SEMI-HOME MADE PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

Isa munang buntong hininga

I asked my L what he remembered about this cake. He answered me "Nothing." Oh men! I think my L has really turned ulyanin (forgetful). I had to remind him that it was the same cake that his brother had requested that I teach his wife (my SIL) before we moved here to the US of A. Well, I never got to. Even when we went to the Philippines for a vacation. It's a very complicated situation and a story only fit for tele-novelas.
Enough of that. On to our cake.

What's In It:
Pineapple rings, reserve syrup
Brown sugar
Cake mix
Butter

How It's Done:
Make a thin syrup with reserved pineapple syrup and brown sugar. Grease baking pan with butter. Arrange pineapple rings at the bottom of pan. Pour in syrup. Make cake batter according to package instructions. Pour in cake batter over pineapple rings and bake. Cool baked cake before inverting to serving plate.

CHICKEN INASAL

Isa munang buntong hininga

Time to marinate again. Nothing like a good mixture of liquids and spices seeping into every grain of meat to give that unique and intense flavor. Am I into too much of that marinade stuff or what?!
Anyhoo, always remember to taste your marinade first so you can adjust the seasonings before putting in the meat. Why before and not after adding the meat you ask? Well, have you tasted a marinade with RAW meat in it? Trust me you don't want to 'coz it tastes like....ewww!

What's In It:
Chicken pieces

Marinade:
Soy sauce
Brown sugar
Coconut vinegar
Lemongrass
Garlic
Lemon juice
Cracked black pepper

Basting sauce:
Star margarine
Achuete oil
Soy sauce

Dipping sauce:
Coconut vinegar
Garlic
Onion
Chili pepper

Combine all ingredients for marinade. Marinate chicken for 3-4 hours. Grill chicken and baste generously.
Serve with garlic rice and dipping sauce on the side.

STEAK AND POTATO STIR FRY

Isa munang buntong hininga

What's In It:
Steak
Salt
Pepper
Potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges
Salt
Pepper
Steak sauce

How It's Done:
Season steak and potatoes with salt and pepper. Shallow fry potatoes until sides are golden brown. Set aside. Remove oil from pan. Brown sides of steak and cook according to desired done-ness. Set aside and let rest. Cut steak into chunks. Bring back steak and potatoes to pan. Flavor with steak sauce.

PAN FRIED RIBEYE STEAK WITH MUSHROOM GRAVY

Isa munang buntong hininga

What's In It:
Ribeye steak
Salt
Pepper

Mushroom gravy:
Button mushrooms, sliced
Beef broth
Flour
Butter

How It's Done:
Season steak with salt and pepper. Pan fry both sides of steak. Cook as preferred.
Remove oil from pan. In the same pan add 1 tbsp. of butter and sautee button mushroom. Add in flour. Pour beef broth and stir to get smooth consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

CHICKEN ALA BISTEK TAGALOG

Isa munang buntong hininga

I wasn't able to measure the ingredients again. But don't sweat it this is just a very easy-peasy recipe. You just have to make sure you got the marinade right. How? Well simple, mix the marinade and do a taste test before putting in the meat. That way you have a clue on how your bistek will taste like. If this step fails you can always adjust the seasoning during cooking.

What's In It:
Chicken pieces
Soy sauce
Calamansi/Lemon juice
Onion
Garlic
Salt
Pepper

How It's Done
Mix soy sauce, calamansi juice and onion.Marinate chicken in soy -calamansi marinade for 30mins to an hour. Fry garlic in 1 tbsp oil unti browned. Remove from pan and set aside. Add in chicken slightly brown sides. Pour in marinade and simmer until chicken are fully cooked. Adjust seasoning. Stir in garlic bits before serving.

PINEAPPLE CHICKEN STEW

Isa munang buntong hininga

What's In It:
4 pcs. Chicken Breasts, cut into chunks
2 cloves Garlic, sliced
1/4 Onion, sliced
1 Carrot, sliced
1 Bell Pepper, sliced
2 stalks Celery, sliced
1 can Pineapple chunks, reserve syrup
2 tbsp. Soy sauce
3 tbsp. Tomato paste
Salt
Pepper
Chicken Stock

How It's Done:
Combine pineapple syrup, soy sauce and tomato paste. Marinate chicken in pineapple-soy mixture for an hour. Saute garlic and onion. Add in bell pepper, celery and carrots. Put in chicken with marinate. Simmer until chicken is cooked through. Add pineapple chunks and chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper.

BEEF PARES

Isa munang buntong hininga

It's not exactly like the BEEF PARES you are familiar with but more of a cross between PARES and ASADO. It's because I've omitted an ingredient - star of anise. To others ,the star of anise may give more depth to the flavor of this dish but for now I prefer it this way. But don't let this "lacking" (or the photo) discourage you to try the dish. This is still a keeper despite the missing ingredient.Maybe next time I'll make the real roadside carinderia PARES when I've come into terms with this spice's scent and taste.

What Went Into It:
2 lbs. Beef, cut into chunks
2 tbsp. Oil
Salt
Ground Black Pepper
2 cloves Garlic, minced
2 tbsp. Onion, chopped
1 tbsp. Ginger, minced
1/2 c. Soy sauce
1/3 c. Vinegar
2 tbsp. Brown Sugar
1 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
Flour/ Cornstarch slurry, 2tbsp. flour dissolved in 4 tbsp water

How It Was Done:
Fry garlic bits in oil until golden brown. Remove from pan and set aside. Season beef with salt and pepper. Brown beef in oil.Set aside.
Remove excess oil from pan. Saute onion and ginger. Add in sot sauce , vinegar, worcestershire and brown sugar. Put beef back in pan and simmer until tender. Add water if needed. Thicken sauce/gravy with flour slurry. Garnish with fried garlic bits before serving.

PORKSTEAK

Isa munang buntong hininga

What's In It:
porkchops
lemon juice
soy sauce
onion slices
garlic
salt
pepper

How It's Done:
Marinate porkchops in the mixture of soy, lemon juice and onion for at least an hour. Saute garlic. Put in porkchops and slightly brown sides. Pour the marinade. Cover pan and simmer until meat is tender. season with salt and cracked black pepper.

BREADED PORK CHOPS

Isa munang buntong hininga

What's In It:
porkchops
flour
paprika
salt
pepper

How It's Done:
Season porkchops with salt, pepper and paprika. Also, season the flour with salt and pepper. Dredge meat in flour and set inside fridge for at least 30 min. Deep fry meat in hot oil.

SOPAS

Isa munang buntong hininga

It's been really cold outside these days and I've been wanting to eat soup for a week now. I found an opportunity to make sopas for merienda today. With the leftover bacon and hotdogs from breakfast and chicken from last night's roast I'm good to go. It's a good thing I always keep boxes of pasta and noodles in stock. I also got extra flavor from the fat I saved from the cooked bacon.

What went into it:
bacon fat\oil
garlic- minced
onion- diced
4 pieces of cooked bacon- cut into strips
3 hotdogs- diced
flaked chicken meat- diced
carrots- diced
bell pepper- diced
celery- diced
cabbage
small shell pasta
milk
salt and pepper
broth

Saute garlic and onion in bacon fat. Add in carrots, celery, hotdogs and chicken meat. Next add the bacon, bell pepper, cabbage and pasta. Stir and cook for 5 min. Pour in broth. Simmer until the pasta is fully cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Add in milk before turning off the stove. Serve and enjoy.