Ginataang Kalabasa (Squash cooked in coconut oil)

My kids are not yet fond of eating vegetables so I have to experiment my cooking to suit their liking. We know the importance of vegetables to our kids and so dealing with it is really kind of hard. This recipe worked with my kids because they liked dishes with coconut milk so I tried the squash cooked in coconut milk. They liked the sweetness of the sauce and little by little I got them eat squash which we all know is good for the eyes.

Ingredients:

• 1 kilo squash, cut into cubes (1"x1")
• 1/4 kilo pork, cut into pieces
• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 head garlic, minced
• 5 pieces sitaw, cut into 2” long
• 4 tablespoons of cooking or olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of shrimp paste (bagoong)
• 2 cups coconut milk
• 1 cup coconut cream (kakang gata)
• 2 cups pork stock
• 2 tablespoons of fish sauce (patis)

Cooking procedures:

Boil pork until tender. Cut into pieces. On a big pan, heat oil. Sauté garlic, onions and pork then add 1 tbsp of fish sauce. Add the squash, sitaw, pork stock, shrimp paste and the coconut milk. Let boil then simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until the liquid has reduced and the squash becomes tender. Add the coconut cream and the pork plus 1 tbsp of fish sauce. Bring again to a boil and simmer for a few more minutes. Serve hot with plain rice.