Are There Alternative Vegetables For Kangkong?

Kangkong, in English is water spinach, swamp cabbage, water convolvulus or water morning-glory, and has many other names in other languages. It is found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world but not known exactly where it originated.

Filipinos love “Sinigang” (Soured-soup meal) but you’d find most of the people from other countries wouldn’t like the taste and the idea of making a soup sour. Sinigang is a famous dish in the Philippines with variety ingredients. Kangkong is the main vegetable ingredient of sinigang. We also use Kamote (sweet potato)tops with stem (Ipomea Batata, Linn) for the fish sinigang version instead of Kangkong.

There are different versions of Sinigang. You can have fish, pork, chicken, shrimp, or even beef as the main ingredient. You can also choose whether to use tamarind or calamansi to make it sour. Some would use Kamias or guava.

During my three weeks stay in America two years ago, I would say those were the times I really appreciated Filipino dishes more and craved for them all the time. So when our friends cooked for us “sinigang na baboy” (pork version sinigang) and grilled fish, it was like bringing our home to America. I was surprised that Filipinos there can still find the ingredients for Filipino dishes. They go to a Vietnamese market to buy stuffs like okra, Kangkong leaves, and even tamarind soup powder from Manila.

You can find Kangkong from India and asian countries but how about in other countries where Kangkong does not exist? Filipinos are also known as resourceful individuals to find ways so they won’t miss tasting Pinoy’s delicacies.

Here are some options:

Lettuce (not the one used in salad)

Spinach leaves

How to Cook Sinigang na Hipon (Shrimp Sinigang)
Ingredients:

1 Kilo Shrimp – 1/4 kilo of Tamarind/Sampalok – 1 Onion – diced – 3 Tomatoes – quartered sliced – 2 pieces Radish regular size – sliced – 1 bundle of Sitaw – 1 bundle Kangkong – cut into 2″ long – 3 pieces long green chilli – Salt or Patis to taste – Water

Cooking procedure: 1. Boil Tamarind in water to soften. Mash and extract all juices and set aside. 2. In a casserole, boil water and Tamarind juice, onions, tomatoes and Radish. 3. Lower fire then add in Shrimps, Kangkong, Sitaw and green long chilli. Simmer it for 5 minutes. 4. Season with salt or fish sauce (patis).

Best served hot with fish sauce as dip.



“Always give glory to the Highest Throne, our Maker.”

A Cake For The Family

Ginger Cake with Caramel-Apple Topping



Being a single Mom is challenging yet very fulfilling just for being with my son alone. I love cooking because it's one way of showing my love to my child. I happen to browse through the net and found a very interesting recipe from "Yoplait." I thought Moms out there who love to cook for their children will love this too.

Whole wheat flour makes a better-for-you addition to this updated ginger cake. The creamy yogurt topping is like the icing on the cake, it's the best part!

Ginger Cake with Caramel-Apple Topping
Whole wheat flour makes a better-for-you addition to this updated ginger cake. The creamy yogurt topping is like the icing on the cake, it's the best part!

Prep Time:15 min
Start to Finish:1 hr
Makes:15 servings

2 cups 99% Fat Free creamy harvest peach or creamy vanilla yogurt (from 2-lb container)
1/2 cup caramel fat-free topping
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup molasses
1/3 cup canola oil
1 egg
1 medium tart apple, chopped
Lemon juice

Procedure:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 9-inch square pan. In medium bowl, mix 3/4 cup of the yogurt and the caramel topping; cover and refrigerate until serving time.
2. In large bowl, beat remaining 1 1/4 cups yogurt and all remaining ingredients except apple and lemon juice with electric mixer on low speed 45 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed 1 minute, scraping bowl occasionally, until well blended. Stir in half of the chopped apple. Pour batter into pan. Sprinkle lemon juice over remaining apple; cover and refrigerate until serving time.
3. Bake 38 to 43 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool slightly. Serve with topping mixture and remaining chopped apple.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Grease and flour 13x9-inch pan. Use 2 eggs. Bake 42 to 47 minutes.
Substitution
You can use 3 (6-oz) containers of Yoplait® Original 99% Fat Free harvest peach or French vanilla yogurt instead of the yogurt in the recipe if you like.

"Always give glory to the highest Throne, our Maker!"

Snacks for Sleeping Disorder

My 10-year old son often stays awake even when the whole neighborhood is already asleep. He stays awake until the sunrise. This is why he would often tell me that his ideal job after college would be in a “call center.” I often search for remedies to help him have a good sleep to regain energy for his schooling the following day. I found out that one of the best natural sedatives is tryptophan, an amino acid component of many plant and animal proteins. Tryptophan is one of the ingredients necessary for the body to make serotonin, the neurotransmitter best known for creating feelings of calm, and for making you sleepy.
Combining foods that have some tryptophan with ample carbohydrate is one important factor. Because in order for insomnia-busting tryptophan to work, it has to make its way to the brain.
Sadly, all amino acids compete for transport to the brain. When you add carbs, they cause the release of insulin, which takes the competing amino acids and incorporates them into muscle. Leave tryptophan alone, so it can make its way to the brain, be converted to serotonin, and cause sleepiness. Serotonin-producing bedtime snacks should be no more than 200 calories and should be eaten at least 30 minutes prior to bed.
Some suggested snacks to prepare:
Bedtime Snacks for Adults
1. 6-8 oz container of non-fat, flavored yogurt topped with 2 tablespoons low-fat granola cereal
2. Sliced apple with 1-2 teaspoons natural peanut butter
3. 3 cups low-fat popcorn – sprinkled with optional 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Bedtime Snacks for Teens
1. One cup healthy cereal with skim milk
2. Low-fat granola bar
3. Scoop of vanilla or strawberry low-fat ice cream
Bedtime Snacks for Children
1. 1/2 cup low-fat vanilla pudding
2. 1/2 banana with 1-2 teaspoons peanut butter
3. One cup skim milk with a bunch of grapes (or other fruit)
Bon appetit!