Easy Chicken Egg RollsAn easy alternative to takeout Chinese food that is waistline friendly!
Crispy Peanut Butter ChickenI tried to replicate the crispy-coated chicken served in peanut butter sauce that was on the buffet at a local Chinese restaurant. Most peanut butter chicken recipes I found online were not crispy, or just didn't sound like what I was craving, so I experimented.
Squash and Pink Salmon RollsWhen January started our rivers overflowed because the year started with non stop heavy rains. Our houses almost drowned in deep flood waters. Because of this I was forced to spend all of our budget intended for the whole month to fix and replace the damages.
Pho Bò (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)This delicious soup is a favorite at my local Vietnamese restaurant. I thought it would be fun to try to make it at home. I made it from scratch, including the beef broth. I also made crispy fried shallots (hành phi). Store bought broth and crispy shallots or onions would be just as delicious.
Bulgarian MesenitzaI have a friend who taught me how to cook the very popular Bulgarian national dish Mesenitza, it's also called Tutmanik. It is bread stuffed with cheese. This is a very tasty and cheap meal. The recipe varies, but the basic ingredients are flour, yeast, oil, milk, butter, eggs, yogurt and cheese. Bulgarian cheese is called sirenje or sirene, it can be replaced with Greek feta.
Fresh Beef Spring RollsFresh herbs, beef, and a tasty dipping sauce make this dish delicious. This is a recipe we love to do in our family. We bring a portable stove to the table and cook the beef right there. It makes it a fun experience and is delicious to boot.
Ukrainian Hand Pies (Prizhky) With ApplesI want to share with you a recipe of my family's favorite meal. These Ukrainian hand pies are called pyrizhky or pirozhki or piroshky. They are made from yeast dough, stuffed with apples and fried to golden color. The pyrizhky also can have other fillings, such as mashed potatoes, cabbage, mushrooms, ground meat, jam, and others.
Japanese Style Chocolate Roll CakeMy whole family loves this dessert because of its super soft, fluffy cake and very delicious chocolate ganache. For this dessert you need to spend money on 200 g (0.44 lb) of dark chocolate, but this is the only expensive ingredient and it is only used in the ganache. My family has a very humble life, but I think that it is very important to please our loved ones with something very tasty at least 1-2 times a year.
Poulet au Pastis (Chicken with Anise Liqueur)Once again, here is a recipe from the south east of France. I know this one is going to be complex to make for non French, but it has two important culinary elements from my region:
Moldovan Placinte with Three FillingsI want to share with you a recipe for a dish that I think many of you will hear for the first time, perhaps as well as about the homeland of this recipe. Placinte (in singular Placinta) is the traditional dish of Moldova (officially the Republic of Moldova). The word placinta comes from Latin placenta, which means "cake", from the Greek plakount - "flat cake". Placinte are really very tasty, especially when they are still warm.
Osso BucoOsso buco (hollowed bone) is a simple and very tasty dish of Italian cuisine. This dish originated from the Lombardy region in the 19th century (for those who don't know, that's the time when the traditional recipes in France and Italy were defined). Today it is known and appreciated not only throughout Italy, but all over the world.
Instant Pot Lemongrass Chicken (Ga Kho Sa)This is one of my family's favorite recipes. The meat comes out tender and fragrant. As a note, I use heaping tablespoon measurements for the garlic, shallots and lemongrass. My husband loves chicken with bones and my kids like boneless so I do half and half for this recipe. If you don't add bones, I would add a tablespoon of Better Than Bouillon chicken broth.
Coq au Vin (Rooster in Red Wine)Coq au vin is a real star of traditional French recipes, known internationally as one of the best examples of French gastronomy. This dish combines two symbols of France - rooster and wine!
Coconut Pandan Sticky RiceThis is my Vietnamese inspired Coconut Pandan Sticky Rice with layered mung beans. This is a sticky rice dessert - you can serve warm or eat at room temperature. The toppings are optional - mung beans and sesame.
Hungarian GoulashThis is a recipe from my sister that my family has enjoyed for years. Her husband was in the Air Force and they travelled to many foreign places. She picked up this recipe in Germany.
SauerbratenMy sister and her family were stationed in Germany in the 1990s. She has shared a few German dishes with me. This is one of my favorite.
Battered Fish Tacos with Fresh SlawThese tacos are filled with puffy, crispy buttermilk fried fish and a wonderfully refreshing cabbage, corn, and pepper slaw. The flavours are as vibrant as the colours presented. Enjoy!
Super Stuffed Beef BurritoSomething my friends and family ask me to make all the time are my super stuffed burritos. I fill them with all the goodies and wrap them up really tight so nothing falls out. Follow my recipe and rolling technique to find out how I make these yummy burritos!
Seafood "Alley" TacosEver price a lobster or shrimp taco? Some places charge $8.99 for a two taco shrimp plate or $9.99 for a two taco lobster plate. I made these homemade seafood tacos for less than $.50 per taco. I call them "Alley" tacos because they are cheaper than a street taco!
Chicken Katsu CurryJapanese curry is one of my absolute favourite comfort meals. Adding chicken katsu to it just knocks it out of the park. Chicken katsu is a crispy fried chicken cutlet cooked to perfection.
Sweet and Spicy Shrimp PasteShrimp paste or "baguong alamang" is one of the best livelihood products in my country. It is an appetiser or could also be used as condiment. This is usually served with rice or paired with green mangoes.
Tuna SisigTuna Sisig is usually served in bars because men like to pair it with their cold beers. Also perfect with rice. Sisig means "to snack on something sour" that's why it's always served drizzled with lime.
Korean Grilled WingsHere's an easy to marinate and flavorful grilled wings. You can serve this as an appetizer or make for a main dish with rice. You could also bake this if you wanted too.
Fresh Fish TacosI've heard a lot of people mention they don't like fish tacos because they're mushy and none of the flavours stand out as much as other meat tacos. Here is a way to make them crisp and refreshing. Using only coleslaw and salsa as accompaniments really helps the fish stand out. I've added a link to my Mexican Coleslaw recipe below, but you could use any type.
Hearty Shrimp SoupWe usually prepare sea foods like prawns and crabs on special occasions. These foods are very expensive in our place that most of us can only afford during special seasons. The past few weeks were special since we are reunited again with family members who got stuck in far away places for months due to lock down. So we had this simple but very special dish.
Easy Pork Tonkatsu in Creamy Pepper GravyA long day of work at home, moving things, cleaning up and everything deserves a good treat so I decided to cook a rewarding dish for dinner. We couldn't eat out so the best thing to do is bring restaurant recipes at home.
Celery and Herb StewMany traditional Persian stews are difficult to make, but I find this one great for beginners. Believe me when I say it does not taste beginner at all. The celery gets fried with mint and parsley, making it very fragrant and tender. You can use any kind of meat you like for this stew. I used beef. You could also make it vegetarian. Serve with a bed of basmati rice.
Chinese Crispy Spicy PotatoesThese Chinese street food inspired potatoes are crispy with a wonderful kick. They're coated in ginger, garlic, and cumin, giving them a lovely flavour and aroma. You can use any type of diced potatoes or whole mini ones for this recipe. Parboil them first by adding them to a bowl of water and microwaving on high for 6 minutes.
Mexican Street Corn TacosThis is a delicious twist on tacos. I used Mexican street corn as my inspiration to fill these tortillas. It's creamy and zesty and really hits the spot when you don't have things like guacamole or sour cream on hand. It pairs very nicely with the meat, cheese, and salsa inside.
Dak Bulgogi (Korean BBQ Chicken)This is a restaurant-quality meal easily made at home. I used chicken thighs.
Sticky Rice ShumaiShumai is a delicate and delicious Asian dumpling, traditionally formed with a thin flour-based wonton style wrapper. You can forego using the wrappers and roll them in sticky mochi rice before steaming. I love the textures of these more than traditional shumai!
Sticky Rice Cake (Banh Tet)This sticky rice cake is only sold around Chinese New Year, but you can make this year-round! What's great is that you can also cut down the cooking time with an instant pot. As reference, I was able to make 6 in a 6 quart Instant Pot.
Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Cream SauceThese shrimp tacos have a zesty kick and are cooled down by a creamy avocado sauce. They're extremely easy to make, great for even the busiest days!
Ube (Purple Yam) Paste"Halukay Ube" is how we call it. It's a sweetened mashed purple yam mostly used as topping on our famous dessert called "halo-halo". Or it can be used as flavoring on cakes and ice cream or simply use it as sandwich filling.
Fried RiceHere is my updated take and twist on fried rice. This recipe is easy to make. The only time consuming part is cooking everything individually, but in the end it is worth it as this lasted us for 3 dinners!
Homemade Tocino (Spanish Bacon)Tocino is famous in this country which is mostly served during breakfast time. Upon searching the Web, I found out that it is actually not an original dish from the Philippines. According to history of this country, we were influenced a lot by the Spanish people from words, clothing and dishes/recipes and in many other aspects.
Chicken Curry With Fresh Coconut MilkCurry dishes here on the islands are a favorite of mine and especially when I make it with fresh coconut milk. This really adds to the taste of the curry and brings out the flavor. I have made this recipe using shrimp and crab also. No matter what they are delicious and you can add any vegetable that you want. This is also good with fresh broccoli and cauliflower.
Cuttlefish Cubes with Star BeansWe love seafood and its amazing seeing your family members loving all the recipes you cook for them. Cuttlefish is one that my father likes to eat in sweet, savory and spicy flavors. This time no spice as my kids really likes to have them too.
Thai SiomaiSiomai is popular among Asian countries, but their styles or ingredients vary from country to country. Thai people love spicy food as much as others.
Squash Adobo with Pork BitsThe squash sweetens the pork bits, making it tastier. If you want extenders other than potato, use squash since it's an often used extender for Filipinos.
LomiLet's talk about comfort food. Lomi is another Filipino favorite comfort food. The unique thing about it is that it's made of thick, fresh egg noodles and a thick, delicious soup. It is mostly served during afternoon snacks, breakfast or even almost all meal times.
Instant Pot CarnitasHere's a delicious and juicy pork carnitas recipe made in an Instant Pot! If you would like, you can pan fry the carnitas after it's been cooked for the meat to be crispy.
Hawaiian Fish Paksiw"Paksiw" is Filipino's other traditional way of cooking other than "adobo". We usually do this with leftover roast pigs, but during the regular days (no occasion) we make paksiw with fish.
Instant Pot Butter ChickenA delicious, creamy and flavorful Indian inspired Butter Chicken made in an Instant Pot. I typically serve this over rice and pair with naan bread. Feel free to adjust the spices to your liking.
Spring Rolls with Masago (Fish Roe)A nice light yet filling appetizer or snack featuring masago*. You can customize your spring roll wraps however you would like, but this is a combination I enjoy making. The amount yield varies depending how ingredients you use per spring roll. With 4 small avocados, I made 8 rolls and plenty of left over ingredients.
Thai Coconut Shrimp SoupThriftyFun has been doing Soup of the Week posts which have been making me crave soups nonstop. I thought I'd add one of my favourite coconut shrimp soup recipes with you. This soup is sweet, spicy, savoury, and super velvety. I know you will fall in love with it! If you can't find some of the ingredients, read the segment below for substitutions.
Grilled GuacamoleThis is a nice twist on the usual guacamole. You grill the avocados before you add them to the rest of the ingredients. The result is a guacamole with a lovely, deep smokey flavour. You can grill your avocados on your outdoor grill or indoor grill pan. I used the grill portion of a panini press.
Lebanese Style FalafelThis falafel is a bit different from the traditional falafel you may have had, which is made of chickpeas. This has the addition of fava beans, bringing a nice new flavour and creaminess. These handheld delights are also great for outdoor parties and picnics.
Japanese Fruit SandwichThis is a popular sweet treat from Japan that falls under the sandwich category because it is assembled like one. The outcome is more of a cake, and it is so refreshing and delicious. We like to have these for afternoon tea. It's so easy to make, it's a great all-ages recipe.
Easy Homemade KimchiAlthough it will take 2-3 days to complete the fermentation, kimchi has an excellent spicy, tangy flavor. A staple in Korea food, this side dish is easy to make and loaded with "healthy bacteria".
Tuna Mayo OnigiriOnigiri are Japanese rice balls that can be filled with any number of things. We like to form them into triangles or rounds then wrap them with seaweed sheets for easy handling (and deliciousness). When my mother was in university in Japan as a late-teen, this was one of her go-to meals. It's easy to make, costs very little, and is super yummy!
Veggie Egg RollsI love making egg rolls at home because I can be quite picky about what's put in the middles when I order them at restaurants. Plus it costs so much less! Try these crispy rolls as an appetizer, or as a main dish. I love using soy, vinegar and chili paste as a dipping sauce. Yum!
Coco-Mango Glazed PalitawThis sticky snack is called "palitaw" from the word "litaw" which means float. Its called palitaw because the round flat sticky pieces floats when they are being cooked.
Bukayo (Filipino Coconut Candy)They say coconut is the tree of life. The trunk can be made into a house or furniture, the leaves can be made into a roof or broom, the juice as medicinal water and the meat into different desserts. Here is one most common young coconut meat recipe that we cook and pair with bread, it's popular name is "bukayo".
Flour BallsThis is a recipe we discovered in our local fish market. Vendors claimed it to be fish balls but obviously when you take a bite on it you'll never taste anything but flour and spices. So my husband and I called it "fake balls" or flour balls. But we both do loved it actually and I will show you how it's cooked. This is one famous street food that the locals sell for a living and many tourist would even come and go to buy them.
Beef Taquitos from Leftover RoastEvery "blue-moon", not very often, but it happens, I'll overcook meat. I didn't like the thought of throwing it out, but it wasn't good at all-way too dry, and it hit me. Why not just use that dry overcooked beef for taquitos since I'm mixing a few other ingredients into it?
Noodle Rice (Reshteh Polo)My family and I just celebrated the Persian new year. My late grandmother used to make this rice dish on new year's eve annually. Even though it has so few ingredients, it's got a great texture and full of lovely sweet and savoury flavours. It's best to use soba noodles (buckwheat noodles) or any flour-based noodle that does not contain oil. You can buy toasted reshteh noodles in Asian stores or online, but doing it this way here is way cheaper and just as delicious!
Easy Chicken Enchilada CasseroleThis easy recipe looked and tasted great with very few ingredients and little prep! Try it and let me know what you think!
Churro WafflesOh how I love churros. This recipe brings you the soft interior and crisp exterior of churros right into your waffle maker. This is an excellent breakfast treat, but also makes a fab dessert!
Avocado Mango SalsaThis simple and yummy salsa is great with dips or burritos!
Filipino Style Mak KimchiThis is a Filipino style kimchi which is common in Korea as a side dish or appetizer.
Blue Corn TortillasYou don't have to have a tortilla press to enjoy fresh, homemade corn tortillas. They keep for a week when refrigerated. To reheat, just put them over a medium flame on the skillet, cooking 20-30 seconds per side.
Creamy RatatouilleThis is a beautiful vegetable ratatouille that is immersed in a tomato sauce, swirled with a homemade Bechamel sauce. It's lovely and crisp on top, and soft and creamy on the bottom. This is a delight to enjoy any time of the year.
Filipino Style CheesecakeFilipinos love to create and innovate things. In most of the dishes we learn that originated in other countries, we never fail to make our own version. This one is a famous and all time favorite since our earlier generations.
Pork BinaguonganPork Binaguongan is one of the most loved Filipino food. It's cooked to tenderness with a crisp. Filipinos are known for sweet, savory flavors and it's all packed in this dish. Baguong is actually shrimp paste which is cooked with spicy, savory and sweet flavor and mostly used as a sauce for green mangoes.
Homemade Mini ChurrosSo I encountered something new to my tastebuds. Churros. I was very curious about how it was made because its stuffed and I like the texture of it. So I tried it at home but due to unavailability of ingredients, I used chocolate syrup instead of making a chocolate sauce. But I will still include the recipe of the chocolate sauce.
Korean Inspired Fried RiceThis is my version of a Korean fried rice. I took inspiration from the strong and spicy flavours you find in Korean barbecue and blended it with my usual fried rice recipe. The outcome is a very punchy rice with a comforting soft egg on top. Koreans typically place a raw egg yolk on top of their meals, but I'm not so keen on that. A fried egg, slightly on the over easy side, does just the trick. This was a huge hit with my friends!
Peanut Filled Sticky Rice BallsI didn't know what this sticky treat was called. I started thinking about how it was made. After a few experiments in the kitchen I was able to recreate them. My aunt always gave me these favorite treats every Chinese new year.
Vietnamese Yam and Shrimp SoupThis is a delicious soup. Its perfect for cold weather and pairs well with French bread.
Instant Pot Chicken PhoIf you have an Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker, you can easily make pho right at home - perfect for our current winter weather.
Homemade BatchoyBatchoy is a noodle soup made of pork meat topped with pork cracklings and egg. This is best served during winter season, and usually served as afternoon snack.
Japanese Glazed Tofu SteakThis tofu steak is so good, it will have you forgetting about meat. I'll share a couple tofu techniques with you to make sure you never have bland and squishy tofu again. I hope you will love this delicious tofu steak as much as I do!
Japanese Sweet Potato RiceIt is sweet potato season and I love it! One of my favourite ways to use up sweet potato is inside this warm and comforting rice dish. It's really easy to make and creates a great side for any entree. I used a rice cooker here but you can use whatever method you usually cook your rice.
Mozambique Peri Peri ChickenThis spicy citrus-toned chicken is a favourite in South African regions, but derived from the Portuguese. I had some at a Mozambique restaurant many moons ago and missed it so much, I had to learn how to make it. Any kind of side dish goes well with this: rice, potatoes, bread, you name it.
Egg-Stuffed Pomegranate MeatballsWhen I think of the ultimate comfort food for these colder nights, my mind goes straight to these meatballs. My mum taught me to make them decades after my grandmother (her mother-in-law) taught her how. These fantastically textured meatballs are on the larger side, and are sweet, savoury, and tart. When you slice one open, you'll find a perfectly cooked hardboiled egg in the center, hugged by plums and sprinkled with softened walnuts. The broth served beneath compliments them so well. I urge you to try these.
Indian Ground Beef with Potatoes (Keema Aloo)This is a delicious ground beef stew dish from India. I've had some versions of it that don't include tomatoes, but I think adding them rounds the dish off very nicely. This is terrific alongside warm pieces of naan bread or a bed of long grain rice.
Colorful Kwek-kwekKwek-kwek is a Filipino street food made of cute quail eggs coated with yellow batter. They are deep fried and served with a variety of sauces. Here's a twisted recipe of kwek-kwek specially made by me. I find it really appealing specially to the kids.
Chinese Chicken WingsThese chicken wings are the best and easiest to make! They make a great appetizer or with a dinner with fried rice. You will be pleasantly surprised by how easy and yummy these are.
Thai Chicken DrumsticksThese are quick and easy Thai chicken drumsticks. Toss all ingredients in a bag, allow to marinate (an hour or overnight) and grill later. These are perfect to make for parties.
Buko-Pandan CakeNatural is always a good thing especially with food. This recipe uses coconut and no artificial colors and flavoring are added.
Japanese Skewered Chicken (Yakitori)Yakitori is a longtime favourite street food in Japan. It was one of the first things I had when I first visited Japan as a kid, and by far the best. Nothing really beats having it on the streets of Japan, but my family's recipe comes close. You can make this on an outside grill, as well as indoors. You'll love it either way...promise!
Cucumber KimchiAn easy to make side dish that pairs well with any Asian meal. You get a nice crunch and some spice (you can adjust the spice level depending on your preference).
Japanese Style Potstickers (Gyoza)These potstickers may seem daunting to prepare, but once you make your first batch, you'll be an automatic-potsticker-making-machine! These are fabulous as appetizers, sides or full meals. I like to serve them at get-togethers, but watch out, they go fast! I've included an alternative lettuce wrapped version here, as well as how to make my special dipping sauce.
Simplified Bicol ExpressBicol express is a traditional dish from the Philippines. The Bicol region is famous of its creamy texture and spicy flavor. This is a type of stew made from coconut milk, chillies, pork, shrimp paste and some other spices. This recipe I'm making is simplified with just coconut milk, chillies and some beans, but it still tastes the same.
Puto Flan BombsThis exciting recipe explodes with cheese and cream in your mouth. That's why I call it a bomb. It is a combination of custard and steamed cheese cake.
Chicken Egg RollsEgg rolls are so yummy with any kind of veggies and meat that your taste buds desire. These are chicken egg rolls with their own dipping sauce. They're pretty quick once you get the insides prepped. They can be served for a nice lunch, snacks, dinner or for tv sport get togethers. When I've served them to many as part of a pot luck, everyone grabs these up right away! Everybody loves finger foods.
Cheese-Wrapped Chicken EnchiladaThis is a take on chicken enchiladas that's great for cheese lovers, or those looking for a low carb dish. It knocks out the use of tortillas altogether and uses pan melted cheese that solidifies enough to use as a wrapper. The texture is absolutely dreamy, with little crispy edges of cheese. Fun and tasty!
Exquisite Chile RellenosThese Rellenos are out of this world! A friend of my mom, who had a restaurant for over 60 years, taught my mom years ago how to make these, then my mom taught me too. I just made them again a few nights ago. My husband loves them, and that makes making these such an enjoyabe thing for me too.
Homemade Taco SeasoningYou can make non-spicy/kid friendly homemade taco seasoning. It is quick and an easy meal to make.
Instant Pot Caramelized Pork and EggsThis is my version of Vietnamese Thit Ko, also known as caramelized pork and eggs made in an Instant Pot. This is a traditional meal served with rice and pickled vegetables.
Instant Pot Vietnamese Rice Vermicelli and BeefThis is my version of Vietnamese rice vermicelli and beef also known as "bun bo hue" made in an instant hot pot!
Vietnamese Banana and Taro Tapioca PuddingThis is a sweet and creamy Vietnamese pudding dessert. This is a refreshing dessert that is typically served cool but can be served warm if you prefer.
Vietnamese Crepes (Banh Xeo)You can make your own Vietnamese crepe batter from scratch. Banh Xeo, a savory fried pancake that has a thin is typically filled with pork, shrimp, bean sprouts and eaten with vegetables and dipping sauce.
Japanese Chicken CurryJapanese curry is different from Indian curry because it's more of a hearty stew. It tends to be much less spicy and has big soft chunks of veggies and meat. This is the way I make it when I'm in a rush to make a lot of food in a short amount of time. A dollop of cooling yogurt and a drizzle of citrus preserves make for the perfect accompaniment for this dish. I hope you try it!
Stuffed Grape Leaves (Dolmeh)When I was younger, one of the reasons I adored long road trips was because my mum would make these awesome portable stuffed grape leaves to eat as we travelled. These delicious finger foods are filled with protein and make a great meal. They're awesome for lunchbox meals and picnics. These keep well for several days in the fridge.
Fresh Herb FalafelWhen I asked my friends what I should call my falafel recipe, they answered, "Actually Good Falafel." As the story goes, whenever we order falafel from restaurants, they're extremely mushy or so dry they crumble. These are made from dry chickpeas that have been soaked overnight, along with fresh herbs. If you'd like a quick and easy tahini-yogurt dip for your falafel, please see the very last step in this recipe.
Sticky Rice with Chinese Sausage (Xoi Lap Xuong)This is one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes, called Xoi Lap Xuong which translates to Sticky Rice Chinese Sausage.
Fish Tacos with Lime CremaI adore fish tacos! They are so fresh and zesty. But they can be even fresher (and so much cheaper) when you make them yourself. These tacos came out to about a buck a serving, and I even used my toaster oven. I'd buy that for a dollar! :)
Vietnamese Inspired Fried RiceThis is a recipe I learned from my mom and I included some tips and tricks she does with her eggs and sausage. There are different ways to make Vietnamese fried rice. You can add carrots, other vegetables and meats, too.
Pandan Pancakes with Coconut CustardMy best friend and I frequent an Asian tea house that serves excellent pandan waffles. We really like how soft the middles are, so we decided to try making our own pandan pancakes. Pandan sweets always pair nicely with coconut, so we made a coconut custard to go along with the cakes. When the layered stack is placed in the fridge for an hour, the breakfast treat turns into a dense cake, which is also a nice way to enjoy this!
Easy Japanese CroquettesThese "croquettes" are easy to make, and yummy with the crispy outside, and soft insides with potato, onions and ground beef. They can be served with rice, shredded cabbage or fruit. This is a real easy dish to make, and a great way to also use left over mashed potatoes when you have them.
Puffed Rice (Ampao)One famous delicacy in some provinces here in the Philippines is the so called "ampao" or puffed rice. I don't know how this is being made into a snack bar but I do have an idea how to simply cook it. Just as easy as 1,2,3 you can have an instant snack made out of leftover steamed rice; just leftovers. So as I always say, at home nothing is wasted.
