Thai Lunch with Friends

An impromptu Thai lunch with friends. Yesterday, Michelle asked if she can hang out in the house today before her 2 pm appointment. We have been playing invitation tag for several weeks already and finally our schedules matched.

I thought of serving Thai food, it seems healthy and very easy to make. I also invited some of the girls. Those who were able to attend were Pia, Catherine and Marianne. I told them it would have to be an early lunch because Michelle has to leave before 2 pm.

I experimented with Lemongrass/Pandan Tea because I know it will go well with the food. I researched the net, found a recipe I liked and just adjusted according to taste.

Lemongrass/Pandan Tea

8-10 stalks Lemongrass

4 cups water

Drop lemongrass stalks in boiling water and simmer for 2 minutes. Remove pot from heat and let it steep for about 2 hours.

1 bunch pandan leaves (I don't know how many, just bought from the grocery)

8 cups water

Boil until water turns a bit green/yellow in color. Steep for two hours.

Strain the leaves. Add

1 cup sugar syrup (Boil 1 cup sugar in half cup water.)

2 T. Honey

1/4 C. calamansi juice

Chill and pour over ice.

I cooked Bagoong Fried Rice. Really easy to make! Well ... I think as long as there is someone who will prepare the ingredients?

Bagoong Fried Rice

700 grams Thai Jasmine Rice, steamed

1/4 C. cooking oil

1 head garlic, crushed

2 T. Thai Shrimp paste ( not our ordinary bagoong)

2 T. brown sugar

Brown garlic in oil, add the shrimp paste and brown sugar. Sprinkle water on the rice and toss until cooked. Garnish on top with the following:

2 egg-omelet, cut into strips

1 green mango, shredded ( I used the shredder from Bangkok given by Tita Jit)

100 grams dried Hibe, fried

hand chopped roasted peanuts or cashews

250 grams Mekeni pork tocino, fried and cut into small cubes

shallots, sliced

I also made Pomelo Salad

200 grams Sunsweet Green Lollo(if you buy in Rustan's) or a.k.a. Salad Supernova (if you buy in SM)

10-12 pieces shrimps, boiled and peeled

chopped roasted peanuts

pomelo segments

Dressing

3 T. lime juice

3 T. Thai fish sauce

3 T. brown sugar

3 shallots, sliced

1/4 t. Thai chili flakes

Thai Grilled Pork - I found this recipe online but I can't remember the web page.

1 K. liempo ( I asked the butcher of SM to slice the frozen liempo about 1/2 inch thick, or even thinner but not as thin as bacon slice) FYI, the thinner the meat, the more tender it is when grilled.

Marinade

2 T. brown sugar

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 t. rock salt

1 T. Thai fish sauce

Marinate for ONLY 1 hour before grilling.

We enjoyed our lunch! They all liked what I cooked and am very happy to be with old familiar faces. I hope we can do this more often.