Avocado mash

This is a childhood favourite. Instead of milk, I put Milo powder because I don't like the taste of milk and it tasted so yummy, I don't have to add any sugar.

1 ripe avocado
1/4 c. fresh milk (or 3 tbsp of powder milk)
1 tsp of sugar

Cut avocado in half (lengthwise), take the seed of from the middle then shred the avocado with a spoon into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocado with a fork then whem smooth, add the milk and sugar and mix. Pour or spoon the mixture into a small freezer safe container and freeze about an hour or before dinner starts. Take it off the freezer after an hour and serve.

Spaghetti Pinoy style

500 g mince beef
1 medium size brown onion, diced
500 g spaghetti
750 g. Del Monte Sweet style sauce
200 g. cocktail hotdogs
salt and pepper to taste

Cook spaghetti according to packet directions. Set aside. In medium size sauce pan, put a bit of oil and saute onion until brown then add hotdog and saute. Then add mince and fry until cook. when cooked, add the sauce and simmer for 5 minutes. Add a bit of salt and pepper. Stir to mix well. Pour over spaghetti and great some parmesan or cheddar cheese. (I prefer grated cheddar)

Meat balls

1/2 kl of heart smart mince beef
1 red (spanish) onion, chopped finely
a medium carrot, grated
1 egg, beaten
1 c. fresh bread crumbs
5 tbsp of soy sauce
2 pinch of pepper
flour

Combine the first seven ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix together with your hands. For about an inch big balls, place on a floured tray. Deep fry in low heat. Serve with rice or eat as an entree. You can use this recipe for meatballs spaghetti in tomato or white sauce.

Garlic fried rice

1 c. long grain rice, washed twice
1 1/2 c. water
5 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped into tiny pieces
1 tbsp melted butter
2 tbsp. fish sauce

Cook washed rice and water in a rice cooker, (if cooking in a microwave, cook it for 12 minutes; if in a sauce pan, simmer until cook) and stand for 5 minutes. Heat butter in a wok then fry garlic until brown. Add half of the cooked rice then stir well, then add the rest and stir again. Fry until rice and garlic is combined, (about 5 to 8 minutes. Add fish sauce and serve immediately with your fvourite meat, seafood or vegetable dish. Peter love this fried rice.

optional:
1 egg, beaten and fried, sliced into tiny peices and add while frying the rice.

Mango salad

Mango salad

1 large green mango
1 large tomato, washed and diced
1 small spanish onion, diced small
2 tbsp vinegar
pepper
salt

Peel mango, washit then tap with paper towel to absorb wetness, then dice it into thin, long strips (1.5cm), put in a medium size salad bowl. Add the tomato and onion, sprinkle with little salt and pepper then add vinegar. Toss well and serve as an appetizer or side. I learned this recipe from my lolo (grand dad) when he was still living at Cainta. Just that it didn't have any tomato. This is savoury and yummy... a filipina friend gave me the green mango on the weekend. "Salamat Nora!!"

Laing

Ingredients:

dried taro leaves
500 ml coconut milk (18 oz.)
1/2 c. water
4 cloves garlic, crushed and diced into small pieces
2 small brown onion, diced
1 tsp salt
pepper
5 tbsp. fish sauce
200 gms. small prawns (or 1/4 kl lean pork, diced into small pieces)
1 tbsp butter
3 pieces small red chille, sliced into 4

In a medium fry pan, heat butter then fry prawns or pork until cook (set aside).

In a medium sized sauce pan, layer the taro, garlic, onion, and chilli then pour 12 oz of coconut milk and pour the water. Sprinkle salt and pepper, then add prawn or meat on top. Simmer in low heat for 20-30 mins until taro is soaked in the coconut milk. Do not mix. Th efirst time I cook it, I mixed it and the taro got a bittery taste. Then pour fish sauce , and add the remaining coconut milk. simmer for 5 minutes or until thickened. Serve on top of boiled rice. The first time I cooked it, it wasn't that bad, I even brought some to my friends and they said it git a nice taste. You could always change this recipe, you don't have to put a lot of chilli if you don't like spicy foof and instead of using fish sauce, just add a bit more salt.