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Cassava Cake

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I have the pleasure of hosting Kulinarya Cooking Club’s February challenge with Marni of Kensington Kitchen. February is the love month of the year and what better way to celebrate February than to reminisce about once first love. We asked our fellow KCC to prepare a dish that would make one recall our first love.

Kulinarya was started by a group of Filipino foodies living in Sydney, who are passionate about the Filipino culture and its colourful cuisine. Each month we will showcase a new dish along with their family recipes. By sharing these recipes, we hope you find the same passion and love for Filipino Food as we do.

Kulinarya was started by a group of Filipino foodies living in Sydney, who are passionate about the Filipino culture and its colourful cuisine. Each month we will showcase a new dish along with their family recipes. By sharing these recipes, we hope you find the same passion and love for Filipino Food as we do.

ohhh first love…Growing up I didn’t have any clear idea on what love really is. Back then love for me would be that cute stares across the table or that one nice gesture out of the blue. That happy feeling would last a day or two with numerous diary entries of what could happen tomorrow. Love is a fairy tale, I’m the princess waiting for my prince charming to rescue me from all the hardships and pain.

I had my first heartbreak at 5 years old when I lost the one man in my life who gave me everything, my Papa. Since then I protected my heart but then some days I failed and met plenty of prince along the way who at the end changed into frogs.

One prince came by surprise, the day I met him bought tears and an overwhelming joy in my heart. He erased all the pain I had in the past. I knew then the moment I laid my eyes on him that this was what really love is. The one boy I know I would love forever.

October 17, 2007: The first time I met my little prince – Vierte

 

Let me share to you the first kakanin merienda (Filipino snack) I prepared for V – Cassava Cake with Custard Topping.

 

When I asked our Manang to teach me how to prepare this kakanin she kept on reminding me to clean the shredded cassava to take the “poison” out. I’m not sure if there is any truth to what our Manang said but just to be sure I brushed the root crop, peeled making sure that no bark is left on it and finally soak it in cold water and squeezed out the liquid. One friend told me though that his mom no longer soak and squeeze the cassava juice.

I got this recipe from Ate Agnes, a Mommy also base here in Dubai.

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Cassava Cake with Custard Topping

2 cups Cassava, grated
3/4 cup Evaporated Milk
2 eggs
1 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Condensed Milk
1/2 cup Coconut Milk
1/4 cup Butter, melted
Grated Cheese for additional topping

Custard topping:
1 cup reserved Cassava cake mixture
1/4 cup Condensed Milk

 

Procedure:

Preheat oven 180C.

In a large bowl combine grated cassava, eggs, sugar, evaporated milk, condensed milk, coconut milk and melted butter mix well.

*Strain 1 cup of the liquid for the topping.

Pour the remaining mixture to the prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes till the sides are brown.
Custard Topping:

Cook reserve liquid mixed with condensed milk over medium heat till thick. Pour over the cook Cassava Cake and sprinkle some grated cheese on top and broil till the top becomes brown.

 

 

Fellow KCC members sharing a yummy dish for February:

Pork Sisig by The Peach Kitchen
Biko by My Twisted Recipes
Aphrodite’s Baked Oysters by Chef by Day
Shrimp and Tofu Lumpia Sariwa by Pinay in Texas
Arroz ala Cubana by Jun Blog
Tiramisu Sandwich by Oggi
Lechon Manok by Adoras Box
Avocado-Calamansi Sorbet by Sassy Chef
Fruit Compte ala Jacques Pepin by Skip to Malou
Chilli Crab by Reel and Grill
Pork Menudo by Senorita Sisa
Lomi by My Expat Mommy
Longganisa Pandesal Pizza by I love Sisig

 

Hearts’ Day

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Last week V came home asking me to make some cake for his friends in school when I asked why he replied “It’s Valentines Day Mama.”

I browsed around Pinterest (you just get lost in there) for some toddler valentine craft and found plenty of cute and easy crafts V and I can do.

V sat down with me and he absolutely love these Butterfly Valentine craft from SkipTomyLou

 

V went to school today with his Vday gift to his teachers and friends.

He started with the two nannies in his school bus.

“Happy Valentines Nanny! I have a gift for you. Thank you for taking care of me.”

 

 

Happy Heart’s day everyone!

Dino Live

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C got a good deal from Cobone for the Dino Live show. The tickets are valued at Dhs 169 and we only got ours for Dhs 49/each which includes a orange slush, popcorn, a photo-op, and Dhs 25 worth of voucher to buy some souvenirs.

The show starts of with a 3D movie about a baby dinosaur who lost her mommy and some information on how they lived.  V kept on asking if the Dinosaurs will hurt us and asking “They are extinct right Mama?”  we kept reassuring him that what he will see are just giant dinosaur toys so kids will know how they look like.

It was a good exhibit but I still prefer the first one that we saw back home at SM MOA when V was still 1 year old.

Saging Pinaypay

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Saging Pinaypay a childhood favorite and one ultimate comfort food. We usually get this treat after having our afternoon nap time before we go outside to play with our friends in the streets of our village.

It was the first time that I introduce one of my favorites to V and I’m such a proud Mama when he enjoyed 3 pinaypay all to himself that is after making sure he left one piece for his Dad.

Saging (banana) Pinaypay (to fan out, paypay is fan). Slice bananas thinly and spread it out like a fan dip on your pancake batter and fry. Sprinkle with some sugar and serve.

When my husband saw the photo I posted on facebook he called up to ask what I prepared. Described pinaypay as the saba banana dip in a pancake batter and pan fried. He just replied that they call it by a different name in Manila, it is called Maruya.

Saging Saba has been a staple in our household ever since I got pregnant. It’s one of my go to food when I can’t eat anything. I eat it boiled, fried, stewed, or braised in sugar. It’s simple delicious and nutritious.

Quickly grab some Milk Tea!

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I was surprise and happy that my nearby favorite Korean Cafe – Modern Hansik (will write a little review soon) now offers one of my most missed milk tea back home – Quickly!

Although there is a difference between how they serve it back in Manila, the milk tea is served almost like a shake/ice cream with crushed ice, tapioca pearls and taho. In Modern Hansik they serve it just with ice cubes and tapioca pearls. According to our Modern Hansik friends they are still waiting for the Quickly machine set that will be delivered soon.

For my nearby neighbors here in Al Nahda I’m happy to inform you that Modern Hansik delivers this yummy milk tea that is a perfect combination to their yummy Korean style chicken!

 

Modern Hansik (located at the back of Blue Mars supermarket)

Shop 2 AHLI House A Amman St. Al  Nahda 1

Contact Number: (050) 138-8191 / 04 254 7748

Eating again

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Breakfast: Tortang Talong, Fried Dilis, Tomato Sardines, Tomatoes and Cucumbers

I’m so happy that we are entering our 2nd trimester with my appetite back and enjoying kitchen work again.

On our first trimester all the food you see above I can’t eat. Then I woke up with a craving to eat Tortang Talong, Sardines, and Dilis I was happy to find all of the ingredients in my pantry.

Happy New Year!

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This is our 2nd New Year here in Dubai and we once again spent it with friends watching fireworks at the Jumeirah open beach.

We went to the beach prepared with our tent, BBQ stuff, food, blankets, and chairs. The tent was up and the grill was set on fire when 3 beach guards (we think) approach each group asking to put down tents and turn off the fire since it was not allowed. A bit of a boohoo since we were all looking forward for some warm soup (we had beef mami) and bbq’d  hotdogs while waiting for the show.

with Ryan+Lyke Cruz

 

 

Luckily the couple R+L  prepared some Kaldereta and I prepared a few fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls or else we could have been hungry all night.

Happy New Year from Cruz and Caidoy family

 

We did manage to sneak in some bbq while waiting for the grill fire to die down :). V had so much fun playing in the sand while waiting for the fireworks. He just kept on asking us whether it was time yet for the fireworks and when it was over he asked if it’ll be new years party again the next day.

 

Wishing everyone a year full of blessings and smiles. Happy New Year!

 

Pregnancy Scare

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Entering our 6th week I experienced an on and off pain in my lower left pelvic. The sudden pain when I move would last about a minute then goes away.

I’m naturally a worrier especially after giving birth to V and the worry-some me has doubled and emotions have heightened with this pregnancy. One afternoon the pain was back – a sudden stabbing pain and it lingered till late night. Immediately I sent a message to my OB and describe the pain. Her reply was “We should be worried. Please go to the City Hospital and have a scan. It could be an ectopic pregnancy”

wikipedia – An ectopic pregnancy, or eccysis , is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the uterine cavity.

If this is the case the only option was to terminate the pregnancy as it could also cause harm to the mother. I cried myself to sleep.

C kept re-assuring me that everything will be alright.

The next day we headed to my OB’s clinic to have a scan. I tried my best to not cry of the possibility of losing our 2nd baby. While waiting for our turn to see the Sonographer a family of 3 came out the Mom was in tears while the Dad whispers to her “its’ ok..shh” and the daughter just sat beside them smiling at us.

I so wanted to stand-up and give them a hug while I was fighting back my tears, then nurse Carol told us it was our turn. I laid back and we waited for the image on the monitor. “Baby is ok and in the right place, Ate”  I was happy and said a prayer of thanks and strength for the family at the waiting area.

For the first time we heard our baby’s heartbeat.

Please say a little prayer for all the mom’s who have lost a child that they may have the strength to move on. A prayer for all pregnant ladies that we all have a healthy and safe pregnancy.