Pinoy Pork Menudo

Normally I use beef in Menudo but this time I decided to use pork for a change.  I remember when we I was still in High School, Menudo is one of the best seller of the small canteen across the then Sun Theatre in Hagonoy.  It was operated by my classmate's cousin.  Both students from the boys' school and the girls' school would always go there for lunch or hang-out just before they go home in the afternoon after eating saba con yelo.

Well anyway, I've found out that this dish is a traditional Mexican soup made from beef tripe or twalya in Tagalog.  This dish has also served as a means for  social interaction where the members of the family or neighbors participate in preparing and cooking Menudo.  Since the Philippines has been under the rule of the Spanish conquistadores for such a long time thru the Spanish Viceroy in Mexico plus the fact that the Philippines participated then with the Galleon Trade which basically a trade between the two countries.  This could be the reason why the dish reached the Philippines. 

In my growing up years, there was not a time when I did not see Menudo in a dining table in any Filipino celebration.  The Filipinos thru the years though has modified this dish to suit their palate and their pockets so to speak.

Ingredients
1/2 k pork cubes
1/4 k beef liver
1 juice of lemon
1/4 c vinegar
1/3 c soy sauce
2 pcs bay leaves
1 medium onion, diced
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 capcicum, diced
1/2 c chickpeas
2 medium potatoes, cubed
2 medium carrots, cubed
1 tsp paprika
1 reno liver spread
4  tomatoes, chopped (very small)
1/2 c raisins
3 hotdogs, sliced diagonally
1/2 c tomato sauce
1 beef cube
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure
Marinate pork with soy sauce, vinegar and lemon juice for 10 minutes.
In the meantime, fry the potatoes and carrots just until a bit brown.  Set aside.
Sear the pork.  Set aside.
Sautee onions, garlic and tomatoes.  Wait until the tomatoes get really cooked.
Put in the pork.  Stir.
Add in the veggies. Stir.
Pour in a cup of water.  Boil.
Add everything onto the wok.  Simmer.

Read More

Yummy Churros

I remember eating churros in Miriam College Grade School on one school fair.  The churros were put in paper cups and drizzled with  chocolate dip.  They're quite yummy but a bit pricey though. 

Churros are long pastry dough that are deep fried.  Two countries claim for this pastry's origin -  Spain and Portugal.  One story said that originally the Portuguese got this dough recipe from China but did not actually learned the Chinese's art of pulling the dough so instead they started using a star - shaped nozzle.  For the rest of the story you can go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Churro.
One interesting note too, during that time, it was considered a big crime if a Chinese shares knowledge with foreigners.

Anyway, I tried making churros this time after watching Nigella Lawson's interview at Sunday Night at 7.  I remember that I saw her making churros once before in her show.  I tried to remember how she made them and hopefully I did justice.  According to my taste testers -- hubby and kids, I reall did well and the churros were quite yummy.

I just found it a bit difficult though piping out the pastry dough so next time I would probably try the Chinese way of pulling the dough our make a pretzel shape churros.

Ingredients
Churros
1/2 c self raising flour
1/2 c plain flour
a pinch of salt
2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 c boiling water

sugar - cinnamon mixture (1/3 c caster sugar + 2 tbsp cinnamon powder) -- set aside

sunflower oil - for frying

chocolate dip sauce

Procedure
Sift the two flours together in a flour. 
Add the salt.
Make a well and pour in the water and oil.
Mix with a fork until the dough is free from lumps.
Set aside for at least 5-10 minutes.
Place the dough in a piping bag w/ a star nozzle.
Pipe out the dough and cut with scissors according the lenght you like and deep fry in a pot half-filled with boiling oil.
Roll the churros ontot he cinnamon sugar mixture.
Dip in a hot chocolate dip sauce.


A comment or two will be appreciated...

Read More

Easy to Make Chocolate Dip

Ingredients
300 g chocolate chips
1 c heavy cream

Procedure
Melt the chocolates together with the cream in a double boiler.

A comment or two will be appreciated...

Read More