Halaan/Clam Soup

I'll be sharing some of the dishes that I'm cooking and hopefully my blog readers will benefit from it. On my first post, I mentioned that I'm getting recipes from cookbooks and through searching on the internet. So, most, if not, all of the recipes that I'll be posting here are not mine unless I stated that it's mine. Also, please bear with me as I'm still trying to practice how to take "instagram-worthy" pics. I'm using my Iphone to take pictures most of the time so it will be easier to upload and share and it's also the most accessible for me rather than using our SLR cam.

For my first recipe to share, it will be Halaan/Clam Soup. This has been a favorite of our family, especially me, when I started breastfeeding, since malunggay, which is one its ingredient is very well known to help boost breastmilk supply. We like our Halaan/Clam Soup with lots of ginger to make it more flavorful and spicy.

Here are the ingredients and cooking procedures:

halaan/clams (washed thoroughly)

garlic

onion

ginger

malunggay leaves (you can also substitute this with chili leaves/dahon ng sili if you want)

salt & pepper to taste

water

green chili/siling haba

butter (I used butter instead of oil to saute to make the soup more flavorful)

1. Melt butter in a pot and saute garlic, onion and ginger.

2. Add halaan/clams then saute for few minutes.

3. Add water. Cover and let it boil.

4. Season with salt and pepper to your desired taste.

5. Continue cooking until all the clams open.

6. Add malunggay leaves and green chili.

7. Serve hot and enjoy.

Overview

It was year 2007 when I first tried cooking. Before that, I don't really cook. But if you'll consider frying eggs and hotdogs and boiling water as "cooking" then, yes, I'm cooking, hehe. I was in my boyfriend's, now my husband, house that time. I don't know what came to my mind or what motivated me. All I know is I wanted to cook at that time. I wanted to surprise and at the same time impress my then boyfriend that time that I can cook. So, I called my Papa and asked for instructions on how to cook Pork Adobo. Yes, Pork Adobo is the first viand I've cooked. I listened intently to all his instructions. After our phone conversation, I started secretly preparing to cook. I'm having mixed emotions that time. I'm feeling nervous, excited and happy. I'm praying so hard that my adobo will turned out well. After I'm done cooking, I prepared the dining table and served the food. Then, I called my then boyfriend and told him that I cooked adobo and he should try it. Upon hearing what I said, his first reaction was to laugh because he knows that I don't cook and he can't believe I cooked something. Then he said, "Sige nga, tikman natin 'tong adobong niluto mo". He tried a spoonful of my adobo with rice and after tasting he said, "Sure ka, ikaw nagluto nito? Ang sarap kasi eh!" Wow, it's really music to my ears after I heard his comment. I was so happy not only because my then boyfriend liked my adobo but also because I've proved myself that I can learn how to cook.

And that moment has been a life-changer to me and the start of my cooking adventures. Before that, I never imagined myself cooking and now it's been 8 years already that I'm cooking for my family, loved ones and friends. I never thought that it will be possible for me to learn how to cook but as they say, there's nothing impossible as long as you believe you can do it and you put your heart into it. I have no formal culinary training/education but I wish to have one someday. I just buy and collect cookbooks, search online for recipes that interest me and subscribe to magazines like Good Housekeeping, Smart Parenting and most especially, Yummy where I've tried many of its recipes. Also, I'm not afraid to try and experiment on new dishes and make mistakes. There are times that I fail to acquire the right taste of the dish but it didn't stop me from trying over and over again.

I wish that my story may inspire others who doesn't know how to cook to give it a try. At first, you might feel scared to make mistakes. But don't give up and just keep on trying and believe in yourself that you can do it. Especially for wives and moms like me, it is important for us to know how to cook so we can better take care of our family's health and nutrition. Happy cooking!