Because everyone is feeling the holiday spirit (I know I am!), I’m featuring something classic and quintessential where I came from. Back in the Philippines, the holiday season won’t be the same without Putobumbong, a sweet rice cake coated in grated coconut, slathered with butter, and served with muscovado and brown sugar. Putobumbong in the…
Bay Area Vegan Potluck 2016
Once a year, my friends and I would throw a vegan potluck for family, friends, and anyone who wants to celebrate vegan food in the Bay Area. We call this potluck “Bay Area Vegan Potluck”, usually held at Temescal Regional Park in Oakland. We’re on our third year this year and it attracted close to 100…
Minatamis na Saging (Sweetened Saba Bananas)
You can find banana trees almost everywhere in the Philippines. Most often than not, you’ll see them on the streets, backyards, commercial spaces, and of course at banana farms and plantations. Banana trees in the Philippines are what lemon trees are in California. I guess that’s why the Philippines is one of the leading global exporters of…
3-Ingredient Mango Coconut Popsicles
“It’s super creamy like ice cream, I like it!”, my nephew beamed with excitement after taking a bite of the vegan mango coconut popsicles that I made for him and his brother. Lately, I’ve been spending more time with my nephews. I see them more now because they’re on a summer break from school. And because they…
Vegan Calamari (Astig 2.0)
I thought vegan Calamari would be perfect to eat at a game night – the NBA Finals Game 7 to be exact. I was ready with my ingredients and ready to make vegan Calamari for my family. But time flew by especially because the game was on the same day as Father’s Day and we took our dad…
Shredded Cabbage Salad with Kalamansi juice
Spring is officially here in the US. The temperature is rising and the sun starts to linger at night (until 7pm!). I find myself craving for something refreshing in this warmer weather. I still have some leftover kalamansi from making a marmalade so I thought of making Shredded Cabbage Salad with Kalamansi juice. I love the crunch…
Kalamansi Marmalade
Kalamansi Marmalade has a special place in my heart -and in my kitchen. Growing up in the Philippines, I never had access to lemons and limes. If there’s a Filipino equivalent, that’s kalamansi. Most Filipinos use it to make fresh kalamansi juice,which is perfect on a hot, scorching day. Filipinos also use kalamansi to flavor condiments and marinades or…
Vegetable Lumpiang Shanghai
Vegetable Lumpia vs Lumpiang Shanghai In Philippine cuisine, there are two kinds of fried lumpia: Vegetable Lumpia and Shanghai. To tell which one is which, you can see the differences in their size, filling, and dipping sauce. As far as size, the Shanghai rolls are usually small bites whereas Vegetable Lumpia rolls are big and thick. For…
Easy Vegan Bibingka Bites Dipped in Chocolate
When you don’t have much time but want something homemade, creative, sweet, and vegan Filipino, the Astig Vegan Bibingka Mix could come in handy. All you need to do is combine the Bibingka mix with coconut milk and bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown. Dip the bibingka in…
8 Vegan Superbowl Recipes
Superbowl is typically not an event I would celebrate simply because I didn’t grow up watching American football. But something exciting is happening this year. Superbowl 50 will be held in the bay area, my current residence! The entire bay area is buzzing and the local news has been covering the anticipation. The city of Santa Clara…