Cooking for Dummies : Arroz Caldo

Those who know me know perfectly well that my knowledge and ability to cook is Zilch. Nada. During pot lucks, most of my friends bring something they prepared in their own kitchen and I always have to have dibs on desert so I can conveniently bring like a box of Krispy Kreme or Oz Cake's Choco molten lava.( Not that they're complaining because Oz's Lava cakes is the best in the whole world!)

But when you're a mom like me who doesn't have household help, you have no choice. That toddler has got to be fed with real food! A this point, Gerber and Cerelac are no longer enough.


So I asked my sister's maid to teach me how to cook a simple arroz caldo (Rice congee with chicken). It's a perfect dish to learn because its something that both an adult and a baby can enjoy. And the great thing about it is you only need the usual cooking ingredients laying around your kitchen. Ingredients I take for granted:

I know I should be using real chicken stock. That will be my next "project" hehe

Left to right:Ginger
Onions
Garlic
1 Chicken cube (I know I should be using real chicken broth. That will be my next "project" hehe)

Not in pic:Chicken
Bigas (Uncooked Rice)

 I don't even know if I chopped the ginger correctly. Is there a proper way to do it? Anyway I didn't think it would matter as long as I took the skin off

So first I just saute the chicken with the chopped onions, garlic, and ginger. Just mix mix mix. Saute saute saute. Until chicken turns white.

Then I add water (to about half of the pot) , and 1 cup of bigas (uncooked rice). Water does not have to be boiling before you dump the rice. I just go ahead and dump it right in there. Oh and I add the chicken cube as well.

Just keep stirring.... Just keep stirring... I leave it on low fire from time to time to check on Rain. When it starts to look dry, I'll just keep adding water for the consistency I like until rice looks cooked. I like my arroz caldo to be risotto-ish. I don't like it too liquid-y (so much for my cooking terms) I also add a little of my secret magic to add more flavor (Maggi*cough* Magic *cough* Sarap *cough*)

And that's basically it. I think you can sprinkle chopped spring onions as garnish when serving but I don't have that right now.

Before feeding to Rain, I of course shred the white meat of the chicken, of course because we all know its healthier. (And because I want to keep the yummy sinful red meat to myself he he)

Rain really seems to like it. And that melts my heart. The garlic-y smell on my hands that wont come off becomes so worth it!

And that my friends is the first official recipe in my few-things-I-know-how-to-cook list.