Innovations

Homemakers are often in a quandary as to what to serve  their families, who are often bored with the traditional dishes  regularly offered on the table day- in- and – day - out, week after week etc.   They’d want something new, a new flavor, an attractive presentation.  This is where the creativity of the lady of house will be tested. Innovation is the name of the game. Inspiration can come from the many professional chefs we all read about. On her own, the one in charge, can use some imagination such as giving Marinated Pork tenderloin  a lift, making it look juicy and freshly done . The ready-cook (eat) noodle pack can be a Special Pancit. The Beef Nilaga can be enhanced with herbs and spices, producing  a new taste.

Here’s what  we did a few days ago. We had marinated pork in regular barbecue mix. It has been in the freezer for two days. We thought we’d give it a taste new. Needless to say,  we thawed it inside the fridge. Never do this outside.  A few minutes before the meal was to be served, we initially fried the meat in  little oil. On the side we sliced (in circles) one big white onion. When nearly done, we poured a tablespoon of soy sauce, juice of one calamansi and added the onion rings and voila!!!! In a few minutes we were ready with an innovated pork dish.

. There are quite a few techniques we can do when preparing Nilagang Baka (Boiled  beef). Beef now costs from P230 a kilo, depending on where it is bought. The best cut  to use is the kenchi (with bones and knee cap). Outside of the regular way to do this dish ( boiled with onions, salt and pepper) , do a Mid –East inspired meal. Add to a kilo of the meat, a stalk of celery and leeks, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, 1 big star anise, a thumb-sized Julienned ginger, one and a half teaspoons each of cinnamon powder and cardamom. Put them all in a big casserole and tenderize. When beef is tender, add potatoes and continue to simmer until done.

La Oya  is another beef dish we grew up with. This is  perfect , specially when the family wants a robust broth to go with chunks of meat, again normally kenchi and keencap (total of one and one fourth kilos). You need onion, quartered, leeks and celery, 2 tablespoons of Annatto seeds (soaked in a little water to extract the juice, salt and pepper (including peppercorns) to taste, six saba bananas, 5 cloves of garlic, 3 pieces sweet potatoes, 2 small eggplants, 2 teaspoons of vinegar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and enough water to tenderize. Boil meat in onion, leeks and celery salt and pepper.  Soak the annatto seeds and extract the juice, add to casserole. Simmer for a while and when meat becomes tender add the bananas, eggplant and sweet potatoes. When the latter three are done, take them out and mash in a bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Serve with the meat and broth separately. Surely the flavor will be given a 10 by your family.

Talunan , a dish  (from Laguna) that must have been concocted by wives whose husbands brought home the losing rooster from a weekend Sabong. With the chicken (sliced), boil  a kilo of pork pata (hock). Prepare the sauce consisting of 2 pieces tokua, mashed,  1 can salted cucumber, 2 can black beans, 1 pickled onions, 1 medium size tomatoes, chopped , crushed garlic and julliened ginger.  While waiting for the meat to become tender, sautÈ garlic, onion and tomatoes in little oil. Mix with the rest of the sauce ingredients and simmer for a while. When chicken and pork are in the desired consistency,  add the sauce , mix well and continue to cook until flavors are sealed..  

Price watch – big  lakatan bananas cost more than P5.00 per. Do not buy a whole bunch if yours is  a small family. They spoil easily.  You can always ask the grocery staff to give you only a few pieces.  Native garlic has gone up to P280 a kilo. There is a Seafood mix for P72 per pack of 250 gms, which you use can for soups. Add sotanghon.

Chinese Brocolli sells forP49.75 a pack  Mangoes  are  at P92 kilo while Mangosteen is tagged at P250. Cream Dory fish fillet for P143 a pack of 2 pieces.

There ought to be a law against establishments/ people who send promotional text messages in the middle of the night. They include all sorts of offers, from the health of children  to free SMS and  reduced rates. This is rather inconsiderate because when a cell phone rings at night, it is inevitable that one picks up and check. With the projected decrease in text charges, do we get more of  these messages? We hope note.

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