Tomato Jam and Planet Green

I was elated when I opened my FACEBOOK Inbox and found two messages from a very good family friend of ours, Jan La'O. Let's call him JL (we have the same initials hekhek). JL sent me this link:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/food-health/

And interestingly, a TOMATO JAM Recipe which I'm so excited to try.

Tomato Jam
By Kelly Rossiter



1-1/2 pounds good ripe tomatoes (Roma are best), cored and coarsely chopped
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon fresh grated or minced ginger
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1 jalapeño or other hot pepper, stemmed, seeded and minced, or red pepper flakes or cayenne to taste

1. Combine all ingredients in a heavy medium saucepan, Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring often.

2. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture has consistency of thick jam, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning, then cool and refrigerate until ready to use.

THANK YOU, JL!!! You're very pro-active! Truly appreciated. :) See you soon? hehe

Paella ala Nata...Si Senora!

Philippines was colonized by Spain for more than a 100 years. Spanish culture is very much present in our lives - from architecture, language, and of course food.

When my friend Nata told me that he'd share his Paella Recipe with me and that it's OK to post on my blog that made me doubly excited. :) He did not give exact measurements on each ingredient. So here's to WIDOW MEASUREMENTS. hekhek!

The ingredients: chicken, 1 onion, 5 bulbs of garlic, green pepper, shrimps, one tomato, clams, parsley, salt, lemon and of course, rice

First, fry the chicken. Then saute the onion, garlic and parsley. Then add green pepper and tomato. After which, the shrimps. Pour in the soup of the previously boiled shrimp shells. So instead of using regular water to cook the rice, use shrimp stock!

Add rice. Add coloring (saffron). Put in salt and wait for 15 minutes. To add a little decoration, put red pepper and green pees. For the finishing touch, squeeze a lemon over the paella. And ya Esta! Ready to be served.

Here's Louie digging in:



And of course, the Paella Goddess.....Nata!



This is a light bulb moment (well, for me, that is). I never thought Paella was this easy to make. I love paella but it never crossed my mind to learn how to cook it because I thought that it is tedious and so much labor is put into it. I am wrong. Go Try niyo na. Now Na! :)

Dinner the Parisian Way

I can't help but reminisce good times with old friends everytime I feel melancholic especially when good times happen in the most romantic place in the whole wide world - Paris!

Last March 2009 I left for Paris and stayed with one of my dear friends, Louie - The most gracious host ever. Two days after I arrived, another good friend of ours from EL-AY flew in to bond with us. Let's call him "Super Mowdil". On the first night of "Super Mowdil" in the city of Lights, Louie treated us to one fantastic Parisian Dinner at the CHEZ FRANCOISE RESTAURANT.




Chez Francoise is a french gastronomic restaurant that is located in Les Invalides close to the Eiffel Tower. Louie made reservations online. We got there five minutes early and were greeted by their Maitre D' who was so gracious to lead us to our table.

Browsing through the menu, three of us decided to order different dishes so we can try it out.

We had the following Entrees:

Oysters from Marennes Oleron


Rabbit's Meat with Espelette Pepper Jelly (this made Mowdil's tummy turn upside down.... vomit moments? hehehe)


Foie Gras, Apricot & Fig compote


For our Main Courses, we had the following:

Monseiur Castaing's Duck Confit


Whole Sole Meuniere


Fresh Catch of the Day: Mowdil's choice!


And who wants to miss dessert? Not I! I cannot really remember the names of these desserts but I assure you It's TDF (To Die For!!!):

If I'm not mistaken, I think this is Warm chocolate fudge with Fromage (cheese) ice cream


This one, I really forgot. But I can assure you it was stellar! :)


Louie had these unpasteurised farm cheeses that stink like crazy! (super pangsot galore... I swear!)


Just like in a movie, all good things must come to an end. *sob* After dinner, we strolled our way back to Louie's Apartment. I wish everyday I'd wake up in Paris. *super sob*

Finally: Spinach and Salmon Pasta Sauce!!!

Yesterday mother came home with a huge plastic bag of Spinach! WooooHoooo! She bought the Spinach from the Carmelite Nuns. They are selling it at P20.00 per bunch. Uber cheap, don't you think? Then, came my excitement. I want to make a creamy (yet with little fat) spinach sauce with salmon.



Here are the Ingedrients:

1 213g Pink Salmon (small can)
3 cloves garlic - chopped
1/2 of large white onion - chopped
juice of 1/4 lemon
2 to 3 cups spinach leaves
1 1/2 cup nonfat milk
1/2 can of nestle cream (small can)
1/2 cup grated cheese
salt & pepper to taste
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil

Procedure:
1. Blanch Spinach leaves for three minutes (in boiling water of course...DUH). Drain and squeeze out excess water. set aside.
2. In a sauce pan, saute garlic & onion in butter & oil
3. Add Salmon (include the juice). Mash salmon meat and let it stand for 3 minutes.
4. Add Milk, nestle cream. Bring to a boil.
5. Add Spinach. Whisk slowly incorporating all the ingredients.
6. Add cheese. Bring sauce to a boil until it thickens.
7. Salt & pepper to taste.

Check out the sauce: YUM-OH!



And here's the plated dish:



Don't you know that Spinach is good for you? Here are some Spinach facts:
1. It is low in calories.
2. It is Extremely high in vitamins.
3. It is versatile. Can be eaten cooked or raw.

Here's to a healthier YOU!!! Try it out. Now Na! :)

Black Mission Figs and Prosciutto Pizza

My dear cousin-ness from the other side of the Planet sent me photos of his own version of Black Mission Figs and Prosciutto Pizza which made me salivate like there's no tomorrow. Sigh! Suddenly, I miss the Figs & prosciutto pizza I had at one funky New York Pizzaria two years ago. Forgot the name of the Pizzaria though... Piggy something:



Now Here's cousin-ness version:



Now THAT is homemade pizza! Take note of the generous portion of Prosciutto! Yum! He claims to be "Giada" Garcia but I tell him that he's more of a "Barefoot" Garcia. hekhek!

He was sooooo kind to share his recipe. Here we go:

1 ball pizza dough

8 pieces black mission figs, stems removed and thinly sliced
1 cup Gouda cheese (Smoked variety is best)

1 cup fresh mozzarella, drained, patted dry and torn to pieces.
1 tbsp. good olive oil
2 tsp. honey
1 tbsp. freshly ground pepper
10 slices prosciutto
1 tsp. coarse cornmeal (to prevent the dough sticking) or you can use all purpose flour for dusting.

If you’ve got a pizza stone, preheat it. Otherwise, preheat a cookie sheet in a 500° oven.

Once your stone or cookie sheet are preheated and the oven’s nice and hot (I like to leave it on for at least a half hour before I put the pizza in), roll or stretch your dough out until it’s nice and thin.

Sprinkle the cornmeal on the pizza stone and then assemble your toppings. Since you’ve preheated the stone or cookie sheet, the bottom of the dough will begin cooking. This is a good thing since it’ll keep your pizza from being soggy in the middle.

Layer your sliced figs, then drizzle them with the olive oil and honey. Sprinkle with the black pepper, then add the cheeses, making sure to distribute them evenly. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes, or until the cheese is brown and bubbly.

Remove to a cutting board, layer with the prosciutto, slice and serve!




Thank you, Jav! Can't wait to try it out myself!!!

Dinner at D' Rasa and night cap(s) at Off Shore Bar...hehe!

We were suppose to watch a basketball match (inter call center) at 3:30pm. However, "Your Highness" was busy playing with his "pawn" at this time. So we ended up having dinner at D' Rasa.

This is our (Audie and I) first time to have dinner at D' Rasa. When we arrived at D' Rasa, "your highness" and company were already there. The place has a nice ambiance - there's a homey feel to it. Very Relaxing.

This is an "Asian Fussion" Restaurant. I ordered Fish Au Gratin while Audie had steak. As always, I forgot to take photos of the dishes prior. Thus ended up having this:

The Fish Au Gratin was a bit salty but the creamy texture of the fish and the sauce blended perfectly well and the sparing aroma of basil leaves. Out of five, I'll give it three stars.


Audie's medium rare steak (doesn't work for me - I always want my meat welldone, sorry):


For dessert, I ordered their own version of Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream. The top layer is semi-hard/semi-crunchy while the inside was sooo soft and chewy. Perfect! I think they have the best pudding ever! I'll give their pudding a four-star rating. Again, the dessert was all gone before I realize that I forgot to take a photo of it. Gosh, I feel so useless in the blogsphere! I always miss capturing stuff prior.

After dinner we transferred to OFF SHORE BAR right across the restaurant for a night cap that ended as a NIGHT OUT. One round of beer/vodka Kurrant w/ cranberry juice (my all time fave drink) became four, five, six, seven rounds before we all called it a night. Two other friends joined us.



In general, it was a relaxing night chitchating with old & new friends alike.

D' Rasa Restaurant and Off Shore Bar are both located at the Metrodome Plaza, Araneta Street (road going to the Old BCD Airport).

Lunch with the Wonder Twins and Granchio Pasta - My own version!

At the office, I had lunch with the wonder twins - Shella and Cathy! This is how we eat lunch: FAAAAAAAAAAAAAR Away from eachother with the fear that one might steal the other's ba-on. Hehehehehe! JOKE!



And what do you think happens after lunch???? Pig's disease??? Hehehehe! Shella is dozing off to Lala Land....



Or retouching for her "pictorial"? Lifestyle coach becoming her own version of Judy Ann Santos: hehehehe!



Imagine! I was already full after eating yet I was thinking of my next cooking endeavor! I was so excited to go home after work because I am going to cook my dinner er... breakfast... at 4:30am (my shift is 7pm to 4am this week). First thing I did when I got home was to take out the crabs from the fridge (of course after washing my hands... DUH!).

Here are the Shells of four (4) large crabs after removing the meat:



And here's the chunky meat (i'm salivating while looking at the photo):



And here's the finish product (plated dish). This time I made a SUPER MEGA CONSCIOUS EFFORT to take a photo before digging in:




You like? I like! Here's my recipe:

Ingredients:
2 cups crab meat
1/2 Nestle Cream (small can)
1 cup non-fat milk
Juice of 1/4 lemon
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup grated quick melt cheese
2oz olives
2 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic - chopped
1/2 large onion - chopped
Basil leaves (cut thinly)
salt and pepper

Procedure:
1. Saute garlic & onion in butter until golden brown.
2. Add crab meat. Saute for 5 mins.
3. Pour in nestle cream and non-fat milk. Bring to a boil.
4. Add grated cheese.
5. Once sauce becomes thick, add olives and tomato sauce.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Remove from heat.
8. Add Basil leaves.

Uber easy to prepare and super delish! I swear!!!!!

Lunch Break With Cathy

I was with my "lifestyle coach" during my 1 hour lunch break at the office last night. Yes, my lunch break is from 11pm to 12am! "Lifestyle coach" made a very interesting salad dressing. She was even kind enough to share the recipe with me. So for those of you who are salad enthusiasts like us THIS IS A MUST TRY dressing!!! haha!




Here's the Recipe:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Olive Oil
1/2 cup Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tbsp Mustard
1 to 2 tbsp Honey
2 cloves garlic minced
tsp Italian Seasoning
Salt & Pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Combine all ingredients in a "shaker".
2. Shake for a minute or so.

It's now ready to use. You can pour it over your favorite salad. YUM! Trust Me!

Here's lifestyle coach striking a pose with her pride and joy. Hahaha!

Salmon Based Pasta Sauce - YUM!

I don't know what's with pasta why I'm so into it these past few months. I'd like to "believe" that pasta has less carbs than white rice (yes, Joe kid yourself much!). Nonetheless, I was soooo uber excited when I saw canned pink salmon at Gaisano City's Supermarket (of all places!). I think it costs P120 per can. Then, my imagination went wild on what sauce to make for my lunch. I was looking for Spinach to add to my pasta sauce to no avail. :(



Here are the ingredients:
1 can pink salmon
1 small can mushrooms
1 small can nestle cream
1/2 cup non fat milk
1 white onion - sliced
2 oz green olives
2 cloves garlic - chopped
2 tbsp oil
Juice of 1/4 lemon
1/4 cup cheese
12 basil leaves sliced thinly
pinch of brown sugar
salt and pepper

Pasta - Spinach fettucini

Procedure:
1. In a pan, saute garlic & onions in oil
2. Once garlic becomes golden brown or onions becomes translucent, add salmon (mash) then add the mushroom and olives. Saute for 2 mins.
3. Add milk, nestle cream and cheese. Bring to a boil until sauce thickens.
4. Add brown sugar, salt and peper.
5. Remove from heat then add basil leaves.

Here's the finished product:



And again, I forgot to take a photo of the plated dish because I was too hungry to remember. :( I highly recommend you try this out. Calling ALL SALMON Lovers out there! This is simply Fantabulous!!!

Italia Pizza for Dinner!

"Your Highness" texted around 5:30pm asking Audie and I if we're doing something. Of course, we weren't doing anything (yet) around that time so we responded saying We're doing nothing. And that Both of us were craving for "Luna Rossa" Pizza at Italia's.

We met up at Italia's at 6pm. While waiting for our pizza, Italia gave us (compliments of the house) Grilled Pita bread (or more like grilled pizza dough) and liver pate. YUM!!!




We ordered the following:

1. Luna Rossa Pizza - MY ALL TIME FAVORITE!!! Ingredients: Salmon, Tomatoes, Cream, Red Caviar, Bellpeppers. I was too hungry to take a photo. Before I realize that I needed to take a shot of the pizza, it was all gone. that's how good it is. :)

2. Pizza Romana - Mozarella Cheese, tomatoes, Anchovies, Garlic, Olives and Parsley.

3. Salmon Ravioli in pink sauce. Delish!!!

4. A noodle dish (seafood) which i forgot the name - also delish!!!

5. A bottle of Merlot!



Everybody was so engrossed with the food that we all forgot to take photos of some of the dishes. All three of us felt sleepy after eating. Pig's disease. hekhek! It was belly-filling yet I felt light... CHAR!

Italia is located beside Riverside Medical Center - Bacolod City!!!

Pasta Sauce made from Left Over Lechon Manok!!

Audie and I felt hungry around 4:30am today. Both of us decided to go downstairs and cook something. At first he wanted to have oatmeal (daw) because he ate too much rice already. Hmm.... Good thing there was Left Over Lechon Manok that Risa made last night! Yes! It's homemade lechon manok. Risa roasted two chickens in open fire!!! Beat That!!!


Here are the bones after Audie removed the meat... hehehehe!

And of course, our finished product! Tan-tan-tanan!!!

Guilt-Free! Less Fat! and healthy!!! Let me share with you my recipe:

Ingredients:
two cups shredded left over chicken meat
1 tbsp oil
1 clove garlic chopped
1 shallot chopped
1 cup non-fat milk
Juice of 1/4 Lemon
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
12 basil leaves cut into strips
pinch of brown sugar
salt & pepper to taste
*whole wheat pasta

Procedure:
1. Saute garlic & shallot in oil
2. Add shredded chicken and saute for two mins.
3. Add non-fat milk, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, brown sugar - bring to a boil until sauce thickens
4. Remove from heat. Add basil leaves, salt and pepper.

*Cook pasta as per suggested cooking instructions on the cover.

Easy na, namit pa! Go! Try it! :)

Thank You, Wave 39!!!

Last September 12, 2009 was my class' graduation - wave 39!!! Here are some captured moments during our graduation:

Our Hostesses with the mostest... Shane and Ishi (Standing)

Nice to have each department represented. From QA to IT to OPS! Thank you for your support! Truly appreciated. :)

Macris (in white seated) striking a pose - "only Belo touches her skin!"

And of course, their token of appreciation! Love the bedtime slippers! These are Lion(ness) Feet. hekhek!

And how can I forget them? :) Sorry for the reverse shot.

We're looking forward to Nesting on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at 7pm.

Go With Confidence!!!

MALAS: 3 strikes!!!

Malas #1:
Audie and I woke up at 8:00AM to go to PAL Office (Old Airport - Bacolod). When we arrive at PAL we were advised by the guard on duty to proceed to Silay since they are experiencing "Low Voltage" since yesterday. The guard advised me to go to any Travel Agency to purchase my ticket at first. I told him that I will use my MILES to purchase my Ticket. Then, he insisted that I have to go to Silay Airport since they are waiting for CENECO to arrive and fix the issue and don't know as to when it will be fixed. We obliged. We went to Silay Airport only to find out that they can't process it because they don't have a copier machine. So the ticketing agent ended up reserving my flight instead. I will make another trip to PAL Office to purchase the ticket. Good Thing I have up until Sept. 22 at 12 noon. GooosssssHhhhhhh....

Malas #2:
On our way back to Bacolod, We passed by Robinsons because I needed to do some "banking" transactions only to figure out that they are CLOSED today - IT'S A SPECIAL NON-WORKING HOLIDAY!!! GGGGggrrrrRRRr.........

Finally....

Malas #3:
So we ended up roaming around Robinsons Mall until 10:30AM. We left at exactly 10:30AM and went straight to MENDEZ Dental Clinic for my SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. I made the appointment earlier this week and was advised by their Secretary that my appointment is at 11:00AM today.

We arrived at 10:50AM, just in time for my SCHEDULED 11:00AM appointment only to find out that there were Patients who were LATE for their appointments and are suppose to be ahead of me. And they were accommodated first. I had to wait for 45 minutes!!! It may be OK for others to wait that long if you've got nothing planned for the day. I'm getting annoyed. Then my turn came. I was prepped by the Doctor's assistant and had to wait another 5 mins or so until she came. The Propylaxis lasted only for 10mins but it was good. The Doctor was really nice. At least, it ended my malas moments with a smile.

SMART Car

SMART CAR, isn't it?

I want one!!! I'm in love with this car! Lookie.. Lookie.... This car cost around $11K-16K++!!! I am looking for a benefactor!!! Wanted: Benefactor!!! This is simply the cutest!!! It comes in a variety of color and design. Check out their website: http://www.smart.com/

Healthy and Guilt-Free Lunch!

Tuna-based Pasta!

Had this for lunch... YUM!

Ingredients:

One med size onion - sliced

3 cloves garlic - chopped

1 can diced tomatoes - drained

1 can century tuna light (of your choice)- drained

Olives (1 to 2 oz of black and green)

Mushrooms

Basil leaves

salt

pepper

cheese

1 tbsp olive oil

Procedure for the Sauce:

1. In a Pan, heat up olive oil then saute garlic and onion until garlic turns golden brown

2. Add mushrooms, olives, tuna and tomatoes. Saute for 5 mins.

3. Add basil leaves.

4. Salt, pepper to taste. Done!!!

Very Easy to cook, healthy and Guilt-Free! Try it!

Kimmy Dora

Family bonding time! Jan, Risa, Audie and I drove to SM, after the very emotional sharing of our Mother at Balay Kalinungan, to unwind. We watched Kimmy Dora! It was soooo hilarious. Eugene Domingo is THE BEST!!! You're jaws will get numb from laughing out loud. We highly recommend it.

Before leaving, we bumped into Edward Cullen and had our Photo Op:

Brother wouldn't want to be left behind - here with Pareng Ed

Partners in Crime! Bevy of Vampires...

And how can sister resist Ed?

How about you? How did you spend your weekend?