Olive Garden-style Breadsticks

I can't remember the last time I was in Olive Garden; it was many many many years ago. Their breadsticks, I recently found out, are very popular and home bakers have been making their own Olive Garden-style breadsticks. All the recipes I found are of the typical soft white bread variety and I chose to adapt this one. The breadsticks flavored lightly with garlic are really soft and great with soup. I had them with baked pork and [black] beans. I love them.

Read more »

Turon Pie

I call this the lazy woman's turon. I was craving for saba turon but didn't want to fry in this heat. I just brushed light olive oil on both sides of 2 pieces of spring roll wrapper, placed them on a small pie plate, filled it with thinly sliced saba banana, brown sugar, and chopped langka (jackfruit). Then I baked it in my toaster oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. I was more than satisfied with my baked turon and I didn't have to heat up a liter of oil. I'll try this with apple too as it's healthier without all the butter in a regular apple pie crust and because I love the sweet crispy wrapper. 

Read more »

Green Mango Ice Cream

Several Filipino food blogs have been raving about the Filipino green mango ice cream topped with sweet bagoong sauce. I love green mango shake and sorbet and ice cold green mango slices topped with bagoong (salty fermented micro shrimps) has been my favorite since forever. But shrimp/fish flavor and ice cream? Thanks, but I think I'll pass.

Read more »

Bucatini with Eggplant and Fresh Tomatoes

I have so much fresh tomatoes from my backyard I've been snacking on them everyday. They are very sweet and yummy sprinkled with a little sea salt and of course they are excellent in pasta dishes. There is no comparison in flavor with the canned stuff. 

Read more »