Friday, May 8, 2009

Food Trip Friday---Mom's Carbonara


Since Mother's Day is already around the corner, I am featuring one of my Mom's specialties.
The whole week I was craving for my mom's carbonara. After finishing what's scheduled from Monday- Wedenesday, rain or shine, I went to visit my mom and requested her to cook Carbonara for me. I'm still eating up to now. So consider this as my food trip today (Friday!). Thursday afternoon, we made some fresh pasta to go with her famous, chunking white sauce. As soon as were done with the cutting, we immediately cooked it. One thing I learned, fresh pasta taste better if you cook it right away :D
Added Turmeric (luyang dilaw) for a change.
*Although usually used in its dried, powdered form, Turmeric is also used fresh - much like ginger. It has numerous uses in far east recipes, such as fresh turmeric pickle (which contains large chunks of soft turmeric).

Turmeric is used to protect food products from sunlight. The oleoresin is used for oil-containing products. The curcumin/polysorbate solution or curcumin powder dissolved in alcohol is used for water containing products. Over-coloring, such as in pickles, relishes and mustard, is sometimes used to compensate for fading.

In combination with annatto, turmeric has been used to color cheeses, yogurt, dry mixes, salad dressings, winter butter and margarine. Turmeric is also used to give a yellow color to some prepared mustards, canned chicken broths and other foods (often as a much cheaper replacement for saffron).

Turmeric is widely used as a spice in South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking. Momos (Nepali meat dumplings), a traditional dish in South Asia, are spiced with turmeric. In South Africa turmeric is traditionally used to give boiled white rice a golden color.

More fresh pasta. this time, its healthier! See Turmeric for its Medicinal uses.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Cute Clips For Your Bag of Goodies

I'm sure this "clipping the bag" thing has became part of your kitchen experience. That is, some of us uses clips to hang our clothes. Well, used to. Because I found this set of cute clips that will not only preserve the content of the bag, but it will also make it look extra nice. Clipping bags tightly and putting it inside the fridge will help preserve the remaining ingredients. It will stay as fresh. That is for some, not applicable to all.
Like for this bag of bread crumbs or a bag of potato chips that you couldn't finish.
I found this at the SM department store, office supplies section for 50 bucks a set.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Easy Pork Pastel

One of the things that most of you may have noticed is that I haven't posted any baked recipe yet. If not that, at least anything that has something to do with baking.
I have one simple reason. I wanted to make this food blog to concentrate on easy recipes. As a mom, who does everything at home (not a single helper around), I find baking as an extra task. I do it for special occasions, but not on a regular basis. Like this evening.
*I apologize for not posting extra pictures. I only used my cellphone camera and its quite like Hell's Kitchen here :D With my son watching me cook, from chopping the ingredients, sauteing, and making the sauce.

And believe me, there's a lot I haven't shared yet.

Easy Pork Pastel


What you will be Needing:

1/2 Kilo Pork Tenderloin (sliced)
1 small can Vienna Sausage (sliced)
1 medium carrot (cut into quarters)
3 medium potatoes (cut into quarters)
6 pieces baby corn ( cut into quarter size)
1 large green bell pepper (cut into quarters)
1/2 evaporated milk
1/4 unsalted butter
5 cloves garlic (minced)
3 cups water (for the broth)
Salt and fresh ground pepper

*1/2 cup water (for the thickening sauce)
*3 tsp. flour 0r cornstarch ( for thickening sauce)
* dissolve flour in 1/2 c water

How to:

In a sauce pan, heat up butter and saute garlic.
Add the sliced pork tenderloin, stir for a few minutes
Add 3 cups water and simmer until pork is cooked.
Add potatoes, carrots, baby corn and sausages, simmer for another 3-5 minutes until all are cooked.
Add 1/2 cup evaporated milk. Keep stirring.
Then add the green bell pepper.
Salt and Pepper to taste.
To end, add the thickening agent of mixed flour and water. Keep stirring until you get the right consistency.

note: you have the option of baking it.

When pork and veggies are done, transfer to baking dish. Cover with pie crust. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes or until crust turns golden brown.

Pastel Crust:
* 4 cups all-purpose-flour (sift 3 times)
* 1 cup shortening or margarine
* 2 tsp. salt
* 1 tbsp. sugar
* 1 cup water

Servings: 3-4
-source for pastel crust-