Weekday Hotpot!

           It is once again a rainy weekday. We are all craving for some hot soup, so I decided to create a vegetable hotpot to make our busy weekday more memorable.

         There is always an option to eat out for some hotpot, but our schedule will not allow us to do so. So instead, I prepared our own version of "Sinigang Hot Pot".

         Here are some of the things prepared for this simple yet filling meal:


1. Cut some vegetables.

      For our hotpot version, we used some of the most common vegetables in the market. Since it is a weekday, we do not have the luxury to drop by the grocery to get some mushrooms, sprouts and other green leafy vegetables for the hotpot. However, we have a lot of seasonal vegetables in our fridge, so we decided to chop some for a healthy and tasty hotpot.

  

2. Make the dipping sauce.

       We made a simple dipping sauce by chopping some ginger, green onions and some chilli. We added a tablespoon of soy sauce, sesame oil and some chili sauce.

3. Boil some meat for the broth.

      Originally, we are planning to have a simple Sinigang na Pata, so for the broth we boiled some pata with green onions. For the "sinigang" broth we saute some onions and tomatoes and then added some sinigang mix.

4. Assemble the hotpot.

         We use our induction cooker for hotpots. It is safe and convenient. We enjoyed the moment of cooking our favorite vegetables and then immediately devour it once cooked.

                           

                           

                           



                                       

A simple hotpot can go a long way. :)

                         


                         

Flashback: Christmas 2014 in our New Home

     After 5 years we finally found a place of our own. For this yuletide season we will be staying at home to enjoy each other's company.  For this year, my daughter Rhian will take the task of wrapping and giving gifts. 

                         

     For the Noche Buena, the three of us collaborated in creating the menu. We decided to have create a menu that we can munch on as we wait for 12:00 midnight.

    Barbeque is on top of the list as it is the fave of both my husband and my daughter. For healthier options we have Grilled Tufo and Stuffed Fish Balls. 

Barbeque

                        

Grilled Tufo

                         

Stuffed Fish Balls

                          

    We also have the traditional Lumpiang Shangai and our favorite Choco Moist Cake.

Lumpiang Shanghai

Choco Moist Cake

       And also, we decided to have some lechon good for just 3 persons in case we decide to eat a full meal by 12 midnight. 

Arroz Caldo with Tokwa't Baboy

      For Christmas morning we have Arroz Caldo and Tokwa't Baboy. We always want something light and comforting during the Holidays. :)

Simple Pleasures

Happiness can be concocted in a simple way, sometimes you just need to add a little bit of salt and a dash of pepper.

If we have the chance to travel back to Pangasinan -- our hometown, we usually travel with my brother's family. Most of the time we lack preparation, due to work and kid's school schedules. Inspite of the unpreparedness we always have happy moments and memories to recall and smile about after each short vacation. 

One of things to enjoy in the provinces are the market places. Amidst the crowd, you will experience the pleasure of interacting with friendly sellers. You can just go out with you usual "pambahay" and tour the market for some fresh produce at a very economical price. 

For the daily kitchen needs we just need to walk for about 10 minutes to reach the local market. But for bulk market needs, we go to the "bagsakan" center in Urdaneta. You can buy fresh produce in bulk at the best possible price. Recently, we enjoyed the street pancake sold in the market area.

Living in the main center of the town means all basic major points like the market, the church, the park and town hospitals are just a walk away. Traffic jams are not common, vehicle congestion is only experience during the town's festivities.

To name a few, here are some of the personal things and pleasures that we enjoy during our hometown vacations:

1. Dried Fish - This is one of the things that we buy in bulk. We also buy tuyo and boneless dilis. Our favorite though is daing na pingka. We cut it about an inch long and we fry it in hot oil. After a few minutes breakfast is ready. It taste best during the Holiday season, since it gives the palate a break from all the festive foods. It is best served with spiced vinegar. 

                 

2. Kamantilis - This is a seasonal fruit eaten for snack and siesta sessions. It is neither sweet or bland, it caters to one's craving to chew up something during siesta time. It is one of the things that kids enjoy to during their outdoor escapades. A main part of a happy childhood memory. 

3. Bagbagkong and Papait - These are one of my favorite vegetables.  The bagbagkong flower is added in denegdeng while papait is usually sauted in bagoong with some pork. Sometimes gata is added to the papait to make it more tasty. 

4. Buying in bulk - Aside from relaxing we also spend some time touring the market for some good finds. Vegetables in season are usually sold at an amazing price, so we buy in bulk and store it for our daily consumption. Sometimes we also buy some for friends and relatives. For fruits and vegetables we go to Villasis and Urdaneta. For seafood, we go to Dagupan City Market. 

                        

5. Seafood - It is always fresh. We usually go to the town market early morning for some bangus, malaga or shrimp/urang. Another source would be the nearby beach. Early morning fresh seafood can be bought from the local fishermen.

                        

                        

                        

6. Swimming galore - From our home, it will only take about 8-10 minutes to view the nearest beach by tricycle. It is best to have some swimming escapade around 6:00 AM or around 4:00 PM in the afternoon.  

                      

7. Mangga and Bagoong - Whenever mangoes are in season we always have mangga and bagoong on our table. It is usually paired with Inihaw na Bangus and sometimes it is grated for Kinilaw na Talaba. 

                      

                     

8. Cinema - During the December film festival we usually watch movies in the province to avoid the crowded malls. Just like the metro, there are local malls and popular malls like SM and Robinson's Mall. So during the holidays you can have the both worlds -- a relaxing vacation, movies and shopping.  

9. Salt - It is something that we buy every time we go home -- Salt. Usually we buy 6 months worth of supply. Using salt from Pangasinan makes our dishes more tasty. :)

10. Duyan - After a hearty lunch it is always relaxing to take a nap in the Duyan while viewing all the greeneries around. You can hear the chickens, the birds and the soft and breezy wind. Even during summer time, the absence of the wind can alsways  be completed by the cool summer feel of the trees in our backyard. It is indeed a refuge to regain a strong and sound mind.

The above are just a few of the things to enjoy from living the rural life. A good reminder that life has a lot to offer. :)

32nd Birthday at Vikings

       There was absolutely no plans for my 32^nd birthday. I think I'm too old to celebrate my birthday. I always wanted it to be simple and memorable.

          So instead of cooking some party food at home, we decided to go again to Vikings. Months ago, we went there for my husbands birthday. Since they have the 'Birthday" promo, where the celebrant gets to

eat for free, it is indeed worth it to celebrate birthdays in Vikings.

Here are our gastronomic stories for my 32nd birthday:

A. For dimsum lovers, they have the Chinese section. Our favorite is hakaw, a kind of chinesse dimsum filled with shirmps. Aside from hakaw, they also have pork, beef, chicken and sharksfin siomai as well as bencurd and kikiam. We also tried other Chinese dishes like beef with brocolli, patatim and miso soup. My dear daughter Rhian ate a lot of har gow and siomai, those are some of her favorites.

                               

B. Just across the Chinese section is the Japanese section. They have different kinds of maki and various kinds of sushi. Our favorite is the spicy tuna maki.

                              

                                   

C. Just beside the Japanese section is the shabu-shabu section where you can also find baked oysters, baked tahong and steamed shirmps. 

                                       
                                  

D. For health buffs, they have the salad section. You can find some lettuce, pomelo, onions, cucumber, beets and many more. The salad combination is endless. There are also different kinds of dressing to cater to each one's preference. Endless appetizers and cheeses are also available.

                        

E. Our favorite section is the Grill Section. We love grilled seafood, since it is a healthier option compared to meats and other hearty dishes. 

                        

                        

F. For the drinks we indulged ourselves with the various kinds of fruit drinks. They also have draft beer for liquor lovers. Our favorite though is the milo shake. They also have coffee and tea to end the satisfying meal.

                        

G. But wait there is more. One of the best section in Vikings MOA is the dessert section. You need to make some room for dessert. They have crepes, fresh fruits, tiny but heavenly cakes and most of all they have ice creams with different kinds of flavors. My daughter ate 5 scoops of ice cream and she was really happy for it-- after all it is her ultimate favorite. :)

                       

        Taking pictures around the area is time consuming so we only had a few. We can ensure though that the experience is well worth it. It is one of the must try buffet -- they almost have everything for all types of cravings. :)

               
       For my 32nd birthday, Rhian and I would like to say thank you and I love you to our everdearest  Papa Raffy. He may spend a lot of time with his Clash of Clan troops, but he definitely have the time to make me and Rhian special.

            "Thank you Raffy, I felt so loved on this day. I love you." 

                         

                    

                          

                             

                         

 

Bunch of Faves

      As I mentioned in my previous articles, the comfort of home in the province draws us every time we find the time to take a break. One of the things that we love is the comforting atmosphere everytime we pass by the SCTEX road. The tress seem to create a dreamy escape -- it is just picture perfect. 

      After passing by SCTEX we drop by in one of the 24 hour stalls to zip some hot Bulalo Soup. A breathtaking view plus  comfort food indulgence is such a great treat!

      Another 3 hours of travel and we go for some oyster shopping. Oysters are rare and expensive in Metro Manila, so we always indulge in fresh oysters when we go home to Pangasinan.

      Our favorite recipe for oyster would be Kilawing Talaba. We have two versions: Kilawing Talaba with Lasona (shallots) and Kialawing Talaba with Mangga (green mangoes). Both versions are equally satisfying. :)

      Few minutes before we arrive home, we drop by Magic Mall to buy some Liempo, which we shall grill by the beach the next day. 

Liempo and the Beach :)

      And just before we head back home to Manila, we take with us a lot of Calasiao Puto, fruits in seasons like mango and a lot of happy memories. :)

Bundat sa Bundatan

From my daughter's school activity we need to go to her monthly check-up. At work, my officemates from Taguig always talks about Bundatan during lunch.

My husband who is also a #1 fan of Bulalo is aware of this place. So for this weekend we decided to have some carinderia escapade.

The place is simple, it is your usual homey eatery. Their bestseller Bulalo is really a big hit. We were lucky to grab one. It is already the last serving and it is just around 1:30 PM, just an hour after lunch.

                                      

For the taste, it was good and worth it for the price. My daughter loves it and she was able to eat a lot for this meal. Aside from Bulalo, we also ordered Bopis and Laing with some softdrinks and Cornetto Ice Cream for dessert. Our total bill is only around 250 php.

It was indeed a satisfying gastronomic experience. :)

Quick and Easy Ginisang Togue

          Ginisang Togue is our favorite vegetable recipe when we do not have the time to go to the "palengke". It is always available in groceries and it is very cheap.

          Togue is also known as mung bean sprout. It is usually sauteed with carrots, bell pepper, shrimp, and tofu.

          This Filipino recipe is usually eaten with fried fish and steamed rice.

How to cook Ginisang Togue

          Ginisang togue can be cooked with just a few ingredients, whatever is available. For a fancier version you may add more ingredients like shrimp, crab meat and mushrooms.

Ingredients:

garlic

onion

giniling na baboy

mung bean sprout or togue

carrot

shirmp (optional)

tufo (optional)

Cooking Time!

1. Heat oil in a pan.
2. Saute garlic and onion.
3. Add giniling na baboy and shrimp
4. Add fried tofu
5. Stir in the mung bean sprout and carrot.
6. Toss and saute for 1 to 2 minutes. You may add other vegetables like cabbage, kangkong or morning glory and bell peppers
7. Season with patis and black pepper.