Cheese Fondue

English: A full cheese fondue set in Switzerland. Apart from pieces of bread to dip into the melted cheese, it comes with side servings of kirsch, raw garlic, pickled gherkins and onions, and olives. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


Many of us fall prey to the sniffles because of the change in weather. When it starts to rain, we seek the most comfort after a hectic and stressful day. What could be better than sitting down with friends and family and telling stories over a bowl of warm cheese fondue? I haven't met anyone who doesn't like cheese, and a fondue is so simple that anyone can prepare it. Just make sure that you have the ingredients stocked in your pantry so you won't have to brave a side trip to the supermarket after being stuck in a rush-hour traffic jam.

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

Salted oatmeal white chocolate cookies stacked. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw

Yes, it's a cookie (sugar and butter are still well represented) but think of this Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies as a healthier indulgence, with oats providing good-for-you fiber. The addition of dried cranberries also ups its health points, especially compared to a donut or a cupcake. If you like, you can replace the cranberries with raisins and other dried fruits. But when you use substitutes, stick to the same measurement to maintain consistency. Bake the cookies at the right temperature to produce a batch that looks good and yummy.

Cooking with Fruits

Jackfruit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


Tomato is commonly regarded as a vegetable, and is a familiar ingredient in savory dishes, sauces, and vegetable salads. But tomato, in fact, is a fruit. Surprisingly true and feel free to meet other fruits that get the veggie treatment.

Stir-Fry Chili Shrimp

醉蝦 -- Zui Xia -- Drunken Shrimp (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


Despite the name, this dish is not too spicy. To make this, you have to hit the market early in the morning and find the freshest shrimps you can buy. And this dish can be best served with a steaming cup of rice. This makes 4 servings with only 15 minutes preparation and 10 minutes to cook. So easy, so quick, so yummy!

Dayap and Mint Granita

Italiano: Granita di menta (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


The sweet tanginess of dayap and the refreshing tones of mint are perfect complements to the creaminess of the risotto and strong flavors of fish. this can be made ahead of time - up to a week ahead and kept in the freezer. Aside from lime or dayap, you can also make this granita using calamansi or mandarin orange (dalanghita).

Baked Lemon Parmesan Risotto

Risotto with fennel and lemon Italiano: Risotto al finocchio e limone (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


This recipe is a great time-saver as it cuts out the most tiring step in risotto-making - the constant stirring! Once you pop this dish in the oven, you are free to prepare your other dishes. Just time it so your risotto is ready when you are about to eat. It becomes sticky when it sits too long.

Pan-Fried Salmon with Cilantro Pesto

English: Picture of a fold-over omelette containing spinach, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, parmesan cheese, and using a pesto base. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


Remember: Don't overcook salmon! Make sure the pan is nice and hot so you get a lovely golden sear on the fish, while the middle section remains on the "rare" side. The sharp flavor of the cilantro pesto is the perfect foil for this tasty fish and most fish fillets. Cutting costs? Substitute salmon fillets with tilapia fillets. This will not surely discredit the taste of this recipe when substituted with tilapia fillets. I know they will both love it!

Asparagus Wrapped in Bacon

Roast Asparagus and Roti Canai (Photo credit: su-lin)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


This elegant and delicious side dish is  simple to make. When you're up for a splurge, make it more special by substituting bacon with prosciutto. And with an artistic presentation on the table, this will surely bring glory to your cooking expertise!

Guinataang Halo-Halo

Halo halo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


A bowl of this can provide the ultimate comfort, especially on a rainy day. This is the usual recipe that Filipinos love even if its not rainy at all. With just the smell of jackfruit on it, you will feel like eating not just a bowl of this guinataang halo-halo.

Guinomis

guinomis (Photo credit: chotda)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


This refreshing drink is easy to prepare using store-bought ingredients. Some notes: Red gelatin or gulaman can be purchased ready-made or made from scratch using a box of red unflavored gulaman (just follow package instructions). To make sugar syrup, mix together one part water and one part sugar and bring to a boil until syrupy.

Palitaw

Palitaw (Photo credit: Ced)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


This merienda is named so because the flat discs of glutinous rice are dropped into boiling water and cooked until they float (litaw in Filipino) to the surface. The sesame seeds must be toasted until aromatic and  golden brown before pounding for more flavor.

Yema

Caramel tart - pure sugar sweet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


Due to extreme poverty, young children here in the Philippines would learn the art of selling at an early age. Children are commonly found in busy streets and markets selling plastic bags, cigarettes, candies, fruits, and other street foods. They did it for living while enjoying acquaintances with people as their customers. I could still vividly remember a classmate in Grade II selling yema in the classroom so that he can earn money to buy for his pad paper and so he can help with her mother in the daily expenses. It was just a little contribution for him that time but when we happened to bump elbows at the mall, he has grown another business and life's been too kind after she graduated in college. Interesting but true, so I will try to share with you this yema recipe that you might make use in teaching your young children entrepreneurial skills if they wishes too.

Trusted Cooking Tips To Make Your Dishes Divine

Oysters (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Roxane J. Talisen

How many times have you dreaded going into the kitchen to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner? You might need a new perspective. Cooking can be enjoyable and relaxing if you try to see it in another way. Here are a few cooking tips that are sure to get your taste buds tingling and entice your inner chef to come out.

Try putting a little ketchup in the batter when you are frying foods. The ketchup can replace milk or egg in your preparation. Dip the food in ketchup before rolling it in breadcrumbs or flour. By using ketchup as a base for your fried foods you will add another unexpected layer and tang to your food.

The Secrets Of Every Single Great Cook

Ingredients for making a fermented salsa. Clockwise from top: capsicum (bell peppers) garlic salt, chili pepper, ground coriander seed red onions fresh coriander (cilantro) tomatoes Recipe at the Wikibooks Cookbook. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Dorsey T. Emanus

It does, however, take a little skill! Regardless of the reason you want to cook, it is good to have information. Follow these tips to improve your cooking skills.

It is quite easy to over-salt a recipe because you haven't tasted it, but don't worry! Peel some raw potatoes, chop them up, place them in the sauce and allow them to simmer for approximately 15 minutes. The excess salt is absorbed by the potatoes. If it is a tomato sauce, you can try adding additional tomatoes and your will end up with more sauce that is less salty.

Learn To Cook Authentic Italian Foods With These Tips

Potato mash, as served in the Swiss mountain restaurant as Schynige Platte (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Ustim Rehsif

Many people aspire to be culinary geniuses, but the thought of what that actually takes can be nothing less than daunting. You can teach yourself to cook well by following the step-by-step directions in a recipe. The advice in this article will give you a head start.

Bibingka

Filipino commercial bibingka in banana leaf liner. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


Because making it seems like a complicated process, bibingka is more often store-bought than homemade. But this bibingka recipe that I am freely sharing with you uses supermarket-bought ingredients that makes it possible to bake and enjoy this fluffy  cake at Christmas or any ordinary day.

Brandied Chicken with Peaches and Plums

Lamb and scallions with steamed buns (Photo credit: ulterior epicure)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


Here is another recipe that anyone will love. Fruits here are not only to be eaten raw but the same natural goodness will be preserved when mixed in your food. We shall altogether taste the difference of peaches and plums in our brandied chicken. This will surely become a hit on the table for the first time and probably the wanting will never last.

Tibok-Tibok Recipe

Indonesian cake made mainly of glutinous rice and resembles Soylent Green. LOL (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Juvy S. Iliwiliw


Similar in texture to another Filipino merienda favorite maja blanca, tibok-tibok is a Kapampangan pudding traditionally made with carabao's milk. Carabao's milk imparts a slightly salty flavor to the mixture, which might not be achieved if using regular milk. Wake up early and hit the palengke or a weekend community market near you to get fresh carabao's milk for this recipe.

The Original Sugar Cookies

Hazelnut Sugar Cookies (Photo credit: QuintanaRoo)

By Kathy Straw

Sugar Cookie Recipe

Well, here's one of the recent recipes for the well-liked sugar cookies. This recipe makes sweet and soft sugar cookies with amazing crisp sides. They are crunchy, sweet and tasty with just a bit of colored sugar, and once slathered with royal icing, they are heavenly savory! This unique recipe can make approximately 36 cookies.