I definitely needed a hardy meal after battling through all the last minute Christmas shoppers! I’m always surprised that traditional Filipino meals are super easy to make. Somehow I always think it takes hours of marinating and cooking. This version of chicken afritada is the real deal, unlike my version using oyster sauce.
Making your own chicken broth has so many benefits. First of all, it’s cheaper than buying cans or boxes from the store. Also it’s a very thrifty way to use spare chicken bones if you de-bone your own chicken. Also you can add your own flavor, such as roasted garlic.
I love asparagus. My dad would blanch the spears and then drizzle melted butter with a sprinkle of salt. Wow, even typing that brings a smile to my face.
Since asparagus is in season and is cheaper this time of year, I wanted to experiment a bit. I made this dish this year for Easter and it has fast become my cousin Sheryl’s favorite dishes.
This is a family recipe, created by my grandma on my dad’s side. My dad is the oldest of nine kids; while big families weren’t so uncommon in the Philippines a few decades ago, you can imagine it was tough feed such a large group on a limited budget. This recipe is proof that you can make a few ingredients go a long, tasty way.
This sausage pasta bake was inspired from one of my favorite foodie TV shows “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”. Basically, it’s a bunch of meat, cheeses, marinara sauce, bell peppers and pasta. It’s basically love baked in goodness.
The Basics
