Lechon!

When I last went to the Salcedo Weekend Market in Makati, I was supposedly just there to take part of the Yummy Weekend (by Yummy Magazine), but as I roam the market place, I realized, why not take pictures of the foods being sold there, too? And this lechon was one of them.

I am not a fan of lechon, I find the meat tasteless, and I only appreciate it when it was cooked into a different dish -- lechon paksiw. I also find it way too expensive, but given the task done to cook this, I think it's fair enough. =) Still, I am not much to this food, because apart from being tasteless, many people say it's full of bad cholesterol. Anyway, I guess I will just have to be contented with the pictures. =)

*** Jenn ***

O = Octopus Pasta

When my brother got home from La Union a few months ago, he brought some frozen octopus and squids. The squids were eaten on that day, too, but the octopus were reserved for future dishes, and the next day, brother tried to come up with a spaghetti sauce using the chopped up octopus.

I am not really much into seafood pasta, but I was very surprised that this one didn't taste fishy or something like that. Brother said he cooked it in just mushroom sauce, and although the octopus was a bit rubbery (it was pre-cooked and frozen before brother brought it home), but I still liked the way it tasted, especially with the cayenne pepper sprinkled on top.

My brother cooked this dish, but I was the one who plated and shot this picture. I love my to put cheddar cheese on my pasta and I love it really spicy!

*** Jenn ***

Glutamate Heaven

Last Wednesday, I went to my dad's hometown to give him an early visit (he was laid to rest there). I usually take morning bus rides from Manila to La Union and whenever I am on the road, I always take pictures of the view from the window, and after taking a shot of the nice view by the bridge, I accidentally hit the shutter again and out came this shot.

When I was still a kid, I loved all these sorts of advertising - the over sized versions of the food products. Before I remember there was this oh-so-big bottle of soy sauce, then there's this bottle of liquor, but this monosodium glutamate one has been present since then. Of course, there were changes, but I am now interested what made the glutamate stay over these years.

Well, so many debates and arguments about using MSG in cooking, but I guess it's just a matter of preference. I admit I sometimes use this product when I cook, but I could also say that I was brought up not using it that much. Actually, I only put in MSG in my dishes if I remember sprinkling some dash in the pot. =)

Do you use MSG?

*** Jenn ***

Isaw Bbq

In my last night in dad's hometown last Saturday, I decided to do a food trip in the plaza, and my choice of food were these sticks of pork and chicken intestines barbecue. For sure the foreigners reading this post would find the chicken intestine barbecue a bit icky and weird, but really, if you're from this country, lots of people consider it as their favorite street food. Even socialites and yuppies like it. =)

I was supposed to eat lots that night, but my spare change was only enough for two sticks of the chicken intestines (sold at 5 pesos each stick) and one pork barbecue (12 pesos). I had other money in my wallet, but upon asking the stall owner, she said that they just opened the store and they might not have enough to change my money. It's okay, eating these three sticks was more than enough.

This weekend, my family will be traveling to dad's hometown, and for sure my siblings would not miss this for the world.

*** Jenn ***

Fish Sarciado

In my attempts to lose weight, I decided not to eat dinner anymore if I have eaten snacks, and if I haven't eaten any snacks, I have to eat only little dinner - literally one cup of rice and few viands.

Because of that, we've been having left overs, of which brother re-cooked so we could eat it again. The night before, he cooked fried fish, and the left overs he made into sarciado. While he was taking pictures of his dish, I saw his plating and I got interested that I wanted to try it, too! I just hope he won't post this dish as his food Friday entry, too. =)

*** Jenn ***

5 for Wednesday - 102308

If you want to join us, click here

1. Do you use artificial sweeteners?
>>> No. But there were few instances that I used it.

2. When was the last time you ate too much food?
>>> Probably last 13 September. A new acquaintance Vince treated me to lunch in Sbarro - I had spaghetti with meatballs, deep dish pizza and blueberry cheesecake... then we watched movie and he bought this big bag of popcorn with large soda .... then he bought a dozen of original glazed krispy kreme before we parted ways. The doughnuts I got to eat as the days passed, but when I got home mom had so many foods (it was her birthday) and I ate some...I just had to drink a big cup of strong coffee to calm my tummy.

3. How do you shop in a grocery store?
>>> By the list. I see to it that I buy only those that's in the list. I usually go to the pasta section first and work my way through the store, then last stop would be the cold cuts / meats section.

4. What kinds of foods would you never eat?
>>> Liver (especially chicken's) and okra

5. How do you like your steak done?
>>> I have never tasted steak yet. Probably I want it just right.

*** Jenn ***

N = Nachos & Fries Overload

I admit I first had a hard time thinking what to share for this week, and I was going to share "nuts," but when mom and I went to the nearest Jollibee to eat lunch last Saturday, she asked me to order our foods instead and while I was thinking what to order, I saw this big photo of their nachos and fries overload and thought, "that's it!" I ordered it so I could take a picture of it for this week.

It's a bit pricey, but considering the presentation, it was okay enough. Although I am not really much into fries, I still liked it. Although, I had a heavy lunch that time, that I just asked the crew to wrap this one for me to take home.

*** Jenn ***

Bell Pepper

Two months ago, brother and I went straight to the nearby market to buy foods for our dinner. He's the cook that time, so while he's busy haggling with the vendors, I busied myself in taking pictures. I noticed this bunch of bell peppers and thought I would someday use it for Ruby Tuesday, and that day came today. =)

Bell peppers here in the Philippines typically look like this, unlike the oh so big peppers from foreign countries. I personally prefer this one over the uber big ones because although I like the taste of bell peppers, I am not really much into it. And with prices of goods going up, I guess a piece of bell pepper this size is enough for us in the family.

*** Jenn ***