01 January

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January 6, 2024

Fakes Soupa

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Fakes Soupa

(Greek-Style Lentil Soup)

January 6: National Bean Day

We blogged before about a Syrian lentil soup with lemon recipe from Highlander’s colleague, Sol. S. This one is from Islander’s former classmate, A.W., who shared a Greek-style recipe called “fakes soupa”. Green lentils are simmered with carrots, celery and onions in a vegetable broth seasoned with oregano, an herb commonly found in the Mediterranean region. This lucky lentil dish is great for those who have resolved to eat healthier in the new year as well as for those who want to eat legumes on National Bean Day.

Recipe

(From A.W.)

Ingredients

  • 3 cups green dried lentils, rinsed and drained
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, peeled and diced 
  • 2 celery stalks, diced 
  • 4 cups vegetable stock
  • 2 cups water
  • 4 bay leaves
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons oregano, dried
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Directions

Rinse and drain the dried green lentils in a colander. Set aside. Chop the onions, peel and dice the carrots and chop the celery stalks.

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic , carrots and celery. Saute until softened (around 5 minutes). Add the green lentils.

Pour in the vegetable stock and water. Stir in the parsley and bay leaves.

Season with oregano, salt and pepper. Turn the heat to medium low, cover the pot and simmer for 45 minutes. Add a cup or two of water if the lentils absorbed the liquid. Cover, cook for 5 more minutes and adjust salt and pepper seasoning. Uncover and stir in the red wine vinegar. Ladle into soup bowls and serve hot.

Notes

  • Garnish this lentil soup with feta cheese and parsley.
  • While lentils and beans are used interchangeably, there are slight differences between the two legumes. Learn more about them here.
  • Look for other legume and bean recipes by searching our blog.

 

January 1, 2024

Ube Bibingka

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Ube Bibingka

(Filipino Purple Yam Sweet Sticky Rice Cake)

January 1: New Year’s Day

Islander’s Auntie Laarni C., who once had a small catering business in Hawaii, would sometimes drop by our house to wish us a Happy New Year in person. Fortunately for the family, she would also bring her signature pancit palabok (noodles are a lucky new year food as they represent long life), lumpia (egg rolls or spring rolls in the winter months mean hope for the coming spring season) and bibingka (sweet sticky rice cakes are also auspicious, symbolizing luck “sticking” around in the new year). 

One year, she showed up with ube bibingka instead of the usual butter mochi cake. Auntie Laarni’s favorite color is purple—and Filipino purple yam yields a vibrant hue in the batter of this dessert. Now that she has grandkids, she no longer caters or cooks as much. So HI Cookery is continuing her tradition of making bibingka (sometimes with ube flavoring) for the new year. Happy New Year! Manigong Bagong Taon!

Recipe

(From Auntie Laarni C.)

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons ube flavoring or extract
  • 1 box (16 ounces) sweet rice flour (mochiko)
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ cups sugar, granulated white
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

Directions

In a medium bowl, stir together the eggs, milk, coconut milk and vanilla. 

Add the flavoring/extract. In a large bowl, combine the mochiko, baking powder, salt and sugar. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture. Stir well until it is evenly bright purple. Add the melted butter. Mix well.

Pour into a 9×13 baking pan lined with parchment paper or oiled banana leaf. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 50-60 minutes or when the top is browned. Remove from the oven and let cool completely. Invert onto a cutting board. Peel off the parchment paper or banana leaf. Slice into squares and serve.

Notes

  • We sometimes line our baking pan with a clean banana leaf to give it a distinct flavor (Auntie L does this with her other Filipino baked goods).
  • Ube bibingka is similar to our baked poi mochi. Though both are made from root vegetables, ube is purple yam and poi is from taro. 
  • Search our blog for other New Year’s foods by clicking on the Theme Menus tab.
 

January 8, 2023

Elvis Sandwich

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Elvis Sandwich

January 8: Elvis Presley’s Birthday (1935)

Islander’s Mommy is a huge Elvis Presley fan. She went to Graceland (twice!) when she was on a work trip in Tennessee and she has amassed a large plastic bin full of Elvis memorabilia (publication clippings, books, ornament figurines, keychains, etc.). Her beloved bin still sparks a lot of joy for her, and she says she will only part with those material items when she passes away. May God bless Mommy with many more years (born in 1942)!

As her birthday is in the same month as Elvis’s, we decided to have an Elvis themed birthday for her using the items in her plastic bin to decorate the table. We streamed-watched the “Elvis” movie together as a family. We took her to see the Elvis statue at the Blaisdell Center where he had his “Aloha from Hawaii” concert in 1973. And we cooked some of Elvis’s favorite foods to eat for her birthday, the most popular of which is the fried peanut butter and banana sandwich.

There are various versions of this sandwich, but it basically includes peanut butter and sliced bananas on buttered bread that is fried till golden brown. Some recipes include bacon (like ours—because, well, bacon just makes things better!). 

In honor of the “King of Rock ‘n Roll’s” birthday, we made the Elvis sandwich to celebrate Queen Mommy’s early birthday. Long live our Queen!

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 slices bread
  • Butter
  • Peanut butter
  • Bacon, cooked and sliced in half (optional)
  • Half banana, sliced into rounds (or lengthwise)

Directions

Generously butter one side of each slice of bread. On the other side, spread peanut butter. Cook and slice the bacon in half (if using). Slice the banana.

Arrange bacon and banana slices on top of the peanut butter. Heat a skillet on medium high. Place the bread slices on the skillet buttered side down. Cook till brown and crispy, around 3 minutes per side. Sandwich the bread together and transfer to a cutting board. Slice in half. Serve hot.

Notes

 

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