Takoyaki Balls

Hubby loves takoyaki balls.  Problem?  A takoyaki pan is required!  But I couldn't find one... so I made tako okonomiyaki instead.

But what luck!  I got an electric takoyaki maker as a gift just the other day!  Who cares if my ingredients are lacking?  I went and made takoyaki balls! 

Like I said my ingredients were lacking... I had no - octopus (I used squid instead), green onions (I used cabbage), tenkasu (more cabbage!), dried bonito flakes or any other (Japanese sounding) stuff.  In the end, I topped the cooked balls with okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise.

This video was what I basically followed...

What will I be doing this weekend?  I am going out to get a complete set of ingredients and make more takoyaki balls!!!

Fiddlefern Omelette

I really like it when the tindera (saleslady) at the market knows her product/s well.

We went to the weekend market to buy specific items, quickly finishing our errands and heading out into the parking lot when a tindera called my attention to her wares... Fiddlehead ferns, or pako in the vernacular.  I politely declined, saying that we were not in the mood for salad (which is the usual way that I know).  The tindera then informed me (with a slight indignation, I might add) that the pako can be prepared and cooked many other ways... sauteed with shrimps or dried fish, or simply with butter and garlic; as part of a ginataan (coconut cream) dish, especially crabs (!); or an elegant omelette...  that did it - I bought a bundle!  I wanted to make pako omelette!

First step, as always, is to trim the ferns from the stems.  The second step is to blanch the ferns briefly and then put them in an ice bath.  The last step in preparation is to dry to the ferns thoroughly.  Only then are the ferns ready.

Saute about 3 large cloves of garlic, grated, in about 1/4 cup of salted butter.  Set aside when done.

Meanwhile, beat 6 extra large eggs with 3 tablespoons of whipping cream and a large pinch of salt (or to taste).  Pour into a skillet (at least 10 inches, preferably 12 inches) and cook over medium heat.  Lift the edges of the omelette to let uncooked eggs slide underneath.

When the top of the omelette is almost set, place the sauteed fern tips in the middle and top with slices of white cheese (the local kesong puti is best).

Fold one side of the omelettle over...

Then fold the other side...

Transfer (carefully) to a serving platter and serve!

We found this dish to be super delicious, with the ferns still crunchy!  Now I can't wait to buy more ferns next weekend and prepare a ginataan dish... I hope I can find decently priced crabs as well!

Dumplings with Soy Ginger Dipping Sauce

Hubby I and love dumplings.  Call a cultural thing, but it is a staple in our household.  Once in a while I make the dumplings we eat (with a mixture of pork and shrimp) but truthfully, it is so convenient to buy, especially since we found a source for really delicious and (allegedly) no-MSG ones!

But just as important as the dumplings is the dipping sauce... which, in our case, is poured over the dumplings!

My usual recipe -

1/2 cup light soya sauce
1/4 cup hot water, as preferred, or optional
1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons grated ginger
2 cloves garlic, minced
chopped green onions, optional
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Just mix everything together.

Take note, however, that the quality of the soy sauce counts.  Sometimes when the soy sauce is too salty I temper it with hot water.  To make the dip spicy, add chili oil, to taste.

Talaba, Tokwa at Tausi

(in English:  Oysters, Tofu and Fermented Soy Beans)

As always I could not resist buying oysters (talaba in the vernacular)!  Especially those that were fresh, and really big!  But alas, it was the last of the batch and came up only about 350 grams.  It was certainly not enough for dinner - we were 5, with rather big appetites!  What to do then? 

Tokwa (firm tofu) to the rescue!

The recipe is very easy too!

Rinse 350 grams of shucked oysters and drain lightly.  Meanwhile, slice 2 to 3 blocks of very firm tofu (tokwa in the vernacular) into cubes roughly the same size as the talaba; set aside.  Slice 3 to 4 stalks of leeks into thin, diagonal slices; separate the white part from the green part.  Prepare a tablespoon (or more depending on your taste and the brand) of tausi, or fermented black beans; lightly crush with a fork.  Prepare a few slices of ginger.

Saute the ginger and white part of the leeks until softened then add the tausi.  Stir fry a few seconds then throw in the tokwa cubes; stir the pot.  When the tokwa takes on the color of the tausi, add the oysters.  Cook briefly, until the oysters are just cooked.  Season to taste; personally I did not have to since the tausi has a lot of flavor and saltiness already!  If there is a lot of liquid, thicken with cornstarch slurry.  Garnish with the green part of the leeks and serve.  It's great as rice topping!

Singapore-style Chili Crab

Whenever we are lucky to have fresh, live crabs, my favorite dish to cook is crab sotanghon.  But this time around, I asked hubby his preference and (I shouldn't have asked since I know) he wants crabs very spicy, Singaporean style.

I "extended" the dish by adding suahe (live shrimps), but scaled the recipe to half.

For this particular dish, I used the recipe in this book...

found on page 19

It was really, really spicy!  But delicious!

KBL

KBL refers to an Ilonggo dish - kadyos, baboy at langka (pigeon peas, pork and jackfruit), although in this particular case, the baboy/pork is lechon!  Friend C was generous and brought some (a lot, actually) lechon for dinner a couple of nights ago.   We ate a third of it, made lechon paksiw with another third, and for the final third...

Usually the pork used in the dish is the "pata" part or the leg part.  While the pata makes a tasty dish, I believe using lechon, Cebu-style lechon, in particular, takes this dish up another level!

The souring agent for this particular dish is called batwan.  I honestly do not know what it is in English or if the word is even Filipino!  What I do know is that this batwan is responsible for the Ilonggo dinuguan's superb and superior flavor (in my opinion!)  It is even rumored to be the secret ingredient to an authentic Inasal!

It isn't easy to find butwan, however, so far I've seen it only in my mom's native province, Iloilo.  Sampaloc can be substituted, but truth is, it's not the same!

Here's the recipe: 

3 cloves garlic, minced finely
1 medium onion, sliced
1 medium tomato, sliced
1 kilo lechon meat (pork)
3/4 cup kadyos (pigeon peas), more if preferred
1 piece lemongrass, tied in a bundle
broth, or water, as needed
250 grams unrirpe, sliced langka/jackfruit
3 to 4 pieces batwan (or substitute sampaloc/tamarind)

Rinse the kadyos in water, then cook until softened, about 20 minutes.  Drain.

Sauté garlic, onion, and tomato in a little canola oil.  Add the pigeon peas, lemongrass, langka and lechon.  Pour in enough water to cover everything.  Bring to a boil then season to taste.  When the langka has softened, add the batwan and simmer another 10 to 15 minutes.

Hubby's Power Smoothie!

Hubby goes to the gym regularly.  And he's a bit of a health buff.  So I try to make him healthy stuff to eat.

I've often made smoothies or shakes for hubby (and the little girl), usually using whey or yogurt, whatever fruit is available, and sometimes oats.  This one, however, is specifically concocted to be a power drink after hubby's workout session at the gym.

Here's the recipe:

150 grams homemade Greek yogurt
1/2 cup coconut water
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 banana
1 mango (substitute 100 grams strawberries)
1/3 cup oatmeal
1/2 teaspoon wheat germ
1/2 teaspoon chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon minced ginger

Blitz everything in the blender.  Makes 2 servings.

For the nutritional analysis:

Giving credit:  the addition of coconut water was suggested by my friend D, who says that (natural) coconut water is high in electrolytes (calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium) and boosts hydration; it has a high concentration of fiber and tastes great!  It also has enzymes that aid in digestion and metabolism; as well as iron, manganese, zinc, B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, thiamin,and folate.

As for buttermilk, instead of milk, friend D says that it is high in riboflavin, B12, calcium and protein.  It is probiotic, and is cooling to the body.

Ginger is anti-inflammatory.

Oatmeal is full of fiber and protein.

Wheat germ has folate, Vitamin E, and B, potassium and iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and selenium, as well as omega-3 fatty acids.  It is a great antioxidant!

Chia seeds are also high in fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, anti-oxidants, minerals - calcium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, potassium, thiamine and vitamin B2.

How's that for healthy?!!?