Tell Me Why I Don't Like Mondays

Monday is officially the gloomiest day of the week.

Bob Geldof thinks so, too.

Bob Geldof of the 'Boomtown Rats' Wants to shoot Mondays down

I think my caffeine intake on Monday mornings  go up by 200%.

My umpteenth cuppa

My previous workmates, wouldn't go near me on Monday mornings if I haven't had coffee yet.

For me, caffeine helps reboot the universe on Monday mornings.

Now that I don't have to be in an office on Monday mornings, when I find myself at home, I try to make breakfast that would set the week right.

Today, it's brown rice with skinless longganisa and paksiw na bangus.

Okay, I lied. The brown rice was mixed with a little white rice.

Here's the paksiw na bangus recipe in case you want to make your own.

PAKSIW NA BANGUS
1 pc. Boneless bangus belly
1/2 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
1 whole onion, sliced
ginger (as big as 2 thumbs), sliced
1/2 cup Sukang Paombong (vinegar)
1/2 cup water
patis (fish sauce) or salt to taste
black pepper to taste
green siling haba, optional

Place the bangus belly in a round pan (yes, that frying pan you use for eggs will do).
place the spices on top. Pour in the vinegar and water .

Set the range on low heat. Let the liquid boil and then add the patis to taste and top with the siling haba (it's the same one you use for sinigang). let it simmer for about a minute and it's ready to serve.

Banana Cinnamon and Nutmeg Fritters

Again had time to be in the kitchen today. Hooray for Philippine Independence Day!

Here's a recipe I thought of in the fly:

BANANA CINNAMON & NUTMEG FRITTERS

6 pieces saging na saba, quartered into strips  (Cardava Bananas)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tbsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 cup white sesame seeds
1/8 cup black sesame seeds
1/4 cup butter
1 tbsp cooking oil

Mix the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and roll the banana strips. In a separate plate, roll the sugar-coated banana strips in the sesame seed mix. Heat the pan  to medium, add the oil and butter. Place the strips and brown on all sides.

Take the banana fritters when all sides are done. Serve hot or as a siding to vanilla ice cream.

Bizarre Baked Goodies

Since I have got a bit of time now... trolled some food pages for bizarre baked goodies.

These people know how to play with their food!





FASHION STATEMENT.

Modeling is my bread and butter

BREAD BARN

Breadville?

HOT PUSSY.

Hello, kitty, may I eat you?

YOU CAN'T EAT THIS CAKE... IT WILL EAT YOU!

Tim Burton's Zoetrope as a cake

THIS MAN ONCE SAID, "ANY COOK SHOULD BE ABLE TO RUN THIS COUNTRY"

Now, they've gotten their revenge

HONEY, I'M NOW A LIFE-SIZED CAKE!

Groom's thought balloon: She ain't weird, she ain't weird...

BABY IN A BUN.

Mummy!

ET SAYS "EAT ME!"

How can he go home if you eat ET?

BAKING CAN BE A BLOODY EXPERIENCE.

They're all going to laugh at you!

IF CSI WERE A BAKING SHOW...

Gruesome Body Bakery

Anita Baker

How true is it that there's a Pinoy bakery named "Anita Baker?" Haven't seen the photo so it remains an urban legend to me.

This particular delightful pastry with wild mushroom and Gruyere cheese with truffle oil filling got me on the keyboards again. Got this at Eastwood's Weekend Gourmet Market and it is Baked by Anita.

You can buy it and eat this bite-sized pastry on the spot or buy it frozen by the dozen.

There's also spinach and cream cheese, Italian Sausage, Arroz ala Cubana... but the wild mushroom is the best for me. Bought ours frozen, then reheated it in an oven toaster preheated for 5mins, at 250°C for about 10 minutes. I poked the top a bit with a toothpick so the heat goes inside  without burning the filo pastry. After heating, let it sit for about 3 minutes so you don't burn your tongue because the steam from the defrosted filling can hurt!

So here's the wild mushroom experience: As you bite into the pastry, the lightly buttered filo dough crumbles, the silky wild mushroom  caresses your tongue and the heady aroma of the truffle oil wafts to your palate, then you taste the cheesy, nutty, creamy filling.  You end up with a dilemma: to chew or to extend this experience?  

But--  Me hungry. Me chewed. Me eat again.

This is not a cheap experience, though. One piece is about P60 and it takes all of two bites (for the dainty eater) before it's all over.