Gourmet Garden

Thin Country Quiche...

2007-11-08T17:43:00.000-08:00

Dad requested something simple and homemade, and so this thin quiche is what I prepared for a 16 persons- meeting. I made the basic pie dough, blind baked it. Roasted the cubed bell peppers, red onions, squash and apple , flavored it with rosemary, oregano and dried basil, salt and pepper. After the dough as been half baked, poured over my cream-and-egg mixture to bind the quiche, arranged the roasted vegetables and fruit, topped it with cottage cheese and soft cheddar, baked it at 35o F for half and hour . Cooled the quiche, sliced into about 18 squares for extra servings. Simple and country.

Cooking is fun when you try to use what is available around you, then that is seasonality-fresh and homemade.

Pumpkin-Eggplant Mash with Meatball Dumpling...

2007-10-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

So perfeft for the Halloween, something thats comforting and warm to have. This is actually a side dish prepared by mom one time we only had vegetables to eat for an afternoon snack. The pumpkin was peeled, boiled until tender to mash , the eggplant was roasted for extra flavor, peeled and combine with the pumpkin. She seasoned it with black pepper and salt, a little minced garlic, topped with a simple pork dumpling wrapped with molo wrapper. We had a great time chatting and finishing our snacks...

Yam Tops (greens) with White Onions and Tomato

2007-09-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

Allow me to call this "Talbos ng Camote (yam tops) with onions and tomato dressed in a very light vinaigrette, finished with a ground black pepper. The green element on my plate was freshly picked from the garden and
was quickly poached and immersed in ice water to stop the cooking and have good texture. I wish it is an heirloom tomato , just a piece I grabbed from the vegetable basket and white onions that was medium-cubed.
The starter is great when eaten with grilled fish. The vinaigrette wich composed of lime-and-lemon juice, oilive oil, salt and pepper with a hint of sweetness from table sugar gave it a higher level. The tangy and sweet
taste of the dressing helps in the cleansing ability of the appetizer.

S q u a s h - E g g p l a n t Parmigiana...

2007-09-14T20:26:00.000-07:00

This post is just perfectly in connection to my first batch of seeds which included the squash seed although I have not tried saving some eggplant seeds which is quite bold and adventurous of me to be able to dry at least a small batch from mom's kitchen. I could not help but use pasta since it works well with produces of such wich hightens seasonality and quality. Please give me time to grow my own and I promise to show you the baby ones when it starts to sprout. Ofcourse , grabbed about 5 big wedges of raw squash and about 3 medium sized eggplants, drizzled some olive oil, seasoned it with salt and peppper. My son has fallen in love with mom's passion and along with his nanny, they roasted the veggies for me. I pureed it in the foodprocessor with the binders- an egg, bread crumbs, some dried rosemary and thyme, worcestershore sauce,a little chilli sauce, a little flour and salt and pepper. Made irregular-shaped patties and pan fried in olive oil. They worked perfectly together and tasted great. The pasta was tossed in caramelized onions, garlic and basil, lots of really ripe tomatoes and once again another layer of salt and peppper. It has quite a thin type of sauce but the richnesso f the vegetable parmigianna added body and more flavor. Finished the dish with slices of tomatoes and a basil leaf...

C u r r y Coconut Spaghetti and C u r r y...

2007-09-06T18:31:00.000-07:00

I try to go out of town once a week and explore the beauty of the Philiipines and Tagaytay is one place I go to whenever. I think I would not have time to grow this one of a kind Curry Plant to orient myself to this kind of spice. It is amazing that such flavor comes from this plant which is widely used in the middles east. What could be more gourmet with a plate of Curry Coconut Spaghetti. This is made from sauteed onions and garlic in browned butter, pork strips, I added some tomatoes and peppers, lots of coconut milk, curry powder that goes well with coconut , a little tomato sauce and of course salt and pepper. Generously topped it with grated cheese. As much as I wanted to use the fresh curry leaves, I thought Id research on it and discover how to utilize the fresh one...

Sun dried seeds...

2007-09-03T00:56:00.000-07:00

Starting my gourmet garden is a challenge and I admit that I have to start collecting seeds which is thefoundation of most produces. I have stated in my food blog- chef kc, that I do have a fruit basket alwaysfilled with fruits in season and now I appreciate having them around. Patiently keeping the seeds afterconsuming even just a piece is an effort which may cost millions in the future, as the saying goes, "You reapwhat you sow". I have hear 4 different kinds of seeds which are from the fruits of Guyabano,, Grapefruitand dalandan and one for now I honestly could recognize. They were sundried and ready for planting.I had them wrapped in small envelopes to ensure its dryness, dad said that the best time to plant them is duringthe rainy season so the soil absorbs the natural water from the rain. Till then...

Basil & Meatball Spaghetti...

2007-08-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

Basil is the ultimate compliment to tomatoes, and also pairs beautifully with onions, garlic and olives. It stimulates the appetite and helps curb flatulence, perhaps another reason why it works so well with garlic. This pasta dish highly recommends fresh basil because you get better flavor and you tend to have a more beautiful plate.

The basil plant was long grown 3 months ago, this was actually introduced to me by dad who has a greeen thumb, amazing. He taught me how to cultivate soil and to always moisten it so herbs grow faster. I had my basil planted in a rectangular shape plant box so everytime I will make an italian dish, I can always bring it inside the kitchen. Gardening is really rewarding and theraputic...try it.