Spring Rolls or Lumpiang Shanghai is a mainstay in every Filipino gathering. Town fiestas, birthday parties, family reunions, and other special occasions will not be complete without it. This Spring Roll recipe is a different version from what I originally posted. Although both have slight differences, they taste good, without any doubt.

The most obvious difference of this version is probably the wrapper. Wrappers made from all-purpose flour are used in this recipe. This is the most common wrapper used for spring rolls. I also use this to make turon and lumpiang togue. Tapioca sheets, on the other hand, were used during the previous post. These are hard translucent sheets that need to be soaked in water before using. It is perfect in making Summer Rolls.

You will also notice that this recipe requires the meat to be cooked prior to wrapping. Using cooked meat can speed up the frying time for your spring roll; it also prevents your spring roll wrapper from being burnt. If you are using uncooked meat, you can avoid the wrapper from burning by managing the heat. Make sure that you set the fire between low to medium until the meat is cooked.

Dipping sauce makes spring roll taste better. Banana ketchup is the most commonly used sauce. Some people like to use toyomansi (combination of toyo and calamansi), while there are others who prefer sweet and sour sauce. What is your preferred sauce?

If you are bringing this to a party or a potluck gathering, make sure that you do not cover the container of the package while the spring rolls are hot. Not letting hot air escape will trap steam. This is absorbed by the crisp wrapper leaving the texture less crisp or soft.

Try this Spring Roll Recipe and let me know what you think.

Recipe: Spring Rolls

Number of servings (yield): 6

My rating 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 1 review(s)

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• Lumpiang Shanghai
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Stir Fry Tofu with Vegetables is healthy vegetarian dish packed with protein and vitamins. It has a nice texture brought about by the fried tofu and natural crisp of the vegetables. It also has a good natural flavor.

Looks nice, isn’t it? Though it looks intimidating, this dish is very easy to make. In my opinion, this recipe is fit for beginners. If you tried frying eggs or at least boiled them successfully, there is no reason why you cannot successfully execute this recipe.

Are you familiar with all the ingredients? Let’s revisit some of them, maybe you’ll remember. Snow pea or “chicharo” in Filipino is a common ingredient in chopsuey and pancit bihon. This has anti-bacterial properties and can help avoid infertility. It is also rich in Vitamin C.

We all know that Tofu is a good source of protein – soy protein to be specific. Regular consumption of this type of protein can lower the bad cholesterol in our body gradually. It is also high in calcium. This promotes bone health.

Try this Stir Fry Tofu with Vegetables recipe and let me know what you think.

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Salmon Steak is a good dish to have for either lunch or dinner. Besides having a good tastes and having the ability be easily paired with other dishes, salmon have positive effects on our health.

I’m sure that you’ve heard that salmon steak or salmon, in general, is rich in omega 3 fatty acids. This fatty acid helps our brain to function properly and reduces our risk of having heart disease.

Salmon also contains protein and amino acids. Bioactive peptides, a protein molecule found in salmon, can manage inflammation and sustain joints. It also helps protect the digestive tract.

This recipe requires grilling. Salmon Steak is placed on top of the grill, a grill pan, or a griddle until both sides are just about right – cooked in the outside but still juicy inside. If you do not prefer to grill the fish, try searing both sides of the salmon, or baking it instead.

As for the side dish, I paired it with this healthy garlic sesame spinach. These dishes both compliment each other in terms of taste and positive health benefits.

Try this Salmon Steak Recipe and let me know what you think.

Recipe: Salmon Steak Recipe

My rating 5 stars: ★★★★★ 1 review(s)

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Rellenong Alimasag is the Filipino version of Stuffed Crabs. Crab meat is sauteed along with some vegetables, spices, and seasonings. The cooked mixture is later stuffed inside individual top shells of the crab, and fried in medium heat for a few minutes to complete the cooking process.

Since the meat extracted from each piece of crab is limited, fillers such as carrots and potatoes are used. These vegetables also act as additional sources of vitamins and nutrients.

Rellenong Alimasag is best served with hot steamed white rice. As for the sauce, I really don’t want to get fancy. I use our favorite brand of banana ketchup. In case you want something different, try using sweet and sour sauce.

This recipe uses blue crabs because it is the most common variety in my location. You may use different types of crabs depending on your preference. It is also possible to omit the vegetable fillers if you have additional crab meat. Some groceries sell fresh or frozen crab meats — there are also canned crab meats in the section where canned tuna are located.

Have you tried making this dish before? How do you like it?

Try this Rellenong Alimasag Recipe and let me know what you think.

Recipe: Rellenong Alimasag

Watch the cooking video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-3MqPagoso

Number of servings (yield): 8

My rating 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 1 review(s)

If You enjoyed this post, you might like:

• Paella Marinera
• Stir Fried Crabs with Ginger and Scallions
• Sinanglay na Tilapia
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Photo credit: shell belle

How the Body Uses Carbohydrates

When you eat a carbohydrate-containing food, the body converts the carbohydrates into energy. However, carbohydrates sometimes get converted into body fat instead. This tends to happen more often if the body gets more carbohydrates than it needs. The higher level of carbohydrates increases the insulin levels in the blood, and the insulin is responsible for converting carbohydrates into fat instead of energy. Insulin also does more than that; it causes fat to be deposited into various parts of the body as fat stores, and it even sends hunger signals to your brain once it is out of carbohydrate to convert. This is why excessively high levels of insulin are considered as an abnormal condition called hyperinsulinemia, which is the culprit behind many overweight and obese cases.

The Fat Burning Secrets of Low Carb Foods

The solution is low carb foods, which give your body just enough energy to last you through the day. These do not cause a major spike in your insulin levels, and thus keep the negative effects of insulin at bay. Thus, carbohydrates are not easily converted into fat deposits, and the steady amount of energy will keep hunger at bay.

1. Fat-Burning Low Carb Foods

Low carb foods are not created equal, though. If you want to burn fat faster, you should carefully choose your low carb foods. Make sure they are also fat-burning foods, those that use more energy to burn than they deliver into your body. There are many fat-burning low carb foods around, and these are the most effective foods when it comes to losing weight. Some examples include fruits, vegetables, and certain dairy products. Not all vegetables work the same way though; be sure to choose green leafy ones such as spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, broccoli, and celery, among others. The same goes for fruits, since some of them happen to be high in sugar. Thus, you should only choose the best in fat burning, such as strawberries, blackberries, and raspberries.

2. High Fiber Low Carb Foods

There are also low carb foods that are rich in fiber. Fiber helps the body digest and process food more easily. When there is enough fiber to match the carbohydrate content of food, it then moves on to burning stored fats. Some examples are wheat bran, flax seed, and coconut.

3. Protein Rich Low Carb Foods

Eating lean meat and other protein-rich foods as part of a low carb diet will provide you with enough protein your body needs. This also helps to burn fat. Protein-rich low carb foods that you can enjoy include fish meats, such as salmon and flounder, tofu, eggs, and nuts.

4. Low Fat Low Carb Foods

Some low carb foods may also be high in fat, so read your labels carefully and look for low carb foods that are also low in fat. This way, you are not making the fat-burning job of the body harder than it already is.If You enjoyed this post, you might like:

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At this point, spaghetti has been a common dish for me. The excitement might not be there anymore when I see it served in the dining table. In order for me to get excited once more for spaghetti, I thought of moving away from what is common by modifying the ingredients and adding the right amount of spice to get that extra kick. Thus, this Chicken Spaghetti Recipe was born.

This dish is simple, but not ordinary. I liked the collaboration of flavors, especially the kick from the chipotle pepper. By the way, chipotle pepper in adobo sauce can be purchased in Mexican groceries. These are usually packaged in 2 to 4 ounces cans. If this is not available, try adding hot sauce like Sriracha.

Are you a fan of Spaghetti? What is your favorite version?

Try this Chicken Spaghetti Recipe and let me know what you think.

Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti Recipe

Number of servings (yield): 6

My rating 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 1 review(s)

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KBL stands for Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka. This is a popular Ilonggo dish that I enjoy eating.

Kadyos (or kadyos) are pigeon peas. I know that this ingredient is new to some of our readers, let me tell you more information about it.

These legumes come in different colors. Green is the most common pigeon pea color. Did you know that pigeon pea is a good source of protein? In fact, this ingredient is used by some vegetarians as their main protein source. This recipe uses the dark purple pea which is the usual type used to make KBL.

Pigeon peas can be purchased fresh (if you are in Asia), and dried (this is what you get in Filipino stores). I used the dried ones to make this dish. Just so you know, I had to soak them in water overnight before cooking. Since dried pigeon peas are really hard, soaking helps to make it softer.

Baboy (or pork) is also one of the main ingredients. I used pork hocks (pata) as I usually do. However, you can use other parts such as pork butt or even pork belly.

Jack fruit is called Langka in Filipino. Unripe or raw jack fruit is required for this dish. A souring agent locally known as batuan or batwan is used to make KBL. It is a small spherical fruit that is regarded for its sour taste. Since it is not available in my location, the best alternative that I can grab hold of was the powdered tamarind base mix (or sinigang mix).

Try this KBL recipe and let me know what you think.

Recipe: KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka)

Watch the cooking video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oMIgvR-iFc

Number of servings (yield): 4

My rating 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 1 review(s)

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Photo credit: adactio

Health Benefits of Alkaline Diet

Shifting the scale back with an alkaline diet will bring several health benefits, including:

1. It protects from cancer and other diseases.

Think about this: cancer cells are highly acidic. The opposite of cancer cells, which are healthy cells, are therefore the opposite of acidic, which is alkaline. The alkaline diet thus makes cells healthier, and healthier cells protect you from major health problems.

2. It cleanses the body.

According to experts in the alkaline diet, it can help delay aging by helping the body dispose of wastes and toxins that accumulate within the body.

3. It delays aging.

Due to the healthy cells living in you and the lack of unwanted wastes, your skin will be smoother, your hair more vibrant, and your body more energetic. In short, an alkaline diet will help you age more gracefully.

4. It clears the mind.

The alkaline diet does not just make you physically healthy. It also helps improve mental clarity.

5. It boosts your energy levels.

If you are slightly alkaline, which is what the body naturally is, your body is in its most optimal form to perform. Thus, you will have all the energy you need to do everything you need to do.

6. It helps in weight loss.

An alkaline diet may be used in conjunction with other weight loss plans. With the body in its optimal shape, it can better regulate weight.

Harmful Effects of Acidic Foods

It will also protect the body from the health problems and symptoms caused by too much acid. These problems include:

• Insufficient energy or unexplained tiredness

• Excessive mucous production

• Nasal congestion

• Anxiety

• Irritability

• Nervousness

• Frequent headaches

• Cysts

• Poor digestion

• Inability to regulate proper weight

• Aches and pains

• Susceptibility to colds and flu

Why We Need the Alkaline Diet

Many proponents claim that the alkaline diet is the type of diet our ancestors had access to, given their lack of the advanced agricultural and farming techniques we now use to process food. As convenient and advanced as these new techniques may be, they also cause foods to become less healthy. Now, most of our meals contain grains, dairy products from livestock, meat from animal farming, and sugar. All these, which sprung from modern food processing methods, get metabolized as acid. This is quite unfortunate, since our blood is naturally a bit more alkaline. The normal pH level is 7.35, which means the body is more alkaline than acidic. Unfortunately, the acidic foods we consume tilt the scale to the wrong direction, so we need to tilt it back towards the alkaline side of the spectrum.If You enjoyed this post, you might like:

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Making Fish Tacos is a nice and fun way to consume fish. It is visually appealing and it tastes so good.

Have you tried making Fish Tacos before? If you had, you already knew that making one is easy and fast. You do not need to be an experienced cook to prepare this dish. It only takes determination and a little guidance.

What kind of fish should you use? I would say, almost any kind — as long as its fresh. Tuna is commonly used to make Fish Tacos, but you can always use other types of fish as alternatives. This recipe calls for tilapia fillets. I thought of using them because of the following reasons: it is available almost anywhere; it is budget friendly; it tastes good.

The key in making a successful Tilapia Fish Tacos lies on the fish and salsa. As I mentioned, fresh fish is preferred (fresh frozen fish will also do). Make sure that the fish is properly seasoned before cooking. As for the salsa, I made salsa fresca; this is composed of fresh tomatoes, cilantro, red onion, and lime juice.

I used flour tortilla for this recipe, but feel free to use the wrap of your choice, such as wheat or corn tortillas. Don’t forget to squeeze in additional lime juice for that fresh flavor.

Do you like your Fish Tacos spicy? Try adding some Chipotle pepper or hot sauce for a kick.

Try this Tilapia Fish Tacos Recipe and let me know what you think.

Recipe: Tilapia Fish Tacos

Number of servings (yield): 6

My rating 5 stars: ★★★★★ 1 review(s)

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This Spicy Bopis Recipe is the response to your requests about a spicier version with sauce using the minimum ingredients possible.

If you remember, we were able to post a Bopis Recipe over a year ago. I shot the video when I went to the Philippines. Being there made it possible for me to get all the ingredients that I needed. That recipe was dry version of this dish. I constantly get requests from readers here in North America for the version with some sauce using readily available ingredients. This drove me to make this post.

Being outside of the Philippines can limit our ability to cook Filipino Recipes because of ingredient availability issues. However, things should not prevent us from making our favorite dishes. Let’s keep in mind that there are alternative ingredients. We can also omit some ingredients and still come-up with a similar version of our Filipino Recipes.

Most groceries and supermarkets in this part of the world do not sell pig’s lungs for some reason. Because of this, the main ingredient that I used for this dish is only pig’s heart. You can also use veal heart as an alternative. These ingredients are always available in Mexican and Asian groceries. the other ingredients such as dried bay leaves and annatto seeds can be purchased in the same stores.

This recipe makes a good “pulutan”. Feel free to add more chillies depending on your heat tolerance. Since there is a sauce, eating this as a main dish along with steamed rice can get your appetite going. Just a few reminders, if you don’t mind. Take it easy on the rice, If you have diabetes. Try only a small portion of this dish if you have gout. Happy eating everyone!

Try this Spicy Bopis Recipe.

Recipe: Spicy Bopis

Watch the cooking video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9IAC-yfEFI

Number of servings (yield): 6

My rating 5 stars:  ★★★★★ 1 review(s)

If You enjoyed this post, you might like:

• KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka)
• Pork Guisantes
• Crispy Adobo Flakes
• Crispy Pata
• Pork and Tofu in Oyster Sauce