Thursday 29 March 2012

COURGETTE AND MUSHROOM EGG FOO YUNG


Egg foo yung is the Chinese counterpart of the omelette. Unlike the Western omelette which is usually eaten at breakfast, it is eaten with rice at lunch or dinner. It is very different from a normal omelette in many ways. First of all the filling is sauteed first before mixing in with the eggs. It is then pan fried at a higher heat than is normally used for cooking eggs. That results to a browner colour, a toastier taste and firmer texture. It also has a sauce that makes it perfect for eating with rice.

Monday 26 March 2012

TAMARIND CHICKEN ADOBO WITH COCONUT MILK


Adobo, the much loved national dish of the Philippines, in its most basic form has garlic, vinegar and soy sauce as the main ingredients. Each person's adobo differs as much as their personality. A lot have ventured to ring the changes in the ingredients but still end up with the same adobo essence. 

Thursday 22 March 2012

RED BEAN SWIRL ICE LOLLIES


It is nearly the end of March and I still feel like Christmas has just gone. Time flies so so swiftly.

It is officially spring and we switch our clocks back to British summer time on the 25th of March. Thanks for that because some of our clocks are still on summer time. 

Monday 19 March 2012

BUFFALO CHICKEN GYOZA


All food with the words buffalo and chicken will be eaten straight away. That's a fact. So I convert everything to Buffalo chicken or some semblance of it if I want them to be eaten.

Thursday 15 March 2012

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE PATTIES


This week, we celebrate St. Patrick's day which is a national holiday in Ireland. Although it falls within the Lenten season, abstinence from meat and alcohol is waved to give way to merrymaking and feasting on the feast of one of their beloved patron saint. 

Monday 12 March 2012

SWEET AND SPICY PULLED PORK


What is it about pulled pork's messy appearance that makes it so beguiling? Perhaps the obvious softness of its shredded strands or the glistening sticky sauce that threatens to mess up your face. The whole package just screams "eat me! eat me!".

When I was growing up, I loved meat that falls off the bone and disintegrates into shreds and absorbs the sauce. These shreds are never done on purpose, no matter how delicious they are. Food presentation is given so much value that if it falls apart, it is considered a cooking mishap.

Thursday 8 March 2012

CAMARON REBOSADO (PRAWNS IN BATTER)



When I was growing up, eating out meant dining in a Chinese or Filipino restaurant. Western food such as burgers and pizza weren't unknown but the famous franchises haven't reached the Philippines then. In the pre-fastfood days, dining out was a very different experience. Memories of being a child, all dressed up for a dinner out with the whole family, comes to mind and brings a smile to my face. There were no self-service restaurants. Being served well, even in ordinary restaurants, is part of the dining out package.

Monday 5 March 2012

PHO BO



To us Asians, there is no greater comfort food than a steaming bowl of noodle soup. Noodle shops abound providing instant satisfaction to those craving their regular fix. It is habit forming, which is good because, not only is it delicious, it is very nutritious, too.  

Thursday 1 March 2012

RUM BANANA AND HAZELNUT CAKE


Leap year has a special meaning to our family. It means that my husband has an actual birthday. Yes, he was unfortunately born on the 29th of February and only has a real birthday every four years. Nevertheless, we still celebrate it every year.