Salted Celery Stalk Sided Braised-Seared Squid.

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SALTED CELERY STALK SIDED BRAISED-SEARED SQUID
(A DIFFERENT COOKING PREP FOR THE USUAL GRILLED SQUID)
Surely, you know of 4 “usual” ways where squid is served:
1.   char or gas grilled
(for Pusit Lumot or dark large bigfin reef squid)
2.   “Adodo” (for small pinkish round Indian squid)
3.   salted-peppered-fried (for both species 1 & 2)
4.   breaded-fried (calamari) {for both species 1&2}
Allow me to issue a different prep. An easy-mega quick one that
elicits aroma, flavor and bite-feel best enough to pair with rice or enjoyed as plain finger food.
For me, it went well with my Remy Martin.
Prep time:                    20 mins.
Cook time:                   1 hour 10 mins.
Total time:                    1 hour 30 mins.
Makes/Serves:            2
Cooking medium:      electric or gas oven, foil wrap, suitable pan or stainless oven tray, oil brush
Special instruction(s): get ready for a different prep thus new taste

INGREDIENTS:
1 fully cleaned medium Pusit Lumot
30 ml. EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
2 pieces celery stalk, cut, salt-sprinkled
MARINADE/BRAISING SOLUTION:
50 grams tomato catsup
60 ml. soy sauce (any)
5 cloves crushed, finely chopped garlic
8 grams ground black pepper
15 grams brown sugar
5 ml. Tabasco hot red chili pepper
OPTIONAL 3 grams MSG (Monosodium Glutamate)…repeat…it’s OPTIONAL!!!
DIP:
2-4 pieces chopped labuyo (bird’s eye chili peppers)
40 ml. soy sauce
10 ml. vinegar (any)
5 grams brown sugar
2 grams ground black pepper

PROCEDURES:
1.    Line foil wrap in tray/pan. Ensure all sides are covered that when drippings sip out of foil-it would be easier to scrape off
during cleaning. Or be none at all.
2.    In medium bowl mix and blend well all ingredients of marinade. Soak squid for few minutes tumbling and tossing
constantly. Scoop few tablespoons into inside cavity of squid for more flavorful cooking.
3.    Lay in foil-lined oven tray. Pour in ALL of the marinade. COVER WELL WITH TOP FOIL.
4.    Set oven temp to 250deg.F ((121degCelsius). Pop in and slow cook squid for 1 hour.
5.    After 1 hour withdraw tray-open foil and discard all of the liquid.
6.    Step up temp to 300deg.F (148deg.Celsius)
7.    Brush EVOO to all sides of cooked squid. With open foil on top-again, pop in tray unto oven and sear (heat at high temp
to caramelize and make crispy top of meat) squid for 10 more minutes.
8.    Withdraw. Adorn. Serve with salt sprinkled celery stalks and well mixed dip (see above dip ingredients) by the side.  NOTE: Special thanks to Brothers Manny & Mario Morados Huertas for the Remy Martin.

DISCLAIMER: Above are test kitchen and household-produced dishes. All ingredients utilized are of food grade quality passing international and domestic sanitary standards. While we find the results highly acceptable, no guarantee nor explicit assurance is hereby issued when recipe is performed by readers. For one, although of similar breed, spices, herbs and other ingredients vary from country to country/region to region that possibility of affecting end taste, aroma & bite-feel is great. Further thereto, mentioned sensory evaluation (aroma, taste, mouth-feel) is subjective.

Want recipe for the smaller round pinkish squid specie?
Below is, again, an “innovation”… click the pic:

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Chicken Inferno.

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CHICKEN “INFERNO”
(Deep Fried Chicken Wings Swimming In Super Hot Sauce)
Quick and ultra easy to prepare, this trending fad of a chix-wings’ concoction is capturing USA.
More so post watching sports’ events:
football, softball, basketball etc.
A brilliant serving in your weekend “drinking spree”.
As is or with rice, beer, wine, whisky or any spirited drinks,
this will make you experience a “sweet taste of inferno”.

Prep time:                     20 mins.
Cook time:                    15 mins.
Total time:                     35 mins.
Makes/Serves:             2
Cooking medium:         deep pan for deep frying, strainer, empty wide mouth
plastic 1 or ½ gallon with lid cover, tongs
Special instruction(s):  suggest you use bare hands and prepare for mega
piquant satisfaction
INGREDIENTS:
6 pieces fully cleaned, tips cut, wingette separated from drummet, rinsed, set aside.
100-150 ml. soya or palm oil
30 ml. tomato catsup (Heinz is what I utilize)
30 ml. Tabasco-Red or Sriracha hot sauce
5 grams brown sugar
PROCEDURES:
1.    Heat oil in deep pan.
2.    In plastic gallon, combine-whisk and stir well catsup, hot sauce and sugar. Set aside.
3.    Pour in wings unto strainer and submerge in hot oil. 5 minutes will fully fry wings.
4.    Once desired cooking state is attained, pour wings inside gallon, cover and tumble fully to let sauce coat wings entirely.
5.    WOW…serve. Again, best with bare hands eating.
NOTE:
There was NO marination implemented as full rounded taste will be attained with the sauce mix.
DISCLAIMER: Above are test kitchen and household-produced dishes. All ingredients utilized are of food grade quality passing international and domestic sanitary standards. While we find the results highly acceptable, no guarantee nor explicit assurance is hereby issued when recipe is performed by readers. For one, although of similar breed, spices, herbs and other ingredients vary from country to country/region to region that possibility of affecting end taste, aroma & bite-feel is great. Further thereto, mentioned sensory evaluation (aroma, taste, mouth-feel) is subjective.

Surprising Health Benefits and Usages of ONION.

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SURPRISING HEALTH BENEFITS & USES OF ONION
I chanced upon “a rotting onion bulb” in our ref’s veggie cooler.
Examining closely, saw a tiny greenish chive still intact at bulb’s head.
Believing it’s still alive and can be resurrected, got a clear drinking glass,
poured in little tap water, peeled off browned skin and set onion on it.
Left it by the side of sink. No direct sunlight.
Traveled for days and when I came back 12 days thereafter…WOW!
Above shot tells it all.
Quantity may not be enough for my usual recipe-cooking issues particularly the chive.
But it now lies in my office working table as…
a conversation piece.
Read on…
1. Sore throats can be soothed by “onion tea”. Boil 300ml. tap water with 5-6 slices of medium onion.
Drain to remove boiled cloves, drink hot or cool via ref for while.
2. Besides flavor and nutrients, health-promoting phytochemicals in onions improve the Vitamin C in our body
thereby enhancing immunity levels. Read more here: http://www.mdidea.com/products/proper/proper02806.html
(thank you mdidea)
3.Onion chives (onion leaves without the bulb), like carrots, melon, mango, lettuce, red and green sweet bell peppers are
rich in Vitamin A.
4. Raw onion enhances production of good cholesterol (HDL) and lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) that our healthy hearts
become ready for healthy loving.
5. A bit painful burn(s)? Rubbing onions unto it(them) will mild the pain.
6. “The chromium in onions works to improve the cell’s response to insulin. Studies of diabetics show that onions lower
insulin levels and improve tolerance for glucose.” Read more here:
http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/the-nutrition-of-onions.html
(thank you FITDAY)
7. Centuries ago, onions were utilized to reduce inflammation and heal infections.
8. Onions thrive on consuming free radicals that your risk of developing gastric ulcers is reduced
9. For honeybee bites, rub onion juice on affected area for immediate relief from pain and “heat” sensation.
As bug-repellant, rubbing onion on your skin aids in your walking freely-unmindful of them. Had been bitten?
Still, rubbing onion on area will ease the pain.
10. Crushed onion slices in water will clean metal surfaces. Just rub with the use of cloth.
11. I use water with sliced onion to get rid of our home’s unhealthy odors emitted by chemicals in paints.
12. The most important which, also, I do firmly believe to be so,
     is this:
                 “onions attract and collect air born bacteria and viruses thereby purifying your home thereat”
Read more here:   http://www.snopes.com/medical/swineflu/onion.asp
(thank you Snopes)

Blanched Broccoli In Garlic Oyster Sauce

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BLANCHED BROCCOLI IN GARLIC OYSTER SAUCE
(FIBER-RICH BROCCOLI IN ULTRA NUTRITIOUS SAUCE)
Though of similar specie but of different cultivar
(the grouping of plants capable of propagation),
Broccoli resembles a cauliflower.
Considered the “healthiest food on earth”,
this big-headed vegetable could be consumed raw
(like carrots, celery stalks and lettuce), the way I like them.
This prep is my “comfort recipe” each time I crave for veggie
to side my meat or as plain “aftertaste killer” for my wine.
Another quick and simple issue.
Read on…
Prep time:                    15 mins.
Cook time:                   20 mins.
Total time:                    35 mins.
Makes/Serves: 2
Cooking medium:  frying pan, casserole for boiling water, strainer to fit into casserole and bowl with plain tap water
Special instruction(s): one of the most nutritious veggies under your control.

INGREDIENTS:
1 medium broccoli stem separated, cleaned and sliced-flower head cut to bite sizes
5 cloves crushed-minced garlic
20 ml. oyster sauce (any)
15 ml. sesame oil (any)
10 ml. water
PROCEDURES:
1.    Bring to boil water in casserole.
2.    Place broccoli in strainer and very quickly blanch unto boiling water (5-8 seconds ONLY). STOP.
Transfer strainer unto bowl with tap water and let cool for 10 seconds. Set aside.
3.    Saute garlic in sesame oil. Turning light brown, add oyster sauce and water. Toss and stir for sauce consistency.
4.    Arrange broccoli in serving plate and pour in your cooked sauce.
5.    ENJOY.
DISCLAIMER: Above are test kitchen and household-produced dishes. All ingredients utilized are of food grade quality passing international and domestic sanitary standards. While we find the results highly acceptable, no guarantee nor explicit assurance is hereby issued when recipe is performed by readers. For one, although of similar breed, spices, herbs and other ingredients vary from country to country/region to region that possibility of affecting end taste, aroma & bite-feel is great. Further thereto, mentioned sensory evaluation (aroma, taste, mouth-feel) is subjective.

Char-Grilled “Pampano”

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CHAR-GRILLED “PAMPANO”
(SPICED OIL RUBBED CHARCOAL GRILLED POMFRET with BAGUIO GROWN
“HABANERO” and BIRD’S EYE CHILIES for DIP plus TINY TOMATOES as SIDES)
Sunday market at SIDCOR (Eton Centris, EDSA, Quezon City, Philippines)
where I chanced upon mega cute “tiny tomatoes” and Baguio grown “habanero-breed chili peppers”.
The ingredients’ instinct in me literally pushed my pocket to get some
and try at home particularly the claim of vendor that such “habanero”
has higher Scouville Heat Unit (the Capsaicin content which is the measure of chilies’ hotness)
than our local “Labuyo” (bird’s eye chilies)
Had to let my palate lay taste on it…even a bit.
Question is: just that? Won’t allow as is.
Need to have something to go with my trial…
instantly then, our famous prep: “INIHAW” (charcoal grilling).
That’s when “Pampano” (pomfret) became my main character for this issue.
 Prep time:                   30 minutes
Cook time:                    45 mins.
Total time:                     1 hour 10 mins.
Makes/Serves:             2
Cooking medium:       charcoal grille, charcoal, oil brush
Special instruction(s):

INGREDIENTS:
1 medium size Pampano, fully cleaned, internals removed, 2 slits on each side.
1 packet “Sinigang Mix” ( Knorr or Maggi tamarind flavored soup mix powder).
30 ml. olive oil
6 cloves crushed-minced garlic
1 small minced onion
12 pcs. tiny tomatoes fully washed to serve as sides.

FOR DIP:
50 ml. soy sauce
2 pcs. Labuyo sliced thinly
2 pcs. Baguio Habanero Chili Pepper sliced thinly
OPTIONAL calamansi or lemon juice
PROCEDURES:
1.    Fully scatter, by hand, Sinigang Mix unto all sides, slits, inner head and body of Pampano.
Make sure all parts are covered for full flavor penetration. Set aside.
2.    Crank up charcoal the way you fire them up. AVOID UTILIZING gasoline or kerosene
as fumes contaminate flavor and aroma of grilled items.
3.    While awaiting fiery red coals, heat olive oil in pan. Add garlic and onion. Fry to dark brown state.
4.    Using this oil, brush unto all parts of fish and to the wire rack you will use to grill it.
(This system will DEBUNK and PROVE WRONG the Filipino myth that all fish to be grilled MUST have scales
intact-to prevent sticking to the grill rack).
5.    Grill your innovated Pampano to desired doneness which normally will just take 3-5 minutes per side…
brushing extra oil once in a while…and WITNESS how easy it is to turn (SCALED)
fish without sticking to grill medium.
NOTE:
         Oh my GOD. Habanero, though just packing few thousand heat units more than Labuyo (Habanero: 100,000 to
350,000 Scouville Heat Units and Labuyo: 80,000 to 100,000 SHU), it, former, really gives a burning sensation on
tongue and fingers (despite several soap and detergent hand washing). Should you find some, BE EXTRA CAREFUL.
         (more pungent/piquant and expensive)

DISCLAIMER: Above are test kitchen and household-produced dishes. All ingredients utilized are of food grade quality passing international and domestic sanitary standards. While we find the results highly acceptable, no guarantee nor explicit assurance is hereby issued when recipe is performed by readers. For one, although of similar breed, spices, herbs and other ingredients vary from country to country/region to region that possibility of affecting end taste, aroma & bite-feel is great. Further thereto, mentioned sensory evaluation (aroma, taste, mouth-feel) is subjective.