A couple weeks ago the fog really rolled in midday. 

The top of Golden Gate Bridge, this was from Tiburon

 

Mondrion Vanilla Cake at SF MOMA, San Francisco.

I saw this on either the best thing I ever ate, or something like that.

Well........it was good but for me wasn't the best thing.

 

 

Paradigm with dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen

Just love this one by Heidi Barrett.

 

No photo's of dinner it was good we had before.  I had the Rib Eye and it was not

Camera Pretty

I took this photo walking down the square in Healdsburg before dinner at Charlie Palmer's

Dry Creek Kitchen, which by the way I really enjoy.  This was a pretty shot

 

Goose and Gander

My dessert coffee ice cream with a salted caramel brownie

Goose and  Gander in St. Helena

This is the Halibut Entree

 

Goose and Gander

Went here for my Birthday last month.

This is their rendition of Charcuterie really yummy

 

 

Chicken Wings from The Kitchen Door Napa 

 

Tri Tip, Garlic Noodles and Saffroned Brown rice.

I fixed this a bit back

Just a little saffron really adds nice flavor to brown rice.

 

These are the variety from my garden. They were all good.  I also had some San Marzano as well.

 

Guava Cheesecake for Dessert Forbe's Mill

 

Pappa's birthday dinner Kobe at Forbe's Mill, Danville, Ca.

Halibut entree' at Forbe's Mill Danville, Ca. 

 

Pappa's Birthday Dinner Forbe's Mill Danville, CA.

Nice touch on the menu for his special day along with a special bottle of Merus Cabernet one

of our favorite wines.

 

Lechon Kawali my way

 

 

Saifun with mixed vegetables.

 

This one is diabetic friendly.  Sweet mini pepper, green onion green beans, shitake and beef.



 

Mini New York Crumb Cakes

 

Just when you only want a little piece.

 

I've neglected the old blog here.  I have been so busy at work.

This weekend I caught this flu/cold bug going around and still recuperating.

I did need to eat so I had these items and voila.

 

So since I have my Diabetes type II controlled.  I am lucky as I didn't and don' have to take meds.

I dropped 30 lbs and work out 3 times a week and Zumba twice a week.

 

I am still experimenting with dishes and haven't been able to post.

So here I made a Foccacia with bleached organic flour surprised myself it came out good. But it's not the same as "00" flour.

 

 

 

Here, I was inspired by a friends photo of a pasta dish with Artichoke and Spinach.

So, well this is Orzo with Pancetta, Artichokes, Spinach, Fava Beans and leeks, in  a porcini with white wine sauce with a splash of cream. Voila!!!

 

 



These are from my Garden.

I only have 5 varieties of Tomatoes.

Steamed Bao with Kawali Lechon

Homemade Hoisin Sauce

I was kind of craving these dang bao's so.....well here you have it.

Yes I made the bao from scratch. Kawali'd the pork belly.

I would have rather have had Kakuni Pork Belly in there but it's all good and nothing like the

crunch of the skin.

I made my own Hoisin Sauce and was quite happy with the results.

The fixins, fresh coriander, julienned baby carrots and chive from my herb garden.

I forgot I had sweet pea sprout to throw in there as well.

Bon Appetit!

I thought i'd post about the latest wines we've had. 

Mother of Exile - Denner Winery Paso Robles *****

This was a very very nice one.  This one was food friendly but really a lovely wine to sit and sip. 

Scott Palazzo's 

2006  Cabernet Franc ****

This too was also very very good.  Had this at Alexander's in SFO with hubby and was quite impressed. 

Called our friend at Pebble Beach Market and picked up 2 bottles. 

Chimney Rock**** 

When I started drinking reds, I was introduced to Chimney Rock, hubby and I try so many different reds, I 

forget about Chimney Rock, we this time we stopped in and Lucas served us and well well the passion 

came back a case later we enjoyed several.  The Tomahawak was really good and had several others. 

Pancit Bihon my way 

I wanted Rice Sticks today, so this is Pancit Bihon my way. 

Skirt steak, micro bell pepper, garlic chives, chives, scallion, carrot and zucchini along with some Funghi, and Black mushroom. 

Lechon Kawali my way 

Kawali is one of those filipino dishes utilizing Pork Shoulder. 

It's usually boiled then dried chilled then deep fried the next day.  Pre-diabetes diagnosis, I did like this dish but never cooked it the traditional way as it seemed so tedious. 

Since I cook Pork Belly, and I use my turbo oven alot , why not give it a try.  I usually make the lechon in here.   So the butcher here was able to slice the pork belly think enough I cooked at 375 for about an hour twenty minutes.  

The nice thing this way is the fat will render off very nicely. 

My New York Crumb Cakes with huckleberries and valrhona crisps

Pappa needed his coffee cake so I made him a New York Crumb Coffee cake now I altered the sugar for Stevia and it works quite nicely and he can't tell the difference which is nice.  Then this way I can have a piece. 

Well, Happy 4th of July 2012 it's been a while since I posted. 

Bon Appetit!!!!!!

Aloha everyone, I know it's June going into July.  Been really busy with the new company.  Also now that I have tackled by diabetes and brought all my numbers down all is in good check. This doesn't mean I can go back to all the delish foods daily but on occasion.  
Wines we have ventured lately were:
Chimney Rock "Tomyhawk Cab was really a nice wine" 
LMR Cabernet , also impressed me and went well with dinner. 
Stay tuned and I'll be posting some dishes soon.   Bon appetit!

Alex Italian Restaurant

Rutherford, CA.

For Mother's Day, I chose to go to Alex Italian Restaurant in Rutherford.

It's the old La Toque location up the street from the Rutherford Grill.

I met the Chef de Cuisin a while back, so I know that the menu would indeed be good.

This is the Pork Cheeks over Polenta topped with mushrooms and Chervil with a wonderful sauce.

4 of us had this.

Give it a try, the decor is nicely done.

Truffled Noodles with Porcini Sauce and Caramelized Crimini

Pilipino Classic

Chicken Adobo my way

I've been so good with the weight loss and keeping my glucose down.  Today just needed some down right Pilipino Food.

Mini Tamale Pie

Mini Tamale Pies easy as pie

Featured in Chow hound but I modified it a tad. 

Mushroon Lasagne

Mushroom Lasagne

I made this mid-week. 

It's a caramelized 3 mushroom (Crimini, Shitake and Button) along with a caramelized onion. 

The sauce is a Porcini and Black Tuffle sauce base 

Grated Asiago, Parmesan and Fontina Cheese and Gruyere for the layers 

Baked at 350 for 30 minutes covered.  

Bon appetit.

Modified Portugeuse Bean Soup

My pot of Modified Portugeuse Bean Soup

I have been in between things and haven't been able to update my blog. I have been craving this soup in a while.  My mom loved this soup and she made it time to time.

I modified it a little.

1 Goveas Portugeuse Sausage from Hawaii of course. Diced small or diagonal

1/2 of Tocino Pork Loaf (Filipino Sausage) Diced small or diagonal

1 Spanish yellow onion diced

1 small Yukon Gold Potato diced
1 can cannellini beans or kidney beans

1 small carrot diced small  (Save potato and carrot for the last 8 min. of cooking)

3 cloves garlic diced/crushed

1 Tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 celery salt

1-2 Kumato/Brown tomato (they have lower acid I blended this with 1 clove of garlic) 

1/2 Savoy Cabbage or Napa ( I like the taste of the Savoy) Save for the end

2 teaspoons sugar

1 squirt of Umami paste

1 teaspoon thyme leaves

Wondra or Cornstarch slurry on the side

1/2 cup of Isreali Couscous

4 cups of chicken stock or beef stock

Salt and Pepper to taste.

Cooking time about 2 hours.

Saute the onion and garlic followed by the tomato paste and blended tomato to cook out the raw taste.

Add both sausages and seasonings, add stock, seasonings thyme leaves, sugar, Umami paste, bring to boil then reduce to medium simmer for 1.25 hours, then add the beans and simmer an extra 15 minutes.   Add couscous and cook the 10 minutes, then add potato and carrot cook until the veggies are fork tender, if the liquid has evaporated too much then add some more liquid, if there is too much liquid add the wondra or cornstarch slurry to slightyly thicken bring up to the boil it should thicken, turn off then add the cabbage and stir around leave cover off, then it's ready to serve.

Bon appetit.



Beef Caldereta (Filipino Cuisine)

Beef Caldereta

I really like this dish with so many different versions.

Happy with this one.

Granola

Granola My Way

Adapted from

Sam Talbot's "The Sweet Life"

I love Granola, and it has to be good.  I do enjoy Bungalow Munch from Marin County, it's simple and wholesome.  This recipe is adapted from Sam Talbot's "The Sweet Life", I enjoyed reading his story of his diabetes and understanding the disease.  He has some awesome recipes that I am sure I will be cooking along the way.  Since I bottom out every few hours I thought I'd try his recipe for the Granola.  Lucky me, I have Valrhona Cocoa nib here along with the different nuts and oats even the Acai Powder.

A couple weeks ago I my doctor diagnosed me with type 2 diabetes.  I am at the top of Prediabetes and at the low end of Diabetes 2.

So I started back at the gym slowly, and my hubby set up my bike on the trainer.  Hope to loose some pounds here while I lower everything.

So, now I need to change alot of things around.  I still love to cook irregardless, just need to cook better healthier entree's for both of us.

I'm lucky, I love vegetables, grains, fish etc., so transition isn't that bad.  Hubby, on the other hand is learning to look some vegetables and I will cook those he can actually eat.

So you may see things in here indifferent from what I normally post.  You may see some of my own style as before as I can easily cook for myself and separately for the man.

Anyhow, as I continue to read and view other diabetic blogs, I hope to contribute some healthier array of food.

Once in a while, i"ll have a treat of some fine dining in moderation.

Bon appetit!!

Coconut Acai Granola


3 Cups old-fashioned rolled oats
½ Oat Flour
½ Cup unsweetened shredded coconut (Whole Foods carries a dehydrated shredded coconut, I also pick up at Asian market)
¼ Cup white sesame seeds
¼ Cup Oat Bran Flakes (crumble them up)
¼ CupSliced almonds (I used whole it’s what I had)
¼ Cup Hazelnuts
¼ Cup chopped pecans
¼ Cup pistachio nuts
2 Tablespoons Cacao nibs
2 Tablespoons Goji Berries ( I used Cranberries)
2 Tablespoons golden berries ( I don’t know what these are so it wasn’t added)
2 Tablespoons dried mulberries (I couldn’t find this)
1 Tablespoon Acai powder (Whole Foods carries)
Granulated Stevia extract equivalent to ¾ cup sugar
 ( I did not follow this, I used splenda and only used ½ cup)
2 Tablespoons Canola Oil
½ Cup light Agave
** I added 1 heaping Tablespoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar, and 1 heaping Tablespoon of Maple syrup**

Preheat oven to 300F
I measured the sugars, the agave, oil and my additions and mixed in measuring cup.
I tossed all the above then I mixed in syrup mixture, mix well

Spread evenly unto pan I used a ¼ sheet and silpat so that I didn’t have to spray the pan. Bake until golden brown 45 minutes to an hour keep an eye on it.

Cool completely break and keep in container.

Kalua Pig Ravioli my way

Yesterday I made a batch of Kalua Pig.

We ate what we wanted then, I started to Food Saver and make small bags and toss in freezer for another day.

Well, wondering what to do with the batch in fridge, I had some wonton Pi and well here we have it.,

Kalua Pig Ravioli my way.

Half batch of Blueberry Scones

Small batch of Blueberry Scones

Adapted from Martha Stewart's Recipe

I cut the recipe in half.

They aren't as beautiful as the Maple Oat ones but oh boy these were good.



Pork Sparerib Adobo Momofuku style with Octo-Vini

I'm a fan of Momofuku, I think David Chang is an awesome Chef.

Although I haven't had the opportunity to fly back east and go to his establishments after going through his cookbook I can imagine.

Since I understand far east ingredients it's simple it imagine the taste and impact to the dish.

So here I did the typical Filipino Adobo with Spareribs.  I think of my mom when I make this, because she could make a real good pot of Ilocano Adobo.  She'd adobo anything to be quite frank. 

So I used Momofuku's Octo-Vinaigrette and voila!!!! 

My daughter and hubby loved it.



Maple Oat Scones

I love Maple Oat Scones

We spent holiday at my brother in law's house in Monterey so I cooked a few times.

I whipped these up shaped and pre-cut and they came out delicious.

They had roasted some almonds which I used 2/3 cup to put in these. 

They came out light and the glaze was perfect.

Recipe to follow



Miso Glazed Salmon Filet with Sake Butter (Buerre Blanc)

We don't have a Cheesecake Factory .....so Haumea's Kitchen Factory went to work.

So here we have a Miso Glazed Salmon Filet with a Sake Butter ( Buerre Blanc)

and Saffron Rice.

In the back was some Dungeness Crab that I shelled the whole thing.

I took the Crab Butter (da boogie) added 2 T butter a pinch of thyme, chive and a small dab of jalapeno for a little heat.  I freeze the jalapeno's now, because I don't like spicy hot just like the flavor of the heat.  Add half a lemon and that goes on the crab.

I will re configure the recipe for the miso glaze and procedure I used to make the skin crispy.

Bon Appetit! 

Tamales

Made Tamales last Friday, you know I only make these twice a year too much work

My version of Spanish Rice....my way of course, I use some Capalleni noodles and toast those up before I put the Tomato Paste then off to the rice cooker it goes.

My shredded Short Rib filling simmered 2 hours with mexican seasoning

My masa

Before going into the steamer for an hour

Then I made my Enchilada sauce, a friend of mine showed me how to make my own....love it.

Cabernet Braised Short Ribs

Saute'd Veggies, Yellow Zucchini, Carrots, Caramelized Crimini and Chives

Cabernet Sauvignon Braised Shortribs 

Kobacha Squash Risotto