Indonesian-style Noodles

Gordon Ramsay's 2021 cookbook, Ramsay In 10, has a fried noodle recipe he calls Warung Style Noodles. Warung, I think, is a small neighborhood eatery in Indonesia which offers cheap yummy food. I watched an Indonesian movie on Netflix that has similar ingredients and procedure for fried rice, Nasi Goreng. I followed the rice dish from the movie and used thin precooked rice noodles instead. I have smoked pork jowl and used that in place of bacon, because fatty pork jowl is simply delicious. For Nasi Goreng, use 2 cups cooked rice that has been refrigerated, uncovered, until very dry.

Read more »

Homemade Ube Powder

For people obsessed with ube like myself, it gets frustrating buying ube powder that turns out to be half fake. I got a few Filipino ube powder packages from Amazon and the ube powder doesn't soften even when soaked overnight in water. The finished product tastes a bit of real ube but is grainy even after using an immersion blender. I suspect the powder has peels included to increase the weight. There is no other explanation for the bits that never soften. I used it to make ube buns.

Read more »

Brown Butter Ice Cream

I've been searching for the Filipino mantecado ice cream since forever. I can't find any from my tons of Filipino and Spanish cookbooks and online too. Mantecado ice cream was available from ice cream makers in the Philippines eons ago but they stopped making for some reason. The flavor is now being revived by a few ice cream producers and is making a comeback as Filipinos discover how good the ice cream flavor is.

Read more »

Instant Pot Duo Crisp

My son gifted us with an Instant Pot Duo Crisp 8 Quarts for Christmas. I never owned nor cooked with a pressure cooker before but of course I know there is an IP "cult" and they swear by the convenience of this kitchen appliance. I now understand why. It is versatile except maybe to make toast and bake a large cake. I've used the steamer, pressure cooker, air fryer, and sous vide. So far, they have worked very well. Boiling eggs and cooking rice are particularly great. The eggs are easier to peel with no shells stuck on the eggs. Sticky rice, sushi rice, and jasmine rice are cooked perfectly in the Instant Pot. It won't replace my gas, toaster, and microwave ovens though. 

Pressure cooked on high for 30 minutes; natural release - easy to remove skins and perfectly cooked Ube (Purple Yam) 

Baked Sweet Potatoes

25 minutes at 350 F

Air Fried Sweet Potato Chips drizzled with honey butter - crispy yummy!

Eggs

• Eggs should be at room temperature; leave eggs on kitchen counter at least 5 hours before cooking. Add ice cubes in a bowl of cold water. Cooked eggs should be immediately plunged in iced water for 4 minutes to stop further cooking. 
• Pour 2 cups water in inner pot. Place steamer rack with handles up, carefully put eggs in one layer. 
• Hard - pressure cook for 4 minutes on low, release after 3 minutes
• Semi-soft - pressure cook for 2 minutes on low, release after 2 minutes
• Soft - pressure cook for 2 minutes on low, quick release

Air Fried Chicken

I was not too happy because the chicken didn't have the golden brown color of deep fried. The chicken were soft and moist.

Champorado

Filipino breakfast porridge made with glutinous rice cooked with cocoa powder and sugar. Serve hot with milk. Pressure cook on high for 10 minutes 1 cup glutinous rice, 6 tablespoons cocoa powder, sugar to taste, and 3 cups water. Natural release.

Jasmine Rice

Wash 2 cups of jasmine rice several times until water becomes clear. You can skip this but I prefer to wash rice before cooking. Drain rice and place in the pot. Add 1 and 3/4 cups water and make sure rice is evenly distributed in the pot. Pressure cook on high for 0 minute. Yes, zero minute. Turn off Keep Warm button to make sure no crust will form on the bottom of the pot. Natural release, about 20 minutes. Make sure the tiny metal button is completely down before removing lid. Immediately spoon cooked rice with a plastic spatula into a container.  

Arancini - Italian Rice Balls

Mix 1 cup risotto with grated mozzarella, finely chopped Italian parsley, and 1 egg white. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Form into 1 inch balls, dip in beaten egg yolk then roll in fine bread crumbs. Air fry at 400 F until golden brown. 

Japchae - Korean glass noodles with mixed vegetables

Semi fail because I added too much liquid but the noodles were still chewy. There's always a next time. 

Cinnamon Buns

Tiny cinnamon buns made with just a cup of flour. Not bad. At least I know I can bake bread using the air fryer function in the Instant Pot.

Verdict - Sold!!! 😘😘😘