noche buena

Festive Pork Hamonado (Instant Pot)

With the ongoing inflation, we are all tightening our belts and trying our best to save here and there. Needless to say, food expenses eat up a big chunk of our monthly budget. And with the holiday season knocking at our doors, I am looking for ways to prepare without blowing up a month’s food …

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Easier Rellenong Bangus (Using Boneless Milkfish)

Bangus (Milkfish) is the national fish of the Philippines. It has a mild taste (with a hint of sweetness) so it’s very versatile and can handle most cooking methods. The biggest deterrent though to this delicious-tasting fish, are the bones…. all 214 of them! Every bite (except the belly part) contains a few bones.  So …

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Egg White Leche Flan

I must confess … I love Leche Flan! It’s one of the top things that brings me back to my childhood.  Armed with a spoon, I could easily finish a whole llanera (leche flan mold) in one sitting. But that was before, when that pesky cholesterol wasn’t yet an issue. Now, I can only have …

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Ube Pound Cake (Purple Yam)

During this time of year, we start getting excited about the holiday season. We start dusting those well-kept Christmas decorations and with a jolly heart, adorn our homes with festive trinkets. The feel of a decorated room instantly changes, like a magnet that attracts a positive and happy vibe.  Gatherings with family and friends seem …

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Pineapple-Braised Pork “Ham”

The holiday season is a great excuse for indulging in food that we seldom have. In most cases, these are the not-so-healthy kind of eats. Tweaking things a bit can be a great option too. Just a mere switch in the main ingredient can do wonders especially for some (like me!) who have a love-hate …

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Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Loin

I have been thinking of doing this for sometime now. The idea of a leaner cut of meat that presents well on special occasions is the inspiration behind this. Unlike the fat-laden pork belly, pork loin is just the opposite. It’s lean, so incorporating ingredients that’ll give it moisture is a must. Choosing the filling …

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Easy Oven-Roasted Salmon (Whole)

Fresh Salmon is usually sold two ways – whole or filleted. The latter is more popular among consumers because all the bones have been picked through so it’s more preferable. Whenever they both go on sale, I tend to gravitate towards the former mainly because of the huge price gap. I butcher some myself (It’s …

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Buko Pandan (Coconut-Pandan Jelly Salad)

It has been ages since the last time I had eaten fresh buko (young coconut). Oh how I miss the refreshing taste of tender coconut meat swimming in a bowl of sweet coconut water! That will surely be one of the top 10 on my “to eat” list on our next Philippine vacation.  It’s undeniable …

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Filipino Ham with Pineapple-Brown Sugar Glaze

As Christmas day nears, the homesickness becomes more intense. Missing our loved ones back home, the festivities and (of course) the food are the major thoughts that come to mind when I think of the holidays. It’s been a long time since we went to the Philippines around Christmastime and with this global pandemic, it’s …

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Cassava Flan Cake

Before the kids were born, hubby and I were fortunate enough to travel to Hawaii. A good friend (elementary classmate) got married so it was the perfect excuse. It was also a great time to meet and reconnect with some friends who migrated to the aloha state.  Another close family friend invited us for dinner …

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