Longganisa Obsession

Ever since Lisa showed me the longganisa she was about to eat the other night, I started having this longganisa obsession.  I am not really a fan, especially the sweet Hamonado variant but I had this unexplainable need to buy  in the supermarket.

I remember, when I was in college, Tita Bebet, the mom of Jing, would order from her office the sweet/garlicky longganisa.  It was so good! Up to now I cannot forget the taste.

So, back to my craving du jour....

I bought a pack of JDC Longganisa  Hamonado.



I added 1 cup water to the links in the pan.



When it started to boil, I lowered the heat and ......

ok .... Hermie continued from this point.  We waited until the liquid evaporated, pricked the links with the tip of the knife to let the oil ooze out and let it fry in its own fat.

Result:



Perfectly cooked longganisa!  I am very impatient, if I cooked it myself, I would have increased the heat and the casing would probably have burst and the sausages will be black in color.

I dipped it in the sukang tuba from Romblon and ate it with the Ubod Atchara from Mon.

I wonder where else can I buy longganisa and what are the good brands out there?

Culinary Journey with Chef Michelle D'Orival

There was another cooking demo today at the Bel-Air Village covered court, a joint project of the Women of Bel-Air, Barangay Bel-Air and Bel-Air Village Association.

The guest today was Chef Michelle D'Orival.



She is the French Food vendor at Salcedo Market every Saturday.

She taught us how to make Leek and Potato Soup, French Apple Tart and .....

Chicken in Wine Sauce, Coq au vin.



We had a food sampling also after the demo.



It was very interesting to listen to her stories, where the dishes originated from and lots of cooking tips you will not find in recipe books.



I learned how to cut a whole chicken into 8 parts.  I went again to Rustan's,  Rockwell after the demo and bought a whole chicken.  I asked the butcher to cut it into 8 parts.  He said it is called "fried chicken cut".

The next Culinary Journey Cooking Demo will be on October 30.   I hope I will be able to attend on that day!

Morelli's Gelato, Rockwell

I tried the gelato of the newly opened Morelli's at Powerplant Mall in Rockwell.



They have assorted  flavors.







I tried the Chocolate and Peanut Butter.



It was so good!  Not too sweet, very creamy and it does not melt easily!!!  It took a little while for me to take photos with my camera and phone and by the time I had my first teaspoonful, the gelato was not yet a gooey mess!!!

If only I could try all the flavors everyday.... but... I can probably eat it once a month only!

I love Morelli's!!!!

P.S.

I was outside Rustan's Supermarket when someone approached me and asked if I was the blogger.  I said, YES!  She introduced herself as Vicky.  I remember she always leaves messages for me and she likes Wriggly!

It was nice meeting you in person, Vicky!

Crab Party

My friends and I had a crab party today.



I sent them a message a few weeks ago and gave them the crab party mechanics:

1.  Each attendee should bring half a kilo of crabs: male, female, bakla or claws.
2.  Jing said to bring your own claw cracker.  NO sharing allowed.
3.  Jing also said to bring your own bib or apron.
4.  You can bring cooked or uncooked crabs and we can cook it in the house.

Suggested sauces: Lemon butter, Chili, Aligue, Ginataan, Olive oil with garlic and vinegar, Szechuan, etc.

Jing and I went to Farmer's Market this morning to buy our crabs and for the others.  We bought 3 kilos for 6 people and steamed it when we got home.



Jing made Chili Garlic Sauce.



I made Butter Sauce for dipping.




Mona made the Olive oil with garlic and vinegar dipping sauce



and.... burong manga.




Corry also brought Pork Barbecue.

Mon brought 2 BIG crabs!



We told him he can get from ours because we wanted to try his Fried Spicy Crabs.



He also brought delicious Ubod Atchara.



Since it was Hermie's day off, I told her to just buy banana leaves to put on top of the dining table so we do not have to wash plates anymore. 



She also brought out paper plates and plastic forks and spoons.

Then she left a love letter for Mona:



Mona said we should wash the leaves with soap and water.  I do not know how Hermie cleaned them.  BUT.... she "promised" the leaves were clean!

My crab



and Kitchen scissors for crabs.



The crew was not complete.  Mayette and Jon were not able to join us for lunch.  The reason why we had this crab party was because it was our subtle way of telling Mayette that we want to eat her Adobong Alimango!!!  I want to learn how to cook it and will ask, Tita Letty, her mom, to teach me.

Everybody was so happy with our lunch. 



Hahahahaha! We are always happy whenever we have a get-together.

Last man and woman "eating". 

Long Overdue

It has been long overdue now.  I should have gotten my new phone for my birthday but I cancelled my order when I heard iphone 5 was coming out. But apparently, no units yet in the Philippines.

Then I got confused when some people told me to get an ipad. After doing a survey, friends said I   should just get an iphone 4s.

I ressurected my previous  order last Thursday and I had to wait for my unit.

I got lucky last night. There is an ongoing mallwide sale in Rockwell and Globe was having its own Christmas sale. I did not have to wait for a unit but to top my lucky streak, they waived the cash out of 4,800!!! I only have to pay the monthly bill.

I am still trying to get used to it. My friends said I do not need to bring a camera anymore to take pictures for my blog!

I am very happy I am already a member of the modern Apple world!

The Dentist

FBS: 74

I remember a movie of Dustin Hoffman, I think it was called, The Dentist.  To torture the answer from Dustin, the interrogator drilled all his teeth without anesthesia.

I went to my dentist yesterday because I had a toothache.  I felt it since I came back from Puerto Princesa from eating too much Bandi.  It turned out I had 2 small cavities on my molars, side by side.  The dentist is used to me by now.  She knows I do not need nor want anesthesia while my tooth was being drilled. I wanted to know my threshold for pain.

So... there I was... feeling like Dustin Hoffman.  I was able to take the pain.  Sure it hurt but I would have asked for anesthesia if I really could not stand it anymore.  So, if I tell you something feels painful... then it means, it  REALLY is.  

I will not eat Bandi anymore.  For years, I have always passed with passing colors and the dentist would declare: No cavities.

I also had my teeth "cleaned".  Prophylaxis????

Hahahaha Maybe you are wondering where this is all leading .....

Since I just had my teeth cleaned ..... I did not want to eat and eat, that was why my FBS this morning was only 74!  I was hungry late last night, I was tempted to have food delivered but opened a can of tuna instead.  It hit the spot although I did not enjoy my food.  The tuna flakes stuck to my throat.  I had to drink water for every forkful but it eased the hunger pangs I felt.

I have been quite busy lately since I posted my Lia's Food List.  I am not complaining, I am very happy that people started ordering from me.  I just do not have as much time on my hands as I used to.  But business is starting really good.

Hope more orders come my way! I do miss posting in my blog everyday.  Just letting you guys know.... so far so good, especially Health/Sugar wise.

Happy Birthday, Bibo!

Bibo celebrated her birthday today.  We "gate-crashed" her party with her family and staff!  Sarita calls it" SURPRISE"!  It was such a fun evening filled with laughter and food! Bibo is the Chef/Owner of Chef's Galley Cafe but she said, she did not want to cook on her birthday.

So, her family and staff prepared the food for the evening.

Very delicious and fresh  Sashimi.

Tuna



Salmon



Prawns with Butter Sauce



Lechon Manok



Pancit




I brought Fried Lumpiang Ubod for Bibo.

 

I was not able to take a picture of Gay's Chicken Barbecue from Conti's.

Lots of cakes and Buko Pandan Salad from Nathaniel's.

Bibo and her family are dog lovers! They actually have 13 dogs!   Every morning, after she cooks the food of her family, she then cooks the food of her four-legged family members.

The youngest "child" is Hercules.



The second to the youngest "child" is Apollo!



Such cute, cute Beagles! 

But her favorite companion/buddy is Hector, a beautiful Black Labrador.

Happy Birthday, Bibo!