I may still be the traditional slow cooker, meaning I love cooking for hours using my trusty enameled cast iron dutch ovens and pans... but lately I've been curious about modern slow cookers aka crockpots...

Came across these two related articles on foods we should buy organic and foods that we do not have to buy organic.

Here's a summary:

Buy Organic

• Meat - Organic meat however is not yet readily available in our markets. Or is it? Please comment if you know. I saw organic pork sold in Fresh! Supermarkets but they are sooooo expensive.
• Milk - "Pesticides and other man-made chemicals have been found in human breast milk, so it should come as no surprise that they have been found in dairy products, too. While any residues detected have been rare, and of low concentration, milk is of special concern because it is a staple of a child's diets."
• Coffee - Go a step or two further, and look for the Fair Trade Certified label to ensure that your purchase supports farmers who are paid fairly and treated well. And look for shade-grown varieties for the trifecta: Then you know the coffee is being grown under the canopy of the rainforest, leaving those ancient trees intact, along with the wildlife -- particularly songbirds -- that call them home.
• Peaches
• Apples
• Sweet bell peppers - Peppers have thin skins that don't offer much of a barrier to pesticides. They're often heavily sprayed with insecticides.
• Celery
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Kale
• Grapes
  
• Leafy Greens - This one is easy. They are available in Salcedo Market every Saturday!
• Carrots
• Pears
• Potatoes

• Onions
• Avocado
• Sweet corn
• Pineapple
• Mango
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas
• Kiwi Fruit
• Cabbage
• Eggplant
• Papaya
• Watermelon
• Broccolli - Look for tightly bunched flower buds on the broccoli stalks that are immature. In other words, try not to buy them if their little yellow flowers have opened. Color-wise, the broccoli should be deep green and the stalks should be firm and not rubbery. Before use, wash in a cool water bath and change the water a couple of times in the process. Store in the refrigerator crisper.
• Sweet Potatoes

Got to cook Osso Bucco but used different recipes as inspiration/ideas on how to cook my own version of Osso Bucco.

• 1 kilo Beef shanks (with bone marrow!)
• Flour for dredging
• Salt and pepper
• 4 tbsp olive oil, divided
  
• 2 white onions, diced
• 2 cloves garlic,chopped
• 1 big carrot, diced 1/2 inch big
• 1/2 cup 1/2 inch diced celery stalks
• Stalks of rosemary, thyme, tied with a string (bouquet garni)
  
• 3 pcs bay leaves
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 3 cups chicken stalk
• 1 small can crushed tomatoes (1 tbsp tomato paste if you prefer)
  

I wish I have this!!!

I got inspired by Elie Krieger's Buffalo Chicken Salad, but I didn't have all the ingredients found in the recipe. I just made the most of what I have in my depleted pantry (no grocery for a week due to our hospital stay!).

Simple Buffalo Chicken Salad



Ingredients

* 2 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
* 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper hot sauce (or other hot sauce), plus more to taste
* 2 teaspoons olive oil
* Hearts of Romaine Lettuce cut into 1-inch strips
* 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
* Half a carrot, coarsely grated
* 1/2 cup Blue Cheese Dressing - store-bought

Directions

Preheat the broiler. Put the chicken between 2 sheets of waxed paper and pound with a mallet or hammer so the chicken is an even thickness of about 3/4-inch, then cut the chicken crosswise into 1/2-inch strips. In a large bowl, combine the hot sauce and the oil, add chicken and toss until the chicken is well coated. Arrange the chicken on a baking sheet and broil until it is cooked through, about 4 to 6 minutes, turning once.

In a large bowl combine the Romaine, celery, and shredded carrots. Toss with the dressing. Add the chicken pieces. Serve with extra hot sauce.

Click on the link above for the full recipe of Ellie Krieger.

I don't know what this is called, so I just named it Sashimi pate. Anyway, I first tried this during my Uncle's birthday, and got the recipe from my Aunt. This is a great appetizer, serve this with fried "siomai" wrappers or any chips you want (crisped pita bread is ok too!).



Sashimi Pate

Mix together the following:
1 cup diced A-grade tuna (used for Sashimi)
1 Tbsp Kikkoman soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp Garlic Chili sauce
1 Tbsp Lemon juice
1 tsp wasabi powder (depends on your taste)
1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
Chopped chives
*1 Tbsp real mayonnaise. I didn't add mayo in mine.



Enjoy!

I posted pictures of the latest food that I have book in Facebook, and there were quite a number of requests for the recipe of the Chicken with Mushroom Cream Sauce.

So, without further ado... here it is. I hope I remember it right!



Ingredients:

3 tbsp butter, divided
5-6 breast fillets
2 cups sliced cremini mushrooms (baby portobello)
2/3 cup chicken stock
2/3 cup white wine (dry)
2/3 cup cream
1 tbsp fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
salt and pepper to taste

heat 2 tablespoons butter and add the chicken fillet. brown on both sides, then add the sliced cremini mushrooms. set aside the mushrooms and chicken.

add another tablespoon of butter to the pan, then mix in 2/3 cup chicken stock, 2/3 cup wine, thyme, salt and pepper. scrape the bottom bits. once boiled, simmer for 5 minutes. then stir in 2/3 cup cream and simmer for another 2 minutes or so. then add back the chicken and mushrooms.

Serve with arugula salad (extra virgin olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper)

enjoy!

For only $ 110.00 from Payless Cookware. Hope it's good quality?

Or, this big splurge from Le Creuset


Enameled Cast Iron Reversible Griddle

Two pantry "musts" (for those who are not that health-conscious hehehe) I discovered in Pioneer Center over the weekend...

Del Monte Petite Cut Dices Tomatoes with Zesty Jalapeno


Great for making salsas. I made one by just adding some lime juice, very little cilantro, salt, pepper, and a little sprinkling of chili flakes. You'll love it.

Nutritional Analysis: C- (Found HERE).



Cheetos Crunchy Cheddar Jalapeno



Balance between the original and the spicy versions. Love it!

Nutritional Analysis: D+ (Found HERE)


Yes, I know.. these are considered "junk food." I'd still recommend it once in a while! :)

Hope you enjoy this... these were my own concoctions, of course inspired by the food shows I've been watching.

Grilled Steak



Ingredients
2 slices of 1-inch thick sirloin, rib eye (my favorite), or tenderloin
1 Tsp salt each steak
1/2 Tsp ground black pepper each steak
1 Tsp ground mustard each steak
3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Marinade the steaks with above ingredients. Heat grill. Grill until preferred done-ness is achieved. I cooked mine for around 4 minutes each side.



Cauliflower Gratin



Ingredients
1/2 kilo cauliflower, chopped into smaller florettes
1 white onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2-3 cups milk
1 Tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tbsp butter

Heat butter in a pan. Saute onions, then add garlic when onions are transparent already. Add the cauliflower and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the milk and nutmeg. Bring to a boil. Add the cheese. Salt and Pepper to taste.

Transfer everything in a shallow pan. Broil (or bake, whatever you like) at 200C for 10-15 minutes, until bubbly and when top slightly browns.