Tomato-Tinapa Pasta

Chef arch's lime-inspired recipe. I'm following their instagram account and saw their photo of "tinapa pasta", then I craved for it and decided to cook my own version of tinapa pasta. :)



Preparation time: 20 minutes (it depends on how fast you debone the tinapa)
Cooking time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
Tinapa (any type of smoked fish)
Tomatoes
Spring onions
Olive oil
Salt
Penne (any noodles will do)


Preparation:
1. Debone tinapa. Set aside. 
2. Wash spring onions. Remove roots and any loose layers of skin. Cut into thin slices. Set aside.
3. Prepare tomato. Wash, slice from side to side to easily remove the seeds. You may squeeze or use spoon to remove   seeds. (See link below for different ways of removing tomato seeds.)
4. Blend tomatoes until smooth. 

Cooking:
Noodles
Bring water to a boil in the cooking pot. Add salt and oil. Stir and check every now and then until it's al dente.

Sauce
1. Heat olive oil in a non-stick pan/skillet (in a medium heat) Saute tinapa.
2. Add tomato puree.
3. Add spring onions and salt to taste. Simmer for 5-10minutes.
4. Toss with cooked penne noodles.

*Friendly tips

You can use canned tomato puree or tomato sauce. But remember, fresh is better and healthier. :)

More about scallions
http://homecooking.about.com/od/cookingfaqs/f/faqscallions.htm

Removing tomato seeds
http://allrecipes.com/howto/removing-tomato-seeds/

How to debone fish
http://www.ehow.com/how_2304290_debone-fish.html

Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry is one of Filipino's favorite dish with cocomilk or "gata". Another variation of "Ginataang Manok", but this one has vegetables. You can replaced chicken by pork.




Ingredients:
Garlic
Onion
Ginger
Carrots
Sayote
Potato
Fresh coconut milk or gata
Evap Milk
Magic Sarap
Ground Black Pepper
Curry Powder
Chicken

Directions:
1. Prepare cocomilk. Set aside. 
2. Cut the chicken into pieces. Leave the chicken bone-in. If you prefer boneless chicken meat, then de-bone the chicken.
3. Heat up a deep pot and add the oil. (just an enough amount of oil)
4. Fry the potato for 2 minutes  and set aside.
5. Sauté garlic, onion, ginger then chicken.
6. Add coconut milk, ground pepper, magic sarap (optional) and curry powder. Stir well. Cover the pot and lower the heat to medium and simmer until the chicken is tender.
7. Once the chicken is cooked, add evap milk, carrots and sayote. Simmer for 3 minutes.
8. Add potatoes. Simmer for another 4 minutes or until desired chicken tenderness.

*Friendly thoughts

I added evaporated milk for a richer and creamier taste. :)

You may also use canned or packed coconut milk if you don't have time to go to martkets, but fresh coconut milk is better than store-bought. :)

Source:
http://www.pinoyrecipe.net/filipino-chicken-curry-recipe/#axzz2K3FdMp1C

Read more about How to make a coconut milk
http://nourishedkitchen.com/how-to-make-coconut-milk/

KALUI: Palawan's Best

KALUI: Famous Palawan Resto

To enjoy and make the best of our vacation in Puerto Princesa, we had dinner in Kalui. You need to make a reservation before going for lunch/dinner. Dinner reservation is only 6pm and 8pm. You can ask your hotel receptionist to make the reservation for you and leave a deposit of 1000php (the staff of Kalui will pick it up in the hotel). But in our case, we just call Kalui for reservation. This is just 15-20 minutes away from PP Airport. 

Before entering the resto, you should take off your foot wears and place it on a basket. The ambiance of Kalui was so relaxing and very impressive! It was made of woods, their floors are well-polished, very creative interior design, such as the fruit decorations and different art pieces. They also have mini gallery inside. I choose the table where you can sit in the cushion lay on the floor and near the entrance with a open view of their mini garden.  (July 5, 2012)

 

It's the 1st table reserved for us, but dadi & mami was not able to join our dinner, coz they were tired.

 

Shoe basket

Tito & Tita

 

I, BF, sister, Tita, Tito

Gallery

We ordered:

Kalui Special of the Day (P400 something)- Blue marlin, prawns, veggies of the day kangkong, spicy squid, rice and seaweed starter. They serve it for 2 but actually 4-5 persons could share.

Seaweed (It was my first time to eat seaweed. Hehe)

Sizzling Seafood Sisig (P170) - squid, shrimp, fish.

Sinigang ni Kaka (P200)- shrimp sinigang in buko juice. Parang minatamis na sinigang ang lasa, kinda weird, but tastes good too. 

Wheatgrass in Coco Juice and Palawan honey (P70) Fresh Buko Shake (P70)

After eating our main dish, they served us a dessert “fruits in muscovado” (banana, pineapple, papaya on top of coconut's half shelf). I don’t have an idea that it’s for free! . :)

Kalui is truly one of the must visit resto when you travel in Puerto Princesa Palawan.
Visit their website: http://www.kaluirestaurant.com/

Food Rating out of 5 star:  ★★★★
Place Rating out of 5 star: ★★★★★


KaLui Restaurant 369 Rizal Avenue
Puerto Princesa City
Palawan
(Opens Daily Save Sundays Lunch 11-2pm; Dinner 6:00-10:30pm )

Reservations Requested:  You may call or ask your hotel front desk. 
Landline: (048) 433 2580
Mobile No: +63 928 753 9621
E-mail: online@kaluirestaurant.com

Chocolate Fire for the Chocoholics!

An anniversary date in a cozy place found in Salcedo Village, Makati City. Thanks ironeman for granting my wish - Chocolate Fire! I really appreciate the friendly staffs, lovely ambiance and luscious chocolate and food here. (Jan 6, 2012 celebration, our anniversary is Jan5)

Chocolate Bar ^_^

Appetizer

We ordered:

Pesto Roma (P300)

Basil, pine nuts, garlic, tomato sauce and evoo 

choice of fettuccine noodles and chicken with garlic bread

Iced Chocolate (P170)

(Add on: Marshmallows Topping 20.00; Irish Cream or Caramel Syrup 30.00; Peppermint Dark 20.00)

Step 1. Choose your chocolate (Milk, Dark or White). 

Step 2. Choose your ice cream (any one). 

Step 3. If you desire, select an syrup. 

Step 4. Plus you may like to select a topping

Chocolate Ganache Cake
Their best seller

Chocolate Ganache Cake

Photographs by Me :) more pictures to follow..

Visit their website:
https://www.facebook.com/ChocolateFireLive


Food Rating out of 5 star:  ★★★★
Place Rating out of 5 star: ★★★★★

Chocolate FireSalcedo VillageG/F PDCP Bank Centre, Leviste St cor Rufino StSalcedo Village, Makati(02) 840-3473

Special Homemade Pastillas

It's Christmas season again so here comes - special homemade pastillas. 

Decades ago when this business started. It was manage by my Lola (Mommy's mom). It started in 4 flavors: langka, cheese, ube and coffee. Best seller are langka and cheese. But actually lahat masarap eh :)

I am not sure how old lola was when she started this business. I guess she's 50 years old (4 decades ago). She prepared the candies by herself. She's also the one who delivers bulk orders of pastillas to her clients, like employees of Malacanang Palace, AFP/Camp Aguinaldo, banks, and many more. 

As she grew old, she was assisted by my Aunt. When lola died, my mom and aunt takes over it. During Christmas season lang talaga gumagawa nito, pero minsan my mga nag-oorder din during valentines day, wedding, and some other occassions. Madalas gawing company giveaways, gifts and pasalubong. :)

When my mom handled this pastillas business, she added new flavors, which is nagclick din sa panlasa ng masa. :) Dayap and peanut are the newest flavor. The hardest to prepare is the ube flavor. They do not use artificial flavours and not flour to substitute milk. 

There's also a very nice packaging. When Christmas, my mom use Christmas prints for boxes. But we can style it the way you want it.

You might tell that it is expensive, but preparing it up to the packaging is not easy. Full effort, natural ingredients are the secret behind this sweet candy. 

There's one thing that made me sad, they we're not able to capture pictures from the past to also served as testimonials na best-seller and masarap talaga ang pastillas. ;-) Gusto ko maipamana ito sa mga susunod pa namin generation, so I want to do something. We're planning to have it registered. Lalo na matagal ng family business ito, we want to be the trademark of these special candy. :)



Nakalipas man ang mahigit 2 dekada, nagsalin-salin na ang gumawa, pero ang masarap at kakaibang lasa, hindi pa din nawawala. 

Really proud to be a Kapampangan. I and my family are blessed and thankful for the talent, God's unique gift. :-)

Available in 25pcs, 50pcs and 100pcs. 

Flavors: Coffee, cheese, langka, dayap, peanut, ube

For orders, contact: 

09176293588

ann.sdelacruz@gmail.com