Chicken Proven (Proventriculus of Chicken)

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I have always wanted to post about this street food that people love to eat, not only here in Cagayan de Oro City, but in other parts of the Philippines. However, I am not able to do so because I find the smell of used oil too intoxicating, especially when simply passing by Pabayo Street, where stalls selling Chicken Proven have sprouted like mushrooms for years and counting, leaving the street totally unhygienic and polluted. Simply put, I am NOT a fan of the food they are selling there. 

But one time, while waiting for my mom to come down from her office building, we parked the car just beside this singular stall that sells Chicken Proven. Actually, I wouldn't know about it if my father didn't mention it. I didn't smell any stinky odor of used oil, and the place was clean enough. There were even two tables for two groups to occupy, should that be the case. 

And just like all other stalls, they sell compact rice, in lieu of "puso", or hanging rice. Most of their customers here are students from the schools nearby, as well as passersby coming from the different offices in the area.

Although there is just one attendant at that time, she was able to show me how fast their service is, in a clean and organized fashion. 

What makes the Chicken Proven more tasty is the sauce.. But unlike those we saw at Pabayo Street, the sauces are placed in closed containers, which only gets opened when customers use them, as they drizzle the sauce on the Chicken Proven. 

There are two types of sauce. One is Spicy and Hot, that's the one with brownish color, and the Spicy and Sweet, in orange color. With sauces in their containers, you are assured there is NO DOUBLE DIPPING here..

Now if you're wondering how Chicken Proven is made, it is made out of the proventriculus of a chicken, seasoned and coated with flour or corn starch, then deep-fried and served with vinegar dipping or a specially-made sauce (sweet and sour ketchup mixed with pepper, etc). In Cagayan de Oro City, you may try Chicken Proven located in many different places like divisoria, Corrales Avenue along Xavier University, and as mentioned above, Pabayo-Chavez streets. Find them in several "stalls" in these streets. Chicken Proven costs 5 pesos (less than $USD 1 = 42 pesos [varies]) per stick. Although Chicken Proven is quite addicting, especially with specially-made sauce, I must warn you that it is bad for the health. A little may be okay, but eating them every day won't be good for the body. Think of uric acid and gall bladder/kidney stones. Get the picture? Since Chicken Proven would go well with "puso" (a type of rice wrapped in coconut leaves and steamed sold at 5 pesos each), some people eat them as regular daily meals. The combination may satisfy  hunger in an instant, and may be easy for the budget, but let's all be conscious of its long-term effect.. 

And again, there is no other Chicken Proven I can recommend in this city, but the one located at Tiano/Del Pilar Streets.. Lastly, this is NOT a paid post.. Just a happy customer.. 

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My Cousin's Ampalaya Dish

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I have never liked Ampalaya, or Bitter Gourd. But when I saw this image shared by my cousin, I suddenly had this craving for the yummy Ampalaya dish, minus the bitterness. It felt like being caught in a frenzy choosing between kobo versus kindle, and I could not even blink..

I do not know how some people do it. While most of the time, bitter gourd dishes are always bitter, some cook it without the bitter taste. Just like some of my family and relatives, my aunt and cousins, cook this dish very nicely too. How the bitter taste disappears is an art that only a few knows how to deal with. 

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Wanna Learn The Art of Making Roti Prata..

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My sister and I went to the groceries yesterday afternoon, with the two kids in tow. Well, our original plan was to buy something at the department store but since we had to buy meat and vegetables and some cold cuts, we went to the grocery and decided to do some fashion shopping when we do not have kids with us. I came across the ready to cook version of Roti Prata, which I so loved when I was in Singapore a  few years back. Unfortunately, when I asked the counter girl how much it was worth, I was stunned by the high price. NOT a good buy so I decided to let it slip my fingers. I also thought that I should just look for a recipe and try to do it myself.. I am no expert, but I am sure it will cost less when I make my own.. But then again, I am not Hindu, not experienced in doing a Roti, so maybe I will take time to really learn how to make it. 

By the way, Roti means "bread" in India, and Prata means "flat", so Roti Prata can best be translated as Indian Flat breads.. 

Here's a recipe I found:

Ingredients:
500g all purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
Pinch of salt
1 Can condensed milk
1 egg
Few tbsps ghee or oil
water

Procedure:

Add everything to the flour, except the water . When adding water, do it a little at a time and make a soft dough. Leave dough overnight. Then divide dough into small equal balls. Use ghee or oil and work on a flat , clean surface. Roll up each ball and twist it into a coil. Roll each again as thin as possible into a round shape. Roll up and coil it again. Then flatten it by flipping and tossing it. I found this video in You Tube to see how it is done.. My goodness, this cute guy is an expert... wish I could do just that... 

When done, put dough pieces on a greased ladle and cook it until flaky and crispy . Serve hot with Curry (fish, chicken, beef or lamb). You can also serve it with sugar or condensed milk.

By the way, there is the plain roti prata, and there is also the flavored ones, such as the egg roti prata, or the onion or garlic flavored ones.. I think it goes with commercialism.. But the recipe above is for the plain or original recipe of roti prata.. 

 
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Snacking...

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My sister, Lili and I, do not really love these dessert cups from Greenwich. They are not really that great, but the creaminess is something we adore on a hot day. But if I have to chooses between the two, I would prefer the Chocolate flavored dessert than the Caramel flavored cup. 

I know people need not have ample analytical balance to realize that the snack below is better than above.. Well, Quaker Oat cookies is truly better that a creamy dessert. 

Of course, you have the option to buy them or simply bake your own. Of course, a huge glass of cold fruit juice is the best partner of this treat.. 

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Durian Flavored Maja Blanca

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Last week we went to our family's temporary abode in Opol and spent a couple of days there. It was like a week-long gathering for my little brother's birthday. The night we set forth for the journey, we passed by the Durian vendor and bought some.. 

It was by far the creamiest Durian this season.. So the next day, we used some Durian meat to flavor our Maja Blanca. Well, we simply added it to the old recipe, but instead of putting vanilla, we added Durian into the mixture..

A couple of stirs through the heat and some molding and refrigeration, we enjoyed our Durian flavored Maja Blanca.. Served it with grated cheese as topping. So yummy!!! 

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