Comfort Food: Home Made Grilled Cheese Sandwich

What you Need:
1. Loaf Bread / Wheat Bread
2. Cheddar Cheese
3. Egg/s
4. Butter
5. Optional: Sweet Ham or Sliced Spam (if you want it to have a meet)

To Cook:
Use a Non Stick Pan

1. Cook Eggs first, Sunny side would be great for this; make sure not to over cook the yolk. Set Aside.

2. Get the Loaf ready. Melt butter in a non stick pan; Toast the bread.

3. Place the cheese in the toast. If you have sliced spam place it over too.

4. Remove the set; toast another bread and place rest of the food you prepared. Open the toasted bread and place the egg inside. 

5. There you go! =) Its really good, and cheaper. 

Enjoy! 

Banapple: More than desserts

I have always seen this restaurant every time we drive along Libis. Many times I have thought how come a lot of people would be waiting for a parking just for cakes and muffins (never really a fan of sweet stuffs). 

It was when my officemates/Team mates had set a lunch at Banapple near our office that I have tried this place. First, the seats weren't really that plenty, it wasn't really comfortable because there wasn't cushion in them. But their tables are very nice! Full of different colored marbles.

Banapples is a self service restaurants, You may have your orders served at your table after you order from their counter - much like your average fastfood restaurants. Their menu is quite of a number, ranging from pancakes and waffles of different toppings and types, to rice meals and pastas served with protein, and even salad options. Of course, there are also the many selections of cakes and pastries (including muffins and cupcakes). 

I have so far tried Lasagna, Chicken Parmigiana (rice meal), Pork tenderloin in gravy (rice meal), and Peanut butter with choco chips pancakes. For desserts, i have only tried their carrot cake which was very good too. i love the moist texture of their carrot cake, as this is really not good if all dried up. 

Talking about steaks, CowKing is also on the list

Cowking is a steakhouse or a small restaurant just right in front of the Sacred heart church in Kamuning Quezon City. Prices of their steaks are quite reasonable for the huge servings, and generous portions of beef meat. 

Boyfriend's order, is a Porterhouse Steak. Mine is a Cream Dory Fish and steak Combination.  All orders come with rice, add a few bucks to upgrade rice to mashed potatoes! =)

Salisbury Steak

To add to the regular stuff we order at this place, You could also try their Turon with Vanilla Ice Cream! =)

Forget about how this place does not look like your regular steakhouse, Its a small place, with only a few tables to accommodate guests, I'd say this place is still wonderful, and I'd go anytime still. =) 

Value for money is 4 stars! 
Customer Service is an average 3 stars. 

Did anyone say Steaks? Then it must be Melo's

Marking the third month of our relationship, We were  thinking of what and where to have our dinner last friday. Being a meatlover myself, of course first options are always restaurants that would serve scrumptious meals... and BF is a fan of steaks! He is paying so why not?! He thought of Melo's which was just across our company's building. 

We were greeted with a friendly attendant upon entering the restaurant. The lights were dimmed - Oh yeah, fine dining it is! In jeans and in shirts... haha I am feeling awkward  but excited. After ordering, we were served with dinner rolls while waiting. Our tomato soup (soup of the day)  was served and we were asked if we'd like to have fresh pepper with that - i said yes to the offer. 

My Order: Lamb chops with Cranberry and Mint Sauce

This was served with a hot plate. three lamb chops were cooked wonderfully topped with cranberry sauce. The peppermint dip was in a small dip container - it was good and refreshing but i was so in love with the cranberry sauce not to mention the generous portion of fresh and crunchy shoestrings potato fries side dish!

His Order: Wagyu steak  ( 9 ounces)

Also served in a hot plate, there lies the wagyu steak, medium well, all nince ounces of grade 6 meat, sliced and weighed in front of us... with nice grill lines. :D Their mashed potato isn't mashed, but boiled and sliced (but tastes like mashed!). The meat was really tender, and there has to be no effort in eating it, it was so tasty and yummy and soooo good. best steak ever! Even without the gravy, it's got that juicy and perfect steak taste.  The price is so worth it.

A dinner for two would average to five thousand or more in bill, is quite an expensive experience, but worth it for a night of fine dining, and being served well. The waiters  and servers are very friendly and always asks how we find the food or if we do need anything else. It was worth a try, good for a special night/day. 

Best Shrimp Recipe so far... :D (Chili Garlic Shimps)

I am sure most of us here loves shrimps, right?! Well Here is one good recipe i have learned from my BF. I hope you enjoy, its really very quick to do for something so special. 

What you need:
Lee Kum Kee (1) Chili Garlic Sauce, (2) Chiu Chow Oil and (2) Oyster Sauce
Minced Garlic
Shrimps (Suahe, or Tiger Prawns) - I've tried both and both are excellent choice. 
Butter
1 Tablespoon of cooking oil 
250ML sprite or 7-up
Brown sugar (if you want it sweet rather than spicy)

What you need to do:
Heat pan, put the oil and melt the butter. 
Once all the butter has melted, put in the chopped or minced garlic. There is no need to toast the garlic. Just slightly "fry" the garlic.
Pour in the Sprite or  7-up and Simmer. Once boiled, add about 2 tablespoons of the leekumkee ingredients (adding more as you need it, depending on your taste preference). 
After simmering, add the Shrimps, stirring and cover the pan until shrimps changed its color (orange) make sure not to overcook the shrimps. 
Taste and if you need it to be sweet, add some brown sugar, else... this is done! =) 
Enjoy your meal! :D 

Ilocos Trip - treats and other pasalubong

As you may have known, we have come from a 3 day trip to the Ilocos Province, and i think one advice is for you to load up on cash, especially if you want to bring home some good pasalubong and yummy treats! They have loads of them! =) You'll never know which one to prioritize.

Non Food Items and Pasalubong:

Bangui Windmill Replica - They have this in huge and cute sizes. The bigger one can be displayed in table tops, coffee table or office desks. the small one is really cute and can be used so you can stick it on your refrigerator if you are collecting for your travel! They also have the same kind as souvenir for Cape Bojeador Replica (but these are hard to find, i only found one and it was already not in good shape). The smaller versions come in Magnetic and key chains, depending on your preference. Smaller ones are sold 3 for 100 pesos and the huge ones are sold for 160 pesos a piece.

They also have a variety of bracelets, pearl earrings, cellular phone trinkets which is much cheaper. The trinkets are only 10 pesos each and when you buy a bracelet, you get to have a free trinket too. Their are some nice head bands too, and they come in really cute colors - very appealing for the girls, especially and of course if you like accessories you'll never run out of choices especially in the Ilocos Norte Beaches.

Food Items:


Well you don't have to buy the fresh seafoods for take home, but just have it cooked on the resort you were staying in. They sell Sugpo or tiger prawns along the road(really fresh) for only 200pesos per 1 kilo. They initially told us its 460pesos per kilo and they sold it at more than half the price. The region is rich in Sea resources so its rather cheap to eat seafood in the area.

Ilocos Vinegar - This region boasts of the very good tasting Vinegar. Its sour, but kinda sweet and it smells really good!

Sticky Rice Variations such as Tupig, Candon Calamay, and of course the Royal Bibingka. The Bibingka sells for 85 pesos per 8 pieces.

Chicacorn - a very famous treat too, as it is cheaper... =) They have got a lot of flavors to choose from and you sure will enjoy at least one of them. Cheese, Barbeque, Spicy, Garlic flavors. Small pack of Chicacorn(any flavor) costs only 35 pesos. 55 pesos for the largest pack.

Vigan Longganisa - of course, the famous longganisa. They sell this by the dozen. small ones are sold for 100 pesos and larger ones 120 pesos per dozen.

Bagnet - You can buy also at the shop that sells most of the pasalubong, 380 pesos one slab. 

Mexican Hashbrown Recipe

Who wouldn't want or love a hashbrown dinner topped with fresh tomato salsa, and ground beef curry!And that's not all, you get to drizzle it with cheese as well... Yummy! 

So here is my recipe for this wonderful treat - lunch, dinner, snack - whatever time you feel like munching down some goodness then this one is the easiest to make! =) 


What you need:
Ground beef
Curry Powder
Chopped onions
Tomato 
Pickles
Cheese spread
Hashbrowns


What you need to do:
1. Cook the curry, sautee it with onions (chopped), almost cooked, pour in some of the curry powder until the meat's oil  turns a bit yellow (due to the powder). put some black pepper if you like or some chili powder if you prefer it to be a bit spicy. 
2. Set aside when done, make sure to drain the ground beef from the oil. 
3. Put the hashbrowns to oven toaster (still frozen). this will brown the potato while you prepare for the salsa
4 Chop the tomato into bits and pieces - remove the seeds if you may, make sure you still got some tomato juice with the chopped vegetable. 
5. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of pickles and include in your chopped tomatoes, do not forget to put some black pepper and iodized salt to taste.


How to Serve:


Get the hashbrown from the oven, put it in a plate, add the drained beef (about 2 tablespoons), put the salsa on top of the beef, and pour in some cheese spread if you like. =)


Enjoy!! 

 

Ma Chicken Noodle House (Trinoma)

This North Park group of Restaurant seems to be having a good business in Trinoma Cinema Area. They have a little space to them, but people seem to always go and try out their “Mami” or Noodles. “Ma” Noodle House seems promising, as they have some noodle options – you would even be enticed to try their Binondo Style Noodles! Which is by the way, is their “Declared” specialty.

So we ordered the Binondo Style Mami (Noodles) and well, First sip was disappointing already because even from the looks of the soup (which is so pale) I thought that it might still have a taste to it… but hell no! There was no taste at all. It was just like boiling water was poured unto the bowl of noodles and some chicken meat! This is the worst noodle soup ever!

I practically had to put a teaspoon of chili oil and 2 tablespoons of siopao sauce just so I can “taste” something! This was not worth the time. I would have been happier with Lucky Me chicken if you ask me, and this is not an overstatement. 

My Mom and I paid for the two bowls in our table and walked out of the restaurant, and I am not exaggerating about this.  Try it at your own risk(and waste of money) - don’t tell me you have not been warned! 

Crabsticks in Caesar Salad

Im back! And I am off to a healthy start! With that, a simple salad recipe is what i thought of sharing to all of you. =)


Crabstick in Caesar Salad


What you need for the caesar sauce:
Mustard
Lemon extract
Pepper
Salt to taste


Crabsticks
Romaine Lettuce
Cheese, grated
Olive oil


Prepare the Caesar Sauce:
Mix mustard, and lemon extract. make sure to not use the whole lemon, just pour exact amount according to taste, otherwise it may be too sour and tangy.  Pour in additional pepper and salt. 
** You can skip this process of creating your own caesar sauce, actually just buy the ready to eat ones. hehe


1. Cut the Romaine Lettuce into bite sizes do not forget to wash the leaves before you cut.
2. Fry the crabsticks, until desired color. you may serve crabstick as it is (cold). I just prefer it fried. he he 
3. Grate some cheese, parmesan would be okay, but cheddar cheese is an option. 
4. Pour in about 1 tbsp of olive oil while you continue to mix. 
5. Top with Caesar sauce and serve. 

Crabstick in Caesar Salad

Im back! And I am off to a healthy start! With that, a simple salad recipe is what i thought of sharing to all of you. =)

Crabstick in Caesar Salad

What you need for the caesar sauce:
Mustard
Lemon extract
Pepper
Salt to taste

Crabsticks
Romaine Lettuce
Cheese, grated
Olive oil

Prepare the Caesar Sauce:
Mix mustard, and lemon extract. make sure to not use the whole lemon, just pour exact amount according to taste, otherwise it may be too sour and tangy.  Pour in additional pepper and salt.

1. Cut the Romaine Lettuce into bite sizes do not forget to wash the leaves before you cut.
2. Fry the crabsticks, until desired color. you may serve crabstick as it is (cold). I just prefer it fried. he he
3. Grate some cheese, parmesan would be okay, but cheddar cheese is an option.
4. Pour in about 1 tbsp of olive oil while you continue to mix.
5. Top with Caesar sauce and serve.

Panna Cotta with Caramelized Mango: A Quick Dessert Recipe

In our office, there was this cafe that sells really delicious panna cotta.. and since i love to cook, i thought i can also make my own version of the said dessert and so I did! 


For Toppings:
Mango (chopped to small pieces)
Water
Sugar


For the Panna Cotta:
Cream (nestle is better)
Fresh Milk or Small Evap Milk
Unflavored Gelatin
Sugar
Vanilla Extract




















Prepare the Mango toppings
1. Chop Ripe Mangoes into small pieces.
2. Bring water (about half a cup) to boil and put in sugar, until it is melted, or caramelized
3. Put the mango and turn off the heat. Do not boil.
4. Set Aside in a container and refrigerate. 


Cooking the Panna Cotta
1. Pour milk into a cup and put the gelatin powder. Stir to dissolve the gelatin and set aside.
2. Heat the pan, put in the cream/all purpose cream. Mix with about 2 tbsp of sugar. (actually depends on your taste). DO NOT BOIL. 
3. When the cream starts to simmer, put vanilla extract and pour the milk with the Gelatin. Stir constantly and turn off the heat. 
4. Pour into desired mold and chill.

Serve and top with the mango bits. Enjoy!!   

Pinoy Palitaw: A Quick Meryenda Recipe

Ever heard of the Palitaw? I think most of us now just know the common Pinoy snacks such as Banana Q,  Camote Q, or turon. but you can definitely make meryenda family time special by preparing your family a nice plate of Palitaw. I remember my Lola (not biological) Lucing teaching me how to make this pinoy meryenda and it was really easy! 


So here's what you need:
Glutinous Rice (Half a kilo will serve about 5-6 person)
Giniling na Niyog / Coconut meat crushed
Sesame Seed
Refined Sugar
Water for boiling


Glutinous Rice:
1. Prepare the rice for cooking by getting 1 spoon of rice and shaping it in between your palm. 
2. Once the rice is round, flatten with your fingers, put in a dry plate. You may put some flour so the rice won't stick to the plate. 


Cooking the Glutinous Rice:
1. Heat water in pan, when water starts to simmer, put in the shaped glutinous rice. 
2. When they start to float (thus the name palitaw), this means the rice is cooked. 
3. Drain, and put the rice in niyog, covering both sides. Set Aside.


Preparing the "Toppings"
1. Heat dry pan. 
2. Put in the sesame seed, stir and once the seeds turn into brown, turn off the  heat. 
3. Mix the sesame seed with just the right amount of sugar. 


Serve the Palitaw by topping it with the sesame seeds and sugar. =) See the smile in your friends or family's face! they'll never know you did it yourself. he he 

Slow Cooked Pork Pata Kare Kare

Slow Cooked Pork Pata Kare Kare. 


Ingredients:
1 Pack Mama Sita Kare Kare Sauce
Pork Pata
Lily's Peanut Butter
Pechay Tagalog
Eggplant or Talong
Half Clove Garlic
Shrimp Paste (spicy or not)


1. Prepare the slow cooker, put about 1 liter of water and put to high. 
2. In a separate pan, saute pork pata / or pork let cut into smaller bite size with Garlic. Once the Pork leg color turned to pale color, remove from pan and transfer to slow cooker. 
3. You may put some Aji no moto to taste, if you like. otherwise this can be skipped. 
After about 2 hours in the slow  cooker, check the pork leg with a fork if it has become tender. 
4. Prepare the Kare Kare Mix by dissolving the contents into a cup of stock from the boiling pata. 

5. Put the the mixture into the slow cooker, while stirring, make sure there are no lumps. 
6. Leave for another hour, then put the peanut butter. While stirring constantly again. 
7. When the sauce thickens, you may blanch the eggplant in hot water and put together with the Kare Kare. 
8. Once the Eggplant is cooked, put the Pechay Tagalog and simmer for another 5 minutes. 
9. You may simultaneously prepare for the bagoong. Saute the Bagoong in 1tbsp of chopped garlic. 
10. Serve with Hot Rice and its perfect! =)  




*Note that the Recipe may also be cooked in pan, no need for slow cooking if you have got not much time to spare. I chose to "slow cook" the Pork Leg because it gives more flavor, it tastes better and the meat is really tender. 

Broccoli in Oyster Sauce

I would like to share to everyone how successful our version of the Broccoli Vegetable in Oyster Sauce:


What you  need:
Broccoli flower
Garlic
Onions
Oyster Sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 cup water


Saute the garlic and onions, put the broccoli. make sure that you do not overcook the flower. It is best to eat this vegetable crunchy.
Once you put in the broccoli in the pan, pour in the cornstarch that you have dissolved in water; also, Put in about 2 table spoons of oyster sauce while  continuously stirring until it simmers.
Get a fork and see if you can already press in against the vegetable. Be careful not to overcook. 
Serve hot! =)

Picture was only taken from a samsung GT-I5503 phone. 

Latest Discovery: Chix22 - 22 pieces chicken in a bucket!

I am not sure as to where else can you find this kiosk, but there is one branch in Panay Avenue in Quezon City and it sure got me interested to try it out... They serve Barbeque chicken, and Fried Chicken. What they offer, would be their unique 22 piece chicken in a bucket. 


For only 225 pesos, you get a bucket of fried chicken in only 8 minutes of waiting. 


Other information:
It is actually one whole chicken cut into 22 small pieces
The chicken is Bounty Fresh - so its safe!

I took a picture of their simple menu below. 



I planned to also take a photo of the bucket and the chicken pieces, unfortunately the chickens did not last long ... my brother who loves fried chicken ate half of it. hehe

I can now make a dumpling! =)

Its so nice that I am finally able to make a dumpling on my own - from scratch! So How did I do it? I had a dumpling maker - its only php 66.00 from Japan Home - we bought it the last time my mom  and I went for shopping.

Here is how it looked like...

What you need to make a dumpling:

Giniling or Ground Pork
Carrots
Red Onions
Vetsin(small pack)
Sugar
Hoisin Sauce
Dumpling Wrapper / Molo Wrapper may be used if Dumpling Wrapper is not available

Chop the onions, and the carrots. Mix with the ground pork, put in the vetsin, some sugar, and about 3 table spoon of Hoisin sauce (depending on the amount of ground pork you are using).
Have your wrappers ready and start making the dumplings! The tool we bought from Japan Home is very easy to use!

You may either steam or fry the dumplings. ;) Enjoy!!

* Sorry for not being able to explain this well. ha ha i am not a very good at writting instructions, especially recipes... I will try harder next time... okay?!