we got two free muffins from babycakes because they were closing when i got there. lady was sort of a biz though. as i was eating it i said, "i really want to like this muffin and say it's good because everything tastes good when it's free... but its not."
and andrew goes, "yeah.. they're kind of dry."
then i was like, "waiiiiitt a minuuuute. i think they're vegan!" and confirmed that fact after reading the flier the woman gave me.
andrew practically spit the muffin out at the moment i said the v word. and complained the whole time saying he couldn't believe i gave him vegan muffins. he was so disgusted like i gave him dirt or something. hahahahahahah that was hilarious. i seriously don't know what he has against vegan food. the first time we tried angelica kitchen and he wouldn't stop saying how he needed to eat a huge burger and steak while eating our gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, animal-free meal.

anyway, i'm not a fan either, but it's not that big of a deal. i prefer my pastries moist, thank you very much.

"bistek" (beef steak)

i was around 10 years old when i discovered how much i really love this dish. i remember only taking a little bit of rice and putting too much meat on accident. this meant that the ratio of rice:meat was uneven. after eating all the rice there was plenty of meat on my plate still, so i got more rice. but then i took too much rice and so i had to get more meat on my plate. this might have happened a couple more times, but not on accident...

this is a simple dish.
marinate thin slices of steak/beef tenderloin
in 1/4 cup soy sauce, 4tbs lemon juice/kalamansi/vinegar,
minced garlic & freshly ground pepper
30 mins - overnight
heat 2tbs oil in large pan and fry beef
then add the marinade and boil. let simmer.
cut 1 large red onion into rings and add on top of beef.
you can even fry the rings in a separate pan if you want it a bit crispy

alternatively, andrew suggested that we could marinate the beef and broil it. duh, why didn't i think of this. i decided to create a bed of onions and thyme for the meat. pre-heat broiler at 350. baste the meat or just add the marinade i there too. cook for 30 mins- 1 hour depending on how thick you cut the meat. i was too lazy to cut it so i just left it whole. it took about 1 hour. serve with steamed jasmine rice.

"imbotido" - filipino meatloaf
i actually didn't make this, it was from a restaurant.
the meatloaf is rolled in foil and steamed for 1 hour.
usually this is made in large batched.
so you freeze some and fry it when ready to eat.
you can even eat it for breakfast with fried egg and rice.



bokchoy stir fry, imbotido and polenta
i made polenta for the first time using this recipe.
except i didn't bother frying it or adding tomato sauce.
i'll try that next time.

butternut squash soup + harvest salad

so for new years, i'm making it a goal to cook more. not only to save money, but also to learn how to cook all the filipino foods my mom cooked. i realize during the winter time as well as lately, that i've been craving filipino food. i guess because since its a bit heavy, sometimes soupy, and salty it's perfect for the cold winter days. plus it reminds me of my moms home cooking, and thats always comforting. i'm going to start keeping a record of the recipes since my mom only teaches me to eyeball it. so it takes a few research and tries to get it exactly how i remember them.

the following recipe is not filipino and it is also out of season. this meal is clearly meant for fall. so forgive me. but i'm sure you can eat it whenever you feel like it.

butternut squash soup

(adapted from the smitten kitchen)

melt 1/2 stick butter in large pot over medium heat

+ 1 large onion, finely chopped & 4 large garlic cloves, chopped

sautee til tender

add the following ingredients

+ 3 14 1/2-ounce cans low-salt chicken broth

+ 4 cups 1-inch pieces peeled butternut squash (about 1 1/2 pounds)

+ 4 cups 1-inch pieces peeled potatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)* optional

+ 1 1/4 teaspoons minced fresh thyme

+ 1 1/4 teaspoons minced fresh sage

+ 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

+ 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

boil and reduce to simmer until squash and potatoes are tender.

if you have a handheld blender you can go ahead and just blend in the pot.

if not, work in batches and transfer into the blender. and return to pot.

stir in 1/8 cup whipping cream and return to simmer.

add kosher salt & freshly ground pepper

croutons

preheat broiler

use 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) to butter day old slices of baguettes

broil til golden and turn it over

sprinkle
1 cup grated Gruyere cheese
1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon minced fresh sage

salt & pepper

broil til cheese melts

ladle soup into bowls and add croutons

harvest salad

large bag of greens

1 pear or apple

1/2 cup dried cherries/cran

4oz crumbled feta/gorgonzola

2oz crumbled pecans/walnuts

raspberry vinaigrette

+ moonlight mile ost

music should play while you cook. it adds flavor ;)

sofia getting ready

our guilty pleasure: white mana / "diner of the future" / 1939 world's fair building.

the burgers. it's like white castle, but better.

the snow finally came. all i can think about these days are food and comfort.
life is 2.5 times harder.
i say 2.5 because that's how many hours late i was to work this morning.
it really is difficult, all of it.
where do i begin.

my mantra for today was: "only the strong survive"
the PATH train station on grove st. was packed.
they had to shut down the turnstiles to control the amount of people
on the platform because trains were running on some "special" schedule
which required rerouting to hoboken.
so i waited for the wtc train instead.
it didn't come for a while. i ended up right by the edge of the platform.
which made me fear for my life, thinking to myself:
some one better not go berserk right now, because i could seriously fall off this edge.
i could feel the person behind me swaying.

at last the train came.
i took my time walking and trying not to slip into gray sludge.

i made it to work, eventually. had to stay til 7 though.

tomorrow will be better.


***
on another note

these pictures were shot a few weeks ago.
when i went all shutter happy.
i've picked up the cameras again for the holidays
and this time i bought some nice film.
i'm excited to see how they turn out.
i don't think i'll be able to develop them any time soon, though.
but... i've got tons of food pictures...
as if you guys don't see enough of those.

breakfast 5 days a week: tea + oatmeal


brooklyn diary. loved seeing tim harrington in this.


milk bar, cake truffle. oh my.


new francois payard bakery opened up near work.
so far i've tried a hazelnut cake roll and the almond croissant.
both are unforgettable.

i'm exhausted, though my life is pretty mundane. i can only entertain thoughts of excitement.
i find myself daydreaming a lot more lately and i feel really bugged when someone talks to me. i try to have me time at work and plug my ears with my headphones, although at times it really isn't playing anything. i only have one hour of lunch all to myself. people ask me to go to lunch with them, and not to be rude, but i've started bringing lunch just so i could enjoy a quiet moment. i always thought i would be better at socializing when i'm older, but i guess that will never change. perhaps it would be different if people didn't talk too much. i'm especially bothered by the girl who's jaw dropped because i was looking for a bookstore. she was in disbelief. she asked me, "a bookstore? for what?"
"to buy a book to read, duh."
"yeah, but why? that's too much work!"
ha. maybe if she read more, she wouldn't be talking so much hot air.
i guess this is why i'm drawn towards the bookish types. they're usually quiet and when they do speak, they actually have something interesting to say, or at least i imagine so. i for one try to be as boring as i can, but people seem to keep coming back to chat me up. ugh, fail.

butternut squash soup with gorgonzola croutons
adapted from smitten kitchen

warm butternut and chickpea salad with tahini
from orangette

i actually didn't like it very much with the chickpea and onions.
but i did love the squash by itself.
however, andrew turned it into hummus. lol

so i found a spotmatic on craigslist for $35, but i paid $25. i'm quite proud of this. the first roll i took mostly outside (see previous posts). but this second roll i developed, i noticed these lines, or lightleaks. i am still in denial and blaming cvs for frockin up my pictures. but my heart feels heavy when i see these images because i know that the camera is most likely leaking light. please tell me it ain't so.

Pittsburgh, Pa. yinz hear?

I miss Pittsburgh. I think we left our hearts there. We're still obsessing about it and daydreaming about moving there. Yes this city moved up in my #1 spot of cities to live in. I guess I'll be inching my way across the map to the Pacific Northwest.

Delicious donuts from "Peace, Love & Tiny Little Donuts".
(coconut, oreo cookies, powdered chocolate, sicilian w/ sea salt & glazed)


decisions, decisions.


Went to this coffee shop two days in a row and the barista already
remembered what we wanted. Instant regulars!