Steak Night At Buenavida

We had a steak night in Pinky's house at Buenavida, Merville this evening.

She is about to leave her home soon because she is building a new one in Marcelo.

We have been hounding her to invite us over.

So, finally, she said, Yes!

But we were not even sure because she had a minor accident in her house yesterday.  It almost burned down!  The other morning after switching off the air conditioner, she switched on the fan and after several minutes, the cord sparked and the clothes nearby caught fire!

Apparently, people would always pull the plug by the cord and not by the plug.  The wires were exposed and she had to put electric tape.

Lesson learned, throw away any electrical appliance with a damaged wire.

Also, we were not sure of Jodie's schedule because Carrie is in the process of moving in to the condo near La Salle.

I did my steak shopping just this afternoon when everybody's schedule was ok already.  I asked them how many grams per person should I buy for each one.  They just paid me for their steak.

I bought the Aussie Rib Eye from Market Place, Rockwell.

Everybody helped in the preparation.

I volunteered to cook the steak.

I am not a steak person so I researched and found a very easy way of cooking it in youtube.

Pan Fried Rib Eye Steak

250 gr. Aussie rib eye steak, thawed, room temp
2 t. vegetable oil such as Minola or Baguio oil (high smoke point oil, not olive oil)
1\4 t. rock salt
1\4 t. freshly cracked black pepper
1 T. cold butter

For deglazing the pan:

2 T.  water (some people use wine or balsamic vinegar)
1 t. Knorr seasoning (optional, only for the jeje like me)
1 T. cold butter

Massage the oil on both sides of the meat before seasoning with salt and pepper.

Use a stainless steel pan.  Do not use a non-stick pan.
Put the pan over high heat.  How will you know if the pan is hot enough?  Put a teaspoon of water.  If it sizzles and evaporates, it is not hot enough but when you put a teaspoon of water and it dances on the pan like a mercury ball, then it is perfect.

Depending on the doneness of your steak, time it per side. As in, use a TIMER!

2 minute per side steak:

Put the steak on the pan.. Do NOT touch it.
After 2 minutes, flip the meat over.
After 1 minute, add the butter.  When it melts, spoon it over the steak.

Remove from the pan and let it rest on the plate for 5 minutes before eating it.

Everybody wanted medium\medium rare - 2 minutes on each side.

Mona wanted well done, so hers was cooked until there was no more blood. Tapa. Hahahaha.

I wanted mine medium to almost well done, so the timing was 3 minutes on each side then I let it rest and put it back in the pan for an additional 1 minute.

To deglaze the pan:

Add water, Knorr seasoning and butter.  Stir and let it thicken slightly then pour over the steak.

This was my steak with the sauce.  It looks super well done....

But when you cut through, it was still a bit red\pink but no blood oozing out.

Sidings were mashed potatoes and buttered corn and peas.

Mona brought rambutan fresh from the farm.

I baked Canonigo and asked Pinky to buy ripe mangoes.

Everybody was very happy with their dinner. I hope so!

We spent the night planning our next travel adventures.  PLURAL!

Thank you so much Pinky for letting us hang out in your house.

P.S.

I loved the exhaust system in your kitchen!  The best!

Carrie's Send Off Lunch

Carrie is our "Da Barkads".

She is Jodie"s daughter.  One of the nicest girls her age I know.  She is very sweet and a respectful teen-ager.  And most importantly, she does not give her parents a hard time.  That I know of! Hahahahaha

She is the perfect company for Tita Lia because she loves to eat and shop!

One of the first few times she has been been hanging out with the Ka Escapades, she matched our eating schedule!  The Eat O'clock schedule!

Then her Mom asked us, "What did you feed my daughter?"  Apparently, Da Barkads Carrie threw up in the car on their way home.

Hahahaha Mommy Jodie said next time do not eat as often as Tita Lia!

She is about to start college soon.  As in... September 13!

The next  time we hang out with her again will probably when she graduates from La Salle several years from now!

The Thursday Culinary Club had lunch at The Batcave today.

I just cooked a simple Korean lunch for us.

Bean sprout salad

Korean Beef Stew

Korean Fried Chicken

It was a quick lunch because everybody had busy schedules but we all made time for Carrie.

I am wishing you luck, Carrie, in whatever endeavor you wish to pursue.

Study hard but play harder!  I know you know what your priorities are.

Good luck and have fun in college!

P.S.  Scout around La Salle for restos we can try out! Or better yet,  can we eat in your cafeteria????

Food Errands In Binondo

I loved my errands today!  I went to Binondo to buy ingredients I will need for my Wednesday merienda catering stint for KST.

But, of course, before anything else, I had to put gasoline in the tank!

I ordered my favorite Sizzling Noodles with Pork and Shrimps at President Grand Palace on Ongpin St.

And then, I bought the pickled mustard from Bee Tin grocery, also on Ongpin St.... a very important ingredient for the cua pao.

Buns from Salazar Bakery.

Crushed peanuts

Vermicelli noodles and soy sauce

And then a little more gasoline....

Wai Ying's sio mai.

Lava Pao

OHHHHHH! The ad did not lie!  The filling was really oozing out!

Kuya asked me to buy Hakaw and Sharkfin's dumplings for him.

I bought Pan de sal from Wan Kee Bakery and corn from the street vendor.

Super sweet and it did not take long to cook.  Just 20 minutes from the moment the water starts boiling.

My new discovery.... Eng Bee Tin's Pork Floss Hopia!

I super loved it!!!!  Munggo and pork floss filling!

FYI .... sorry... there's no more!

Hahahahaha Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!

Well... it is that good!  I have no plans of sharing it or letting other people try.

It was surprising the traffic was very light today.  I just took an Uber from Rockwell.  I left at 12 and by 4 pm, I was back in Powerplant mall.

I hope to have more food errands in Binondo again!  I wanted to eat more but there was no more space in my stomach.

I wanted to buy more food but my shopping bags were very heavy already.

Next time, then.

Nyora's Despedida de 40.

The Ka Escapades and I just gave Mona a surprise birthday party last Sunday.

She has been asking for a "surprise" party even before she left for Canada.

The group and I have been planning this event for weeks.  We even told Corry about it.  We all 'lied' just so she won't have an inkling about the surprise.

And it worked!

The group wanted a diner-themed celebration, just like the one I had with my family.

I put everybody to work.

We had burgers and Raffles chips.

Hotdog sandwiches and tortilla chips

with the condiments.

Rootbeer float.  Thanks FGM for lending us the mugs.

Another surprise was her birthday cake, her favorite Sans Rival Cake.

I hope you enjoyed your surprise birthday party, Golden Girl!

The Ka Escapades love you!

P.S.

Thank you, Dra. Cristina for the decors!

Thank you Infante family for hosting!

Belated Birthday Thai Dinner With KST-Bel-Air Ladies

August was such a busy month for me and for my stomach which hardly had any rest!

I waited for Mona to return from her vacation in Canada.  My dinner was scheduled for August 30 but one of the neighbors died and Bel -Air was the mass sponsor for that night.

So, I just  moved it to September 1.

I chose a Thai menu for my friends.  We are all KST facilitators except for Mabel who is Cat's cousin and she is very close to our group.

Pudgy( my KST partner), Tricia, Anna, Babita, Shey, Cat, Mona and Mabel.

 

I experimented with Papaya Somtam.  It was my first time to do it.  I need more practice.

 

Nam Prik Ong

 

Bagoong Fried Rice

 

Shrimps in salted egg yolk sauce

 

Fried Fish Cakes

 

Dipping sauce for the fish cakes - sugar syrup, cucumber, wansuy and crushed peanuts.

 

Babita brought snacks from Vietnam.

Ampao with floss

 

And Dried Langka chips.

 

Anna offered to bring dessert!  

Salted Brownies from Buckey's!

 

Of course, I would not let an opportunity to blow the candle pass.  Hihihihi.  The only reason why I celebrate my birthday several times in a month.

 

Shey brought maple croissants and my favorite chocolate ganache cake from Yamato Bakery.

When my guests left, I brought it out so I can blow the candle again!

 

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you ladies for celebrating my birthday with me!