Spinach with Garlic and Baby Corn

This was inspired by one of the 30 minute meals Rachel Ray did in her show i just added a couple of things. Details to follow.

Ground Chicken and Eggs

I remember seeing a picture of something similar online but had no recipe so i just decided to recreate it based on what it looked like. Apart from the ground chicken and eggs i had to come up with the rest of the ingredients. I started with the basics, minced garlic, chopped onions then added chopped bell peppers then the ground chicken. After making sure the chicken was cooked i added about 1/4 cup of soy sauce and 1/2 cup Lee Kum Kee Chicken Marinade. I used 1/2 kilo of ground chicken and sometimes i end up adding more soy sauce and chicken marinade depending on my preference for the day. Season with cracked black pepper. Once this is all mixed and brown, add 2 beaten eggs and mix well. Top with scrambled eggs and you're ready to go.

This was done in half an hour, and is really easy.

Lemongrass Chicken

This recipe was taken from Rasa Malaysia.

Beef Curry

This recipe was taken from the December 2007 issue of Yummy Magazine (page 47).

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 to 2 tablespoons Thai red curry paste
2 fresh kaffir lime leaves (optional)
1 (4-inch long) fresh red chili, thinly sliced crosswise
3/4 kilo beef short ribs, cooked in water till tender
2 cups unsweetened coconut milk
1/4 cup chicken broth or water
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons fish sauce (patis)
1 tablespoon (or more, to taste) fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 scallions, white and green parts thinly sliced
cubed potatoes and carrots (not in the recipe but in the photo in the magazine)

1. Heat oil in a medium skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the curry paste, lime leaves and chili. Saute and keep stirring till fragrant. Add the beef and coat with the curry.

2. Pour in coconut milk, chicken broth, brown sugar, fish sauce and lime juice and simmer stirring occasionally until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in cilantro and scallions; simmer for about a minute more

3. Serve among 4 bowls and serve immediately with rice.

I didn't faithfully stick to the recipe but it was good guide and the results were terrific. I didn't have lime juice so i used a lemon, i used a lot more than 1 to 2 tablespoons of curry, i used an entire pack. Instead of chicken broth, i added kneecaps while boiling the beef and used that as the broth. In my opinion, kaffir lime leaves are essential instead of optional. To control the heat, remove the seeds of the chilies or use long green chilies instead of red.

Kaffir Leaves which are essential to this dish are available at Chef's Nook and Rustan's Powerplant. For a Kaffir tree, you can get one at Manila Seedling for around P350.

Strawberry Cocktail

I like putting cherries and cherry syrup in Absolut Kurant vodka, but since i didn't have vodka, nor cherries - some freshly picked strawberries, GSM Premium, Strawberry Wine (tastes like juice) and Sprite was a good replacement.Something for the cold weather.

Strawberry Farms not Strawberry Fields

I've been to Baguio many times and i was always told that the Strawberry Fields was just a few minutes away and we could pick the strawberries ourselves. I found out that the Strawberry Fields that was being mentioned was a Club along Marcos Highway. A different kind of picking.
For real strawberries, head over to La Trinidad about 30 to 45 minutes away depending on the traffic. You can pick your own strawberries and just pay for them on your way out. The farms have different owners so just pick one that allows you to do your own picking. Here you'll find everything strawberry, strawberry wine, strawberry juice, strawberry taho, strawberry key chains, etc. You'll also find some nice fresh lettuce.

Some are just ripe for picking and some are not. The farm we first went to was just recently picked. You have to go to the farms further back to get to pick your own.
My little girl didn't want to touch the strawberries at first.

Strawberry Taho. Interesting, but i like my taho hot and plain.
Lots of nice looking lettuce around as well. Now, if only brought a nice vinaigrette. :)
Lots and lots of vinaigrette. ;)
So if you want to go here, remember...Strawberry Farms, not fields.