Start the year right with New-tritious Pasta Recipes!

The new year is a good time to reflect on the year that was and the year that lies ahead. It's a great opportunity to try new things - a new sport, for instance. Or perhaps start reading a new book. Or better yet, adopt new, healthier habits like foregoing fast food deliveries for dinner, and eating homecooked meals instead.

One great way to do this is to try out new recipes that are easy to prepare, budget-friendly, and have high nutritional value. Pasta, for instance, is a quick and easy ingredient you can turn into a healthy and filling meal. There are also endless possibilities with pasta or “pastabilities” that you can whip up every day.

Kick off 2023 right with masarap, masustansya, and sulit dishes using a good quality ingredient like El Real Pasta. Here are some recipes that the whole family will enjoy:

Pinakbet Pasta.

Bet na bet na Pinakbet Pasta

Pinakbet is a Filipino ulam with pork and vegetables like squash, ampalaya, and tomatoes, which are all good sources of vitamins and minerals. You can change it up and make Pinakbet Pasta with El Real Healthy Pasta. The combination of crispy pork belly, hearty vegetables, and flavorful bagoong will give you a burst of flavors.

See the full Pinakbet Pasta recipe here.

Healthy Laing Pasta.

Spicy and creamy Healthy Laing Pasta

Add a spicy kick to your El Real Healthy Spaghetti by adding laing and chilis to it. The taro leaves used to make laing are known to be rich in vitamins A and C. For the sauce, it’s made with coconut cream to make it thicker and creamier.

See the full Healthy Laing Pasta recipe here.

Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni.

Go green with Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni

For a nutritious and filling macaroni dish, you can try making Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni. Made from basil, pesto is said to be a good source of vitamins, calcium, and iron, which makes it a great pasta sauce. Give your dish more flavor with some lemon juice and sour cream in the sauce, and top off your El Real Elbow Macaroni with chili flakes and parmesan cheese.

See the full Pesto and Parmesan Macaroni recipe here.

Healthy Sardine Spaghetti.

Healthy Sardine Spaghetti for your dose of seafood

Fish like sardines are an excellent source of vitamins B-12 and D, and other nutrients. Sardines can make a great pasta dish when mixed with oil, garlic, and a little lemon juice on top of El Real Healthy Pasta. See the full Healthy Sardine Spaghetti recipe here.

Creamy Spinach Pasta.

Creamy Spinach Pasta for all ages

If you want a dose of iron and vitamins, you can try adding spinach to your meals. A delicious way of incorporating this into a pasta dish is by mixing it with cream and ricotta cheese. You’ll get a nice creamy sauce with hints of spinach with every bite of El Real Healthy Spaghetti or any type of El Real pasta.

See the full Creamy Spinach Pasta recipe here.

Start the year right with sarap, sulit, at sustansya meals courtesy of El Real Pasta. You can now share nutritious pasta dishes that are also delicious with your loved ones, be it daily or on special occasions.

For more recipes, visit the www.realpastabilities.com/. For more information, follow www.facebook.com/iloveelreal/.

Foodie Goodie | Porchetta Restaurant.

Save for the occasional take-outs at the nearby McDonald's or at the pizza and chicken joint two blocks away from home, we hardly eat at restaurants here in Korea for two reasons: 1) my son can't handle the spiciness of traditional Korean food, and 2) we cook at home, and it's cheaper that way. Plus, my husband's cooking is the bomb!

On Mother's Day, however, we decided not to scrimp because what the heck - it's a special day, and it's the first time in six years that I'm celebrating my 'motherhood' with both my son and my husband. And so after our tour of the COEX Aquarium, the boys and I went searching for a nice restaurant that's neither a fast food chain or a pizza joint. We were literally all over the place, as COEX is a pretty huge mall, and the restaurants are not lined up in one floor like they do in Philippine malls.

Porchetta.

We somehow ended up at Porchetta, because Yue saw something very tempting called 'Chicken Finger Fries' on their menu.

The counter, where you place your order and pay for your bill.

Named after that fatty, savory, and boneless pork roasted in the traditional Italian way, Porchetta is a casual dining fusion restaurant famous for their ciabatta sandwiches.

Sandwiches on their menu.

They also serve pasta and steak - which we ordered, soups and salads, dessert, and even alcoholic beverages.

Yep, they serve beer. And wine, too.

We were able to get a table right away, as there were quite a few empty seats when we arrived. Halfway through our meal, I noticed that the restaurant was already quite packed.

Diners at Porchetta.

Here's what we had for dinner at Porchetta.

Chicken Finger Fries.

Chicken Finger Fries.

Chicken Finger Fries, 11200 won. The three of us enjoyed this dish a lot. The fries were crunchy and flavorful, and were neither overcooked nor soaking in oil. Same goes for the chicken - crunchy on the outside, but tender and juicy on the inside. Considering that this dish is good for sharing for up to four people, paying more than a man won isn't so bad.

Bacon Carbonara.

Bacon Carbonara, 15900 won. My son is a huge fan of white sauce pasta, and he loved this carbonara a lot even if the sauce, according to him 'looks more yellow than white'. This dish didn't scrimp on bacon, as it came garnished with generous portions of meat.

Porchetta Pan Steak and Risotto.

Porchetta Pan Steak and Risotto, 18400 won. Husband and I ordered a serving each of this dish, and boy, was I surprised to see not just one, but two thick slabs of porchetta on the hot plate. Aside from the risotto, which lies at the bottom of the plate, this dish also comes with cherry tomatoes, potato wedges, and greens on the side.

Porchetta Pan Steak and Risotto.

I love that the meat was cooked and flavored to perfection, but eating two slabs of it was just way too much for me. I only ate one, and gave the other piece to my husband, whose appetite was heartier than the usual that day. Maybe because we're eating as a family, which only happens when we're in Korea. :)

Mother's Day dinner at Porchetta.

Many thanks to the friendly waitstaff of Porchetta for taking this photo! They understand and speak English, so no need to worry about the language barrier. Oh, and if you ask for it, they'll give you their wifi password, because the free wifi at COEX Mall is a bit weak in this area.  :)

Porchetta

159, Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, COEX Mall I103
+82 2 551 8808

Foodie Goodie | Le Manays.

You know how those hole-in-the-wall restaurants often turn out to serve surprisingly good food? That is exactly the case with Le Manays, a fairly new snack shop nicely tucked in the busy streets of San Pablo City.

I've been to this place several times before, and have called for delivery twice or thrice. (Yes, they do deliveries!) Guess that goes to show their food is worth coming back for, and merits a spot on my blog.

Last week, the little man and I came back to Le Manays, where we had lunch to celebrate his Dad's birthday. It was actually the little man who suggested dining at this place, saying that he wanted to eat their 'crazy spaghetti'.

Little man at Le Manays.

That's spaghetti threaded through hotdog bites, with a slightly sweet sauce that kids will surely love. It's written on the menu as 'Grasya's Crazy Spaghetti'.

Grasya's Crazy Spaghetti, Php 60.

It comes in a pretty generous serving, too.

Eating heartily!

As for me, I had their Dencio de Mare Tuna Pesto Spaghetti. Served with tuna, green pesto, herbs and spices, and Romano cheese, this dish is quite flavorful though it's not as 'green' as you'd expect a pesto pasta to be.

Dencio de Mare Tuna Pesto Spaghetti, Php 60.

We also ordered their Kajo's Beef Nacho Platter for sharing. This is one of my favorites in Le Manays menu. Crunchy nacho chips, a medley of fresh veggies, lots of cheese, plus ground beef that's seasoned just right - this dish is definitely a must-try.

Kajo's Beef Nacho Platter, Php 100.

Little man ready to pounce! :)

Aside from pasta and sandwiches, Le Manays also have an array of desserts on their menu. This includes Mer-Nel's Chocolate Cake (yes, that's the famous chocolate cake from UP Los Banos) which we ordered for take away.

Mer-Nel's Chocolate Cake, Php 190.

Other note-worthy dishes on Le Manay's menu are the Pancit Wrap (spring rolls filled with pancit bihon), Halo-Halo While Walking (creamy halo-halo served with a straw and tastes as good, if not better, than Razon's), and Brazo de Mercedes cupcakes (an original by Bake it Away, these are Brazo cakes conveniently served in to-go cups).

Brazo de Mercedes cupcakes, Php 40 each.

If ever you're in San Pablo City and don't mind worming your way through the traffic, then you should visit Le Manays and give their food a try. Their simple, straight-forward dishes, affordable price, as well as the quirky yet homey ambiance makes going out of your way worth it. Just don't visit on a Monday as it's their 'rest day'. :)

Le Manays 

Col. Lauro Dizon St.,

San Pablo City, Laguna

(049) 5211544

(0917) 3865669

Solaire Exclusives for Mother's Day 2014!

On Sunday, May 11, we celebrate the day of the most important women in our lives - our moms.

And our friends from Solaire have came up with the best treats to honor our beloved moms. From the special discounted rates in the ultimate family staycation, to the exquisite set menus in our fine dining establishments, they’ve made sure that this will be one unforgettable Mother’s Day.

On Mother’s Day weekend, bring your entire family to Solaire and stay in one of their luxurious suites with discounted rates. Under the Summer Family Getaway packages, their rooms go as low as PhP6,000++ for Deluxe Room Cityview and PhP7,000++ for the Deluxe Room Bayview. The special rates are also available in Grand Deluxe Cityview (PhP8,000++), Grand Deluxe Bayview (PhP9,000++) and 2-Bay Suite (PhP12,000).

Amazing accommodation at Solaire.

Their amazing staycation packages come with an impeccable buffet breakfast for two adults and two kids age 6 years and below. For kids who are 7 to 12 years old, they offer a 50% dining discount. Your stay also includes free use of the swimming pool and the fitness center. To test your luck, the package comes with PhP500 worth of gaming credits.

If you opt to celebrate mom’s special day with a lavish dinner, they have set menus in Fresh, Yakumi, Finestra, Red Lantern and Strip. Everyone in the family can enjoy their mini pizza creation of the day (Roasted Branzino in potato crust, Versuvio tomatoes, white wine and Gamberoni), Pasta Carbonara in rich and creamy sauce with pancetta bacon, Limon Cello lemon and Chicken Parmigiano at their Italian restaurant Finestra.

Pasta Carbonara from Finestra.

For the lovers of Japanese cuisine, Yakumi offers a special menu that includes Gyuniku Tataki (Seared beef strip loin with onion dressing and micro herbs), Yakumi Sushi and sashimi sampler, Lobster mini soup, Ebi tempura, Chilean Seabass teriyaki and Steamed Japanese style egg custard with foie gras.

Steamed Japanese style egg custard with foie gras from Yakumi.

Red Lantern also offers a sumptuous set menu for those who prefer Chinese dishes. The family can feast on Hand rolled Beijing duck, Pumpkin soup with seafood and white fungus, Deep fried crispy shrimps with sweet mayonnaise, Wok fried prime beef black pepper sauce, Steamed sliced fish with Tofu in black bean sauce, the season's best vegetables with oyster sauce, and Braised noodles with spring onions and ginger sesame oil.

A sample of what Red Lantern has to offer.

Strip, the hotel's steak house, also offers a Mother’s Day menu consisting of Green Pea sphere and crisp ham; Tomato salad dried olive oil and goat’s cheese; Foie gras crumble mousse with candied fruit and nut; Seared tuna blood orange sponge, watermelon and labuyo chili crust; Pork belly beer braised and tomato relish; Smoked Angus beef and Caramel Sand torch banana. All of the set menus are priced at PhP1,900 and all come with the Solaire Mother’s Day creation, the Caramel cheesecake with red berries and white chocolate silk.

Sumptuous food from the Strip.

If you want to go all – out however, their buffet outlet Fresh is ready with Lechon (Charcoal grilled suckling pig), Roasted prime rib of ‘Gold Label’ prime beef, Brioche baked whole salmon Coulibiac, seafood delights and a long list of desserts which include tarts, cupcakes, cookies, parfaits, doughnuts, puddings and cakes.

May it be the ultimate staycation or a gastronomic adventure in one of our first-class restaurants, Mother’s Day at Solaire is definitely a great bonding opportunity for the entire family. For reservations, call 888 8888 or log on to www.solaireresort.com for more details.

Wordless Wednesday #74 | Spaghetti Monster!

Foodie Goodie | Beef & Rotini.

I've always been fascinated with rotini pasta ever since I was a kid. They're literally pasta 'with a twist' as they come in a corkscrew, spiral shape. They even have colored variants, such as the Barilla Tri-Color Rotini, which were often given to us as gifts by relatives who used to work in Italy.

And after seeing how much love my Spaghetti Aglio Oglio received from you, my dear readers, I decided to share another pasta recipe for this week's edition of Foodie Goodie. Like the Aglio Oglio, this dish uses the simplest ingredients and takes just about half an hour to cook.

Beef & Rotini

Ingredients:
500 grams lean ground beef
1 pound rotini pasta, uncooked
1 pack 250g Del Monte Beef & Mushroom Pasta Sauce
1 pack 560g Del Monte Sweet Style or Italian Style Spaghetti Sauce
2 cups Mozarella cheese

Procedure:
1. In a skillet, cook ground beef until brown. Drain the excess oil.
2. In the same skillet, stir in the pasta sauces and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Stir in uncooked rotini and return to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to medium and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally (about 10 minutes or until rotini is al dente). 
5. Remove from heat then sprinkle with cheese.
6. Cover and let stand for five minutes, or until the cheese has melted.

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Foodie Goodie | Spaghetti Aglio Olio.

Weekends are for watching old Korean dramas. At least that's what they are, for me. And the past weekend saw me finishing 'Pasta' - all twenty episodes of it. This hit romantic comedy series, which aired in 2010, revolves around the life of Seo Yoo Kyung (portrayed by Gong Hyo Jin) and her dreams and struggles to become an elite chef.

Lee Sun Kyun and Gong Hyo Jin in Pasta.

After watching this drama, I was prompted inspired to do two things - have my ears pierced near the cartilage - in the style of Gong Hyo Jin,  and cook Spaghetti with Olive Oil and Garlic ala Choi Hyun Wook (the male lead, portrayed by Lee Sun Kyun).

Now I have three piercings on my left ear. :)

I've never cooked Spaghetti Aglio Olio before, so I did a bit of research and came across this recipe from the Food Network. The ingredients are pretty basic, and this dish takes very little time and effort to cook. It's perfect for days when I'm in the mood for pasta but don't want to go through the whole process of chopping and slicing and prepping ingredients, lol.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio

Ingredients:
500 grams spaghetti
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsps flat-leaf parsley, chopped
pinch of red pepper flakes
kosher salt to taste (plus 1 teaspoon)
zest of 1/2 lemon
parmesan cheese, grated

Procedure:
1. Bring a large pot of cold water to a boil over high heat, then salt it generously.
2. Add the pasta and cook, stirring occasionally until al dente, tender but not mushy, about 8 minutes.
3. While the pasta cooks, combine the garlic, olive oil, the 1 teaspoon salt, and red pepper flakes in a large skillet and warm over low heat, stirring occasionally until the garlic softens and turns golden.
4. Drain the pasta in a colander set in the sink, reserving about a 1/4 cup of the cooking water.
5. Add the pasta and the reserved water to the garlic mixture. Mix well.
6. Add the parsley and lemon zest. Adjust seasoning, to taste.
7. Transfer to a large serving bowl or divide amongst 4 to 6 dishes. Serve topped with grated cheese, if desired.

Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday. 

Foodie Goodie | Penne Alfredo with Smoked Salmon.

I'm not the most religious person, but having been born and raised as a Catholic, I've been accustomed to 'no-meat-Fridays' during the Lenten season. In observance of Good Friday, we won't be having meat on the menu. But we do have fish and pasta - because not having meat doesn't exactly mean you can't enjoy good food.

Penne Alfredo with Smoked Salmon

Ingredients:

1 pound dried penne
1 cup green peas
4 tablespoons butter
1 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1/2 teaspoon salt
Pinch of nutmeg (freshly ground, if available)
Black pepper, freshly ground
1 to 1 1/2 kg smoked salmon fillets, cut into pieces


Procedure:
1. Boil the penne according to the directions on the package. In the last minute of boiling, add the peas to the pot.
2. While waiting for the pasta to cook, begin preparing the Alfredo sauce. In a medium pot, bring the butter and cream to a boil and immediately lower the heat so that the mixture gently simmers.
3. Stir the mixture occasionally for about 4 minutes or until it leaves a thick coating on the spoon.
4. Add the grated cheese, salt, and nutmeg.
5. Drain the penne and peas and top it with Alfredo sauce. Serve warm.

As seen on Spoonful. Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Foodie Goodie | Fettuccine Alfredo with Ham.

After bombarding you for the past few Fridays with chocolate desserts and peanut butter recipes, I decided to do something different for my first Foodie Goodie post for the year. Not dessert this time, because I know everyone (including me) is complaining of eating too much during the holidays and gaining weight in the process. Don't we all, haha.

Now I bet most of you served ham during your Christmas and New Year's Eve dinner. Ham, after all, is the star of the Noche Buena (and Media Noche) - at least that's how it goes for the typical Filipino family. Anyhow, if you have leftover honey-glazed ham from the holidays, you'll be glad you did. Those left-overs are great for omelettes, soups, casseroles, and sandwiches, and they will come in handy for the recipe I'm sharing below.

Fettucine Alfredo with Ham

Ingredients:

1 lb fettuccine, cooked according to package instructions
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Romano cheese, shredded
6 egg yolks
1 medium-sized red or green bell pepper, cut into squares
1 cup ham, cut into squares
Salt and pepper

Procedure:

1. Cook the fettuccine according to package instructions.
2. Heat a saucepan or cooking pot. Pour in the milk and bring it to a boil.
3. Add the heavy whipping cream. Stir, and bring the mixture to a boil.
4. Add the Parmesan and Romano cheeses, then bring the heat down to the lowest possible on your stove. 5. Stir continuously until the cheese melts and the texture of the mixture becomes fine.
6. Whisk the egg yolks in a mixing bowl. Add about 5 tablespoons of the milk-cheese mixture, and continue whisking until the ingredients have completely blended together.
7. Add the egg yolk mixture in the saucepan/cooking pot with continuous stirring until the texture becomes thick.
8. Add the cooked fettuccine and toss until the noodles are well covered with sauce.
9. Add the chopped ham and bell pepper and mix with the noodles and the sauce.
10. Add salt and pepper to taste.
11. Plate, serve, enjoy!

If you have dishes you would like to see or recipes you would like to learn, let me know! It might be something that I (or my husband) know how to cook, or I could look it up on Mum's recipe book. Just leave me a comment, send me a message, or tweet me for recipe requests. I'd be more than glad to help!

Happy weekend eating! :)

Sharing with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.