Chicken Tinola

1 tbsp cooking oil
1 2-inch pc ginger, cut into strips
½ k chicken
1 tbsp fish sauce
6 cups water
2 pcs chicken cubes
1 pc sayote, sliced
2 stalks dahon ng sili

1. In a heated pot, sauté half of the ginger in oil.
2. Rub chicken pieces with fish sauce, add to pot, and sauté until slightly brown.
3. Add water, remaining half of the ginger, bring to boil, and add chicken cubes.
4. Add sayote and reduce heat to simmer until chicken and sayote are cooked.
5. Add dahon ng sili, simmer for another 2 minutes and serve.

Serves 4.

Note: It is better if there is no dahon ng sili. This will make the soup taste bitter. But all in all, this recipe is delicious.

Picadillo de Mais

This is something weird but I just crossed my fingers and tried it due to curiosity.

4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 medium onion, chopped
400g ground pork
1 can whole kernel corn
1 250g tomato sauce
1 carrot, cut into cubes
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup malunggay leaves

1. Saute garlic, onions, and pork in oil until light brown. Add corn(including syrup), tomato sauce and 5 cups water. Season with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp rock salt, and ½ tsp pepper. Let simmer.
2. Add carrots and continue simmering until tender.
3. Stir in beaten eggs and malunggay leaves. Simmer for 2 minutes.
Makes 8 servings.

Verdict: Failure! I won’t cook this again! :P

Chicken Fingers with Cinnamon

I was not sure about this recipe because I was not able to find boneless chicken breasts but I’m also excited to do this since I’ll get to add another spice to my collection of spices, and that’s cinnamon.
When everything is done, I had the shock of my life. Cinnamon is not only an aphrodisiac but it also makes food delicious.
My recommendation: Try this recipe and for sure you’ll love it!

½ kilo chicken breast
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
½ cup water
1 egg, lightly beaten
Oil for frying

1. Cut chicken into large, thick strips. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle 1 ½ tsp cinnamon. Set aside.
2. In a bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and remaining cinnamon. Add water and stir just until well combined. Stir in egg. If batter is too thin, add more cornstarchs.
3. Heat oil in a pan. Dip chicken into the flour-egg batter. Deep fry for 5 to 7 minutes or until golden brown.
Makes 4 servings.

Continental Meatballs

Since payday will be next week so I decided to make something that is not very expensive and this is what I've chosen.

Meatballs:
¼ kg lean ground pork
1 pc medium potato, grated and liquid squeezed out
1 pc small egg, lightly beaten
3 stalks green onions, chopped
1 ½ tbsp breadcrumbs
¾ tbsp soy sauce
1/3 tsp pepper
1/3 tsp iodized fine salt
Sauce:
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 pouch sweet style spaghetti sauce (250g)

Combine ingredients for meatballs. Mix thoroughly, then form each tablespoon into a ball. Fry until golden brown. Set aside. Saute garlic. Add spaghetti sauce and 1/3 cup water. Season with salt and sugar to taste. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add meatballs.
Makes 4 servings.

Trust me, this is one deliciously cheap recipe. What are you waiting for? Try it!