Garlic Parmesan Air-fried Potato Wedges with Tzatziki Dip

 It seems like yesterday when I was just posting my very first recipe post in the blog that I had sweltered with blood and tears, the time when I decided to officially make it a legit website.

Can’t help but be emotional and excited at the same time. As this post is my first for this year, my 13th blogging year at that.  So happy to be collaborating once again with US Potatoes as it has been our family’s go-to for an easy snack and side dish that’s both healthy and comforting yummy.

We love their U.S. dehydrated potatoes, which can easily be turned to mashed potatoes.  This time, I’m sharing one of the simplest recipes I could come up with, using U.S. Potatoes frozen potato wedges, cooked in an air-fryer, because yeah, life can be delicious and less of a hassle.  

To make the perfect air-fried potato wedges, you have to use the best quality frozen potatoes, well you can actually use fresh and raw Russet potatoes but you have to prep it before it can turn out to be crispy and tasty.  Better use the frozen one then and make life simpler.

The potato wedges are good by itself but to add more interest and make it “ala buon gustaio” (ala gourmet), serve it with Tzatziki dip which is also a healthy and versatile sauce well-loved by Mediterranean's.

Reinventing the Family Favorite - U.S. Mashed Potatoes with Kale Colcannon

 

My babies' first solid foods were vegetables and they always included potatoes. My husband and I love mashed potatoes, and we think our kids inherited this love for taters from us! Danaera, our toddler, is no exception.

However, mashing, grinding, and mixing veggies take a lot of time and effort.  So, I gave a happy sigh of relief when I discovered U.S. dehydrated potatoes!

U.S. dehydrated potatoes can be quickly reconstituted into the best and fastest-made mashed potatoes ever. They are made of REAL potatoes, just with the water removed. They provide all the wonderful flavors and nutrients found in fresh potatoes.

I love serving potatoes to my family. They are an excellent source of vitamin C for immunity support, potassium to help maintain normal blood pressure, and complex carbohydrates for energy. Potatoes also contain dietary fiber, protein, iron, and vitamin B6.

And based on experience, potatoes are awesome for babies! They can be pureed, mashed, small-diced, or chopped, depending on the baby’s tolerance for solid foods. Versatile and mild, it is perfect for mellowing out the flavors of other ingredients. It is important, however, to slowly introduce flavors to babies to minimize pickiness and food aversion in the early stages. 

Since our Danaera loves mashed potatoes, I try to always put a spin on my recipes, so she can also experience different tastes and textures from other ingredients.  I use kale and spinach, a little cheese, and sometimes a bit of pasta as well. 

When I was searching for new mashed potato recipes to try, I chanced upon an Irish traditional recipe where mashed potatoes are mixed with macerated leafy vegetables, like kale and cabbage.  It was perfect! I didn't know that the procedure I've been doing this whole time already has a name, hahaha! It is widely known as Colcannon, which is served throughout the year in Ireland, and most especially during St. Patrick's Day.  

Sharing the recipe below:

 

US Potato and Kale Colcannon

 Ingredients: 

 

·        1 cup U.S. dehydrated potato flakes

·        1 cup baby kale, shredded

·        1/3 cup green onions, chopped

·        2 tablespoon butter (plus 1 tablespoon for topping)

·        2 cups milk

·        1/3 bouillon cube

·        salt and pepper to taste

 

Procedure:

 

1.    Melt butter in a pan over medium heat.

2.    Sauté white stalk of the green onions, add the kale and wait until it wilts.

3.    Pour in the milk, add the bouillon cube, and salt and pepper.

4.    Add the green onions.

5.    Wait for it to boil and turn off the heat.

6.    Slowly add the potato flakes. Mix thoroughly.

7.    Top with the rest of the butter and green onions.

8.    Serve warm.

 

For more info on the different varieties and forms of U.S. potato products available in the Philippines, click these links: 

 

https://www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines/

https://www.instagram.com/potatoesusaphl/

https://www.potatogoodness.ph/

https://www.facebook.com/MommyBloggersPH/ 

https://www.instagram.com/MommyBloggersPhilippines/  

 

#PotatoesUSAPHL #PotatoesUSA #USPotatoes #PotatoGoodness #PotatoGoodnessPH #CookingWithUSPotatoes #EverydayUSPotatoes #MommyBloggersPhilippines

Easy Tofu Curry

I was able to order a large packet of curry and turmeric powder from an online shop as my daughter makes her own whitening cream out of the latter herb.  After checking our pantry for ingredients to cook for our lunch, I realized I don't have enough herbs and spices, and the above mentioned are what I have in fairly good quantity.  These couple of days, we had loads and loads of fat and protein-rich ready-to-cook frozen food and the family needed a break from it. Aside from canned tuna and sardines, we also have tofu left in the fridge from hubs' last grocery trip, so I decided to mix the two and remembered the curry noodles I also made a couple of months back which have some shrimps in it.

Kale Pesto

Just before the announcement of ECQ and when the pandemic scare became really apparent, our family were enjoying highland produce care of Michelle of MyMomFriday.  One of our favorite veggie to order from her is the Kale and Spinach.  We used to have kale plants but for some reason, it didn't thrive.  Hopefully we can start growing it again and many other veggies.

Leafy kale is considered as a superfood (in the range of spinach) and is filled with  fiber, antioxidants, calcium, vitamins C and K, iron, and a wide range of other nutrients that can help prevent various health problems.  You can enjoy it on salads and I love it for juicing as well.

#SeaKingPH Salmon in Garlic and Lemon

In this article, I will need to be honest with some facts, first, I really didn't know there are different species of salmon that are being caught in the wild.  I love eating fish, whatever kind it is, but I'm in heaven if what I have in my plate is salmon.  I wasn't so particular in the kind of salmon that I've consumed, salmon are either caught in the wild or farmed, not until I knew of SeaKing PH, so, that's my second revelation and I will tell you why.

Instant Pot Monggo Curry

Our family loves curry dishes, in all sorts, may it be Japanese, Filipino style or the strong and pungent Indian type.  That said we also love beans of all sorts, lentils, white and black kidney beans and of course mongo or "munggo" in Filiipino (also mung beans).

I've been meaning to put my Instant Pot to test with cooking mongo beans the easiest way.  My  mother-in-law cooks her mongo in the pressure cooker, setting cooking time half the usual.  Typically, when cooking mongo like any other beans, you have to soak it overnight, then cook it in the pot, before adding to the dish.

Instant Pot Baby Back Pork Barbeque

I found a new love affair.  The kinda affair that my husband would approve. HaHaHa.

At first I thought I was going to curse myself for falling into this allowing myself be awed and astounded. To be honest, I was afraid to try it but I gave in. And even though many told me that it's gonna cost me, I didn't listen to them.
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So, YES, I wasn't sorry that I tried it and I can't wait for our next engagement.

Okay, Okay, I'm not into some sort of adulterous affair, I'm writing about how I feel with the first time I used my Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt.

I've had it for a long time, but I was sure scared I might not be able to understand how to use it, coz well, it's nifty high-tech.  It's not like your typical rice cooker with just one button to push.  Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt is a 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer, built in with digital buttons up front for the different cooking features.

Why wouldn't I fall in love with it, can you see how beautifully it sits on my kitchen counter top?

 I've seen the raves over Instant Pot® in the US and many home-cooks would attest to it's usefulness and practicality.  Imagine having a smart pressure cooker, a cooker where you can make porridge, cakes and even yogurt.

For my first dish cooked in my new thyngamajig therefore is something I hardly cook as it would take me two to three hours to slow cook- bbq baby back ribs.

Gastronomy by Joy's Take on California Sushi Bites

Did you know that cucumber is a fruit, and not a vegetable?  I bet you didn't know that huh?  I bet you didn't also know that it has superb health and beauty benefits aside from being a good remedy for under eye puffiness.

Low-Carb, Low-sugar Peter Pan Peanut Butter Cookies Using Coconut Flour

I was finally able to use the coconut flour I bought last month at Healthy Options.

Apart from using almond flour and oat flour, I also have added coconut flour in my baking. YAY!

Recipe: Parmesan Cheese Muffin

For those who know me or have been reading my blog, you may know how I do things with some recipes.  Of course, I stick to some of them, but more likely than not, I'll be altering some of the ingredients.  Just like how I played with my mother's baking ingredients when I was just a kid.

So, allow me to add another experiment, which was successfully yummy, btw. 

Amp Up Your Hotcake-making Skills with #MAYAHotcakeArt and WIN P 20,000 Maya Products

Whether it be breakfast, lunch or meryenda, hotcakes do not fail to bring sheer joy to the family.  Now that making hotcakes is as easy as  1-2-3 with Maya Hotcake Mix, even kids can make it and preparing them can be as much fun as eating them. With a little imagination and a few additional ingredients which you usually have at home, you can quickly transform your typical breakfast staple into art.

Recipe: Pamora Farm's Spring Chicken In Coconut Milk with Lemongrass

After attending a media event from Pamora Farms and The Peninsula Manila, I took home some Pamora Free Range Chicken products.  I usually just baked the spring chicken in the oven after marinating overnight.  This time, I got a little inventive and playful.

To make sure, we will all enjoy the dish I would cook, I checked some of my recipe books,

i did see some I'd like to cook but when I checked my kitchen, I don't have the ingredients, or thought I could save it for the future days.  So I asked Google.  

Recipe: Healthy Carrot Loaf Makes a Great Lunchbox Snack or Dessert

I know like many other moms, you also strive to put healthier balance in your family's diet.  Many people are looking for ways to become healthier, and I'm your go to mommy recipe-trier, for those food who can answer to your cravings but won't make you cry guilty after.

I have had long years of trying this and that, and replacing this with that, and adding this and that, just to make a dish complete with the nutrients your kids need.  Or just like what you might be thinking of me, right now, I'm healthy-food junkie (or crazy).  Call me anything, but don't call me a bad mom.  I know, I know, my kids are just hating me every time I try out something, like adding malunggay to my cookies or brownies or using a different kind of flour.

Snacking Gets Better and Easier with Jolly Whole Corn Kernels

Did you know that someone with THAT something made my mom-life easier? 

More than anything else, the shift from summer vacation to back-to-school is becoming more and more of a challenge.  I thought having bigger kids could give me more laxity, well, to be honest, somehow, a bit.  But Nah! My kids' appetite gets bigger and their taste for food expands every minute, and yeah, they are ALWAYS, ALWAYS hungry.  What's even worse is when they come home from school exhausted and HANGRY (angry because hungry).

How I Got my Girls Hooked on Eating Fish with San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines

What a fishy tale indeed!

I’ve always loved eating fish. Sadly, I can’t say the same thing for my three daughters. When they were young, my kids wouldn’t touch their food if it had fish in it. I remember having to chase them around the house just to get them to eat.

Recipe: Strawberry and Banana Crumble

A couple of days ago, our meal called for  a really quick and easy to prepare stir-fry vegetables, #MEATLESS.  So, while searching for recipes, and checking what was left on my fridge, I stumbled upon an adorable picture of crumble in cups.

It seems yummy and so Instragrammable, so it left me reading the segment and studying how to make the crumble.  The book is entitled Food to Love, btw, written by an Irish chef named Edward Hayden.

Loving Veggies at the National Food Fair

Sitaw guisado, kare-kareng gulay, barbecue salad- these were just some of the appetizing vegetable dishes served by Mama Sita’s during the Sikat Pinoy National Food Fair held last March 14-18 at the Mega Trade Hall. Emphasizing the need for cooking and eating healthy, Mama Sita's showcased delicious and nutritious examples of homecooked meals in their 7-day menu incorporating various locally available vegetables. The menu was designed to encourage families to include more vegetables in their daily meals for a healthier lifestyle.

Almond Flour and Oatmeal Chocolate Cookies

I always, always make time to do some research in the kitchen, removing guilt whenever I feed something delightful to my family.  It's really hard to get focused and staying up tuned to healthy living especially when you have a diabetic in the family.

#AWholeLotToLove With Anchor

Achor Butter have been well loved long enough since my great grandparents time perhaps.  I, myself practically grew up with Anchor milk (and another the four-letter word brand).  With it's existence in our market, never have I really took time to dig in deeper and really get to know the product.

Recipe: Cheesy Beef Stroganoff

Sometimes, when we're tired of eating chicken dishes, we buy fresh-cut beef in the market and end up cooking it either "tapa-style" or "Bistek."  But when you have tons of Anchor products in your fridge, especially having their cheeses in packs, you get to be inventive.