Mommy Lani of Mommy Bloggers Philippines called our attention about the post regarding Ajinomoto Porksavor™ All-in-One Seasoning Cook and Blog Challenge. I got curious and immediately clicked the link and read the mechanics. All I thought was how exciting it would be to join. It would be my very first time to join contests like this. After a few days, I received an email stating that I was chosen as one of the participants and Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation would be sent me a parcel containing the things that I would need.
Then I received a bagful of goodies including the very intriguing Porksavor™ and an apron. Wow! I felt like Chef Rosebud Benitez! I was imagining myself cooking "Quickfire" style!
Then I received a bagful of goodies including the very intriguing Porksavor™ and an apron. Wow! I felt like Chef Rosebud Benitez! I was imagining myself cooking "Quickfire" style!
I was a self-taught cook. I started cooking when I was 10 years old. I would watch my grandmother prepare our meals daily. Since she and my mom were very busy with our business, I learned how to cook using the ingredients that were available at the moment. My younger brother and I would take turns. We had no choice but to be resourceful and creative in the kitchen. If we wouldn't cook, no one else would do it.
Cooking at a very young age was not a chore for me. I enjoyed it! I savored every moment I spent in the kitchen.
The best reward after minutes of washing, peeling, slicing, cutting, pounding, and cooking with lots of love is when the finished product is being appreciated by everyone. Hearing the words, "Wow! This is so yummy! I want more, please!", and being showered with lots of hugs and kisses from family members for a job well done are forms of genuine kinds of love that can never be replaced with material things.
I admit that when I got married, I surrendered to my husband totally the managing of the kitchen. I accepted that he was better in the kitchen. I never felt jealous when my son would request him to cook for us. At the back of my mind, I was rejoicing because one of my tasks as a mom would be taken over!
Kidding aside, cooking is part of my life. Despite the fact that I'm afraid of hot oil spatter, it can't stop me from the love of cooking. I enjoy doing my own versions of recipes found on the internet or do my own inventive dishes.
When planning our menu, I consider the following:
1. Availability of ingredients
We live in the Metro for 15 years and some of the ingredients that we regularly use in the province are not found here. Vegetable and fruit varieties are limited especially that we don't live in a nearby public market. Supermarkets offer limited raw ingredient selections and that makes us frustrated sometimes. But then again we have to adapt to what's in store.
2. Freshness of ingredients
The limit in store selections doesn't compromise finding fresh ingredients. There are also organically grown harvests available in supermarkets aside from weekend markets in Quezon City and Makati. If I am just near those areas, they are worth visiting.
3. Nutritional value
Food is heaven's gift to satisfy and nourish our bodies. My husband and I do our best to serve well-balanced meals to our family.
Food is heaven's gift to satisfy and nourish our bodies. My husband and I do our best to serve well-balanced meals to our family.
4. Preparation and cooking time
I'm a busy bee and each second counts. I always consider the time frame in preparing my dishes. Why take so much time if I can cook something that is nutritious and delicious in no time, right?
5. Versatility
There are dishes that my sons love so much so I make it a point to think of some ways to turn those recipes into another form. I'll show how I do it later on the cooking challenge.
There are dishes that my sons love so much so I make it a point to think of some ways to turn those recipes into another form. I'll show how I do it later on the cooking challenge.
6. Cost
I'm budget conscious. Our family lives within our means. Scrumptious meals don't have to be expensive. There is always a yummy and cheaper alternative.
7. Palatability
My mom and sons are picky eaters so I make sure that whatever I cook they can eat. We are all aware that not all nutritious meals are palatable. So we make sure that we combine healthy ingredients that complement one another and don't compromise the taste of the dish.
Having these in mind, I was able to think of a set of three simple, versatile, well-balanced dishes as my entry to the Ajinomoto Porksavor™
All-in-One Seasoning Cook and Blog Challenge! They might sound and look common but Porksavor™ turned them into a different level of meaty goodness!
I also thought of the option of writing this article in Filipino in line with the "Buwan ng Wikang Filipino" celebration. But I chose to do it the usual way for the benefit of my foreign readers. I just confined in using Filipino names for my recipes.
With all honesty, while I was uploading the photos, I noticed that the names that I gave my dishes sounded like having "double meaning". It wasn't intentional, believe me! I wanted the names to have recall. That's it! I'm wholesome...most of the time...you know?! Lol!
Anyway, let's move on to the cooking challenge! I would like to present my dishes. Tada! Here they are!
Dish #1 : PATTY-KIM NG BURGER
Mission: To have my kids eat the hidden veggies without noticing!
My sons are picky eaters and sad to say, they don't like to eat veggies. I can only let them eat without noticing by concealing the veggies to one of their most favorite foods---burger patties!
Cooking PATTY-KIM NG BURGER was a huge accomplishment for me. My boys ate all the veggies mixed on the meat without even noticing! Porksavor™ did the great job of enhancing the delicious meaty taste of the patties!
3 large eggs, 50 grams coriander/wansuy (minced), 2 big red onions (minced), 200 grams carrots (shredded), 1/2 kilo ground pork, 1/2-1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 sachets Porksavor™, little cooking oil for frying
1. Put all ingredients together except the cooking oil. 2. Mix them thoroughly. 3. Get 1 tablespoon of the patty mixture and form into flattened circles. 4. Heat cooking oil on a non-stick pan and fry the patties until both sides are golden brown. 5. Let the paper towels absorb the excess oil. 6. Serve while hot! NOTE: If you don't have a non-stick pan or Teflon, you need more oil to fry the patties.
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| The finished product can be eaten as viand or with bread (Hamburger). The meat mixture can be used to make meatballs, stuffing for Lumpiang Shanghai, Empanada, or Dumplings. It's versatile! |
Dish #2 : HINUBARANG LUMPIA
Mission: To make mom eat a vegetable dish without meat.
Mom doesn't eat veggies except Singkamas and potatoes.
I decided to do the challenge of cooking a vegetable dish without meat and see how she would take it. Did my Hinubarang Lumpia passed her taste? You'll find out!
1 big red onion (minced), 5-6 cloves garlic (minced), 2 big potatoes (peeled and sliced into thin strips), 2 medium Singkamas/Mexican Turnip (peeled and sliced into thin strips), 1 big carrot (peeled and sliced into thin strips), 1 small cabbage (sliced thinly), 25 grams crushed peanuts, 10 grams whole peanuts (for topping), 1 tablespoon cooking oil, 1-2 cups water, dash of ground black pepper to taste, 1 pack Porksavor™
1. Heat the Wok with 1 tablespoon cooking oil and saute onions until sweaty. 2. Add garlic and saute a little. 3. Stir fry potatoes, Singkamas (Mexican Turnip), and carrots for 2 minutes. 4. Add peanuts, cabbage, and Porksavor™ and stir fry for two minutes. 5. Add water, dash of pepper, and simmer until veggies are half-cooked. 6. Serve while hot with Peanut Sauce.
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| Topping the Hinubarang Lumpia with peanuts gave the dish more crunch and texture. |
3 cups water, 3-4 tablespoons red sugar, 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 25 grams crushed peanuts, 1-1/2 bulbs garlic (minced), 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 pack Porksavor™
1. On a casserole, combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly until flour is dissolved. 2. Cook on medium heat while stirring until sauce thickens.
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| Mom said that the sweetness, saltiness, and garlicky taste of the Peanut Sauce was bursting inside her mouth! |
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| Mom liked this dish despite being a "carnivore". The peanut sauce complemented the veggies. Porksavor™ gave it a great meaty taste even the dish didn't have meat on it. |
Dish #3 : MISUAK NA SWAK
Mission: To turn left over food into another yummy dish!
Bunso is fond of eating hearty soups! I made a filling Misua Soup that I named Misuak na Swak because it satisfied the discriminating taste of my son despite using left over ground meat on his soup!
1/4 kilo ground pork or any left over ground meat, 1 big Patola/Sponge Gourd (peeled and sliced thinly), 1 big red onion (minced), 5 cloves garlic (minced), 1 liter water, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper, 2 packs Porksavor™, optional: hard boiled eggs for plating
1-2. Boil and fry meat on its own oil with 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper until golden brown. 3. Add garlic and saute a little. 4. Add onions and saute. 5-6. Put sliced Patola (Sponge Gourd) and saute a little. 7. Add water and bring to boil. Place Misua noodles and 2 packs of Porksavor™. 8-9. Simmer until Patola is half-cooked and serve while hot! Optional: You may serve it with boiled egg.
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| Bunso liked his soup very much. He kept on telling me, "Kuha pa!" |
"The new PORKSAVOR™ All-in-One Seasoning Mix is made from natural pork meat extract and bone broth, complete with spices and seasonings to bring out the deliciousness of home-cooked dishes."
It gave my dishes the right amount of "umami/malinamnam" taste. The aroma of my dishes while cooking could tell right away that they would turn out yummy!
I hope you enjoyed my post as I enjoyed cooking, serving, and eating with my family! Joining the cook and blog challenge is all worth it! My hubby and kids loved the experience too!
I feel like a winner because now I discovered another best cooking companion to liven up my dishes!
LIKING + SHARING = CARING!
Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation is looking for the Facebook Posts about Ajinomoto Porksavor All-in-One Seasoning Cook and Blog Challenge with the most number of likes and shares.
I hope that I'm not asking too much if I request you, my dear readers, to go to the two (2) links below and hit LIKE and/or SHARE (visible to PUBLIC)! This is ongoing and ends on August 18, 2014.
Thank you very much for your love and support! God bless...
XOXO SJ
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