Cool Macaroni Salad

Chilled macaroni salad is also considered as a refreshing snack especially on a hot day. Aside from the basic salad macaroni, my version of macaroni salad is a mixture of vegetables and fruits. I noticed that summer's fast approaching, this afternoon, I decided to prepare a cool bowl of macaroni salad.

Servings: 5-6
Ingredients:

• 1 cup shredded cooked chicken breast fillet
• 400g salad macaroni ( cooked al dente)
• 500 ml mayonnaise
• 3 stalks celery (chopped into small pieces)
• 1 tsp finely chopped sweet basil
• 1 red apple (chopped into small pieces)
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 2 medium red onions (minced)
• 1/2 -1tsp white sugar (optional)
• dash of salt

Mix everything together perfectly, then chill. Best served with strips of Romaine lettuce.

Photo: RIM BlackBerry 8900

Raintree 7 Days A Week

What's so special about Sunday? Well, Sunday is considered as family day for most of us. It's the day when you're just at home relaxing with the whole family, then all of a sudden you want something cool and refreshing to share with your loved ones. It's also the day after hearing mass, the whole family plans to go to a destination where they can spend the rest of the day lounging. It's the day after having a delicious meal, you crave for something exceptionally sweet. There's a lot of extraordinary refreshments Raintree is offering aside from milk teas. They have Dessert Blends, Fruit Tea Infusion, Floats and of course, your choice of coffee and plain tea.  Summer is almost here, why wait for Sunday when you can have some Raintree everyday. Chill and relax!

We've been waiting for this... finally, yes finally, they're open 7 days a week starting March 11, 2012.

Fresh Basil Pesto

Before, I always end up buying processed pesto mix in the supermarket. I say it's processed because if you're going to check the container, stuff are added to preserve the product. As much as  possible I try to go for fresh ingredients when it comes to gourmet cooking. My pesto is composed of Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Cashew Nuts and fresh sweet Basil leaves. I add parmesan  later on when mixing the pesto with the pasta.

 

It's not hard to make pesto. 

Cashew is a good alternative for Pine nuts and Walnuts because of it's unique flavor.

In terms of equipment, a food processor will accomodate your grinding needs, but if there's none, an ordinary blender will do.

Ingredients:

• 2 bowls of fresh sweet basil
• 1 1/2 -2 cups of extra virgin olive oil
• 10 cloves garlic (peeled)
• 1 1/2 cups Cashew nuts

*make necessary adjustments according to your preference

 How To: Grind everything in a food processor.

 One of my pasta dishes: Chicken Pesto

Sandwicheese!

I salute the brilliant mind behind the success of Banapple because here's an addition to the list of treats Banapple has created for its avid followers.

I give you SANDWICHEESE!

Located  right next to the original Banapple Katipunan Avenue  Quezon, City

These smiley Sandwicheeses will automatically make your day.

Banapple was able to make a one-stop burger and sandwich joint through Sandwicheese. Aside from that, they also offer french fries, amazing line of salads and cool beverages including Banapple's Home Made Brewed Iced Tea , Dalandan Passion Slush, Pretty Green Slush.

Our Sandwicheese evening was composed of the following:

Drippin' Roast Beef (php160)

House Burger (php170)

Chicken Caesar (php170)

Banapple Potato Salad (php90)

Banapple's Home Made Brewed Iced Tea (php60)

House Burger

Banapple Potato Salad

As always, it's a must for me to try another house specialty from Banapple. Love it! love it! love it! It goes well with the sandwiches we ordered. I like the creamy texture of the dressing, it's just right.

Chicken Caesar

We weren't able to take a picture of their Drippin' Roast Beef. If there was a little something that made our dining experience fun, that would be the part when we started eating their super duper juicy Drippin' Roast Beef. It was literally dripping, to a point that I had to stop taking pictures because my hands were all messy. The Chicken Caesar sandwich was my favorite for the night. I told my husband that it tasted like I'm eating Caesar Salad in sandwich form, and I love Caesar Salad! that's why...

As a foodie, it's nice that another wonderful place was just created nearby... Aside from the regular munchies I prepare at home, I do crave for something different in a day too. Sandwicheese is the perfect place to visit for extraordinary sandwiches that will definitely flip an ordinary snack time to a one of a kind everyday sandwich experience.
Photos: RIM BlackBerry 8900

Tilapia Fillet in Sarciado Sauce

Sarciado is a fish dish. We fry the fish first, set it aside and then we saute a large amount of chopped red tomatoes mixed with garlic and onions then topped or mixed with the fried fish. I like it with egg too. Sarciado is one of my favorite fish recipe because of the mix of fresh ingredients: roasted garlic, half-cooked onions and red tomatoes. I grew up with this dish being served at our dinner at all times. It's easy to prepare, easy to cook and it's healthy.

Ingredients:

• 2-3pcs. Tilapia Fillet (or any fish fillet of your choice)
• 4 fresh red tomatoes (chopped with seeds)
• 1 medium red onion (chopped)
• 5 cloves garlic (minced)
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 egg (beaten)
• 1/2 cup water
• salt and ground pepper

How To:

• Season fresh fish fillet with salt and pepper.
• Dip seasoned fish fillets in beaten egg.
• In a frying pan, heat up oil.
• Fry fish until golden brown. Set aside.
• In a separate pan, saute garlic until light brown.
• Add chopped onions and tomatoes. Stir for a few seconds.
• Add 1/2 cup water and simmer for about a minute.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Top Sarciado sauce on the fish or set the fried fish in the pan with the sauce.

Servings: 3-4
*You can also add cheese on top then bake it! :)

0o0o

The title for this post was suppose to be "Tilapia Sarciado" but as I was reading through for editing, this post made me feel that there's something wrong or weird with the title. Since I used Tilapia fillet and knowing that fish fillets can go with any desirable sauce I decided to alter the title and change it to "Tilapia Fillet in Sarciado Sauce.