Homemade Christmas Cookies

Decorated homemade Christmas Cookies on "ourmeza" or table.

My son loves helping me out with any kind of house chores even without asking him. He would volunteer to help with much "gusto" especially with the baking . But I think he loves helping out in baking because he loves the mixing part, tasting of the batter and the art of decorating the cupcakes or cookies. Nevertheless I love spending these quality and memorable times with him.

As I have mention in my previous post we have been house bound because we were all sick.

But before we all got sick, my son and I have already planned ahead of time to make some christmas cookies for his classmates and teachers to give away for Christmas. We have bought all the ingredients for the sugar and ginger bread cookies, decorations and gift boxes but sadly it didnt happened because we were unable to make it in time for his Christmas Party because he was sick.

Then few days before Christmas, thank God we all are back on our feet. And so now that he's better he was constantly reminding me to make it still so we could give it away this time to our families and friends instead. Told him to rest few more days because we dont want him to have another relapse and that we will do it before Christmas.

And so finally we were able to make some a day before Christmas. It took me almost all day to bake and to decorate this Christmas cookies, oh forgot I was making some Cassava cake as well so it took almost all day. I'll post the cassava cake recipe next time. My son helped as well but not as much as he wanted because he's still in recuperating stage.

Now Back to our Christmas Cookies Giveaway, my son and I made sugar cookies decorated with Christmas colors ofcourse, the green and the red colors. Oh and the shapes of our cookies; candy cane, snowman, bells, stars, leaf/leaves, trees, stockings and so on. Decorating these bite size or small cookies were more tedious than decorating the regular size cookies. But I could tell my son had a great time in doing it with me so that is more important.

Anyway here are the pictures of our Homemade Christmas Cookies. Our first batch of cookies were burnt. I forgot to turn on the timer plus it is bite size or small size cookies so it cooked faster than usual.

First picture, first Batch was burnt, center picture, our decorated cookies and on the right picture, my son carefully put our Christmas Cookies into the Christmas Goodie box.

Our Boxed Homemade Christmas Cookies

made by my Son and I

I then later on wrapped it in xmass green clear wrapper with a red bow and holy berries together with some cassava cake as well. Sadly, I forgot to take picturessssss....for the total finished product. Oh well theres still next year..lol.

Happy Holidays to All!

Chicken Adobo with a Twist

Chicken Adobo with a Twist was prepared on "ourmeza" for our lunch today with some steamed rice and side salad with asian sesame dressing.

Once again, I was chit chatting with my cousin when she mentioned that she would try the Picadillo and the Pad Thai from my previous post. Told her it is so easy to make and she could also make some changes with the ingredients according to the taste of her family.

Then we've talked about my "Pininyahang manok" post being that it is one of the number one clicked on, on my "ourmeza" foodblog. I've mention to her too that I'll be posting the Chicken Adobo with a Twist. When I told her what it is, she said it would be great because it is easier to make than "Pininyahang manok" but it taste as delicious and the sauce is just simply tasty. She had mentioned too that her kids love it. So I told her about my recipe for it and she told me her recipe for it and at the end I've incorporated both and the result....yummylicious..lol. Seriously it is good and that my husband took it to work for his lunch and still asked for it when he came home. Thats how good it is and not to forget our most picky "unico hijo" enjoyed it very much as well.

Too much introduction already, what is the twist??? Well lots of people know this already but to some who dont, the twist is the pineapple....that simple but it makes a lot of difference. Some people actually call it Pininyahang Manok but the version of Pininyahang manok I grew up with is the one that I've posted, the one with the milk. So some knows this recipe as Pininyahang Manok, Chicken Adobo with Pineapple, now lets call it Chicken Adobo with a Twist....

Below would be the recipe or the ingredients and procedure hahaha as if it is so hard. Anyway we all know that adobo is such an easy dish to prepare so this would be too.

Ingredients:

Chicken cut into desired size

garlic

onion (others dont put this, I do)

tomatoes (others dont put this, I do)

pineapple chunks

soy sauce

ground black pepper

bay leaves (two)

vinegar (others dont put this anymore, they only use the juice from the pineapple chunks,my cousin dont use vinegar in her recipe but I do)

Procedure:

Brown chicken, all sides and set aside.

Saute garlic,onion,tomatoes. Put back the browned chicken. Add the pineapple juice,vinegar,soy sauce,bay leaves,ground black pepper and half of the pineapple chunks. Dont stir until it simmer. Let it cook. When almost done add the rest of the pineapple chunks.

It is so easy to do. Just like making adobo. If you want mixed all ingredients except the pineapple chunks. Let it cook but before it is done add the pineapple chunks, simmer some more and serve it hot with steamed rice and some side salad.

Extra Extra Extra:

When my dad was here to accompany us, when my husband was out of the country. We, my dad,son and I went to the Farmers market. There, we've found different kinds of fruits,vegetables,flowers,pastries and different kind of ethnic cuisine. We bought some flowers,vegetables and fruits. But my dad found some fresh peanuts. He said it would be perfect for "nilang mani". Just thought this is the best time to post it. It would be a great snacks with family while reminiscing or watching a movie...

Nilagang Mani!

So easy to make, wash peanuts. Then put it in a pot covered with water and salt it ofcourse.

Let it boil for 30min or so depending how much you are making.

Try one to see if it is cooked and add more salt if needed.

Easy snacks for everyone to enjoy.

Fillet of Tilapia,Pancetta Fried Rice and Bread Pudding

When I went to our local grocery store to buy some or few items for our "noche buena", I happened to see the seafood section being stocked. And the prices for the fillet of salmon and fillet of tilapia are fairly reasonable so I bought some salmon and some tilapia. Prices were down perhaps because everyone are buying turkey,ham and beef. But I am thinking far ahead not just for the "noche buena" or christmas day food but our food before the "media noche" and New Year's Day.

And since its a given that there would be some of left over from noche buena, I would not want to feed my family the whole week with the left over. And so in between decided to bring back the fish factor in our diet. And since there are some bread that are about to go stale so why not make it as bread pudding and still enjoy it in few days ahead. And with the Pancetta that I wasnt able to use, I was going to make some quiche with it but from baking cookies and cassava cake, making quiche would be great for another day. I'll post the christmas cookies that my son and I made, and the cassava cake that I made are just simply delicious...next time.

Anyway so I've decided to use pancetta in a fried rice instead. And so last nite for our dinner we had on "ourmeza" some Fillet of Tilpia dusted with tempura, Pancetta Fried Rice, surprise favorite of my husband "lumpiang gulay" (posted already) and Some Bread Pudding for dessert.

Fillet of Tilapia Dusted with Tempura

Fillet of Tilapia

Lemon

salt

pepper

tempura

olive oil

Procedure: Salt and Pepper both sides of the fillet of tilapia and just before frying it dust it with the tempura powder. Fry till golden brown and lemon wedges on the side to squeeze if desired before eating.

Pancetta Fried Rice

Crumbled Cooked Rice

Garlic

Onion

Olive oil

Carrots

Green Peas

green onions

eggs cooked scrambbled

Pancetta browned and crumbled

Salt and pepper to taste if needed (optional)

Procedure:

Saute garlice and onion. Add crumbled cooked rice,stir fry for few minutes then add the cooked scrambbled eggs, pancetta browned and crumbled. Lastly add your carrots,green peas and green onions. If needed add salt and pepper.

Bread Pudding

I have been making this bread pudding since I was in my teens. It is my family's favorite. You could add banana or nuts if you want.

Bread crumbbled

Cinnamon (optional) but I simply love cinnamon in my bread pudding

Eggs

Sugar

Butter

Raisins

(banana,nuts and etc can be added if preferred)

condensed milk

Procedure: Mixed all ingredients and baked for 45 min or till brown or when you stick a toothpick in the center and when pulled out it is clean, then ur pudding is cooked.

Three simple recipe that would make your family feel special. The Bread Pudding can be served as dessert during simple get together as well.