Lagang Baka ( Beef Stew)

I remember when I was a kid, Lagang Baka/Babi (Beef/Pork Stew)  is a staple in our menu. Especially during rainy days. Laga or Nilaga means boiled, and Baka means Beef / Babi means pork. Hence, Lagang Baka/babi.
It is very easy to prepare and involves ONE basic process, Boiling. Low heat and slow cooking is the key to great Laga. It will be a great success if the broth is seasoned well, the meat is Fork tender, and if there's a good variety of vegetables.

LAGANG BAKA

2 lbs cubed beef
1 potato, cubed
1 bok choy or pechay
1 large onion, chopped
2 medium sized carrots, chopped crosswise
1 tbsp whole pepper corn
3 tbsp fish sauce (patis)

1. Saute the onions until the texture becomes soft
2. brown the cubed beef, cook about 5 mins
3. Add the whole pepper corns as well as the fish sauce.
4. Add the water. (Approximately 1 liter) then let it simmer for 1 to 2 hours. (45 mins using pressure cooker)

5. Add in the potato and carrots and let it cook for 10 mins.
6. Then add the bok choy, cover the pot and turn of the heat. Let it sit for about 5 mins then serve.
7. Mangan Tana!

CHOP SUEY

As I've mentioned in my previous blog, Pampanga is rich in culture and history. About 22% of the Philippine population are Chinese. They are called Filipino Chinese or Chinese Mestizo. Or in short they are called "Chinoy" ( short for Chinese-Pinoy). Having that said, we inherited their amazing culture as well as their cuisine.

We started eating noodles, dumplings and the recipe for the day, Chop suey.
Chop suey literally means little pieces. The dish consists of meats such as chicken, pork or shrimp. It is usually served with rice but a lot of people eat it with stir-fry noodles instead and call it "chow mein". As for the family, we prefer to eat it as it is. Enjoy!

CHOP SUEY

1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 medium onion sliced
1 lb chicken breast cubed
2 C chicken broth
2 C broccoli
1 C carrots
1 C green beans
1 C Snow Peas
1/4 C Fish Sauce (depending on your taste, you can modify)
1/2 Chopped Cabbage
1 lb small shrimp
2 Dozens Quail Eggs
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Saute the garlic and onions until medium brown.

2. Add the chicken and continue mixing it until the outside part of the chicken is cooked.

3. Add the chicken broth, let it boil then turn down the heat and cover it. Let it simmer until the chicken is fully cooked and tender.

4. Now add the broccoli, carrots, green beans and snow peas or sitsaro and cover it again until the vegetables turned "al dente".

5. It's time to season the dish with fish sauce, salt and pepper.

6. Now add the cabbage and cover it for 2 mins.

7. Add the shrimp and cover until the shrimp are cooked. They will turn bright pink when they're ready.

8. Now for the final step, add the quail eggs then serve...
9. Mangan Tana!



Special thanks to my special testers who very much enjoyed the healthy dish.  ;-)

 

SISIG

Sisig is a Kapampangan term that means "to snack on something sour". It usually refers to fruits, often unripe or half-ripe, sometimes dipped in salt and vinegar which is very popular flavor in Philippines.

Sisig also refers to a meat marinated in sour liquids like vinegar, or the ever popular amongst Filipino; Calamansi...

These are also called "Calamondin" or in Kapampangan "Kalamunding".

Sisig also refers to Sizzling sisig, a Filipino dish made from parts of pig’s head and liver, usually seasoned with calamansi and chili peppers

Lucia Cunanan of Angeles City has been credited with inventing sisig.^[3] The Philippine Department of Tourism has acknowledged that her "Aling Lucing's" restaurant had established Angeles City as the "Sisig Capital of the Philippines" in 1974.^[4] Cunanan's trademark sisig was developed in mid 1974 when she served a concoction of boiled and chopped pig ears and cheeks seasoned with vinegar, calamansi juice, chopped onions and chicken liver and served in hot plates

 SISIG

 2 lbs Pork Ears

1/4 lbs Pork Liempo or Pork Belly

1 Laurel / Bay leaf

1/4 lb chicken liver

1 large Onion minced

1/4 cup of calamansi or lemon juice

1 Tbsp of vinegar

1 Tbsp of Soy sauce

1/2 cup of butter

2 Tbsp of Mayonnaise 

Vegetable Oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Thai Chili or Siling Labuyo are optional

1. In a large pot place the pork ears and pork belly and season it with salt pepper and 1 Bay leaf. Simmer it until the meat is tender (about 2 hours).

2. Take the tender meat and oil it on both side, then place it on a medium heat grill until it is slightly chard.

3. Once its done, chop the meat into little pieces. The small the better. You will need a little patience on this part because it takes a while but it's worth it  ;-)

4. Now heat a big pan, put some oil and saute the onions.

5. Once the onions are half-way cooked, add the chicken liver until it is cooked. (the way to tell if it is cooked is when it is falling apart and it takes around 10 mins.)

6. Then add the chopped meat, Calamansi or Lemon juice, Vinegar, Soy sauce and butter and cook it for about 10 minutes.

7. Add the mayonnaise and Chilis if desired.

8. Garnish with green onions on top, Egg (optional) and Calamansi on the side.

9. Serve with soysauce with Calamansi/ Lemon juice and chilis for a sauce.

10. Mangan tana!

Prominent Kapampangans (wikipedia.com)

• Benigno Aquino, Jr. - was a senator whose assassination triggered the events that led to the People Power Revolution.
• José Abad Santos - was a native of the City of San Fernando who became the 5th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines. He was killed by Japanese forces during the occupation of the Philippines in World War II.
• Pedro Abad Santos- was a doctor, lawyer, Marxist, and politician who later became a leader of the first of two communist rebellions from the 1930s to the 1950s. He was the older brother of José Abad Santos.
• Félix Manalo - founder of the religious organization Iglesia ni Cristo.
• Eliseo Soriano - evangelist and presiding minister of the Philippine-based Members Church of God International. He is known as Bro. Eli in his radio and television programs Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path).
• Satur Ocampo - co-founder of the National Democratic Front, he is a politician, journalist, and writer. Also a representative for the Bayan Muna party in the Lower House of Philippine Congress.
• Luis Taruc - was a political figure and communist revolutionary. He was the leader of the Hukbalahap rebel group between 1942 and 1954.
• Rufino Jiao Santos - was the Archbishop of Manila from 1953 to 1973 and was the first Filipino to be named Cardinal.
• Don Juan Macapagal - Datu of Arayat, was the great-grandson of Lakandula.^[12] He was given the title Maestre de Campo General of the natives Arayat, Candaba and Apalit for his aid in suppressing the Kapampangan Revolt of 1660 and the only native in the Philippines to become an encomendero.
• Diosdado Pangan Macapagal - was the 9th President of the Republic of the Philippines and a native of Lubao, Pampanga.
• Eddie Panlilio - the first Catholic priest in the Philippines to be elected as a provincial governor. Transformer of the Traditional Politics in the Philippines to promote Good Governance.
• Yeng Guiao - the Vice-governor of Pampanga and aprofessional basketball head coach for the Red Bull Barako in the Philippine Basketball Association. Guiao won four PBA titles since starting his head coaching job for Swift in the early 1990s. He is a former Philippine Basketball League commissioner from 1997-2000.
• Gil J. Puyat - was a Senate President of the Philippines from 1967 to 1972.
• Rogelio dela Rosa - was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of the 20th century and was elected to the Senate in 1957. He was also the first film actor who was able to parlay his fame into a political career, paving the way for other Filipino entertainers-turned-politicians. He had an equally famous brother, Jaime dela Rosa, also a matinee idol in the 1950s.
• Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan - senator and husband of celebrity Sharon Cuneta
• Artemio Panganiban - 21st Supreme Court Chief Justice of the Philippines. His ancestors originated from Pampanga and then later generations migrated to Manila.
• Randy David - a political analyst, newspaper columnist and a professor at the Universitry of the Philippines in Diliman.
• Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo - was the 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines. A daughter of the 9th President of the Republic Diosdado Macapagal, she was the country's first female Vice President during the tenure of Joseph Estrada.
• Armando Biliwang - was a municipal mayor of San Fernando and was well known for his fearless stand against communism during his term as municipal councilor and mayor.
• Manny Bamba Villar – one of past Senate Presidents. His mother from the Bamba clan hails from Pampanga.
• Benigno S. Aquino III - incumbent President of the Republic of the Philippines.

Arts and Culture

• Anselmo Jorge Fajardo - Father of Kapampangan Literature. Author of the first and longest longest metrical romance in any Philippine language, Gonzalo de Cordoba. He was a native delegate to the Spanish Cortez.
• Juan Crisostomo Soto - Kapampangan writer, revolutionary leader and veteran of the Philippine-American War. Father of Kapampangan poetical debate, Crissotan, and author of "Alang Dios" (There is no God).Perlas quing Burac, Anac ning Katipunan, Lydia and many others Zarzuelas and Playwrights.
• Aurelio Tolentino - one of the mystics of the Katipunan, a compadre of Andres Bonifacio, a nationalist writer in both Kapampangan and Tagalog. He coined the word dula for drama and ironically became known in history as the Father of Tagalog Drama for his anti-US colonial masterpiece Kahapon, Ngayon at Bukas. A theatre at the Cultural Center of the Philippines is named Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino in his honor.
• Jose Gallardo - Kapampangan Poet Laureate and one of the most prolific Kapampangan writer of the late 20th century.
• Amado Yuzon - Kapampangan Poet Laureate, was a Philippine academic, journalist, and writer.
• Alejandro T. Quiboloy - Kapampangan educator, public servant, writer and Protestant minister. Born in Lubao, Pampanga on May 3, 1909.
• Vicente Manansala - a National Artist of the Philippines in Visual Arts, was a direct influence to his fellow Filipino neo-realists.
• Isidoro C. Soto [Anac ning Baculud] Born on April 4, 1918 in Suban Bacolor, Pampanga. One of the Greatest Artist-Decorator-Designer of Pampanga. One of his living artwork is the ceiling painting of Betis church with Dr. Juco as his Mentor. He was also the designer of the logo of Philippine Rabbit Bus Liner. He used to decorate for Circulo Fernandino, Batu-Balani, Old legs, Circilo Masantoleno, to name a few. He is a descendant of Juan Crisostomo Soto, the famous Pampango Poet. Isidoro died at the age of 70 on June 9, 1988.
• Ambeth Ocampo - is a Filipino historian, academic, journalist, author best known for his column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, "Looking Back."
• Gene Gonzales - nationally renowned chef, restaurateur, educator management consultant and author. He is the author of Cocina Sulipeña: Culinary from Old Pampanga.
• Don Zoilo Hilario - a member of the Institute of National Language who dedicated his life to imposing the ABAKADA on Kapampangan writing through the Akademyang Kapampangan, the organization he created.
• Mon David - is a jazz singer from Sto. Tomas, Pampanga. He won the grand prize in the prestigious 2006 London International Jazz Competition (LIJC).
• Eduardo Mutuc - is a 2005 NCCA GAMABA National Living Treasure Awardee for upholding the traditional Kapampangan art of pinukpuk or silver inlaying and embossing on retablos, carosas and altar pieces.
• Brillante Mendoza - is a Filipino film director who won the award for Best Director for his film Kinatay at the recently concluded 62nd Cannes Film Festival in France.

Pop Culture, Sports & Entertainment

• Dolphy - born as Rodolfo Quizon and known as the King of Philippine Comedy was born in Pampanga in 1928 to Kapampangan parents but was raised in Tondo, Manila.
• Melanie Marquez - is a popular beauty queen-turned-actress who hails from Mabalacat. She was Miss International 1979 and was voted as the Most Beautiful Miss International in 2000. She's also a sister of another local actor, Joey Marquez.
• Ricardo "Dong" Puno Jr - is a Filipino television public affairs host, media executive, newspaper columnist, and lawyer.
• Efren "Bata" Reyes - is referred to as "The Magician" and a very popular Filipino billiards player who hails from Angeles City. He is considered to be one of history's greatest practitioners of billiards. Among the world best.
• Francisco Bustamante - is next to Bata, possessed the most powerful breaks in World Billiards. With Bata they are one of the greatest billiard tandem and winningest in the world.
• apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo) - is a member of the Grammy-award winning group, The Black Eyed Peas, and was born in Sapang Bato, Angeles City. He is famous throughout the Filipino community after the release of his life story of his homeland Philippines in a song called "The Apl Song."
• Lito Lapid - a famous star turned politician. He became governor of Pampanga and later became a member of the Philippine senate.
• Joey Marquez - Philippine basketball star turned actor-comedian turned politician. Brother of popular beauty queen Melanie Marquez
• Yeng Guiao - is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Red Bull Barako in the Philippine Basketball Association. Guiao won four PBA titles since starting his head coaching job for Swift in the early 1990s. He is a former Philippine Basketball League commissioner from 1997-2000. He is also the Vice Governor of the province of Pampanga.
• Apollo Quiboloy - televangelist; born in Davao City to Kapampangan parents.
• Rey Langit - is a TV Personality, Columnist of Tempo, Balita, People's Tonight, DWIZ-AM Station Manager, and host of Kasangga Mo ang Langit and Biyaheng Langit, both of which are aired over Radio Philippines Network and DWIZ.
• Rogelio dela Rosa - was one of the most popular Filipino matinee idols of the 20th century and was elected to the Senate in 1957. He was also the first film actor who was able to parlay his fame into a political career, paving the way for other Filipino entertainers-turned-politicians. He had an equally famous brother, Jaime dela Rosa, also a matinee idol in the 1950s.
• Lorna Tolentino - is an actress, host, executive producer and wife of fellow Kapampangan actor Rudy Fernandez. She was born in Concepcion, Tarlac and was raised in Manila.
• Jean García - is a television and film actress who hails from Angeles City. Her most famous role was in the telenovela Pangako sa 'Yo where she played antagonist Madam Claudia.
• Carlos Badion - Philippine Basketball Team members, first Asian MVP in now so called FIBA Asia. His moniker "The Bad Boy". Known for his bicycle drive and jackknife layup.
• Ed Ocampo - an Olympian with the Big J. One of the great basketball player & coach in the Philippines. Shin Dong Pa the Korean Legend says, Ocampo and Jaworski are his great opponents in basketball in Asian Region.
• Ato Agustin - "The Atom Bomb" of Philippine Basketball Association, one time MVP, selected among 25 greatest Player, grabs lots of championship. Best Guard and won the inaugural title in Metropolitan Basketball Association. Won its first coaching title in collegiate NCAA League.

[edit] Prominent People of Kapampangan Descent

Pop Culture, Sports & Entertainment

• Fernando Poe, Jr. - born as Ronald Allan Kelley Poe and colloquially known as FPJ and Da King, was a Filipino actor and later politician, having run an unsuccessful bid for President of the Philippines in the 2004 presidential elections against the incumbent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. His mother, Elizabeth Gatbonton Kelly is a Kapampangan from Candaba.
• Sharon Cuneta - dubbed as the "Megastar of Philippine Showbiz," is a popular Filipina actress, TV host, singer, endorser, grandslam awardee, and a box-office queen hall of famer and a recipient of several lifetime achievement awards at a relatively young age.
• Lea Salonga - is a Tony Award-winning singer and actress who is best known for her portrayal of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon. She spent the first six years of her childhood in Angeles City before moving to Manila.
• Judy Ann Santos - is an award-winning and multi-nominated film and television actress. Her mom hails from San Fernando, Pampanga.
• Paquito Diaz – is a veteran actor and director, whose mother is a Kapampangan.
• Leah Dizon - is a model, singer, and a TV personality and media icon in Japan, born in Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Vanessa Minnillo - is an American television personality born in Clark Air Base, Angeles City and raised in the US. She was Miss Teen USA 1998 and is currently a host on MTV's Total Request Live.
• Hilda Koronel - is an award-winning actress who starred in around 45 films, many of which are critically acclaimed. Born Susan Reid, her father was an American serviceman.
• Lalaine Vergara- is an American actress, singer and spokesperson.
• Rufa Mae Quinto - is a popular actress and TV host, known for her comedy role in the film, Booba.
• Abbygale Williamson Arenas - is a former international model and beauty queen. She is now a freelance make-up artist.
• Chef Henry Pacheco- a Filipino chef known in the international cooking world from barrio Sapangbato
• Francisco "Django" Bustamante - is a world-class billiards player from Tarlac.
• Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski- is a former olympian (equestrian) and celebrity from Tarlac.
• Rosa Rosal- is a Philippine Red Cross advocate who hails from Sta. Rita, Pampanga.
• Elwood Perez- is a movie director from Mabalacat, Pampanga.
• Chris Tiu- is a TV host of Pinoy Records and an MVP of Ateneo Blue Eagles Basketbal Team.
• Sarah Geronimo- is a popular singer, actress, movie star, whose father hails from Floridablanca, Pampanga.
• Rosa del Rosario - a famous actress. Her real name was Rose del Rosario Stagner. Her mother was from Pampanga. She is the first female action hero who portrayed Darna, in 1951 under Royal Films.

Kapampangan Flavors

Pampanga is the Food Capital of the Philippines. They are known for a lot of variety of food that came from the Town. Its flavors came from a lot of different influences. After all it was under the Spanish Regime for many many years. Added to it is some Japanese and Chinese infused flavors. Don't forget to mention that a lot of Koreans started to stay in town to Study, for it is very cheap for them to get an Education in Philippines. So basically, Pampanga is a huge melting pot of all these rich history.

Some of the dishes that came from Pampanga are Sisig, Sisig Pusu, Sipo Egg and a lot more. Don't worry we will go through those in details later. A lot of the dishes that I grew up eating reflects on the kind of life that we had. We didn't have a luxury to be picky on what we eat. Basically we are happy to eat Rice three times a day. It can be with a fish cooked in a different way or boiled potato yam blossoms/leaves. Sometimes when we have no money at all, we poured some soy sauce and oil in our rice to give it some flavor. Ahhhh... I will be forever grateful for everything that I have right now. It made me appreciate things more when I look back on my childhood. I remember my mom telling me, when I was a baby she would cook the rice with a lot of water, then once the rice is boiling she would scoop the extra water and put it in a feeding bottle and feed it to me. She made me some clothes out of the potato sack and dye it so it wouldn't look so bad. My mom is  a great inspiration to me. How she worked so hard to get me where I'm at right now. I'm always thankful even if I don't say it much. I love her dearly.


I am just so excited about this blog. I can't wait to show you guys our food. There's not a lot of blogs about Kapampangan Cuisine. Which is sad. But before I end this post, I wanted to tell you guys that I will be posting a variation of different cuisines and not only Kapampangan cuisine. Stay hungry my friends and I'll talk to you soon!


xoxo,
Pen