Low budget ulam recipe ideas for the week

Hello everyone! It is the second Monday of the month already? Can you believe it? Anyway, sharing with you yet another fresh list of low-budget yet highly delicious ulam recipes that your family will surely love! If you are new here in our blog, you may want to check the earlier weekly lists here 🙂 Like the…
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Murang ulam ideas for the week (Sept 2023)

Hello everyone! Another Monday, and this time the first for September. Giving you now a new list of affordable ulam recipe ideas that could help you stay within the family’s food budget for the week. If you are new here, check this out for the past lists of seven-days’ worth of low-cost ulam recipes for…
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Ideas for budget ulam recipes for the week

Hello everyone! Time flies, it is a Monday once again, and Mondays mean that we will have a fresh list of budget ulam ideas that are both affordable and nutritious. If this is your first time to check out our series, I invite you to check out the earlier entries so that you will get…
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Healthy budget ulam recipe ideas for the week

Hello everyone! It is a Monday once again and it means that I shall be sharing with you a list of budget ulam recipes for the whole week. Like our past affordable ulam ideas, our list this week will again feature viands or main dishes that are reasonably easy to cook, with a budget of P150.00…
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Seven Budget Ulam Ideas for this week 2023

Budget ulam recipe ideas for the week

Hello everyone! I am here again to give you ideas for budget ulam recipes for the week. In this series which we started last month (Check out past posts here), we aim to provide nutritious yet affordable recipes that could hopefully ease your burden of planning for meals, thinking about the ulam for the day,…
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Budget ulam recipe ideas for the week of July 2023

Hello Mommies! It is a Monday once again, and it means a brand new entry for our Budget Ulam Recipe Ideas Series for 2023! If you’ve missed the past two entries, You can start with the first one here. Anyway, like what I mentioned, the ulam or main dish ideas here are mostly Filipino dishes, or…
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Seven budget ulam ideas for this week | June 2023

Hello Mommies! I will be posting once again, yet another set of week-long budget ulam recipes to help you in planning out affordable meals for your family. Like the previous post in this budget ulam series, the main dishes featured this week range from P150.00 to Php200.00 for a family of 4-5 members (with kids eating…
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Seven budget breakfast ideas for Filipino families 2023

Hello mommies! As they say, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Preparations however usually come with a challenge as it may involve less time as everyone is in a hurry every morning, and increasings costs of food could push more moms to go for quicker and easier breakfast options like cereal. The…
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7 Budget Ulam Ideas for the week (P150.00 to 200.00 per dish)

7 Budget ulam ideas for the week

Hello mommies! I am aiming to start a series on budget-friendly ulam recipes for Filipino families. One of the challenges of being a homemaker is deciding what to cook for the day. Even more challenging is trying to make all the meals fit within the budget. With this series, I am hoping to add to…
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Budget Ulam Idea: Extra-Crunchy No-Grill Tortang Talong

no grill extra crunchy tortang talong

Hello Mommies! Sharing with you this beginner-friendly, condo-friendly, and more importantly budget friendly Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelet) Recipe. My kids like this recipe because it is extra crunchy too, and I will let you in on the secret. There are two reasons why this comes out crunchy — I add a spoonful of cornstarch for…
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Stretch the Budget Meal: Ginataang Hipon with Sitaw and Kalabasa

Stretch the Budget Meal: Ginataang Hipon with Sitaw and Kalabasa

Hello everyone! Sharing with you one of our favorite main dishes in our family (well except for Achi who is allergic to shrimps) — Ginataang Hipon with Sitaw and Kalabasa. This is a budget stretch meal that provides not just more than enough viand for everyone, but also overflows in nutrients.

Stretching the Budget

Please note that I did not label this dish as BUDGET MEAL since it is not — Shrimps are as expensive as Beef at around 450 per kilograms. BUT If you will add squash and string beans, and lots of yummy coconut milk, then this Ulam can feed a family of five with just half a kilo (or even a bit) of shrimps!

Apart from its nutrition content, it is also very delicious! Shobe, Papi and I could eat the ulam for two straight days! Yay! Of course you should make sure to immediately refrigerate the left-overs since coconut milk spoils easily.

Easy to cook

Another advantage of cooking this meal is that it is easy to cook, and has a relatively short cooking time. What takes time is the cleaning of the shrimp. Yes, supermarket bought shrimps may have less “whiskers,” but I still remove the sharp antennae on the head, and I devein each piece.

I usually devein by using a toothpick or barbecue stick, inserting it on the fourth or third section of the shrimp’s spine, and cautiously removing the black veins until I successfully get everything off. It takes a bit of time to perfect this move, but every mom can learn right? Good thing this dish does not require peeling of shrimps or else it would have taken much longer to prepare hahaha

Ginataang hipon with sitaw and kalabasa recipe

So without further ado, here’s the recipe for the Ginataang hipon with sitaw and kalabasa (Shrimps with squash and string beans in coconut milk):

1. Saute onion, garlic, and ginger.

2. Add the kalabasa and the sitaw.

3. Add the coconut milk and half chicken cubes.

4. Simmer untll the vegetables are fork-tender.
5. Add the shrimps and cook for 5-6 minutes or until the shrimps are fully cooked.
6. Add peppers and adjust seasoning. Serve immediately!

I think you can also use alimasag for this recipe, or even mud crabs. You just need of course to chop it into quarters.

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you can also allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the First Epistle of St. John:

 “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels al fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love.” 1 John 4:18

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

https://happypinaymommy.com/2023/05/12/visiting-an-old-fish-pet-shop/

Meal Ideas for your Toddler and BLW Baby

BLW and toddler meal ideas for your baby

Hello everyone, with your indulgence, I will try to restart another weekly series, this time for toddler and BLW Baby meals. One of the most challenging things to do for most moms is meal planning. Well, meal planning does not only apply to the everyday meals or “ulam” of the household. It also applies to…
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No-grill, no-sweat Tortang Talong recipe

Sharing with you the easiest way to cook Tortang Talong

I have passed my love for Tortang Talong (eggplant omelette) to my children. And why not? It is a sweet yet savory ulam that we Filipinos enjoy.

Before, I used to think that I could not cook it in our house since we do not have an outdoor griller, and we use induction cooking. Little did I know there is a painless way to prepare this dish, without getting your clothes smelling like you’ve just had Mang Larry’s isaw (hahahaha!)

And while the smoky flavor of the char-grilled talong still oozes in flavor, this no-grill tortang talong recipe I am sharing with you, is for sure the next-best thing. It even gets way easier because I cook it with our rice. Moreover, this recipe does not require a lot of ingredients, and is easy on the budget. BTW if you are looking for more budget-friendly recipes please check out our affordable meals list here. 

Easiest version of Tortang Talong

So what I do is I steam the talong on top of the rice I am cooking, if I know that I will need to cook the torta within the next three days. Yes, it can keep for three days in the ref! This is the same process that I do for when I will be making some eggplant salad. This way, when I need to cook the eggplant, I only would just have to get the skin off of it, make the egg batter and cook it.

I find the process of doing everything all in the same day way too tedious. Besides, I do not enjoy peeling the skin off hot eggplants. Who enjoys that anyway right?

Benefits of eating eggplant  

Before I proceed with sharing my go-to tortang talong recipe, let us refresh our memories about the health benefits of having eggplant in our diet. For one, eggplant is rich in anti-oxidants. This means that it can help protect the body from certain types of cancers and other degenerative diseases. It also helps reduce cholesterol levels, helping reduce the chances of contracting cardiovascular diseases.

Moreover, it helps curb blood sugar spikes, and promotes weight loss. Why? It is high in fiber, and makes a person feel fuller much longer.

Let’s cook no-grill Tortang Talong

So, without further ado, let us now proceed with the recipe. Here are the ingredients:

·       4 Eggplants

·       6 eggs

·       4 tsps cornstarch

·       Salt and Pepper to taste

·       Cooking Oil

Procedure in cooking no-grill Tortang Talong:

1.       Steam the eggplant for at least 20 minutes. I usually use the steamer attachment in my rice cooker so that I get to maximize on the energy used to cook our steamed rice. You can chill the eggplant for up to three days if you are not using it right away.

2.       On the day that you will be cooking the torta, peel the skins off and just retain the stem. set aside.

3.       Beat the eggs, add in the cornstarch, and add some salt and pepper. The cornstarch helps in making the batter crispier, and more enjoyable for the children to eat.

4.       Heat oil in a non-stick pan in medium heat.

5.       Flatten the eggplant in the egg mixture until fully soaked, doing it one at a time. Fry the eggplant and pour in a bit of egg mixture on top of it. Wait for the underside to get cooked, and then flip it using a turner or a spatula.  

6.       Drain excess oil, and serve with ketchup!

Hope you enjoyed this tortang talong hack, and wish you would come back and stop by once again to read our next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Looking for a snack or dessert idea? Sharing with you our chocolate crinkles recipe.

Special yet Easy Egg Salad Sandwich

Special yet easy egg salad sandwich

Hello ladies!

It has been a while since my last post, and now I am trying to make up for it by sharing with you an easy yet refreshingly delicious sandwich. I know that most of you know how to make an Egg Sandwich, but this one that I am sharing with you today is leveled-up and hopefully a breath of fresh air from the usual egg sandwiches of our grade school years.

This is easy to assemble, and you can make it in a flash. Home made bread is great but you can always use your favorite store-bought bread. You can toast it, or you can just eat it with your fresh slice. And whether you are a crust cutter, or a crust eater, this one is something you will surely enjoy.


Easy Egg Salad Sandwich Recipe


Here are the ingredients for the egg salad sandwich. You can prepare this the night before in a bento box so that it will be easier for you to assemble the sandwich during crazy mornings. Or if you are like me who likes living slowly, then take your time prepping the ingredients!


Egg Salad Sandwich Ingredients:


3 slices of bread
Slice of Cheese (any type of sliced cheese is fine)

Sliced tomatoes

Sliced black olives

Egg Salad (boiled eggs, japanese mayonnaise, salt and pepper)

Slice of ham

Preparing the egg salad

Egg salad is so easy to prepare. Boil an egg. Peel it. Squish it alongside mayonnaise (you can use as much as you like but a tablespoon is fine per egg). Season with salt and pepper to taste.


Assembling the egg salad sandwich


The egg salad sandwich is easy to prepare. Just fry the ham, then set aside. Get a slice of bread. Add the cooked ham, and then a slice of cheese and the sliced tomatoes.

Add one slice of bread on top, and then add a generous amount of egg salad (you can put all the egg salad you made with one whole egg). Top the egg with sliced black olives, and if you are adding cucumber and lettuce, now is the time to add those too.

Cover the sandwich with the remaining bread slice. You can now toast this and then slice before serving, or just slice it directly.

Enjoy! Thank you for reading and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Pros and Cons of No-Bake vs. Baked: Which Kind of Cheesecake Is Better?

Part of what makes cheesecake so widely loved is its ubiquity. Even beginner home bakers will have their own personal strawberry cheesecake recipe, in either a baked or no-bake preparation.  As a result, people tend to have strong feelings about things they love, and if there’s a dessert that’s almost certain to start an argument, that dessert might be cheesecake. Almost everyone has their own opinion on every component of it. What kinds of toppings to apply (if any), what to make the crust out of, and even which cheese to use are all up for debate when it comes to this widely loved dessert. Even the method of preparation of the cheesecake itself is up for debate. Some people will only ever eat baked cheesecakes, while others swear that the no-bake variety is just as tasty. But which kind is superior?

To set the record straight, here’s everything you need to know about both varieties of cheesecake so you can decide for yourself.

Baked and No-Bake Cheesecake: What’s the Difference?

Aside from the obvious, there’s one crucial difference between baked and no-bake cheesecakes, and it has to do with stability. Because cheesecakes are made from cheese, a food which is notoriously difficult to handle and keep, an ingredient must be added to the cheesecake to keep it from melting all over the table during service. For baked cheesecakes, that ingredient is usually a few eggs, while for no-bake cheesecakes, some people use gelatin as a stabilizer.

Reasons for using these are obvious: in order to be safe to consume, eggs must be heated to a temperature of at least 144 degrees Fahrenheit. This ensures that any pathogenic bacteria in the egg is killed and won’t be transferred to humans. On the other hand, gelatin just needs to be melted in some hot water to easily incorporate it into the cheesecake mix. Once it’s been allowed to set, it’s perfectly stable for a long while, even at room temperature or a little warmer.

In terms of flavor and texture, there’s a big difference between the two cheesecake variants. Baked cheesecakes tend to have a richer, creamier texture. Also, because of the effects of heat on the cheese and sugar in the cake, baked cheesecakes tend to have a fuller, more robust flavor. In the case of a burnt Basque-style cheesecake, the cake itself will feature scorch marks and burns from the heat of the oven. These tasty, slightly bitter bits offer a flavor contrast that you simply won’t be able to get from a no-bake cheesecake.

This isn’t to say that no-bake cakes are inferior, however. First of all, no-bake cheesecakes are almost always served very cold, and because they’re lighter and less rich than baked cheesecakes, they’re perfect treats for beating the summer heat. No-bake cheesecakes with gelatin also have a slight jiggle or wobble to them. This creates a bite that’s a bit more satisfying than the custardy smoothness of a baked cheesecake. Finally, no-bake cheesecakes are more difficult to mess up than their baked counterparts. It’s very easy to accidentally leave a cheesecake to bake for too long or to fire it at too high a temperature. This will leave you with a curdled, burnt mess that no one will want to eat. By contrast, assembling a no-bake cheesecake is as simple as mixing up all the ingredients, then leaving it in the fridge or freezer overnight to set.

So Which Do I Choose?

As with most things, choosing the right cheesecake is simply a matter of preference. However, to simplify the choice, here are a few things to consider. Also, your preference will depend on whether you’ll be eating the cheesecake or preparing it.

If you’ll be preparing the cheesecake, choose a baked cheesecake if:

1. You have a good oven with even temperature all throughout, or at the very least, you know what your oven’s quirks are

2. You have experience baking with eggs and are confident that you can keep your cheesecake’s eggs from curdling

On the other hand, you may want to prepare a no-bake cheesecake if:

1. You don’t have an oven, or if the one you have access to has a thermostat that isn’t very reliable
You have limited experience baking desserts or are still learning proper baking techniques

2. If you’re going to be eating the cheesecake and not preparing it, you should definitely have some baked cheesecake if:

3. You’re ok with full, robust flavors
You like the contrast of bitter to sweet in your desserts

4. You don’t mind the flavor of charring

5. You want a smooth, creamy dessert that you barely have to bite into to consume

On the other hand, you’ll know that a no-bake cheesecake is for you if:

1. You like simple, clean flavors

2. You’re looking for something cool and refreshing

3. You like the sensation of biting into gelatin

When it comes to dessert, there are no right or wrong answers. Just go with what you enjoy and remember to share what you make!

Thank you very much for reading up mommies! Till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Sinigang na maya maya sa miso recipe

Sinigang na maya maya sa miso

Sinigang na maya maya sa miso

Hello ladies! Sharing with you the recipe for Sinigang na maya maya sa miso.

It is my first time to cook this because i have been craving this dish that I grew up eating. I may not have replicated how it was cooked by our manang because i couldnt find miso paste and i just used sinigang sa miso mix, but still it has the familiar piping hot yummy soup taste that will make you sweat while eating. Best of course with a dipping sauce of patis and sili.

It is really funny how food can transport us back in time. Naalala ko ang time na we eat this, plus food trips we have with ex officemates in ulo-ulo restaurants. 😁

Sinigang na maya maya sa miso

Anyway for newbie cooking mamas who are interested to replicate this dish, here is the 30-minute max procedure:

1. Season the fish with salt and pepper. Lightly fry on both sides. In a separate container soak the mustard leaves in water if you want to remove the bitter taste.

2. In a pot heat cooking oil and saute onion and ginger. Add in tomatoes once the onion becomes translucent. Squish the onions. If you have fresh miso paste, this is the time to add it in.

3. Carefully add in the maya maya. Add a drizzle of patis. After a minute or two, Add about four to five cups of rice wash (the second wash of course), or plain water if you have not saved it.

4. Regardless if you have or do not have the miso paste now is the time to add in your sinigang mix or your 1 cup of fresh tamarind extract. Basta if you do not have the miso paste make sure to use the sinigang sa miso variant, but if you have fresh miso just use your plain sinigang mix or your fresh tamarind extract. Add the eggplant and raddish.

5. Boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Taste and season accordingly.

6. Add in the mustasa and the siling haba. Simmer for another two minutes and serve!

Easy and yummy fish sinigang recipe


Hope youll like it. Kain na po tayo! Let me know once you tried.

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Left over make over: Sinigang na Lechon Kawali

LEFT OVER MAKE OVER. Sinigang kagabi, mini lechon kawali na ngayong tanghali. Asim kilig lechon kawali that is yummy just the same. In our household we try our best not to waste food. Left overs are eaten the next day, and is consumed as much as possible. Bukod sa mahal ang bilihin, I teach my…
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Easy Chicken Lomi Recipe

Rainy days call for piping hot noodle soups like Lomi. I never thought that this easy chicken lomi soup is easy to cook because it looks so complicated — a dish only veteran moms and grandmothers can confidently cook. (Related Post: Breastfeeding Soup Recipes for Moms) But all these assumptions of mine are unfounded, because…
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Interesting Skin Care Techniques You Probably Haven’t Heard Before

Skin Care techniques for busy moms

By: Mommy Webs Every time you see a mom with glowing and radiant skin, you probably ask yourself how does she do it? What kind of products does she use? Well, there are many skin care hacks that you probably didn’t know about. Below we look at some of the most exciting techniques people use…
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Simple French toast recipe for busy mornings

This easy French Toast recipe is one of our go-to breakfasts during weekends. It is easy to make, and at the same time the ingredients are pantry staples. In fact I am thinking this could even be prepared during the week as it also makes for a perfect baon for kids like my eldest, Achie….
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How to cook quick and easy beef salpicao

Quick and easy beef salpicao is a go to disgh when you haver back-to-back-to-back chores.

If you are in for a busy day, then this is a dish that you can prepare without sweat! Easy beef salpicao is what it is, easy, quick cooking, but definitely not short of flavor and yum factor. I typically cook this on days when I have an extremely long list of back to back…
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Quick and easy Arroz Caldo recipe

quick and easy arroz caldo recipe

Arroz Caldo has always been a comfort food for my family. My children love it since they were babies. We like it for brunch especially when paired with crispy tofu and soy sauce or tokwa’t baboy. Sharing with you newbie cooking mamas this easy arroz caldo recipe that you can serve to your family anytime….
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How to cook Eggplant with Minced Meat

Eggplant with minced meat

Was looking for a new way to cook eggplant and here’s what I did — eggplant with minced meat. Essentially, it is eggplant topped with saucy ground pork, making it a perfect topping over steamed rice. Easy to cook, and less than a hundred pesos to make, it is definitely another entry in our annual…
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How to cook tortang giniling with potatoes and malunggay

NEWBIE COOKING MAMA ALERT! Tortang Giniling with Potatoes and Malunggay could be one of the simplest recipes you can prepare for your family, especially your children. I remember we regularly have ground pork omelette as ulam when I was younger, and now that I have my own family, i want to regularly serve this dish…
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Baby and toddler food recipe: Ginataang tinadtad na sitaw at kalabasa

First of all i would like to thank my social media sister @super.momma for inspiring me to chop sitaw in this fashion to make it all the more appealing to kids. Thank you sis! Im telling you fellow moms, it makes for a yummy ginataang sitaw at kalabasa that most kids will like (mine liked…
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Easy Chicken Sotanghon Soup Recipe (Vermicelli Noodles)

Easy Chicken Sotanghon Recipe

Let’s cook this! So perfect for the weather. Easy Chicken Sotanghon Soup Recipe is a well loved noodle soup dish in our household. It is easy and very affordable to make. This chicken sotanghon soup is another P100 meal idea for a family of four. Perfect as well for breastfeeding mamas! The soup, which uses…
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Tender Adobong Liver and Gizzard Recipe

How to cook tender chicken liver and gizzard adobo

Tender adobong liver and gizzard is one of my favorite ulams! Sure to make me and the mister reach for another serving of rice the chicken liver and gizzard adobo will remain to be a hit in our family. Yes, it may be a masalimuot recipe to cook because of all the prepping, boiling and…
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Pinoy baby food recipe: Pork and Egg Lugaw (congee)

Pinoy baby food recipe alert: Pork and Lugaw Congee!

Pork and egg lugaw is a go to Pinoy baby food recipe that I serve to my kids when my pantry and freezer supplies are running low and I have yet to run to the grocery for our food shopping. And why not? This dish is easy to cook (as long as I have remembered…
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