Friday, October 26, 2012

Reasons | Ukoy (Shrimp Fritter)

Things happen for a reason. 

I've been missing my kids the past few days and I wish they are still home with me. Was it worth it having them all go away for college? I struggle with the thought of what could have been if we all stayed together?  What if we didn't leave the Philippines?  What if I had just asked them to go to school in the same city I'm in?  What if I tried to hold on to them as long as I can?

These questions lingered in me.  Until I visited each of my kids' Facebook account. I go through their recent photos, my eldest daughter had a busy week entertaining a visiting high school friend.  They went around Berkeley and San Francisco and had a blast.  My second daughter had a busy October at school but still manages to attend her pre- health organization's meetings and events at UCLA.  My son in Cornell also has been busy with school work and had a lot of fun with his Filipino-American student organization's event of hosting a comedy workshop.

Finally, I read a conversation among the three of them, with my eldest daughter leading the way, on how they should catch up on Google Hangout.  All three of them promise to update their planners so they can arrange a meeting, hoping to do this bi-monthly.  This thread was so heart-warming for me.  I guess my greatest fear is we are all so busy that we lose connection to each other.  But that connection can no longer be broken.  

No matter how busy our schedules get, how far away we are from each other, we are still the same.  Our connections have been built through all the years we were together.   We started early, raising the kids in an active and creative environment, making sure they played a sport and a musical instrument in elementary school.  It continued by demanding from them the highest grades possible but at the same time asking them to do extracurricular activities.  Getting them involved in research and internships in high school.  And asking them to be the best person they could be when they leave for college.  Things happen for a reason.  My kids are all away from home to get the best education and experience for them to prepare for the future.  And now I am just riding along until I get to be with them again.
___________________________________________________________________


Ukoy (Shrimp Fritter)
Ukoy is a popular street food in the Philippines.  I've been wanting to make this especially at this time of the year when pumpkins are everywhere.  Squash is one of the ingredients and I wanted the streaks of squash to show, but it turned out like it blended with the batter.  My husband said it didn't look like the traditional one, but whatever it is he said, it surely tasted great... LOL!


Ingredients:
1 lb shrimp, deveined
1 cup squash, shredded
1 medium carrot, shredded
2 stalks green onions sliced
(you could also add mongo sprouts or potatoes)
1 egg
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tsp lemon-pepper powder
3/4 water (pour it slowly, making sure that the batter is still thick)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
salt to taste


Procedure
You don't like a soggy shrimp fritter, so I'm sharing a technique which I learned from America's Test Kitchen on PBS. The solution is to dry the ingredients (veggies and shrimp) with a paper towel first and mix them with the dry ingredients.  The dry ingredients absorbs the moisture of the veggies and shrimp.
Mix the dry ingredients first: flour, cornstarch, lemon-pepper powder.  Toss the veggies and shrimp.  This will allow the water to be absorbed by the dry ingredients.

On a separate bowl, whip egg and water together.  Pour it over the dry ingredients and mix well.

Heat cooking oil in a pan.  Scoop about 2 tablespoons of batter.  Quickly drop them in the hot oil.  Cook each sides for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve with vinegar with pepper and onions but you could also use the sweet chili if you'd prefer.  Enjoy!


Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Autumn: a photo, a poem and a plate

I posted a picture of fallen leaves on my Facebook page, and Maria Theresa, one of the subscribers attached a few lines from a poem by Maureen Kwat Meshenberg of Heart's Calling

When I saw your fallen leaves photos I thought it would be a perfect visual accompaniment to that line of poem, Maria Theresa writes.

With the help of Theresa, (thank you :) )  and with the permission of  Maureen Kwat Meshenberg of Heart's Calling (Maureen, thank you!) I am sharing the poem in its entirety below. If you love the poem, (which I'm sure you would) visit Maureen's Facebook page Heart's Calling for more poetry.  You will be enthralled by the magic of her words.

So for today's post, I am sharing with you Autumn:  a photo, a poem and a plate.  May you also find inspiration in unexpected places... Happy Wednesday!




In this day,
in this morning-
I clothed my soul,
with autumn's dawning.
Beautiful colors
to fabric me-
rest to be, so freely...
touching my life,
with possiblities.
For in this breath of morning,
comes to me with beauty-
I choose how they hold me,
to wrap around me.
Breath to my waking,
I see sometimes breaking-
but spilling out of me,
are my colors to just be.


Lemongrass Pork with Shitake Mushrooms

Ingredients:

1- 1 1/2 lbs pork, butterfly sliced 
2 stalks of lemon grass (sliced and crushed)
1/4 cup flour seasoned with salt and pepper3 tbsp hoisin sauce
2 tablespoon fish sauce
1 lime - add the lime juice
4 clove garlic - minced
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
1 cup soup stock
Cooking oil for frying
2 pcs carrots, sliced
1/2 c bamboo shoots (I used the canned one)
4 large dried shitake mushrooms (soaked in water then slice when soft)
1/2 cup straw mushrooms (I used the canned one)
1 stalk celery, sliced

Season pork with salt and pepper.  Dredge the pork in flour (also seasoned with salt and pepper).  In a wok, fry the pork in batches until slight brown. Set aside.

In a bowl, combine: hoisin sauce, fish sauce, soup stock, lime juice, sugar and chili garlic sauce. Whisk to blend.

Using the same wok, saute garlic and onions until fragrant. Add the lemongrass and pork. Pour the sauce mixture. Cover and let it simmer.  When pork is tender, add the mushrooms and vegetables.  Cover for a few more  minutes and voila it's done! Enjoy!



I'm sharing  more photos I captured around St. Louis for you to enjoy...










Monday, October 22, 2012

Impromp-tea | Cayenne Spiked Autumn Tea


"Do you have any plans for lunch today?" asked my friend Vivian.

"No, I don't have any" I blurted even if I was in the middle of cleaning.

"I just cooked up a storm and I was wondering if you'd like to come over"

Cooked up a storm???  "I'll be there in an hour" came my instant reply.

Let's be honest. There are times when friends invite you for an impromptu meet up and our perfidious mind would fabricate excuses to avoid going.  We are caught up with our own fictional "busy world" that we cannot afford to lose a few hours of connecting with friends.  But chilax, impromptu get-togethers  usually end up wonderfully. Saying "yes" to Vivian  turned out to be one fine afternoon; enjoyable, fun and relaxed. Amidst laughter and heartwarming convos, we both knew that we should do "lunch" on a regular  basis from now on.

Happy Monday!

Cayenne Spiked  Autumn Tea
I understand, one of the hesitations of saying yes to an invite on the fly is not having anything to give. I myself wouldn't want to appear at my friends' door step empty handed.  But don't be caught up with this because bringing simple things are equally appreciated.  In my case, with just an hour to finish my chore of cleaning, showering and making something, uh well I had to make something quick. 

I've been making beverages of tea at gatherings so I thought I'd make a jar to bring. It was a cold Autumn day, so I spiked the tea with cayenne powder, to give it a kick.  And true enough, even when the beverage was served cold, the contrast of the hot spice of cayenne made a perfect beverage for a chilly October afternoon lunch.


Ingredients:
5 individual tea bags 
5 cups water
2 pcs (thumb size) ginger peeled and pressed
3 pcs. dried orange peel
3 pcs dried lemon peel
2 tbsp agave syrup
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 tsp cayenne powder



In a kettle, mix all the first five ingredients together.  Brew for about 5 minutes or until the water boil.  Cover the kettle and let it cool.  Stir in orange juiuce, agave syrup and cayenne powder.  Please adjust to taste.


Pour it over a glass with iced cubes.  Garnish with apple slices.  Enjoy!


Thanks Vivian, and I'll see you next month!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

With a smile | Seafood Kare-Kare Noodles (Seafood Noodles in Peanut Sauce)


On the last day of my 10 day catering gig, she came and gave me a tight hug and said: Thank you!

The truth is I should be the one to thank her.  I wanted to tell her how grateful I am to see the strength of a woman facing pressing issues and her being positive a midst a difficult situation.  Her dainty look, well kept hair and light make up,  even her infectious laugh will never reveal her story.  I saw her at church with her family, I saw her wake up in the early morning on a weekend to attend a 5k run.  I saw her with her children, always with a smile.  Such is the strength I've seen. 

I was commissioned by her friends to cook for her and her family.  For ten days, I found myself chopping, stirring pots, running around an unfamiliar kitchen, but I was extremely inspired.  I can't believe how much joy I had cooking. 

And yes, I am most grateful for being part of a group of friends stepping in to help a friend in need.  And the song "that's what friends are for" played over and over in my head, while I cooked.  I thought I was in my zone.

Seafood Kare-Kare Noodles (Seafood in Peanut Sauce Pasta)
This was one of the recipes I developed especially for the family.  I took the familiar flavors of a traditional dish (Kare Kare) and tossed them with unfamiliar bedding.  


Ingredients:

1/2 package rice stick noodles (you could also use linguine )
2 tbsp annatto oil (if you don't have the annatto oil, use cooking oil and add annatto powder as you saute)
1 package of seafood
1/2 block of firm tofu, cubed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
4 tbsp oyster sauce
3 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp peanut butter

1/2 c crushed peanuts
4 cups of shrimp stock (boil shrimp heads. Extract its flavor by pressing the heads)
cornstarch dispersed in water



Procedure:

Soak the noodles in a pan filled with water.  Leave it for 30 minutes.  If you are using linguine, please prepare it according to package instructions.

Sear the seafood on a pan.  Using the same pan saute the garlic, onions and seafood with annatto oil. Sprinkle 1/2 a teaspoon of pepper. Stir fry for about 5 minutes. Add the oyster sauce, soy sauce and sugar.  Add peanut butter. Stir in tofu. Transfer half of the cooked seafood on a plate. Set aside. (the idea is not to overcook the seafood)  

Using the same pan add shrimp stock.  Let it boil. To thicken the sauce pour the cornstarch mixture. Add the noodles (do not add the water wherein the noodles were soaked in).  Cook until al dente.  Add the remaining seafood topping and give it a quick stir.  Drizzle the sesame oil.  Stir for another minute or two.  Season with fish sauce. Sprinkle  crushed peanuts.




Monday, October 1, 2012

Fall Inspired | Korean Beef Stew

I call them daily miracles; miracles that lift the spirit and fill my head with wonderful thoughts.

Outside my window I hear the leaves rustling  in the crisp morning breeze.  Green leaves slowly turning into soft  amber beneath the clouds that look like giant mounds of marshmallow on a regal blue canvass. 


This morning, while hubs and I walk to the park he tells me what's taking me so long?  Well, I can't help it.  I just need to stop and capture the dramatic scenery the season brings.  They are like post its of love notes that serve as daily reminders that will cheer you on throughout the day.   


And with the changing of the colors and crisp autumn air, there's nothing more satisfying than the smell of your favorite stew permeating from the kitchen. The sound of a simmering pot blend perfectly like a symphony so soothing to the soul.  Now tell me how else can you not FALL in love with autumn?


Now, while I am immersing myself and enjoying God's gift of nature,  I hope you are enjoying the moment too wherever you are.  And if you need a pick upper,  let me share with you a family favorite that will surely lift you up.

Happy Monday!


Korean Beef Stew

Ingredients

1-2 lbs of beef chuck cut into cubes (ribs is also preferred for this dish)

7 tbsps soy sauce
6 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp chinese coooking wine
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 bundle of green oinons chopped
2 tbsp sesame oil
3 thumb size ginger, peeled and pressed
1 serrano pepper
1/2 c beef stock (add more if the beef is not tender)



Procedure

Season the beef with salt and pepper.
Add cooking oil in a heavy pan.
Sear the beef on all sides (a light layer of golden crisp forms around its sides)
In a bowl mix all the ingredients together. (Except serrano pepper) Make sure to dissolve the sugar.
Once the beef is seared, pour over the soy sauce mixture.
Let it boil. Once it's boiling, lower the heat and let  it simmer.
You may need to add water if it's necessary. Cook until completely tender.  Add the serrano pepper and cook for about 3 more minutes.
If you want the sauce to be thicker you may mix conrstarch with a little water and add to thicken the sauce.  But we prefer the sauce as is... so it's all up to you. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds...  Enjoy

And oh btw, best served with those crunchy, spicy Kimchi... nom nom nom!



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