Ginisang Ampalaya (Sauteed Bitter Gourd)

Ampalaya or bitter gourd is my favorite vegetable. I like how my mother cook ampalaya for our meal. It is a little bit bitter but tasty because of the egg and pork she added. This vegetable is very easy to cook and not all have a bitter taste. People have different ways of preparation to eliminate the bitterness of it. Some soak it in water for a few hours and then squeeze out some of its juices. Some mix it with salt before squeezing the juices.

Cooking Measurement Chart

I love to check for recipes online but if I find the measurements in ounces or pounds. I leave the site quickly and find me another recipe. Math is not one of my favorite subject  so I really don't want to stress myself with conversion problems.

Ginataang Alimasag (Crabs in Coconut Milk)

Ginataang Alimasag is crabs cooked in coconut with added vegetables like kalabasa, sitaw, jackfruit, etc. There are two popular kinds of crab in the Philippines: alimasag or blue crab found in salt water and the alimango or mud crab caught in fresh water or in ponds. The most common way to cook the crab is by simply steaming or boiling. Boiled crab is eaten with vinegar dip and a lot of rice. Cooking crab is very easy. For a creamy ginataang alimasag, cut the crabs into two to make the crab meat absorb the coconut milk.

Salted Duck Eggs

Salted eggs are  brined duck or chicken eggs and then hard boiled. The eggs are soak in salt water for 30- 45 days, depending on how salty you want it to be. One of my classmates is giving away fresh duck eggs so this time I used duck eggs. I made salted chicken eggs many times already and my first time with duck eggs and the result was satisfying, The salted eggs were delicious and salty enough for my taste.

Sweetened Banana (Minatamis na Saging)

Looking for saba banana for some Filipino dish? Well, cooking banana or plantain is the best substitute. Plantains contain less sugar and becomes sweeter as it ripens.  My children loves minatamis na saging and turon and plaintain so I make sure to buy some plantains whenever they are available in the market, For this recipe  it is best use the  overripe plantains.