Special Achara/Papaya Pickles

Delicious Achara/Papaya Pickles!

I've made Achara/Atsara/Papaya Pickles many times since I relocated to the US and it has always been perfect. I wish there were lots of Filipinos where I lived so that I can make a business out of this special side dish, like what my best friend Lalay and I used to do back home. Trust me, they sell like hot cakes!

The perfect Achara depends on the sweetness and sourness of the sauce and its ingredients. The recipe is here.

Ingredients:

2 big green papaya, grated

5-8 tablespoon salt for squeezing the juice of the  grated papaya

 2 carrots, julienned or grated

1 piece carrot, sliced like a medallion (please see photo above)

1 big piece ginger

6 pieces sweet peppers (red, yellow and orange)

1 regular size bitter melon/Ampalaya

1 regular size Singkamas

10 pieces string beans

1 small can pineapple chunks, cut them in a half

raisin ( I used golden raisin)

2 cups white vinegar

1 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon salt to taste

Instructions:

Salt the grated papaya then squeeze the juice. Discard the juice. Put the papaya into a big bowl. Boil vinegar (stir only when it boils) then add sugar,salt and vegetables when it is boiling. Pour into the papaya. Mixed thoroughly. Let cool and put them in a sterilized jar with tight lid. Refrigerate.

Note: You don't have to sterilize the jar if you don't sell them.

Please leave a comment if you have questions.

Thank you for visiting my site. Have a good one!

Yummy Cheese Cupcakes

Cheese Cupcakes

I got this recipe from Kawaling Pinoy, and I have tried it 3 or 4 times already. It doesn't really rise good per photo above but it is really yummy. It says in the site that it is moist but after baking it is a little bit dry but when it is cool, let's say after an hour, it becomes soft.

This is not really the "perfect" cheese cupcake recipe for me but it is not really bad. Why don't you try it and tell me how it goes?

Thank you for visiting my site. Have a good one!

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups flour, sifted
8 ounces sweetened condensed milk (1/2 of 14 oz can)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 F

2) In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.

3) In a medium bowl, beat butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla extract using electric mixer

4) Pour in flour mixture in thirds adding 1/2 can of sweetened condensed milk in between (beginning and ending with the flour mixture)

5) Add in 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and blend well.

6) Put in muffin cups 3/4 cup full only.

7) Top with remaining grated cheddar cheese.

8) Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes (check your muffins after the 20-minute mark)

9) Remove from oven and top with more grated cheese if desired.

Stays moist for 1 week in room temperature covered in tight lid container.