Post Valentine treats

Bug and I did not celebrate Valentine's day due our busy schedules. He did not even gave me something which causes my disappointment for the week.  So during the weekend he gave me this

French macaroons

Ten pieces of french macaroons! Yum!!!

He told me that he even went to our favorite Filipino restaurant to get me a halo-halo but bugger they are closed! I guess its the thought that counts.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

No meat Mondays

My friend N and I decided to have Mondays as our no meat day.  Not exactly no meat because we can eat seafood, but ofcourse we intend to have a full vegetarian Monday hopefully in June.  I alternately eat the following:

1. Mushroom soup and garlic bread - These are those easy microwavable mushroon soups you can find in the grocery.  Then I just toast a garlic bread.
2. Tuna in crackers or sometime Tuna melt (bread, tuna and melted cheese)
3. Panfried salmon and rice
4. Tofu and sauteed mushroom

Pan fried salmon and fried egg, the hotdogs are for the Bug

Tofu and sauteed mushroom

Baked mussel (cheese and garlic toppings)

I am looking for more vegetarian/ no meat alternatives taht are easy to prepare.  I will keep on updating my blog everytime I have new vege recipes!

Till then!!

Sweet corn and pork binagoongan

Last week, Japanese sweet corn was on sale selling at 8pcs for $5 so I bought 1 pack.  I love it just boiled, then rubbed with butter and spinkled with salt and pepper! super yumm!!

Boiled sweet corn with butter and salt and pepper

I also cooked pork binagoongan. My version I think is the easiest.  I don't want to spend so much time. I just want to fulfill my bagoong cravings so here it goes.  I prepared the following ingredients:

1/2 kilo pork, cubed (I use the part where there is a good size of fats)
1/2 cup bagoong (I use the bario fiesta original flavor)
1 tomato
5-7 cloves garlic minced
1 onion minced

1. Boil the pork with 1 1/2 cup of water and add the tomato. You can cut the tomato if you wish.  The tomato will release fluids that will combined to the water.
2. Let the water evaporate and tomato fluid evaporate.  If you choose a pork with good size of fat, the oil from the fat will be released once the water evaporates. If your pork is dry, you can add few table spoons of cooking oil.
3. Add the garlic and onion to the mixture, sautee for few minutes or until you smell the aroma of garlic and onions.
4. Add the bagoong. You can add more than 1/2 cup depending on your taste. Sautee if for 3-5 minutes.  I like my binagoongan a little crispy so I sautee it longer.
5. Once you are done, serve it with rice.

Crispy pork binagoongan

 I hope I have some mangoes here!

Till then!!

 

Auckland Anniversary 2012 long weekend

This si the first long weekend of 2012, aside from the New Year weekend ofcourse.  Bug and I were initially planning to go to Waiwera and try kayaking but due to recent death in the family, we decided to stay at home.  I need to go to the office on Saturday to approve some payments to be made for Monday, Bug decided to work as well. Instead of going hoe early I decided to just stay and do some catch up work. I think it was a productive Saturday. I was able to complete some work that needs to be done for month end as well as clean my pile of papers in my desk and under my desk.

Sunday was all about food! We started our Sunday by cleaning the house.  Bug did the laundry while I clean the house and cook our lunch.  We head to the grocery to shop for our weekly stock then went back home for lunch.  This is what we had for lunch.

Slow cooked ribs

I got a pre-marinated pork ribs from countdown. It took 3 hours to slow cook the ribs but this is so yum! I also baked my favorite banana muffin.

Banana muffin without egg

We attended the 4.30 mass in the City then headed off to Glenfield night market after.  It was a feast of Asian food. I love going to night markets!

Steamed sweet corn ($3 each)

Takoyako/ Octopus balls ($5 for 8 pieces)

Some kind of chinese bread

BBQ mussels with garlic ($5 for 6 pieces)

Chicken satay ($5 for 2 pieces)

BBQ Squid ($3 each)

Churros ($4 for 3 pieces)

German sausage, this is a crowd favorite ($4.50 in buns)

Sisig ($7 with rice)

Cream puff ($1 each)

 Im planning to do some work again tomorrow or prolly head out to the gym. Good night!!!

Ba-bye Mamay

Mamay Bien died last week (Jan 22, 2012). He's been suffering for quite sometime, age has come to toll and he has been weak. I always pray that you are happy in heaven now.  I love you Mamay!

No Egg Banana Muffin Recipe

Today I tried baking banana muffin. We run out of egg so I tried the no egg version.

You will need the following:
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 mashed bananas
kisses chocolates (cubed) or any chocolate available

Mix all the ingredients and bake in 180 celcius for 30 minutes.

I really like the results. Its moist inside but an almost chewy top and bottom. Yum!

Northcote food court

For our Friday date night we decided to try the Northcote Food court. E had stir fried beef from a Thai place and I had my chicken katsudon from the Japanese place.  Nothing extra-ordinary on the taste.