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I finally downloaded the blogger app on my iPhone. This will probably encourage me to post more stuff in my
blog.

It's been quite a while since I've written. I haven't posted much recipes either though I've been trying out several restaurants in Manila. I've been whipping up stuff too at home and doing experiments for the store.

Anyway, I'm back and will be writing more soon... :-)

Here's what I had for dinner tonight... Pasta Vongole, Yummy Pork BBQ from Three Sisters, Lengua, and Iberian Chicken.

If you have any recipe requests, do send me an email. Let me see if I have it in my recipe bank.

STREET FOOD IN BEIJING

In Beijing, in the Wangfujing area, there's a strip where they sell street food. Every day, as the sun begins to set, the people set up the food in the stalls and they start preparing the food that they will sell for the evening.  Here are the photos of what they sell there.  Some are really interesting. I can only take photos and not try.  I couldn't afford to have a bummed stomach as my days were always full for sight seeing, I'm sure you know how the public toilets are there and I wouldn't want to be looking for one every hour or so. Ok back to the food story... check out some of the labels! :-)

 Silkworm

 Crayfish

 Octopus

 Skewered fresh fruits

 Skewered scorpions

 Skewered grasshoppers

 I would've loved to try this! Steamed crabs!!!

 Noodles with assorted meat and vegetables cooked on the flat top

 Assorted dumplings

 Noodle soups

 Caramelized skewered fruits

 Which one would you try here???  I think I'll go for the snake :-)

 Starfish and I think stinky tofu

baby shark :-( how sad... then below are photos of the other stalls that they have on the strip.

DINNER IN BEIJING

Happy Easter to everyone! I hope everyone had a fun break. 

Ok this is not exactly the best meal I had there but it's nice to share this. It's quite surprising to have something like this in a seafood restaurant.  If they can serve food like this and knowing that it's not their specialty, I think the specials would taste excellent! I didn't even get the name of the restaurant but this is the seafood restaurant by Novotel Xin Quiao in Beijing on the second floor.

We didn't really order much because we just had cocktails an hour before we headed to the restaurant.

 Here's the sliced soft tofu with sauteed vegetables.  It was pretty good! 

 Here's the eggplant hotpot with straw mushrooms.  The eggplant was cooked well and the sauce was flavorful.  

 We got this for the kids...Garlic chicken.  It's basically seared chicken pieces seasoned with cracked Schezuan peppercorn and garlic.  It was good too.

 This was the favorite that evening... stewed pork with wood ear mushrooms. The pork was melt-in-your mouth tender! I'm sure they cooked this for several hours to get it that tender.

Here are the noodles that we had, stir fried with beef.  It was well cooked too.


We planned on going back for another meal to try the other dishes on the menu.  The prices were very reasonable too.  We decided though to try the japanese restaurant right beside it though. Anyway, will definitely keep this one on my list.

ROMANTIC FOOD IDEAS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

It's the time of the year again when everyone is feeling romantic.  I know, I should've posted this last week to give you guys time to prepare for the ingredients but I guess, last minute grocery shopping today is not too late. If there is any time of the year to get corny, mushy, or brave, it's now so go ahead and take this opportunity! :-)

Here' are some food ideas to make your loved ones feel special on the day of hearts.

Treat a loved one to breakfast in bed... Serve this heart shaped french toast with crisp bacon and maple syrup. This is fairly easy to make. You just need a heart shaped cutter to cut the bread.  You may serve this with a side of eggs... I like mine over easy. Then, make some good coffee or tea, or hot chocolate then top with a heart shaped marshmallow or spray whipped cream -heart shape of course. 


Here's the recipe below:

FRENCH TOAST WITH BACON AND MAPLE SYRUP

Recipe By: AAA

Ingredients:

1 piece egg

3 tablespoons milk

1/2 tablespoon sugar

1-2 tablespoons

3 pieces slice bread cut into heart shape

1 tablespoon butter

3 strips bacon, cooked 'til crisp

2-3 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions:

1.  Combine eggs, milk and sugar in a dish.  Mix well until combined.

2.  On medium heat, melt about 1-2 tsps. of butter on a non-stick griddle or saute pan.

3.  Dip bread on the egg mixture making sure that all sides are coated but don't soak too long as they will become soggy.

4.  Heat the griddle to medium high heat.  Melt some butter, then add the bread. Cook for about 1 minute per side or until golden in color.

5.  Place bacon strips diagonally on a plate, then top with the french toast. Drizzle with maple syrup. Serve warm.   

 Here are some scones, use the heart shaped cookie cutter as well for this.  You may also serve this for breakfast or for tea time with friends in the afternoon.  Serve with clotted cream and an assortment of jams.  This is best eaten as soon as they're baked, though, you may always reheat them in the toaster oven.

 Ok, for this one, these are almond cookie crisps or wafer thins... I turned them into ice cream sandwiches for some lasting dessert impressions.

 For your main entree, you may make this... Easy Pork Chops with Cranberry Sauce.  This is fairly easy to make.  It cooks in less than 30 minutes. With something as easy as this, there's time to think of other more important things on this special day.  


PORK CHOPS WITH ORANGE CRANBERRY SAUCE
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Recipe By: AAA

Ingredients:

2 pieces pork chops
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
SAUCE
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 tablespoon orange marmalade
2 tablespoons cranberry sauce 
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

1.  Season pork chops with salt and pepper.

2.  Heat olive oil in a saute pan on high heat.  Sear pork chops 3-5 minutes per side.

3.  Remove from heat and transfer in a plate.

4.  Meanwhile, lower the heat to medium.  On the same saute pan, gradually add the orange juice and marmalade.  Add the  cranberry sauce.  Bring to a slow simmer for 2-3 minutes or until slightly thickened.  Season with salt and pepper.

5.  Remove sauce from heat and pour over the pork chops before serving.  Serve with mashed potatoes or herbed rice.

To start off the dinner, you may serve this...Cream of Asparagus soup with heart shaped croutons. It's actually the garnish that makes this very presentable and appropriate for this occasion but here's a bit of information...Asparagus as a vegetable is in the aphrodisiac list :-)

 Other ideas that have a hint of red that you can make to eat with the family or give to a loved one is this... Raspberry Almond Meringue Bars and this next one...

Red velvet cupcakes...instead of putting the silver dragees, you may sprinkle these with heart shape candy sprinkles or pipe an XOXO on top of the cupcakes.  Both recipes may be found in the Home Cafe cookbook.


Ok, hope these ideas have been helpful.  Do let me know if you have questions.  Happy Valentine's Day to all!!!