Tuyo Pasta with Cilantro

Cooking for one again. On my way home, I was craving for some Gourmet Tuyo (Dried boneless herring fillet) that was marinated in vinegar, oil and garlic. Hubby bought some from our foray at the grocery store last weekend. The best that I've tasted so far is this brand, Gourmet Tuyo.



Instead of having the traditional fare of fried rice, tuyo, eggs and tomatoes (which is absolutelt great by the way), I made a simple pasta dish instead. I used a bunch of cilantro from the fridge to add some freshness to an otherwise salty dish.

Tuyo Pasta with Cilantro
For one



You will need:
Dried spaghetti noodles
Extra virgin Olive Oil
1 clove garlic, minced
Gourmet Tuyo about 5-7 fillets
Cilantro leaves
Tomatoes, seeded and chopped
Salt

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
2. In a separte pan, saute garlic until fragrant but not brown.
3. Add the spaghetti, a little bit of the pasta water, salt, tuyo, cilantro and tomatoes.
4. Toss and eat immediately.

This pasta dish is actually very good. It's a light dish that can be whipped up in no time at all.

A simple aioli recipe is so versatile, you can just add whatever ingredients you can find in your fridge and make a delicious and healthy meal (ok, semi-healthy meal).

Aioli Pasta with Eggplant and Tomatoes

Cooking for one. It's been a very rainy day here in Manila. I am fortunate that I didn't have a hard time going home despite the weather. When I got home, I wasn't very hungry yet and still had the energy to prepare something for myself other than oatmeal. Hubby's already at work by the time I arrive. I usually don't bother making dinner for myself or asking the housekeeper to prepare something. Most dinner meals I have consist mainly of oatmeal or eggs. Frankly, I was craving for some real food so here's what I made:



Aioli Pasta with Eggplant and Tomatoes
1 Serving

You will need
Dried spaghetti noodles
Extra Virgin olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
1/2 eggplant, cubed
1 anchovy fillet
1 tomato, cubed
Mozzarella cheese, cubed

Procedure
1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. In a separate pan, heat up olive oil, saute the eggplant until almost soft.
3. Add the minced garlic and anchovy fillet, mash the fillet in the pan until broken down completely, this will add saltiness to your dish.
4. Add the noodles and some of the pasta water.
5. Add tomatoes and mozzarella. Season if needed.

This is a very easy recipe, less than half an hour to make, preparation included. This Aioli dish is so delicious, my photo doesn't do it justice.

You can substitute the eggplant with other veggies in your crisper. I reckon asparagus spears, broccoli, zucchini would work so well with this. I just remembered I have some pine nuts in the fridge, I should have added that. Oh well, next time.

Happy experimenting!

Family Gathering

It's a very sad time for our family. My uncle is suffering from cancer and the prognosis is not very good. He is currently resting at the family home in LP. Yesterday, several family members came over to visit him. Despite the grim situation, the family still managed to share a simple but wonderful meal together, we shared laughter and tears. Our reunion was bittersweet.





I wish gatherings like these were under happier circumstances.

Tomatoes Stuffed with Crab Meat

I saw a similar recipe of stuffed tomatoes in a magazine many months ago and I have been meaning to try something similar. I am trying to revamp the menu that we have at home and I miss cooking. Hubby and I have polar opposite working schedules and we only share meals on weekends which saddens me a lot. Anyway, I got the chance to cook again today and tried putting my own spin on this recipe.

Tomatoes Stuffed with Crab Meat



3 Salad tomatoes
350 grams of fresh crab meat
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup bread crumbs
Cilantro, chopped
Lime juice
1 to 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure.

1. Preheat your over to 350 degrees.
2. Slice the top off of your tomatoes. Reserve the "cap". Hull. Sprinkle the insides with salt and pepper. Set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, mix the rest of the ingredients. Mix well.
4. Stuff the tomatoes with the crab mixture and sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top. Cover the tomatoes with the "cap".
5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

I have to be honest though. Hubby wasn't very fond of this because the crab mixture is a bit wet due to the juices from the tomatoes. Oh well, at least I tried.

The filling makes a great crab ball if you add egg and more bread crumbs.

Beef, Asparagus and Broccoli Noodle Stir Fry

I finally had the time to cook again last night. I made a simple dish of Beef, Asparagus and Broccoli Noodle Stir fry. This is very easy to make and can be done in half an hour, preparation included.

Beef, Asparagus and Broccoli Noodle Stir Fry
(Good for three servings)



You will need:
1/4 kilo minute steaks

Marinade
2 to 3 tablespoons Kikkoman soysauce
2 to 3 tablespoons Oyster sauce
1/4 cup water (or mirin)
1 tablespoon flour or cornstsrch

Sauce (mix these together)
1/4 cup Kikkoman soysauce
1/4 cup Oyster Sauce
1 to 2 tablespoons of cornstarch dissolved in
2 cups of beef stock

2-3 garlic cloves, minced
Broccoli florets
Asparagus spears
3 clumps Dried Pancit Canton

Procedure:

1. Marinate the beef for 20 minutes. Set aside.
2. In the meantime, boil some water in a pot. Blanch the vegetables and set aside.
3. In the same pot, boil the canton noodles until almost done.
4. In a separate pan, saute garlic in oil, add the beef until done, about two to three minutes. Remove the beef. Add the sauce indredients. As sooon as it starts to thicken, add the noodles, beef and the vegetables.

I'm happy to say hubby liked this and I shall be making this again :-)

Meeting an old college friend

Mylene is a very grood friend of mine from college. We've had some fantastic times and she's one of my friends has stuck with me and fought for me at the most diffucult time of my life.



Seeing her again even for a short while made me happy. She's flying back to the US today after a short vacation here in Manila. That makes me a little sad because we didn't have the time to do the girly stuff that we used to do before.

Anyway, that's why there's the Magic Jack which allows me to call the US for as long as I want at practically no cost to me or to them. Yey!

Leslie's in Tagaytay

It was our last day in Tagaytay and Tagaytay is famous for it's succulent and tender beef. Some folks from Manila also shop at the market in Tagaytay to buy beef because the meat is so tender and fresh.

A balikbayan's trip to Tagaytay is never complete without having Bulalo (a beef shank soup). We decided to have some at Leslie's. The Bulalo is served in a huge bowl with potatoes, sliced cabbages and green beans. The meat is so tender and falling off the bone. So yummy and so bad for your cholesterol, but what the heck, I'll gladly use up my cholesterol quota for the week just to have that yummy fatty broth and that soft fatty tissue. He he he.



We also had the Cripy Pata, or fried pork hocks. Tony called it cracklings. I call it..."extremely-bad-for-my-health-but-I-am-poweless-to-resist" occassional treat.



I've had my cholesterol quota for the week. Darn, I have to walk a few more blocks to burn it off.