Grocery Finds

One of the best finds I had a month ago was this cilantro cube. I don't know how many bunches of cilantro I have wasted, so when this box was displayed, I immediately got one and tried it.

Normally, a recipe requires a few sprigs of leaves, but cilantros are sold by bunches and you had no choice but to buy the whole thing. In as much as I like a lot of food with cilantros, my tastebuds often complain of redundant taste so I end up not using the remaining cilantro leaves. It is such a waste but then again, maybe am just a little wasteful....Got to deal with that habit.

I did try making salsa verde with the cubed cillantro and it came out just great. Of couse, the fresh is always best but this cube is more convenient. I boiled green tomatillos until soft but still firm, then I placed it in the blender with jalapenno, green peppers, shallots, the cilantro and seasonings. It came really nice with my sinugbang baboy. Then for garnishing I placed red tomatoes on top of my salsa. Yummmm...

Ano na gani? Or derbs?

James Beard in his book “the fireside cookbook” says that 'Hors d' ouevres can make your reputation as a cook, for in many instances they are the first thing people eat in your home. In some cases, they are the only opportunity people have to know you're cooking. Therefore, be certain they are indications of your best efforts.”

As I read this statement, I am reminded of comfort parties back home where store bought appetizers are the filling before the main course. Peanuts, chicharon and kropeck to dip on vinegar, and even beef tapa cut into strips are served. The chinese have their pakwans before the laureat meal, and Koreans have their banchans to boot.

Filipino fiesta food is tedious to make and therefore is the main attraction in all gatherings. The pampagana or appetizers (which is different from hors d ouvres) are often plenty consisting of kinilaws (ceviches), marinated vegetables in the form of acharas; flavour sauces or sawsawans , onion garlic vinaigrette and bagoong dips are included as appetizers since they add flavor to every meal. Whether its fish sauce to sinigang, or bagoong to kari-kari and garlic vinegar to lechon kawali, all but adds flavor to the meal and makes it an appetizer to have.

Taste is relative. Everyone has taste, but not everyone has experience. To say that one does not have taste means the person you are judging, is not at par with what you consider as appealing. So I believe that every person has his/her own taste acquired by experience through the years. And who are we to say that someone's not gourmet or that someone doesn't know how to eat...Everyone who is alive today, definitely knows how to eat. Like the saying goes, “He who does not work, does not eat! And he who does not eat......DIES!!!!!”

So, we can all be creative in making our own hors' d' ouvres without being so conventional. Try cleaning ginamos (to take out the smell) you buy from the fish market and frying as much garlic into them. Present it with baked cut-up pan de sal. Or if you have puso ng saging, make your own dip using that (instead of artichokes) and serving it on lettuce cups, that'll go a long way with the vegetarians.

And who says you can't eat roses? Have you seen an animal die because of that? And if you think we're not animals and we don't eat animal food, think again, Don't we work like a horse, eat like a pig and look just like monkeys ? So you can use roses as your food cups for any dip or as a substitute for crackers.




(this was my mother's day picture blog)..just thought I'd bring the picture back






Hmmmm and one more thing. Christmas is just around the corner, and what a great time to make your own fruitcake. So...here's a recipe which I just got and would like to share it with you. Bon apetit.




A great fruit cake recipie
Ingredients:
1 c. water , 1.c. Sugar, 4 large eggs, 2 c. dried fruit, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. Salt, 1 c. brown sugar, lemon juice, nuts, and a bottle of whisky.
Sample the whisky to check for quality.

Take a large bowl. Check the whisky again. To be sure it is the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer, beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar and beat again.

Make sure the whisky is still okay. Cry another tup. Turn off the mixer. Break two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the whisky to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Who cares? Check the whisky. Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar or something. Whatever you can find.

Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin to 350 degrees. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out of the window, check the whisky again and go to bed.

Have you seen Alice Chogas?

This was a private joke beween Girlie and her partner, Jo when we met them last weekend. It had been ages since Girlie and I last saw of each other. We had heard she lived in New Jersey and we tried hooking up but our schedules were often postponed by too many activities on either sides.

Last weekend, after Sunday service, Mike and I took the train to Dover, where Girlie would pick us up to bring to her house. We tried as much as possible to squeeze in 24 hours (w/ 8 hours of sleep) reminiscing about family, friends, careers, love lives, relationships, religion, cooking........you name it, we talked about it.

Laughter was prevalent in every conversation as Girlie pushed or pinched Jo by her side, chatting away with jokes and stories. Then Jo would often fall off after every push and with beaming eyes and smiling lips would say , “am I in your way?”

Then there was Mike with his philosophical stand on issues about religion, science and spirituality as Jo listened intently to every word Mike was saying. By his looks, he was either skeptical, in disbelief or was just not paying attention but was amazed by Mike's body movements and arm gymnasts as he explicitly tried to stress some points. At the end of it all, Jo finally concluded that Mike was a reincarnation of George Carlin.

Although I have heard of the guy from way back, I did not give much attention to him. I knew he was a comedian who was banned from shows because of his obscene words. For refresher, I tried to google him, and true enough, this was Mike as we saw that night....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR8xPC4NEro

Hmmm....maybe its not too late for Mike to turn comedian. My craziness is probably rubbing in on him as well. We really had a great time. Girlie is such a great cook, and I learned a lot from her with all her cooking experiences from famous hotels to corporate accounts. And Jo is such a wonderful person to just hang around with. The “Kojac” without a lollipop.

Thanks guys! Looking forward to our next eats of roasted goat and paella.
Oh...and Alice Chogas....well apparently when Girlie gets upset she often says that phrase, “Ahhhh leh chugas!” (you know, the spanish word for lettuce) and Jo keeps wondering who in the world is Alice Chogas?



Mike and Girlie at the Grill cooking the steak











!

Haberdi and Happenibersari

Last Saturday was Mike's birthday which by the way happened to be our wedding anniversary as well. Looking back, Mike made a pretty good decision in choosing our anniversary on his birthday. Many men often forget anniversaries, but birthdays, nah!!!... It's what everybody looks forward to every year. Birthdays are the only time when celebrants are allowed to be crazy, lazy and to bully gag friends into yielding caprices, and still get away with it.

Mike and I really had no plans for the weekend. And I was not about to have any celebration whatsoever, considering I knew that the weather would not cooperate. Besides, we were on a budget, after having spent so much this summer.�

Many years ago, I took away that custom of surprising relatives with gifts during christmas, birthdays, anniversaries or special events. Instead, I would ask them what they needed--not what they want because that was always more expensive. If I could afford it, that would be my gift. If not, then I will look for another relative to split the cost with me. It's just but practical. And if all else fails, money is the best option. I knew that Mike wanted many things, but he didn't really need anything as far as I know.

I was already in the computer chatting in FB, when Mike awoke that Saturday morning. I got my birthday card from my bag, proceeded to the bed, gave him a kiss and greeted him. With squinted eyes, he looked at the white envelope and said, "Is there money in it?"...I smiled, but when he felt a little bump in the envelope, the beam on his face with an accompanying statement said, "i think there's money in it, it's kinda thick."

He took out the card from it's envelope, and as soon as he opened it, the first note of the song must have startled him and he immediately released the card. "there's no money..." he cried out.
"of course, there's none! what do you expect of me, sugar mama!" I said.
He opened the card once more to the tune of Kenny Rogers, "through the years." and a small note on the side of the card was dedicatedly and sincerely written for the occasion. After that short incident, I went back to the computer and resumed my chatting. Well, that's as far as my being romantic goes.

Anyway, I knew Mike had nothing for me because we had agreed earlier on a no-gift deal. Like I said, I'm Off those mushy, 'finger in tongue' romantic gymnasts...and the only reason why I bought the card was because when I was at the the pharmacy getting toiletries, I chanced upon it - no prior intentions whatsoever. But I knew he didn't want to be outdone, so while I was chatting, he slipped out of the house.

A few minutes later, Mike emerged carrying a black rectangular vase with a dendrobium orchid plant on it. With a kiss and a hug, he gave me the plant and said, "at least this one won't die, like my love for you won't ever."

Tagai and the gift

He was so proud of his gift that he narrated the three choices he had at the flower shop before making a decision . One was 2 dozen red roses, which cost only half of the original price, then there was a cute tiny cactus plant which he thought he could give me and say, "for our prickly relationship that keeps it exciting..." and finally the dendrobium orchid.�

Honestly, I really did like the plant and thought to myself that this is great. It's beautiful, not so expensive and can last me. And Mike was as excited and content with his find. But the tranquility of the moment was shattered when Mike blurted out, "Sh*t!"
"what;s wrong!" I asked.
"it's fake," he said.
"no it's not." I said, but as I looked closer, the threads of the topmost flower were hanging out like a dangling spiderweb.

I laughed so hard, that I almost peed in my pants. At first, Mike felt furious at the saleslady by not revealing the faux merchandise. Then he was disgusted at himself for being gypped of his purchased .�

I consoled him and said, that it's not really the item that counts, but the thought that went with it. The laughter made it even more memorable and the plant is definitely a keeper. We then both decided what we would do that day. I thanked him for my gift, and then I said, "Next time, can I have a creuset pan please?!