CHRISTMAS FOOD INDULGENCE (FESTIVE WAYS)

CHRISTMAS SEASON- a time for festivity. People gathers everywhere, bonds together, sharing gifts and more- eating sumptuous food together. Traditionally, family gathers and cooks food together before Christmas eve just like mine, we all busy preparing foods requested by some of our family members mostly  from my children. Dada and I do the job of planning the menu, buying ingredients from our favorite store and of course the cooking session.

For this season we planned to have the following menu for christmas:

CHRISTMAS EVE

BEEF LASAGNA

Ingredients:

1 table spoon of olive oil

Cracked black pepper

½ pint of beef stock or similar

500g of lean steak mince

100g of mushrooms

1 large chopped red onion

¼ clove of garlic (or to taste)

15 grams of tomato concentrate

1 tin of quality chopped tomatoes

1 packet of lasagna sheets/preferably green, (Verdi)

150g of grated chedder

20g of butter

25g of plain flour

White Sauce

300ml of milk

150g of grated chedder

20g of butter

25g of plain flour

 Heres how:

1. Whilst heating the pan on a low heat with the oil chop the onion and finely chop the garlic. Add the onions and turn up the heat to sweat for 30 seconds, then add the garlic. Immediately start breaking up the mince into the pan. Stir continuously until golden brown. Some of the mince will start to water, feel free to drain any excess water for a lower fat option; add the pepper to your taste.

2. Add the chopped tomato and the tomato concentrate and then the mushrooms once the tomato is consistently spread; add the beef stock and leave on a simmer heat whilst preparing the white sauce.

3. Melt the butter in a pan being careful not to burn and sieve flour into the butter to avoid lumps and stir to consistency, add the milk. Stirring on a low heat will avoid any issues.Once to a medium heat slowly add the cheese, stirring continuously, add more cheese to taste.

4. Better to use a Pyrex dish, but simply layer the meat, then pasta, then white sauce, then pasta, then meat and so on. The more pasta you use the drier the dish and likelihood of the lasagna keeping its form when cut into portions, but do try not to overlap pasta when creating your layers.

5. Make sure there is a white sauce layer on the top and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. At this point feel free to add Italian herbs, grated bread crumbs, chilli flakes and parmesan to your taste.

6. Bake in the oven at 180c  for 45-60 minutes and use a butter knife to push through to understand if the pasta has cooked.

7. Serve with a crusty bread role or a rocket side salad, but the most important thing… yet more parmesan!

STIR FRIED SHRIMP

Ingredients:

I- Marinate 

• 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined (i usually cleaned up without shelling)
• 2 tsp Rice wine (if not available try sherry or gin)
• 2 teaspoons lower-sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
• 
  
• Saute:
• 1 tablespoon canola oil or veggie oil 
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 1/2 cup (1-inch) slices green onions
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
• 1/2 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth 
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon dark sesame oil(if not available you try butter;)
• seasoning (oyster sauce/maggi magic sarap)
• little salt to taste 
• 
  
• for garnishing:
• Cilantro sprigs (optional)
• 
  
• Here's how:
• 1.) Do marinating 
• 2.) Saute : canola oil, ginger, garlic, onions, pepper then add the marinated shrimps. Stir fry.
• 3.) Mix chicken broth, cornstarch and sugar pour over the sauteed shrimps, let it cook for 5 minutes
• 4.) season with oyster sauce /maggi magic sarap
• 5.) add sesami oil or butter. let it cook for another 2 minutes or until done
• 5.)garnish with cilantro sprigs or any of your choice

• 

  CREAMY BEEF POCHERO
  (Hubby says this recipe taste like stew. . .  hehehe sorry i just love cream)

• Ingredients:
• 1 kilo beef, cut into cubes
• 6 potatoes, cut into cubes
• 200 grams tomato sauce
• 4 garlic gloves, chopped
• 1 small onion, quartered
• 4 tablespoons fish sauce(patis)
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1 small can evap milk (i love it creamy)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 pieces banana(saba), sliced halves
• 1 small bundle, green beans, trimmed
• 1 small chinese cabbage, quartered
• 1 bundle bok choy or pechay
• cooking oil
• 
  
• Here's how:
• I- In a pot, arrange beef with 1 liter of water. Bring to boil and simmer until the beef is tender.
• II-. In a pan, heat oil and fry potatoes. Drain and set aside.
• III- Do the Following
• 1. In a same pan, saute garlic and onion, add in beef and stir cook until color changes.
• 2. Add in soy sauce, tomato sauce and fish sauce, stir cook for 2-3 minutes.
• 3. Add in beef stock, bring to and simmer until beef absorb the taste, add more water as necessary.
• 4. Add potato and evap milk then simmer until potato are tender.
• 5. Add in banana and other vegetables, cook for 3-5 minutes or until vegetables are cooked.
• 6. Season with salt and pepper according taste and bring to boil.
• 7. Serve

For our dessert I usually have the following:

Leche flan (our fave)

Cakes (whatever left orders, but i do usually pineapple carrot cake and choco moist cake)

Fruit salad ( i go for fresh fruits with almonds)

Macaroons con Pineapples
Revel Bars 

1.