From My Kitchen and Beyond

Pininyahang Adobong Manok

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 08:12:00 +0000

Original recipe from: Life Gets Better Del Monte Kitchenomics

The only thing I made to make my finished product land according to my preference, was instead of marinating the chicken, with a few adjustments on the measurements but still with the same ingredients:

I first cooked the chicken like a typical Adobo, then fried it.
Added the remaining sauce, pineapple tidbits and then topped it with additional red bell pepper for color and added flavor.

4 cloves garlic (minced)

2 tablespoons red cane vinegar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 cup water

1/4 teaspoon granulated black pepper

reserved pineapple syrup (equivalent to 2 small pouches)

Peppered Pork Belly

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 07:46:00 +0000

If it weren't for a friend who asked for the recipe of this dish, I wouldn't be posting anything at all. So thanks! It's about time I update and post a recipe on this blog.

The story behind this pork dish goes around with my love for scallions or onion leeks. Recently, I've replaced the usual onion toppings with these attractive green vegetable.

I love to top any of my prepared Filipino stews with fresh and finely chopped scallions. For some reason it enhances the food itself, makes it more delicious. Plus, the green garnish on top makes it even more enticing to eat.

The recipe will flow with my version of Teriyaki sauce minus the sesame seeds and the Japanese condiments. It will be sweet, peppery and the hint of ginger will make its taste like any Asian cuisine.

Yield: 3-4

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo of thinly slice pork belly (Menudo cut for Pinoys)
4 cloves of garlic (minced)
1 medium red onion (chopped)
1 tablespoon of chopped ginger
2 stalks of onion leeks thinly chopped
2 tablespoon oyster sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper granules
1 medium bell pepper
a handful of chicharo or chickpea
1 tablespoon cooking oil

Procedure:

In a sauce pan, heat cooking oil.
Saute onions, garlic until translucent.
Add ginger and stir for a few seconds.
Add pork belly and turn heat or fire to medium and stir until the meat is half- cooked.
Add black pepper, soy sauce, honey, water and simmer until pork is cooked.
Add vegetables (bell pepper and chickpeas) and oyster sauce.
Simmer in low fire until vegetables are half- cooked.
Transfer in serving platter.
Garnish with onion leeks.

Note: You can add cornstarch to thicken the sauce and add roasted sesame seeds.

Tip: If you have sake/ mirin or white wine, add 1-2 tablespoons and you'll have a Teriyaki sauce.

Enjoy!

Popcorn Makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 02:40:00 +0000

Like potato chips, popcorn has given us that "it" factor when it comes to munchies especially partnered while watching flicks. At home, one of our family past times is watching movies and television series. We always have popcorn on stock just for weekend movie nights and even game nights. It's light and at the same time you get to control the flavor you like. My husband like it plain and salted. But on a personal note, I'm not a fan of plain popcorn, I've always wanted mine buttered or flavoured.

Popcorn is easy to eat and it is available all the time. Yet, the ways it's served is very limited. So let me share my thoughts on how to enhance popcorn to make it more enjoyable to eat. What I came up with is very simple. My only basis are the ff:

1. It should not be messy to eat.

2. Availability of basic ingredients at home.

3. A healthy side to it.

After popping some in the microwave, I placed my popcorn in a clean, dry bowl. Top your popcorn with the following ingredients:

1- 2tablespoons of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 tablespoon of Parmesan cheese mixed with garlic powder
1 teaspoon of chopped scallions/ spring onions
1/2 teaspoon grated black pepper

Other options:
cayenne
paprika
melted butter
sour cream

Check out these flavors from SkinnyPop

Top it all and spread it out well. No need to mix. The olive oil will do its job by sticking to the rest of the dry ingredients, it won't be messy. As you dig in the bowl, the ingredients will blend accordingly.

From Canned Fish to Glammed

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 04 May 2017 03:41:00 +0000

As a homemaker, one of the things that is so important to me is to serve good, healthy food all the time. But it doesn't often go our way right? There will be times when we want to rest so we buy food to go or we open a can or two.

Let me focus on how to make processed food more inviting to eat, particularly canned products. Personally, I love packing on sardines, Spanish- style sardines to be exact. My kids love it and I serve it for breakfast paired with hot rice.

I always assume that anything processed outside my kitchen is a risk. Though canned products follow a certain standard when it comes to preparing down to canning, still, just the idea that I don't see how they prepare these products makes me more meticulous. In order to meet the thought of making sure that what I serve my family is okay, I cook these canned products like any dish made from scratch. Believe me, it will taste better and somewhat being able to create your own out of some random sardine can is fun.

I brought life to this canned Spanish- style sardines by:

Sauteing minced ginger, freshly- pressed garlic, red tomatoes and onions in olive oil.
Let it cook for a few seconds until the juice from the tomatoes comes out.
Drain half of the oil from the canned sardines. Best to replace that oil with olive oil.
Pour the sardines with the sauteed ingredients and mix everything well.
Add black pepper and simmer for a few seconds.
Serve!

I also use this very same dish for pasta drizzled with Parmesan cheese.

The Cheesecake Factory

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 09:21:00 +0000

Father's Day 2016 was extra special because my husband celebrated it with us and our dear ones in America. We arrived in Atlanta a day before Father's Day. Even with jet lag and with much excitement, we welcomed this special day with lunch at The Cheesecake Factory.

I've never tried anything from The Cheesecake Factory even though I see some of their pastries in S&R. I've always thought that it was all about cheesecakes and pastries, but I was surprised when I saw the menu. It was the perfect place to celebrate my husband's first Father's Day in America.

The Cheesecake Factory offers a fine dining appeal for customers ordering scrumptious dishes from their menu and they also have a bar for those who just want to have a drink or two. The ambiance of the whole restaurant is family- friendly and caters large groups especially those on tour. We're glad the queue wasn't that long considering that it was a weekend, there's an occasion and it's lunchtime. We were welcomed with a warm greeting and seated in a cozy corner of the restaurant.

Our food went around with orders of Filet Mignon, Grilled Rib- Eye Steak, Fettuccini Alfredo, Spaghetti and Meat Balls and tall glasses of sweet tea (not pictured).

My Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo

Orange Chicken

All served in satisfying big portions.

Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake for dessert.

My main dish (Shrimp and Chicken Gumbo) is a house specialty. It's always best to try house specialties when in a new restaurant. It was also my first time to try Godiva's Chocolate Cheesecake and so far, the richest I've tasted.

The Keurig Corner

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 04:46:00 +0000

A coffee machine and a coffee corner are the ones missing in our new home. I've searched for nice, affordable coffee makers but most of the time I end up with nothing because some are too expensive, some are too "complicated" in terms of maintenance, and others may be cheap but the taste and the availability of the capsules are compromised and difficult to find.

With our recent trip to America, one of the travel finds we made was a Keurig coffee machine. It's in every household we've visited. We stayed in the US for months and making coffee with my mom-in-law's Keurig was enough to say that it's worth our humble coffee corner. It didn't end there. Once we've decided that it's the machine we wanted, we needed to look for the right Keurig model with the best deal. From Walmart to Target and even Kroger all 3 had their own offers, but it was Costco that gave us the best option.

For $99 we got the ff: (sale price in Lazada: 17,000php updated 9/2018)

Keurig 2.0 K525C Plus Series

12 K-Cup pods Variety Pack

K- Cup reusable coffee filter (which we intend to use for our Kape Barako)

Water filter

We take that it was meant for us because with the no. of times we've been to Costco, it was only when we were about to leave for Manila that this Keurig model was made available, and without hesitation, we took it.

Finally, a coffee corner.

Coffee Wood Decor (Hobby Lobby)

The K- Cups was in our list of concerns when we got the Keurig. Aside from the reusable coffee filter that came with the machine, we made sure we have enough K- Cups. Aside from that, we discovered stores like S&R sell K- Cups.

I personally found Keurig as the most flexible coffee machine. It's affordable and at the same time, it can make your cuppa moment extraordinary with the wide variety of K-Cups both for coffee and tea. Most of the capsules contain fresh ground coffee. (see: http://coffeegearathome.com/is-keurig-instant-coffee-heres-whats-inside-your-k-cup/ ) I like the breakfast blend (any brand) then I mix it with a little cocoa, sugar and frothed milk. Plus, freshly brewed Tazo Peach Black tea.

I'm not a hardcore coffee drinker, a cup or two makes me happy. For me, having a coffee corner whether you're a coffee lover or not is a must in every household, at least something to serve your guests. Nowadays, coffee plays a big part in ones daily grind. A coffee break with co-workers, a relaxing and cozy afternoon with friends and just for the simple reason it completes us both inside and out.

Learn Something New and Have Fun by Taking up a New Hobby

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 03:19:00 +0000

The Internet has made it so easy for people to learn how to do something new. In the past, a person would have to get many books from a library, take classes, or talk to an expert in order to learn how to do something new. Nowadays, a person can simply sit in their living room while using their laptop and search for videos on how to learn a new hobby. They will be able to get expert advice as well as many tips and suggestions on how to learn how to do something new. Learning a new hobby is a great way to have some fun.

One thing that has been of interest to many people is learning how to do woodworking. One of the first things that may have made them interested in woodworking is making pallet furniture. Individuals who had absolutely no woodworking experience have been able to look at videos online and learn how to take apart pallets, clean up the wood, and then make beautiful and interesting pieces of furniture. Thanks to the Internet and the many how-to videos that have been posted there, they have learned a completely new skill and found something that they enjoy doing.

The same thing is true when it comes to working with metal. There are so many videos that teach beginners how to work with metal. Metalworking can be something small like making jewelry or pens and then go all the way up to making large pieces of decorative metal items. It is also easy to purchase tools for metal cutting, including carbide inserts for example, online. Even if a person lives in a small town or in an area that does not allow them to have a lot of access to metalworking tools, the Internet allows them to search for tools they need and then have them shipped to their home in just a matter of days.

When it comes to learning how to do something new, your imagination is the limit. You can find things online about how to crochet, how to knit, how to work with wood, how to cook, and how to do many new things. You could build a boat, build a tiny house, do nail art, and much more. You just need a little bit of patience in order to learn how to do something new and then you have to practice.

Homemade Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 26 May 2016 12:52:00 +0000

In connection with my new KitchenAid Stand Mixer, I got a free KitchenAid Ice Cream maker worth 8,000php. I think I got a pretty good deal in terms of getting freebies from KitchenAid for every KitchenAid mixer.

Here's one of the best things I made from my kitchen--- Ice Cream!

KitchenAid made everything easy with their KitchenAid Mixer, you can basically connect any KitchenAid attachment using the very same machine and that includes an ice cream maker. Again, I never thought that I'll be making ice cream on a regular basis at home. A lot of ice cream recipes are featured online and you can watch demos on Youtube as well. Being a chocoholic, of course, Chocolate Ice Cream was first in my list to try.

In order to achieve a good result, I watched demos online on how to attach and use the KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker first. I suggest you do the same. After securing myself of the how tos of the machine, I immediately searched for ice cream recipes with actual demo using the featured KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker.

With a good equipment at hand, making ice cream was easy. The KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker is just right for the size, it's not too big or bulky. To describe, it's a bit smaller than a 5qt. mixing bowl.

My children are always excited... I mean, isn't it fun just to have the thought that we can make ice cream anytime? Experiment with flavors and ice cream container sizes. We can go unlimited even. The last thing I enjoyed making with my children was a banana split using homemade ice cream.

Fresh bananas, rich chocolate ice cream, oozing whipped cream and dark chocolate ganache, nuts and caramel to top... who can say no to that!

Three Lifestyle Changes That Can Optimize Your Daily Living

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 26 May 2016 12:21:00 +0000

If you want to live an incredible life, remember that you will not obtain this outcome in a magical fashion. Rather, people develop amazing lifestyles by consistently implementing strategies that take their level of living from good to great. You can get on the road to optimized living now by utilizing some or all of the behavioral changes outlined below:

1. Optimize Your Home.

If you're not in the habit of systematically updating your living space so it is aesthetically appealing and functional as possible, now is the time to make this behavioral change. Doing so is important because optimizing living space promotes an enhanced mood and general sense of well-being. There are many ways that you can get the home optimization process underway, and one is by hiring a renovation contractor to remodel a room in your house. You can obtain a listing of contractors in your local area by visiting the Renovation Experts website at www.renovationexperts.com.

2. Implement An Exercise Program.

Another lifestyle optimization strategy you should employ is the implementation of an exercise program. This technique will enable you to reap several health benefits, some of which include enhanced immunity, better mood, improved self-confidence, and a speedier metabolism. If you don't know a lot about how to exercise properly, you may want to hire a personal trainer. You may also want to consider joining your local gym. There are several different types of exercise you may want to engage in, including:

-weight-lifting
-tae-bo
-swimming
-basketball
-running
-jump rope

Remember to select a form of physical activity you enjoy to increase the likelihood that you'll stick with your exercise program.

3. Enhance Your Eating Habits.

One final life optimization techniques that can take your daily existence from average to incredible is enhancing your eating habits. Doing so can enable you to look and feel better, thereby optimizing your self-confidence and giving you the energy necessary to perform your best at work and/or school. There are several ways that you can get on the road to optimized eating, and one is by logging in your daily food intake through www.cronometer.com. This site enables you to critically analyze your daily eating habits so you can tweak and optimize your food routine.

Conclusion

If you want to lead an incredible life, you need to make the behavioral changes necessary to see the positive lifestyle changes that generate ever-increasing levels of happiness and productivity. Get on the road to optimized living now by implementing some or all of the helpful tips and tricks outlined above.

Make Your Living Space Your Own

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 26 May 2016 12:16:00 +0000

You love your home and you wouldn't trade it for anyplace else in the world. You might have some changes you want to make or some features that you really admire in other homes. That doesn't mean you have to contact a real estate agent to get what you want. You can transform your living space into exactly what you want with a home renovation project. Whether you have outgrown your existing space and need to put on a new room or you want the bathroom of your dreams, the possibilities are endless. You simply need to think about where you want to begin.

Prioritize

Think about what you want out of your home. You may want to freshen up your kitchen or put a deck on the back. Maybe it's time to take that unused spare room and turn it into a home office. Make a wish list of improvements for your home. The next step is to consider your budget. You may not be able to do everything at once. If you must be choosy, think about the changes that you want to see the most. You can always take on other improvements in the future.

Find the Right Person to Do the Job

One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is trying to do their own remodeling jobs. Even if you, your friends, or your family actually know what to do, time is always a factor. You want someone who can be completely dedicated to completing your project in a reasonable time frame. When you turn to people you know or family members, you may run into trouble. Your best bet is to find a contractor who is a good fit for your home improvement plans.

Cut Down on Your Options

There are so many contractors out there. It can feel like you are looking for a needle in a haystack. To make the process easier, you can get a contractor near you now by turning to Renovation Experts. A large network of participating contractors is at the ready. All you need to do is complete an online form. Include your location, what kind of job you have in mind, and what your budget is. Contractors in your region will be in touch, offering you free quotes. From that point, you can narrow down the list, meet with candidates for the job, and make your decision. You'll be on the way to improving your home sweet home.

KitchenAid Heavy Duty Stand Mixer K5SS

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 05:30:00 +0000

When I started baking, I thought that it will just be an additional hobby, a past time. Since I love to cook, baking came with a breeze. I gotta say, quite an achievement for someone who did not study baking at all. But in everything that involves the kitchen, one must have a good equipment to aid you to be more efficient and to be able to get better results. I am already happy with my Homemaker Stand Mixer but at some point, knowing that I bake a lot, I don't want to over use my only and the very first mixer I have. Other than that, my husband offered that he'll help me start up a small business so I can share my creations.

Share... sharing is a strong word. To be honest, everytime I would bake something, I always make a little more so that my husband can bring some for his co- workers. Not to sell but just to share, since their working hours are intense. In the end, those same people who had a piece of what I make later encouraged us to sell the pastries so we earn something instead of giving it out. So eventually I agreed and created a pastry that's not often sold in the market and it became a hit. From then on, and as we reached the Christmas Season, I decided to upgrade to a more suitable mixer in order to meet demand and also preserve the old one.

What else will I get but a KitchenAid Mixer. The choice went around an Artisan and the Heavy Duty Stand Mixer K5SS mixer. I ended up with the Heavy Duty Stand Mixer K5SS mixer (at 33kphp) because of its functions and simply because it is in the Professional Heavy Duty Series, a more powerful batch more than the Artisan and Classic KitchenAid mixers. So if you're in search of a good mixer that's not too expensive yet, powerful, this is the one.

The set includes:
Powerknead™ Spiral Dough Hook, Flat Beater, and
Stainless Steel Wire Whip
5-Qt.

Actually I was torn between the Artisan and the Heavy Duty. I like the Artisan because of its color choices and it comes with a pouring shield. But I don't really need those. It's really all about the bang for the buck thing. As expected a freebie came with my purchase. I guess it was meant to be because I got the best deal. I got a free KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker worth 8Kphp!

I'll post about it soon!

It's about time that I made this upgrade. Whether my humble business will be a success or not, this mixer will make people happy through my pastries given or bought from us. I don't spend so much on my personal needs, but for every gift I give myself, there will surely be a story behind it and why it's worth it.

Three Fun Food Businesses You Can Start from Home

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Sat, 02 Apr 2016 02:34:00 +0000

Food Network is one of the most popular television stations in the United States today. Even if you don't watch that network, you might come across shows like Hell's Kitchen or Top Chef that show professional and amateur chefs competing for big prizes. If you keep watching those shows and thinking about how you could make better dishes, now might be the right time to start your own food business. There are some great business ideas that require a small investment upfront and help you make big money.

Create a Brand

Creating a brand around your food is a great way to make some extra cash, especially if you have a few recipes that others love. No matter where you live, the odds are good that there are flea markets and farmers markets that have space available for sellers like you. You can sell products that your customers can use at home, including spaghetti sauce or salsa, but you can also sell prepared items that they can eat while wandering around the market like pulled pork sandwiches or cupcakes. Check with your state regarding the rules you need to follow to sell food products made at home.

Become a Cart Seller

You can also make money setting up a food cart in your city or at special events like car shows. Some owners of food carts even go directly to local businesses and sell food to employees on their lunch breaks. With ice cream carts, you can purchase packages or ice cream or make your own ice cream and sell cones and dishes to customers. Other carts let you sell hot dogs, sandwiches and other foods. Unlike food trucks that are often large and bulky, food carts are easier to handle.

Develop Your Own Blog

If you love the idea of starting a food business but have limited funds and time, you can create your own blog. Take clear photos of all the dishes that you prepare at home, post those photos on your blog and give detailed instructions on how readers can whip up those dishes themselves. Once your blog becomes more successful, you can reach out to advertisers, sell products through affiliate programs and even sell e-books that feature some of your top recipes. No matter how much time, money or even experience you have, you can find a food business right for you.

Marinara Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 13 Jan 2016 02:22:00 +0000

Marinara is now one of my pasta sauce, anything made of fresh tomatoes and basil, I like. Anyway, aside from that it is easy to make, Marinara Sauce is very healthy. Just think of the health benefits of red tomatoes, garlic, basil and olive oil combined. Put it all together, use less salt, you're good to enjoy a plate of pasta.

In making Marinara Sauce, think tomato soup. Only, Marinara is just a bit chunkier and has basil. My Marinara recipe is very basic and easy to make.

Important tool:

Blender/ hand blender

If you don't have a blender, replace whole peeled tomatoes with diced or simply triple the amount of red fresh tomatoes and mince it. Skip the blending process and just follow the Pasta Procedure by adding the diced or minced tomatoes and the chopped fresh basil with the tomato sauce.

Ingredients:

1 whole garlic (minced) and divided into 2 equal parts
a handful or fresh basil (chopped)
5 fresh red tomatoes ( chopped)
1 cup mushrooms (any)
2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes
1 cup tomato sauce
400g Rigatoni or any pasta of your choice (cooked)
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp Parmesan cheese and a bit for toppings
salt and ground pepper

Procedure: Marinara Sauce

Drain the 2 cans of whole peeled tomatoes and place its contents in the blender.
Add chopped fresh tomatoes, fresh basil and half of the minced garlic.
Blend until smooth.
Set aside in a separate bowl.

Procedure: Pasta

In a sauce pan, heat olive oil and saute remaining minced garlic until light brown.
Add mushrooms and saute for a few seconds.
Add the cup of tomato sauce and simmer in low fire for about 15 seconds.
Add the Marinara sauce part by part.
Add cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese then mix everything until well- combined.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Plate the pasta and top with fresh basil or Parmesan cheese.

As a personal preference, I find Marinara fitting for white meat than beef or pork because of its natural flavor. I like chicken or tuna. From this recipe, you can add any meat of your choice. Anything that taste healthy can perfectly match another healthy item too, like vegetables.

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 14:23:00 +0000

From My Kitchen and Beyond is going to be back January 2016.

Hope everyone is having an amazing time this Holiday Season.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas & Have a Blessed New Year!!!

Burrppp!!!

-image source-

Simple Tomato Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 08:08:00 +0000

I just made tomato soup from scratch. It's my first time actually. Aside from mushroom and corn soup, tomato soup is also a favorite. One stormy weekend, I went out to buy some sandwiches in a nearby Subway. While waiting for the sandwiches, I ordered a small cup of tomato soup. It was very rich and yummy. With that, I also bought some for my boys and they loved it too. So this week, I decided to make home-cooked tomato soup.

The secret to a rich tomato soup are roasted fresh, ripe tomatoes. It brings out the natural sweetness and flavor of the tomatoes. Chicken stock is also a key ingredient. I bought chicken stock from the grocery just to shorten the process, but you can make your own stock as well.

Ingredients:

6 ripe tomatoes (roasted)

In roasting, cut medium sized tomatoes into half , place it in a baking pan or dish, then season with olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary then roast it in the oven for 20 minutes. Usually, garlic is included, but in my case, I like to saute the garlic with the onions in a separate pan before mixing everything together.

2 400g can of diced tomatoes
1 tbsp olive oil
5 cloves garlic (chopped)
1 medium white onion (chopped)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup green peas
1 tsp dried basil or fresh
1 cup chicken stock
1 tsp sugar
a dash of salt and black pepper

Important Equipment:

Blender or food processor or hand blender
Baking dish for roasting

Procedure:

After roasting the seasoned fresh tomatoes, cool it down for a few minutes and place it in the blender. Add 1 can of diced tomatoes and blend it together until smooth. If you're using a hand blender, pour the roasted tomatoes after the rest of the ingredients are sauteed, then blend everything together.
After blending the tomatoes, set it aside.
In a separate sauce pan, heat olive oil.
Saute onions and garlic both at the same time, stir for a few seconds.
Add the remaining can of diced tomatoes and green peas. Mix and simmer for a few seconds.
Add the chicken stock and simmer again for about a minute.
Add the roasted tomato mix and simmer for 10- 15 minutes until thick.
Add more chicken stock if necessary.
In low fire, Add heavy cream and dried basil, stir and simmer again for 3- 5 minutes.
Add salt, pepper and sugar to taste. Adjust according to preference.
Simmer the tomato soup until smooth and thick.

Best served with Parmesan croutons and grilled cheese.

I'm a happy cook! I was able to create a simple Tomato Soup recipe. It is very healthy especially tomatoes are rich in Lycopene, a cancer- fighting agent. It sure feels good knowing that I can make a healthy soup anytime I want to. This will probably end up on my weekly menu. Just like Okra, it's best to include healthy dishes if not daily at least, on a weekly basis, or just jumble these dishes to serve something new and healthy everyday.

Yakisoba

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 04:03:00 +0000

Here I am with another exciting recipe. My eldest son is very much into Japanese cuisine. Everytime we're out, he'd always choose Japanese food or any restaurant where he can use chopsticks. The other day, he was watching some cooking demos on YouTube, particularly how to cook Yakisoba. We watched the video together and he asked me if we can cook it. So the following day, I went to a nearby grocery store and bought ingredients. Please take note that whatever ingredient is seen on this post, are mostly the very same stuff used in the Japanese cooking demo (link below), except for the sauce which I made myself. I also added carrots and bell pepper.

Yakisoba is a variant of fried noodles in Japan. Yakisoba noodles are made from wheat flour fried in chunks of pork, shredded cabbage, carrots and mixed in tonkatsu/ oyster- like sauce, topped with fish flakes and paired with pickled ginger.

For my recipe, I used egg noodles, some suggests angel hair pasta.

Yield: 3-4
Ingredients

Main:

400g egg noodles (boiled, drained)
3 chicken breasts ( sliced into chunks or thin pieces)
4 cloves of garlic (chopped)
1 medium carrot ( sliced thinly)
1/4 of whole cabbage (chopped)
1 small green bell pepper (sliced thinly)
2 scallion stalks (sliced thinly)
4-5 pcs. Shiitake mushrooms (sliced thinly)
3 tbsp sesame oil
a dash of salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
chili (optional)
pickled ginger (Benishoga)
Aonori (dried seaweeds)

Sauce:

1 tsp Sesame oil
1/2 cup catsup
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Kikoman soy sauce
1 tsp chopped ginger

Tip: Mix Worcestershire sauce and catsup, you'll have Tonkatsu sauce.

Procedure:

If you noticed, I have ginger. Ginger is a good flavoring agent. I often mix ginger in Kikoman soy sauce to get a "certain" Japanese flavor. I also prefer using sesame oil because it gives a distinct Asian flavor.

Sauce:

In a small sauce pan, heat 1 tsp sesame oil and saute ginger in low heat for about 10 seconds.
Mix catsup, Worcestershire sauce, Kikoman soy sauce in a small bowl and add it with the ginger.
Let it simmer in low heat for a few seconds.
Set aside.

Main:

Heat 2 tbsp sesame oil and pan fry chicken until cooked. Set aside.
In the very same pan, heat another 1 tbsp of sesame oil and saute garlic until light brown.
Add chicken and stir fry for a few seconds.
Add shiitake mushrooms, carrots and bell pepper and stir fry until vegetables are half- cooked.
Add cabbage and half of the scallions and stir everything until well- combined.
Add the cooked egg noodles.
Add prepared sauce and mix everything together.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve in a platter, garnish the remaining scallions.

I didn't have pickled ginger (Benishoga) and Aonori (dried seaweeds) but in every Yakisoba dish, they're essential in adding flavor and texture.

One of the things I learned in this recipe is how to cook using chopsticks. Though I'm not sure if I'm using the right kind, but over- all, it made me aware that I can cook noodles better with chopsticks. It doesn't stick.

Next is a realization, that I need to seriously go to a Japanese grocery and buy Benishoga, Aonori and other essential Japanese condiments and--- that we have a Japanese grocery nearby--- and I didn't even know. Hehehe!

Yakisoba on YouTube

Okra

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 06:15:00 +0000

I know a lot of people who doesn't like Okra for different reasons:

1. Because it's gooey and slimy

2. It's unexplainable skin texture.

3. There's too much pea pod like seeds in it.

I've known my husband to be very picky when it comes to veggies. But along our journey as a married couple, I was able to inject a lot of food factors to a healthier living. Just recently, I've finally convinced my husband to like Okra. When I say like, it's not just eating a piece or for the sake of pleasing me or granting my request. Like, is when he requests a plate full of blanched, fresh Okra. It is now part of our daily meal always served during lunch and dinner.

When I was little and my dad didn't have a job, our daily food went around vegetables farmed from a vacant lot beside our house. We had corn, pechay, peanuts, mustaza, sweet potatoes, green leafy veggies such as talbos ng camote, alugbati, saluyot and okra. We didn't have money but I felt so rich just having these in our yard, it's like having a small farm. I can eat any vegetable but I consider Okra as one of my favorites. I steam or blanch it, then as dip, I prepare simple soy sauce and vinegar mixture or shrimp paste with calamansi juice paired with some hot rice.

Here are some health facts on Okra. Hopefully this will change the mind of those who greatly despise this vegetable.

1. It is high in antioxidants.
2. Rich in Vitamin C, Calcium and Potassium
3. It is very high on fiber.
4. It lowers the risk of diabetes and a factor for blood- sugar control.
5. Lowers the risk of cancer.

For more: Health Benefits of Okra

* The simpler how Okra is cooked and served, the better. It doesn't require too much to enjoy it.

Our family knows somebody who recently passed away at the age of 103. She was physically capable and very strong for her age. We were amazed by her story and of the fact that she reached 103 years old. Our aunt told us that her mom may have reached 103 because she always demanded for a plate of Okra as part of her "daily meal". One day, she slept and didn't wake up anymore... her age caught up with her.

What I'm sharing here is just a thought which we can all learn from. The lifestyle nowadays shortens our life span. It's given that we will all die but personally, even if I'm old, I still want to move about do what I can to enjoy this world. So those vegetables that some of us hate like ampalaya and okra, these are contributing factors to long life, clean living and a healthy future.

MEGA Creations: Spanish Style Sardines

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 09:32:00 +0000

It all started with a simple craving--- again. I went to a nearby convenience store to check if I can find something different to munch on. I have nothing particular by the way, I just suddenly had the urge to eat something that I haven't eaten in the past weeks. Aside from the usual fried- rice toppers and fixed meals there was nothing else, so I went through the pile of canned goods. To my surprise, I found an extraordinary piece of canned product, Spanish- style sardines. Why extraordinary?

Personally, I am more familiar with those packed in bottles and labeled as "gourmet" Spanish- style sardines. Well, basically those considered "gourmet" are prepared/ cooked/ soaked in a more natural set of ingredients like olive oil or they make use of a better choice of fish like Bangus (milkfish) belly. These "gourmet" items costs a lot for a small bottle. I must admit, hey, we all take the bait because it's really good.

Whatever I found that Friday afternoon at a random convenience store was heaven sent.

1. I now have a more affordable option.

2. It taste exactly like those "gourmet products".

3. It's made of simple ingredients like sardines, soya oil, salt, carrot and spices. The sardines are not the tiny ones, they're right for the size.

4. It's easy to open, and a 155g can at (24php Hi- Top Supermarket price) contains 6 chunky sardines.

5. I don' t know if this is allowed to bring abroad for your loved ones, but if so, I highly recommend it.

In the container--- equivalent of (2) 155g can

I have this habit of eating sardines with pandesal (bread) or rice. Transferring the content in a microwavable container makes it easier for me to access and pair it with anything even pasta. For small servings such as mine, a clean container prevents spoilage (if properly stored), less spills and you can serve it anytime.

Shopping Made Easier

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 10:13:00 +0000

Adjusting period has been very exciting for me as a homemaker. The change of location opened up a lot of options in terms of malls and supermarkets where I can do my grocery shopping. Though I've been to some of these places, it's just now that I'm really discovering the home essentials they offer.

Like everyone else, if we're new to a grocery store or supermarket, we get lost or shopping takes longer. As for me, I go from aisle to aisle. At the same time, right at home I've already come up with a shopping list. I use my mobile device on making a list so I don't need to take out a piece of paper that will later on serve as trash anyway.

One of the perks of gadgets is convenience. I make my list using Notes for iPhone. A list makes it easier and faster for me even if I need to go through the items lane by lane. But you see, even if I have a list on my phone, it can still be confusing at times.

There's an app that can actually get your list ready, where you can organize the list of items as you go through shopping, and it is the most awesome thing. Since I love to cook, I am very particular about the freshness of a product. So if have a list ready, shopping is quick and I'll be able to come home and cook my favorite dish. The fun part I like the most on making a list is being able to come up with recipes too. Sometimes while at the grocery and by just looking at the shelves, I can come up with a new viand to cook. This very same app that can create a shopping list for you, can also offer a range of food ideas which can be very useful.

Nowadays, especially those living abroad rely more on shopping list apps that can make shopping entirely different and of course, easier.

My First Dinner Rolls

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 10:29:00 +0000

It took quite sometime to be able to share something again because the whole summer I was so busy fixing our new home. Summer of 2015 was scorching hot that my husband and I had to lay off some plans for the condo and go for a new air- conditioner instead. Next, I decided to ditch my old desktop and start anew with a laptop. Everything you'll read and see on both my blogs are the latest events in my life.

For this entry, I would like to share with everybody that I've finally tried to put my hands on making fresh bread from scratch. It was just all about creating something new aside from my usual pastries, then my husband encouraged me, why not try a simple bread recipe and see what happens from there. So the next thing I did was to go online to search for easy recipes. I found a few, but I went back to Laura Vitale's recipe which I found easy and more flexible. I've been an avid Laura In The Kitchen follower. She makes the most amazing dishes and desserts. It's amazing because she sticks with easy recipes and the results has always been superb. You can visit her website and simply go to search for recipes. (this is not a paid ad)

In the previous posts I've mentioned that making bread is nothing new. My mom used to make breads and she owned a bakery store. Of course as she aged and due to more practical reasons, she didn't continue it. So when I finally got to try this new experience it kinda made me feel even more complete.

My dinner rolls didn't turn as beautiful as Laura's. But it was soft and aromatic. I love the smell of fresh bread!

Our my dinner rolls was paired with our spaghetti and salad.

Touches of Red

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Mon, 18 May 2015 07:40:00 +0000

This is now the 2nd phase on enhancing my kitchen. Remember, I shared in an earlier post Glimpse of My Kitchen, it was still empty then. As we move along, I made some additions to make my kitchen look nicer.

Red was not really part of the plan. My husband is not into bold colors too. We even thought that my stand mixer being "red" will not go well with the kitchen that I need to put it back to storage after every use. But... when I started baking again, and just left the mixer on the counter, we both saw the extraordinary taste it can bring. From then on, we decided to accentuate the kitchen with touches of RED.

Before finalizing it, I went online on how both black and red will work for a kitchen. We always see white or brighter colors right? Some considers floral or patterned designs. Pinterest is a good source for ideas when it comes to home improvement. That's when I realize that adding color doesn't have to be too bold like a whole wall painted red or any preferred color, it doesn't have to be too dull as well. But over-all, as long as your work space or room is not cluttered, anything will work.

The money plant was also experimental since I'm still thinking on how to make kitchen look even better, I just thought of putting the plant at the counter. Apparently, it added color and it's just a small pot. What more if I get maybe 1 or 2 more or something else of the same size. The pot is reddish, it has a red ribbon and the green plant adds a special element.

Still empty compared to the past kitchens I worked on for the past 10 years. All I want is a clutter- free kitchen, where most stuff are hidden but just a grab away if I need any. Accentuating is one way to improve the look of any room. It doesn't have to be all out red or purely one color. Working on a smart looking design and shade as base is a start and I made a good choice with a jet black counter.

Easy Chicken Nuggets

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 09:41:00 +0000

It all started with a simple craving. I just wanted chicken nuggets while watching television. Unfortunately, we've run out. All I have in my freezer was a pack of chicken breast fillet. So I went online and checked for possible recipes. In most recipes I found, they use ground chicken and then, they bind it with egg, seasoning and coat it with flour/ bread crumbs.

To make things easier, I decided to cut the chicken breast into bite-size instead. For me, the advantage of using ground chicken is that you're able to turn your nuggets into different shapes and sizes and it cooks fast.

If you don't have the time to go through the process like grind the chicken or maybe go shop for ground chicken, this easy recipe can help you out.

Ingredients:

4 pcs. chicken breast fillet (cut into bite- size)
1 cup canola oil for deep- frying
1 large egg (beaten and seasoned with salt and ground pepper)
1/4- 1/2 cup All- purpose flour
1/4- 1/2 cup bread crumbs/ Parmesan cheese ( I used Parmesan cheese)

Procedure:

Heat canola oil.
Dip bite- size chicken in egg.
Coat it with all- purpose flour.
Dip it again in egg.
Then coat it with bread crumbs or grated Parmesan cheese.
Deep fry until golden brown.
Repeat step by step procedure for each bite-size chicken.

Parmesan cheese is just optional., but it makes the nuggets extra delish!

Aside from barbecue sauce, it also perfect with salsa, any mayo dressing, sweet and sour sauce and the list just goes on!

Enjoy!

LeftOver Magic: Fettuccine with Clam Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:48:00 +0000

During the Holy Week, one of the dishes I prepared was clam soup. I bought 1 kilo of clams which I thought was just right for us, but apparently, 1 kilo was a lot. The following day, I didn't cook any other food but I did magic with what was left of the clams. Aside from the clams, I had leftover fettuccine noodles in the fridge waiting. A pantry stocked with cream and Parmesan cheese completed the recipe.

Ingredients:

Leftover clams (or any seafood)
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 medium white onion (chopped )
200g cooked fettuccine or any pasta available
1 cup all- purpose cream
1 tsp dried basil or any herb or your choice fresh or dried
1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 tsp granulated pepper

Note: Vegetables from the clam soup was included

Procedure:

In a pan, heat olive oil then saute garlic and onions.
Add clams then stir and simmer for a few seconds.
Add all- purpose cream and stir until well- blended.
In low heat, add pasta and mix everything together.
Add pepper and Parmesan cheese to taste.

Enjoy!

Divisoria Food Run

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:20:00 +0000

We've been to Divisoria for the past 3 months since the turnover of our new condo. We're always on the look for affordable but still of good quality items for our new home. During our last visit, we had curtains made , got some rods, bedsheets, etc. Our friends accompanied us this time around.

Our visits to Divisoria nowadays has been very easy because there's a nearby mall where we can park safely and the pathway going to the streets of Tabora and Ilaya are well guarded by mall security. But take note, beyond that, it's a "walk at your own risk system".

Over- all, a trip to Divisoria will still be fun and exciting as long as you know the dos and don'ts of this famous shopping district. When we arrived at 8am, parking was already open at the Lucky Chinatown Mall. My husband and I decided to have coffee at a nearby McDonald's while we wait for our friends. As soon as our friends arrived, we immediately went on with our little adventure.

By 10:30am we were already done traversing the streets of Binondo. On our way back to our cars to load our purchases, we saw a small food bazaar along Chinatown Walk. The line of food was tempting and the Chinatown Walk was cozy and shady- cool even on a hot summer day. With that, we took the bait.

The food bazaar was composed of various Chinese dishes which were home-cooked. Personally, Chinese Cuisine is one of my favorites. I grew up in a Chinese community in Sta. Mesa and we have friends who are very generous to share their culture with us.

Being able to finish our task early gave us an opportunity to relax and enjoy the rest of the day on a double date. Not bad right? Double date in Divisoria, shopping, exploring and a food trip, quite an adventure I must say. And we still have to go to Ongpin for the real deal food adventure.

I must admit, I went overboard with the food, I got a lot, which we took home. There was just so much food to taste. Part of this food experience was to feel the other side of Divisoria. We often get the impression with Divisoria as the perfect place to get bargains and as breeding ground for all sorts of nasty schemes (snatchers, holduppers, pickpockets). On the lighter side of it, we were able to explore the "real Divisoria" but at the same time, we also enjoyed some good food and company in a more relaxed atmosphere.

A Glimpse of My New Kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 02 Apr 2015 14:32:00 +0000

Having a new kitchen made was one of the main reasons why I haven't posted anything for the longest time. It was the critical stage during the home- improvement of our new condo. Everything was custom- made. The search for the right materials and expertise made it difficult. Since it's customized, our carpenter had to work hand in hand with another group who installed our counter.

I chose the granite, "jet black". At first I was hesitant and then, I thought that it's my kitchen and I want something way, way different from what I had for the past 10 years. Jet black made it modern, something that will last through time. But I still asked for our contractor's approval if it will fit the whole design, and it's perfect.

As you can see my cooker's installed already :D This image was actually taken 3 weeks ago. I now have a fully- functional kitchen, but I just decided to post this first because I still need to work on the aesthetics. hehehe!

Right beside the kitchen counter is our new refrigerator, yehey! My husband invested on an LG Top Mount Refrigerator, 11cu.ft, Smart Inverter Compressor. Quite a deal! We got it for 24,000php (I think) but the original price was almost 30,000php. We love LG! Most of our appliances are LG. From our television, washing machine, our new fridge and soon a Smart TV. The long wait to get new appliances was all worth it. I always believe that there's a right timing for everything.

My new kitchen is not as big, but it is truly mine... I chose how I wanted it to be and how it is going to be happy work place. New recipes and food features are going to be posted soon, stay tuned.