“It’s super creamy like ice cream, I like it!”, my nephew beamed with excitement after taking a bite of the vegan mango coconut popsicles that I made for him and his brother. Lately, I’ve been spending more time with my nephews. I see them more now because they’re on a summer break from school. And because they…
Vegan Calamari (Astig 2.0)
I thought vegan Calamari would be perfect to eat at a game night – the NBA Finals Game 7 to be exact. I was ready with my ingredients and ready to make vegan Calamari for my family. But time flew by especially because the game was on the same day as Father’s Day and we took our dad…
Vegan Ube Milkshake Recipe
One Sunday my friend asked me if I’d like to go with her to a pop-up restaurant in the city where they sell sandwiches and milkshakes with vegan options including a vegan ube milkshake. Vegan ube milkshakes? I don’t recall having had one before. I was as intrigued as she was so I went with her…
Moringa Malunggay for Mother’s Day
My mom’s nickname is called Malunggay, named after a superfood leafy green that grows abundantly in the Philippines. So for Mother’s Day, I’m paying homage to her cute nickname as well as giving her the gift of health and longevity. I’m planning to give her artisanal Malunggay powder. My mom’s name is Malou, hence “Malou-nggay”. You could give all…
Shredded Cabbage Salad with Kalamansi juice
Spring is officially here in the US. The temperature is rising and the sun starts to linger at night (until 7pm!). I find myself craving for something refreshing in this warmer weather. I still have some leftover kalamansi from making a marmalade so I thought of making Shredded Cabbage Salad with Kalamansi juice. I love the crunch…
Kalamansi Marmalade
Kalamansi Marmalade has a special place in my heart -and in my kitchen. Growing up in the Philippines, I never had access to lemons and limes. If there’s a Filipino equivalent, that’s kalamansi. Most Filipinos use it to make fresh kalamansi juice,which is perfect on a hot, scorching day. Filipinos also use kalamansi to flavor condiments and marinades or…
8 Vegan Superbowl Recipes
Superbowl is typically not an event I would celebrate simply because I didn’t grow up watching American football. But something exciting is happening this year. Superbowl 50 will be held in the bay area, my current residence! The entire bay area is buzzing and the local news has been covering the anticipation. The city of Santa Clara…
Astig Vegan Bibingka Mix
The idea behind the Astig Vegan Bibingka Mix started after learning that some of my friends don’t have any luck finding ingredients for my Bibingka rice cakes. A friend once messaged me on Facebook, saying he’ll try my recipe for Bibingka for a holiday party at work. Unfortunately he messaged me a little too late. The stores that carry ingredients like flaxseed meal…
How to Make Vegan Pancit Palabok (Newly Improved Recipe) (Gluten-Free)
Undeniably, Pancit is one of the most recognizable Filipino dishes in the US. After all, it’s a savory noodle dish always present at parties and potlucks. But unknown to some, Pancit comes in many forms –Palabok, Bihon, Luglog, Malabon, etc. Out of all, my favorite is Palabok. That’s because Palabok is savory and “eggy”, with orange sauce…
Grilled Tempeh with Filipino Barbecue Sauce
Grilling could not get any simpler with Filipino barbecue sauce. With just four ingredients (three when grilling outdoors), you’ll have yourself a flavorful barbecue dish with very little effort. All the ingredients could be found at major supermarkets, if they’re not already in your pantry. The version of Filipino barbecue sauce I’m referring to is the street food…