Thursday, February 28, 2013

Mangetsu

Sam and Michelle invited Mona and I for dinner tonight. We chose to eat at Mangetsu, Jupiter which PD recommended.

We ordered Prawns in Golden Sauce

Beef with Eggplant

Chicken Kakiage

And.... Miso Based Ramen.

When I "checked in" on FB that I was at Mangetsu, my friend, Pinky said, What?!?!? You are eating again?

Hahaha! Seems I am always eating!

I am not on a diet for the whole season of Lent.

Thanks, Sam and Michelle!

 

 

2 a Day

If there is a vitamin called One a day..... Then..... today I had "2 a Day"!

Mona And I went to J.Co, Greenbelt after lunch.

I had a dose of my double donuts.

Avocado Dicaprio - Avocado with Coffee Filling and Jacky Chunk - Chocolate Frosting dipped in chopped nuts.

Mona tried Tiramisu.

I still prefer the very first two donuts I ate, AlCapone and Why Nut.

I wonder when can I get my next donut fix?

 

 

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Light and Fluffy Pancakes from Scratch!!!

My experiment for today is pancakes from scratch.

IHOP just opened here in the Philippines but I do not want to go yet because the line is still long. Mayette was there this morning to celebrate Tita Letty's birthday for breakfast. So, that is how I got my inspiration and browsed the Internet for a good and easy recipe.

I cannot find a good pancake syrup in the supermarket so I made my own caramel sauce. I put a scoop of peanut butter on top of the pancakes and added chopped Snickers.

Homemade Pancakes

1 C. Flour

1t. Baking powder

1 t. Baking soda

1 egg

1/4 C. Oil

1/4 C. Sugar

1T. Lemon juice

1 + 3T. Low fat milk

Mix all the ingredients using a mixer.

Heat a griddle and use a ladle to pour the batter. When bubbles appear flip over the pancakes.

It was a little time consuming but so worth it! The pancakes were so light and fluffy! I will never buy premixed pancake ever again.

Caramel Sauce

1/2C. Sugar

1 T. Water

1/4 C. Cream

Boil water and sugar together until it is golden brown, remove from heat and slowly pour the cream. Return pot to the stove and stir for a few seconds. Drizzle over pancakes while still warm.

 

Monday, February 25, 2013

Relationship Status: Married

My life long dream..... To change my status from Single to Married!

Alas! It is not my destiny.....yet. I am not giving up hope. I already made a pact with God that I do not want to die without getting married. Hahahaha! So even if I am 80 years old already, I will still walk down the aisle! With a cane if the need arises.

That change in status belongs to my niece, Gretchel, the daughter of my cousin. She asked me to be the witness for her civil wedding to her college beau, Nap.

Sophie thinks her cousin is still a kid. She asked me the other day if it was true Gretchel is getting married. I told her that her cousin can get married already because she has graduated from college, passed the nursing board exams, gainfully employed and is of marriageable age of late 20's.

The ceremony was held at the Quezon City Hall of Justice attended by immediate family members of both sides, Ninang and Ninong.

I was listening keenly while the Judge was giving them advise and counsel. Hahaha! I was mentally taking down notes so when I elope I know what is going to happen. Another lifelong dream of mine.... To elope and announce to the world, I just got married!

The newly wedded couple invited us for lunch at Kanin Club, Ayala Technohub. It was my first time there, lots of trees and plants.

I loved the Pinakbet! This is how I want my vegetables! I do not know why our version at home turns muddy all the time.

The couple also ordered Butterflied Tilapia.....

Crispy Dinuguan....

Salmon Belly Sinigang

And.... Turon with Halo Halo filling!

I wish my Godchildren, Nap and Gretchel, a blessed future ahead of them.

Thank you for making me a part of your very special day!

 

The New Love of my Life

Lia's FB status: Walking towards the new love of my life.

Comment from Catherine: WHAT is it?????

I wonder how did Cath know that it was a "what" and not a "who"?

I am crazy over J.CO donuts! There have several branches all over Metro Manila.

SM Megamall

SM Mall of Asia

Greenbelt 3

Trinoma

SM Fairview

Alabang Town Center

Eastwood

I went to their Greenbelt Branch today and ordered 2 donuts, Coco Loco and Choconuttzy.

I plan to try all the flavors but only two at a time.

I checked my FBS this morning and it was 196! Maybe because I ate a couple of donuts yesterday? But all I can say is that J.CO Donuts is worth the high blood sugar!

 

I LOVE J.CO Donuts!!!!!

I am several months late in trying this new kid in town because I have not eaten anything with wheat since June 18, 2012 but I am on a Diet Holiday now.

I have always been curious how J.Co donuts taste like. My Ate and her family had it in Shanghai. My friend Pinky said it is the best tasting donut out there.

I got my chance today when I went to Megamall to buy a gift.

I know the line in Greenbelt is always long but in Megamall.... Not too long.... I only had to wait in line for about 10 to 15 minutes. But me being me.... A bit quite "eng eng" .... Lined up only to find out that if I am just ordering 6 or less pieces, there is a another counter. GRRRRRR!

But never mind.... It was worth it, I only ordered 2 pieces because I do not want to die yet, live dangerously, yes. die, no.

I was entertained by watching the crew assemble the donuts on site.

I ordered the best seller... AlCapone..... Donut with white Belgian Chocolate frosting sprinkled with toasted sliced almonds.

I also got Why Nut... filled with peanut butter.

I LOVED the donuts! The dough was light as cotton, not too sweet and not greasy at all.

I bit into the Why Nut and the peanut butter filling exploded everywhere! On my shirt, watch, arms!!!!! It was a delicious hot mess.

Oh my goodness! I can finish 6 donuts in 5 minutes! I would if I could! I loved it that much. I ate one donut in 4 bites!!!! It was THAT delicious, in my opinion.

I cannot wait for my next J.Co Donut fix!!!!

 

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Longer Table

I have to add another table whenever my family eats lunch at my house nowadays.

The kids are getting bigger! And their appetites too! My family does not eat much. Before we could not even finish a whole chicken but now, I have to cook 2 or 3 whole chicken!

It is quite difficult to think of a Saturday menu for them. They do not like food with sauce. I must have soup most of the time but only Nilaga because they do not eat Sinigang. The main dish should be "dry", either baked, fried or grilled. So it is a challenge to come up with ideas on what to cook for them.

When they can ask me to cook almost anything.... They only like plain and simple food.

That is why I am glad I have friends who allow me to experiment and let them be my guinea pigs.

Lechon Kawali is generally a safe choice.

I am not so good in making Pancit but I do try my hand occasionally.

What they do not know will not hurt them.

I used the fat that dripped from the Turbo Lechon Kawali to sauté the Pancit Bihon.

I made mine Pancit con Lechon.

I do not like to eat anymore the Visayan Lumpiang Ubod. For this weekend, I cooked the traditional....

Fresh Lumpiang Ubod with Homemade Wrapper

1/2 K. Prime cut Ubod, julienned

125 gr. ground pork

125 gr. shrimps, chopped

Garlic, chopped

White onion, chopped

1 C. Shrimp juice

1 pc. Knorr chicken cube

1 C. Water

Sugar

Patis

Pepper

Sauté the garlic and onions until soft.

Add the ground pork, then the shrimps.

Pour the shrimp juice and water. When the liquid boils, add the Ubod.

Season with pepper, sugar and patis according to your taste. When the Ubod is tender, drain the vegetables.

Lumpia Wrapper

2 eggs, separated

1/2 C. Cornstarch

1 C. Water

Few drops of yellow food color (I think I added too much in my batter)

Beat the egg whites until frothy then add the beaten egg yolk.

Dissolve cornstarch in water and combine with the beaten eggs.

On a non-stick pan, pour 2 T. batter and swirl around the pan. When the sides of the crepe pull away from the pan, turn over gently. Stack in between pieces of grease proof or wax paper.

Lumpia Sauce

1/2 C. Brown sugar

1/4 C. Soy sauce

2 C. Water

3 T. Cornstarch dissolved in 4 T. Water

Combine the brown sugar, soy sauce and water. When it boils, add the cornstarch slurry and stir until thick.

Serve Lumpiang Ubod with fresh garlic

And crushed peanuts.

 

 

Experiment Number 3

Finally! Cua Pao with Preserved Mustard!

This is what I want!

It is almost perfect, I just need to make sweet sauce to complement my cua pao.

I am very happy!

 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

A Quick Trip To Farmer's Market

I was in dire need of Preserved Mustard so I can perfect my cua pao. I called Beth, my hard-to-find ingredients vendor in Farmer's. I reserved one kilo yesterday and picked it up today.

Yay! I hope this time I could get the taste I am looking for.

For all my Asian ingredients like kaffir lime leaves, fresh curry leaves, galangal, Ling Nam Molo wrappers and more, I always get it at Beth and Lolita stall, Farmer's Market.

My favorite meat vendor in Farmer's is Gil.

Tita Des Tantoco recommended him to me. I get my delicious beef tapa from his stall, Teresa's.

I love going to the Market! If I could go everyday, I would.

 

 

Monday, February 18, 2013

Crabs with Tausi

My friends and I had lunch at my house today. We had Crabs with Tausi Sauce!

Our new favorite! We prefer it to chili crabs. Corry was our generous sponsor for the crabs. I bought it at Seaside Market and had it cooked there.

Jing and I contributed the Suahe boiled in Sprite.

Mayette cooked her Baby Pusit in Garlic.

Tita Cena brought Inutak from Rockwell.

Mona was in charge of the drinks and ice!

We all love to eat.... That is our common denominator. We are already planning our next eating session next month. I cannot wait!!!!!

Thank you, Lord for friends who are as passionate as me when it comes to eating!!!!!