Leche Flan

I learned to make leche flan when I was still in the Philippines. It's good for dessert and it's rich and creamy. Since I became diabetic, I seldom eat sweets and if I eat, I just eat a little bit. My hubby has a sweet tooth so once in a while, I cook sweets for him.

INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup white sugar
* 3 eggs
* 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
* 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
* 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, melt sugar until liquefied and golden in color. Carefully pour hot syrup into a 9 inch round glass baking dish, turning the dish to evenly coat the bottom and sides. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs. Beat in condensed milk, evaporated milk and vanilla until smooth. Pour egg mixture into baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil.
4. Bake in preheated oven 60 minutes. Let cool completely.
5. To serve, carefully invert on serving plate with edges when completely cool.

Palitao (Rice Patties with Sesame and Coconut)

We used to make this rice cake in the Philippines whenever there were birthdays or just ordinary days. It's so easy to make and it doesn't need a lot of ingredients too. My late mom used to make these when we were kids and we just love it.

Ingredients
1 cup sweet rice four
3 cups water
3 cups fresh coconut
2 cups toasted sesame seeds
2 cups sugar
Directions
In a mixing bowl, combine the sweet rice four and water to make a smooth dough. With floured hands, shape the dough into small patties, 3 inches in diameter and 1/2 inch thick.
Bring water in a saucepan to a boil and drop in the patties. When they float to the top, scoop them out and coat with grated coconut. Sprinkle with sesame
seeds and sugar and serve immediately.

My Beef Stew Got Burned!

After lunch today, I decided to cook beef stew for our supper. I put the pot on the gas range with the meat and all the ingredients. I wanted to cook it slow to make the beef tender. While it was cooking, I came here infront of the computer and did my blogging. I got so engrossed blogging and also visiting other blogs that I forgot the time. Then I started to smell something was burning. It was my beef stew! I went to see it and the stew was already dry, no more water and started to burn. I had to turn off the gas range and transferred the beef stew to another pot. The bottom part was already burned but the the top and the middle part was still okay. Whew! Me and my blogging. I can't really do two things at a time or I will end burning the foods that I'm cooking.

Creamy Rice Pudding.

My hubby and I love rice pudding. I made it several times already. It is so good for dessert and this recipe is so simple and easy to make. Try it and you will love it.

INGREDIENTS

* 3/4 cup uncooked white rice
* 2 cups milk, divided
* 1/3 cup white sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 egg, beaten
* 2/3 cup golden raisins
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
2. In another saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups cooked rice, 1 1/2 cups milk, sugar and salt. Cook over medium heat until thick and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup milk, beaten egg and raisins. Cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in butter and vanilla. Serve warm.

Dinengdeng - Ilocano Recipe

I cooked the vegetables from my garden yesterday. I've been craving for Ilocano recipes that we used to have in our house in the Philippines. What else is better than dinengdeng. I cooked the string beans, okra, saluyot and mixed it with fried crappy fish and fish sauce. Hmmm...yummy!!! It was like I was in the Philippines while I was eating this with rice yesterday. It really filled me up. I gave some to my hubby too but he only ate the vegetables. He doesn't like the fish because he said it was boiled and it doesn't taste good to him. Too bad but more for me.

INGREDIENTS:
string beans
okra
saluyot
fish sauce
water
Knorr tamarind soup base
fish
1 onion, sliced

DIRECTIONS:
Fry the fish. Put two cups of water and the fried fish in a pot and boil. Add the onions and fish sauce according to your desired taste and let it simmer. Add all the vegetables and cook for a few minutes. Then add the Knorr tamarind soup according to your desired taste. Cook for a few minutes more then turn off the heat. Serve with rice.

Pistacchio Pudding

The first time I tasted pistachio pudding was in Alvarado. My youngest step-daughter made it and it was good. I searched for the recipe and I tried to make pistachio pudding one time. It's so simple and easy to make. Here's the recipe.

1 small can pineapple
2 c. small marshmallows
1/2 c. nuts
1 can fruit cocktail (save juice)
8 oz. Cool Whip
1 pkg. pistachio pudding mix

Save juices; mix with pudding mix. Pour over ingredients and refrigerate.

"Random Things About Me"

Pinaywie, tagged me with "8 Random Things About Me". Thanks for this tag sis. So get to know me more by reading my post.

1. I love gardening like planting organic vegetables in my backyard and also planting flowering plants in our front yard. Gardening is therapeutic to me and it gives me joy when I harvest my veggies and see the flowers in my front yard.

2. I love cooking pancit, lumpia and puto and give it away to my friends. I can't explain the joy I feel whenever I see people so happy when they receive the foods that I give them. I just love to be a channel of blessings to others.

3. I love taking pictures. I carry my digicam in my purse wherever I go. My friends in the church know this and they said that most Filipinas they know are very fond of taking photos. I am also the one printing my photos in my printer at home.

4. I love shopping but most of the time, I only shop when the items are on sale. I have to wait till they drop down the prices before I will buy it. That's my way of saving money.

5. I love sight-seeing and going to places I've never seen before. I just looking at the beauty of God's wonderful creations. I love nature and beautiful sceneries that are so captivating to the eyes. I can't stop capturing those views and sceneries with my camera.

6. I love God above all. I've been to a lot of testing and trials in life but God is always faithful. He never leave nor forsake me. He is always there to carry me through and His grace is always sufficient for me as I face the trials in life. Jesus Christ is my Healer, Comforter, Lord and Savior of my life. Most of all, He is my coming King. Looking forward to be with Him in heaven someday.

7. I love my husband so much. When we were newly married, I had a hard time adjusting myself to sleep with him in our bed. I was used to sleeping alone but as years go by, I can hardly sleep without him by my side. We're kinda attach with other now.

8. I am a loyal friend. I will stick with my friends through thick and thins. I also appreciate friends who will stand by me when I needed their help and whatever good things they do to me, it will always stay fresh on my mind and in my heart.

Simple rules:
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

I am tagging Juliana, Ging, AidiSan, Lisa, Marly, Juliana