The Kitchen Explorer

Whenever I ask my nephew if he is hungry and what does he want to eat, half the time his reply will be cookies. Who doesn't like them anyway? They are pretty simple to make, easy to store, and almost always gone after you take them out of the oven. Let us not forget that the house smells good too. Oatmeal cookie is probably one of my favorites. I especially like the soft and chewy type. This recipe I am going to share does need some chilling time to prevent too much spreading while baking. The wait is worth it, I promise. If you are like me who isn't a fan of too sweet of a cookie, you can use a mixture of bittersweet chunks of chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips. I add walnuts instead of raisins. You can add and omit whatever you want as they are that flexible, just use the same amount. The cookie base doesn't need to change. YOU WILL NEED: 1 cup butter, softened 1 cup brown sugar ¼ cup granulated sugar 2 large eggs, room temperature 1 tablesp

Many homemakers have this question plaguing their minds on a daily basis - what am I going to cook today? Others might think that is an easy task but when you have to cook 3 times a day, 7 days a week, you have to meticulously plan a variety of dishes that will be suitable for the whole family. One quick and easy vegetable recipe that is also budget friendly is this Green Beans Stir Fry. Not only is this healthy but also delicious. Green beans are cheap here in the Philippines. They are also available all year round which is why they are a staple in every household. Other than stir frying them, they can also be used in lumpia filling, pancit, beef nilaga or bulalo, pochero etc. The ingredients needed are garlic, onion, tomato, and green beans. You can add pork strips, beef, or chicken. In this recipe, I opted to use some ground beef. This is optional. This goes well with fried fish. Green beans stir fry paired with crispy galunggong or daing na bangus is my family's favor

Not a lot of people likes ampalaya (bitter gourd/bitter melon). I have to admit that I originally don't eat this vegetable. How did I end up liking it? We have a garden in front of our house and one of the vegetables that was planted was this variety of ampalaya that wasn't bitter. The seeds were just given to us. The fruit was light green in color. I was surprised when my mom cooked it and told us to give it a try. I was skeptical but when I took a bite, it was indeed not bitter at all and that's how I started eating this vegetable that a lot of people dislike. Ampalaya is perfect to be made into a kinilaw, atchara, and even stuff it with meat. I have noticed that if the skin of the ampalaya is smoother or not too wrinkly, it is less bitter. What I also do, that I have learned from my aunt, is rub the ampalaya slices in salt and then rinse with water before cooking. This helps a lot in lessening the bitterness. Sauteed bitter melon is a quick and easy dish you can make

Today is one of those days when people become extra sweet. People go out of their way to give flowers, chocolates, stuffed toys or whatever their special someone's favorite food is. Restaurants are packed with people out on a date. Girls make an effort to look prettier. That's what Valentine's day effect is to almost everyone. For others, it's extra special and more meaningful to make their own gifts and chocolate cupcakes are one of those things you can whip up even at the last minute.  Hearts and flower toppers or made into a bouquet, you'll never go wrong with this one. I have a simple recipe for you - chocolatey and you only need one bowl. Valentine's or not, these can easily become a favorite both of the young and young at heart. This has been my go-to recipe for chocolate cupcakes. YOU WILL NEED: 1 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 cup granulated sugar ¾ teaspoon baking

Ever wonder how chili oil in restaurants are made? Let me show you how simple it can be. You can make this at home and never buy again. Ever. This can level up any dish while adding some kick to it. They can be given as gifts, too. Just add tags and ribbons to your jars and viola! Homemade gift that anyone would love. This is great for dumplings, soups, noodles, and just about any dish. Just remember to use a clean and dry spoon to get some from the jar and keep in the fridge to make it last for as long as six months. I love using it for mixed seafood with chili garlic sauce. This chili oil uses Sichuan peppercorns and chili flakes and other aromatics. It's not complicated to make so if you're someone who likes hot and spicy food and just prefer homemade instead of store brought, this is perfect for you. YOU WILL NEED: 1 ½ cups canola oil (any oil that won't set in the fridge and has neutral taste) 5 pieces star anise 1 piece cinnamon bark/stick 2

One of the most common fruits that is readily available in our homes are bananas. They are sweet and very nutritious. There are a lot of ways to serve them to our family and one of them is by turning them into banana breads. They are perfect for breakfast or snacks. You can have a variety of toppings too. Some prefer the classic plain one while others love them with nuts, dried fruit, or chocolate. This banana loaf is seriously moist and delicious! Now, who wouldn't want a slice or two of that? This banana bread recipe is so simple that, even if you don't know how to bake, you can make it with confidence. The ingredients are very common, too, that you most likely have them in your kitchen. Give this a try and let me know how it turns out for you. YOU WILL NEED: 1 ½ cups all purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup bananas, mashed 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 stick of butter, melted ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup gran