Lunch with Leah

My friend, Leah, who is based in Singapore is in Manila! She is actually the classmate of Mariger but we all shared a table at the AC lounge when we were in college.

I invited her and Jing for lunch.

We had my Kare-Kare from scratch....

Chicken Adobo.... Still do not why people say it goes well with Kare-Kare. But after eating it, it does make sense.

I made Vietnamese Coffee and we ate the "folded fortune cookies" with coconut jam in the center from Singapore.

It was nice seeing you again, Leah!

Hopefully, we can go out with Mariger next time!

 

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My Favorite Midnight Snack

I think chatting with Lisa via video call is making me fat. I just saw her and her parents cooking delicious Italian Sausages and "steak" tapa for breakfast!

To top it all, Tita Des and Tito Tony were telling me about the crabs from Seaside! I got so hungry!

I went to the kitchen and cooked the remaining Pampanga's Best bacon.

Not one of my favorite brands but I wanted to try it. It was not fatty enough for me. Purefoods bacon is the opposite because I usually save a lot of bacon grease but Hermie throws it away if I forget to tell her to save it for fried rice. My favorite brand is Mekeni. It has enough fat and thickness.

After cooking the bacon, I rarely remove the grease and drippings from the pan, except if I use Purefoods bacon.

I poured all the contents of RAM's Pork and Beans in the pan where I fried the bacon.

Another favorite of mine. I used to love Purefoods Pork and Beans but they do not manufacture it anymore. Ram's has the perfect sweetness and saltiness for me and the beans are very soft, almost mushy. I do not like firm beans.

I only had a few pieces of Baked Mussels, experiment number 2, for dinner that was why I got hungry in the middle of the night.

 

I am almost there..... But not yet. Maybe on Thursday, when I use Mornay sauce with the mussels, I would probably get it right.

I am really getting fatter each day! Oh no! :((

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Beef Tapa Heaven

I was in Tapa Heaven this morning!

I declare it the BEST Beef Tapa I have ever eaten. I do not have words to describe it.... All I can say is:
"SARAP!!!!!!" With a thousand exclamation marks! Am I exaggerating? I do not know. But it is now my favorite.
Tita Des, Mom of Lisa, said, she buys her tapa and longanisa at Teresa's in Farmer's Market, Cubao all the time.
I just bought one kilo to try, half of it, I gave to Kuya but the other half..... With all the fat was mine!
I added half a cup of water to the tapa, cut the fat into small pieces and let it fry in its own fat!

Ohhhh the fat! How do I describe thee?
It was like butter ....but... did not melt in my mouth .... instead... it crumbled as you bite into each piece.
PD also was in Beef Tapa heaven because I gave her most of the fat!
I even fried the egg in the tapa fat rendered from the beef.

I re-fried the garlic rice in the pan I used to cook the tapa.

I also tried the Hamonado Longanisa. I cooked it halfway through..... Kept in the fridge....

Then grilled on my stove top griller!

I want to have a breakfast party! Problem is..... I cannot wake up early enough to serve breakfast.

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"Copra" Baked Mussels

WAAHHHHH!!!!! Yaya Hermie said the Baked Mussels tasted like "COPRA"!!!!!

Maybe the garlic was too toasted :((

And my cheese did not melt! It is supposed to melt and become gooey. I wanted to buy Eden Melt Sarap but it was out of stock in Metro Supermarket I had to use my Che-Vital Quickmelt, which is not a melting cheese anymore in my opinion.

BUT...... I will not give up. There is always tomorrow.

This is my goal for the week.

I will not stop until I get it right. I wonder if the cheese was added to the white sauce?

And to think I was doing a happy dance in front of the oven while the mussels were baking.

 

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All Smiles..... Because.... It is Eating Time Again!

We had so much fun in Tagaytay last weekend, we planned another eating activity!

Look at all the beautiful smiles of the people who are about to enjoy good food! Even Wriggly was excited and was lining up to get food!

A special request from everybody was Mayette's Adobong Hito.

Mona's contribution was the Butter Garlic Shrimps in Orange Sauce which I cooked for her.

We asked Jing to bring Amber's Pork Barbecue and Pancit Palabok.

My contribution was the Sizzling Squid.....

And..... Sapin Sapin ....... Oh I mean green mango salad.

I directed Jing how to arrange the the salad, I think I was too distracted. Hahahaha Mona said, it looked like Sapin Sapin.

Michelle brought Cassava Cake .....

And......

Last night, I sent her a text message:

"Michelle, byob. I was not able to buy soda because I came from Farmer's Market."

Then this morning, she replied and said she will bring iced tea from Makati Sports Club. I replied, YES!!!! But then I told Mona, What if she just brings for herself?!?!?!? Hahaha because I said BYOB!

Surprise! Surprise! She brought 2 liters! I used the frozen carafe for the iced tea. One of the best I have tasted.

Last week in Tagaytay, Mon said he will bring steamed soy fish since Corry is in-charge of the crabs. But she has a medical mission today and told us to go ahead with the lunch without her.

This was my text message to Mon:

"See you on Sunday! We have no crabs because Corry has a medical mission. We have Butter Garlic Shrimps, Sizzling Squid, Pork BBQ and dessert. We asked Mayette to cook the Adobong Hito again, special request from everybody. You can still bring the steamed fish if you like."

When he arrived, he was carrying two brown paper bags. I asked, "Did you bring the steamed fish?" Mon said,

"Surprise!"

I squealed so loudly because even without opening the bag I knew he brought crabs!!!!!

"Mona! Mona! Mona! Hurry! Open it!" Hahahaha Mona's hands were shaking so badly in excitement.

Mon brought Fried Crabs with Eggs!

We opened the other bag which contained Baked Mussels! Really good! It was really "cheesy".

Imagine if we opened the Baked Mussels first? I suppose a look of disappointment will be painted on my face.

As I have mentioned before..... My friends and I enjoy simple uncomplicated food.

It may be simple in nature but I assure you, they all taste so good.... To the point we did not know what to eat first!

Ahhhhhhh...... Now I am so full I could not wait to lie down and take a quick nap before I go to mass later.

I really enjoy the company of my friends. We all share the same passion.... F-O-O-D!!!!!!!

 

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Spicy Food

I recently had spicy food. Nothing I cannot handle for I am a "Bicolana".

I cooked one of the sausages Cindy gave me. She said it is the Spicy kind. Well, I did not realize it would be so SPICY!!!!!

Just look at all those "siling labuyo" seeds!

The sausage was moist and really spicy. I had to drink water every so often..... But..... It is not going to stop me from eating the other one. I loved it! I should make potato salad.... It is a perfect match.

Then..... Today, I was able to try the Spicy Chao Fan of Chowking!

I know it would go so well with the Pork BBQ of Beachouse Canteen in U.P. Diliman! I have to make a quick trip there! Preferably, SOON!

It reminded me of the fried rice I used to eat when I was in Grade 3. I was still studying at St. Theresa's College, Q.C. at that time. I remember my Grandma would give me 5 Pesos every Wednesday so I can buy the BBQ and rice during recess. I would run all the way to the High School Department just to eat what I wanted.

Oh! I just realized something! Even at a very young age.... If I had a food craving.... No distance was too far!

Imagine my short chubby little legs, pounding the ground just to eat BBQ on the other side of the campus!?!

I must really love food very much!

 

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Vietnamese Coffee Experiment

I have a new kitchen gadget. It is a Vietnamese coffee maker.

PD and Michelle were in my house and I experimented with my new toy. I even had to watch a video on YouTube on how to make Vietnamese coffee.

I added a tablespoon of condensed Alaska filled milk.

I used a tablespoon of ground coffee.

Filled the coffee maker half way with hot water.

After mixing the coffee with milk, I poured PD's drink in a glass full of ice.

Not bad for an experiment.

This is what I had at Rene's Saigon in Puerto Princesa.

 

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