SPANISH LIKED DISH

Caldareta

I have been keeping this photo for quite sometimes but haven't written anything about it in my blog, hoping that I will have a nice relaxing time for me to unwind with my writing while listening to an 80's number, it's 'I NEVER LET YOU GO'. Nice, just what I need ...At last, after so long... I finally have the time this weekend. Yea... why not? since I don't really have to cook because it's been done by mom... even Donut and Jojo are busy with their studies and computer games... I am really enjoying my weekend back in hometown with everybody around, mom and abah, all brothers and sisters, kidos... FOOD... ALOT... FOOD
The photo was taken about 2 months ago but I still can remember how good and tasty it was... Ya, it's Caldareta... Tender beef with capsicum, carrot and potato. A more tomato version of Daging Masak Kicap (Beef in Dark Soya Sauce). Some may add in shredded cheese and liver spread, but for this attempt it just a simple Caldareta ...
Don't forget Calamansi ya... it's essential ingredient in Philippines dish, or you may substitute it with lemon too. Instead of using tomato sauce it's preferable to use tomato puree for it's richer taste. And vegetable should be fried for a while just to preserve the sweetness in the vegetable, instead of cooking with water and lost the crispiness and taste. Slice some onions into rings and saute, make sure that the beef is tender after bring to boil in the sauce.. Remove beef from sauce and saute on frying pan till slightly dry, add in the remaining sauce and vegetable... Enjoy with rice or plain loaf and it is more to enjoy...
MMMMmmm... I just enjoy eating and I enjoy watching people eating... HAPPY WEEKEND FOOD LOVERS...

p/s Saute chopped garlic and onion before add in beef, soya sauce, tomato puree and calamansi.

SO SIMPLE...

Tinola...

Errmmm... Just feeling like having chicken soup, today i craved for Chicken Tinola... But no young papaya for cooking. It's one of the ingredients, but unfortunately I couldn't get it any where in the market this morning. So, it just only Green Mustard... It's Tinola With Out Young Papaya... Correctly named... Anyway it taste the same...
I have some stock of chicken in the refrigerator, some ginger, onion and garlic. Chili and black pepper, that's all. A simple and delicious meal for the day.... I have plenty of time for housework and some reading as well. For the past few weeks, I left it the car planned to read it when ever there is time but still it is just left there. I guess it just another day of my LAZY DAYS... It's ok, I had a very good lunch today with a complete meal of vege and chicken.
I still have this craves for Philippines food even after so long I didn't get this kind of nice traditional taste since years ago... Well, aha ... Good attempt this time...
By the way it's much better if cooked with young papaya, just splendid... indeed...

Ingredients :
Chicken
Ginger
Garlic
Onion
Red Chili
Black pepper
Green Mustard
Oil
Water
Salt and sugar

• Heat oil and saute onion, garlic and ginger.
• Add in chicken, chili and black pepper and simmer.
• Add in water and seasoning.
• Add in green mustard and ready to serve.
  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAK MOK !

It's Sera's birthday

18 th June... It's sera's birthday, I have not gotten any present for her. Since I started working in Bijoux, my life is only either home or kitchen. I don't even have the time to update my blog..!!! That explained .... No time for leisure nor for Sera, and she is getting mad when every time I had to turn down on our dates... I know... She is just missing me... Ya... That's it... Anyway, our every year tradition... I will bake a birthday cake, and this is it... a butter chocolate cake with chocolate frosting comes together with 4 cupcakes sprinkled with silver balls.

Bitter sweet chocolate frosting good with chocolate cake, I prefer butter chocolate cake compare to sponge cake. It gives richer and more chocolaty taste, and the butter smells so wonderful and you just can't resist it... YUMMMY.... It's so easy just mix butter, icing sugar and coco powder...

Sera loves classic but simple... It just white frosting piped on the coated cake, classic design with leaves... A simple black and white token of our friendship over 20 years... BLACK N WHITE OF OUR FRIENDSHIP... I love you babe... Happy Birthday Sweet Heart...

MY CRAVE FOR NASI BIRYANI

Acar

Beef Curry

Nasi Biryani with Beef Curry and Acar for Friday's lunch

I haven't been cooking for the past 1 week, since we were too busy with catering jobs. I spent most of the time at Sera's, and everyday with out fail... Masak Lemak Cili Padi is compulsory. So my diet at Sera's can say was too much...!! I had gained weight 1 kg in 1 week....!! Coconut milk isn't just to add flavor but also to add fat...!! But I tried to control my eating anyway, not too much like before. I was really in love with my eating habit, I eat 5 times a day with a large portion for every meal. Be living with cooks, you tend to eat more than you should... Believe me.. I have experienced it...! Everyday is a lovely day, when the food is so good and at the end of the day, you will be heavier than normal with out you realizing it.... :)
So, enough of Masak Lemak Cili Padi because now I am craving for something which is rich with herbs and spices. Curry and Nasi Biryani...! That would be perfect for my Friday this week, Since last two days I went to a Pakistani's restaurant and had a mutton curry. The curry taste a bit different than curries that we can get in mamak's restaurant. It was so delicious, for that I have changed a few ingredients in my cooking to suits my eating mood today... And WALLLAAA....!!
The taste isn't bad at all... I like to go for some changes once a while... It challenges your taste buds!
Not forgetting, I made Acar which is based on Pakistani's recipe... Our Malay Acar is sweet and sour with a tropical touch of pineapple but my menu today uses a lot of spices. My acar is a mix of vegetables and black pepper.... Everything is just about spices...!!
YAY...!! Spices make you HOT...!!! Inside and Outside...!!!

Beef And potato Curry

Ingredients :
300 grams of sliced beef
2 medium potato (cubed)
2 onions
3 garlic
Ginger and green chillies
Spices and chili powder
Salt
Water
Cooking oil

• Heat oil and saute onion with salt
• Blend garlic and ginger
• Add in blended ingredients
• Add in spices and chili powder
• Add in beef and water
• Add in potato
  
• Simmer till tender
• Add in green chili and ready to serve
  

SERA BESTARI CATERING PART II

Catering in Tabung Haji Complex 29 Jan 2010

Today, me and Sera were having a separate jobs at two different venue.. Sera went to Jupem and me went to Tabung Haji Complex in Kelana Jaya. It was an evening reception started at 4pm and finished bout 5pm. A very simple reception, the place is very convenient where it was held in an open air pantry located in the center the building. We cater for 50 pax which is quite easy for me to handle the reception alone, thanks for the experience i had when I was in hotel industry... I love working in hotel environment, lively and busy...! Missed those days....

Menu

Popiah Goreng Kuih Talam Seri Muka Bubur Jagung Bubur Pulut Hitam Minuman Panas

SERA BESTARI CATERING

Catering in Finas 27 Jan 2010

We had a job in Finas, National Film Development department which is located in Jalan Hulu Kelang on Wednesday 27 Jan 2010. It was a lunch reception for 100pax, we were need to be at the venue by 11.30 am... the job was running smoothly and organized, thanks to Willy and Kumar for their efficiency in handling the reception with good compliments from us. Really love working together with Willy, he has a very good and pleasant character .... very handy and efficient. He works with sincerity and passions, a person who can count on... Thanks again Willy...!

Menu

Nasi Putih Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi Sambal Udang Petai Tauhu Jepun Hong Kong Sayur Campur Telur Asin Dan Ikan Kering Ulam-Ulaman Dan Sambal Belacan Puding Mangga Buah-Buahan Potong Minuman Sejuk

A friendship of 20 years... Me and Sera, working hand in hand to make it successful in this catering industry... A one year old business, developing and we are in the process of making a strong base by catering events and joining exhibitions... I love what I am doing and really glad to have a friend and so called sister like Sera.. Thanks for the friendship... may Lord pull us through... Amin