My Mama's Kitchen and Garden

There are a lot of variations when making bistek. In Iloilo we call it Carne Frita, Bistek in other parts of the Philippines. We use similar ingredients. We usually use calamansi but I can’t find it here in the US. I decided to use lime which tastes a little bit similar to Philippine calamansi compare with lemon. Instant Pot Carne Frita or Bistek Ilonggo Style Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 2 lbs. sizzle steak boneless beef chuck shoulder steak thin cut or beef sirloin tip thin , cut into pieces ½ tsp. peppercorn, crushed 4 cloves garlic, minced 2.5 oz. (2 pcs.) lime juice 2 oz. or ¼ cup maggi seasoning or soy sauce 1 tbsp. sugar 1 red onion, cut into rings (yellow is also okay) ½ cup vegetable oil 1 tbsp. cornstarch + 1 tbsp. water Instructions: In a bowl, combine crushed peppercorn, garlic, lime juice, maggi seasoning or soy sauce and sugar. Mix well and set aside. Place beef into a large bowl or ziploc bag. Pour the marinade over the beef and toss to evenl...

Instant Pot Creamy Potato Soup Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 2 tbsp. unsalted butter 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 shallot, diced 3 stalks celery, sliced 2 carrot, diced 4 – 5 pcs. (2.5 lbs.) Russet Potatoes, peeled and diced 4 cups chicken broth 1 can cream of chicken ¼ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. ground black pepper ¼ tsp. coriander seeds grind 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour ½ cup 2% milk 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese Garnish: green onion, extra cheese Instructions: In a pot, place carrots, celery, potatoes, garlic, shallot, pepper, coriander salt and unsalted butter. Pour cream of chicken and broth and mix well. Set the Instant Pot on Manual Mode, High Pressure for 5 minutes, 25 mins NPR. Switch to sauté mode. Mix milk and flour and add into the soup. Cook for 3 minutes. Add cheese and stir until melted. Serve with green onions or scallion and some cheese. Enjoy.

Instant Pot Crab and Corn Soup Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 48 oz. Chicken broth 1 tsp chicken flavored soup base or other brand (I use Quoc Viet brand) 1 can (14.75 oz.) Cream of Corn 1 ½ cup (272 grams) corn Kernel 1 can (16 oz.) lump crab meat 3 tbsp. potato starch + 3 tbsp. water 1 tbsp. cornstarch + 1 tbsp. water 4 XL eggs Garnish: Green onions Cilantro Salt and pepper Soy sauce Instructions: Place the chicken broth and chicken soup base into the Instant Pot. Set the Instant Pot in a sauté mode, Adjust “More” setting. Let the broth boil. Add crab meat, corn kernel and cream of corn. Cook for 5 minutes then add potato starch and cornstarch mixture into the Instant Pot and cook for 1 minute. Whisk Eggs and pour into the soup and stir. Turn off the Instant Pot. Garnish with green onion and cilantro. Serve with soy sauce, salt and pepper if needed. Enjoy. Note: If you don't have potato starch, use 2 tbsp. cornstarch instead of 1 tbsp. cornsta...

Instant Pot Chicken Embutido Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 1 lb. ground chicken ½ cup (65 grams) raisins 1 (6 oz.) carrots, grated ½ cup (48 grams) bread crumbs ½ tsp. black pepper 1 ½ tbsp. Maggi seasoning or soy sauce 2 oz. shredded mild cheddar cheese 1 XL egg ¼ onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced ½ (60 grams) red bell pepper, chopped ¼ cup (60 grams) sweet pickle relish -- 3 hotdogs or sausage (I use ballpark franks because it is less salty) 3 foil Banana leaves (optional) Instructions: Combine all ingredients. Mix well and divide into 3 equal parts (310 grams each). Wash and clean banana leaves. Wilt the leaves using a stove for easy wrapping. You can also microwave the banana leaves for 2 minutes, wipe and set aside. (If you don’t have banana leaves just use foil.) Place 1 portion of meat mixture into the banana leaves. Flatten and add hotdog into the center. You can also add boiled egg if you like. Roll into a cylinder shape and then wrap i...

Sorry for the very late post that I promised last month. I've been very busy and don't have much time to do my food blog. I have a lot of celery in the fridge. I decided to add celery on my bihon guisado and it works well. Next time, I will double the amount of celery. Instant Pot Pancit Bihon Guisado (small portion/serving) Author: Neliza Ly Equipment: Instant Pot Duo 60 Steamer basket Ingredients: 2 tbsp. vegetable oil 1 onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 200 grams carrots 50 grams (1/3 cup) celery, sliced 1/4 cabbage, slice 300 grams cooked pork belly, sliced 3 tbsp. maggi seasoning made in Europe or Regular Soy sauce 1 tbsp. oyster sauce 8 oz. Excellent brand Rice sticks 2 ¼ cups chicken broth Green onion, chopped Instructions: Soak Rice sticks noodle yellowish kind using tap water for 2 minutes drain and set aside. For excellent rice stick that looks  white, soak it only for 5 minutes, cut into half and drain. Steam carrots for zer...

I've been making this in my Air fryer frequently for a year since I got my air fryer. The 1st time I made this recipe was 7 years ago during my son's 1st birthday. I also use this for chicken but different concentration and I usually use at least 6 to 10 mandarin orange depending on the amount of chicken. Airfryer Mandarin Shrimp Skewers Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 1 lb. shrimp, no shell (30 pcs.) 1 mandarin orange juice 1 tsp. Maggi seasoning 1 tsp. oyster sauce 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. sugar --- 6 Bamboo skewer 1 sprig spring onion/green onion 2 tbsp. vegetable oil Instructions: In a small bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients and mix well. Transfer shrimp into a large ziploc bag. Pour the marinade over the shrimp and toss to evenly. Marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Put 4 to 5 pcs. of shrimp on each skewer. Place the skewer rack inside the Air fryer basket. Arrange the shrimp. Air fry at 400F for 7 minutes for the 1st batch. I...

I noticed poaching retains more flavor compare with steaming but both of them are tasty, moist and juicy with crispy skin. Instant Pot and Airfryer Chicken drumstick Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 6  pcs. Chicken drumsticks 5 cloves garlic 2 bay leaves 1 tbsp. whole peppercorns Fresh parsley 1 tbsp. maggi seasoning ½ cup water 1 tbsp. sea salt Salt and pepper Breading: 1 cup tempura mix (store brand) 1 cup panko bread crumbs (store brand) + ½ tsp. salt & ½ tsp. paprika 2 XL eggs, beaten Instructions: Add garlic, bay leaves, whole peppercorn, parsley, maggi seasoning, sea salt and water into the pot.   Place the trivet and then the chicken into the pot.   Set the Instant Pot to Manual Mode, High Pressure for 6 minutes, 10 minutes NPR.   Remove Chicken from the Instant pot and pat dry then season with salt and pepper. (Don skip this or else your chicken will taste bland) Coat chicken with tempura mix, dip into beaten eggs th...

I made this soup using my left over ham. It is yummy and creamy. I also made potato soup. The ingredients are the same but more celery and carrots. Instant Pot Creamy Ham and Potato Soup Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 2 tbsp. vegetable oil 2 tbsp. unsalted butter 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 shallot, diced 133 grams (2 stalks) celery, sliced 168 grams (1 cup) 1 piece carrot, diced 415 grams (3 cups) left over ham, diced 5 pcs. (2.5 lbs.) Russet Potatoes, peeled and diced 4 cups chicken broth 1 can cream of potato ¼ tsp. salt ¼ tsp. peppercorn, grind ¼ tsp. coriander seeds grind 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour ½ cup 2% milk 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese Garnish: green onion/scallion, extra cheese Instructions: Set the Instant pot on Sauté Mode.  Add vegetable oil and unsalted butter. Once butter is melted, add garlic and shallot then Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes.  Add celery, carrots and ham and sauté for another 3 minutes. Add potatoes, cream of pot...

Perfect for Holidays and Thanksgiving. I also made some soup from my left over ham. Instant Pot Honey Glazed Ham Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 4 lbs. (half ham) boneless ham, fully cooked (not frozen) 1 can (15.3 oz. or 432 grams) Del Monte Pineapple chunk with juice ¼ cup (45 grams) brown sugar 2 oz. pure honey 2 tbsp. cornstarch Instructions: Slice ham and place it inside the Instant Pot. Pour 1 can of pineapple chunk with juice over the ham. Pour honey over ham and sprinkle brown sugar into slices and on top of ham. Set the Instant Pot to Manual Mode, High Pressure for 5 minutes, 10 minutes NPR. Remove the ham. Se the Instant Pot to Sauté mode.  Mix 3 tbsp. of pineapple juice from the the pot to cornstarch and mix well. Add cornstarch mixture and mix for 2 to 3 minutes to thicken the sauce. Pour sauce over the top of ham. Enjoy.

This is one of my favorite food to make in the air fryer.   Air fryer Chicken Dumplings Author: Neliza Ly Equipment: GoWise 5.8 Airfryer Parchment paper EVO oil sprayer Yield: 50 dumplings Ingredients: 1 lb. ground chicken 1½ tbsp. maggi seasoning 1 tbsp. vegetable oil ½ tsp. black pepper 1 sprig scallion or green onion, finely chopped 2 tsp. garlic powder 1 XL egg  twin marquis dumpling wrapper or Golden Dragon gyoza wrapper Instructions: Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Scoop 1 tbsp. of chicken mixture into a dumpling wrapper and sealed with water. Line the air fryer with parchment paper and place the dumplings. Spray dumpings with vegetable oil. Airfry at 370F for 12 minutes. Flip dumplings after 7 minutes and spray with vegetable oil. Enjoy.

My family love this cake flan. Fast and easy to make using the premix cake mix. Instant Pot Lemon Cake Flan Author: Neliza Ly Equipment: Instant Pot Bundt Pan Blender Ingredients Flan: 1 Can Condensed Milk, 14 oz. ½ Cup 2% milk or whole milk 2 tbsp. Cream Cheese 2 XL eggs 2 limes - extracted juice  1 tbsp. unsalted Butter to coat the bundt pan Caramel: ¾ cup sugar 3 tbsp. water 1 tbsp. water Cake: 136 grams Duncan Hines Lemon supreme cake mix 2 oz. water 2 tbsp. vegetable oil 1 XL egg Instructions: Coat the entire interior of the 7” bundt pan very well with butter. Discard the remaining butter. Place ¾ cup of sugar and 3 tbsp. water into a pot. Cook on medium to high heat until golden brown (It took me 10 minutes to achieve the color I like). Once it is golden brown, remove the pot from heat. Add 1 tbsp of water and stir the pot until the bubbling stop. Pour Caramelized Sugar into the bundt pan . Prepare the flan mixture using a blender: b...

Airfryer Chicken Strips using Great Value Coating Mix Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 2 lbs. Chicken breast tenderloin Great Value Extra Crispy Seasoned Coating Mix Instructions: Moist chicken with milk. Shake chicken in a shaker bag with coating mix. Place chicken in the air fryer and spray with vegetable oil. Air fry at 400F for 10 to 12 minutes, flip in between. Check with meat thermometer. Enjoy.

Our favorite afternoon snacks back in Iloilo. The ingredients are very cheap and easy to make.  I like alupi with a lot of young coconut. Instant Pot Ilonggo Alupi or Cassava Suman Author: Neliza Ly Equipment: Instant Pot 6 qt Kitchen Aid food processor Bamboo Steamer cheese cloth Yield: 12 to 14 pcs. depending on the sizes (10 pieces if without coconut) Ingredients: 4 cups (710 grams) cassava, finely shredded and squeezes (3 regular size cassava) - you can also use frozen cassava 6 tbsp. (90 ml) coconut milk 1 ¼ cup (160 grams) brown sugar 24 oz. young coconut, shredded (275 grams or 9.7 oz net after water is drained) (optional-sometimes not available in the store) Banana leaves for wrapping Instructions: Combine cassava, coconut milk, sugar and young coconut. Mix well and set aside. Wash and clean banana leaves. Wilt the leaves using a stove for easy wrapping. You can also use a clothes iron if you like. Place 3 tbsp.  of cassava mixture on the leav...

Instant Pot Butternut Squash with eggs - Filipino Style Author: Neliza Ly Ingredients: 2 tbsp. oil 380 grams butternut squash, slice into small cubes 2 cloves garlic 1 shallot 1 plum tomato 2 XL eggs, beaten and lightly season with salt 1 tbsp. maggi seasoning ¼ cup water Instructions:  Set the Instant pot on Sauté Mode.  When pot is hot, add vegetable oil. Then add garlic, shallot and tomato. Sauté for 2 minutes. Add squash, maggi seasoning and water. Mix and turn off Sauté Mode. Close lid. Set Instant Pot on Manual Mode, High Pressure for 0 minute, QR. Open lid, set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add eggs and mix until eggs is cooked.  Turn off Instant Pot. Enjoy.

I tried different way of cooking shrimp tempura in the Air fryer. I use the wet tempura mix before with panko as a final coating but the coating become very sticky. I also tried double dip with egg and panko. It's good but the coating is too thick. For double dip, I usually cook it for 12 minutes. For single dip I tried 12 minutes but the shrimp is a little bit dry. I also tried 9 minutes which is good, my last trial was 8 minutes at the same temperature. The shrimp is moist and soft and that's the way I like. I keep repeating the same temperature and time and I am satisfied with 8 minutes on single dip. I don't preheat my GoWise air fryer by I preheat my BSOA. This is a thumbs up at home especially for my picky eaters. For Tempura mix and panko breadcrumbs, I use the store brand from Assi Plaza. Air fryer Shrimp Tempura Author: Neliza Ly Things used: Parchment paper Air fryer Ingredients: 1 lb. shrimp, tail on 1 cup panko bread crumbs ½ cup tempura m...