Grilled Chicken Salpicao

Attention, busy moms! We have yummy lunch box meals you can make ahead of time.

Chicken breast is a convenient baon as it cooks quickly and blends well with different sauces and marinades.

Takes 20 minutes

Makes 4 servings

½ kilo chicken breast fillet, ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup liquid seasoning, 3 tablespoons chopped garlic, 1 tablespoon calamansi juice, salt and pepper to taste

Marinate the chicken in a mixture of the remaining ingredients for at least 15 minutes or longer. Grill or pan-fry until done. Serve with blanched mixed vegetables and rice.

Meatball Baguettes

Serve as an open-faced sandwich or make into a regular two-bread sandwich.

Takes 20 minutes

Makes 4 servings

300 grams ground lean sirloin

Salt and pepper

½ teaspoon cumin

½ teaspoon paprika

1 egg

½ cup vegetable oil

1 small baguette

1 tablespoon three-cheese

Tomato sauce

Slices of quickmelt cheese

1. Mix sirloin, salt, pepper, cumin, paprika, and egg in a small stainless steel bowl. With your hands, form mixture into balls.

2. In a small deep pot over a medium high flame, heat vegetable oil and deep fry meatballs until done, about 3 minutes.

3. Cut baguette either in rounds, for an open sandwich, or on the side. Lay meatballs on top of baguette slices.

4. Spoon over 1 tablespoon three-cheese tomato sauce and top with a thin slice of quickmelt cheese.

5. Broil in an oven toaster until the cheese melts.

Pica-Pica Feast

Grocery ingredients for dishes that are easy to make.

Takes 15 minutes

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Base

1 pack frozen French fries, fried until crisp and golden brown or 1 big bag nachos or tortilla chips

Chili Con Carne Topping

1 big can chili con carne

1 tomato, chopped

1 small onion, finely chopped

1 container sour cream

Corned Beef Topping

1 big can corned beef

1 pack or can pizza sauce

3 tablespoons canned whole corn kernels

1/3 cup grated cheese

1. Pile either French fries, nachos, or tortilla chips on a platter.

2. To make Chili Con Carne Topping: Heat the chili in a skillet or in the microwave. Add some Tabasco sauce if you want it hot. Spread over the fries or nachos. Top with chopped tomatoes and onions. Drizzle with sour cream.

3. To make Corned Beef Topping: Heat the pizza sauce in a skillet. Add the corned beef and whole corn. Cook until heated through. Pour over the fries or nachos. Drizzle with bottled cheese sauce or lots of grated cheese and spring onions.

Macau Fried Rice

Tired of plain old white rice? Try this yummy variation.

Takes 15 minutes

Makes 4 to 6 servings

2 tablespoons oil

2 eggs, beaten

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 piece Chinese chorizo, sliced

1 small pack frozen mixed vegetables

6 cups cooked rice

1 pack fried rice seasoning

1. Heat the oil then cook the egg. Set aside.

2. In the same pan, add more oil then saute the garlic and fried rice seasoning. Add chorizo and vegetables. Simmer for 1 minute.

3. Add the rice and stir-fry until well combined.

4. Before serving, top with chopped scrambled egg.

Chocolate Ice Box Cake

A delicious no-bake chocolatey dessert

Takes 40 minutes

Makes 8 to 10 servings

2 squares baking chocolate, cut into small pieces

½ cup white sugar

¼ cup fresh milk

½ cup butter

1 cup confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)

4 tablespoons white sugar

Pinch of salt

Lady fingers

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 eggs

Additional milk

1. Melt chocolate, sugar, and milk in a small stockpot over low fire. Add egg yolks and a pinch of salt. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Set aside to chill in the refrigerator.

2. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and confectioner’s sugar till fluffy. Mix in the cooled chocolate mixture. Beat the egg whites till soft. Add in 4 tablespoons sugar and vanilla. Fold in beaten egg whites to the chocolate-butter mixture.

3. Dip lady fingers in a bowl of milk to moisten. Line in an 8x8x2 inch glass dish with moistened lady fingers. Top and spread with half the filling. Repeat with another layer. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Serve cold.

Fruits and Pudding

A delightful dessert in just two shakes.

Takes 15 minutes

Makes 4 to 6 servings

1 pack instant pudding (vanilla)

Milk

1 small can fruit cocktail, drained

1 red and 1 green apple, cubed

1 banana, sliced

¼ cup crushed nuts or peanut brittle

¼ cup chocolate cookie crumbs

¼ cup crushed graham crackers

1. Prepare the pudding according to the package directions.

2. Half-fill glasses or dessert cups with the fruits.

3. Top with the pudding mix and sprinkle with nuts or crumbs. Serve at once.

Kesong Puti Soft Tacos

A kid-friendly dinner in under 30 minutes

3 spring onions, sliced thinly

3 ripe tomatoes, cut into ½ -inch chunks

1 ripe avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into ½ -inch chunks

¼ small head romaine lettuce, sliced thinly (2 cups)

¼ cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves

1 cup mild or medium-hot salsa

1 package kesong puti, cut into cubes

12 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warmed

1 lime, cut into 4 wedges

1. On a platter, arrange green onions, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, and cilantro. Pour salsa into serving bowl.

2. Heat nonstick 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add cheese and heat for 2 to 3 minutes or until dark brown in spots, turning over once.

3. Place 1 slice cheese in each tortillas and fold in half. Serve tortillas immediately, adding green onions, tomatoes, avocado, lettuce, and cilantro, salsa, and a squeeze of lime juice.

Total time: 25 minutes. 

Makes 4 main-dish servings. 

Each serving:  About 545 calories, 26 g protein, 29 g total fat (13 saturated), 49 g carbohydrates, 9 g fiber, 60 mg cholesterol, 1,300 mg sodium.

TIP You can also use shredded Monterey Jack – make sure you put the cheese on warmed tortillas so it melts a little.