Food Friday

This week's Featured Food Friday player is ...

Ms. Oggi, with her post: Tikoy Turon for Chinese New Year, on her site "I Can Do That!".

This is perfect for this week's Food Friday feature! The Chinese New Year starts today, and 2014 is the Year of the Horse! Tikoy is being sold in most supermarkets these days (actually, a week before!) and I must admit buying at least one is a big temptation. It's a good thing Ms. Oggi has included her recipe in the above post! Click on the above shot to know more!

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Kiong Hee Huat Tsai! I know, that doesn't really even mean Happy New Year; in fact, when translated literally it says "Congratulations and wishing you prosperity!". lol. But I don't really speak Chinese so.... :)

It's another soup post for me today: Carrots and Squash Soup.

Ingredients:

• squash (cut into roughly 1" sizes, then roasted with crushed garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper; then mashed)
• carrot (placed in blender, together with some wan soy/cilantro)
• chicken stock, nutmeg, ginger, garlic, salt and pepper
• cheese (optional)

Procedure:

• Heat the chicken stock, together with some ginger, garlic, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Add the mashed squash. Place everything in the blender if you want it smooth (and you get to eat the ginger and garlic, too)! I placed mine in the blender. :P
• Return to the pot. You may add the cheese at this point and let them melt. Turn off heat, but keep warm.
• In the meantime, skin the carrot, dice and put in clean blender. Add the wan soy/cilantro and a bit of the squash mixture. Then blend till you're satisfied with the consistency.
• Add to the warm squash mixture. Mix. Adjust seasoning.
• Serve warm. Garnish with some wan soy/cilantro leaves. You may add cream, if you want. 
• Dip warm bread. Enjoy!

I seem to be cooking more soups these past few days! Blame it all on the cold weather! I had that soup warm, with some  malunggay pandesal (with garlic-parsley butter) that day. If I had that during lunch/dinner time, I'd most probably partner it off with rice and another dish (fish or chicken, most likely).

Kiong Hee Huat Tsai! 2014, the Year of the (Wood) Horse in the Chinese Calendar, will start today and end on February 18, 2015.  Just random info. :P

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Food Friday

This week's Featured Food Friday player is ...

Ms. Dominique, with her post Har Gow and Egg Tarts on a Friday, on her blog: From Dominique's Desk.

I just LOVE the colors on these har gow pieces! I wish I know how to make them! To learn more about the shot above, do click on the shot and see Ms. Dominique's yummy post.

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Squash and Snow Peas Soup is the post for today!

Ingredients

• squash (peeled and chopped)
• snow peas
• chicken stock, cheese, milk, olive oil 
• garlic, pepper, salt

Procedure

• Place the squash together with the garlic cloves in a pan. Drizzle olive oil (or any oil that you have on hand), salt and pepper. Mix. Roast till tender.
• Peel the cloves and mash together with the squash. Set aside.
• Heat chicken stock (or you may opt to use plain water or vegetable stock), then add milk and sliced snow peas. Let simmer.
• Add the mashed mixture together with cheese and mix well.
• Adjust seasoning to your liking.
• Serve hot.

Honestly, immediately after roasting the squash I couldn't help but gobble a few. Then when I started mashing them I loved it even more because of the roasted garlic. But, I was planning on making soup, so I continued on. My kids liked it; I guess because of the cheese. lol. :P

Appreciate much your taking the time to share and link your food posts here at Food Friday! :)
Please don't forget to add a link back to this site (you can get the buttons here; deciding to use text instead of buttons is fine also) to be able to add your posts below. Many thanks and hope everyone is going to have a great time this weekend!

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Food Friday

This weeks's Food Friday Featured Player is ...

Ms. Jenn, with her post Kebabers (SM Fairview), on her blog: Tara, Let's Eat!

I love going on food adventures, and that is just what Ms. Jenn and her sister did on the post above. Want to know what she ordered for herself that day? Then I suggest you go and visit her post! :)

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My post for this week: Cheesy Squash-Macaroni Soup.

Ingredients

• squash (cut in any way you want; I sort of "diced" mine)
• macaroni 
• cheese (i used cheddar)
• ground pork (totally optional; you may use tofu instead or other protein source)
• milk (or cream)
• canola oil, soy sauce, salt, pepper, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning

Procedure

• Saute onion and garlic then add ground pork, soy sauce, salt and pepper. Cook until brown and fat has been rendered. Remove fat if it is too much.
• Dump squash, mix a bit, then add water (or chicken/vegetable stock), macaroni and the Italian seasoning. Let it simmer until the squash gets soft, and the pasta is cooked. Mash some of the squash and add milk until you are satisfied with the creaminess. Add cheese.
• Adjust taste to your liking. Add some more cheese.
• Enjoy while still hot.

Am not sure if that milk and oats did anything different to the dish, but my eldest son said that it did. Maybe his taste is more sensitive than mine, lol. But this is one way of getting my youngest to "drink" his milk since he's not that fond of milk anymore. Good thing he likes yogurt! :)

All in all, a lovely afternoon snack for the three of us ... while watching cartoons on tv.

Appreciate much your taking the time to share and link your food posts here at Food Friday! :)
Please don't forget to add a link back to this site (you can get the buttons here; deciding to use text instead of buttons is fine also) to be able to add your posts below. Many thanks and hope everyone is going to have a great time this weekend!

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Food Friday

InLinkz seems to be glitchy today...found out that it picked two featured players! No worries, happy to feature not one, but TWO yummy food posts for this week!

This week's Featured Food Friday players are ...

Ms. Kim, with her post Squash and String Beans in Coconut Milk, on her blog: @my tabletop.

I am a big fan of anything with coconut milk (usually) so this one definitely gets a thumbs-up from me! I haven't tried cooking this version (with pork), but would love to try it! I just love it when one basic recipe gets different variations. I believe that that's what cooking (and eating) is all about anyway:  it's a personal thing!

and

Ms. Oggi, with her blog post Matcha Daifuku, on her blog: I Can Do That!

I first tasted mochi a couple of years back and I instantly loved it! It reminded me of the 'kakanins/local snacks" we usually have at home. You know, the ones with coconut milk and/or sticky rice. I love mochi mixed in with yogurt, or paired with a delicate tea. I haven't tried making it myself, though. If you want to know how it's made, then go and check out Ms. Oggi's post; and see the different versions she made. You'll love it!

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Japanese Food: my post for this week.
Nope, not my cooking. Though I wish it was. lol.

upper LEFT: Kani Salad
upper RIGHT: Gomoku Ramen
lowest pic: Chicken Teriyaki

I have been craving for some hot ramen/noodles the couple of days and that's why when we got the chance to go out as a family this week (just the two kids and I), we had lunch in one of our fave restaurants, Kimono Ken. As usual, we just had to have hot gomoku ramen, kani salad, teriyaki chicken, sashimi, and kani tempura (last two dishes not in the pic). Surprisingly, no rice this time; and am glad, since we were full after we slurped and chomped everything down!

Gomoku Ramen

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Food Friday

This week's Featured in Food Friday player is...

Ms. Ann, who owns the blog Ann Ordinario: Wife, Mom, PT (Celebrating Life), with her blog post: Dinner at Tony Roma's Ribs Seafood Steak

Ribs, seafood, and steaks...now who wouldn't be enticed by those three yummy words! Plus of course those tempting shots...if you want to learn more, then do visit Ms. Ann's blog. I love her header (though of course it has nothing to do with the featured post, lol. I just love how she personalized it) and the simple and elegant lay-out of her blog. Expect not only yummy food posts, but also some amazing nature shots! 

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This week's food post is Fried Rice (with cheese, squash and tofu). I know, kind of weird, right? ;)

Ingredients:

• steamed rice
• squash (cut into thin strips)
• tofu (sliced and fried)
• cheese slices (I used cheddar cheese)
• scrambled eggs
• cooking oil, pepper and salt
• fish sauce (optional)

Procedure:

• I marinated the tofu slices overnight first (soy sauce, paprika, mixed herbs: rosemary, sage, thyme, and basil), then fried them. After letting them cool, I sliced them thinly.
• while waiting for the pan to become hot, prepare the rice (usually we use leftover steamed rice for this dish; much easier to handle). Just a matter of separating the grains, making sure it will be heated through.
• Saute the squash slices; this wouldn't take long, adding a bit of salt, if you want. Remove and place together with the tofu.
• Cook the scrambled eggs, then remove and place together with the tofu and squash.
• Usually the scrambled eggs will absorb all the oil, so you need to add another tablespoon or so of cooking oil.
• Once hot, add the rice and stir to make sure it's heated through. Add salt and pepper, if you want.
• Add the scrambled eggs, squash, and tofu to the rice and mix again. I added fish sauce at this point. Once you're satisfied, transfer to a serving plate. Top with sliced cheddar cheese.
• Enjoy together with your viand.

I paired the fried rice together with some fresh tomato slices and fish (cooked in a bit of water, vinegar, salt, pepper, chili, and lots of garlic).  :)

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Food Friday

This week's Featured in Food Friday players are ...

Mr. Erwin, a guest blogger and chef, and Ms. Iska, who owns the blog ISKAndals.com. Their post last week was CEVICHE.

 That shot reminds me of  "Kinilaw", a very popular dish back home (I haven't tried making it myself, though). But this dish is actually quite different (you've got to visit the post to see it!) and turns out to be something that I'd love to try. Ms. Iska's foodie site (she also does 'sketches') is a heaven for those who loves food and enjoys preparing it. Together with guest blogger Chef Erwin, they offer us dishes that are familiar yet has been modified to create something that is all their own. Their recipes, coupled with wonderful informative shots, actually helped me liven up some of my boring dishes. Oh yes, it did! :)

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My food post for this week is one of those boring dishes, lol. But it's really easy: Squash with Moringa in Coconut Milk.

Ingredients:

• Squash
• Moringa leaves
• Coconut milk/cream (you may use powder or canned; I prefer to use freshly grated coconut and wring the liquid out. basically, I use "thin" {second pressing, with around 2 cups of water added} and "thick" {obtained during the first pressing, with about half a cup of water added} coconut milk, reserving the latter during the last phase of the cooking)
• Bell pepper (red)
• Ginger, Chili, Salt
• Fish Sauce (optional)

Procedure:

• Clean and cut squash. Put inside a pot together with "thin" coconut milk. Dump in the crushed ginger, bell pepper slices, chili, and salt.
• Let boil, then simmer for a couple of minutes until squash is half-cooked.
• Add the moringa leaves; wait for about a minute, then mix in the "thick" coconut milk. Continue mixing until it starts simmering again. Taste and adjust seasoning. I added fish sauce. Turn off fire.
• Serve hot.

Loved it with fried salted fish and rice. Ahhh, soul food! :D

Reminder: Please don't forget to link back (a simple text would be great, or you may use the buttons provided here). Also, please try to visit the other party-goers and leave some commentluv to let them know that you dropped by. Many thanks! :)

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Food Friday

The next Featured in Food Friday player is......

Ms. Jesz who blogs over at My Kind of Trip, with her post:
Celebrating Mommy's 62nd

That pizza shot is making me hungry. Again. This was just one of the foods that they ordered when Ms. Jesz and her siblings celebrated their mom's birthday. I must say, theirs is a family that loves food! Her blog posts is a collection of her 'trips' (out of town, food trips, just within the metro, and the like); she shares with us part of her journeys and her stories. Do visit her site and check whether you've also visited the places she's been to! Happy travelling! 

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My post for this week is NOT another noodle recipe as promised. :D
It's a veggie dish, and I have no idea what to call it. It's somehow similar to mashed potatoes, but I didn't use potatoes. I used squash. So maybe i can call this mashed squash...?? :P

Ingredients used:

• squash
• cheese (grated cheddar) and cheez whiz
• milk, butter
• ginger, salt, pepper

squash

Procedure

• Peel the squash and cut into small sizes. Boil for a couple of minutes, with ginger and salt, until soft. Remove from the liquid and mash.
• Add butter and some drops of milk.
• Add crumbled/grated cheddar cheese.
• Season with salt and pepper. Mix.
• Butter the pan (i chose cupcake cups for individual servings) then plop the seasoned mashed squash inside. I added cheez whiz on top (I wanted to know what the result was going to be, lol);  you can use any type of cheese.
• Place inside toaster or oven. Bake until cheese gets bubbly and slightly burnt. Mine was overly burnt, so don't copy what I did. :D
• Remove from toaster or oven and serve hot or in room temperature.

We had that together with roasted chicken. The kids (myself included, lol) loved it! :L

Reminder: Please link back here (you may use the Food Friday buttons located on the right sidebar) if you're playing... and don't forget to visit other players as well and leave them some comment love! thank you.♥

*if you have problems with linking, do send me a message (or make a comment below) since I might be able to help...would hate to miss a food post from you! <3

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Food Friday

The Featured Food Friday player today is ....

Ms. Pinkc00kies who blogs over at Munchy Crunchy, with her post:
Khong Guan Ice Gems

Being another foodie, Ms. Pinkc00kies shares her reviews about food she's eaten and where she had them.  Her blog's one of the places I go to when I want to learn a new item on a restaurant's menu (or which item has been phased out, lol) which she just visited; or if I just want to know what she's feasting on! Go and check out her diverse food reviews for yourself...but I urge you to visit on a full stomach, since you might get hungry with all the delicious food that will greet you.

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Rice Noodle Experiment, that's what I'd like to call this dish:

My post for today is noodles again. I know, next week it will be different. Pinky promise.

Well, this one was inspired by a Thai friend named Poulet, who also loves to take shots of what she whips up in her kitchen. I just love the healthy dishes she makes and these two dishes just inspired me to try something different. Hence, my rice noodle experiment (my first time to try cooking this type of noodle).

(please click on the noodles if you prefer a bigger view)

But I don't have most of her ingredients, so I used what was available here at home:

• chicken breast 
• squash, bunch of celery, pechay (bok choy)
• onion, garlic (diced)
• salt, pepper, soy sauce
• chicken stock (seasoned broth from some leftover raw chicken bones and skin)
• toasted sesame seeds
• rice noodles

some ingredients used: squash, celery, onion, rice noodles, pechay (bok choy), and garlic.

Procedure was fairly easy:

• Cut chicken breast in small sizes, then brown over a hot pan with a bit of oil. Season with salt, pepper, and soy sauce. Add diced onions and garlic.
• Add in the squash since it takes longer to cook. Put the pechay (bok choy) next, then the celery. Mix everything well. Turn off heat.
• In a separate pot, boil some water and cook the rice noodles, which will only take about two minutes. 
• Place cooked noodles in a bowl. Add chicken and veggie mix.
• Pour hot chicken stock.
• Sprinkle with lots of toasted sesame seeds. 
• Serve hot.

Decided not to add chili because of my youngest son. lol :robot
I served this hot, but my sons loved it at room temperature.

I must confess, I'm a rice noodle fan now! :L

Reminder: Please link back here (you may use the Food Friday buttons located on the right sidebar) if you're playing... and don't forget to visit other players as well and leave them some comment love! thank you.♥

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