Friday, February 20, 2009

Tortang Talong ( Eggplant Omelette)

Serve with rice

Eggplants tops among my favorite veggies. This recipe is quite easy. The messy part is when you grill and peel the skin off the eggplant.

Recipe:
3 eggplants (long variety)
1 large egg
dash of salt & pepper
oil for frying

Procedure
Pierce the eggplant with a fork (3 on each sides). Cook the eggplants, broil on a grill or open flame or by boiling until eggplant is soft. Turn eggplants on every side to char the skin until wilted. Cool the eggplants before you peel off the skin, retain the stem for easy handling during frying.

Flatten the eggplant by fork, set aside. Beat egg and season with salt & pepper. Heat oil in a medium pan. Dip each eggplant one at a time in the egg mixture and slowly slide it into the pan. Fry until golden brown on both sides.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Mallungay-Miracle Vegetable

Mallungay Stalks(Horse Raddish Tree)

Mallungay Clam Soup




Recipe:

Clam Soup with Mallungay Leaves

1/2 kg. clams (cleaned)
1 thumb-size ginger, peeled and sliced
8 stalks mallungay leaves
1 tbsp. oil
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 med. onion, peeled and sliced
dash of salt
5 cups water

Remove the leaves from the stalks. Wash leaves and strain leaves. Set aside.

Heat oil in a pot. Saute garlic, ginger and onion. Pour the water, bring to a boil. Add clams, salt , cover and boil, once the clam shells open, add the mallungay leaves cover and simmer for a minute.

Facts about Mallungay:

Mallungay(Moringa oelifera -scientific name) is known as miracle vegetable because of its many benificial uses. The leaves are rich in Vit. A, B, E and minerals such as calcium (four times the calcium in milk) , three times the potassium in bananas, and four times the Vitamin A in carrots, Vit. C content in seven oranges.

Mallungay has been promoted by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the past 20 years as a low-cost health enhancer in poor countries around the globe
Because of its nutritional content, malunggay strengthens the immune system, restores skin condition, controls blood pressure, relieves headaches and migraines, manages the sugar level thereby preventing diabetes, reduces inflammations and arthritis pains, restricts the growth of tumors, and heals ulcers. This information comes from Dr. Kumar Pati, an Indian doctor who is an expert in natural medicine.
Mallungay seeds can also purify water. Boiled leaves used to help increase lactation. Seeds for hypertension, gout, asthma, hiccups, and as a diuretic.
Leaves must be used immediately after picking, if not, store inside the plastic bag and refrigerate for at least one day.

Other recipes for Mallungay are: Chicken Ginger Stew, Ginisang Mungo w/ Mallungay, Papaya-Mallungay Fish Dinengdeng, Gulay Dinengdeng and many more.

Guinisang Munggo Beans

1 cup munggo, washed
1/4 kilo pork belly, cut into small pieces
5 cups water
1 head garlic, minced
1 small onion, minced
4 pieces tomatoes, sliced
1 cup malunggay leaves
1 Knorr pork cube
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoon cooking oil

PROCEDURE :

1. In a casserole, put water, munggo, and Knorr pork cube.2. Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes or until the munggo is cooked.3. In a skillet, heat the oil and saute the garlic, onion, and tomatoes.4. Add the pork and saute until lightly browned.5. Add in the munggo and stock.6. Season with pepper and add the malunggay leaves.




Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Stir Fried Manila Clams

Clams in different shades
Stir Fried Clams

The clams that I bought in the market were already cleaned but I still rinse them for three times and submerge clams in cold water for about an hour until they are free of sand. Adding 1/2 tsp of rock salt to the water will remove the sand from the clams, however, I prefer not to do it. Drain clams before cooking.

Here's the recipe:

1 kg. clams
2 tbsp. oil
slices of ginger
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 cup water
green onions/scallions, sliced
dash of pepper

Procedure:
Heat oil in a big pan or wok, saute onion, ginger, garlic until soft. Add clams, stir well before covering the pan for about 30 seconds. Open the lid and stir clams for a minute or so until clam shells have opened up. Add ground pepper, chilli powder and green onions.


Thursday, February 12, 2009

Jo & Kids

Jo & Baby Girl posed in black & white portrait.
Sam - blowing his b-day cake


Baby Girl - tinkering & dismantling the tupperwares while I was busy baking in the kitchen. She loves to sit in the drawer. (Click photos to enlarge)

Mother Old Photos















My mother's old photographs



Sunday, February 8, 2009

Valentine's Day 2009


When was the last time you exchange Valentines card? It's been ages since I exchanged Valentine's Day cards. I guess when you aged with time and depending on the situation and relationships you're in, Valentines is just to celebrate it as part of the holiday. So whether you celebrate it with someone you love, your close friends, and family, enjoy this day. I'm still a firm believer in romance.

My romantic celebration would be to bake a cake (not the picture above). Valentine's Day is on Saturday so I am now browsing for a cake recipe to make on Friday!

Happy Valentine's Day to all my blog friends and readers. I'd like to mention some blog friend 's of mine Chaitra and to "Gerdie" - hope all is well with you.

Blood Moon

I captured this Super Blood Moon last January 2018 from our balcony.