Stuffed Bell Peppers Recipe

One of the best way to cook bell pepper fresh from the backyard is baked bell pepper stuffed with ground pork and rice.

Ingredients:

• 5 large bell peppers (any color)
• 1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground pork
• 1/2 cup sausage
• 1 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 big tomato chopped
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 can (15 oz)  tomato sauce
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/2 cup water

Directions:

1.  Cut  each bell pepper to remove top of pepper into half. Remove seeds. Rinse well and set aside.

2. In a skillet, sautee garlic and onion. Add beef, cook until beef is brown; drain, stirring occasionally,Stir in rice, salt, garlic and 1 cup of the tomato sauce; cook until hot.

3. Heat oven to 350°F.
4. Stuff peppers with beef mixture. Stand peppers upright in an 8-inch square glass baking dish. Pour     remaining tomato sauce.
5. Sprinkle with cheese.

5 Cover tightly with foil. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake about 15 minutes longer or until peppers are tender. 

Green Papaya Salad

Papaya salad, an appetizer also known as "som tam" is a popular Thai salad. The combination of sour, spicy and saltiness of fish sauce make it a unique flavor. Papaya salad is preparation varied from every Southeast Asian countries.

For my version, I used the available ingredients in my kitchen, dried chili pepper, almond nuts and of course tiparos (fish sauce), the star of the papaya salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 green papaya
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• tomato
• dried chili pepper
• roasted nuts
• 1 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• Salt

Direction:

1. Peel and cut the papaya into small strands.
2. In a blender combine the chili pepper,  lime juice, fish sauce and sugar. Blend until smooth. Set aside for 15 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
3. In a salad bowl, combine the papaya and chopped cilantro.
4. Add the dressing and toss to combine thoroughly.
5. Garnish chopped nuts.
6. Serve immediately.

Buffalo Wings

Enjoy your meal with easy to prepare chicken wings.

Ingredients for chicken wings:

• 2 cups vegetable oil
• 10 whole, fresh chicken wings
• 1 tbsp chicken
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Cut chicken wings into 2 pieces.
2. Clean well and drain.
3. Season wings with salt and pepper.
4. In a large pan heat 2 cups vegetable oil to 350 degrees F.
5. Fry wing pieces  for 10 to 15 minutes or until crisp.
6. Transfer to a  wire rack or paper towels to remove excess oil.
7. Transfer to a large bowl. Set aside.

Ingredients for Buffalo wings sauce:

• 1 stick butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup tomato sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 tsp ground pepper
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tsp oregano, dried
• 1 dash hot sauce (optional)

Direction:

1. In a small sauce pan, melt butter and brown sugar together over medium heat .
2. Add tomato sauce and hot sauce into the mixture. 
3. Add garlic powder, onion powder, ground pepper, chili powder, salt, and oregano. 
4. Stir over low heat until mixture is well blended.
5. Pour sauce over chicken wings, and toss to coat. 

Easy Spring Roll Recipe

While the kids are away, I made to kind of spring roll today and they are ready for freezing: chicken vegetable and lumpiang shanghai (meat) spring roll.

Check the recipes here:

Lumpiang Shanghai

Spring Roll ( Lumpiang Gulay) 

Vegetable and Chicken Spring Rolls
How to Wrap Egg Rolls

Homemade Iced Tea

One time in the grocery store, I was in the iced tea isle, my husband said if he see these store bought iced tea in our house, he is going to throw them away. Well, we love iced tea but we make our own. It is easy to make and cheaper.

Iced tea recipe

Ingredients:

• 2-3 Lipton iced tea family size tea bag or 12 regular size good quality tea bag.
• 1 gallon water
• glass jar or pitcher

Direction:

1. Pour water in jar
2. Add the tea bags
3. Cover and put under the sun.
4. Refrigerate until cool
5. Serve over ice. Sweeten with simple syrup, if desired. 
6. Stir in your favorite juice concentrate, if desired.

Simple syrup

Ingredients:

• 2 cups water
• 2 ups sugar

Directions

1. In a saucepan, combine water and sugar. Stir well.
2. Cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves. 
3. Transfer syrup to a container and chill thoroughly. 
4. Use as needed.

Maruya (Banana Fritters)

Banana Fritter is one of the most popular snack or breakfast in the Philippines. It is a pancake batter mixed with sliced or mashed ripe bananas.

Ingredients:

• cooking oil
• 2-3 ripe plantain bananas
• 1 egg
• 1/3 c. of very cold milk
• 1/2 c. of all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp. of baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 c. of white sugar 

Directions:

1. In a bowl, beat the egg. Add the flour, salt, baking powder and milk. Stir until smooth. 
2. Slice thinly or mashed bananas. Place in batter mix.
3. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a frying pan.
4. Scoop the mixture  and then pour in the heated oil.  batter mixture.
5. Fry both sides until golden brown. 
6. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle some sugar while still hot.
7. Add more oil while cooking the rest of the batter mixture.

Spanish Rice Recipe

If you are bored of plain rice, try this easy to make Spanish rice recipe.

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 cup uncooked rice
• One 8-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 cup green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cups water or 1 can (10 1/2 oz) chicken broth
• green onion and cilantro for topping
• sausage (optional)

Directions:

1. Heat oil and butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. 
2. Add the garlic, onions, green peppers, and sauté until soft, about 3 minutes. 
3. Add the rice and stir together to mix. 
4. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste and the water or broth.
5. Season with salt and pepper. 
6. Bring to a boil. lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes or until the rice is done, stirring once or twice.
7. When done, you may add sausage or chorizo that is browned and drained
8. Serve topped with cilantro and green onion.

Best Coconut Macaroons

There are countless ways to make your own version of coconut macaroon recipe. Use sugar instead of condensed milk, whip the whites and sugar into a meringue for a crunchier version or add more coconut for lighter macaroons. You can dip or drizzle the baked macaroons with melted chocolate, fold dried fruit into the batter or tuck nuts or chopped chocolate (or both) inside your macaroons.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups sweetened, shredded coconut
• 1 whole egg and 3 egg whites
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Whip the egg whites, until until frothy.
3. Combine the coconut, sugar, salt and vanilla in a large bowl. 
4. Pour the coconut mixture over the egg white mixture and stir until the coconut is evenly moistened.
5. Drop the batter onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper. Space them an inch or so apart.
6. Bake the macaroons for 15-20 minutes or until golden. 
7. Cool the macaroons, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.