Appetizers & Snacks Archives

Pinsec frito, in a nutshell, is fried dumplings. The filling can be anything. Minced pork and shrimps mixed with chopped vegetables are traditional but you may use chicken, duck, turkey or even lamb. In fact, you may even ditch the meat and go vegan. Mushrooms make a wonderful dumpling filling.

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Alex’s Pinsec Frito (Fried Dumplings)

Pinsec frito, in a nutshell, is fried dumplings. The filling can be anything. Minced pork and shrimps...

In this deviled eggs recipe, the more traditional paprika and parsley give way to furikake, the Japanese seasoning that typically consists of dried seaweed, sesame seeds and dried fish.

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Deviled Eggs Are Not Evil. They Are Delicious!

Why would anything named after the devil be fit to be served on Easter Sunday? Well, there’s...

To make sticky buns, the baking pan is spread with the sticky ingredients which can be honey, syrup or a combination of butter and brown sugar, with or without cinnamon. The pieces of dough, with or without filling, are arranged in a single layer in the pan and baked.

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Sticky Buns

To make sticky buns, the baking pan is spread with the sticky ingredients which can be honey,...

The keys to making a delicious cream cheese and cucumber dip are 1) squeeze out the water from and the shredded cucumber and 2) add lime or lemon juice to the mixture to create a complex balance of salty, sweet and tangy. Cayenne is optional but it does wonders.

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Cream Cheese and Cucumber Dip

Summer. I normally dread summer and the heat it brings but, surprisingly, it’s still cool and the...

Turon is a sweet spring roll with ripe banana filling

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Cheesy turon (banana spring rolls)

Still making turon with strips of langka (jackfruit)? Too boring… try strips of cheese. Turon will never...

Barbecued balon-balonan ng manok, or chicken gizzards, is a popular street food in the Philippines. Along with barbecued chicken feet, pork ears and isaw (intestines), it is a finger food that goes well with beer. I find them too tough though. So, I did a home-cooked version—definitely tastier and oh, so tender too!

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Balon–balonan (Gizzard) Barbecue

Barbecued balon-balonan ng manok, or chicken gizzards, is a popular street food in the Philippines. Along with...

Crispy and not at all greasy like French toast, making honey butter toast with sesame seeds is a great way to make use of day-old bread. Have it for breakfast or anytime-of-the-day snack.

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Honey Butter Toast With Sesame Seeds

Crispy and not at all greasy like French toast, making honey butter toast with sesame seeds is...

Torn oyster mushrooms are mixed with a lightly seasoned batter made with starch and egg, and deep fried. A cross between tempura and crisp potato wedges, these mushroom fries are light and crisp, and just outrageously good.

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Mushroom Fries

Torn oyster mushrooms are mixed with a lightly seasoned batter made with starch and egg, and deep...

Thin omelets are filling with seasoned ground pork, rolled and steamed. To serve, the Chinese egg rolls are sliced to reveal a beautiful spiral pattern.

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Chinese Egg Rolls

Thin omelets are filled with seasoned ground pork, rolled and steamed. To serve, the Chinese egg rolls...

A popular snack in Malaysia, these coconut pandan crepes are made with coconut milk and fresh pandan extract. The filling is a mixture of melted palm sugar and freshly grated coconut.

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Coconut Pandan Crepes (Kuih Dadar)

A popular snack in Malaysia, these coconut pandan crepes are made with coconut milk and fresh pandan...

A unique and impressive starter course, this grapes and pecan salad is also a wonderful snack that you can easily prepare. Add lots of cheese for the ultimate experience.

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Grapes and Pecan Salad

A unique and impressive starter course, this grapes and pecan salad is also a wonderful snack that...

Make that garden salad pop with chunks of fruits, chopped roasted nuts and plenty of smoked salmon. Toss with herbed calamansi dressing and enjoy!

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Garden Salad With Fruits, Nuts and Smoked Salmon

Make that garden salad pop with chunks of fruits, chopped roasted nuts and plenty of smoked salmon....

Think spanakopita filling but creamier. Scoop the mixture on top of crispy hash browns and voila! Mini hash browns with cheese spinach!

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Mini Hash Browns with Cheesy Spinach

Think spanakopita filling but creamier. Scoop the mixture on top of crispy hash browns and voila! Mini...

A delicious appetizer to start your holiday dinner (or finger food to go with cocktails), these cauliflower pizza bites have chopped nuts in them!

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Make Cauliflower Pizza Bites for the Holidays!

A delicious appetizer to start your holiday dinner (or finger food to go with cocktails), these cauliflower...

On Thanksgiving and Christmas, start that special meal with smoked salmon and arugula salad. White Cheese and herbed croutons add so much oomph.

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Smoked Salmon and Arugula Salad With White Cheese and Herbed Croutons

On Thanksgiving and Christmas, start that special meal with smoked salmon and arugula salad. White Cheese and...

An easy to prepare appetizer, these pepper garlic mushrooms are cooked in butter and lime juice. The red peppers add color and a subtle sweetness.

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Pepper Garlic Mushrooms

A vegetarian dish that I cooked as a main dish for Sam, these pepper garlic mushrooms may...

Calamares may be the plural of squid in Spanish but in the Philippines, it is a dish of crispy deep fried battered squid rings. A lovely party finger food.

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Filipino Calamares (Crispy Deep Fried Battered Squid)

Calamares may be the plural of squid in Spanish but in the Philippines, it is a dish...

Made with Filipino kesong puti (white cheese from carabao milk) and mozzarella, this cheesy artichoke and spinach tart is a great dish to start any party.

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Cheesy Artichoke and Spinach Tart

Made with Filipino kesong puti (white cheese from carabao milk) and mozzarella, this cheesy artichoke and spinach...

Candies may be ultra popular during Halloween but you won't miss the sweets with these Halloween pizza bread mummies. Easy and fun to make!

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Halloween Pizza Bread Mummies

Candies may be ultra popular during Halloween but you won’t miss the sweets with these Halloween pizza...

For added crunch and flavor, roll chicken in crushed nuts before frying. Alex's nut-crusted fried chicken on a stick is especially good with pico de gallo.

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Alex’s Nut-crusted Fried Chicken On A Stick

For added crunch and flavor, roll chicken in crushed nuts before frying. Alex’s nut-crusted fried chicken on...

Thinking of easy but delicious canapés for a New Year's Eve party? Try spreading this filling made with smoked salmon and cream cheese on crackers.

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Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Canapés

After nine years, my smoked salmon and cream cheese canapés recipe gets an update and new photos....

Palitaw is a Filipino rice cake cooked in boiling water, dredged in freshly grated coconut and sprinkled with sugar mixed with toasted sesame seeds.

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Palitaw

What is palitaw? Palitaw is a Filipino snack made with galapong—a soft dough or batter (depending on...

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French Toast in 3 Steps

When I made some French toasts for breakfast a few days ago and took so much pain...

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Cabbage, Carrot and Pineapple Coleslaw

Ever since I bought a light box, I’ve been obsessing over re-shooting the photos in the old...

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Appetizers & Snacks

Alex’s Pinsec Frito (Fried Dumplings)

Deviled Eggs Are Not Evil. They Are Delicious!

Sticky Buns

Cream Cheese and Cucumber Dip

Cheesy turon (banana spring rolls)

Balon–balonan (Gizzard) Barbecue

Honey Butter Toast With Sesame Seeds

Mushroom Fries

Chinese Egg Rolls

Coconut Pandan Crepes (Kuih Dadar)

Grapes and Pecan Salad

Garden Salad With Fruits, Nuts and Smoked Salmon

Mini Hash Browns with Cheesy Spinach

Make Cauliflower Pizza Bites for the Holidays!

Smoked Salmon and Arugula Salad With White Cheese and Herbed Croutons

Pepper Garlic Mushrooms

Filipino Calamares (Crispy Deep Fried Battered Squid)

Cheesy Artichoke and Spinach Tart

Halloween Pizza Bread Mummies

Alex’s Nut-crusted Fried Chicken On A Stick

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Canapés

Palitaw

French Toast in 3 Steps

Cabbage, Carrot and Pineapple Coleslaw

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