MACARONI SOUP

Ingredients:

2 cups shell macaroni, boiled
1 cup vegemeat, cut into thin strips
1/2 cup spring onions, cut into 2"
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/2 clove garlic, minced
3-4 cups water
Salt to taste

• Saute garlic until golden brown. Set aside.
• Boil water then add vegemeat and egg. Boil for 3 minutes.
• Add the macaroni, spring onions, and evaporated milk.
• Season with salt.
• Remove from fire then add the sauteed garlic and its oil.
• Serve.

(Source: Cooking Smart by B.M. Varona and D.A. Varona)

CREAMY CORN SOUP

Ingredients:

3 cups whole kernel corn, canned or boiled
2 eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons cream of corn powder
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 cup evaporated milk
4 cups water
Salt to taste

• Dilute cream of corn powder and cornstarch in 1/2 cup water. Set aside.
• Boil 3 1/2 cups water.
• Add all ingredients.
• Stir in diluted cream of corn powder-cornstarch mixture.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Water may be added if a thinner soup is desired.

VEGETARIAN KEBABS

This is a simple recipe to be made for parties or even in your ordinary meal. Your kids will surely love this!

6 vegetarian sausages, cut into 4, slightly fried
1 cucumber, cubed
3 saba bananas, cubed, fried
Marshmallows for garnishing
Barbecue sticks
Barbecue sauce (bottled)

• Thread alternately pieces of sausage, cucumber, saba, and marshmallow on a barbecue stick.
• Repeat the procedure with the rest of ingredients.
• Serve with barbecue sauce

(This recipe is from Cooking Smart by B.M. Varona and D.A. Varona)

Vegetarian Afritada

Afritada is a tasty Filipino dish that you can try in your home. But of course this applies for non-meat lovers since this is a vegetarian recipe.

1/2 kilo gluten or vegemeat, cubed
1 cup potatoes, cubed, fried
1 carrot, cubed
1 cup canned or frozen peas, drained
1 bell pepper, squared
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, sliced
3/4 cup tomatoes, chopped
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup water
Salt to taste
Cornstarch or bread
crumbs (optional)

1. Saute garlic and onion in vegetable oil.
2. Add tomatoes and cook until well done.
3. Add soy sauce. Simmer for 2 minutes.
4. Add gluten or vegemeat, potatoes, bell pepper, carrot, and peas. Continue cooking for another 3 minutes over low fire or until mixture is well-blended.
5. Add water then thicken with cornstarch or bread crumbs, if desired.
6. Season with salt.
7. Serve hot.
   

TOFU STEAK

3/4 kilo tofu, sliced, slightly fried
2 tablespoons catsup
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 onion, ringed
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt to taste

• Saute 1/4 part of onion slightly. Set aside the rest for garnishing.
• Add soy sauce and catsup.
• Dilute cornstarch in water, then add to mixture. Stir until evenly mixed.
• Add tofu and season with salt.
• Simmer for 2 minutes.
• Garnish with onion rings.
• Serve hot.
  

GLUTEN CURRY

3/4 kilo gluten, cubed, slightly fried
2 cups potatoes, peeled, cubed, fried
2 tablespoons curry powder
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 onion, sliced
2 red or green bell peppers, sliced
2 cups thick coconut milk
1 tablespoon calamansi extract
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste

• Dilute curry powder and cornstarch in water
• Saute garlic and onion in vegetable oil
• Add bell peppers, coconut milk, and curry powder-cornstarch mixture. Simmer for 1 minute.
• Add gluten, calamansi extract, and potatoes.
• Season with salt.
• Serv hot.

(Source: Cooking Smart by Blecenda Miranda-Varona & David Arsulo Varona)

GLUTEN STEAK

3/4 cup gluten, sliced big
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons tomato catsup
1/2 small onion, sliced
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Salt to taste
Brown sugar to taste
Vegetable oil
Parsley, onion rings, and bell pepper rings (optional)

• Soak gluten in soy sauce, water, and catsup for about 15 minutes. Drain and set aside mixture.
• Fry gluten in vegetable oil and set aside.
• Saute onion, then add soy sauce-catsup mixture and mix.
• Add sugar and salt to taste.
• Add cornstarch and stir until sauce thickens. Simmer for 2 minutes.
• Pour sauce over gluten
• Garnish with parsley, onion rings, and bell pepper rings.
• Serve hot.

(Source: Cooking Smart by Blecenda Miranda-Varona & David Arsulo Varona)

BANANA --- THE WONDER FRUIT!

As the old saying goes, a banana a day (take note, not apple anymore!), drives the doctor away. This yellow-colored fruit contains fiber, iron and is very rich in potassium plus a lot more nutritional values. A person with a body low in potassium doesn't need to spend for an expensive drug, just a banana will do!

According to studies this fruit of different varieties has the following health benefits:

1. Anti-depression - lightens up the mood of a depressed person. Been there, done that and tried banana, it did work! (for the time being, of course, unless you want to digest a banana every minute?!)
   
2. Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS) - lucky for those who don't have it but for some PMS can be terribly painful. Forget the pills, ladies...hav' a banana!
3. Stress - too much problem at work or at home? Banana can be a solution, it's high-potassium content helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates body water's balance.
4. Tried giving up smoking? Bananas may be of help. It contains B6 & B12, potassium and magnesium that helps the body recover in nicotine withdrawal.
5. Food for the brain - a study had shown that students with more banana intake is inclined to get higher exam results or grades.
6. Body beautiful - aside from the good taste it gives, bananas will help you in losing those ugly fats. For those who usually eat snacks or dinner, this fruit is highly recommended instead of those cholesterol-filled snacks.
7. Constipation - even the uneducated and tribal people know about this. Older folks encourages the intake of bananas whenever a child has constipation for it's high-potassium content can help restore normal bowel content. No need for laxatives to attain relief.
8. Mosquito bite - rub the inside of the banana peel onto the bitten part and voila! See for yourself!
9. Anemia - bananas are rich in iron that helps regulate normal blood flow and production of hemoglobin.
10. Stroke - including bananas in one's daily diet cut the risks of death by strokes as much as 40%.

There are a lot more reasons why you've got to eat bananas. As for me, I consume it mainly for its taste, the health benefits are just a plus! No wonder monkeys love 'em!

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