SYLVANNA /SANS RIVAL

12 egg whites room temperature
1t. cream of tartar
1 1/2c. sugar
1t. vanilla extract
3 c. chopped nuts( I used almonds)
plastic piping bag

icing:

1 1/2 c. butter room temperature(I used the unsalted kind)
3/4 c  sugar
2c. chopped nuts


1. Preheat oven to 300, line a cookie sheets with greased  and floured foil
2. Beat eggwhites and cream of tartar,add sugar and vanilla gradually. Beat until stiff but not dry.
3.Add the finely chopped nuts just fold so gently
4.Fill the piping bag with meringue, cut the end with a small hole, you could pipe it in circle or oblong shape .
5.Bake into the center of the oven   for 30-35 or longer the meringue needs to be brown in color and cool on a wire rack.
6. For the icing; beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy
7. Ice the cooled cookies and roll with chopped nuts,place them on top of the cupcake liners, so they wont stick together, store them in the freezer bags until ready to eat. The meringues stays really crisp in the freezer,just thaw out  5-10 minutes on top of the counter before serving. Sylvanna is very rich dessert so a  person could really eat only one.

My kids like them without icing hindi nakakasuya.Good with a cup of hot unsweetened tea. They kept very well in the freezer for months.

Easy Strawberry Jam

This recipe is from Ina Garten book but I tweaked it a lttle with lemon juice and zest. It is better than store bought.Good for toast,biscuit or filling for the jelly roll or holiday gifts.Very easy to make even a 10 year old could do  it with adult supervision.Frozen berries are good substitute .


3 pints fresh strawberry
3c.sugar
2T lemon juice
1/2c.fresh blueberries
1/2 granny smith apple,peeled,cored and diced to small  diced
1 lemon zest

Wash strawberries and drain. Cut  the berries into quarters and leave the small one into whole.Place strawberries in a heavy bottom pot toss them with sugar and lemon juice and lemon zest.
Bring the berry to boil over medium heat stirring often. Add apple and blueberries and continue the mixture to rolling boil.Stirring occasionally.About 20-25 minutes or until candy thermometer reaches 220 degrees. You could test it into a spoon and allow it to cool down if it thickens it is done.Skim foam.Allow to cool and cover it store in the refrigerator . It will keep for 2 weeks.Or process jam in canning jars

Siopao Asado

When I was in highschool at St. Annes Academy  I used to sell these siopao to my teachers and friends and it was a hit. My kids and husband favorite merienda. The recipe makes a lot about 2 dozens depending the size, but  it freezes well. It is a good winter snack or eaten with soup or goto.


Recipe Hint:  Please check yeast expiration date!
                     Add a teaspoon of vinegar to the water steamer to whiten the dough while steaming.
                     Use a lukewarm water(maligamgam na tubig) to the yeast.
                     Cover the steamer lid with a cheesecloth to avoid soggy siopao.It catches the water
                      condensation.

Mixt. 1

1 1/2 c. lukewarm water
1T. Yeast
2T. sugar
 mix it until frothy.

Mixt. 2

41/2c. APF
2/3c. sugar
3T oil/shortening/lard
1T.baking powder
24 square paper 2x2 or use a coffee filter
Sift all dry ing. and add the frothy yeast mixture
 Knead unti smooth adding more water if needed. Form into a ball and place in a greased bowl cover with damp cloth,place in an OFF oven or a warm place until double  in size.Punch the center to release gas and let it rise again. Roll into a floured surface into a log and cut into 24 pieces. Flatten the dough into round make sure the middle is thicker than the edges. Place 2 T.  of  cooled asado filling  and gather all the edges and seal it by twisting it. Smooth side up , place a square paper at the bottom . Put them in the steamer basket and cover with damp cloth and let it rise for 10 min.
Put a teaspoon of vinegar in the water steamer and steam for 10-15 minutes.Dont forget to place  a cheesecloth on top of the lid to absorb the excess water.Enjoy!!!



Asado Filling:

1 1/2 Lb. of pork loin cut thinly
4T.charsui sauce( I used lee kumkee) or  just mix 4T.brown sugar,2T soy.3T hoisin,1/2t. 5 spice powder and a little pepper if  you cant find the charsui sauce.   Marinate overnight and bake at 350 until tender about 35 minutes,cut into small pieces .

Sauce:
mix the cooked pork with 2T.cornstarch,hoisin,sugar to taste and pepper and some of the sauce from the cooked meat, cook it until thicken    add water if needed. let  it cool . You could add the filling  into fried rice too.   The siopao procedure  is a bit long but it is all worth it!

Texas Chocolate Sheet Cake With Fudge Frosting

I got this recipe from my mother in law  Elna. The cake is simply addictive,so moist and very easy to make.If you don't have buttermilk, just substitute fresh milk 2% or whole milk will work  just fine and add  some lemon juice or vinegar.This recipe is a keeper!

1c.water
1c.butter
1/4c.cocoa powder


2c.APF(all purpose flour)
2c.  sugar
1t.baking soda
2t.cinnamon
2eggs
1/2c.buttermilk

 Preheat oven to 350 adjust rack in the middle oven.
Blend in a saucepan the first  3 ingredients( cocoa powder,butter and water) and heat to boiling, set aside.
Sift all dry ingredients (flour,cinnamon,b.soda,sugar) in a bowl
Mix buttermilk and eggs,beat well
Add the hot cocoa mixture and buttermilk/eggs into the dry ingredients
Bake into a greased pan in the middle of the oven for 20-25 minutes
While its baking,cook the fudge frosting and frost the cake while its warm.

  Fudge Frosting

1/4c.butter
1c.sugar
1/4c.milk
1/2c. choc. pieces or chips
1t.vanilla


Combine sugar,butter,milk bring to rolling boil and remove from heat,add vanilla and chocolate chips and beat it until spreading consistency.Spread on top of a warm cake and let it set before slicing. Enjoy!

Siomai Dimsum

1 Lb. ground meat (I used ground turkey)
3 green onion minced
2 beaten eggs
1 minced carrot
1T. soy sauce
1t. sesame oil
1/2 c. shreded chinese cabbage
1 tsp pepper
wanton wrappers

1. Mix all ingredients and chill for 1 hour
2.Boil water for the steamer
3.Fill the wanton wrappers it could be like a siomai or  closed dimsum  for the drop soup
4.Steam for  30-40 minutes
5.serve with sweet and sour sauce or soy sauce with lemon juice or kalamansi  juice

note:

This  raw dimsum freezes well,just  place a single layer of dimsum in a cookie sheet  and freeze them for an hour then transfer  it to a freezer bags.Boil some broth ,you could add veggies too and some noodles or wanton skin and drop frozen raw dimsum cook for 25-30 minutes.

You could deep fat fry them too like the potstickes and serve with a sweet sour sauce.

Easy No Bake Chocolate Tiramisu

1(8OZ) Mascarpone or cream cheese (softened)
1 1/2c.  cold milk
1 pkg.(3.4 oz) vanilla instant pudding
1 1/2c. heavy whipping cream or cool whipp
36 nilla wafers  or pacencia cookies
1 plain chocolate bar (grated)
1/2 c. strong hot chocolate mix ( I use 2 packages  of instant hot cocoa mix)(cooled)
1/4c. sugar


1. Beat whipping cream w/ 1/4c. of sugar until  stiff(omit this step if using cool whip)
2.Mix the softened cream cheese or mascarpone  to the whipped cream, set aside
3.Add 1 1/2c. cold milk to the instant vanilla puding  mix it until thick
4. Line  a sheet of foil on to the bottom of  a springform pan and lay the cookie on the bottom and sides
5.Pour a little cooled hot cocoa mix or just dip each cookies  and arrange on the pan side and bottom
6.Spread a little vanilla pudding then  the whipped cream cheese mixture sprinkle  chocolate shavings
7.Repeat the procedure with cookies dipped in chocolate mixture and ending with chocolate  shavings
8.Chill for 4 - 6 hours
9.Remove it from the springform pan and serve.
10. You could use a bowl too and just pile the layers and chill if you dont have a springform pan

Tocino

This is my sisters favorite almusal minus the salitre and the red food color,fatty meat. I remember my mom used to cook this dish and  the pork skin still on.



2 lbs pork butt or shoulder sliced thinl(trim most of the fat)
3/4c. ketchup
1/2c.brown sugar
1T.tomato paste
1/4c.vinegar or lemon or lime juice
2cloves of garlic minced
1 small onion minced
1/2c. pineapple juice or white soda(7-up,sprite)


1.slice the pork  into pieces.
2.mixed all ingredients in a bowl and add the meat,cover  with plastic and store in the fridge,let it marinate for
  2-3 days.
3. heat a frying pan with little oil  and add the meat,add alittle water,remove the lid and let it fry a little.
4.serve with rice,eggs,sliced tomatoes and onion. sarap na almusal.

Pancakes or Hotcakes

I remember Ate Resy(shes really my tita or aunt) cooking hotcakes for the weekend afternoon merienda and all the cousins just got up from siesta from the bahay kubo in the backyard.I think she just use the Maya Hotcake mix and we top it with Karo syrup or condensed milk.The first batch is uusally sunog(burnt). The secret of cooking pancake is never turn the hotcakes until all the bubbles on top  burst and turn it just once.This recipe is very soft and fluffy just make sure cook them in a low heat.


1c.APF
2T baking powder
1/4t.salt
2Tsugar
2large eggs beaten
1c milk(I use evap.)
2T sugar
1 large egg (beaten)
1 cup milk
2 T oil

Mix all dry ingredients together in a bowl an add wet ingredients; mix until there is no lumps
heat the pan on medium heat put a little pancake mix until bubbles form on top, then flip.

Favorite Chicken Tacos

This is  a  fast and all time favorite in my house, lowfat and kid friendly delicious meal too.


2 trimmed of fat chicken breast
taco seasoning (low sodium)
1t.oil
1/4c. water
lowfat sour cream
cheese ,tomatoes,lettuce,chopped onions,flour tortilla fajita style
guacamole,picante sauce or salsa(optional),tortilla chips

1.brown chicken breast and simmer  about 5 minutes
2.sprinkle 1 T. low sodium taco seasoning and add water
3.cover and cook until done.
4.cut chicken into small pieces
5.return to the frying pan and cook for a minute
6.arrange tacos and top with favorite fixin
7.enjoy!!!

Peanut Butter Blossoms

This is a very easy cookie recipe. My daughter baked it all by herself.The  cookie is a little crumbly but very good peanut butter flavor.

Hershey's Kisses
1/2 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups APF
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
sugar (to roll cookies in)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Beat butter and peanut butter until smooth and add sugar and brown sugar, beat until fluffy.
Add egg, milk, and vanilla, beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt.
Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll in sugar, and place on an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 8-10 min or until golden brown.
while baking, unwrap kisses from their wrappers and place on a plate.
When cookies are done, immediately place kisses in the middle of the cookies, cool and enjoy!!!