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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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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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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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.

How to cook Daing na Bangus in an air fryer

Cooking daing na bangus just got easier with an air fryer

Hi Everyone! Hope all is well with the new week so far. Time flies so fast, and whether you are a homeschooler, or your kids are in remote learning, things are getting hectic by the day.

And busy moms know that no matter how busy we are, we still have to prepare food for the children.

One of my go-to dishes is fried daing na bangus, or fried butterflied boneless milkfish. Preparing this dish got a lot easier, and less messier with an airfryer, and so today, I will be teaching you how to make this dish in your airfryer.

Now I know some of you would think that air frying could dry it up, but no, it becomes even juicier, and of course much healthier. It only needs a bit of oil for spraying and brushing and you will get the browning your kids are accustomed to with frying. 


Benefits of serving Bangus to the kids and the family

Before diving onto this simple recipe, let me enumerate to you the many benefits of serving bangus to your little ones and the rest of your family.

For one, it is a good source of Omega 3 which helps prevent some types of cancer. For the adults in the family, it can help lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which in turn lowers the risk for cardiovascular disease.

For pregnant and lactating moms, it can help in fetal brain development. Eating Bangus regularly also helps lower the risk for dementia, alzheimer’s disease, and other cognitive health issues. Lastly, it helps lower inflammation levels relative to arthritis. Check out our  recipes of healthy drink recipes you could pair up with this meal here.

So now, let us get cooking!

Cooking Daing na Bangus in an airfryer

Wash the boneless bangus and marinate in 1/4 cup white vinegar, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon of minced or crushed garlic.

Marinate for at least 20 minutes if you have time, but if you do not, then don’t bother. After that, line your air fryer with a parchment paper and lay the bangus, white side up.

If you do not mind the extra sodium you may mix a bit of soy sauce on the oil that you will use to baste the bangus.

Baste the bangus with oil and air fry for 20 minutes at 350F or about 180c . No need to preheat. After 20 minutes, open the air fryer basket and put a tablespoon of butter on top of the fish. Adjust temperature to 400F or about 200c, and air fry for another three minutes.

Serve immediately with vinegar dipping sauce, and rice plus pickled vegetables on the side! Happy cooking, and thank you for stopping by. Till next post ladies!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

Check out another healthy and easy to cook family dish here >> Instant Pot Jap Chae 

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!

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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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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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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How to Cook Bagis

How to cook bagis

If you need to whip up a yummy ulam but you only have a hundred pesos and less than 30 minutes to prepare, then i suggest that you learn how to cook bagis. Bagis is apparently a Kapampangan dish that makes use of ground beef, and has a hint of tart and citrusy flavor and…
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How to Make Basic Overnight Oats

Basic Overnight Oats Recipe

I prepare basic overnight oats during days when I feel like ill be too busy the next morning to prepare our usual breakfast. Either I am pulling an all-nighter working here at our website, or it will be a busy school day the next day with back to back errands to run with my younger…
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How to make skinless homemade Vigan Longganisa

How to make skinless vigan longganisa

I have always loved Vigan Longganisa. I remember when i was a kid, my mornings had been extra wonderful by default whenever we are having it for breakfast. I have prodded my childhood yaya back then to find out how to make easy, skinless homemade Vigan Longganisa for me so I can always eat it…
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Quick and easy crispy fish fillet recipe

This easy crispy fish fillet has been one of our go-to ulams when we are pressed for time to cook our normal meal. It is because it is so easy to cook and does not require much ingredients. In fact, the most complicated thing about cooking this is to remember to take out the fish…
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How to Cook Tortang Dulong (P100 Ulam Idea)

Now i Know how to cook tortang dulong, and I am sharing this recipe with you.

I have been meaning to cook Tortang Dulong since I heard it is nutritious, and of course, it tastes great. We usually order this in a take-out place and it is served crunchy. So when we were shopping at the grocery, we saw this and the mister suggested that we give it a try. Easy…
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How to Cook Tortang Ampalaya (Under P100 Ulam Ideas)

Cook Tortang Ampalaya

Been a long time since I last posted here in our little website, so please accept my apologies. This 2018 though, I promise to post more – including recipes like how to cook Tortang Ampalaya, which is not just under P100.00 to make, but is also so easy and simple, that even a newbie cooking…
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