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 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 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!

The post 7 Budget Ulam Ideas for the week (P150.00 to 200.00 per dish) appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

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 every egg that I use for the Torta. The second way to make it crunchy is by flipping it a couple of times. As for the no-grill secret, well, I steam the eggplant instead of grilling it.

Budget friendly recipe idea

Eggplants are high in fiber, and is a healthy option for those wanting to avoid red meat. It is also more affordable! One eggplant can very well serve one person. Sometimes, one piece is more than enough! I even found a way to save on electricity while cooking this, by using the steamer contraption on the rice cooker. Just cook it while you are cooking rice! Truly easy on the pocket, budget-friendly, and easy peasy!

By the way if you are on the lookout for budget ulam ideas, hope you could find the time to check out our budget meal archives here. So without further ado, here’s the tortang talong recipe:

No-Grill Tortang Talong, crunchier edition!

Here is the simple procedure:

1. Steam the eggplants along with your rice. If steaming by itself, 20-25 minutes of steaming will suffice. You can do this ahead of time like a day before, and just store the steamed eggplant in your ref. It can keep for at least 2-3 days.
2. Peel the eggplants. set aside.
3. Beat two eggs for every eggplant. Season with salt and pepper (and garlic powder if you like), and then add two teaspoons of cornstarch in the mixture. Put the eggplant in the mixture and flatten and mash the eggplant without removing it from the stem. Use a fork for this process.
4. Heat oil in a pan and fry the eggplant. Cover for about 2-3 minutes and then flip.
5. Flip it again for about two minutes until it seems toasty and crunchy.
6. Serve with a smile and a side of Banana or Tomato Ketchup!

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you would allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages. This time this is from the book of Psalms:

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Budget Ulam Idea: Extra-Crunchy No-Grill Tortang Talong appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Beginner friendly chicken tinola, perfect for the rainy days

When you have been breastfeeding continuously for more than 10 years, Chicken Tinola will become a staple in your household. If it were music, it would have been one of the sound tracks of my life, and I am not exaggerating. Upon the birth of my third child, I almost abhorred the sight of Tinola but since I know that this will help me make more milk, weekly chicken Tinola for the win! BTW if you are on the lookout for breastfeeding resources, please check out our breastfeeding section here.

Having said that, I have decided to share with you today this beginner-friendly chicken tinola recipe that is helpful not just for lactating moms like me, but is also a very nutritious dish for young kids — actually a healthy dish for everyone, period. Chicken breast of course is a lean meat, add to that the veggies like Sayote (or even Papaya), and the greens which is usually malunggay (Moringa) or dahon ng sili (chili leaves), ginger is of course good for digestion and garlic is good for the health, plus onions is a great anti-oxidant. It is jampacked with the nutrition every person needs, and best of all, the ingredients are not expensive, and the soup? Super soothing!

So without further ado, here is the simplest of all procedures on how to get that steaming bowl of Chicken Tinola into your dining table.

Easy Chicken Tinola

Here’s the simple procedure:

1. Preboil chicken cuts for at least 12 minutes. Wash and then set aside.

2. Saute ginger, garlic, and onions. Add the chicken and make sure that the chicken pieces absorb the infused oil from the aromatics.

3. Add chopped sayote, and add about 3-4 cups of water (or even more depending on how soupy you want your Tinola to be).

4. Add 1-2 chicken cubes or 1-2 Tbsp of Patis whatever seasoning you prefer.

5. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10-12 minutes.

6. Once the sayote is tender, add in the malunggay or dahon ng sili. simmer for another minute or two and then serve with a smile!

Food for the soul

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

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Again, thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Beginner-friendly Chicken Tinola appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello fellow mommies! Sharing with you an easy to follow yet out of the ordinary homestyle porkchop recipe! In my home, our usual porkchop recipes are either Tonkatsu style or breaded with Japanese Panko breading or just plain seasoned with salt and pepper.

This time, I am sharing with you a recipe I tested that was a hit for my kids! I call it Homestyle Porkchops with a twist! By the way if you are on the look out for easy to follow recipes and meal plans, I hope you could check out our meal plans and recipes section here.

Porkchops with a Twist Recipe

As promised, this is super simple, and even beginner friendly! It does not require deep frying, and is actually best for shallow pan frying. I Know most of you would not like to use your air fryers and ovens simply because it generates too much heat in this hot weather, so here you go shallow frying for the win!

Easy procedure:

1. Marinate porkchop for at least 30 minutes to overnight in this mixture: 1/4 cup calamansi or lemon juice 1/2 cup soy sauce 1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 tsp cinnamon powder 1 tbsp brown sugar crushed garlic
2. Dredge the marinated porkchop in potato starch with a bit of salt, pepper, and cinnamon. You can also add any of your favorite seasonings like garlic salt or any herbal-salt mixtures.
3. Pan fry in hot oil in medium heat for at least 6-8 minutes per side. Check on the 6-minute mark and flip. You will need to flip the chops for 3-4 times to make it extra crunchy.
4. I usually check the internal temp to ensure it is thoroughly cooked. I aim for at least 165F.
5. Serve with a smile! Simple banana ketchup is the perfect dipping sauce

Food for the soul

Hope you can also allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

Ephesians 3:20

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Homestyle Yummy Porkchops Recipe appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello everyone! Sharing with you my recipe for Instapot Chicken BBQ Legs with Peanut Sauce. This may require three steps but all these are almost effortless, and are worth your time and energy because it is super delicious! You do not even need to grill it over coal! Indoor grilling, or even pan-grill works well with this fun recipe! And since this food is grilled, it is healthier compared to fried or deep fried food

It is actually reminiscent of our favorite Chicken BBQ restaurant where they serve juicy, fresh hot-off-the-grill chicken barbecue quarters that are juicy, tender, and very flavorful especially with the thick and yummy peanut sauce!

Instapot Chicken BBQ Legs with Peanut Sauce

Please see below simple procedure for this easy barbecue that does not require you to grill over hot coal!

1. Braise the legs in 1/3 cup lemon or calamansi juice, 2/3 cup soy sauce, 1/3 cup brown sugar, salt and pepper, splash of banana ketchup, and pounded garlic.

2. Set in Low Pressure at 14 minutes. You may need to add more cooking time depending on how much chicken you are cooking. I am cooking 4 medium-sized leg quarters.

3. When time is up, wait for 10 minutes (LO10) before doing a quick pressure release.

4. Remove the chicken from the Instantpot and grill it either in a griller or a stove top grill pan. Make sure that the griller is oiled so that the skin will not stick on it.

5. Since the chicken is fully cooked already, all you need to do is to get grill marks and smoky flavor. This will not take much time — about three minutes per side only for me, so better check yours on the third minute mark too.

6. As for the sauce, add half a cup of the remaining braising liquid and add at least 1.5 Tbsp of your favorite peanut butter. The taste and consistency will fully depend on your preference so adjust the seasoning to your own liking. Bring to a boil, and simmer for about two minutes.

7. Serve with a whole lot of love!

Thank you for stopping by and if you are on the look out for ulam or meal ideas, hope you can check out our meal plan and recipes section here.

Food for the soul

Hope you can also allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

Again, thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Instantpot BBQ Chicken with peanut sauce recipe appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello fellow mommies! Sharing with you my go-to Air Fryer fried chicken recipe. This one tastes much like Max’s fried chicken, only it is not deep fried And since it is not deep fried, I believe it is a bit more healthy to eat!

This recipe is easy although it may require several steps. The good thing about this is that the steps can be done between days if you do not have the time to do all the cooking in one day. The first step starts at the supermarket, where you will request your butcher to chop the chicken in half, or butterfly-style. If you already have a whole chicken at home, well just chop the chicken in half.

By the way, if you are looking for meal ideas, meal plans and recipes, I hope you can check out our meal plans and recipes section here. 

Easy Max’s Chicken Style Air Fryer Recipe

As I mentioned, this is a relatively easy recipe to do and I am sure you will like it because it is a healthy and delicious way to cook restaurant-style fried chicken!

Here is the super easy procedure:

1. Chop the chicken into butterfly cut (chopped in half — you may request your butcher)
2. Season with salt and steam it for about 20-25 minutes depending on the size — ours was about 2 to 2.5 pounds (over a kilo).
3. Baste the chicken with Patis, and then cool and dry out to remove excess moisture.
4. Spray or brush with oil, and air fry for about 25 minutes (or more depending on your air fryer and the size of the chicken) at 200c
5. Check on the 20th minute and add additional cooking time as needed
6. Serve with ketchup-worcestershire-hot sauce dip for the sarap to the bones experience.

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 Gospel of St. John:

“I have said this to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage, I have conquered the world!”

John 16:33

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

https://happypinaymommy.com/2023/05/24/how-to-cook-pork-belly-sinigang-in-the-instapot/

The post Max’s style air fryer fried chicken appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello mommies! Sharing with you the heavy afternoon snack I prepared today — Truffle Pasta and Clubhouse Sandwiches. It is a win-win merienda for us since it is very easy to cook (I will share the recipe in this post) and it is one of my family’s favorites.

I decided to serve heavy merienda since I have a lot of laundry to fold and would really be happy to serve dinner at a much later time. So, there I prepared some truffle pasta and then club sandwiches filled with parma ham, scrambled egg, black olives, and jalapeno. I also used some paper plates because like my laundry, I am also behind in the dishwashing section hahaha

Super easy Truffle Pasta recipe

1. Cook your choice of pasta according to package instructions. Set it aside.

2. Saute Shitake mushroom in olive oil and butter. Add heavy cream, and then the truffle paste. Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste, and then simmer for a bit.

3. Add your favorite type of cooked pasta, toss and then turn off the heat.

4. Drizzle with truffle oil, and then top with grated parmesan cheese. Serve

Hope you’ll like the recipe and if you are on the lookout for easy to cook dishes like this, and meal or ulam ideas please check out our recipes section here, or our meal plan section here.

Food for the soul

Hope you can also allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the Book of Job:

“Agree with God and be at peace; in this way, good will come to you. Receive instruction from His mouth and lay up His words in your heart.”

Job 22:21

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

https://happypinaymommy.com/2023/05/17/moms-make-breakfast-as-a-sign-of-love-%f0%9f%92%99/

The post Easy Truffle Pasta Recipe appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Belated happy Mother’s day fellow mommies! Like most morning persons, i love preparing and eating breakfast. It is actually one of my manifestations of love for my family. So in this belated mom’s day post, allow me to share with you our typical weekend breakfast

In the picture above, you can see our simple and typical weekend breakfast Smoked Bangus, Eggs, Okra, rice and miso soup.

Heavy breakfast on weekends

We usually eat a full heavy breakfast on weekends since everyone can take their time to eat and enjoy their meal. This is of course in contrast to the rush and panic of weekday breakfast where we usually just have basic breakfasts of either fried rice with all the fragments or leftovers in our ref, or Gyeran Bap, Oatmeal, or breakfast sandwiches.

Anyway, I prepared some Smoked Bangus (i just thawed it the night before since i bought it frozen and then fried it in the morning), steamed okra, fried sunny side up eggs, rice, and quick and easy miso soup with bokchoy and tofu.

Enjoying cooking and eating with the family

I have always loved cooking, and weekend food prep is always nice since I am not also frantic to put food on the table.

Since everyone is still sleeping and I do not have to prepare anything for school, I think cooking becomes an even more enjoyable task. If you are on the lookout for breakfast ideas, I hope you could check out our meal plan and recipes section.

Food for the soul

Hope you can also allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Again, thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Moms make breakfast as a sign of love 💙 appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

My girls have been bugging me to cook sweet spaghetti for their afterschool merienda. Today, I gave in to that prodding and made some. This simple snack dish is made from my super easy and quick recipe that I thought of sharing with you too.

Disclaimer though, we do not put ground beef anymore because my kids are picking out the minced beef. I also do not grate cheese on top since they do not like it. After more than a decade of motherhood, I have learned to pick my battles and not sweat the small stuff, so I don’t bother anymore. Anyway, this is just an after school merienda. They get nutritious food in their main meals most of the time anyway haha.

After school snack: easy spaghetti

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions and set aside.

2. Fry sliced hotdogs. Add onions and garlic.

3. Add tomato sauce about 250ml for three to four servings.

4. Add 2-3 tablespoons of sugar. Half a beef broth cube, and then cracked pepper.

5. Simmer for 3-5 minutes.

6. Adjust seasoning according to taste

7. Add cooked pasta, combine well and serve.

Plain but the kids love it

The spaghetti may look plain, but for my kids, this spaghetti is the best especially when they get home from school starving for merienda. You can use any type of pasta for this dish, and you could even substitute the tomato sauce with canned diced tomatoes, or if you want to be healthier, omit hotdogs and replace tomato sauce with pureed over ripe tomatoes.

Thank you and hope you will like this recipe too! If you are on the lookout for recipes, please checkout our recipes and meal plans section here.

Recipe for the best life

At this point, I hope you can also allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages, this time from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:

“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land”

Isaiah 1:19

Again, thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Simple sweet-style kiddie spaghetti recipe appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

I may be used to cooking three meals a day, preparing baon boxes and after school snacks but like any other housemom, I too have days when I am too tired to cook a proper meal.

But as they say, the show must go on. The kids will get hungry no matter what my energy meter says and so I should endeavor to get food on the table.

The refrigerator as a treasure trove

What I do is to open my refrigerator, find the best left-overs and ready to cook ingredients  there like steamed potatoes, boiled eggs, rice that can be made into fried rice, and other easy dishes. Eggs and tomatoes are a happy combo.

Having side dishes that are ready in the refrigerator really help because they just need to be reheated. Sometimes, not even!

Steamed potatoes as the best side dish

I usually have steamed potatoes at hand for circumstances like this. I place potato chunks in the steamer basket while I cook rice so that I have steamed potatoes ready in the ref for side dishes. One of my go-to dishes for potatoes is miso butter potato chunks.

Frozen food and canned goods as convenience and emergency dishes

My next stop when trying to prepare meals when I am too tired is the freezer. I usually try to find easy-to-prepare frozen foods like fish cake. I usually shred it, add corn syrup and soy sauce, and fry it a bit.

If I still need more dishes for the meal, my next stop would be the pantry – canned goods help too! I usually get tuna or salmon chunks in olive oil. Sometimes I even get ramen if need be!

The grace to take it easy

I believe, there is no shame in putting together what is easy to prepare just to ensure that the kids eat on time. As they say, we have to give ourselves the grace to do what is easier and convenient for us when the situation calls for it.

Thank you for stopping by and if you are on the lookout for easy recipes, hope you can check out our recipes and meal plans section here.

Food for the soul

At this point I hope you can allow me to share with you another bible passage that continues to inspire me. This time it is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans:

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Again, thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

https://happypinaymommy.com/2023/03/29/easy-to-cook-chicken-teriyaki/

The post Feeding the kids when I am too tired to cook appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello mommies! Sharing with you yet another easy to cook recipe for those days when we do not have much time to prepare — Teriyaki Chicken Thighs.Well, you can use any chicken part that your family prefers but for us I use boneless chicken thighs so that it will be easier for the kids to eat. Thighs are tender too because they are a bit on the fatty side

Cooking Teriyaki chicken thighs for lunch

As I said, this is an easy dish to prepare. All you have to do is to brown both sides of the chicken fillet. While the chicken is rendering, make the teriyaki sauce:

Teriyaki sauce ingredients:

• 1/2 to 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp light soy
• 1 tbsp Mirin
• 1/2 tbsp oyster sauce
• Pinch of pepper
• Ginger Paste
• Garlic Paste

Easy to follow cooking procedure

Back to the chicken – once both sides are browned, add the sauce. Make sure that the chicken pieces are all fully coated. Simmer for about 2-3 minutes. Drizzle with sesame oil, and sprinkle some sesame seeds.

Serve and enjoy! If you are on the look-out for easy to cook recipes hope you can check out our recipes section here.

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 Book of Ecclesiastes:

“For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

ECCLESIASTES 2:26

Again, thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

https://happypinaymommy.com/2023/03/28/how-to-make-gyeran-bap-for-your-kids-breakfast/

The post Easy to cook chicken teriyaki appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello fellow mommies! Sharing with you the quick and easy lunch I prepared recently. It is a basic burger steak recipe with mushroom gravy. I know I will not have much time to cook that day so the night before I decided to just thaw our ground beef and make this easy but very yummy dish.

It is very easy to do. All you need to do is to season the ground beef with salt and pepper. You can also use whatever herbs your kids and husband like. For instance you may put in garlic or onion powder, paprika, or even parsley. Whatever works for you!

Forming the burger steak patties

Combine and form burger patties. Yes it is just that, no other ingredients like eggs, or binders nor extenders. Just pure 100% beef goodness. I usually use an at least 80-20 lean to fat ratio. But if you are not so much concerned about the cholesterol levels then by all means get the wagyu ground beef which is just so yummy!

Anyway, form balls first and gently press down the size of your palms. Do not make it too thin nor too thick. Think of your favorite burger restaurant and aim for the thickness of their patties. Set aside.

Let us start cooking burger steak!

Drizzle cooking oil in a pan and melt some butter. Pan fry the patties, about three minutes per side. Do not press it down nor try to flip it in less than two minutes because the patty may crumble. Set aside once cooked. You may cover in foil if you wish.

Making the mushroom gravy

The mushroom gravy is equally easy to make! Here are the ingredients:

Mushroom Gravy Ingredients:

• Sliced Button Mushrooms
• 1 tbsp Butter
• 1.5 Tbsp Flour
• 1 1/4 Cup Water
• 1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
• Half Beef Cubes
• Pepper

Saute the mushroom in melted butter. Tun off the heat. Combine the ingredients and make sure that the mixture is free from lumps. Turn on the heat, and bring to a boil. Add one tablespoon of butter. Simmer for a minute or two and adjust seasoning accordingly.

Thank you and I hope you will like this easy recipe. If you are on the lookout for more easy dishes to prepare, I hope you can find the time to check out the recipes section of our blog here.

Food for the soul

At this point I hope you can allow me to share with you another bible passage that continues to inspire me. This time it is from the Book of Psalms:

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:13-14

Thank you so much for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Easy burger steak with mushroom gravy recipe appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Hello everyone! I was running late in cooking our lunch the other day, and so I decided at that time to cook one of the easiest dishes to prepare: Tortang giniling with potatoes. I got so engrossed with my other daily activities at home that I lost track of time and was running late to get something on the table for lunch.

Good thing this dish is so easy to do, I have ingredients on hand, and I even have pre-steamed potatoes that I was supposed to use for another dish. It is a go-to dish, that even my own yaya when I was little used to cook. She however used banana leaves, but me? I could not find any so non-stick pan is the key.

Tortang Giniling Cooking procedure

It is really easy even for non-experienced cooks. Just saute onion and garlic, brown the ground pork or beef, and season with salt and pepper. While it is cooking, beat some eggs and season it as well. Pour the beaten eggs and cover the frying pan for 3 minutes or so.

After three minutes, try your best to flip the omelette because it will burn if you don’t. Then cook for another three minutes. Serve with lots of ketchup! Yum!

My kids love banana ketchup

The best dip for this dish is of course any type of ketchup. In our house though, it is Banana Ketchup! After cooking the meal, I asked one of my daughters if it was good. She said it was and that she is very hungry! That is a good answer for me!

Anyway, if you are on the lookout for easy to cook dishes, I hope you could find the time to check out our recipes and meal plans section here.

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you will also allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages. This time it is from the book of the Prophet Isaiah:

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

ISAIAH 40:31

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post How to cook tortang giniling with potatoes appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

Sharing with you an easy recipe that I prepare whenever I am too busy with other house chores. While this may require planning ahead as it is a two-step recipe, if you steam the chicken wings as soon as you buy them then this will be a very easy dish to cook for you.

This is Air fried BBQ Chicken wings made with pre-steamed chicken. I usually split the drumette from the wing part for easier cooking but I was in a rush this time that I just cooked the whole wings in one go.

How much chicken wings do we need?

Half a kilogram of chicken wings is enough for my brood, and it is one batch of steaming in my instapot and in the air fryer consequently. So 1ne pound of chicken wings is perfect. If it will be eaten on its own like for game nights, then it is best to double or even triple the recipe because kids can be very ravenous hahaha!

What you need: 1 pound chicken, your favorite bbq sauce, salt and pepper and oil. That is it. Yes, really.

Super easy chicken wing cooking

So before steaming the chicken either in your Instapot or steamer, make sure to season it first with salt and pepper (and garlic powder if you wish). I usually steam it for six minutes then leave it for 10 minutes in the natural steam release mode.

After that, take your pre-steamed (and seasoned) chicken and smother it in your favorite bbq sauce. Do not forget to mix in some cooking oil to make it easier to cook. Then cook it in the air fryer for 15 minutes, flipping after 10 minutes.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving! enjoy!

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 Letter of St. Paul to Timothy:

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Thank you for stopping by and till next post!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy! To God be the Glory! Shalom!

The post Super easy Air Fryer BBQ chicken wings appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

I am again saved by meal prepping or advanced cooking today. I was running late into preparing lunch for my kids so I decided to get one of my freezer meals which is Pork Patang Humba.

I heated up this dish that I cooked in the Instapot some four days ago. Patang humba is a favorite in our household. This one though has a twist! I meant it to become like a sliced Pata Tim style of cooking but I forgot to put star anise and I ran out of kailan and bok choi (pak choi), so it became a humba instead.

Anyway, the good news is my family still liked it. My biggest baby insisted that it is Humba, and so as long as he eats well, then so be it. It is Humba then!

Super Easy Instapot Pork Humba Recipe

If you are wondering how to cook it, just tenderize the pork hocks or pata beforehand. Then make a sauce out of pineapple juice, brown sugar, dark soy, good quality oyster sauce, some pepper and laurel leaves.

Simmer the sauce in your Instapot, then add the pork hocks. Cancel the ‘saute’ mode, and pressure cook on high for 12-15 minutes depending on how much hocks you are cooking. Wait for your Instapot to display LO10 at least before releasing pressure. As for me I just leave it to naturally release steam so that the hocks could sip in more of the flavors of the braising liquid.

If your family likes sticky sauce, then get the hocks out of the Instapot and add slurry to the braising liquid, and bring it to a boil. Season the sauce to taste, and adjust according to your preference — you may put in more sugar if you want or salt if you think it needs more. Do what makes you happy!

Traditional humba recipe cooked in the instapot!

Of course, as I always say, if you want to stock some freezer meals in your refrigerator, then all you have to do is to double up the recipe. Freeze the other batch in a freezer-safe zip loc container label it with the dish’s name and the date of packing, and you are all set. You will have instant meals that are nutritious and budget friendly. No need to call for delivery yet!

Thank you for stopping by and if you are on the lookout for more easy recipes, hope you can check out our blog’s food, mealplans, and recipes section.

Food for the soul

At this point, I hope you could also allow me to share with you one of my favorite bible passages. It is from the Book of John:

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” JOHN 10:27-28

Thank you for spending time with me, and I hope you and your family will have a peaceful day ahead!

A happy homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Saved by meal prep: Instapot Pork Patang Humba appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

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 the food of the littlest member thereof.

While BLW or Baby-led weaning is meant to help families eat the same food as everyone (oldest to youngest child have almost the same meals), we all know that is sometimes not feasible. Hence, we may need to plan out weekly meals for our toddler, some of which could be taken from the main meal plan of the house for the week.

Toddler Meal and Baby-Led Weaning BLW Meal resources

Before I give you my toddler meal suggestions for the week, allow me to help you find meal planning resources and toddler meal ideas from our blog. Pre-pandemic, I have been religiously posting weekly meal plans, and you can find some here. A host of BLW or toddler meal ideas can meantime be found here.

Anyway, without further ado, here are the five meal suggestions for your little one this week. As you can see, the meals are designed to encourage your little one to eat on his own. The fruits served are safe enough to chomp on, and so are the bread pieces and the pasta. I strongly encourage you though to never leave your child unattended while eating to prevent accidents.

Toddler BLW meal suggestions for the week:

Let your child explore the different sizes, tastes, and textures of the food that you serve so that they get to have a more adventurous palate. Based on my experience raising my three kids from toddlerhood, I have discovered that when they are served only what they like or are accustomed to, they tend to become more picky. I have read once that we should at least try to serve a new food 3-4 times until the child can at least give it a try.

You may want to take a screenshot of the table below for your convenience in planning and shopping for your baby’s meals:

The Chicken Tinola is an obvious favorite in our household. Who doesn’t love the super yummy and soothing soup right? The sayote tastes neutral and is soft enough for the baby to chew on. The same goes with the shredded chicken breast. And since the rice has soup on it, it will surely help make it tastier for the little ones.

The Malunggay Scrambled Eggs is also easy to do. Just make your usual scrambled eggs – with or without milk – and add in some malunggay leaves. Then slice some ripe papaya into sticks, perfect for those little fists. Lastly, serve your choice of toasted bread, again sliced into sticks for that perfect toddler grip!

The pesto pasta is the easiest recipe in the pile. Choose a pasta that is easy to hold on to like penne or fusilli. Follow package instructions. Set Aside. Saute olive oil and green pesto, and then toss in the pasta. Serve with fried breaded fish fillet bites. I just used pollock here, dredged in flour, egg, and then flour again. You can use any fish of your choice, and any breading recipe you are accustomed to. Like panko!

The thick chicken congee is basically a thick “lugaw” made of glutinous rice or “malagkit.” Just saute onion, garlic, ginger, shredded chicken, and then the “malagkit” na bigas. Add a cup of water for every cup of rice. Let it boil and add more water as necessary.

Lastly, is the cream cheese toast, scrambled eggs and watermelon shake. You can actually use whatever local fruit in season, and just shake it in your blender. Your little one will surely enjoy the cold flavor on a hot day! The cream cheese toast is of course self-explanatory. You can use any brand of cream cheese that you like, but I suggest you use the plain ones, without the strong herbs and flavorings.

God will provide for both our big needs, and small needs

So, there you have it. Thank you for stopping by this week. I hope I was able to help you out with your toddler meal plan, and here’s hoping that you spend time in the website exploring more toddler and family food ideas!

Sharing with you ladies, one of my favorite bible verses that assure us that our Sovereign and Loving God will take care of all our needs:

“For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: `The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land. ‘”

1 Kings 17:14

Again, thank you everyone and till next post!

A Happy Homemaker is a Happy Pinay Mommy!

The post Meal Ideas for your Toddler and BLW Baby appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.

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.

The post No-grill, no-sweat Tortang Talong recipe appeared first on Happy Pinay Mommy.