Dairy Free Halo-Halo

     

"Life is like a Halo-Halo 

Enjoy it before it melts!" - Minda

Halo-Halo is a popular Filipino dessert that is sweet and refreshing. It is typically made with seasonal ingredients along with shaved ice, milk, and other sweet treats. Since the weather is warming up now, tropical fruits are in season and are great for Halo-Halo. The word translates to "mix-mix" in English, which describes how you can mix any ingredients together to create this cold treat. Ingredients include fruits, jams, ice cream, and Halo-Halo mix which can be bought in the store.
For a twist on this classic Filipino dessert, I chose to use dairy-free products since I'm allergic to milk.

Ingredients: 

• Halo-Halo Mix (Monika Brand) 
• 1 medium mango 
• 1 small avocado
• Dairy-free ube jam
• Shaved ice (Use an ice shaver)

     Toppings:

• Dairy-free Coconut ice-cream
• Almond Milk
• Strawberries 
• Banana chips
• Almond milk

Directions: 

1. Start off with putting 2 tablespoons of the mix into the bottom of a tall glass or bowl. 
2. Slice the mango and avocado into cubes and put on top of the mix 
3. Add in any other ingredients such as the ube jam 
4. Using an ice shaver, make shaved ice and put 1-2 cups on top as the next layer 
5. Finally, add in all toppings. As a finishing touch, add in the almond milk and mix all ingredients together. 

Succulents in a Strawberry Pot

On Mother’s Day I made an arrangement out of succulent plants to give as a present. Instead of a traditional bouquet of flowers, this one is an ideal gift because you can grow them and you don’t have to spend a lot of money on these succulents.

A few years ago I bought some strawberry pots, but I wasn’t very successful with growing strawberries. Instead I planted succulents last year and I was surprised that it grew back beautifully in the spring. I mixed different colors, textures, and heights, which contrasted like weeds crawling all over the pot. This is actually a low-maintenance plant, so it’s not very hard to take care of and maintain.

If it grows very big, you can prune it and transfer it to another pot.

This is a very nice present. You can plant it in a differently-shaped pot, mug, old teapot, basket, or anything that you like.

Just make sure that you pick a variety of succulents!

Roast Pork (Crispy Pata)

I’ve been craving for Crispy Pata, so I decided to cook this for dinner tonight.

Crispy Pata is a famous Filipino recipe that uses a whole pig’s leg (or pata). It is made tender for simmering in water along other spices, then deep fried until the texture becomes very crunchy. But instead of frying it, I baked it in the oven until golden-brown and crispy.

I can’t find a pig’s leg, so I just used a picnic pork roast with a bone in it. In the Philippines, this is usually served in a party as a pulutan while drinking beer or alcohol. Many restaurants serve this as a specialty.

Ingredients:

5 lbs picnic roast pork

1 big onion sliced

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp whole pepper corns

2 bay leaves

3-4 tbs salt

1 cup Sprite

Procedure:

1.      Clean the pork well. Cut horizontal slices on both sides.

2.      Put in a pot and cover with water. Add the onions, garlic, and the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil.

3.      Skim off the scum that rises to the surface.

4.      Boil the pork at medium heat until tender about 1-2 hours. Don’t overcook; the meat should not be falling apart. Drain and put in a rack to dry.

5.      Put in a tray and open freeze overnight.

6.      Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Put the meat in the tray with racks, and bake for 1 hour, or until golden-brown, and the skin is crunchy.

7.      Serve with soy sauce and lemon dip, or Mang Tomas sauce. 

Note: You can prepare the meat ahead of time and freeze it. Bake it whenever you want to serve it.

Succulent Plants Arrangement

"It takes some one really brave to be a mother, someone strong to raise a child and someone special to love someone more than herself." 

I’m kind of fascinated with succulent plants. It all started when I made my daughter a terrarium for her dorm last year. It’s springtime and these plants are growing in the garden and I bought some to make an arrangement. I found inspiration online and it’s suitable for Mother’s Day as a present for my mom.

Succulents are ideal if you’re living in a very limited space, like in a dorm or an apartment. It doesn't need a lot of care and they don’t grow very fast.

Succulents store water in their leaves, making them low-maintenance, drought-resistant plants.

Materials

Pot

Rocks

Soil

Green moss

Happy Mother’s Day Balloon

Succulent plants

Mug and a little tray

Directions

1. Put the rocks on the bottom of the pot for a good drainage.
2. Place the soil on top of the rocks.

3. Arrange the succulents around the pot.

4. Place a small plant inside the mug and let it lay on the soil. Put the little tray at the back of the arrangement.

5. Put some moss around the pot to hide the soil for a decorative look.

Tablescape (Bunny Bread Centerpiece)

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

-Matthew 4:4

It means that we don’t just live on physical food alone, which usually nourishes our body. We also need to live on spiritual food, which will nourish us spiritually.

This Easter, it’s time for reflection and remembering Christ for his sufferings in order to save us from our sins.

Tablescape is a term used to describe a tabletop arrangement or centerpiece to showcase or highlight a specific object or certain event.

Since it’s Easter, I used the bread bunny as a centerpiece for our family dinner. I put different kinds of vegetables around it, then in the middle, I put some hummus dip. I always think of a way to serve food creatively, while it is also appetizing and nutritious. If you’re having a dinner this Easter, this could be perfect for the occasion.

Dinner should not be elaborate that you’ll have to pressure yourself in the kitchen. Just a little planning and creativeness goes a long way.

Happy Easter!

Salmon or Tuna Sisig in Taco Shell

It’s Lenten season, and it’s time for penance, reflecting, fasting, or just simply giving up certain foods, like meat. So, I prepared this dish that you can serve during this season.

Sisig is a Kapampangan term, which means “to snack on something sour.” It also refers to a method of preparing fish and meat, especially pork. The pork is marinated in a sour liquid such as lemon juice, and then seasoned with salt, pepper, and other spices.

Sisig has found its way into numerous fusion recipes nowadays like Sisig pizza and tacos.

In the Philippines, it’s originally eaten while drinking beer or liquor, also called “pulutan.” This can served as an appetizer or main dish. I used fish instead of pork for health-conscious eaters, and this is a good dish for Lenten season. This version of Sisig has a more international appeal.

Ingredients

1 can of pink salmon or tuna

1 lime

1 tsp soy sauce

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp fish sauce

1 tbs spring onion

1 jalapeno

1 fried egg

Salad greens

Sour cream

Taco shells

Salsa

Cheddar cheese

2 tbs olive oil

Directions

1.      In a pan, fry the salmon in olive oil, then set it aside.

2.      Sautee the garlic and onions until translucent. Add in salmon and stir for one minute. Add the soy sauce, fish sauce, chili, peppers, and lemon and stir until absorbed.

3.      Serve in a hot plate with an egg in the middle. Sprinkle the chopped onions on top.

4.      As an alternative, serve it in taco shells with salad greens, sour cream, and salsa. Top with cheese and green onions.

5.      Or, if you’d like, you can serve it with rice. 

Easter Bread (Ensaymada)

Easter is the most important and oldest festival of the Christian church, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today, Easter Sunday is celebrated all around the world. Some do it with hot cross buns; some celebrate with dyed Easter eggs and candies.

This bread is perfect for an Easter dinner, to serve in the table as a centerpiece. Put in some green straw and scatter the bread like you’re making an Easter egg hunt. Put some fake eggs with candies inside, or just put money on it. It will be a good gift basket for friends, or if you’re having a potluck this Easter.

It’s also fun for the kids; they can stay inside, especially if the weather doesn’t cooperate for an outdoor Easter egg hunt.

You can put in a basket, too. Wrap it with plastic and put a ribbon around it. You can bring it to a potluck or give it as a gift for a friend this upcoming Easter.

Ingredients:

1 ½ lbs sweet bread dough

½ cup simple syrup / corn syrup

Sprinkles

Colored eggs (uncooked eggs)

Directions:

1.      Turn the dough on a lightly floured surface. Punch down, divide into 12 pieces.

2.      Roll each piece to form a 1-inch thick rope at least 12-14 inches long. Taking two pieces, braid them together, pinch the ends, and loop into a circle.

3.      Place the circle on parchment lined baking sheet and lightly cover it and let it rise until it doubles in size (about 1 hour).

4.      Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush each bread ring with egg wash and set the dyed Easter egg on the center of the ring, gently pushing down to make an indention on the bread, Bake until golden brown for 25-30 minutes.

5.      Remove it from the pan and place it on a cooling rack. Brush each of the bread with syrup and sprinkle on the sprinkles. Serve and enjoy!

Note about the eggs: Refrigerate the eggs if you’re not serving it right away. When it’s ready; place it back on the bread.

Have a blessed Easter!