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Lasang Pinoy Sundays - I ♥ FOOD!

hearty

Breaded Camembert...a hearty breakfast served with salad, veggies and lingonberry jam. Though we do not celebrate heart's day the kids find these heart-shaped treats (and chocolates) cute! They eat with much gusto finishing 2 pieces each.


hearts




Lasang Pinoy Sundays is a weekly GALLERY of the FILIPINO TASTE focusing on Food Photography.

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Food Friday - Orange-y Duck!


My kiddos love duck, feeding live ones and eating the meat itself :D well, not necessarily the ones they fed though.

When we opt for Chinese delivery on those lazy nights, I make sure duck is included in the menu but now, I can cook duck meat at home thanks to frozen, boneless duck meat sold in the market. At 8euros per pack (10.03$, good for a family of 5) we can enjoy duck dishes with less fat!

I placed the flavored (salt and pepper only) duck meat on an aluminum foil and secure the sides so the juice stays as a marinade then baked it for around 30 minutes. I removed the meat from the foil while I transferred the juice to a small pan, added some sugar then combined with juices of 2 oranges. I heated this sauce up a little then poured over meat, you'll never go wrong with this combo!


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Layer (eat) up!

(For my foodie friend Joy)

I had always wanted to try this, (German-original) Schwarz-Wälder-Kirsch Torte or Black Forest Cherry Cake. I wanted to because all those ready made I buy costs 12Euros (15$) which I find sour compared to the variation I always enjoyed at Red Ribbon. Second reason; since the theme over at LaPiS is layered, I thought this is my best chance to challenge myself in baking. Of course, cherries are red, perfect for Ruby Tuesday!

I had planned to bake last Saturday, unfortunately in between the excitement I forgot to buy eggs! Since Sunday is closed all the stores day, I waited for today and here, baked my very first successful cake! I followed the recipe here.

INGREDIENTS

* 265 g all-purpose flour
* 400 g white sugar
* 65 g unsweetened cocoa powder
* 7 g baking powder
* 3 g baking soda
* 5 g salt
* 3 eggs
* 235 ml milk
* 120 ml vegetable oil
* 15 ml vanilla extract
* 2 (20 ounce) cans pitted sour cherries
* 200 g white sugar
* 30 g cornstarch
* 5 ml vanilla extract
* 710 ml heavy whipping cream
* 40 g confectioners' sugar



Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch, round, cake pans; cover bottoms with waxed paper. (I used an 11 inch pan so I didn't divide the cake later).

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla; beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake for 35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Loosen edges, and remove to racks to cool completely.

4. Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Combine reserved juice, cherries, 1 cup sugar and cornstarch in a 2 quart saucepan. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool before using.

5. Combine whipping cream and confectioner's sugar in a chilled medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form.

6. With long serrated knife, split each cake layer horizontally in half (if you used 9 inch pans). Tear one split layer into crumbs; set aside. Reserve 1 1/2 cups Frosting for decorating cake; set aside. Gently brush loose crumbs off top and side of each cake layer with pasty brush or hands. To assemble, place one cake layer on cake plate.

Spread with 1 cup frosting; top with 3/4 cup cherry topping. Top with second cake layer; repeat layers of frosting and cherry topping. Top with third cake layer. Frost side of cake. Pat reserved crumbs onto frosting on side of cake. Spoon reserved frosting into pastry bag fitted with star decorator tip. Pipe around top and bottom edges of cake. Spoon remaining cherry topping onto top of cake.

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I deliberately topped half of the cake with cherries while the other has icing on it only because the bigger boy doesn't want lots of them. That's his slice on the first photo. Enjoy!


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Wine for good health

(photo courtesy of wikipedia)

There were very few occasions that I drank wine, and all those instances not even finishing a full glass. My being choosy and not so fond of wines has more to do with the smell than the taste. I find the use of wine more appropriate for cooking though. Infusing white wine with fish and red wine with meat is a good rule to live by. This is why you'd see a few bottles of both in our kitchen, comes in handy when I need them.

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Since the good book suggests that wine when taken in small amount is healthy...it "makes the heart of man rejoice" (Psalm 104:15), I should heed that. Perhaps a little Chardonnay with scallops or lobsters over a good talk with hubby...Just something I observe from mom in law and her hubby...before going to sleep, they would talk about what happened that day, laughing sometimes arguing a little until they finish a whole bottle of red wine.

If not, hubby and I could just munch on chardonnay grapes as is with some cheese and crackers too! ;-)

Another thing to consider about drinking wine are the health benefits. The good book also cited:
“Use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent cases of sickness.” (1 Timothy 5:23) True enough, studies show that the antioxidant contents of red wine helps protect one against heart disease but just like in other matters, moderation is the key.

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