Lechon Kawali

Last week Nelbert and I planned to have a barbecue party on a Sunday afternoon at home, quite a good plan since I still have pork and chicken stocked in the freezer, frozen meat that was neglected for weeks.

In the morning, I marinated the meat so i could have enough time to prepare for the grill in the afternoon, but just after lunch I was caught in an emergency when two of my electric fan went dead, a bad timing since I'll be heating the charcoal in the stove which will add up to the room's temperature that is already near that of a sauna. And I can't let my visitors soak to sweat while eating barbecue. So before the clock strikes 5, I head to SM to buy this 'Ionizer Fan' which i was contemplating to buy 3 weeks ago. Though I told myself before to hold on just a little more, that situation totally forced me to let go. So i bought the fan and went home.

Afternoon's weather went bad, the rain drown up our plan of doing a barbecue party in the yard. So instead of cancelling things, I decided to cook indoors and readied the pork for Lechon Kawali, not that troublesome to prepare and just as good as the pork barbecue.

So here's how to make lechon kawali.

Menu for the day: Lechon Kawali

Ingredients:
1 k pork belly
2 tbsp salt
cloves of garlic
1 tied lemon grass
dash of black pepper
oil for deep fry

Procedure:
1. Put pork, salt, garlic, pepper and lemon grass in a pot with half full of water. Bring to a boil.
2. Wait till meat becomes tender. Drain.
3. Slice meat into serving size.
4. Place cooked pork under the sun to dry up. If there's none, place meat in the freezer until it hardens.
5. Prepare deep frying pan and add a good amount of oil . Bring oil to boiling heat.
6. Place your meat in a pan and prepare to cover with lid.
7. To avoid burned meat, lower your flame just enough to heat the oil.
8. Wait till color is golden brown and turn to the other side.
9. Drain oil and serve. Best served with Mang Tomas or Pinakurat.


Our kawali was paired with hot beef broth bought by Nelbert, just perfect for a cool and rainy evening. Btw our party went quite well, with only three of us to enjoy the good food. =)

Forgot to take actual pics "kay gin gutom na kami". hehe

Ciao!

...

Home Made Silvanas

This past few weeks I've been hearing a lot about Silvanas, a hard cream ball sold at Brownies Unlimited. Well that's what i was thinking, but I was wrong, its the Silvanas from Paradise Village they meant and not the one from Brownies. Well, I haven't tasted Paradise's Silvanas yet but will try it soon.

Though I can't remember the taste of the one from Brownies and what it is made of, I made a version of my own Silvanas last night. Got the recipe from a biscuit wrapper when i did my grocery last week.

Dessert for the day: Home Made Silvanas











Ingredients:
.25cup butter
.25cup margarine
.25cup confectioners sugar
.5tsp vanilla
800g cashew nuts, chopped
1pack biscuits

Procedure:
1. Whip butter and margarine til smooth and creamy.
2. Add sugar, cashew and vanilla.
3. Fill a small amount of cream between 2 biscuits like a sandwich.
4. Make 2layers of sandwich.
5. Cover all sides with cream.
6. Sprinkle small amount of crushed graham on the cover.
7. Chill. Cover should be hard before serving.


What i used in this recipe is Grahams Chocolate but i didn't like the hardness of its biscuit when chilled. I plan on buying Marie biscuit for a substitute, for a little softness on every bite.











Tips: You could add chopped chocolate on your cream for additional sweetness and excitement.

...

Pinoy Fried Rice (Binagoongan Rice)

Since we love eating and we love food, we try different restos every time we have the budget. One of our favorite place is Krua Thai. For a budget of P130 you could already have a nice meal of binagoongan rice and 2 chicken pandan. No one would think that you only spent a small amount in that expensive resto.

But its not everyday we got the time to eat outside, we could always eat nice foods at home just by using what we have in the kitchen. One time, i made a binagoongan rice from my left over rice, eggs and spicy bagoong, and instead of ham which i quite a bit costly, i used canned meat loaf. Ingredient are not that complete but still, you got what you crave for.

Food for the day: Binagoongan Rice











Ingredients:
3pcs eggs
1tsp salt
1tsp oyster sauce
5clove garlic, chopped
1cup ham, cubed
1pc green mango, julienned
1sachet aji-ginisa mix
.5cup sweet bagoong
3stalks green onions, sliced
1K cooked rice (good for 15)

Procedure:
1. Make scrambled eggs, slice into cubes. Set aside.
2. Heat oil, add chopped garlic, wait til golden brown.
3. Add sliced ham and oyster sauce.





















3. Add salt, aji-ginisa mix and bagoong.
4. Add cooked rice. Mix.
5. Add julienned mangoes and eggs. Mix.
6. Put rice in platter, garnish with chopped green onions.
Serve hot.













Very easy?? You bet.

Just like any fried rice, it is best served in the morning with "bulad" and hot coffee. =)

..

White Sauce Spaghetti

Hello guys, 'Kaon Ta...' is back! After months of silence (due to lots of work, December diet and holiday budget constraints), I'm now back with some recipes for you. Yep, I miss cooking. I miss bringing food in the office and i miss eating a lot. =)

"Sunod na problemahon ang diet if duol na ang summer", hehe!

Our 1st recipe for this month/year is the White Sauce Spaghetti. I know you love eating this one but it's always best that you are armed with something to prepare when situation calls for "feel good" food.


Food for the day: White Sauce Spaghetti

Ingredients:


Red Sauce:
1k Spaghetti Pasta
.5k Ground Beef [para ka eat si Aisah =)]
4can Spaghetti Meat Sauce
1head Garlic, chopped
1pc Onion, chopped
2pc Red and Green Bell Pepper, chopped
Black Pepper
Soy Sauce
Salt

White Sauce:
50g Butter
5clove Garlic, chopped
1can Evaporated Milk
1bar Quick Melt Cheese, grated
1can Mushroom, sliced
1box Nestle Cream
dash of Basil Leaves


Procedure:

Pasta:
1. Cook pasta as per package direction. Have it al dente.


Red Sauce.
2. Saute garlic and onions.
3. Add ground beef.
4. Season with salt, pepper and soy sauce.
5. Add spaghetti meat sauce.
6. Fill empty can of meat sauce with water to remove remaining content, pour mixture in the pot. Mix. Bring to a boil.
7. Repeat procedure 6 until sauce thickens.
Hint: Sauce that looks light and flows like water is still uncooked.
8. If sauce is already thick, season with salt and pepper to taste


9. Mix red sauce with pasta.

White Sauce:
10. Melt butter in a pan.
1.. Add chopped garlic.
12. Add evaporated milk. Bring to a boil.
13. Add grated cheese, let it melt.
14. Add sliced mushroom.


15. Add Nestle cream. Continue stirring so cream won't stick at the bottom.

16. Wait till cream thickens then turn off fire.
Hint: Try to pour a teaspoon of white sauce on top of your spaghetti, if it dries/thickens like white paste, then your white sauce is already cooked.

17. Dash with basil leaves for nice aroma.


Word for the day: 'Al dente - Of pasta cooked so as to be firm when eaten'

Very easy. Right? Kamo nasad buhat. Okiez! =)

...