Soup'ie Soup'ie

This soup got converted from my famous friend Estel's cassoulet. I was re-heating up the soup and notice left overs in the fridge { bacon, can jumbo olive, corn } I just added the ingredients. Heated up & Enjoy. I ran out of rice so we had garlic bread instead = )

Picnic for Dinner?

Probably the most simple yet fun picnic that my boys and I had yet. As you all should know by now I am all about presentation. Honey the food will dance if presented artfully. Last night we opted out on the traditional pizza and movie night and went on a picnic theme instead. This requires no cooking and a little creativity. You will need cheese {Russian, Gouda, sharp Cheddar}, rustic bread of choice {or the kind you likey} salami { get assorted whatever your taste desires} a cute and whimsical platter. Arrange as desired, have lot's of fun chatting and enjoying your time with the family. Whatever the case make it fun and memorable!

MUSSELS with GINGER & Green Onions

Mussels yummy yum yumz! I love seafood! I love cooking seafood! But eating it is the BEST! Mussel is very simple to cook and it adapts to different sauces well. Today I will boil it , drain , and then saute with ginger and green onion! Gof mange an dinanchi ya tipomata! { It is so delicious if it is cooked well and it does not have a fishy smell } Depending on how many people you will be feeding or if this is a meal or appetizer you need more or less.

Steps:

1. Boil mussels in salted water and drain
2. set aside
3. slice ginger thinly
4. saute in hot pan until fragrant
5. add drain mussels
6. mix together
7. season with salt and pepper
8. add green onion
9. enjoy!

Adai sa gof mange an un na pika { Taste better when it is HOT Spicy }

Notes:
you can add butter for a different flavor.
you can add kimchee base just a little then add cornstarch mixed with water to thicken

DAIGO KIMCHEE {DAIKON}

There is nothing better than a good appetizer on your bbq gatherings or at a party function with a iced cold ice tea or coke. When we have a big gathering wether it be a wedding, christening or a fiesta we have large tupperwares filled with this appetizer. It is very simple to make. On a side note the daikon does poses a strong ordor. You need to get use to it because this appetizer is SOOOO addicting. You can acquire all these items on your local oriental store

You will need the following items:
Jar of kimchee base
daikon { must be firm not soft with no bruised edges } { thinly sliced and bathed in salt to let the water out }
Napa or Chinese cabbage  {sliced to your taste thin or chopped}
salad oil { for some reason just a tiny bit adds flavor }
Local hot pepper -doni { if you are fortunate to acquire this or use tabasco instead }

Steps:
drain bathed daikon in water and rinse well to make sure no salt is left
mix together with the napa cabbage
add kimchee base { just enough to saltrate thru the cabbage but not to soak }
add a little salad oil and mix again
add doni or tabasco
enjoy!

Notes:
Bathe : sprinkle salt on the sliced daikon , mix thru , set aside until it sweats or the water releases
Saltrate: don't over kill the kimchee base as it is spicy and salty
Doni : local hot pepper grown in the tropics mashed and mixed in with garlic or miso { miso is my best }

SPAM SOBA

When the weather out there is COLD nothing much soothes the appetite than a hot bowl of spam soba

you will need the following:

• can of spam {sliced}
• soy sauce {depending on your taste buds}
• onions  {sliced or chopped}
• green onion {chopped}
• chicken stock
• eggs {hard boiled and sliced in half -as shown on picture above}
• black pepper
• cooked spaghetti noodles {all depends on who will be eating}

heat your pan. add onions and saute. add chicken stock and heat to a boil. add green onions and spam. add black pepper. add soy sauce. season to taste. heat to a boiling. turn off heat and ladle into a soup bowl filled with spaghetti noodles.
*spice up the heat with tabasco or if you are one of the fortunate ones to attain local hot pepper enjoy!

CHARAKILIS

I craved for this soup for sometime and last night I said go for it!! This soup is very simple to make.

You will need:

• 1 box cream of rice plain
• onions
• garlic
• butter {and lot's of it}
• 1 sm bottle claim juice
• 2 cans clams {in clam juice}
• water or chicken broth {don't recommend fish broth-too fishy}
• fresh clams {for presentation and chesa.}
• local hot pepper or tabasco

steps:

• saute your onions and garlic until the onions changes color but not cooked
• add your canned clams drained {juice set aside} {Pan 1}
• heat your frypan {cleaned no butter or what not}
• add the box of cream of rice; toast stir constantly until you notice the cream of rice change into a beautiful carmel color but not burnt {this adds a smoky flavor to the soup}set your frypan aside {Pan 2}
• Reheat back your pan 1 and add chicken stock or water
• add your buttered clams & clam juice
• heat thur but not boiling
• once heated add some toasted cream of rice {Pan 2} little by little to the stock and stir to prevent any lumps; continue to add your toasted rice and more chicken stock. The soup should be thick but not chunky.
• add in your achote water or powder
• once your soup changes color ; taste to make sure the rice has cooked thru
• you can add hot pepper or tabasco to make this soup spicy or serve as is and have your guest add their spice

Side:
saute your fresh clams in butter;garlic;onion. cook until clams open up; add your prefered spice. Use some for presentation and MOST for CHESA!
Enjoy sa gof mange an pika pika

Tuna finadeni {mange mange}

This dish is something you can prepare in less than 5 minutes!! Yes you heard me 5 minutes!! One of my found memories with my dad is that he enjoys whatever dish I create or make. His only comments for the chef was: If dinner is @ 4:00 come @ 7:00 knowing how I like to make everything perfect and tasty and let's not mention presentation is everything! This was a norm for my family to eat during Lent especially since we cannot eat meat. In anycase this dish is simple good and just homey

you will need:

• can of tuna in oil {and only in oil for full flavor}
• onions chopped {for flavor and texture}
• tomatoes {chopped for color}
• lime juice {one lime}
• soy sauce {use more or less- hey you are afterall going to eat it so enjoy to your liking}
• local hot pepper {if you are lucky enough to have in your pantry}
• sliced lime and tomatoes for presentation {optional}

preparation:

• add chopped onion with tomato
• mix together
• add soy sauce and lime juice
• add hot pepper or tabasco -to your liking
• add can of tuna in oil {all of it with the oil}
• mix all together and enjoy!

I recommend enjoying this with a bowl of hot rice smothered in soy sauce!

Adai sa gof mange an pika!