Hello everyone! Happy Monday, and as we have been doing week after week, I will be giving you a fresh list of low-cost yet highly delicious ulam recipe ideas for your family. If you are new to our website or to this series, you may want to check out the past lists here, after you’ve read today’s seven mura yet masarap na ulam ideas.

As usual, the main dishes in this blog post cost between P150.00 to Php200.00 for four to five adult servings. To save on time, you may wish to double some (not all) of the suggested recipes for freezing, so that instead of ordering take out you can quickly thaw an ulam when you quickly need one.

Anyway, without further ado, here’s the fresh list of low-budget ulam or main dish ideas:

Low budget ulam or main dish recipe ideas for the week:

1. Crispy Eggplant paired with Ginisang Pechay with Giniling na Baboy. While ginisang pechay and Giniling na Baboy are constant in most homes cooking repertoire, Crispy Eggplant is not. Just slice the eggplant about half an inch thick, season with salt and pepper, and dredge in flour – beaten egg – and then panko or Japanese breading. Deep or shallow fry until crispy. Serve with tonkatsu sauce or if you do not have that at home, then just mix banana and tomato ketchup with a bit of soy sauce.

2. Tuna Penne Pasta with Garlic Bread. A small pack of penne will go a long way in terms of doing this yummy pasta dish. Just saute your favorite canned tuna and add cooked penne pasta. Season with salt, pepper and herbs such as Basil and parsley and whatever Italian herb you have at home. If you have left over olives in the ref, then go ahead and slice some to top the pasta. Meanwhile, you can make Garlic Bread using any type of bread. In a pan, melt butter or margarine, saute finely minced or grated garlic, sugar, and a bit of parsley. Brush the sauce over the bread then toast till desired crispness.

3. Chicken Sotanghon Soup. I know this is a soup recipe, but I know some Filipino families eating this with rice too. Check out this easy to follow happy recipe here. P.S. make sure to put a lot of garlic to make it extra flavorful.

4. Bagis. This dish tastes like sisig but instead of pork jowl, this uses ground beef. So 1/4 or even 1/3 kilograms will go a long way (and will still make it to our budget goals!). Here is my recipe.

5. Tortang ampalaya and crispy tawilis. Have a healthy mid week lunch by cooking easy tortang ampalaya or Ampalaya with egg, and thinly battered crispy tawilis. Super easy yet super yummy!

6. Binagoongang Talong. This is one super yummy yet a bit sinful main dish that will keep you reaching for more rice servings. I suggest that you crispy fry the pork pieces to give the dish added yummy texture, but if you are pressed for time then I am sure, the original recipe dish here will still work great!

7. Okoy na Hipon at Kalabasa. I know shrimp is expensive, but you do not need much for this recipe. A quarter of a kilogram will do. So follow this recipe, and make sure to prepare sweet and spicy vinegar, and of course steaming hot rice!

So that’s it, hope you could use some (if not all) of the tipid ulam ideas in this week’s post. See you again next week.

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you could allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages:

"For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Easy and tipid ulam recipes and main dishes for one week appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Another Monday rolled by with the grace of God, and here is yet another fresh list of low-budget yet highly delicious (and nutritious!) ulam recipe ideas for your pinoy loved ones!

If you are new to our website and this series, you can restart here for the past lists of weekly ulam ideas that will help you stay within your budget. Again our budget is about Php150.00 to Php200.00 for a main dish that could feed four to five adults. Of course the budget for the rice is not yet included

Anyway, without further ado, here is our list of budget ulam ideas for the week:

Budget Ulam Ideas for Week#2 of Sept 2023

1. Pork and Sayote Guisado. Some of us tend to forget about Sayote, and just remember it when it is time to cook Tinola. But this sweet and crunchy vegetable can be used weekly in our meals without compromising our food rotation. This week we can use it in Pork and Sayote Guisado! Here is a good recipe.

2. Chicken Katsu with Cabbage Salad. Use Chicken Breast or Chicken thigh that you debone (debone it yourself because it is cheaper than buying thigh fillet – just watch youtube tutorials it is easy). Flatten it by using a mallet or back of your frying pan. Season and then prepare from breading. Just buy a small packaging of panko bread crumbs. You can omit egg to save money and just use a flour-water mixture as your wet batter, then dredge the flattened chicken on the Panko or Japanese breadcrumbs. Fry and drain excess oil. As for the cabbage salad, just slice the cabbage thinkly like in tonkatsu restaurants and serve either with vinaigrette (olive-oil-sugar-and-vinegar dressing, thousand island dressing, or just whatever mayo you have at home. The kids will love this!

3. Storm Soup and Crunchy Tawilis. One of my good friends said that she makes storm soup whenever there are a lot of left over vegetables in her refrigerator. She said she learned it from her sailor husband who cooks this soup dish in their ship. Anyway, just gather all the left over vegetables in your chiller, steam and then osterize. Heat in a pot and season to taste. Add cornstarch slurry (1 tbsp cornstarch mixed in 2 tbsps water), then thicken. Serve the soup along with crispy fried tawilis or any favorite fish that is economical and in season

4. Lumpiang Hubad with Chicken Breast. I have always loved lumpiang hubad because it is delicious, nutritious and easy to cook. For this dish, just add up to 300 kg of bite-sized slices or minced chicken breast to make it more appetizing for the kiddos. Take a look at this recipe.

5.  Tuna Patties and Chilled Cucumber Carrot Salad. This is easy to make and for sure, the kids will love it. I make it extra special by freezing the tuna patties a bit, and then dredging it in panko before frying, but that is just me. You can just follow this exact recipe. For the cucumber and carrot chilled salad, just slice the carrots thinly. Put some salt and set aside for at least 10 minutes. Wring off excess moisture. Thinly slice the cucumber. and then combine with the carrots. Refrigerate. The dressing is up to you – you can use a vinaigrette dressing, thousand island dressing, or miso-mayo. Life is good, choose whatever makes you happy!

6. Popcorn chicken and eggplant salad. We are of the idea that making popcorn chicken is complicated but it is not! Just slice deboned chicken thighs into bite sized pieces, season it and dredge in wet batter (either beaten eggs, milk, or water and flour mixture), and then dredge in cake flour seasoned with chicken powder, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper. Deep fry then set aside.

As for the eggplant salad, this is your usual Ilocano-style steamed eggplant with freshly diced tomatoes and onions, and then drizzled with vinegar. Yummy combo when paired with steaming hot rice!

7. Sweet and Sour Chicken-Tofu Meatballs. Pork meatballs is great, but chicken tofu meatballs are morre nutritious and economical. Just sub 1/4 of the chicken needed with a block of tokwa and tofu, and then follow this recipe. 

So that’s it. Hope you can check out our new list again next week.

Food for the soul

At this point, may I share with you one of my favorite bible passages from the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians:

“Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11
Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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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 past weeks, we will be sharing seven ulam or full meal ideas that are within the range of Php200.00 for our to five adult portions. The recent headlines on rice prices can prompt us to think for moe creative ways to stay within the budget, so I hope this week list of murang ulam ideas can help:

Filipino budget ulam ideas for the week

1. Chicken Salpicao. Since beef is kind of pricey, and chicken is equally yummy and affordable, why don’t we make some chicken salpicao! All you really need is chicken and lots of garlic and you are all set. If you have extra budget, you can add more mushroom for that yummier umami flavor. Here is a good recipe to check out.

2. Tortang giniling. Fluffy tortang giniling will always be a good budget meal idea. In our house, I just serve it with banana ketchup and everyone is happy! Half kilo of pork and four pieces of eggs will have a long way to go. Since most of us already have a torta go-to recipe in our arsenal, I will just be posting a recipe for beginner cooks. Here, here, here   

3. Tinapang Lumpia. I thought this is a bit complicated a recipe but we can buy frozen boneless tinapang bangus in any grocery, and it is really yummy! Just stuff it in local rice paper, and you will get the kids more excited about eating this kind of fish! The good thing about this recipe is you can also use other types of smoked fish, so just go with your favorite or what the budget permits. Here is a cool recipe to check out.

4. Adobong Sitaw with Tofu and Pork. This is a yummy yet budget-friendly ulam that will get the kids eating string beans. Try this on a weekday! Ladle the sauce over steaming rice and everything will surely be oh so yummy! This is a good recipe to try.

5. Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings and Adobong Kangkong. Just buy 3/4 kilogram of chicken wings, fry it like usual and just drizzle some salt and cracked pepper upon cooking. Pair it with adobong kangkong, and you will have a complete meal! The kids will surely love it. 

6. Chicken Leg Quarters Cooked in Sprite — Buy 4-5 pieces of leg quarters and cook it in sprite — a trending recipe some years ago, and is not promoted to be a mainstay in some households who love the sweet and savory taste of this chicken meal. Use leg quarters instead of whole chicken in this recipe.

7. No-oven Pinoy-style Baked Macaroni – To take a quick break from the rice meal routine, we can serve a no-oven “baked macaroni” which is usually served in parties. To stay within the budget we can use ground chicken instead of beef. We can use our usual Pinoy Spaghetti recipe and just add more cheese as the budget allows. If you do not have a go-to recipe yet, try this fun one. 

So that’s it, hope you will be able to use some (or even all) of the suggested recipes.

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you could allow me to share with you, one of the bible passages I love to read and re-read. This is from the the Book of Psalms:

"But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." Psalm 86:15

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is  a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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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 the family.

Like all recipe ideas, the meals I suggest here all cost below Php200.00 and could feed about four to five adult portions. And since the computation may not include some condiments and seasonings that are pantry staples, I suggest that when the budget is not too tight, maybe we could invest on bigger condiment bottles that are more economical.

Buy more condiments when there’s extra budget

Also, try buying other condiments that could help us make more flavorful yet affordable recipes. These include honey, butter, oyster sauce, sesame seeds, star anise, bagoong, tomato paste; Korean spices like Gochujang and Gochugaru if you are into spicy Korean fare, Mirin, Sake and Miso if you are into Japanese food, and some herbs like cumin, cinnamon, curry powder, basil, thyme and the like for Italian and Indian recipes. Take advantage of discount and free shipping promotions on your favorite shopping app to save on time, money, and effort.

So without further ado here’s our list of this week’s murang ulam ideas:

1. Garlic Tokwa and Kangkong – It may not sound appetizing but when I watched Panlasang Pinoy’s video of this recipe, it dawned on me that even my children will enjoy eating this dish! Try Vanjo’s recipe here. 

2. Sotanghon Guisado. One thing in my repertoire as a mom that is not in my own mother’s cooking line-up are pancit recipes for full meals. She only likes Pancit Bihon Guisado and not as a meal, but as merienda. When I became a parent, I figured that noodle dishes are heavy and can really be a main dish either for dinner or lunch. So here, I am including this super yummy Sotanghon Guisado recipe on our list this week, because pancit is not just for merienda or for special occasions, it could be a main meal! Check out this recipe and just sub the shitake mushroom to whatever dried mushroom you have at home. 

3. Pinakbet – You do not have to hail from the Northern Philippines to enjoy this delicious and nutritious fare! To make the kids enjoy it, add chicken strips and it is game time! You can sub the bagoong for patis if your children are allergic to it. Check out this fun and easy recipe to follow.

4. One pot recipe: Stuffed Cabbage – It may seem like a complicated recipe but it is not that difficult to cook. It only calls for about 400-500 grams of ground pork and cabbage and you are good to go. Bonus points is the fact it comes with rice so you’ve got a one-pot dish for all! Divide this recipe in half.

5. Minced chicken adobo and scrambled egg rice toppings. Who says rice toppings are just served in fastfood chains! No-no-no! Surprise your family by mincing chicken breast (or buying ground chicken) seasoning it with adobo spices, and stir frying it. Set aside the cooked minced adobo and then scramble some eggs. Top on bowls filled with newly cooked white rice, and if you are feeling generous, serve it with atsara or chilled cucumber-vinegar salad. BTW this is a good baon idea for your kids who bring lunch to school

6. Lumpiang shanghai – Yes another standard birthday fare that you can cook everyday even on a budget! Just use 400grams of ground pork, lumpia wrapper, an egg, small piece of carrots, garlic and onions, and your desired seasonings like salt and pepper. You’ve got a yummy lumpia lunch for everyone!

7. Sardine omelette — Here’s another budget dish that does not seem like a budget dish. Use spanish style sardines to level-up the taste, and instead of making one big pan-sized omelette, make small patty-sized ones. Serve with a side of chilled carrot vinaigrette salad. Use this recipe but sub the tomato-based sardine to Spanish Style sardines. 

So that’s it for this week, hope you got useful ideas for your week-long cooking, and looking forward to your visit next week.

By the way, if you are looking for daily devotionals to aid in your prayer, quiet time and reflection, please check out our daily reflections posted on this section of our website

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you can allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible verses, this time from te letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians:

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

Ephesians 1:7

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Murang ulam ideas for the week (Sept 2023) appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello everyone! Happy Monday everyone! Another new week that calls for healthy, delicious and affordable main dishes to nourish the whole family. If you are new to our website, well we give every week a  list of ulam ideas amounting to not more than Php200.00 per dish, good for a family of 4 to 5 adults.

So without further ado, here’s a fresh list of low budget ulam recipe ideas for you to consider:

Super low budget ulam recipes to try

1. Chicken Asado – Less than a kilo of chicken and pineapple juice and you are all set! Try this super delicious and affordable recipe. Get an idea from this recipe 

2. Crispy fried galunggong and munggo guisado – This Friday staple can be eaten any time of the week! Just find fresh medium sized galunggong and fry it crunchy!

3. Minced pork with lettuce – it may be a common dish in chinese restaurants but it is a wonderfully delicious and affordable meal option for budget conscious families. If you do not have a lot of Chinese seasonings in your pantry and you only have yhe basic oyster sauce this easy recipe will work 

5. Ginataang Tilapia – The coconut milk sauce is so delicious it can really make you eat more rice than you have originally planned to. Check out this easy to follow recipe!

4. Chicken Korean Bulgogi Rice Toppings — Yes you can have Korean dishes even on a budget! For this recipe you can use 1/4 kilo breast and 1/4 kilo thigh fillet — grind it yourself for a more delicious texture. And while some of the seasoning ingredients may be costly, the fraction that will be used for this dish will still adhere to our 200 budget! So if you have some extra budget to invest for seasoning ingredients, then go ahead, you will even increase your repertoire of affordable Korean recipes for your family. Here is a good recipe to try. 

6. Grilled porkchop – Yes, you can get a decent-sized porkchop for family member. You can grill it over charcoal or just pan-grill or fry it if char grilling is not an option for you. If you have an extra budget then prep some stir fried cabbage and carrots as a side dish. If you do not have a go-to recipe yet, try this.

7. Chicken binakol – It sounds like a complicated recipe but it is not. In fact it will make it to our budget cut! Check out this recipe.

So that’s it for the week! Hope you get to enjoy serving these recipes for your family!

Food for the soul

At this  point allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the Gospel of St. John:

“The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come to give you life and live it abundantly”

John 10:10

Thank you for stopping by and till next post! 

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Low budget ulam recipes for the week appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello everyone! Time flies and it is a Monday once again and because it is a holiday, I almost forgot to post a fresh list of our weekly budget Filipino ulam ideas. If you are new to this website and series, kindly check out the past weekly write-ups here for list upon list of ulam ideas below Php200.00 per dish. This will feed about four to five adult portions.

This week’s list tries to be healthier and more balanced, and of course within our Php 150-200.00 costing. So without further ado here’s our weekly cheap but cheerful ulam ideas for your family:

This week’s budget ulam ideas:

1. Sinigang na Bangus sa Bayabas — Whether you go to the wet market or not, Sinigang sa Bayabas is relatively easy to cook, since there are instant mixes that really tastes almost like the OG sinigang sa bayabas. And yes, it will still make our budget cut of Php200.00 per dish. Here’s a recipe that is both healthy and yummy.

2. Menudillo. We have this dish in repeat mode when I was a child, and I really enjoy it. It is great to eat, nutritious because of the carrots and potatoes (plus the peas if you have the extra budget for it). The next day, my mom usually puts it in hot pandesal for either breakfast or merienda. Reminds me really of empanada only it has a red filling. Try my recipe here.

3. Chicken Mami. This recipe is just perfect for those days when it is raining outside! Add toasted garlic plus boiled egg and it transports you back in time when you just so enjoy the healthy kind of mami. My kids like it when i cook this especially with fresh noodles! And since it does not call for too much meat, it certainly makes our budget ceiling! Here’s a good recipe to try.

4. Chicken Teriyaki. If you think chicken teriyaki has expensive ingredients then you are definitely wrong. If you have sesame oil and sesame seeds in your pantry them you can just make this using either chicken breast or thigh fillet. Tip: make a bit more sauce so that when paired with rice, this ulam will go a long way. Here’s my go-to recipe that I recently posted.

5. Seafood baguio bean rice. There’s this rice toppings sold in front of our school before that sells super yummy seafood  and green beans rice toppings that is just so highly addictive. And while seafood and budget do not augur well as a budget ulam idea, you do not really need as much seafood for this recipe. This is just actually a saucy version of your ginisang baguio beans only you use 250 grams of shrimp, and a bit more thickened sauce as usual. Ladle over rice like a rice topping and you’ve got a healthy and delicious meal altogether! Use this recipe and just sub shrimp for the pork

6. Ginataang Langka. This ulam idea will surely make you eat more rice than you planned to. Super affordable, yet super filling! You do not even need to put so much meat on it, fitting our budget! The only caveat here is you usually have to buy the unripe jackfruit or langka in the wet market as i seldom see it it grocery stores. Here’s a good recipe to follow.

7. Garlic tilapia and Cucumber Salad. One of the dishes you can never cook in secret is Crunchy Garlic Tilapia! It just smells oh so good! Just brown minced garlic  in oil, and then set aside. Fry the tilapia in the same oil and then top the crunchy fried tilapia with the golden garlic bits you earlier fried! Serve with chilled cucumber-vinegar salad on the side! So yummy <3

So there you have it! Hope you liked the recipe ideas we suggested today. I was surprised that bigas has gotten more expensive recently. Well, at least there is no bigas shortage as of yet, so let’s eat rice while we still happily can! God is good!

Food for the soul

At this point, may I share with you one of my favorite bible passages. This time from the Epistle of St. James:

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” 

James 1:17

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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Hello everyone! It is the start of another week, and it is again time for me to suggest, seven new low budget Pinoy ulam recipe ideas. Our fresh list has some entries that depart from the usual Filipino Meal just so we can get out of the routine meals even just for one day a week

As usual, it is still within the P150.00 to Php200.00 per meal budget good for 4-5 adult sized portions. Again, we try our best to make it nutritious, but buying some fruit for dessert either from surplus ulam budget or wherever will of course benefit the kids and the rest of the familia! (If you are new here, here’s a link to our past weekly lists)

So without further ado, here’s our list for the week:

Low Budget Pinoy Ulam and Meal Ideas for this week

1. Arroz A la Cubana – It is a breakfast fare, but hey we can eat it any time of day! It is a complete meal in itself with protein from ground pork or ground beef plus eggs and then carbs from the rice, and carbs plus sweet something from the fried Saba bananas! Truly healthy and easy. Check out this quick recipe.

2. Ginataang Puso ng Saging – Banana heart resembles the texture meat and so this gulay dish is yummy and lovable even for kids. Try it, and for sure you will like it! Here is a recipe that I have tried.

3. Chicken Sotanghon Guisado and Garlic Bread — This may be a noodle dish but it is a complete meal in itself, and it is very filling! The pairing with Garlic Bread makes the recipe all the more yummy to the tummy. Here is a Chicken Sotanghon Recipe you need to try!

4. Steamed Tilapia with Tomato-Onion Salsa — This is a nutritious and tangy fish dish that is so easy to cook! Try it and you will be surprised how easy it is to cook, and how quick it will disappear on your dining tables because YUM! Here’s the recipe.

5. Sweet and sour chicken bola-bola. Since chicken is deemed healthier than pork, then this recipe is the healthy version of the Sweet and Sour meatballs. Wither you buy ground chicken, grind the chicken breast yourself in your food processor, or just ask the butcher to grind it for you. Try this recipe. 

6. Chicken Inasal. Super easy, usual subject of cravings! Easy to follow, everyone could just have a leg quarter and garlic atsuete rice! You don’t need to grill it if it is too hot outside, you can just grill it in your pan, or use the air fryer or oven! Still yummy just the same. You do not need to buy a marinade, you can make your own. Check this recipe here.

7. Cheap and Cheerful Clubhouse Sandwich and chips. Here’s the “joker” card for this week’s low budget meal ideas — we Filipinos do not usually eat sandwiches for either lunch or dinner but this sandwich recipe is within the budget and will yummily feed a family of four or five! Use chicken ham, make an omelet, and buy half a loaf of your favorite sliced bread. Each member could have a three-tier sandwich each, with the first layer being chicken, and the second being egg. If you do not have mayonnaise on your pantry then a small sachet of mayo will do for this whole meal because you do not need a lot. If you have cucumber and tomatoes in your ref then throw them in in your sandwich, same with left over lettuce! If the budget still permits then go ahead and buy your family’s favorite chips so you could have it in the side. 

So that’s it, those are the suggested ulam recipe ideas for the week! Please come back again next week for another fresh list of budget ulam ideas!

Food for the soul

At this point, please allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the Book of Psalms:

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”

PSALM 5:11

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Low budget Pinoy ulam recipe ideas for the week appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello everyone! Monday again — time for a new list of Budget Recipes for the week. If you are new to this series, I hope you could check out our past Php200.00 ulam ideas that are refreshed week after week. Each ulam is good for four to five adults, and ingredients are available in local markets and groceries.

This week’s ulam ideas are a mix of meals that are partnered with rice, and some are noodle based. Either way, it aims to provide better nutrition for the whole family. so without further ado, here is our list of low budget ulam ideas for the week:

Low budget ulam ideas for the week

1. Chicken Chopsuey Rice— This is an uncomplicated yet super nutritious and refreshing meal. I remember that this is my dad’s usual order whenever eating in his favorite Chinese restaurant simply because the vegetables are cooked perfectly, the chicken is tender, there is chicken liver, and the sauce is just so yummy when poured over rice! Try it with this Chinese style recipe and ladle over rice.

2. Fried Chicken Wings with a side of ginisang upo. Simply put, 3/4 kilo of chicken wings is but enough to feed a crew of four or five, especially when there is a veggie side dish. Try this yummy combination this week.

3. Pinoy-style chicken spaghetti. This entry is inspired by one of the recent videos of Chef RV Manabat where he made sweet-style spaghetti with chicken as the meat ingredient. Well you can follow his cue and recreate your family’s usual sweet-style pinoy spaghetti and sub the ground beef with ground chicken breast. If you are feeling generous then by all means, follow Chef RV’s advice of adding condensed milk to make the sauce creamier and sweeter! Here’s his video .

4. Liver steak. Eating liver is good from time to time, and fortunately it is not too expensive. I am including liver steak on the list because it is yummy and nutritious at the same time. Both cow or pork liver is acceptable and is usually cooked bistek style. Check out this recipe.

5. Chicken Lomi. I remember my aunt telling me that this is one of their favorite “special” dishes during the Japanese war. I figured this is a complete meal that will break the routinary rice and ulam daily grind. It is not even hard to cook! Here’s a recipe that you can try. 

6. Fish Sarciado. I did not grow up eating sarciado or sweet and sour fish, but I discovered in my twenties that it is a delicious dish to have. Now that I am a mom, I love this dish even more because it is nutritious, delicious, and not too expensive to prepare. We usually use Tilapia for this recipe. Kindly multiply the recipe good for three fishes.

7. Sinampalukang Manok – This is my Ninang’s specialty. Like with chicken blood on bigas and fresh sampaloc leaves level-special. Of course, I am not telling you to make the dish on that mega-pro levels, but the idea of making sinampalukang manok should at least come to mind when trying to make cheap and cheerful recipes right? Here is a good recipe that I use.

Food for the soul

At this point I would like to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the Book of Psalms:

“And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. ”

Psalm 9:10

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is  a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Low budget ulam recipe ideas for the week appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello everyone! Monday is our day of fresh budget recipe ulam or main dish ideas, and so here I go again sharing with you seven affordable yet delicious and nutritious recipes that your family will love. As usual we advocate home cooking because apart from not being too costly, it is definitely more healthy!

Like our past lists, this week’s suggested ulam recipes cost between P150.00 to Php200.00 to cook for 4-5 adult portions. Hopefully, these ulam recipes could come in handy as we brace for the incoming school year. By the way, if you are on the look out for breakfast suggestions and school snack ideas, kindly check out our website’s section on Baon Ideas and Breakfast recipes. So without further ado, below is our food list for the week:

July 31-August 6 Budget Recipe Ulam Ideas

1. Nasi Goreng. This Indonesian fried rice dish is a one-pan meal that will not only save you money, it will even save you time in doing the dishes! All you need are some chicken breasts, make your own kecap manis or sweet soy sauce from standard toyo and brown sugar, and then you are almost done, done, done! Of course it needs one sunny sideup egg per person, but it is all cool and within the budget. Try Chef RV Manabat’s version here.

2. Egg drop soup and Crispy Fried Tawilis. You can sub Tawilis with any type of fish that you like that could fit within your budget, The trick is to season it perfectly with your favorite seasoning like salt and pepper plus garlic powder. Dredge in cake flour and fry in very hot oil. As for the egg drop soup, follow this easy recipe.

3. Clams Tausi. This is a perfect recipe to cook during palengke day so that the clams are just super fresh! If you are craving for the clams with black bean sauce in your favorite Chinese restaurant then cook this dish! It will be a hit in your own home for sure. Here is a recipe to try.

4. Ground Beef Broccoli. This is the budget-version of the stir-fried beef broccoli we usually crave for! Since tender beef cuts are not within our Php200.00 budget, we are blessed with the option of using ground beef instead. And 250grams or 1/4 kilo can go a long way! We also do not need to buy expensive frozen broccolis because as a tropical country we can buy this vegetable fresh in our wet markets and grocery stores. Try this recipe and make sure to have enough bowls of steamed rice. 

5. Chicken Liver and Gizzard Adobo. I remember this yummy and oily dish from my childhood! Yes, oily in a good way, like “nagmamantika.” The garlicky and yummy adobo flavors greatly complement the taste of chicken liver and gizzard. As long as the gizzard is not chewy, and the liver is not overcooked, then you’ve got one great ulam that will make you reach for the rice pot for more servings of rice. Yum! Here’s my own recipe.

6. Crispy Tuna Lumpia Shanghai and Ginisang Pechay Side Dish. This is a good recipe for older kids to try to cook. Lumpiang Tuna is simply canned brined tuna, some veggies, wrapped and made into a lumpia! It does not sound too special, but when you taste it, it surely satisfies! Pair with a vegetable side dish and you’ve got a good lunch or dinner meal. Here is a budget friendly recipe to follow.

7. Puso ng Saging Burger. Here is a good meat-free dish that does not taste like a meatless dish! I confidently say this because my picky-eating eldest kid did not even had a hint that she was eating a vegetable dish. Although it is a burger, it is best paired with steamed rice! Here is a recipe that my kids love.

Food for the soul

At this point, please allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible verses this time from the book of Psalms:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?”

Psalm 27:1

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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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 to have more budget ulam recipe ideas in your arsenal. Here’s a link to the recipe lists.

For our list today, I included non-meat ideas that are filling and yummy at the same time. Again the main dishes can serve 4-5 adult portions for a range Php150-200.00 per cooking. One of the keys also to serving nutritious yet cheap and cheerful meals is to be on the lookout for discounted items that are of course not suspiciously discounted.

Ways to lower food expenses

Apart from cooking budget ulam recipes. there are other ways to lower food expenses without sacrificing the taste and nutritional value of the main dishes that you prepare. These include looking out for discounted items, stocking on pantry staples, making double batch of food items that can be easily reheated like dumpling, spring rolls, native longganiza, adobo etc. By doing the aforementioned things, we homemakers can further lower the food costs in our home.

So without further ado here is this week’s list of budget ulam recipe ideas:

Budget ulam recipe ideas for the week

1. Almondigas with Patola. Take advantage of the rainy days and let your family enjoy piping hot misua soup with beef balls and patola. It is a complete meal in itself, but as Filipinos, we can still pair this with rice. 300 grams of ground pork is enough to make this dish meaty and yummy, making our budget cut for this week’s cheap and cheerful meals. Here is a good recipe that I have tried before.

2. Crispy Galunggong and Upo Guisado. Deep fry some galunggong fish and make it extra crispy so that the kids will enjoy. Make a side dish of semi-soupy upo gisado and serve with a smile! If you are feeling generous you can serve a side dish of red egg and tomatoes with this dish.

3. Chicken Basil. Yes it sounds like a Thai restaurant main dish but really, this is a very affordable ulam to serve to your family. Just buy some basil leaves and then your favorite chicken chop up to 3/4 kilograms! Surely, this new dish will tickle the tastebuds of your family. At least we can serve something that is out of our usual menu or kitchen repertoire. Try this recipe. 

4. Tinolang Clams or Mussels. Whatever is available in the palengke or grocery, grab any of this two shellfish and cook this comforting native soup recipe! I remember having this every weekend when my Mom goes to Farmer’s Market in Cubao. I think it is really her happy place because she just shares the joy to all of us through the yummy food she asks Manang to prepare the whole week! So whether it is Tinolang Halaan or Tinolang Tahong, just make sure that it has a lot of ginger so it will be really soothing and yummy at the same time! You can also up the nutritional value by adding some malunggay and sayote. Here is a happy recipe to try.  

5. Gyoza plus sweet and crispy dilis side dish. Gyoza may seem like a foreign dish that is expensive but do you know that you can prepare this for your family on a normal weekday? All you need is half a kilogram of pork, chives, cabbage, and gyoza wrapper and you are all set. Almost all other ingredients are pantry staples so you do not have to worry about staying within our P200.00 budget. Cooking is also easy, imagine all you need to do is fry and steam for less than 15 minutes? The good thing here is you can make extra batches for easy freezing, and cooking for when you need to have food ready right away! Try this recipe.

6. Liver steak. They say that eating internal organs like liver can be healthy from time to time. So why not take advantage of the fact that pork liver is relatively cheaper compared to other cuts of pork, and is considerably healthy if eaten occasionally. As a child, I liked eating liver seak too so why not try serving this to your family? Check out this recipe.

7. Tofu and Fish Fillet with Tausi. Relax, I know you think that the recipe is over and above the P200.00 budget but let me propose this to you — You need not use up the whole bag of fish fillet for this recipe. Use the other half for another recipe for later, and then use tokwa. You also need not use up the whole pouch of Tausi or black beans. You can just refrigerate it and use it for other dishes like clams with black bean sauce, pata humba, and other dishes. Follow this fun restaurant-style recipe.    

So there you have it. I hope you get to try the recipes that I have suggested for this week.

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you can allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible verses, this time from the Book of Lamentations:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

https://happypinaymommy.com/2023/07/19/how-busy-moms-can-start-reading-the-bible/

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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 to P200.00 per dish for 4-5 adult portions.

Making nutritious meals on a daily basis is not just a budgeting challenge, it could also be a planning challenge. Apart from thinking about what to cook, we moms have to make sure we have ingredients at hand. Moreover, we have to make sure that the ingredients are ready to be cooked — meaning thawed the night before. Without a meal plan, it will be harder to have nutritious meals on time, making us rely on processed or ready to cook food, or spend more money on delivery service of meals that are not as healthy as we would have wanted for our families.

Planning healthy meals through budget ulam recipes

Our budget ulam recipes are not just affordable, they are also healthy and balanced. While we moms cannot always readily prepare healthy meals either because of time, budget, or skills constraints, it is a must try to provide nutritious meals whenever possible.

Apart from providing nourishment, striving to cook healthy meals is like investing in your child’s health for the long term. It is like making them get used to eating full balanced meals so that they would prefer healthy home cooked food over processed meals and fast food items.

So without further ado, here is our list of budget ulam ideas for the week:

Weekly healthy budget ulam ideas list 2023

1. Twice-cooked Chicken Adobo with steamed tomatoes and chilled cucumber salad. One of the ways we enjoy plain chicken adobo at home is to cook it twice and prepare simple and budget-friendly side dishes like steamed ripe tomatoes and chilled cucumber salad. Before cooking the adobo, make a salad dressing by combining 1/2 cup of cane vinegar, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper, and 1 tbsp granulated sugar. Mix until dissolved and then add in cucumber slices. Refrigerate. Now it is time to prepare the main dish, just cook your adobo as you normally would and then refry it in oil. The steamed tomatoes on the other hand can be cooked alongside the steamed white rice. Serve everything with steamed rice and a huge smile

2. Laing. Laing can be a bit intimidating to cook but it really is not, and the best thing about it is it is affordable and yummy! Just saute onion, garlic and ginger. Add in 1/4 kilogram of pork or chicken. Once the meat is cooked, add 1 tbsp or more of ginisang bagoong and then 2 cups of coconut milk. At this point you may add in either bird’s eye chilis or siling labuyo or siling pansigang if you want it spicy. Add one tbsp of granulated sugar, mix and then bring to a boil. Taste and adjust the seasoning at this point. Add the dried Taro leaves about 2 fist-fulls (tip: SM sells dried taro leaves, so you can use about half of a P50.00 bag). Bring to a boil and let it simmer uncovered. Stop cooking until desired consistency is met — some like it a bit soupy, some like it just right (about 20-minute cooking time), while others like it nagmamantika which takes a lot longer. Either way the good thing about this recipe is you can freeze leftovers for whenever you crave

3. Crispy chicken neck and pechay guisado. Chicken neck is relatively cheap and you can get about 3/4 kilo to a kilo for less than 150.00. Just season the neck with patis and kalamansi, dredge in cornstarch-flour mixture and deep fry. Your remaining budget could be used to buy 100 grams of ground pork and bunches of pechay. Just saute onion, garlic, ground pork and wait till the meat is cooked. Add oyster sauce and 1/4 chicken cube and 1/2 cup of water. Add the chopped pechay and cook for about three minutes. Serve with a smile!

4. Asado chicken quarters. Sear chicken quarters, set aside. Add 1 cup of pineapple juice, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 pc of star anise, 1 pc of laurel leaves, and a pinch of pepper. Bring to a boil. Add in the seared chicken quarters and braise for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is super tender. Once the chicken is cooked remove it and make a slurry of 1 tbsp of cornstarch to 2 tbsps of water. Add to the braising liquid and bring to a boil. Adjust seasoning to taste, and pour the sauce into the cooked chicken. You’ve got a yummy dinner!

5. Fiesta pancit canton. Who says fiesta noodles are only meant for special occasions? You can cook a happy noodle dish for P200.00. Buy 1/4 cup of chicken breast (chop in bite sized pieces minus the bones of course), the smallest pack of squidballs split in half, and some chicken liver. Add carrots, cabbage and baguio beans. If you are feeling extra generous, throw in a chinese sausage (but that is if you have a left over in the ref because chinese sausage is out of budget already haha). You can then follow this fun recipe      

6. Sweet and sour fish fillet. Sweet and sour fish fillet is so homey, and whatever fish you can buy with budget will always be yummy! Best affordable options include  Pangasius Fillet or Tilapia Here is a good sweet and sour recipe that I have tried.

7. Ginataang Sigarilyas with a side of crunchy tawilis. Sigarilyas (winged bean) in coconut milk is one of the happiest coconut milk based dishes that I loved as a kid, and so I tried offering it to my kids as well. And as predicted, they liked it! Try this fun, fun recipe here,

So that’s it, those are our seven tipid ulam recipes for this week. I hope you check out our website again next week for our weekly budget ulam list.

Food for the soul

At this point I hope you could allow me to share one of my favorite bible passages. This time, it is from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans:

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

https://happypinaymommy.com/2023/07/12/how-moms-can-carve-a-consistent-prayer-routine/

The post Healthy budget ulam recipe ideas for the week appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

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, market and grocery shopping, and ensuring that the budget is followed.

As mothers we are blessed to have been given the responsibility to choose and prepare nourishing meals for our families. In provers 31:27-28 it says “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her…” So to aid us in planning budget-friendly and nourishing meals, allow me to offer you our suggested recipes for the week:

Cooking nutritious yet affordable meals for the family

Like the past week, the recipes in this list can all be cooked for a budget of Php150.00 to 200.00 and could produce about four-adult portioned sizes. These ulam ideas are also easy to prepare. SOme may require two steps but nothing really complicated.

If ever there will be other ingredients like seasonings, most are pantry staples. If ever they are not in your pantry then consider buying a pack as an investment. Anyway, if you divide your use into the next couple of days or weeks, then the amount shall redound to our target of more or less Php200.00 per main dish. So without further ado, here is our list of budget ulam recipes.

List of budget meal ulam ideas for the week 2023

1. Chicken binagoongan. This is a very easy and affordable recipe to prepare. Just pre-fry two medium sized eggplants. Saute onion, tomato and garlic. Add the bagoong and a teaspoon of sugar. You may also add sliced siling pansigang at this point if you want it a bit spicy. Add the chicken pieces and ensure that the chicken is cooked through. Add 1/4 cup of water and simmer unti;l the bagoong or shrimp paste gets a bit oily. You can then add the cooked eggplants and adjust seasoning to taste.
2. Ginataang Tilapia. This one is easy and nutritious! Fry two to three pieces of sliced tilapia. You may slice the fish into three or half, depending on your preference. Set aside. In the same pan, saute onion, garlic and ginger. Add 1 cup of coconut milk and 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp cracked pepper, plus one piece of chicken cube. Once boiling add the fried tilapia pieces and bring to a boil. Simmer for about five minutes and then adjust seasoning to taste. Patis is a good choice when it comes to seasoning coconut milk based dishes. You can also add in siling pansigang at this point. Serve with a smile!
3. Chicken Arroz Caldo. Arroz Caldo can be eaten in our house as a whole day meal! It can be eaten as lunch, the left over as merienda, and then the next day, it can be eaten as breakfast. Even your babies who are beyond 6 months can eat this (more baby and toddler food ideas can be found here)! Extra money saved for its budget can be used to buy Tokwa for a soy-tofu side dish mala “tokwang walang baboy” Here is an easy recipe I previously posted.
4. Tuna spaghetti. Let us take a break from rice and use our favorite pasta in making this super easy dish: Tuna Spaghetti. Just sauté your favorite can of tuna in onion and garlic. If you are feeling generous you can add all purpose cream to make the dish creamy but if not then the oil from the pasta should be enough. Season with salt and pepper, and if you have Basil at home then add some shakes of it.
5. Bangus a la Pobre. This is another budget friendly yet nutritious recipe that could feed a family of four or five. Even kids will be happy to eat this especially when the Bangus is boneless. Here is an easy recipe to follow.
6. Pork Sinigang using sinigang cut. Sinigang cut of pork is less expensive compared to the liempo cut, so one can easily go ahead and make use of it as a dinner or lunch ulam. Just make sure to add kangkong, labanos and gabi to fill up the recipe. Of course encourage the kids to eat up their veggies too!
7. Chicken Liver and Gizzard Adobo. This is an easy and super yummy recipe that will ensure that you will reach out for more rice. It may take a bit more time to cook, but the effort is worth it. Plus left-overs can be easily frozen! Here is a good recipe that I have tried.

So there goes our list for the week. I hope you come back again next week for our fresh list of suggested ulam ideas.

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you can allow me to share one of my favorite bible verses, this time from the Gospel of St. Matthew:

“But he answered, “It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Seven Budget Ulam Ideas for this week 2023 appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

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 dishes that we Filipinos have adapted to our palate. It feeds a family of 4-5 with adult-portion sizes. The dishes usually cost between P150.00 to P200.00 which is of course much much less expensive compared to ordering delivery food, grabbing take out, or dining in a restaurant (or even in a fastfood).

Of course, nothing compares to the nutritional value of home cooked food, and so, this takes into consideration the labor of love of us moms for our respective families.

This week’s budget ulam recipe ideas

This week’s entries are again easy to cook. Most of the basic ingredients and seasonings are also pantry staples so you would not have to rush to the grocery or the market to buy them. And since this list helps map out seven meals, it will help in your meal planning and grocery shopping making it more cost efficient.

By the way, if you are on the look out for meal plans, affordable breakfast meal ideas, and even kids’ ulam ideas then please do check out our website’s recipe section and baby and toddler meals.

Cheap but delicious ulam ideas 2023

So without further ado here is our list of cheap yet delicious and easy to prepare ulam recipes:

1. Bangus Steak — Instead of high-purine beef, use Bangus and make a Bangus Steak recipe. Of course, use red onions as white onions are still relatively expensive nowadays. Marinate for at least 15 minutes sliced bangus in a mixture of 1/4 cup soy sauce, and about 4-6 pieces calamansi, plus pepper.

In a pan, caramelize some onions and then set aside. Fry the Bangus in the same infused oil. When the fish is fully cooked, add the remaining marinade and the caramelized onions. Add a bit more onion rings and bring to a boil. Simmer for about five minutes and adjust seasoning to taste.

2. Chicken Sotanghon Soup and Crunchy Fried Galunggong – In these days of thunderstorms it is fun to eat noodle soups like our traditional chicken sotanghon soup. You do not need much for this recipe except for a few pieces of chicken breast or whatever chicken cut you prefer. Vermicelli noodles and then spring onions then you are good to go. Pair this is up with crunchy fried galunggong for the win

3. Pandan chicken – You may find Pandan Chicken in the menu of restaurants but it is surprisingly cheap to make. All you need is Pandan leaves, some seasoning and deboned chicken cuts and you’ve got your family an interesting dish that will surely make them ask for more. Here is an easy recipe to follow.

4. Steamed Tilapia with Soy Ginger Sauce. This is a nutritious and very delicious steamed fish recipe. You can use this recipe for steamed Pompano, just sub the fish. With Tilapia you can buy at least 3 medium sized pieces for less than 200.00.

5. Kare-Kareng Gulay. This is another good recipe to make and will surely help the kids enjoy vegetables specifically eggplant, string beans, and pechay. Well if you have kids who could not eat straight up Kare Kareng Gulay, you may add some 2-3 Pork Pata slices so that they could have some meat with their veggies. Here is a good recipe to use.

6. Crunchy fish fillet with thousand island dressing. Yes you can make this party staple as an ordinary-day main dish as it is both affordable and easy to make. Just use your favorite breading on Pangasius fillet and make a mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise as dipping sauce. The breadings that work for us include the usual flour-egg-flour / cornstarch mixture, or the flour-egg-panko breading mix.

7. Chicken Afritada. Who says caldereta is only for special occasions? It is a legit everyday meal since you can buy chicken pieces, tomato sauce, carrots and potatoes for about P200.00 Here is a recipe that you can follow.

So that is our list for this week, hope you visit our website once again next week for new entries to our list of budget ulams for the week.

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you could allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians:

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

https://happypinaymommy.com/2023/06/29/super-easy-soy-veggie-fried-rice-two-ways/

The post Budget ulam recipe ideas for the week of July 2023 appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello everyone! Sharing with you an easy fried rice recipe that could help us repurpose steamed rice and cut down on food waste. This is an easy to cook recipe that I often pack for my children to school as their snack. Its ingredients are also very easy to find – pantry staples in fact.

The soy-egg fried rice can be done two ways actually. If your kid is like one of mine who dislikes soy sauce, you can already get his or her portion before you add in soy sauce for the rest of the family. This recipe is also a good way to sneak in vegetables for your children and use the left-over vegetables in your ref before they rot.

Budget breakfast recipe

If you are on the lookout for quick cooking recipes like this or budget breakfast ideas, may I invite you to read our past breakfast recipe ideas posts? Here is the most recent one featuring affordable breakfast ideas for 2023.

Going back to our soy-egg fried rice, I am sure that you will not regret making it. It costs less than 100.00 to make this breakfast, I daresay even 50 as long as you have day old rice! So without further ado, here is the easy recipe

Easy soy egg fried rice

1. Saute garlic, ginger, scallions, carrots, cabbage and other left-over vegetables in your refrigerator.
2. Add 2-3 beaten eggs that you have pre-seasoned with salt and pepper.
3. Once the egg is about half-cooked, add the day-old rice.
4. Add a bit of soy sauce, and adjust seasoning.
5. Turn off the stove and drizzle sesame oil, then toss a bit.
6.   Serve with a smile!

Food for the soul

At this point I hope I can share with you, one of the most helpful bible passages that I hold on to:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

Isaiah 43:1-2

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Super Easy Soy-Veggie Fried Rice Two Ways appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

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 adult-portion sizes).

Before we go over the list for this week, I hope you can also check out our meal plans and recipes section here that could help you map out the dishes you will prepare for up to one month. Having such plan can also guide you on what to buy in the grocery or wet market, making your food budget more cost-efficient. More budget ulam ideas can also be found here.

Seven budget ulam ideas for Filipino families

So without further ado, here’s our list for the week:

1. Sinigang na Bangus — Sinigang na Bangus will always be comforting no matter what pang-asim you decide to use. Some use just overripe tomatoes, other use the usual tamarind, others Kamias, but my mom chooses to use Guava or Bayabas. Either way, it is a good and nutritious soup based ulam that will fill hungry tummies.

2. Tortang Giniling with Patatas — This is one budget friendly recipe that will surely make the kids happy especially when partnered with Banana Ketchup. You will only need 1/3 Kilo of ground pork, about two pieces of potatoes and about 2-4 pieces of large eggs. You can increase the nutritional value of this meal by adding malunggay leaves. Here’s a Tortang giniling recipe we posted before.

3. Chicken Sisig and Cucumber Salad — This is a fun and refreshing food for the family. Leftovers (if there will be any can make for a perfect sandwich filling!) Just use chicken breast for this, some mayonnaise and a bit of oyster sauce and kalamansi, plus onions then you are good to go. Here is a simple Chicken Sisig recipe we posted before. As for the cucumber salad, just thinly slice cucumbers (either round or matchstick size, then prepare a sugar-vinegar-salt-and-pepper dressing. Cheap and cheerful, indeed!

4. Braised eggplant with ground pork. Just the sauce of this recipe will surely make even your kids eat more rice than usual. You will only need about 2-3 pieces of eggplant, 1/4 kilograms of ground pork, and the rest is pantry ingredients already! Fry the eggplants and set aside. in the same pan, saute onion, garlic, and ginger. Add the ground pork and cook throughly. Add 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1/2 beef cube, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes. Add a cornstarch slurry made of 1 tsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp water. Wait for the sauce to thicken and adjust seasoning. Add the eggplant and carefully mix. Drizzle with sesame oil if you do have some in your pantry and serve with a smile!

5. Munggo Guisado and Crispy-fried tawilis. Need I say moe? This is the perfect lunch or dinner on a Friday! If your kids are not into Tawilis, then just buy some Pork Chicharon and serve with love!

6. Tokwa and Fish Tausi. This is another nutritious and filling main dish that even kids will enjoy. You can use any fleshy fish, but Bangus slices are fine for this. Check out this recipe.

7. Chicken Sopas. Looking for a hearty lunch? This will surely fill hungry tummies and will leave it warm and happy on a rainy day. USe this recipe minus the hotdogs and you will get a hearty soup and some left overs for merienda for less than P200.00!

Budget ulam recipe series 2023

I hope you get to choose an ulam or two, or even all, for this week’s suggested budget ulam recipes. I hope your family will like them and I pray that I have at least helped you answer one of the hardest questions homemakers face every single day: What’s for lunch or dinner?

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you could allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages. This time it is from the Gospel of St. Matthew:

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

Matthew 4:4

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

https://happypinaymommy.com/2023/06/24/how-jesus-comforts-brokenhearted-mothers/

The post Seven budget ulam ideas for this week | June 2023 appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

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 your arsenal more affordable ulam ideas for the family so that as early as the weekend you already have an idea what to cook for next week, and prepare accordingly in terms of including the ingredients in your weekly shopping list and respective meal plan.

2023 Budget Ulam Recipes

As for the definition of budget friendly, these recipes cost P150.00 to 200.00 for a family of five with children that can already eat adult portions. It is 2023 and food costs have risen considerably, and healthy servings could easily cost P150.00. Of course even if it adds up to Php200, it is still cheaper than ordering from Panda or Grab right?

I have written several blog posts before about P100.00 ulam ideas, however because of inflation and the several years that have passed, it would be better if we could come with an updated version of the recipes given the increase in the cost of ingredients. If you want to see the previous articles on this, please check out our budget recipes section here.

Weekly Filipino Budget Ulam Ideas

Here is our list of budget ulam ideas for the week:

1. Tinolang Manok — Tinolang Manok is highly nutritious and is not as expensive to prepare. Chicken is about P200 to 220 per kilo, you do not need to buy a full kilogram to feed a family of five. What you can do is buy half a kilo of chicken breast chopped and then half a kilo of soup pack chicken which is only at P120.00 per kilogram. The soup pack pieces add more flavor to the broth, and also comes with a bit of meat. Or you can buy one whole chicken that is not too big, and then have it chopped. The rest of the budget can go to the sayote and the ginger. I am sure you have garlic, oil and onion at home, and some malunggay from the neighbor Here’s a quick and easy Chicken Tinola recipe.

2. Ginataang Sitaw at Kalabasa — This is another classic filipino dish that is easy on the budget. It is filling too since squash and string beans are filled with fiber. Buy 200g of Pork Giniling or Pork Panggisa which is about P75.00, then one tali of sitaw, and a portion of kalabasa. One small pack of coco mama is less than 35.00 so your budget is A-ok. Here is a recipe I previously posted.

3. Paksiw na bangus with black beans — Bangus is so endemic in the country and is inexpensive. Buy half a kilo to 3/4 kilo of Bangus and slice it. Buy an eggplant and a small amplaya as veggie or some black beans. Fry the bangus first before simmering it in a water-vinegar mixture. Add the ginger, garlic, and eggplant (My mom even likes to add ampalaya to this type of Paksiw) and then bring to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes uncovered. Once cooked, season with salt and pepper, and add the black beans. adjust seasoning to taste.

4. Fried chicken wings and adobong kangkong — Buy about 3/4 kg of chicken wings. marinate in a bit of calamansi and patis mixture. dredge in a bit of flour to avoid oil splatters. The remaining budget can be used for a side dish — adobong kangkong.

5. Monggo guisado and daing or fried galunggong — Fry some fresh galunggong fish or its daing counterpart. Then make some monggo guisado — make sure to add either chili leaves or malunggay to make it extra healthier!

6. Yummy Tokwa or Tofu Sisig – My kids eat most veggies, and they also enjoy eating other nutritious food like tokwa, so it is easy for me to incorporate it in our weekly meals. For this recipe, use four squares of tokwa (Tokwa is cheaper than tofu). Fry it and set aside. Make the sauce by using good quality mayonnaise, oyster sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. In a pan, saute onion, garlic, and bell pepper or siling pansigang if you are adding sili. Then add the tokwa. Let the tokwa absorb the infused oil before adding the sauce mixture. Serve with a smile!

7. Deep fried salmon belly and eggplant salad –– Salmon belly flaps in our grocery sells for around P150.00. Season with salt and pepper, then dredge in a bit of flour, then deep fry or pan fry to a crunch in used cooking oil. Boil or steam or grill some eggplants, peel and then top with sliced onions and tomatoes and seasoned vinegar! You’ve got yourself a yummy lunch there!

Hope you picked up a thing or two (or everything) in our list for the week. Just a tip, I am not being haughty or proud about my parenting skills (I am far from being a perfect mom) but one of the best decisions I made as a mother is to train my children to eat veggies. This is an investment on their health, which pays off as well in terms of budget. Having said that if your kids are still very picky I suggest that you start with foregoing the urge to cook a special ulam or dish for them just to get them to eat whenever the ulam is veggie based or is something they would not eat. If they go hungry, they will eat it. And it takes heart, patience and practice.

Food for the soul

At this point, please allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible verses as a mom. It is from the Letter of St. Paul to Titus: 

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

Titus 2:3-5

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

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