Leaf Waffle Dog

When we were kids, I remember walking with nanay and tatay at the Fiesta Carnival in Cubao, Quezon City.  We would just walk through this place because it's the shortest way going to EDSA where would wait for a bus going to Bulacan.  Back then, there were no Baliuag Bus Terminal yet in Cubao so we would just take the Victory Liner Bus en route to Apalit, Pampanga. Anyway, going back, we would go there not to take the rides but to just take a short cut.  Each time we went there, we would always ask tatay or nanay to buy us the waffle dogs.  They were so yummy!  I guess most of the kids there would buy them then since we would always end up waiting in line or worst there's none left for us.  This sudden rush of memories made me crave for waffle dogs but I have a slight problem though.  I do not have yet a waffle dog maker.  What I have in the kitchen are sandwich maker and omelette maker.  I decided to use the omelette make because there are molds in it which is good for the batter.  I ended up have a leaf shaped waffle dog instead.  The taste is soooo delicious, a real treat not only for kids but for kids at heart like me.

Ingredients
1 c plain flour
1 c evaporated milk or fresh milk, warm
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
60 g butter, melted

Procedure
Mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and the liquid ingredients on another bowl.
Whisk them together thoroughly.
Butter both sides of the omelette or waffle dog maker.  Warm it a bit before pouring the batter in.
Pour batter just half of one mold, then put the hotdog, and top with batter again.
Remove from waffle or omelette maker when the waffle becomes a bit brown on top.

A comment or two will be appreciated...

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Sophie's Herb Breadsticks

This bread is so easy to make.  We will have pasta today and what's the best partner for it but the bread sticks with parmesan and herbs.  There are a lot of copycat recipes of the Pizza hut bread stick recipes over the net.  I chose to do a twist in making this one though.  Instead of just using plain flour, I decided to use a cup of breadflour to make the dough more elastic and heavier when baked.  Instead of adding 2 tbsp of yeast I only used 1 packet which is 7 g and almost a tbsp.  I also added more toppings to it.  The top of the bread was crispy and you can really taste the parmesan and the herbs in each bite you take. 

Ingredients
2 c plain flour
1 c bread flour
1 1/2 c hot water
1/2 powdered milk
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp granulated sugar
7 g yeast (1 packet)
80 g butter, melted
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp season all
1 garlic granules
1/3 c parmesan cheese, shredded
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure
Dissolve powdered milk, 1/2 tsp salt and sugar in the hot water. 

Stir in 1 c of flour.  Make sure that everything is well blended.
When the temperature of the mixture is tepid, stir in the yeast until you see frothy thing on top of the mixture.
Put in the rest of the flour.  Mix thoroughly.  I used the paddle attachments of the electric handmixer for this. 
Knead until smooth.
Put half of the melted butter onto a square pan and make sure that you also grease the sides. 
Pour the batter onto the pan. Use a spatula to level it. 

Cut the batter using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter.

Brush with the remainder of the butter.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper, oregano, garlic granules, season all mix, and parmesan.
Let rise for 20 minutes.

Bake in 175C preheated oven for 20 minutes or until a bit brown.

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Spinach Fetuccini w/ Meatballs & Bolognese Sauce

I still have half of the uncooked spinach fetuccini from the last time I cooked a pasta.  This time I decided to use it for a meatball - bolognese sauce pasta. 

Normally, it is better to make your own chunky tomato sauce instead of using the ones in the tin but I did not have much time to spare this time so I decided to just use the one in tin.

One more thing that I have changed in the recipe is the all spice ingredient.  Since I do not have it, I used the mixed herbs instead.  The zuchinni is really yummy in a bolognese sauce, it adds a little bit of sweet taste to it.  I also did not add much red wine on it since I am not really a big fan of this type of wine.  I only added half a cup just to give a bit kick to it.  I used the dried basil instead of the fresh one since it's what's available in my pantry but if you want fresh ones, might be better.  Only remember one thing though, if you decide to use dried herbs instead of the fresh ones, make sure that you lessen a third of the original amount that you will be adding to the dish since dried ones are more concentrated.

Ingredients
meatballs or 500 g beef minced
1 onion, minced
1 tbsp garlic,minced
425g tin chopped tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 carrot, grated
1 zucchini, grated
2 tbsp mixed spice
1/2 c red wine
1/3 c fresh basil, chopped ( I used the dried ones)

Procedure
Sautee onions and garlic.  Add in the tomatoes, tomato paste, carrots, zucchini, mixed spice and wine.
Put in salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil.
Put in the meatballs.
Reduce heat and simmer until the fresh tomatoes are soft and the the sauce becomes thick.
Put in the basil and simmer for a few minutes.

Spinach Fetuccini
500 g
Cook according to packet instruction.

Serve with parmesan cheese on top.

Note: If you are using the dried basil, add 1/4 c or a bit less.

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Herbed Meatballs

I have been doing meatballs for years now since I arrived in Australia.  My mum-in- law makes wonderful and yummy meatballs which she would usually add to a sweet and sour sauce mixture.  I have always loved them. 

Another meatballs that I so love is that big one you get when you order the Spaghetti and Meatballs at Yellow Cab.  I tried to search about it and I've found out that that is the Swedish Meatballs.  I wanted to make that this time but when I checked the fridge, my hubby had used up all the cream!  So no choice for me but to do my own recipe of meatballs.  I chose which herbs to include in the mixture and lazy as I am in measuring, I decided to just 1 tsp for most of them and use the ever dependable crumb in one mix (white wings).

The result was really yummy and in fact my picky eater daughter had 4 meatballs while watching Barney.

Ingredients
500 g beef, minced
1 egg
1/3 c evaporated milk
1/3 c crumb in one mix (White Wings)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper, ground
1 tsp mixed spice
1 tsp chives
1 tsp basil
1 tsp parsley
2 tsp garlic granules
2 medium onions, minced
2 tbsp olive oil

Procedure
Mix all dry ingredients and milk in a small bowl.
Place the beef minced in a bigger bowl.
Add in the dry ingredients-milk mixture to the meat. Add one egg and mix thoroughly with your hands.
Form golf ball size meatballs and deep fry until golden brown. Set aside.

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