Tuna and Capers Pasta

Tuna and Capers Pasta

KCC February Challenge: Filipino Aphrodisiac Foods

This month’s KCC Cooking Challenge is: Filipino Aphrodisiac Food. The first thing that came to my mind is the Soup No#5 and Balut!!! I’m not sure if I’m ready to make that soup yet and I haven’t even tasted it in the first place. And for the balut, I’m scared of the little bird to tell you that truth. I only eat the balut penoy because I’m not fond of the bird!

The next thing that came to my mind are strawberries and chocolate. Sexy… 

So here’s my take: It is going to be a tweaked CREMA de FRUTA! So it will the Choco-Crema de Berry. Basically it is the same base cake, then the crema topped with  chocolate ganache, layered with strawberries and blueberries and finished off with a clear gelatin.

Ingredients:

Cream 

• 1 can evaporated milk
• 1 can condensed milk
• 6 egg yolks
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp lemon extract
• 2 tbsp butter

Mix everything and cook over a double boiler until thick. Set aside and let it cool.

Cake

• 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 6 eggs whites
• 6 egg yolk, lightly beaten

1) Pre-heat oven at 400C.

2) Sift the 1st first 4 ingredients and set aside.

3) Beat the egg whites until stiff

4) Fold in egg yolk and vanilla.

5) Add the dry ingredients and blend well.

Transfer to a clear baking dish. Filled it quarter of the way. Bake for 12 minutes or until done.

It's lightly browned and the toothpick should come out clean when inserted in the center.

Ganache

• 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 3/4 cup milk
• 4 tbsp butter

Simmer milk. Add chocolate and butter. Stir constantly until everything is well blended and melted.

Spread the cream. Top it with the ganache.

Finish off with unflavored gelatin to have the shiny coated look. I use Knoxx and just follow the directions in the package. Let it set for about 3 hours in the fridge.

Adobo Calamari

This dish is one of the "Express Meals" - again. I wanted to eat some sort of seafood and the squid caught my fancy. And tonight, I have to make dinner in a flash again.

I remember my mom used to make this and this is very quick and easy.

Ingredients:

8-12 medium sized Squid

½ tsp Vinegar (to take off the fishy smell)

1 tbsp. olive oil

Wash squid. Take off the eyes and "teeth". Drain.

• Put the squid in shallow pan until it boils.
• When it starts to simmer, add vinegar.
• When it starts to boil, add oil.

Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from fire. (Don't overcook as the meat will become chewy)

Adobo Calamari in bed of Israeli Couscous with asparagus and oyster sauce