Steamed Lapu-lapu (Grouper) in Light Soy Sauce

Lapu-lapu is one of our favorite fish. It's in the top of the list when we order from Chinese restaurants since they are live and best served steamed. I used to watch my mother and my Cantonese gwa-kong (maternal grandpa) prepare this delicious dish and enjoyed by family members. So, whenever I get a chance to have fresh lapu-lapu, I try to make this recipe, no special occasion required.

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Grilled Keta Salmon (Yakisake)

Salmon has never been a staple fish in our household. It's more pricey than other fish in the market and has a very distinct flavor that I believe is an acquired taste. Somehow, salmon intimidates me, that's why I rarely cook with it.  I personally enjoy salmon dishes from restaurants, and buy smoked salmon as canape from time to time. Recently, I received a batch of frozen wild-caught Alaskan salmon to try. This is a new line from Seaking brand. I regularly buy Seaking's marinated bangus belly so I welcomed these new salmon packs and got excited to come up with something in the kitchen.

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Arroz Caldo and Rice Toppings with My Tacook Ricecooker

Hey all! My Mom-Friday is still alive and active, heehee... just haven't been blogging as much as I used to. So, for today, I'll be sharing something that I've been using for a few months now, and it truly deserves a blog feature. Tiger Tacook JBX Rice Cooker -- the multi-tasking, multi-use, micro computer controlled rice cooker from Japan!

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Prawns in Oyster Sauce

Half the year is over and I have so much to share! I really need to get my blogging mojo back na, hahahaha... but please be patient and watch out for my upcoming features, okay. For today's Foodie Friday post, let me share this very easy and tasty Chinese-style ulam, which is one of J's favorites, kasi mahilig siya sa prawns.

I just posted on my IG Stories but got several messages asking for the recipe. So, here's a full feature na para mas maraming maka-try. Sorry, no prep photos coz I was not prepared to write about this, hehe... anyways, here's the recipe.

PRAWNS IN OYSTER SAUCE

8-10 prawns (bulik)

(Rinse, trim, butterfly and de-vein. Rinse and drain well. Add some rock salt and set aside)

1 Tbs. minced ginger
1 Tbs. minced garlic 

Chopped leeks

3 Tbs. Oyster sauce diluted in 4-5 Tbs water 

Drops of sesame oil

1/2 tsp sugar

cracked pepper

To cook:

Heat little oil in wok, and saute minced ginger. Over high heat, add prawns. 

Cook for about 3-4 mins. on high heat, flip until cooked evenly. Remove from pan and set aside.

Lower heat.

In the same wok/pan, make sauce:

Add oil, saute the rest of the ingredients.

Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking (you can add oyster sauce, sugar and water little by little).

Put back prawns in the pan, saute and coat well with sauce.

Cook a few more minutes. Garnish with leeks. Serve immediately.

Previous to this, I made a different recipe - a simple Lemon-Garlic-Butter Butterflied Prawns, pan-fried on a pan.

Hope you'll try both and like it! Let me know! (",)

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Mom-Grocer Shops at SYSU Food Hub

I've always expressed how I enjoy grocery shopping. I consider it my me-time, and during those weekly rounds, I've discovered lots of good products that became our kitchen staples. Many of my favorite Mom-Grocer finds are from SYSU International, and it's not surprising. SYSU is a leading distributor of global brands that we have patronized for many years, such as San Remo, McCormick, Lee Kum Kee, Tabasco, and homegrown brand Clara Olé. And here's a new discovery that's worth sharing with all of you -- The Food Hub by SYSU, their retail store in Quezon City.

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Auntie Arnie's Ready-to-Heat Heirloom Recipes

I'm slowly getting my blogging mojo back (fingers crossed) and lately, I've been drawing inspiration from new experiences and discoveries that I cannot wait to share with you. I used to follow a weekly theme for my features, like Foodie Friday for the first Friday of every month, Family Friday for the second Friday, and so on. Today is the first Friday of April, hence this food post. I was introduced to these great-tasting meals during the event I attended yesterday. Yup, this is hot off the press! =) So, say hello to Auntie Arnie's!

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Easy Spinach and Cheese Puff Pastry

It's been ages since my last Mom-Cook blog feature and I apologize for being too lazy to write lately. Blogging has taken a back seat for me, but I will try to continue to share content that are hopefully interesting and entertaining for you. I just realized na mag- 10 years old na ang My Mom-Friday this May!!! Nakatagal din pala ako, all thanks to you who still visit and read my blog. THANK YOU! 

Anyhow, today's catch-up post is all about this delicious turnover I made for the first time. It was a hit-- the girl loved it, so I thought it's worthy of a space here. 

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Sauteed Oyster Mushrooms and Broccoli

First recipe post for the year, yay!!! Humabol pa sa last day of January. Anyway, I did not plan to make a full blog feature on this but a few friends asked for the recipe coz I kept them guessing on my Instagram post here.  So here's a quick one for all of you.

This was a spur-of-the-moment dish when I decided to add another ulam for our dinner tonight, served with embotido and leftover BBQ. It so happens that all my orders of organic produce arrived today, including a pack of fresh oyster mushrooms and broccoli.

I wasn't able to take photos of all the ingredients and a step-by-step which I normally do, kasi nga none of this was really planned, hehe... so I will just describe what I did here. As usual, no measurements 'coz tancha-tancha lang ako lagi when I cook.

SAUTEED OYSTER MUSHROOMS AND BROCCOLI

5 cloves garlic, minced

oyster mushrooms, sliced (cut off the hard tip)

broccoli florets and stem

2-3 tablespoons oyster sauce, diluted in about 5 tablespoons water

ground black pepper

pinch of sugar

wansuy/coriander, optional

spring onions, optional

toasted garlic bits (bottled)

Boil water in a small pot.

Blanche broccoli and add 1 teaspoon of salt. Boil for 2 minutes and drain. Set aside.

Heat some oil in a pan and sauté minced garlic until lightly browned.

Add mushrooms and quickly sauté.

Pour diluted oyster sauce, pepper and sugar. Heat through. Add blanched broccoli.

Make sure the sauce gets absorbed by the greens and continue to cook for a minute or two.

Add some chopped spring onions and wansuy for extra flavor. Stir well.

Feel free to add a little more oyster sauce (very salty) to suit your taste.

Plate and garnish with lots of garlic bits. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!
___

In other news, this happened after dinner.

"The rare Super Blue Blood Moon is finally here!

A Blue Moon, a total lunar eclipse and a supermoon all at the same time! It's the first total lunar eclipse since 2015 and the first Blue Moon Blood Moon visible from the U.S. since 1866!"

https://www.space.com/39208-super-blue-blood-moon-guide.html

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
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Pre-holiday Fete with Mothers Who Brunch and Uashmama

Whenever my friends Mish and Sab from Mothers Who Brunch (MWB) invite me to their events, I really make an effort to attend simply because I know they'll prepare something truly special, and we'll have a wonderful time together (aside from the fact that I'll discover amazing products from their presentations, and most importantly, they feed me well.... heeheehee). As expected, the recent MWB gathering was such a treat as I learned about this innovative Italian brand of washable paper products by Uashmama.

Brunch was held at the beautiful Viking Range Showroom in Alabang. I'll consider this my first holiday party this season kasi everything felt and looked so festive! The venue was transformed by the Badoy sisters of Boqueria Lifestyle Market, spruced up with an assortment of Uashmama paper bags that fit right into the different settings. This newest #MomFindsPH is so simple yet versatile. Stylish too! And did I mention they're completely washable?

Spot the paper bags on the table setting.

What is Uashmama?

Pronounced as "wash-mama", Uashmama was born in 2011 in the town of Montecatini in Tuscany, Italy, run by the Marconi family.  All of the products are 100% made in Italy. The family started out by producing traditional bread bags made of this new washable paper and sold it in their local community. With the versatility of the material and positive market feedback, they’ve grown the product range to include home, table, and fashion lines.

To this day, the iconic paper bag remains to be the best selling item across continents. Now, Uashmama is available in the Philippines, thanks to the official distributor, INEXPH Inc.

Uashmama paper bags are made with eco-friendly virgin cellulose fiber. They come in pretty colors and different sizes, used here as bread bag and countertop produce storage, as well as for fresh greens for our salad and even potted herbs and plants!

To add some excitement during the event, our hosts cooked up a creative challenge for us to style an area and showcase the use of Uashmama the best way possible. Winning group will receive Uashmama bags!

With my teammates Patty and Maget, we were assigned the coffee table and this was what we came up with.

Pwede na diba, kahit medyo naubusan na kami ng Uashmama bags and props to use. :D

The "bathroom group" won the challenge with their smart use of different bags around the space. Congratulations, ladies!

MWB will not be complete without good food, right? So, as expected, kitchen divas Mish and Sab prepared some delectable dishes like creamy polenta and the egg and mozzarella loaf using organic vegetables and pantry supplies from EarthOrigins Marketplace. They also presented ideas on how we can gather at home for the holidays using Severin kitchen appliances like the spiralizer (for the salad) and sous vide machines (for the steak). 

The Italian-inspired brunch was catered by Joy of Yogi Brunch, who lovingly made the vegetarian menu. Well, we really felt and tasted the love, Joy, because everything was superb! My favorites were truffled butter spread on toast, arugula-basil pesto and roasted garlic aioli with pasta. I even bought a jar of pesto to bring home. Grabe sa sarap -- I never expected na wala palang meat dish sa buffet! The sous vide steak was perfectly cooked by Nino, the better half of Mish.

Aside from our happy tummies, awesome prizes from the sponsors were raffled off as well, kaya mas masaya pa! =)

Hooray! I was one of the lucky few to win a Uashmama purse (which my girl sequestered when I showed it to her)! Of course, I was not able to restrain myself from shopping that day, so I got myself this lighweight Uashmama Otti Metallic handbag with detachable shoulder strap. I've been using it everyday since.

Thank you, MWBxUashmama for the lovely brunch and all the amazing goodies for us to enjoy! I was in very good company that day which made the trip all the more memorable. What a way to usher in the holiday season!

Learn more about MWB at Facebook.com/MothersWhoBrunch
Follow Instagram @motherswhobrunch
Check out Uashmama and shop online at Facebook.com/uashmamaph
Follow Instagram @uashmama_ph

Note:
All unmarked photos provided by Mothers Who Brunch.

***

Take a look at my first holiday gathering with MWB: Mothers Who Brunch Holiday Potluck Party

I'd love to know your thoughts on this post.  If you enjoyed this, feel free to share it!
Get instant updates:
My Mom-Friday on Facebook
Follow @mymomfriday on Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat
Also on Google Friend Connect, or Subscribe Via Email.
I try my best to reply and answer any questions you may have on each entry so check back if you've left one. Thank you and do visit again!
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2 Easy Recipes with Healthy Chunky Tuna

As a home cook feeding a family with different preferences and diet needs, I want to serve meals that can be prepared and cooked within 30 minutes or less. It's a challenge. I want things tasty yet simple.

Admittedly, I am a lazy cook. I don't enjoy cooking as much as I enjoy eating, hahaha... but I think normal naman yun no? Moreover, I like the ingredients to be practical and easy to find. One staple food in my panty is the versatile canned tuna. Several months ago, I saw this new blue can of premium tuna on the grocery shelf and decided to try it. Gold Seas was a delicious discovery of healthy chunky goodness. Siksik talaga and walang lansa! Weeks after, I was surprised with a package carrying samples of Gold Seas Tuna Chunks and got to try their other variants. I became a convert to Gold Seas.

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Garlic-Lemon Roast Chicken

Because we all love garlic and we all eat chicken, I always have these in my kitchen. Always. While there are sooooo many ways to cook this staple meat at home, I always end up serving the most simple ones to prepare. Siyempre, nandiyan lagi ang pambansang manok - Magnolia Chicken, whole dressed chicken or in choice cuts for specific dishes I plan to cook.

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My First Cookie Swap Party

First Friday of the month: Food / Baking

Happy New Year, everyone! =)

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday break filled with memorable feasts. May we all crave for more epicurean delights and share new foodie discoveries this year. This is my first blog feature for 2017 and it happens to be Foodie Friday, so let's start with something festive and delicious to welcome the new year, shall we?

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My #LutongNanay Chicken Menudo Hack

The holidays are fast approaching and for sure, there are already several party planning in the works. One of the most important element is the food, siyempre, and it's the best time to serve special lutong nanay recipes and festive-looking dishes like this menudo. It looks and feels like Christnas, no? =) But I have to confess, this is my first time to cook this dish coz the family is not fond of dishes mixed with liver, so I made my own version here.

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Favorite Pinoy Sweet Style Spaghetti

We all love pasta dishes. Spaghetti bolognese is a staple dish and I prepare it with or without an occasion coz it's safe to serve in minutes and everybody eats it. There are so many variations to the bolognese sauce and the Filipino style is on the sweet side. Personally, mas gusto ko yung Italian style in chunky tomato-herb sauce and without the sweet flavor. J prefers the sweet-style kaya minsan compromise with the sauce. 

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Foodie Friday: Crunchy Fried Oysters

First Friday of the month: Mom-Cook / Recipe

I love seafood. Aside from crabs and shrimps, scallops and oysters are in the top of my favorite food list. It's not easy to find fresh oysters when I buy my produce and groceries so I indulge from time to time when we dine at restaurants serving them. Medyo mahal lang. I still remember the baked oysters in 5 ways that we always order from Via Mare fine dining when I was still working in Tektite Towers. I dated myself again... I know, that was eons ago! But those were memorable times, and dining there were saved for special occasions or when treating an advertiser-client. I haven't had bake oysters in a long time. These days, I'd be lucky if I find fresh oysters in the market. Usually, I find freshly packed shucked oysters at SM Pasig Hypermarket and buy a pack to cook at home. 

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Foodie Friday: Filippo's Tuna-Garlic Pasta in Olive Oil

Healthy cooking will always be the goal of any homemaker and cooking mama. It's a bonus if the dishes are quick and easy to prepare. To achieve that goal, it's a must to have the best and freshest ingredients you can find. In my pantry, staples include premium sauces and oils which are the usual base for most of my cooking. And for today's recipe, only fine aromatic olive oils can enhance the flavor of this very simple pasta dish.

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All-time Favorite Sinigang na Liempo sa Sampaloc with Gabi

Fact: My family loves sinigang. Sinigang na baboy, sinigang na hipon, sinigang na maya-maya, sinigang na bangus, sinigang na corned beef. These are the different ways I cook sinigang. For me, the best part about serving this classic Filipino comfort dish is when my two picky eaters actually devour most of the vegetables mixed in the soup, which makes this an instant favorite in our home.

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Foodie Friday: Baked Leftover Spaghetti with Spinach

First Friday of the month:  Mom-Cook / Pasta / Recipe

Leftovers. How do you serve leftovers to make it appetizing again?  Most of the time, I just re-heat and serve as it. There are days when I get crazy and in the mood to rework a boring leftover dish and use whatever ingredients I may have in the ref or pantry.  This happened last night. Let me present to you my leftover spaghetti, now baked and even more delicious!

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Mom-Finds: Lock & Lock Anodized Hard & Light Frying Pan

Last Friday of the month:  Mom-Finds / Cookware

As a home cook, I am the one who makes decisions when it comes to what kitchen appliances and cookware to purchase. Aside from aesthetics, the product features, ease of use, and price points are my main considerations before I buy. One of my trusted brands is Korean brand Lock & Lock. I've been using their food keepers and tumblers even before I got married, and in recent years, they also introduced several lines of cookware, a few of which I have also acquired and use on a daily basis. So a new addition to my "collection" is always received with much delight. My latest discovery is their Hard & Light frying pan which I am showing off here. =)

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Knorr Lutong Nanay Recipe: Sinigang With Pakwan

I love food in general. I'm quite adventurous in trying new dishes and cuisines mainly because I grew up in a home of hearty eaters and good cooks. My mother is a great cook and I learned so much from watching her whip up a variety of dishes on a daily basis. Iba talaga ang sarap when it's lutong nanay. You know what's in your food, you know it's healthier, and meal times at home bring families closer.

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