without disturbing the caramel at the bottom.
  • Mix all of the ingredients of the flan together and blend in a blender or with a hand blender.
  • Slowly pour the flan mixture into the cake batter.
  • Cover with a foil.
  • Sit the bundt pan on a roasting tin and add about an inch of the hot water.
  • Bake for an hour and half or until ta cake tester comes out clean. The cake layer should rise to the top.
  • Remove from water bath and cool to room temperature about 1 hour.
  • Remove the pan and scrape any remaining caramel onto the cake. Arrange pecans on top and drizzle with more caramel.
  • Slice and serve with caramel sauce.

Enjoy!!!









Sunday, June 5, 2016

Grateful






I can't believe its been 2 weeks since my baby was born.
..and it has been a wonderful 2 weeks.
Busy, trying to figure out how to do this "mom of 2" thing.
So grateful that my hubby never left my side and helping me
with everything.

So many things I want to stay that I don't even know where to start.
But for now, I can say that I'm really happy, grateful.
So excited for our next journey.

xo

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Banana Chocolate Coconut Bites





Hello everyone!
It's been a while since I updated.
Well,first of all. My Baby is here!!!
It's been a wonderful 2 weeks.

I'll share more about it on my next post.
Anyways, I am breastfeeding like with my first born.
And, I totally forgot how breastfeeding makes me constantly hungry!
I keep on eating whatever I see and that's not good!
I decided to start making healthy snacks so even when I'm hungry late at night
What I'm going to grab is healthy!
I decided to make these and It was so good!
No bake, Eat clean dessert/snack

Let me know what you guys think!

Banana Chocolate Coconut Bites


Ingredients:

1 cup coconut flakes
1 banana
1 avocado
1 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tbsp honey

Directions:
Mash banana and avocado with a fork until well blended. 
Add in cinnamon, cocoa, and honey.
Add in coconut shreds and stir until batter thickens.
Roll into little balls and roll in coconut shreds.
Store in the fridge and enjoy! 


Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Shrimp, Sweet potato and Kale Stir-Fry







I love love Stir-Fry!
Stir-Fry dishes are really common in the Philippines, or let say Asian Countries.
I don't make Stir-fry dishes often but when do, I make sure it's a healthy kind.
Like this one, Simple. Easy, and so good! 
Let me know what you guys think!

Shrimp, Sweet potato and Kale Stir-Fry

Ingredients:
  • 1 lb Shrimp
  • 1 bunch kale, sliced
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 2 sweet potatoes, diced
  • 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 tbsp. butter
  • 2 tsp worcestershire sauce
  • salt and pepper.

Directions:
  • Place sweet potatoes in skillet over medium heat. Add a few tbsp. of water to skillet and cook for 15 minutes. Strain any remaining water from pan.
  • Add onions and garlic, cook for about 5-6 minutes.
  • Add kale, lemon juice, red pepper flake, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • Melt butter in pan. Add shrimp and worcestershire. Cook on each side until no gray remains.
  • Serve shrimp over kale and sweet potato mixture.




Monday, May 23, 2016

Chaturanga









Chaturanga at 35 weeks.
Feels so good but so challenging at this point.
#pregnantnotpowerless


Sunday, May 22, 2016

Quinoa Breakfast Bowl






Happy Sunday everyone!
I hope you are all having a good weekend.
Started my day with this amazing breakfast.
I finally got to try quinoa!
Quinoa is gluten free, high in protein, and also high in fiber!
Everything that is good for me, that's why I have been wanting to try it.
This bowl has eggs, Spinach, bacon, mushroom and bell peppers. 
I will definitely have to cook more with quinoa!



What do you guys think of quinoa?

xo
Jen

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Fiesta Corn & Avocado salsa





Hello everyone!
It's been a while since I posted a recipe.
I've been busy these days and lazy too. haha!
Lately I like to make something easy and fresh and this salsa is just one of them.
Aside from craving for this Dip/salsa for a while, I love love this kind of dip because its so fresh. 
Hubby doesn't like onion and tomatoes but I'm glad he got to enjoy this too with me!



Ingredients:
  • 1 and 1/2 Cups fresh or canned corn kernels (I used canned)
  • 1 and 1/2 Cups black beans
  • 1/2 small red onion, diced
  • 1 Cup diced tomato
  • 1 avocado,chopped 
  • 1/4 cup cilantro
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • pinch of ground pepper
  • pink of cayenne pepper
  • 1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (optional)

Directions:
  • Add everything to a large bow. Stir. Taste and add more seasoning as needed.
  • Cover and let sit in the refrigerator for 1 hour or up to 1 day. (It taste better after an hour and a little cold )
Note: The lime juice and red onion keeps the avocado from turning brown.
        



Enjoy!

See you soon.









10 weeks vs 35 weeks.
I can't wait to meet you little boy. 

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Little man's 4th Birthday







I know I've said this last year, 
But,  I can't believe it! 
My baby is 4! 
Little man's Birthday party this year is different ( Little man's 3rd Birthday )
We decided to have it at our house this year,
This might be his last year celebrating it here in North Carolina 
so we decided to make it special, fun with close friends. 
I think it turned out fun!
He had a blast. 




Our theme this year was not different like like last year.
He is still obsessed with cars, But this year he is more obsessed with
Hot wheels.
So we made it all Hot wheels themed.
Thanks to party city because they have everything there!





Of course, Fruit for Appetizer and some fresh stuff to add to Burgers.



Little man had a Bouncy castle outside, 
So everyone was outside most of the time.
Me and my friend had a quick halo halo!
Oh, how i missed this!
Taste like heaven!



I mean, who wouldn't want that on a hot day?



Little man's cake this year is from the same bakery like last year.
I loved how it turned out.
Little man loved it.











We grilled and had some Filipino dishes for side that I forgot to take  a picture.
Like always, It was a lot of food.
I like having lots of food that not having enough.



Pinata fun!







Kids loved it.




....And the bouncy castle.





Me and my friend's bump.
I'm so excited for them to meet!













It was a great party. 
My little man is getting so big!! ( Teary eyes) 
Hubby did so good getting everything ready for the party.
He is the best Father ever.


I hope you are all having a good week!

xo
Jen

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

USS North Carolina Battleship





Before going to the beach last Sunday ( Mother's day: Carolina beach, North Carolina )
We decided to stop by and check out this museum.
I have been wanting to go there for a while.
Every time we go to Myrtle Beach we pass it.
So I'm glad we went there. 
I was so amazed!












Lots of things that they preserved!



This is actually my first time getting on a ship.
I'm glad its not moving or else I'll freak out.














It's so nice that they get to preserve this ship even after the world war. 








We got to go inside and it was really interesting.
Everything was so old. (Of course)





The kitchen.




We got to go where the machines are. 
It was a little hard to get down there.
But it was worth it.
Little man was loving it too.





The barber shop.








It's crazy how tight their beds were.
It doesn't look comfortable at all.










It was such a beautiful day.
A little humid and staying inside the ship feels better.
But its so beautiful outside.









I highly recommend stopping there if you are going to the beach!


xo 
Jen