Cream Dory in Tartar Sauce

Coming up with different tasting dishes is always challenging.  We still had a pack of cream dory fillets and I didn't want to just fry them.  I stumbled upon this recipe and decided to try it.

I adjusted the recipe a bit.  I used a kilo of dory and seasoned the fish with McCormick Grill Mates Lemon Pepper with Herbs.  I used store bought tartar sauce and added some capers too.

This is how my version looked.

The photo looked so bland and unappetizing so I added some of the broccoli and cauliflower which I stir fried in oil and seasoned with Knorr chicken cubes.

My husband and mother in law loved it.  I enjoyed it too but was overwhelmed with the richness of the sauce.    

Candy Themed 1st Birthday

Just wanted to share some pictures from my niece's 1st birthday a few months ago.

Trinoma Date

My husband has been swamped with work for the past couple of months.  One Sunday in October, we took advantage of his rare day off and spent the whole day combing the stores of Trinoma.

My Little Mermaid Experience

I was lucky enough to attend the opening night of Atlantis Productions' Little Mermaid last Friday.  My family was there to support my sister and her friend who were selling tickets for the musical.

Patis Tito Garden Cafe

My sister convinced my dad to drive all the way to San Pablo Laguna for her birthday lunch last September.  She's been to Patis Tito Garden Cafe once or twice because of work.  At that time the place was still called Kusina Salud.  She enjoyed the food so much that she wanted to share the experience with us.

We reached the restaurant at around 1pm.  Our stomachs were already grumbling since we skipped out on breakfast.  We immediately scanned the menu and gave our choices to the waiter.

We dug into our Ensaladang Pako as soon as we were done taking photos.  It was fresh and crisp.  I loved the cheese and the crunchy bits that were sprinkled on top.

Ensaladang Pako P190
classic pako salad with tomato slices, onion tossed in patis kalamansi dressing topped with shredded salted red egg and cheese 

Johnny Rockets

We usually spend All Saints Day going around Manila visiting my husband's relatives then my relatives.  And at each stop, there's always so much food.  We end the day with dinner with my family.

We headed to the Timog/Tomas Morato area and were quite disappointed that some of our restaurant picks were closed for the day.  So we pulled into Johnny Rockets, the first place we saw with available parking slots.

I was immediately drawn to the Mocha Fudge Shake which my mom and I shared.  It was extra thick and creamy that I had a hard time sipping from the straw.  I may have looked like a fish sucking in my cheeks so hard.  No wonder they served it with a spoon.  The milk shake was a great experience but I'm not so sure it's worth the P275 price tag.

Mocha Fudge P275
Hot fudge and the flavor of rich cappuccino are perfectly orchestrated w/ premium vanilla ice cream to compose this symphony of flavors

While waiting, they served us with complimentary fries and smiley ketchup which I really appreciated.

Cajun Chicken Leg Quarters

I test drove the roasting pan we purchased at Gourdo's by baking some chicken leg quarters and veggies.

The Cheese Steak Shop Manila

My husband and I were driving around Makati in search of a dinner spot that we have never tried.  As we were cruising along Pasay Road, we saw this well lit red and white restaurant that seemed laid back and casual.  We immediately pulled into the empty parking slot but hesitantly got out of the car.  We threw caution to the wind and bravely walked in.

Ajinomoto Crispy Fry Breading Mix

The Ajinomoto Crispy Fry Breading Mix is a constant staple in our pantry.  We always stock up on all 3 flavors -  Original, Garlic and Spicy.  

A quick and easy way to prepare crispy fried chicken.  All you have to do is wash and drain the chicken, coat evenly with Crispy Fry and then deep fry until golden brown.  For best results, you can put the chicken and breading mix in a container and shake them well.  Sometimes I dip the chicken in a bowl with a beaten egg, then roll it in the breading mix before deep frying.     

Although the photo on the sachet is of chicken drumsticks, it also works well with tofu, pork chops, fish fillets and chicken fillets.  It packs in a lot of flavor that you don't need to add anything else.          

Last week we had some crispy garlic pork chops served with a salad on the side and a bowl of creamy instant soup.

Industry Restaurant & Bar

Although we were blessed with great weather and clear blue skies, we spent most of the trip indoors playing monopoly deal and mahjong and eating our hearts out.

Paseo de Sta. Rosa was our last stop for this road trip.   Our main objective was to check out the area where Debenhams and Marks & Spencer are located.  For dinner, we decided on Industry Restaurant & Bar since they don't have branches anywhere else.

Tootsie's Tagaytay

We took advantage of the Halloween/All Saints Day long weekend and celebrated my lola's (grandmother) birthday with an overnight trip to Tagaytay.  First stop was lunch at Tootsie's.

We started off with this eggplant dish.  Think ensaladang talong wrapped in flavorful breading served with a garlicky mayo dip on the side.

The all too familiar taste of the Pancit Molo was comforting.  I remember having this every New Years Eve in Kawi.  The serving is huge and perfect for the cool Tagaytay weather.  

McCormick Grill Mates

I just wanted to share 2 great seasoning finds - McCormick Grill Mates Lemon Pepper with Herbs and Roasted Garlic and Herb.

I have used the Lemon Pepper with Herbs for oatmeal crusted cream dory and fish fillet with hoisin sauce.  I've tried the Roasted Garlic and Herb on chicken fillet which I pan fried in some olive oil and butter.

I love how just a little seasoning goes a long way.  These are great for quick meal fixes for people who are always on the go.    

Pacquiao vs Marquez - The Big Buffet Event

If you're the type of person who loves a good deal, enjoys great tasting food and is a huge fan of boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, go grab your phone and reserve now!

Photo from the DADS Ultimate Buffet Facebook page

Burgers with Mushroom Gravy

I whipped up some burgers to go with some instant mashed potatoes and asparagus fried in olive oil with salt and pepper.

Pork Kare Kare

A great way to enjoy kare kare minus the oxtail (my least favorite part of this dish).  I can eat rice with sauce and just bagoong (shrimp paste).    

Fish Fillet with Hoisin Sauce

I prepared this fish dish a few months ago so I can't recall the exact measurements anymore.  I should start writing in real time or at least the same day.

Veggies with Crispy Pork

Here's a not so healthy vegetable dish that uses simple ingredients.