Learning to cook

In one of our food trips at Eastwood Mall, we chanced upon CCA Kitchen’s  Young Chef’s Academy cooking class schedule.  Pipay got a bit interested. 

Now, I’m not the kind of Mom who would drag her kids to all sorts of extra-curricular activities like karate lessons, ballet, even, photography class, unless they show interest and willingness to pursue them.  I just let them be…. when they’re ready, then I’ll be the most supportive mom!

At home, whenever I cook, there were times when Pipay would offer to help out.  I look at this as an opportunity to have a mom-daughter bonding and teach her the rudiments of cooking.  I don’t like her to feel that it’s a chore or a must-do thing in your life as a girl. I want her to enjoy and appreciate food and cooking. 

So, I got the flyer for CCA’s class schedule for September.  There’s a junior chef class for her age bracket.  I forgot all about it when a week after, she asked me about the cooking class again. I asked her if she likes to join.  She said yes.  

September 18, a Sunday, we went back to Eastwood Mall for her first formal cooking lesson.  I could teach her to cook (which could save us enough money to buy us 2 dinners), but I also wanted her to experience the classroom set-up just like what I did 13 years ago (also at CCA Katipunan for the 5-day professional cooking course).

She was given a toque, an apron  and a sheet of paper containing the 3 recipes they’ll be cooking that day – Pimiento drop biscuits, Garlic parsley finger sandwiches and Potato skins with mixed herbs. 

Enjoy the photos just as much as I enjoyed documenting my daughter’s first formal cooking lessons and being a stage mom!  ^_^

 

 

Food Finds at Mercato Centrale part 2

09.18.11

Last Saturday morning, I went back to Mercato Centrale to try the other  goodies I haven’t tried on my first visit.  This time they moved their location near MC Home depot on the 34^th & 8^th sts.  I met up with Lenz after a short run around Boni Hi Street.

My daughter Pipay came with me.  It was Pipay & Lenz’s first visit. 

Here’s a rundown of what we had:

Mi  Paella de Andaluz – this is one of the most  raved about dish in the recent Ultimate Taste Test held in Rockwell (unfortunately for me, I missed this as I have work that day).  And since I love paella, I don’t want to miss this.  It got mussels, clams, chicken, chorizo, bacon bits.  I particularly like  my paella with a bit of tutong underneath. One order cost P180. I was only able to eat half of the serving.  One serving is good for two people, unless you have a hearty appetite.  Honestly, I like Chef Ed Quimson’s paella over at the Salcedo Market better.  

Taclings  -  these are bite size tacos shaped like a siomai. 




The crispy, ruffled shells come in two varieties – regular and malunggay flavor.  I chose the regular flavor because even though I know the malunggay flavored shells are more nutricious, I didn’t like the shade of green. Looks kind of unnatural for me.  One bite, and all I can taste is the garlic cream. I can't remember tasting the ground beef.  I wish they would put more meat and season it more with Mexican spices. It lacked a bit of that Mexican taste from cumin and other spices.

Abub Cebuana Native Lechon -  I bought half a kilo  (P340) which I meant to cook into Lechon Sinigang for dinner (this merits a separate blog entry).

Other food items that caught my attention, but wasn't able to try.

Wha Pao – oven baked siopaos in the usual flavors  asado and bola bola; they also have chicken adobo and dulce de leche.  

MedChef by Hasset Go – home made cakes and pastries like chocolate revel bars, cream cheese brownies, walnut brownies cut into big squares, and sold at P100 for  3 bars.  I’m not fond of chocolate sweets lately so I passed up on these. 

 

What I forgot to buy was their bread pudding crème brulee (P200). I made a mental note to come back and buy these after tasting a tiny bite, but I forgot to go back. This will be the first on my list when I come back for another visit. I love anything caramel and custardy.

As we went around the tented area looking for something to eat for breakfast,  we passed by this Morrocan food stall.  I got curious on their rice pilaf and fish fillet, and their Chicken Saffron Tagine.  I want to try the Chicken Tagine, but my tummy hankered for the Paella Andaluz.  Have to go back if only for this Morrocan chicken dish.

 

I also got the must haves – Baked by Anita cupcakes  and pistachios from Nutsylicious for my kids. 

Pipay, a picky eater,  ate grilled corn and snowcone from Matthew's....(that's a bag of pistachios she's holding  ^_^  )  

Till next time…

Food Finds at the Mercato Centrale part 1

Note: This is a late post. 

It was mid-February when I first went to Mercato Centrale in Fort Bonifacio. I met up with my friend, who is a chef/food stylist/photographer.  Mercato was still on its original location, a walking distance from Boni Hi-Street.

I arrived early morning around 7AM.  I was too early, some stall owners haven’t set up yet.  There were so many food choices. 

First meal was the fish and chips from Chuck’s Grubberie.

Deep fried beer battered dory fillet with salted potato wedges and tartar sauce conveniently contained in a paper cone. It came with a lemon wedge. My fillets were a bit burnt and dark though, but still yummy.

Next, we lined up at Bale Datung for the Pan de Bagnet. 

 

Thin slices of crispy bagnet, layered with mustard leaves, red onions, and their secret sauce tucked inside a ciabatta bread.

I also got the Lechon Tortilla to take home.

After our meal, I went inside the tent to look around for goodies to take home.  Here’s what I found…

Cupcakes from Baked by Anita -  what attracted me to her stall was the array of tiny cupcakes  with unusual  flavors.  A bit pricey for such small cupcakes, but I was won over when I tasted the Sticky Date.  It was like food for the gods. 

I got the following flavors - clockwise: caramel apple topped, mango with tamarind buttercream, orange cranberry (with valharona chocolate glaze), sticky date, saffron n black salt, chocolate with brandied cherries (i love cherries!)

Tina’s Pies – I read about these savory pies on lori b’s blog.  I got the chicken cordon bleu and beef san Miguel pies. 

Cereal Bars from the Muesli-Granola Kitchen -  these were healthy snacks I got for my second child, gabby, who loves cereal bars. 

They used muscovado sugar as sweetener and come in different flavors.

 

Anatolia’s  baklava  -  I got one piece to try, the pictachio baklava. These little Turkish delights were made from thin layers of phyllo dough, honey and nuts.

 

Macarons from Empire -  I love macarons.  

I bought the 12 pc pack of different flavors. 

 

Nutsylicious  -  here you’ll find nuts  still in their shells – walnuts, brazil nuts, pecans, hazelnuts, pistachios, almonds, etc.  They also carry the green raisins, my first time to see one. I bought pictachios and dried figs.

And since it was a Valentine weekend, I got a pink cake pop from Lollicake Factory for pipay. 

More Mercato food finds on my next entry…. 

Healthy Cooking: Couscous with Chick peas Salad

My friend who is into healthy living (my running/walking mate every Thursday at BGC) requested me to post healthy recipes. 

Last night, I bought a box of Casbah  Toasted Couscous (giant pasta pearls) with wild mushroom (P156) from Healthy Options. 

Couscous is a granular pasta made from semolina flour. It’s a staple in North Africa and is one key  ingredient  in Mediterranean cuisine.

I got the pearl ones, larger and shaped like a pearl compared to the usual small granular couscous.  Cooking method is also a bit different.  With regular couscous, you just steam or add boiling water/broth and let it sit till it’s done and fluffed to separate the grains.  With pearl couscous, it’s like cooking risotto but easier and less cooking time.  Flavor is nutty, with smooth, chewy texture.  

I used this type of couscous to make a vegetarian salad – with chick peas, Taiwan bokchoy, tomatoes, olive oil.  Things I found in my refrigerator.  This would make a perfect mate for grilled meats and fish.  I ate this on its own for breakfast this morning. 

COUSCOUS WITH CHICK PEAS SALAD

1 tbsp olive oil

Half pack of Casbah Toasted Couscous

1 stalk Taiwan bok choy, sliced into ½ inch pieces

1 tomato, deseeded & diced

½ cup canned chick peas, drained

1 Tbsp calamansi juice (or lemon)

Salt & freshly ground pepper

Cook couscous according to package directions.  Just before turning off the fire, add the chick peas and bokchoy.  Heat just enough to cook the bokchoy.  Remove from the fire and add the tomatoes, olive oil and calamansi juice.  Season with salt & pepper to taste. 

Pasta Carbonara ala Jo

As promised in my previous post, here is my take on the classic carbonara.

I woke up feeling sluggish and tired.  I decided to forego my zumba classes today to rest.  Yesterday’s whole day shoot at Manila Ocean Park made my body ache all over.  What better way than to feed my body with much needed sustenance and a whole day of pampering in a spa (wish ko lang!).  Since the spa massage is not possible, I’d take the sustenance part instead.  

 

This morning, I cooked pasta carbonara for breakfast. 

Here’s my version of the classic carbonara

Linguini noodles

2 Tbsp cream

1 Tbsp butter

½   cup bacon bits

2 eggs  ( 1 whole + 1 eggyolk)

3 cloves garlic, sliced

Salt & freshly ground pepper

lots of  grated parmesan cheese

Render bacon till it’s crispy. Discard bacon fat (leave some as this is full of flavor).

Melt butter and sauté garlic till slightly brown.  Remove garlic.

Add cream.  Add bacon.  Season with salt.

Cook pasta according to package directions till al dente.

While pasta is cooking, slightly mix the eggs.

Drain pasta and let cool slightly (warm enough so as not to curdle the eggs). 

Mix in pasta noodles with the egg. 

Stir in cream/bacon mixture.  Add parmesan cheese.

Top with crispy bacon bits and more parmesan cheese. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper.