Mini Pizza

Monday is my new Sunday, and with time on my hands, I thought of ways I can bond with Zeus. Earlier we went for a stroll in our garden and we saw things we never paid attention to before. The activity made us hungry, so I whipped up an easy-to-do snack: mini pizzas!

Ingredients:

bread slices of choice (panini, foccacia, regular toast, etc...whatever you want)

pizza sauce (can be bought from the grocery or make your own)

toppings of choice (I used vienna sausage and pineapple chunks, but whatever you want or have will do)

grated quickmelt cheese

Procedure:

1. Pre-heat the oven or oven toaster (300 deg F).

2. Spread pizza sauce on the bread slices, enough to equally cover the surface.

3. Arrange the toppings on the bread slices.

4. Top with grated cheese.

5. Bake for 3-5 minutes until cheese melts and the bread toasts for a bit of crunch.

Kani Salad

Here's one of my favorite salad recipes. Simple but definitely tasty.

Ingredients:

Iceberg lettuce, washed, drained and shredded

Kani sticks, chopped or shredded

ripe mango, cubed

Japanese mayo

Procedure:

1. In a salad bowl, place shredded lettuce. It is better to tear it by hand than chopping with a knife. This is because the lettuce reacts with the metal in the knife.

2. Layer it next with the chopped or shredded kani.

3. Next, put the cubed mangoes on top.

4. Drizzle with Japanese mayo.

5. Chill in the fridge and serve cold.

Buko Pandan

Ingedients:

buko or young coconut meat, shredded into strips

1 pack green unflavored gelatin

1 small can condensed/sweetened milk

1 pack all purpose cream

pandan flavoring

optional sago or tapioca balls

optional nata de coco

Procedure:

1. Prepare the gelatin as indicated on the box instructions. Pour into molds, set aside to cool and harden.

2. When gelatin is firm to the touch, remove from molds and cut into cubes (or whatever shape you want).

3. In a container, mix together gelatin, buko strips, sweetened milk and cream (also optional sago and nata de coco).

4. Add a small drop of pandan flavoring.

5. Chill in the fridge, and serve cold.

Note:

1. If pandan-flavored gelatin is available, omit the drop of pandan flavoring syrup.

2. If pandan leaves are available, cook gelatin with pandan infused water.

Pesto Crusted Tofu with Cheese

I absolutely love pesto. Its so simple to make and so tasty. In my family, I'm the only who has acquired the liking for it. They find the basil flavor too overwhelming. In my opinion they're missing a lot, but on the other hand it's a good thing that they don't like it -- more pesto for me!

Looking for ways to bring more excitement to the subtle flavor of tofu, I decided to experiment and combine the two; the boldness of pesto and the mildness of tofu. It's an East-meets-West recipe, and I was pleasantly surprised with the result. I was expecting a strong herb flavor but the tofu subdued the intensity. The cheese brought the flavors together with just the right amount of salt and creamy texture.

Ingrdients:
tofu, sliced into 1/2 inch thick slabs
pesto sauce
grated or sliced quick-melt cheese

Procedure:
1. Marinate the tofu in the pesto sauce for 5 minutes.
2. Heat pan and place tofu with some of the pesto sauce coating it.
3. Pan fry one side of the tofu for 2-3 minutes.
4. Flip it to fry the the other side for another 2-3 minutes.
5. While still frying the other side, place cheese on top and let it soften a bit or completely melt based on your preference.
6. Remove from heat and serve.

Potato Cheese Croquettes

Mashed potatoes is one of the most popular comfort food in the US. It is also greatly appreciated here in Manila and is usually served as a side dish to fried or roasted chicken.

But what to do with leftover mashed potatoes [if any] when everyone has had their fill and no longer yearns for the comfort it brings? Make croquettes out of it!

Croquette came from the French word croquer, which means “to crunch”. The dish is a French invention which is usually made of mashed potatoes and minced meat, dipped in egg, rolled in breadcrumbs then deep fried. It became so popular that almost every country now has their own version of preparing the classic favorite.

My version is very similar to the European tater.

Ingredients:
leftover mashed potatoes, chilled
1 whole egg, beaten
quick-melt cheese, cut into 1/2 inch thick strips
1/2 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
cooking oil

Procedure:
1. Scoop 1 tbsp of mashed potato onto your palm.
2. Flatten it to make a patty.
3. Place 1 cheese strip in the middle of the patty.
4. Roll patty using palms to cover the cheese all over with the mashed potato.
5. Dip the roll in the beaten egg.
6. Roll it in panko and make sure that it's evenly covered.
7. Heat oil in a pan.
8. Fry potato rolls until breadcrumb coating turns golden brown.
9. Remove excess oil with paper towels.

Kani Maki

Craving for Japanese food during the wee hours of the morning, when all decent restos I know are already/still closed, made me do the unexpected.

I made my own maki.

I've heard from a TV chef before that it's best to always have a pack of kani at home. You'll be prepared when the need for a quick snack arises, and there are so many possibilities with what you can make -- salads, sandwiches, tempura or simply eat it by itself. That was one of the best advices I've picked from the tube.

You might be asking yourself "what is maki?" and "what is kani?". You've probably seen these words in Japanese restaurant menus but have never bothered to find out what these translate to. If you still haven't Googled it by now, let me add to your knowledge of basic Japanese dining vocabulary:

maki - roll
kani - crab meat (sticks)
kani + maki = crab meat roll
nori - dried thin seaweed sheets
sushi - vinegared rice

It is interesting to note that outside of Japan, some people refer to or understand sushi as the raw fish or seafood. Truth is, the sliced raw fish or seafood is called sashimi.

I took out the makisu (bamboo rolling mat) from its hiding place and cracked my knuckles. With the kani out of the chiller, I was ready to roll.

Procedure:
1. Lay the makisu on a flat surface.
2. Lay a sheet of nori on the makisu.
3. Mix cooked rice with a solution of vinegar, sugar and salt to make the sushi.
4. Spread the sushi on the nori sheet.
5. Place the kani (and other desired filling) on top.
6. Roll tightly.
7. Slice roll into 6-8 pieces.

Click here for a detailed, step-by-step instruction on how to make your own maki.

Itadakimasu!

Tilapia in Coconut Milk

If there's one fish that I probably won't get tired of eating, even everyday, it has got to be the Tilapia. This freshwater fish is so versatile, it can be cooked in so many ways and all would be delicious. The flavor of the tilapia is subtle which goes well with just about every imaginable spice or sauce.

Ingredients:
2 whole tilapia
2 tbsp cooking oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 small ginger thumb, julienned
1 cup fresh coconut milk (canned veriety can be used as a substitute)
1/4 cup water
salt and pepper
(optional) 1 small bunch Chinese cabbage, chopped
(optional) 1 red or green chili pepper, chopped

Procedure:
1. Heat oil in pan.
2. Saute garlic, onions and ginger.
3. Pour coconut and water. Stir and season with salt and pepper.
4. Place the 2 tilapias in the mixture, and simmer until flesh turns opaque.
5. Add the Chinese cabbage and chili pepper.
6. Simmer for 1-2 minutes. Serve with steamed rice.

Steamed Creme Dori with Garlic

My family and I have been eating a lot of fish lately. This is because last week was Holy Week and as Catholics, our way of observance was to avoid eating meat. Also, the timing was quite convenient for me and my mom, who both had dental procedures done and still could not chew well.

Pardon the grainy image quality. This picture was taken using my handheld device and not with my usual digicam. I wanted to capture this simple yet tasty dish as soon as possible before it disappears before my eyes.

Ingredients:
Creme Dori, fish-steak cuts
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp EVOO
salt and pepper
*minced ginger is optional

Procedure:
1. Heat EVOO in pan.
2. Fry garlic (and ginger if applicable) until golden brown. Be careful not to burn it. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Season the creme dori on both sides with a little salt and pepper.
4. Arrange fish in a steamer and put the garlic (and ginger) on top.
5. Steam until the flesh turns opaque
6. Serve with cooked rice or steamed/buttered vegetables.

Adobo Flakes Rice Topping

Ingredients:
leftover chiken from adobo, flaked
adobo sauce
3 tbsp cooking oil
2 tomatoes, chopped
2 cups cooked rice
pinch of salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Remove chicken from adobo sauce.
2. Set aside sauce.
3. Remove chicken from bones and flake the meat.
4. Heat oil in a pan.
5. Fry the flakes until brown and crispy.
6. Remove from pan and drain excess oil with paper towels. Set aside.
7. Heat adobo sauce in the pan.
8. Mix in cooked rice.
9. Season with a little salt and pepper.
10. Stir to evenly coat the rice with the sauce.
11. Remove from heat.
12. Mound rice in bowls.
13. Top with fried chiclen flakes and chopped tomatoes.

Veggie Spring Rolls

This is a repost of this recipe which was first featured in my other blog.

Spring Roll Filling

Ingredients:

2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
leftover chicken sausage, chopped
1 small carrot, chopped into strips
1/2 can of young corn, chopped into strips
1/2 cabbage head, chopped into strips
2 tablesppons oyster sauce
sal and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons water
*snowpeas, bell peppers and mushrooms are optional but great additions to this dish

Procedure:
1. Heat EVOO in a pan with sesame oil.

2. Brown the chopped sausage. Let the spices of the sausage come out.

3. Add the carrots and corn. Sauté for 1-2 minutes.

4. Add the cabbage.

5. Add the oyster sauce and stir to evenly distribute.

6. Pour in the water.

7. Season with salt and pepper.

8. Cover the pan for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the cabbage to soften but do not over cook.

9. Remove from heat and drain any liquids left.

To make the spring roll:

Ingredients:

spring roll wrapper
drained vegetable mixture (recipe above)
vegetable or corn oil for frying

Procedure:
1. Drain any excess liquids from the filling.

2. Scoop about 1-1/2 tablespoons of the vegetable mixture on to the wrapper.

3. Roll it firmly.

4. Heat the oil

5. Fry the rolls until golden brown. Do not over crowd your pan so as no maintain even temperature.

6. Drain excess oil from fried rolls with paper towels.

7. Serve hot as is or with dipping sauce.

To make the dipping sauce:

Ingredients:

1/4 cup vinegar

1 1/2 tbsp soy sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

dash of pepper

Procedure:

1. Mix all ingredients.

2. Pour into a dipping bowl with fried spring rolls.

Tofu in Barbecue Sauce

This is what me and my parents had for dinner earlier. It was paired with Catfish Adobo and steamed white rice. Both viands were so good, I forgot to take pictures of them before it were shoveled onto our plates.
Ingredients:
2 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tofu block, cubed
1/2 cup Mang Tomas Barbecue Sauce
2 tbsp water
1/2 tsp Lee Kum Kee Chiu Chow Chili Oil

Procedure:
1. Heat pan and melt the butter.
2. Saute the garlic until golden brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic to avoid the bitter/burnt flavor.
3. Pour the barbecue sauce and dilute it with water, depending on your preferred consistency and taste.
4. Add the chili. Lessen or add more to what is indicated in this recipe depending on how well you can handle spicy food.
5. Add the tofu cubes to the sauce.
6. Let it simmer for 5 minutes in low heat.
7. Remove from heat and serve with steamed rice.