Fried Tuna

Fried tuna

• Tuna -hopefully it is local/ cut & slice to your style
• salt pepper ( i like to use the Johny's seasoned salt )

Steps:

1. heat oil
2. add tuna slowly one at a time -tuna cooks quickly you must watch it carefully
   
3. once the tuna is cooked to your desire set them aside
4. arrange on a platter & serve with grated ginger & finadeni

Enjoy ; )

Finadeni tomatis w/a twist

To my familia that enjoys finadeni tomatis (pickled tomatoes) I was bored one night & decided to pimp my finadeni up a notch or two.

you will need:

• Tomatoes (red/yellow) -hopefully they are from your garden
• Jalapeno
• Finadeni sauce -see below

Finadeni sauce:

• soy sauce
• vinegar
• thinly sliced onion
  
• chili sauce - if your fortunate to have Saipan doni "go for it" pika-ai munge

Steps: (for sauce)
Mix to your tongue liking, the spicier the better & set aside

Steps:

1. slice your tomatoes in 1/2
2. divide into two and set the 1/2 aside
3. grill 1/2 of your tomatoes -just enough to burn the skin but not mushy
   
4. grill your jalapeno -just enough to burn the skin
   
5. salt & pepper your 1/2 of tomatoes
6. arrange on platter -1/2 grilled, 1/2 seasoned & so forth
7. drizzle the finadeni sauce around your tomatoes
8. add the seasoned sliced onion

Enjoy ; )



*Optional : I had left over fried tuna and oh boy that just made the perfect "chesa" for me...Gof munge'

Twice cooked mussels ; )

After coming home late from work on a Friday evening I had to cook something quick & very inexpensive. As I opened my fridge I noticed I had a bag of mussels. Knowing the mussels give out a very strong fishy odor when cooking I decided to boil them first.

You will need:

• I bag mussels
• ginger (sliced)
• onion
• kimchee base
• jalapeno peppers
• butter & lot's of it ; )

Steps:

1. Boil mussels (drain & set aside)
2. heat pan and add butter
3. add onion & garlic
4. add mussels
5. salt/pepper to taste
6. add more butter (to your liking)
7. when heated thru add kimchee base
8. add jalapeno
   
9. Enjoy

I don't use measurements and I don't think anyone should. Using measuring cups & spoons to me is like just plain old "BORING" "STRAIGHT" & does not cater to my taste buds. So honey when you cook, cook to your hearts content ; )

BACK TO SCHOOL

Back to school means hungry children @ 3:00. Need to make sure my boys are eating healthy. No chips,soda or candy in the house for me. No sir. Gotta double my list on the milk jug x 3 & lot's of fruits. My boys are still at the age where they still listen to mommy (thank you Lord) so whatever mommy cooks, however she gets creative they will eat it.

I will be posting pictures and menus later. TBA.

Oodles...of NoOdles : )

With how the economy is and raising my kids on a single income I need to get creative and fast. Raising boys makes my duty much simpler. Last night I made Lasagna. Living on a shoe string gives you the option of getting creative. Here was my total bill to feed my family

• $1.99 box of lasagna noodles
• $1.99 jar of store brand spaghetti sauce
• $1.50 sm. container ricotta cheese
• $1.50 sm. container cottage cheese
• $2.50 sm. bag parmesan cheese

My bill came up to a total of $9.48. If you notice we don't consume much red meat and my boys don't fuss over it. This meal was divided into 2 meals. This menu did not include the side dishes or the drinks

Poor Mom's Dinner

My son's enjoy eating chicken heart. I usually cook the chicken heart in a savory and spicy "adobo" sauce but this time I changed it a few notches

Poor Mom's Dinner

You will need:

• Chicken heart (2 packages)
• 1 onion sliced
• 1/2 ginger sliced thinly
• 2 T. Tahini sauce (sesame paste)
  
• 1 T. sesame oil
• soy sauce
  
• sugar to taste
• 2 clove garlic thinly sliced

Steps:

1. Arrange all your ingredients neatly for easy access
2. Saute your onions until it turns transparent
3. Sprinkle with sugar to caramelize faster
4. Add garlic,ginger
5. Set aside
6. With the same pan add the chicken heart and continue to cook until the chicken is cooked 10-15 minutes
7. Add 1/4 c. water from time to time to make sure the chicken does not dry up
8. When your chicken heart is fully cooked add soy sauce, tahini, sesame oil, 1 T. vinegar to balance the flavor
9. Add sugar to sweeten (similar to teriyaki)
10. Continue cooking until sauce thickens
11. Add onions,ginger,garlic
12. Enjoy

Arranging your ingredients will help with your success in cooking



Saute your onions until transparent in color


Add pinch of sugar to help caramelize the onions


With the same pan add the chicken heart and continue to cook until the chicken is cooked 10-15 minutes

sWeEt TrEaT

I have been taking my boys to Apple Bee's on Wednesday for Kids night dinner. My boys always request for the cookie dessert and this is my version....It is very simple to make and much cheaper

• Two scoops of your favorite ice cream (I chose coffee)
• 4 warm choc. chocolate chip cookies
  
• can whipped cream

Warm cookies in microwave for 60 sec. top with favorite ice cream, add whipped cream...share with your loved ones or enjoy yourself

tHiS aNd ThAT for diNnER

I have been cooking mass quantities of calamari strips & clam strips heres my simple version of Surf and Turf



Calamari strips with buttered vegetables & rice


Clam strips with Chamorro sausage and risotto with feta cheese

Squid?

I love seafood! I grew up surrounded by water and my dad was a fisherman. One of his favorite dishes when we go out to Chinese Restaurant was Squid with Ginger & Green Onion. Here is my version to this dish:

Ben's Fav. Squid with Ginger & Green Onion

• 2 tubes calamari or squid sliced thinly
• 2 T. fresh ginger sliced thinly
• 2 stalks green onion sliced thinly
• 1 T. sesame oil
• 2 T. oyster sauce

Saute ginger, green onion & onion. Once the ginger aroma releases turn off heat and set the veg. aside to cool. Using the same pan add sesame oil and turn up heat once it starts to smoke add calamari and stir. Watch carefully as calamari cooks quickly. The calamari will be cook once the color changes add ginger,onion & oyster sauce.

enjoy:)

JuSt GoTta hAvE mY SpAM!

Yes, I am aware Spam is not healthy for you But I grew up with this processed meat and I just gotta have my SPAM! I also grew up having kimchee as an appetizer and this one was made with radish (daikon) OMG! Kimchee especially radish (daikon) is a Korean dish and is also for the brave and willing! It is really good stuff once you've had it with your meal you will never go back!

CRAV'N FOR CHOCOLATE?

Have you ever craved for good chocolate chip cookie and ended up getting a crispy one instead? Well this recipe is simple and moist. I used a cake box recipe and this has been one of my fav's

Bobbie's Yum-O Xtra-choc-cookie

• 1 package (18.25 ounces) chocolate cake mix
• 8 Tablespoons (1 stick) butter soft
• 2 Large eggs
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup walnuts (optional)
• 1/4 cup toffee bits

1. Place a rack in the center of oven and preheat the oven to 350F. Set aside two ungreased cookie sheets
2. Place the cake mix,melted butter,eggs and vanilla in a large bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for one minute. The dough will be smooth and thick. Fold in the chocolate chips
3. Drop tablespoon of the dough 2 inches apart on the ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle walnuts & toffee chips on top of each cookie
4. Bake the cookies until they have set but still soft 10-14 minutes. Remove from oven and cool cookies completely

always use caution when baking cookies, I don't depend on the required cooking time as one's oven varies. After 8 minutes I like to take peek to make sure my cookies are Beautiful and not burning especially when it comes to chocolate chocolate chip cookies as the dough is dark for you to see.



Perfect Yummy chocolate chocolate chip cookies.....Got Milk?



Can't wait for these yummy cookies to cool off!

LIGHT LUNCH

I acquired the taste for hummus, YUM. Over the weekend when I attended Jonathon's last show before he left to California, my friend Bonnie & I ordered an appetizer plate that had hummus, cucumber, tomatoes, Greek olives, & feta cheese. OMG I loved it! So for my lunch I had to have the same thing, fortunately I lived right by Safeway so getting these ingredients was easy


Bobbie's light lunch:

1. Greek olives ( i got the spicy mixed ones)
2. feta cheese
3. pita bread
4. tomatoes (sprinkled with salt & pepper)

The ingredients are pretty simple most of the work comes from presentation. I like to warm up my pita bread.

SWEET TOOTH

(This is how I LOVE my SWEETS with Lot's of whipped topping!!Talk about YUMMY!)

Have you ever wanted to impress your creativity in desserts without really baking? I did just that with a box of white snoballs, whipped cream, & strawberry. If you are entertaining this is one yummy simple "dress to impress" that will surely impress



You will need:

1. One package Sno-Balls (Chocolate cake, cream filling covered in marshmallow & coconut) you can find this right on your bread isle
2. One can whipped cream
3. Strawberry or fruit of choice

Assembly:

1. Arrange snowball on a platter with the chocolate cake facing up
2. Whipped topping
3. Sprinkle or arrange fruit on platter for presentation
4. Enjoy

This next dessert actually requires just a little baking. But you use the same ingredients and you have two completely different treat



You will need:

1. One box yellow cake mix (baked as directed on box)
2. Can whipped cream
3. Strawberry cheesecake ice-cream
4. Strawberry cubed

Assembly:

1. Place sliced yellow cake on plate
2. Top with ice cream
3. Add whipped topping around cake
   
4. Add strawberries
5. Enjoy
   

YAKISOBA ANYONE?

Oodles of yummy noodles. Yakisoba, one of my favorite noodle dishes if cooked right. I made yakisoba with left over meat and shrimps. For this dish I opted to buy store prepackaged yakisoba for the convenience & time.

1. one packaged ready made yakisoba noodles with sauce included
2. preferred vegetable of choice I personally love fresh spinach
3. left over meat I used roasted pork chop thinly sliced
4. frozen shrimp -optional
5. butter

steps:

1. saute your meat in butter
2. add shrimp & continue cooking until shrimp turns opaque color
3. add noodles add more butter if needed
4. cook noodles for about one minute
5. add fresh spinach & sauce packet
   

Serve & enjoy


Slow roasted pork chop sliced thinly


Saute shrimp until it turns opaque color




Add spinach


Spinach cooks quickly once you notice the spinach starting to wilt turn off the heat & continue mixing until all the spinach cooks evenly

HO HO CAKE

One of my friend request for her farewell party was for me to bake her a "HO HO cake" Here is Jonathon so excited to have a slice that he did not wait for the guest of honor. This yummy chocolate cake was spiked with lot's of RUM! Yummy!

HO HO CAKE RECIPE

• 1 chocolate cake baked on a jelly roll sheet
• cool whip
• vanilla pudding
• chocolate pudding
• rum ( optional )

Bake the cake as directed on box. Set aside to cool. Mix vanilla pudding as directed , add cool whip. Spread on chocolate cake & roll. Mix chocolate pudding & add cool whip, add rum (optional) . Spread on the rolled cake & Enjoy.

OUT OF ORDER

My kitchen is currently out of order because I will be moving in two weeks but once I have settled in I will be posting again

DINNER

I have gotten low with my monthly cooking supplies and need to cook again this Saturday. My children are slowly enjoying eating more veggies and less meat. I have made turkey like there is no tomorrow. I am enjoying my new fav of fruit juices and so are my boys

APPLE JUICE

Yummy fresh apple juice.....sooooooo gooooooooooood!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Last weekend I bought a juicer machine. I enjoyed making juice but after a while the machine kinda was making a squeaky sound so I will be returning it. But we sure did enjoy making different juice.

TUNA

I am craving for fried fresh tuna. The taste and texture of fresh tuna...my mouth is watering already...Back in the islands when my dad or brother catches fresh tuna, marlin, mahi-mahi we would all get our equal shares of the fish. I love to just fry them with no fancy coating but just fresh black pepper and salt. Deep fried to perfection then served over hot rice grated fresh ginger with your own bowl of finadeni' of choice -with lemon -plain and LOTS of fresh hot doni OMG I am salivating already!! Boy do I miss the islands!! I miss the ocean the food and the familia' the best food is island food where your vegetables are grown organically and fresh seafood is abundant

Ben&Ki Simple Crab Cakes

I love making crab cakes! I don't get cheap on the crab meat since this is the main ingredient. This is not something you would have if you are dieting! But this is definitely something well worth to make for a loved one. A great recipe for Valentine's dinner.

Ben&Ki's Simple Crab Cake

You will need:

• fresh crab meat
  
• pepper (don't add salt the crab is salty already)
  
• 1 egg beaten
• flour - just enough to bind crab together
• 2 T. clarified butter

Steps as follows:

• With the crab meat use as much or less depending on how many persons will be eating.
• Add one beaten egg to the crab meat and gently mix together the egg holds the crab together when frying
• Add pepper
  
• Add just enough flour to the crab meat mixture to bind them together. If you use too much you will have one dry crab cake
  
• Once you bind the crab meat together make small balls of equal size
• Flatten
• Fry in butter on medium heat for 3-5 minutes on each side. Don't turn too soon or your crab cake will break. I know its a little tricky but yet all well worth it!
• As a special treat I have found a lobster paste in Oriental stores that made a great accompaniment to this crab cake. What I did with my lobster paste was I made a thin white sauce added the paste and butter and poured over my crab cakes!! Yummy!

I am not a fan of measuring cups or spoons. Since you will be devouring this yummy first course meal, just measure to your hearts content-using more or less of the ingredient specified, taste to your satisfaction and enjoy!

STILL WORKING MY TURKEY!

I am still working my turkey! Yes, you have guessed it I stocked up during the holiday sales and I am still getting creative. My boys enjoy meatball sand which and I had meatballs in the freezer and homemade hash browns. All I needed was bread and my favorite is the rosemary garlic from Great Harvest. This is one of the simplest sand which that I have ever made yet so so satisfying! Yummy!

• Frozen meatballs of choice (I prefer turkey and prefer making this myself)
• Spaghetti sauce of choice
  
• Home made hash browns
• Bread of choice
  

1. If you prefer toasting your bread that is optional
2. Heat your meatballs with spaghetti sauce
3. Heat your hash browns
   
4. Arrange your bread, meatballs, sauce
5. Arrange hash brown on plate
6. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese -optional
7. Enjoy!

HOME FRIES ANYONE?

Have you ever made home-made fries? It taste so great. The key to crunchy fries is to make sure you soak your potatoes in COLD WATER with 2 T sugar and set aside for 10-15 minutes.

Ben's HomeFries:

You will need:

• Potatoes - ? How many? It's all up to you
• Sugar - 2T
  
• Bowl of COLD WATER
• Salt pepper to taste

Steps as follows:

1. Cut potatoes all the same size
2. Soak in cold water sugar added
3. Drain
4. Pat dry
5. Deep fry in vegetable oil
   
6. Drain & cool off
7. Re-fry
8. Salt pepper to taste
9. Enjoy
   

Don't let the steps scare you from making the fries, it's really quite simple and yet satisfying!

Crabmeat Ravioli

Last night I went to my boss farewell dinner I brought my boys with me and when I viewed the menu I could only afford to order one plate and have my boys all share. My boss was kind enough to share her seafood ravioli with me and I ended up sharing them with my boys. I can still remember my dad making sure that we had our fills so for me to savor every morsel of that yummy ravioli was just not right

My recreation of last nights seafood ravioli

• store bought frozen cheese ravioli
• one package crabmeat -not imitation
  
• butter -2 T
• salt/pepper
• mozzarella cheese -1/4 shredded -cubed
  
• 3 T flour and water mixed to a smooth runny paste

steps as follows:

1. Boil ravioli as directed, drain and arrange neatly on serving plate
2. Arrange crabmeat on serving plate anyway you like
3. Arrange slices or shreds of mozzarella on serving plate anyway you like

make white sauce as follows:

1. Slow simmer milk in low heat
   
2. When you start to notice the milk starting to slow boil add mozzarella cheese stir slowly to make sure the cheese melt
   
3. Add butter
4. Season lightly with salt & pepper keeping in mind mozzarella cheese is salty
5. Mix flour and water to make a smooth but runny paste and slowly pour to milk mixture continue stirring to ensure a smooth not lumpy sauce once the sauce thickens turn off heat and pour sauce on ravioli plate

Serve and enjoy

DINNER? UM?

We are still celebrating Christmas at my house. My camera was weak. Last night dinner was simple, polish sausage, cream corn casserole, biscuit. Tonight I wanted to make it extra special so I made prime rib with buttered artichokes. I did not add any herbs to my prime rib just simple salt & pepper and garlic of course. I baked them @ 300 for an hour then 350 for two more. I bought a big prime rib at Winco. They were on sale. I have plans for the left over prime rib sandwich, stew, and my favorite chili.