Cooking Simple Foods & Drinks
Who says a lazy Sunday breakfast can’t be elegant? Add some fresh figs to your yogurt, top with granola and prepare a few Mimosas. Instead of Champagne or traditional sparkling wine I’m using Moscato d’Asti, the refreshingly sweet Italian wine. Keep any leftover wine for dessert with dinner. And for a fancy version use freshly squeezed oranges. Enjoy this Al Fresco before the weather gets colder!
I just came back from vacation and haven’t had a green smoothie in a week. The only alternative was store bought smoothies which just don’t compare to freshly made ones. So I came up with a basic smoothie recipe which relies on juicy whole oranges, a white peach (including skin) and fresh romaine lettuce leaves.
Turon are a popular street food in the Philippines sold by bike vendors. Traditional Turon are made with bananas or plantains rolled in brown sugar, then fried in oil with more brown sugar, along with sliced jackfruit on top. My recipe keeps it more simple and also a little healthier.
As fall season approaches, I decided to make a warm and comforting hot chocolate drink with a splash of alcohol to give it an extra kick. I used honey, a whole vanilla bean and a cinnamon stick to give it some warmth. Together they add an intoxicating aroma around the stove. Cocoa and rum are a great combination and make for a delicious ‘adult’ hot chocolate.
Mashed potatoes are one of my favorite sides. I enjoy them so much that I wanted to make a more complex version that can be a standalone dish, or served as an appetizer or side dish. This recipe is an adaptation from foodnetwork.com. For my version I added garlic and fresh mozzarella which I feel elevate this dish to something really special, yet it still remains simple enough to put together in less than an hour.
If you’re planning on making a burger for Labor Day but don’t have a grill, try this pan-fried version. My burger is simple and only uses a few ingredients. The recipe is adapted from Serious Eats which has a great section on burgers called A Hamburger Today.
Fresh baked banana bread is one of the most comforting things to have in your kitchen. It should always start with fully ripe bananas, as it adds natural sweetness to the bread. And what’s great about my recipe is that it contains no added sugar at all! Well, there’s a tiny sprinkling of brown sugar on top but you can omit if you want. Also, chocolate chips are a nice addition if you don’t mind a little sugar. [Read more…]