For The Love Of Pinky....

I got the title of my post from Dra. Cristina's comment in FB.

Candy, Cristina, Jodie, Mico, Mylene, Tin, Eileen and I celebrated the birthday of Pinky tonight.

My friends asked me to cook our dinner and we all just shared in the expenses except for those who brought the dessert.

Theme for tonight was Asian.

Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls (recipe in my blog) with...

Hoisin Peanut Sauce

Pad Thai

Chicken Pandan.

I cheated and bought the chicken in SM Makati then just deep fried it.

Asian Salad with Sesame Dressing

Hahahaha I cheated again and got Garden Salad from KFC. I also bought extra dressing and added more romaine lettuce leaves.

Eileen, Candy and Mylene brought a HUGE tub of Nathaniel's Buko Pandan!

They got it from S & R.

Dra. Miko brought home chocolates from Japan.

I am so happy because they loved the food I cooked for them!

They said I should open a restaurant or something but I told them I only get excited when I want and like the people I am cooking for!

Pinky's birthday wish?

She said she wants all of us to take a cruise on board Allure of the Seas.

(Photo from the web)

Gift giving time!

I baked Salted Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies for Pinky.

Dra. Cristina gave her a smelly balm.

Hahahahaha Anti stress balm.

Dra. Miko gave her assorted anti stress and aromatherapy stuff!

Birthday girl!

We are always giddy with excitement every time you come home for a visit. You are our excuse to hold a get together all the time.

Take care of your health because we plan to take a cruise when we are in our twilight years! Hahahaha Maybe it is sooner rather than later!!! <wink wink>.

We love you, Pinky!

 

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Strawberry Cream Cake

I received a basket of very sweet strawberries from Sam.

He bought it in Baguio. Thank you!

I suddenly had a craving for Strawberry Shortcake. I researched the internet and most of the recipes used biscuits or scones in their shortcake recipes.

I figured I would use a chiffon cake as a base.

I followed a simple recipe online.... It was a disaster.

I gave Wriggly a piece of the cake and he immediately threw up.

My second attempt was much better. I used my tried and tested Maya Kitchen Cookbook.

Oh please... Do not asked me to teach you how to bake a cake! Even for me it is a touch and go situation.

Will just give you a tip.... When it says beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form.... This is what it looks like.

It is very easy to assemble a Strawberry Cream Cake. You just need a base.... Whether it is baked at home or store bought, split it in half.

I used the Elle Vire Whipping Cream and whipped briefly in my Kitchen Aid Mixer with the spiral whip attachment until stiff. I added about 2 Tablespoons of sifted powdered sugar.

Spread the cream on the cake.

Arrange halved strawberries on top of the cream.

Spread another layer of cream.

Cover the first layer with the other half.

Spread the remaining whipped cream on top and cover all the sides. Arrange the rest of the halved strawberries on top.

Chill until ready to serve.

I did not add a lot of sugar to the whipped cream because it is bad for me. But you may add more according to taste.

 

 

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Adobong Baboy sa Asin

My Junkie neighbors and I have a private group in FB wherein we share all the recipes we like online.

There is this Adobong Baboy sa Asin that I have been wanting to experiment with for a long time.

Good thing the Junkies, Trica, Cat and Shey, were able to have lunch with me today.

Tricia brought the Radish Salad with Dilis.

I asked Cat to bring fresh fruits.

And Shey was in charge of our Starbucks coffee fix!

The new recipe is similar to Mayette's Adobo but it has 1 more tablespoon of vinegar and bay leaves. The cooking procedure was totally different.

I had to brown the Liempo in its own fat first, then simmered in the pressure cooker and transferred into a Teflon pan. The sauce was reduced until the oil has been rendered and no more braising liquid left.

Ohhhh Mayette!!! Look at the way your "baby sis" eats her Adobo! Labay Mantika!

The color of the meat depends on the way you brown it prior to simmering.

So if you want a darker color, fry the meat until golden brown. In it's own oil, of course.

 

 

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Pizza from Scratch

I researched on the internet how to make Pizza from scratch and combined the different recipes I found online.

Pizza Sauce

1 T. Olive oil

1 small white onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

1 400-gram can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed by hands in a ceramic bowl

1/2 tsp. dried oregano or pizza seasoning

2 pcs. Basil leaves or 1/2 t. Dried basil leaves

1 tsp. Salt

1/2 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper

1-2 tsps. Sugar

Sauté onion in oil until transparent. Add the garlic, continue sautéing for a minute more.

Add the crushed whole tomatoes and the rest of the seasonings. When it boils, lower heat and simmer for 45 minutes stirring every 5 minutes.

Pizza Crust

1 3/4 C. Bread flour

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 C. Lukewarm water

1 tsp. instant dried yeast

1/4 tsp. sugar

Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl.

Dissolve the sugar and yeast in water and let it stand for 5 minutes.

Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and pour the yeast mixture into it. Mix using a spatula or wooden spoon.

Knead with the dough hook attachment of the Kitchen Aid for 5 minutes.

Turn onto a clean surface.

Dust with flour. Roll out dough with a rolling pin.

It makes 1 big rectangle or 2 round crusts.

Spread the pizza sauce.

Cheese

8 oz. Mozzarella, grated

1/2 C. Parmesan cheese, grated

Top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Choose any topping you like.

I made my pizza half Shrimp and Garlic and the other half, bacon.

Bake in a pre-heated 450-425 oven for 12 to 15 minutes. I read online that in the absence of a pizza stone, one can use a Silpat mat instead.

It was a huge pizza!

I let everybody try it! Sophie said it tasted like Yellow Cab Pizza. My Kuya liked it! I haven't heard yet from PD. The helpers said it was good.

I am glad my experiment turned out well. Do I plan to make again?

Why not! My only problem was it took me almost an hour to reach the right electric oven temperature.

P.S.

I baked Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecans this afternoon.

P.P.S.

Hermie is back already from her vacation and look at the pasalubong she gave me!

Native garlic! Ampao! Bukayo! Batwan.

She said she will report back to work on May 1. Good thing I hired temporary help for summer.

The Wriggly Chronicles

Say HI to Sabrina!

Another one of Wriggly's housemate. She was born upstairs!

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Holyweek 2014

I just stayed at home this year. It was so nice and relaxing to be in the city when everybody was out of town. I never go to the beach when it is crowded. I would rather go on weekdays and off season... I have the place all to myself and let us not forget the off season rates!

Maundy Thursday

A wonderful early Easter present was given to me by Tita Tess! Thank you!

I finished the contents of the whole box in one day! Hahahaha! I was too afraid somebody might see it and ask from me! So I ate them all.

Good Friday

Thank you, Shey for my Good Friday food!

Tricia, my neighbor, invited me for lunch at their house. Good thing I did not have to cook anymore because I woke up late.

Black Saturday

Family Day... Kuya asked me to cook Bulalo Soup for him.

As early as Tuesday, I already bought the bone marrow at Rustan's, Rockwell.

Yummmmmm!!!! Buttery marrow!

I had 2 servings! Only my immediate "blood" relatives enjoyed this delicacy.

I just added corn and Chinese cabbage.

The meat was just half a kilo but believe it or not, they did not even finish it. They only liked the corn and the soup.

Lechon Kawali which I cooked in the turbo broiler.

Kuya's helper grilled the Pusit.

Easter Sunday

I spent Easter Sunday with Jing and her family!

Sherman grilled the Liempo.

I cooked the favorite of James, Fried Rice

And Molo Soup.

Jing also brought Watermelon!

My favorite summer dessert. Better than ice cream!

Tricia, Jing's sister, was in charge of the chips

And drinks!

Mimi! We finally opened the dessert wine you gave me! I loved it!!!!

It was a relaxing food filled Holy Week for me.

Ok.... So where was God in all of these eating activities?

I brought PD to Easter Mass at the park!

Wriggly Chronicles

Wriggly's housemate, Lizzy, was feeling so hot the other day she sat in front of the electric fan.

 

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