Lengua Mechada

I have been waiting a while now for people who truly love to eat lengua because I have ox tongue in the freezer.   I'm so lucky to find out it is the favorite of Jing and Sherman.    So... our lunch for today was Lengua Mechada.  We are having a garage sale at the moment.  I'm raising funds for my Boracay trip and Jing is trying to dispose of things she doesn't need anymore cluttering her house. 

I researched the net for Lengua recipes.  I do not like with  creamy mushroom sauce.  I came across several variations of Lengua Mechada and added a little twist of my own. This recipe is not for the faint of heart, literally!

Lengua Mechada



1 K. Ox tongue
8 strips bacon
2 cloves garlic
1 white onion
button mushroom
1/2 C. white wine
1 C. tomato sauce
1/4 C. butter
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
salt and pepper
MSG (optional)
1 big potato, sliced thickly
olive oil

Clean and boil ox tongue until tender. Set aside the stock.  When cool, remove thick white skin and slice.

Cook bacon strips until crisp.  Brown the tongue slices in bacon oil.  Then add garlic and onions - cook until transparent... then add the button mushroom.

Pour the white wine and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Season with salt, pepper and mustard.

Add tomato sauce and butter, then 1 C. stock.  Lower heat and simmer until sauce is thick.

Fry the potato in olive oil.    Arrange in one layer on a platter.  Top with the lengua and sprinkle crumbled bacon on top.

Jing's lunch contribution was the Onion Soup.  I loved the stringy mozzarella cheese on top!!!



Jing's Onion Soup



butter
white onion, slices
beef stock (3-4 C. water + 1 Knorr beef cube)
pepper
thyme
French bread slices
mozzarella cheese slices

Melt butter in a sauce pan, then caramelize the onions.  Add the stock, simmer for 30 minutes over low heat.  Season with pepper and thyme.

Ladle the soup into individual soup bowls.  Put a slice of  bread and cheese on top of the bowl.  Bake or broil in the oven until the cheese melts.

The Lengua Mechada experiment was a success! I was so apprehensive because it was my first time to cook with tomato sauce.  I hope next time I can let my other friends taste it also.  Meanwhile .... I have to sell more stuff!  Hahahaha and control Wriggly's shopping spree. He "bought" 1 Guess t-shirt and 2 stuffed toys.

Bulalo Envy

I've been waiting all week long for Saturday ever since I saw Dodai's photo of the Bulalo soup she made.  I couldn't wait to cook also the same.  I got the beef shank from Mrs. Garcia's meat in Metro supermarket.  I always choose the ones with small bones and with lots of marbling.  I  know marbling means the meat will be tender...  it's not fat... it's "litid". 



With lots of vegetables and sweet corn.  Gilly had several servings, as usual.





She also liked the Baked Mussels! Hermie prepared it last night together with Tita Portia's.  You can freeze the unbaked mussels overnight and just put it in the oven before the guests arrive.



Ate's request was the Bicol Express, I already cooked it yesterday but added the shrimps today when I reheated it.



Two kinds of Inihaw na Liempo .... regular grill cut, which is thicker and the very thin grill cut pork belly.



Filipino food theme is not complete without the home made Bagoong Guisado with the chicharon bits and garlic. 



We also ate the Buco salad Tita Ruby brought last night.



I was enjoying my lunch when I accidentally bit the tip of my tongue!!!  OUCH!  I was making such a big ruckus because I wanted to eat more!  I used an ice cube to stem the flow of blood and after a while .... good as new and resumed eating.  Sometimes, when we are all together... I get so excited... couldn't wait to chew and swallow my food so I can get a word in!

 Maybe people are wondering why I serve almost the same kind of food every Saturday to my family ...



...it's because it's what they like to eat... it's everybody comfort food perhaps.  Sometimes, I would introduce a new dish and get a "thumbs up".  Will try to experiment with more recipes next time.

Hahahaha  I was probably so full from lunch, I fell asleep while editing this post!

Matchmaker ......

Tita Portia played cupid tonight and introduced single people to each other.  She also invited her cousin who is visiting from Toronto and another friend, Tita Ruby Henson.  I like her so much because she is so cool and funny!

There were two single "boys" and two "single" girls.... hahahaha... I feel quite old already sometimes when I am in the company of younger people...  late 20's and early 30's.    I was trying so hard to eavesdrop but they were speaking in very low voices!!!!   I hope a friendship develops and who knows... might bloom into something.

Tita Portia asked me to cook Chicken Relleno with gravy






and her favorite Baked Mussels.



Good thing there was jellied cranberry sauce too.



We had buttered vegetables.... corn, peas and broccoli...

Salad with mango vinaigrette.



I was surprised the Baked Sweet Potato Tita Portia cooked tasted Yum!



The sweet potato was boiled... halved... scooped out ... then mashed with butter and milk ... put back into the sweet potato skin halves, sprinkled with brown sugar then baked.  She also concocted a side dish made with whole cranberry sauce and guava jelly.

And.... for dessert ... it was a trio of watermelon sorbet, frozen brazo from Vargas and........  Quezo de Bola dipped in Chocolate!!!



I loved it! So interesting!  It think it is quezo de bola cheesecake balls dipped in dark chocolate.



A few weeks ago, I promised Tita Ruby I would bake an apple pie for her when she mentioned in passing that she can not find a good one anymore.   I spent the rest of the afternoon baking.



I hope she liked it!



Before the night ended, Tita Portia urged the boys to get the numbers of the girls.  We will see what happens next.  Let's hope Cupid's magic work for them!

Lunch with My Most Favorite People in the Entire World!

Today, I had lunch with my most favorite people in the entire world!  Celine is the only one missing, she is in Vancouver.  I did not have plans of having friends over for lunch.  It was just supposed to be Mona and I only.  I already asked Hermie to defrost the bacon cut pork belly for the two of us.

Then... Mariger called, said she is going to Makati and asked if she could join us for lunch.  I said, Yes! Great!.  I had to go to Poblacion Market to buy the fresh alamang for my Bicol Express.  I have a "suki" there and her alamang is not too salty and is light pink in color. The Bicol Express is for tomorrow's lunch but I cooked it today... let my friends taste some.

I figured, I would buy fish and cook sinigang to add to our Homemade Bacon Crisps. I was able to get Maya Maya belly... one of my Mom's favorite fish.  Mona asked what kind of fish it was because she said "It melts in the mouth!"  I followed the Fish Sinigang sa Miso recipe in my blog. 



I know my food was not a lot but I invited Jing and Sherman to join us also!  Good thing I did!  After Jing took her first bite of the Homemade Bacon Crisps.... she couldn't stop at one piece!



I told her she can buy bacon slice pork belly from Cash and Carry, sprinkle it with rock salt, dredge in cornstarch and deep fry the pieces!

We also ate Green Mangoes with Bagoong... the mango was a bit tart but they loved the Bagoong.  I can only buy it in Seaside Macapagal and the brand is PIYESTA.



Mariger bought Coke for everybody and for dessert ... Jing bought from Cake Ave. Chocolate Cake roll.

My lunches don't come free .. usually come with a "price tag".  So after we all had our lunch ... and so full already... it was time to pay up!!!  Hahahaha  I told them I have to "model" my Bikini and they will have to let me know what they think.  They helped me decide which one I can wear to Boracay next week with out a cover up and which one I SHOULD wear with a cover up!

So glad I was with my dearest friends today.... we just shared a simple meal but the happiness factor was sky high for me.  We do not need a feast to enjoy ourselves ... what matters most is to be with people you love.

Ginataang Sitaw with Squash

I was reading the food section of  The Inquirer today and there was an article about the different ways we Filipinos cook adobo and it made me crave for Mayette's Adobo again even if I just cooked it the other day.  It is something I can eat over and over... I can eat it with Kare Kare... or steamed suahe with tomato and wansoy... or with vegetables.

I asked Tita Portia what kind of vegetables she would like to eat with adobo and she said, Ginataang Sitaw with Squash.  Normally, I would cook it the same way I would with Bicol Express but today, it was a very simple recipe and it took  less than 10 minutes to prepare.

Ginataang Sitaw with Squash



1 bundle dark green sitaw, cut into 2 inch length
squash, sliced thinly then cut into squares
garlic, crushed
onion, sliced
ginger, sliced
100 grams pork, diced
1 tsp. fresh alamang
1 T. fish sauce
coconut milk, 1st and 2nd extraction(about 1 C.)

Saute garlic, onion and ginger... then add the pork...  when the color changes, add the alamang.
Pour the coconut milk, 2nd extraction.  When it starts to boil, add the vegetables and cover for 3 minutes without lowering the heat.
Season with fish sauce then add the coconut milk, 1st extraction.  Turn off the heat when the vegetables are done.

I can't wait to cook again Mayette's Adobo!


I hope I can let you taste, one serving wouldn't be enough for you.  I have a confession to make ... there were a few teaspoons of sauce/oil left in the serving dish, I added about 1 big heaping of rice and cleaned out the platter!

Nothing beats home cooking.

I woke up this morning by the wonderful aroma of someone cooking in my house.  I went to the helper's kitchen and asked what was that delicious smell.  Take note... my synapses weren't firing yet so I had to ask.  They were cooking adobo!

All morning, I was waiting for Rustan's to open so I can buy chicken.   I just got 2 pieces of leg quarters and asked the butcher to cut each piece into 4.  I opened my blog to look at the recipe of Mayette's Adobo.    I always have to have the right measurements of ingredients and proper timing.



Then I asked Hermie to saute the Sitaw in onion and garlic with Magic Sarap.  My lunch was really so simple but delicious!  I think I must have eaten more than a cup of rice!!!!



Yesterday, Mona and I were inviting by Jing to eat lunch at their house.  Actually, we were just cashing in our "rain check".  A few weeks ago, she also invited us, we said yes.  Then she said: BTW my whole family is down with the flu!  ARRRGGHHHHHHHH  I immediately said, Jing! I can't go!  Can I take a rain check, instead?

I can't be in the same room with sick people... I can't even talk to sick people on the phone because I have a tendency to be "jealous"  hahahaha or empathize... then will start sneezing and coughing after the phone call.

I enjoyed myself yesterday.  Jing cooked fried rice... more or less tasted like Chahan (Japanese Fried Rice), so yum and buttery!!!




Sherman grilled the liempo and tilapia.





Janet made "Hot" Bicol Express.... Had to drink ice cold water for every spoonful ... she used siling labuyo instead of Jalapeno because she said it was not as hot as the jalapeno in Bicol! 



Thanks Jing and Sherman for the lunch! Next time again, ok?

 I always dine out especially when I have a craving or too lazy  but sometimes, nothing beats home cooking!

Everybody's Favorite "Lunch"

It is Saturday again .... what does it mean???  Most people who read this blog will know .... my family eats lunch  in my house. 



Tita Portia was very ecstatic because of the thick layer of  fat attached to the skin of the Lechon Kawali . 



My Kuya was not because he eats healthy food.  I saw him scrape off the fat from the crunchy skin! Sacrilegious!!!

My "family" (blood relatives) i.e. Tita Portia, Kuya and Ate  loved the Sinigang na Kanduli sa Miso!





I went to Salcedo Market this morning to buy 4 pieces... really fresh and the meat of the fish was golden yellow in color, not pale and tasteless.  With accompanying kalamansi and bagoong isda as dipping sauce.

Gilly ate almost half a platter of the Meatless Pancit Canton.



It may be meatless but don't be deceived.  I waited for the Turbo Lechon Kawali to be cooked because I used the oil drippings to saute the pancit!!!  Not to mention the liquid in which the liempo was tenderized.

My brother in law said it was "shining" in oil... then I confessed after he ate the pancit that I used the lechon drippings!  Most people are afraid to eat my "Pancit" because I have this very bad habit of using pork lard in sauteing!

One of the secrets of cooking good Pancit Canton is to get a  good kind of noodles.  I used the one from Ling Nam Noodle Factory in T. Alonzo St., Binondo. 



Since I'm still in my "Bistek" mode,



I bought Sirloin from Rustan's after going to Salcedo market.  I just marinated in 1/4 C. soy sauce and 1 T. kalamansi juice.  I followed the instructions in the recipes I browsed in the internet.  But I used pressure cooker for 20 minutes.  I served it for lunch but my family was afraid to try hahaha... I just kept it in the fridge for another meal, will saute onions in butter before I add the Bistek.  Hmmm Maybe will eat it tomorrow.

Our lunch menu was just simple but my  family enjoyed the food I prepared....  it was everybody's favorite!

Zuni

I had lunch at Zuni in Greenbelt 5 with Tita Portia and the friends of my mom today.  We all look forward to our once a month get together.  We try new restaurants and exchange stories with each other.  I'm very comfortable with my senior friends.  The topics of our conversations  range from politics, new beauty products, our household helpers, their grandchildren, common aquaintances, etc....  We even exchanged Valentines token gifts.  I baked chocolate cookies for them.

For starters, I had the Cream of Broccoli soup but I was too excited I forgot to take a picture.

I ordered my favorite salad, Crispy Soft Shelled Crabs with onions rings in Mango-Lime vinaigrette.

Also tried the Prawns Thermidore.  A HUGE prawn with wild rice and buttered vegetables.

For dessert, Mango souffle.  One of these days, I'm going to experiment and make one.   I'm always intimidated by the thought of souffle.

We already set a date for March, we will just have to decide where.  They normally ask Tita Portia or me for suggestions.... we have a few weeks to check out new restos.... so... until then.

Valentines Picnic Party with friends

My friends and I celebrated Valentines Day early.  We had a swimming party/ picnic at Mona's house in Alabang.  We have been planning this event for weeks!  Well... when I say plan ... we have been talking about what food we are going to prepare.

Mona cooked a 9 layer meat lasagna made with fresh noodles.  This is Mona's business, you can order from her in advance.  Really YUM!  Everybody liked it.



Corry, Mona's sister, contributed the White Mountain cake from Becky's Kitchen and the callos.



Tita Cena  cooked the callos.  So rich and thick! We heaped  spoonfuls on top of the crunchy sliced baguette.



Jing brought the fried chicken wings.  Also a winner!
 


Mayette brought the Tacos and her Mom, Tita Letty, brought Chicken Pastel and miniature crunchy fried wanton.







My contributions were the Chocolate chip cookies... they were gone in a flash and the pork barbeque.






Mariger had 3 boxes of pizza delivered.



Everybody was assigned to bring assorted chips to munch on. So it was a "pool" of junk food!

 

I was reading Yahoo this morning and according to the survey, the top Potato chips in the USA is ZAPP'S.  Good thing I was able to buy in Cash and Carry today.



Nolan (Mayette's brother) and Sol brought the Tostitos and Ruffles Sour Cream and onion.

Mayette brought my favorite snack.  You can't find it in the supermarkets.  Before, I used to go all the way to Sto. Cristo in Divisoria just to buy Jaki Tyan!!!  It is a cheap kind of  local cheese curls but sooooooo yum! And high in vetsin and with extremely  high food coloring content.  It would take a few washings to remove the stain from your fingers.  But oh so worth it!

We all enjoyed ourselves so much!  Lots and lots and lots of food!  I even had to swim just to make myself hungry again and go for round 2!  I hope we can do this again.  Can't wait for the next event!