Filipinos love soups. We enjoy them as it is, or we mix them with our rice to add moist and texture. When I was a kid, I remember eating a bowl of rice overflowing in warm soup of Nilaga or Sinigang – types of pork, beef, or seafood stews. One of my favorite soup dishes is called Misua Bola-bola or Meat ball soup with Misua Noodles, and you can easily prepare this dish at home using today’s recipe.

Misua noodles originated from China which we inherited through its culinary influence in the country.  Unlike rice vermicelli (bihon), which is made from rice, misua is made from wheat flour. These are very thin, white noodles that are very delicate and easily break when raw. You can buy them from your nearest sari-sari store (variety store), public market, or supermarket.

Misua Bola-bola is also known in some parts of the country as Almondigas. Because some recipes of Almondigas use rice vermicelli instead of misua, we will call it Misua Bola-bola to make a distinction. Besides, that how we call it back home in Malabon.

Perfect for rainy days, enjoy a warm bowl of Misua Bola-bola as a main dish, an appetizer, or as an afternoon snack. I still prefer the childish way by mixing it with my rice. It reminds me of the good old days.

I divided the recipe into two parts: the first one is how to prepare the meatballs; the last one is for the soup. Check the recipe below:

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This is a popular type of clam locally known as kabya. I’m not sure if it’s the same thing as nylon shells, but the appearance seems identical. I love clams because their refreshing and nutritious. They’re known to be good sources of iron and other vitamins and minerals.

Now, when buying clams and mussels, make sure that they are alive. Shells of live clams are closed. If they’re open, they should close once you tap them. If they don’t close, that means they’re dead. Also, avoid clams with cracks on their shells. After cooking, fresh clams and mussels should open. If they don’t, that also means they’re dead. Discard them.

The recipe below is known simply as Kabya or Kabya Soup. Unlike clam chowders, it is simply cooked to create a tasty broth. Definitely one of my favorites. The photo is courtesy of Larry Cayco. The recipe by Mrs. Trinidad Cayco.

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I love rice, and I think any true-blooded Filipino (or Asian) cannot live without it. I love garlic too. Although I don’t like it in my breath, there’s something about its pungent flavor that makes it a must-have ingredient for many Filipino dishes.

Combining the two, you get Sinangag na Kanin or Fried Rice — a very simple, quick, and flavorful rice dish that  can be partnered with any breakfast meal, such as Tocino, Tapa, Longganisa, hotdog, daing, and/or fried egg.

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It’s the Lenten season, but I can barely feel the summer heat. Most of us are probably heading to the beach or making other plans on how to spend their summer vacation. Yet, there are still some people who consider observing the Holy Week in a more traditional way. My family is not Catholic, but I studied in a Catholic school from kindergarten to high school so I’m not completely ignorant on Catholic traditions.

Catholic or not, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure you’ll enjoy our recipe today. It’s called Stir-fried Bean Sprouts or in vernacular, Ginisang Toge/Togue. I like this with pork, hence the picture, but for those who will practice a no-pork diet during the season or perhaps you’re a vegetarian, all you have to do is remove pork from the list of ingredients. Besides, it has bean curd or tofu as a substitute. Either way, it’s equally satisfying as main or side dish.

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I have a tooth ache since last night. It’s nice to know that we have chicken sopas (soup) for dinner. I know, I know, this is best served during the rainy or chilly seasons, but who cares? I want to enjoy a warm bowl (or two) of sopas despite the blistering weather lately. Besides, I can only chew on one side of my mouth, so this is the best option, or I starve to death.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. In my case, I’m waiting for my tooth fairy.

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