Tikoy

Tikoy or Nián gāo is a type of rice cake made from glutinous rice flour and considered as a centerpiece during Chinese New Year. This is also popularly known as Chinese New Year pudding.

The Philippines is once considered as the melting pot of Asia. People of different origins call it home – including the Chinese. Chinese customs, traditions, and good food were embraced by the Filipino’s and even make it a part of their own.

The legend behind the Tikoy tells about a Kitchen God that observes the behavior of each family for a year. It was said the Kitchen God goes back to heaven before the Chinese New Year to report the findings; a depressing report would mean a year of bad luck for the family. According to the legend, feeding sticky rice cake to the Kitchen God will make it difficult for him to say anything against the family – it will be difficult to speak when his mouth is full and the sticky rice cake will keep his mouth shut.

How do you want your Tikoy cooked? I like mine dipped in beaten egg and fried.

Happy Chinese New Year! Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Food Review:Panda Express Beijing Beef

I felt that I needed a quick bite as I drove home from work. Luckily, I was about to pass-by a Panda Express location and decided to grab a box for dinner. I got a 2 entrée plate consisting of Orange Chicken, Beijing Beef, and Chow Mein for sides.

Let’s not talk about Orange chicken and Chow Mein for now because my attention is focused solely on Beijing Beef. However, you might want to check our Orange Chicken recipe post if you want to know more about it. As for the Chow Mein, the closest recipe that we have is the Pancit Canton- which I think is a better alternative.

There isn’t really anything extra-ordinary about the Beijing Beef – but I still like to have it once in a while. The flavor is probably the main reason why I like it. I am a fan of sweet and sour pork and this dish is pretty much similar – that is if you raise it to the next level. You’ll understand what I’m trying to say once you try one. After the first bite, the tangy taste immediately permeates in your mouth leaving you speechless – looking forward to the next bite. Since the flavor is so rich, it is advisable to balance it by having some sides (such as rice or noodles) while munching. The texture is unique compared to the other Chinese beef dishes that I had, so far. It also has the consistency of a fried flank steak but tender when chewed.

Beef Lugaw

Chicago winter is one of the coldest in the country. There are weeks wherein the average temperature ranges between 5 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit; there are also days where it falls below zero (not to mention the wind chill factor which makes it colder). During this season, a single cup of hot chocolate or coffee really helps in making oneself warm. Hot soups and porridge are also ideal for dinner.

Cashewed Chicken

Cashewed Chicken is an Oriental dish that definitely fits the Filipino Palate. Thinly sliced chicken breast is coated with egg and cornstarch then stir fried until crispy and golden brown. An array of colors brought about by the different vegetables makes this dish more appealing. Let’s not forget the roasted cashew nuts that adds flavor and texture to the dish.

Try this Cashewed Chicken Recipe.

Ginisang Ampalaya

Ginisang Ampalaya is transalated as Sautéed Bitter Melon. This Filipino vegetable recipe is one of the healthiest recipe around.

Bitter melon is best known for antidiabetic effects. It contains a chemical known as insulin-like peptide that is similar in shape and function to animal-produced insulin. Other chemicals, including vicine, in bitter melon may also have blood-sugar lowering effects.

Try this healthy vegetable dish: Ginisang Ampalaya.

Crema de Fruta

Crema de Fruta is a Filipino dessert elaborately made-up of sponge cake, topped in succeeding layers of sweet syrup, custard, candied fruit (fruit cocktail), and gelatine. A mainstay during Noche Buena and the holidays, this dessert has always been a Filipino Favorite since time immemorial.

Preparing this dessert is quite complicated when compared to others but I can assure that your patience and hard-work will not go to waste. In my case, I started to record the video late in the evening (around 10 pm after arriving from work) and I am so thankful because my wife and kids helped out (or else it will take me forever:)). Also, it gave me a reason to wake-up early the next morning.

I’m sure that you will love this recipe.

Try this Filipino Dessert: Crema de Fruta.

Pork Sinigang

Pork Sinigang or Sinigang na Baboy is a sour soup native to the Philippines. This particular soup dish uses pork as the main ingredient though beef, shrimp, fish, and even chicken (this is known as sinampalukang manok) can be used. Bony parts of the pig known as “buto-buto” are usually preferred for this dish. These parts can be either of the following: pork neck bone, chopped spare ribs, chopped baby back ribs, and pork belly. Sometimes pork kasim and pigue (pork ham) are also used.

There are several ingredients that can be used as souring agent. The most common and widely used is the tamarind fruit (known as sampaloc). Other fruits such as guava, tomato, bilimbi (known as kamias), green mango, pineapple, and wild mangosteen (santol) can also be used to make the sinigang taste sour.

I grew-up eating pork sinigang at least once a week with a saucer of patis (fish sauce) and crushed siling labuyo (chili) on the side as my “sawsawan” (sauce). During rainy days, I want my sinigang complimented with a few pieces of crunchy fried tuyo or daing (salted dried fish).

How about you? Do you want your sinigang the same way or are there other side dishes or appetizers that you prefer?

Let me know what you think. We can share ideas and let our opinions be heard by posting a comment.

Try this Filipino soup dish recipe: Pork Sinigang.

Chicharon Bituka

Chicharon Bituka are deep fried pig or cow intestine prepared similar to that of Chicharones or Pork Cracklings (Pork Rinds). This dish is usually served as an appetizer or “pulutan” and is best when accompanied with beer. Another popular chicharon intestine is the Chicharon Bulaklak.

Instead of just having canned tuna mixed with crushed sky flakes (a very easy to prepare pulutan know as dog food) , why don’t you try to make some Chicharon Bituka ? This can be quite time consuming to prepare but this will surely make your barkada and the rest of the drinking buddies happy.

Try this Chicharon Bituka Recipe.

Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad or Chicken Macaroni Salad is a simple salad made from macaroni (usually elbow macaroni). This salad is prepared with a generous amount of mayonnaise and boiled chicken meat (sometimes ham is used). A regular side dish during picnics and family outings, macaroni salad is best if combined with grilled foods and barbeque.

Try this Macaroni Salad recipe.

Pork Afritada

Pork Afritada is simply “Stewed pork in tomato sauce”. This dish is similar to Menudo and Kaldereta (or Caldereta) and is usually cooked with wedges of carrots and potatoes. Bay leaves are also added for extra flavor and aroma.

Because of the similarity of Afritada to other tomato based dishes, identifying this dish is quite confusing to some. I was asked by some people (who are still puzzled on this topic) to differentiate one from the other. I felt like standing in their shoes for a while. After some time pondering, I figured out that the visual difference can obviously be seen on the cut of the meat and the additional ingredients used. As for the taste, each dish is unique even if the base ingredients are similar. I guess changing the cut of the meat and adding a few more ingredients to it gives me the right to call it “Pork Vanjito” (just kidding).

Some Pinoy Foods might look the same but inside them lays a truly unique taste capable of spelling their own name.

Tell me what you think.

Try this appetizing Filipino Pork Recipe: Pork Afritada.

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