Ampalaya----Bitter Melon

It is a vine grown in tropical countries known for its bitter fruit and considered as the most bitter among the vegetables. Are you familiar with this medicine for diabetics called Charantia? Well, part of my research, I found out that the scientific name for Bitter Melon is, Momordica charantia. And this is not a paid review, I just wanted to share the origin of the medicine's name. Anyway, Bitter Melon is not as savoury and tasteful compared to your favorite vegetable.

Through the years I've learned to love this vegetable. It's just a matter of how one cook it. I noticed the bigger the fruit, the more bitter it is. The two Bitter Melon in the picture shown are my ideal size and shape. Still bitter, but it will surely make you enjoy your meal.

Bitter melons are seldom mixed with other vegetables due to the strong bitter taste, although this can be moderated to some extent by salting and then washing the cut melon before use. The young shoots and leaves may also be eaten as greens; in the Philippines, where bitter melon leaves are most commonly consumed, they are called dahon (leaves) ng ampalaya. The seeds can also be eaten, and give off a sweet taste, but have been known to cause vomiting and stomach upset. -wikipilipinas-

Bitter melon stimulates digestion. While this can be helpful in people with sluggish digestion, dyspepsia, and constipation, it can sometimes make heartburn and ulcers worse. It also helps maintain normal blood sugar. Bitter melon is popularly seen as a plant-insulin. It has been demonstrated that bitter melon contains a protein similar to bovine insulin.

Chopsuey

Sorry for the delayed post. I got busy posting ads in my other site. And it's a bit stressful trying to grab opps. But I think it's worth it.

Hi MaryAnn!!! thanks for reminding me on posting another recipe. This dish was scheduled Monday Feb. 2 although I posted a dish before but it's a borrowed recipe so, not considered mine.

This particular ChopSuey recipe is definitely from my kitchen.

This dish was invented by our Chinese friends. And I would like to add that their dishes are of my favorite. Chopsuey consists of meats (often shrimp or pork), cooked quickly with vegetables. Such as, cabbage, string beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, chayote, and bound in a starch-thickened sauce.

What you will be needing:

note: The more veggies and ingedients, the merrier!

In this particualr dish, I made cauliflower as the main vegetable.
2 whole cauliflower chopped to desired size and shape
1 medium carrot
1 chayote
1/4 K string beans
1 medium onion chopped
5 cloves garlic minced
A handful of shrimps
A handful of squidballs sliced into 2

note: I like to be honest, I can't figure out how to measure the shrimp and squidballs, because I literally got them from the freezer with my bear hands.With mine, I used squid balls and shrimps to get a seafood flavor. And I'm not kidding about the flavor, I am a squidball person, so I used a lot in this recipe.

2 tbsp oyster sauce
1 Cup water
2 tbs cornstarch mixed in 1 Cup of water (separate from the first cup mentioned)
2 tbsp olove oil
salt and pepper

note: all veggies chopped to your desired size and shape

How To:

Saute garlic until light brown

Add onion,oyster sauce, shrimps and squidballs stir for a few seconds

Add carrots, chayote and string beans stir for another minute
Add 1 Cup Water and simmer until veggies are half cooked
Add cauliflower and simmer again until all are cooked.
Add cornstarch mixture
Salt and pepper to taste
Viola!
Servings: 4-5

Best served with hot rice. Yummy! Happy Eating!

Beef Steak

This is a borrowed recipe from Mr. Luv4fud from my grouprecipes circle. I was in search of an easy beef steak recipe when I landed on his site. This was posted in 2007. I just transferred it, considering that this site is going to be home for delights cooking from my kitchen and stuff.

I love eating this dish during breakfast with rice. Sorry the picture is blurry, I used a cheap camera :)

What You Will Be Needing:

2 Lbs. Round Roast (lean beef)
1 Large red onion
1 Cup of soy sauce
1 Cup of water
1 dozen calamansi (squeezed)
salt and pepper
Corn oil for frying

How To:

1.In a large bowl marinate beef in soy sauce, water, calamansi, and msg for an hour.

2.Heat frying pan and add 2 Tbs. of corn oil and fry meat in batches until they all have good sear marks on both sides.

3.Remove meat from the pan and set aside. Repeat the process for the next batch.
4.You will need to add more oil each time you fry more batches of meat. When you are done frying, add all the meat back into the frying pan and add the remaining marinade to the pan.
5.Let it simmer for 5 minutes on medium heat and then add the onions and let cook for another minute.
6.Serve with rice and enjoy your Bistek!

It's so yummy, it's also fperfect for Lunch and Dinner. Happy Eating!