FTF: Onion Rings

For snack time Friday I prepared onion rings with mayo-garlic dip. White onion rings dipped into beaten eggs, coated with seasoned flour, dipped again in egg then bread crumbs. This is my first on making onion rings, it was a successful one. Crunchy o the outside, soft, tender and juicy in every bite. I enjoyed munching on it while watching my favorite TV show.

Food Trip Friday

Crispy Shrimp Tempura

It's a Thursday which means weekend is just around the corner, and my younger sister paid us a visit today. And when sisters get together, the kitchen is expected to get busy.  I have some Tiger Prawns waiting,  aside from having a good conversation, a tempura dish would be wonderful.

To start: Tempura is a Japanese dish that is dip in batter then deep-fried. It goes with seafood or vegetables. The Tempura batter is compose of cold water, all-purpose flour, eggs, baking soda, oil, and seasonings like salt and pepper.

*Tempura batter is traditionally mixed in small batches using chopsticks to obtain its fluffyness.

*Please take note when making tempura, prawns should be peeled, deveined and washed well.

Aside from the usual flour and egg batter, I coated each with Japanese- style bread crumbs to make it crispy. Then deep-fried until golden brown.

Tentsuyu sauce: is the traditional Tempura Sauce

Grilled Pompano Fish

First of all, I didn't know that Pompano Fish or "Pampano" as to what we call it here in the Philippines, is considered a delicacy. Being one of the richest and tastiest marine fish in the world. It is a silver fish with a body that is somewhat flat. You can view -fresh Pompano Fish photo- by going to the link highlighted, since I wasn't able to produce my own photo of the fish fresh.

One of the things I enjoy having a father who travels a lot, is being able to try extraordinary food or ingredients that he takes home coming from different provinces. On my last visit to my parent's house, my dad gave me a coco vinegar mixture which he made. Aside from that, he also gave me a big Pompano Fish to complete a meal.  At first , I didn't really know how will I serve the fish. Stewed, steamed, fried, grilled or even baked. I wasn't familiar with it, but I was advised that Pompano is best served fried or grilled. For lunch today (Monday), I got parts of the fish for fillet. Then, the remaining was still seasoned for grilling. Pompano fish is being sold in wet markets here in Manila for the price ranging from php200-280 per kilo.

On both sides of the Pompano fish fillet, drizzle it with olive oil, then season with salt, lemon juice or calamansi juice then slices of ginger. Get your grill ready and start cooking! Served my Grilled Pompano Fish with my dad's special coco vinegar mix and hot rice.

FTF: Pancit Bihon

I prepared this for as merienda (snack) late this afternoon. But I purposely cooked good enough to last until tomorrow. I'm such a sucker for Pancit, especially Bihon Guisado. I love my Pancit Guisado with lots of Kinchay or small bunch of Chinese celery.The next ingredient that must be included is chicken sliced into small pieces.

I prefer boiling the chicken first then, I shred it into pieces. After sauteing, I use some of the chicken stock to cook the vegetables. Since my husband doesn't like gizzard and liver I completely eliminated it from my recipe. But to be honest, those 2 (gizzard and liver), they add flavor.

To make my pancit meal complete, I love pairing it with a cold glass of Coke and best eaten with Monay. Bread straight from a nearby bakery.

Food Trip Friday

Safety Girl

Safety has always been my #1 concern, especially when I was still in school. Women, we're always an easy target for anybody with bad intentions. There were times when I kept a pepper spray in my bag. When I was in college there would be times that nobody was available to pick me up from school, most of the time, before graduating and due to school work, project and functions in school, I end up walking the streets in the middle of the night. Safety Girl, is a one stop shop where you can get stylish  safety equipments. From pepper sprays, womens jackets and even womens work pants.Pepper Sprays are offered as hand-held cans of pepper spray, as well as pepper spray keychains. Other options for protecting yourself include pepper spray cans for joggers, foams, gels, and police-strength formulas. Every product comes in cute and colorful designs which will leave the worry if you'll look good with those safety equipments on.

Take these fro example:

Take a look and tell me how cute is this waterproof jacket.

Walls Ladies Cotton Denim Capri Bib Overalls so comfy and refreshing to look at.

FTF: Beef Broccoli

Early today, We, (namely: the whole family) went on a quick errand to the bank. And right beside the bank is a Chowking Restaurant, and right in front of our car is a poster of their famous Beef Broccoli meal. And right there and then, my son asked me if we could dine-in and try some. Saying: "Mama let's eat that". To be honest, even a person with a full tummy will give-in to that food poster. The ad was pretty much working for us. Well, I told my son, that it's not the right time to eat in Chowking. Instead, we drove to the grocery store, bought Broccoli flowers , and for dinner I prepared our own Beef Broccoli. Eat All You Can!!! (lol!)

Photo: SEP990i

My Baking Paraphernalia

No I don't have it yet and it's taking too long. Well, I'm just borrowing it from my mom hehehe! 

Namely: her Kitchenaid mixer, rectangular baking dish, a stainless mixing bowl and a cookie sheet if possible.

But I don't have the time to go to their place and at the same time, nobody is available to bring it to me. I have a list of dishes ready for this week, but since I'm lacking materials... I might be able to post about those dishes within the next 2 weeks. 2 pasta dishes are coming, a pastry, and another chicken or beef recipe. All this cooking, consider this as a dry-run. Because the holidays are coming and I want something new on my Christmas table and I want something baked for my Christmas Giveaway.

My First: Chicken Cordon Bleu

It all started when my husband and I had dinner at French Baker (which was my FTF entry last week). He said that the Chicken Cordon Bleu I ordered reminded him of his mom. He told me, that my mother-in-law would always whip up homemade cordon bleu for the family. The following day, I went to the grocery store and while my husband was at work, I got my kitchen apron ready, my chopping board at hand and the ingredients for my own version of Chicken Cordon Bleu.

There were downs on this first attempt, that's why I still can't post the recipe.

1. I chose the wrong kind of cheese

2. I got small sizes of chicken breast fillets

Iced Gems

How will I start with this? Hmmm... oh yeah! Iced Gems! It's a snack that reminds me so much of my childhood. Especially during the days when I was still studying in Assumption. I was given a little allowance money then. My mom always prepare packed- lunch and sandwiches instead of buying food in the school cafeteria. The small amount of money given was suppose to be for my drinks to last for the rest of the day.

But most of the time, I rely on the school's water fountain and spend my money on packs of Iced Gems biscuit. When I was a little girl, the first thing that I got attracted with was the colorful icing on top of every biscuit. The biscuit itself was very good, easy to munch, easy to bite and I always make sure that my last bite would be the icing on top. Up to this date, Iced Gems are being sold in grocery stores. It gave me the inspiration to post about it when I found out that my son loves it too. Every time  I pick him up from school, he would ask me to buy him some. And during our last visit to Tagaytay, we dropped by at one of the pasalubong stations in the city and there I saw a BIG pack of Iced Gems biscuits being sold. From then on, in between meals, every time I'm watching TV, reading a book and even while surfing the net, I have a bowl of Iced Gems that I can munch anytime I want to. Yummy!