Expect the Unexpected from Filipinx

You might call this a cookbook for the bold and adventurous, Filipinx, Heritage Recipes from the Diaspora, by Angela Dimayuga and Ligaya Mishan.  What do I say?  The book beats definition!  Not strictly cuisine from the Philippines, but a second generation update and amalgamation.  I want to try too many of those recipes in the library time remaining, with no renewal possible, so in a fit of let's go for it, another purchase!  Just couldn't resist.

I won't be adding pork blood to the fridge or attempting to make my own fermented shrimp paste, but still... I do want to try the Spicy Banana Ketchup, the green papaya table pickle and many other of her interesting concoctions, particularly the many enticingly unique (if you're not Asian) desserts, drinks, and condiments.

From the Publishers:
"In her debut cookbook, acclaimed chef Angela Dimayuga shares her passion for Filipino food with home cooks.

Filipinx offers 100 deeply personal recipes—many of them dishes that define home for Angela Dimayuga and the more than four million people of Filipino descent in the United States. The book tells the story of how Dimayuga grew up in an immigrant family in northern California, trained in restaurant kitchens in New York City—learning to make everything from bistro fare to Asian-American cuisine—then returned to her roots, discovering in her family’s home cooking the same intense attention to detail and technique she’d found in fine dining."

My first go to was Bola Bola Beef Meatballs, and with the extra, a few days later, the Bola Bola Soup.  Next on my need to do list is the Coconut Milk Chicken Adobo.  I make Adobo occasionally, but this recipe sounds extra delicious.  Also the Bistek, Seared Rib Eye with Lemon and Onions.  Oh boy, looking forward to that.

She sprinkled garlic chips on top, but I used toasted peanuts.  Easy peasy. She suggests freezing the extra meatballs, then using them later for the soup. Which I did.

The meatballs and soup were yummy, disappearing quickly.  Next, I've totally got everything I need for the Banana Ketchup.  I'll be sharing all this over at Weekend Cooking with Marge, the Intrepid Reader and with Heather at her Foodies Read Challenge for February.