What's Cookin'--- Pork Steak With Basil& Mushroom Sauce

And let the cooking begin! This is my first recipe to be posted here on Blogger. I thought of CRAVINGS to be my title simply because, most of my recipes are experimented thru the taste I wanted to achieve. I can cook a regular Sinigang, but I make sure I add something to make a distinction saying: "hey! that is my recipe"
Most of my recipes are passed-over by my Mom and Grandmother who rooted all the way from Pampanga. Pure Kapampangan. And they are very famous for their native- cooking expertise.
I also post some recipes from the cookbook. That is, if I was able to get the right result. I am also into gourmet cooking. Fresh herbs are my thing. I keep a bunch of fresh basil in my crisper all the time. For it is the most flexible herb. Gourmet caters to most of my family's occasions.
Sometimes you'll find me cooking late at night trying a recipe or again, experimenting. Like this Pork Steak I will share today. I gathered the ingredients available in my freezer, crisper and pantry. I was stirring 3am in the morning. Boy do I make our neighbors hungry while they're asleep :) Weird for somebody cooking at this time :) I can't help it!

Moving On! I now introduce to you....

Pork Steak with Basil & Mushroom Sauce

What You Will Be Needing:

4 slices of Pork Steak
1 can button mushrooms (fresh is better)
a handful of fresh basil (- the stems) (chopped if desired)
1 red bell pepper (sliced o chopped if desired)
salt & pepper (to taste)
3 tbsp. Oyster Sauce
1 whole garlic (chopped or minced)
2 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch mixed in 1 taza of tap water
2tbsp olive oil (for sauteeing)

How To:
1. Treat Pork with salt and pepper
2.Pan fry until golden brown

note:you can use regular oil for frying.

3. Set aside pork in a serving platter

4. In a sauce pan saute garlic in olive oil until golden brown
5. Add chopped mushrooms
6. Add oyster sauce (medium heat, Keep stirring)
7. Add cornstarch Mixture (low fire)
8. Taste---add salt and pepper if needed
9. If all thick and perfect, add the fresh basil or (you can all top it first on the pork, then the sauce)
10.Top over the pork
11. Add red bell pepper to garnish

Best served with a platter of Fresh garden Salad & Vinaigrette.

Enjoy!Happy Eating!

Big Hugs!

Edited---I will be using What's Cookin' for my ecipes :)

Christmas Thoughts and Shopping-edited

  Last year was fun. My in-laws watched us open our presents online :) Then they saw the Christmas dinner table. We exchanged greetings and even reminded each other to hear mass on this special day.

Speaking of Christmas and presents, I officially started my Christmas shopping. While looking for a nice Christmas wrapper, I accidentally bumped a rack of this cutie paper bag.

All I can say was "you were meant for me...(wink-wink)" it's cuteness everywhere. My son helped me pick the bags too. It's accidental to have passed at this side of the store. Some people were blocking the main path going to the wrapping section, so I went around. I don't really know what to use it for, I bought a lot thinking, I might use it for future gift giving.


The special ones? I have 2 nieces and a nephew. Looking something for the kids isn't that hard. You'll just have to know their age, their interests and buy something that will be useful for them even after Christmas. One thing I love is giving multiple presents. This is where "smart buying" comes in.

• It's not necessarily buying something cheap or way too expensive.
• Every year, a budget should always be allotted. May it be big or small. It will help lower the stress level.
• And it will take more than a day finding the right present. Even for a person who has tons of cash. Window shopping is my partner in this kind of situation.

My purpose of giving out more than 1 present, is to see them enjoy tear the wrapper with anticipation on what's inside knowing that there's another to open. I saw it with my son. I want every little kid I know or my future children, to experience those simple joys. My theme this year are Disney's Princesses for the girls and Superhero characters (Marvel & DC) for the boys including my son.

Looking at the princesses made me want a girl for my next child :).

With regards to the gifts for the grown-ups, I really spend for them. One gift of value is good. But I'm still thinking... I want to make it individually this year. Last Christmas we gave presents by couple.


Here are samples of my "almost" Xmas Presents. I used metallic. Plain but will make your loved one remember you... Almost? because I'm still thinking if I should tie a ribbon or just buy a ready- made bow & sash. What do you think?

Well, there goes my Christmas thoughts on gift giving. I also plan to prepare some goodie bags for the children for our Christmas party. It will add some more excitement. The laughter of the kids alone, makes Christmas joyous and worth remembering.

HighSchool Musical I'll Miss...

The girls (yours truly & Ella) had a night of HSM last Saturday. The boys (father & son) had their own too.

Finally I was able to watch it! I went all the way to Robinsons Galleria late that evening just to be able to see this flick... I'm now a fulfilled person. I followed these kids from the very beginning. I enjoyed the first, fell in love with the second, and almost cried with the third.

The movie went well. Now or Never, A Night To Remember and Dance With Me are my favorites.

It's nice that they made the expected finale the beginning. The dance moves? Woooooohhhhhh...The best of all HSM. By the way, Zac Efron is a perfect future superman. Keywords-Tree house. The roof top scene was lovely and sweet.

I love Gabriella's dresses, sexy but nice. Sharpay, still cute. You just can't get mad at her. Chad, happy to see him do basketball and theater together. I particularly like the fact they brought the basketball dance on stage with Chad as lead.

This HSM was the ultimate musical. Every scene had either a song or dance number. I got teary eyed as the camera focused on each character. The kids are growing, they can't do HSM forever.

As what the director said Kenny Ortega: The feeling is like a parent seeing his children go to college. Go to conquer Hollywood.

*I read online that Ashley Tisdale is going to do HSM on Disney Channel. They also introduced some characters for the new HSM series. Matt Prokop, Justin Martin, Jemma McKenzie-Brown

My Childhood Sweet Delights

I was out half of the day doing some grocery shopping. Part of it, was getting some sweets for my little boy. My buy today was kinda half for Franky & half for Momma kind of thing.  I was also looking for something to nibble while I do my blogs in the evening. As I was breezing through the shelf of goodies, I saw some familiar ones that I used to buy in the sari-sari store as a kid. I got really excited. The Ice candy costs 2 bucks each before. Orange Swits? It's everywhere! The bus vendors in Edsa has it too. These sweets remind me of my childhood days in Sta. Mesa Manila...
The size we're used to, is just too small for our big tummy.

My grandmother would always give me and my brother change to buy the candies we want. Orange Swits has always been our favorite. Up to now, my husband & I would still buy it. We love munching it while taking a stroll.

And who will turn down an  Egg Pie.

I prefer buying Egg Pies from the local bakery. There's just something to it that attaches me from being such an old-school person. Every morning, whoever's going to buy pandesal, a fresh egg pie would always come with it. Kung sino man ang dadaan sa bakery, kahit hindi talaga bibili nagbibilin ako palagi ng egg pie. Anybody who'll pass by the bakery, " I would say "buy me an egg pie". Love it! It's already 20 bucks a piece. They sell a box in Goldilocks. But I like it straight from the oven of a bakery nearby. Wrapped in a brown paper bag. I shared an egg pie moment last Saturday with my husband. While eating, we talked purely about our nothingness. It was all bonding, relaxation and music.

He played me some tunes while eating...Thanks Egg Pie for a wonderful, sweet- loving night.

I Rode Galactic!

Definitely a sweet nothing. First time I saw this ride years back, I swore I will never try it. We went to Star City again last night. I didn't recognize it, so I went ahead with my husband. While being buckled up, I asked the person beside me if it's the ride that spins and tilts both at the same time. He said: Yes it is. The ride I promised myself not to try. It was too late to back out, it was already moving. I got scared at first, I couldn't look straight or even open my eyes. But as the spin went faster, i tried and looked up, it wasn't that bad at all. I went for a second round with my sister. After that, my tummy gave up. He!he!he!

Slow mo look

actual from the camera

My husband took this photo while I'm there riding with my sister. I never thought that this is how it looked like. Literally, while you're up there, you'll feel like you're time traveling just like the ones we see in movies. I rode this 2 times in a row, oh yeah! I experienced it (pat on the back). I was spinning, but it is the ultimate high ever.

Halloween 2008

It was a one hectic Halloween night and day for us because of our busy week, we didn't had the time to look for costumes.

My husband dropped me off in Glorietta after lunch. In a way, it was my "ME" moment. I asked my sister to babysit. I went window shopping, bought some hair accessories and a shirt. Anyway, my window shopping ate up my time looking for our costumes. I rushed and found an almost empty Halloween rack. In other words, there was little to choose from.

I ended up buying at the kid's section just to get a witch's hat. Lucky for my husband, there was a Phantom mask available to match his black cape.

After shopping, I needed to go to The Enterprise building (where my husband was) to change. The Taxi Bay line was oh-so long. So, I called my husband if he could pick me up. To my surprise, the walk way from Greenbelt extends up to the Enterprise Building. With all the walking and rushing. I was completely famished. We had some hotdogs at the Food Park, and went up to his office.

It was my first time to visit my husband's new work place. The environment was friendly, his office was very private. I met some of his friends, and his boss was delighted to see me. Everyone was preparing for the Shake, Rattle and Run night.

With Cow & Chicken after the run. They were very generous for some photos. Thank You guys!

After the fun run, we had dinner at Caffe Puccini. Caffe Puccini featured Dinosaurs of actual size in front of their restaurant. We will be going back to take Franky, he is very fond of Dinosaurs.

Pizza Margarita
Pizza Pesto

The Fort was filled up of party people in costumes. The kids were having fun. I see myself in them when I was their age. From The Fort, we went home to check on Franky and to change. Boss invited us at 168 for another round. This time... it's party fun, for War Rock!

Addicted To War Rock

Last night, I ended halloween joining the boys play War Rock at 168, Makati. It was my first time to play this game. My husband and his co-workers introduced me to it. I was hesitant at first, because it looks a lot like Counter Strike, and I got bored with CS sometime ago already. But for my husband, I gladly tried. The group started playing around 1am, finished around 6 in the morning.

 

The main goal for one of the games is to have the most kills. A number of kills is set from 100 to 200. The first team who reaches the required number, wins. I chose to be the Medic. Well, first and foremost, the medic is a girl. Second, she has the ability to heal herself and her team mates.

The type of game I play? Assault. I like hunting for the enemy and kill them with a snap. Since a time is set for each game, I take advantage of it by experimenting on some tactics that I could use for future battles. You can't stick to one, the enemy will eventually study your moves.

Now, I am set to create my character, joining the "bu" group of 168.