Balut - Fertilized Duck Egg

Fertilized duck egg is very common in some countries in Asia. Philippines of course has them and I like it. Yes, I like it and I can eat it in broad daylight. Some people prefers to eat it at dark so as not to see how it looks like.



How to savor the fertilized egg? You partially crack the egg and savor the broth of it. Add a mixture of salt, vinegar and spices on it and eat it. Little embryo can be eaten but I prefer not to. I just like the yellow and the white. When you eat the white part, it feels like you are eating rubber.



In the Philippines, balut have recently entered haute cuisine by being served as appetizers in restaurants, cooked adobo style, fried in omelettes or even used as filling in baked pastries.

Photo Blog Challenge

"Dukot"

For a boholana like me, this is a treat. When someone makes sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf, it is always possible to have portions of the sticky rice that sticks in the bottom of the pan. That is what we called "dukot". This is a treat that is perfect to be paired with a cup of coffee or a cup of chocolate.

"Mami"

Another Filipino favorite especially during rainy days. It is a noodle soup. It is made of big yellow noodles and a boiled beef for its stock/stock. Topped with scallions and herbs.

Veggies and Shrimp in Coconut Milk

Ingredients:
Coconut Milk
Shrimps
String Beans
Okra
Eggplant
Onion
Ginger
Black Pepper
Garlic Salt

Directions:

• Wash and cut string beans, okra and eggplant
• In a casserole put the string beans, eggplant, onion, ginger and coconut milk.
• Season with garlic salt and black pepper
• Bring to boil. When the veggies are getting tender add shrimps and okra.
• Cook until done.
• Serve.
  

Cured Pork Sausage

Yep, it is chorizo! Yummy of course!

I found this at the Asian store. I was ecstatic and hopeful that it will taste the same back home. I was not so sure that it will taste good since it was frozen.

I just followed the direction printed in the label on how to cook this. It says to boil it for 15 minutes and fry afterward.

It was a success and I was so glad that it taste and it is as good as what we have in Philippine markets. I can't wait to buy some more.

Chicken Feet

For some this looks gross. But for us (most Filipinos), this is a treat! Chicken feet is crunchy and yummy.

I don't cook this because it is too much work. Yes, I have a lazy side on me too (lol). My friends love to do this and I will gladly eat when they cook this.

Asian Eggplant

I love "tortang talong" so when we went to the Asian store I bought some Asian eggplant. I don't like making "tortang talong" from the eggplant in local grocery stores because they are to big and too watery.

I poke some holes in the eggplant before I broil it in the oven. After broiling it, I peel it and mashed. I then dipped it to the mixture of egg and flour which was seasoned with garlic salt and pepper. Then I fried it and viola I got me a very delicious "tortang talong"

Sticky Sweet Rice

For our American families and friends, we call this "Sticky Sweet Rice" but in our Filipino language we call it "biko".

Yes, I had this and No I didn't cook this myself. Another Filipina friend of mine brought this the other night for us to enjoy. Indeed we had we enjoyed eating this. Very yummy!

Yesterday, I ate the leftover and drink coffee. I felt like I was back home in Pinas!

Sauteed Swamp Cabbage

This is a simple and a very common dish in the Philippines. I ate a lot of these during my younger days because we have a lot of them in our front yard. This is called "kangkong" in our local language. There are several varieties of this vegetable. Some grows inland and some grows in a place that has water.

Anyway, this dish was made by a friend of mine. I can't wait to cook some for myself. We will be going to an Asian market to buy this vegetable.

Banana Turon

I had a couple of friends came over. As always, we ate lot of Filipino foods. I also made these banana turon for our snacks. I use plantain for this turon and it tastes just like the turon back home in Philippines.

Mung Bean Soup

This is a very common dish in the Philippines. I have only cooked this dish once last Good Friday. My friends came over and I decided to serve them all veggies and fish. We didn't eat meat that day.

This is very filling and yummy!

Cuchinta

My friends and I were talking what we want to eat during our Annual Christmas Party. Our party will be on December 11. It is just a bunch of Filipino friends and our American families. We do this every year.

I wish somebody would bring cuchinta. I just miss cuchinta with a freshly grated coconut. Anybody wants to send me one? ha ha ha!

"Tinabal"

Whenever I think of home (home in Philippines), Tinabal (salted fish?) always comes to my mind. I really can't wait to satisfy my cravings on this salty yet yummy fish! I swear when we will go home to Pinas for our vacation I will ask my mom to buy me this. I want it fried, I want it grilled and I want it cooked in coconut milk!

Okay, okay, okay, I know it is salty... I promise I will drink more water!

Taho

Taho is a softened tofu or soy beans mixed with caramelized brown sugar to make a syrup and to top it off are pearl sago(kind of like tapioca).

I surely miss this and I swear I am going to eat some when I go home to Philippines next year.

Lukot

Lukot is also called the marine spaghetti in the Philippines. In a more scientific name it is seahare secretions. Oh, well whatever it is called... one thing is for sure I love it!

Lukot is usually eaten fresh. We usually eaten it like a salad. We just wash the lukot, add vinegar, chopped onion, ginger, tomato and green onions. Season with salt and pepper.


In some places, they add lukot to their fish soup... I have never tried it though...

Sauteed Bamboo Shoots

When I went to the Asian store, I saw a fresh bamboo shoots so I bought one pack of it. Then I decided to just make a sauteed bamboo shoots.
Ingredients:
bamboo shoots
garlic
onion
pork (slice in tiny pieces)
salt and pepper

Directions:

• Saute garlic and onion. Add pork.
• When pork is cooked, add bamboo shoots
• Season with salt and pepper
• Cook until bamboo shoots are done
• Serve

Note:

• For personal preference, I didn't use soy sauce as to preserve the yellowish color of the bamboo shoots.

• Please also note that the bamboo shoots are already cooked when I bought it. There was no need to cook it longer.

Ice Candy

Ice candy is a very common treat in the Philippines. It comes in different flavor. Depending on what you want to make you can make anything whatever you please.

I love ice candy and yes I am craving for one. It is true that i can easily buy ice cream and ice cream in cones in the grocery store but part of my growing up years is to eat ice candy and it is more tasty for my native tongue.

For personal pleasures and indulgence we usually make ice candy made of young coconut or made of avocado and sometimes mango too!

I really can't wait to make ice candy here. My friend went home to Philippines and I asked her to bring me some ice candy wrapper!

For now, I will just feast my eyes on these....

Gulaman at Sago

During the hot summer days in the Philippines, Gulaman at Sago (Gelatin/Tapioca) drink is very common. In fact, you can see rolling carts selling them with other Filipino snacks. Selling foods in rolling carts is a very common sight in the streets of Manila.

Oh summer here in Alabama has been so hot... it makes me think of making my own gulaman at sago!

Filipino Breakfast

I am so hungry... I would love to have a breakfast like this. Dried fish and longganisa dipped in garlic vinegar! Of course, I want more fried rice for this!

Pandesal

Oh, I just found out that Mabuhay Store in Atlanta sells pandesal. I can't wait to get back to Atlanta and order some of these.

I miss eating pandesal paired with coffee! I remember eating freshly baked pandesal almost every morning when I was still in the Philippines!