Caramelized Onions!!!

I love onions! Call me bad breath grrrl but there's simply no way I'd give up eating onions (and garlic too!). My favorites are onion rings and caramelized onions. The latter is a classic "side dish" that adds a deep, rich flavor to everything from sandwiches to roasted meats. The trick in making it is slow, lengthy cooking -- so patience is required -- which I do not have! LOL! Here's a recipe from FoodPals.com ... Happy cooking! =)

1. Place 2 to 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (or half oil, half unsalted butter) in a heavy 10-inch skillet or pot over very low heat. Add 1 1/2 to 2 pounds sliced onions (1 pound of raw onions yields about 1 cup caramelized). The onions will be 2 to 3 inches deep; stir to coat with oil. Cover tightly and cook over very low heat, stirring occasionally, for 45 to 60 minutes, until completely softened and beginning to brown.

2. Increase the heat to medium; remove the lid and add 1 cup liquid (water, wine, or broth), scraping the pan to loosen any browned bits on the pan's bottom. Cook until the liquid evaporates and the onions are a deep caramel brown color.

VARIATION: Quick Caramelized Onions
Cook sliced onions as in the preceding recipe, only increase the heat to medium or medium-high. Cover and stir often until the onions are softened and beginning to brown. Remove the lid; sprinkle the onions with 1 to 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, stirring to combine. Continue to cook until the onions are caramelized as desired.

VARIATION: Caramelized Onions Balsamico
Stir 1 to 2 tablespoons good quality balsamic vinegar into the caramelized onions; cook until liquid evaporates.

are fastfood chicken sandwich safe?

Watch the video and find out! If you can't think of any fastfood chicken sandwich, think of KFC's yummy chicken burgers.. Mmmm good! *drooling saliva*

audio FOOD ads, anyone?

So, you noticed? I mean, the yummy visual FOOD ads I've put up in this blog. Hehe! In my money blog, I've been putting up ads like crazy, changing every now and then the companies I advertise. But here, in a food blog, delicious food ads rule! Hehe! Cheeses and jelly beans are my fave foods ever since I was young so these are the two ads I put up. If you love them too, go order! LOL! =) Anyway, my "real" subject for today (no recipe, sorry!) is the use of audio ads. If you're interested, read on! If not, hop on to my next post which has a delectable dish recipe for you to try =)

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We all know that most of a blog or website's income come from ads (Google, TLA, Bidvertiser, etc). Affiliate marketing ads (my food ads belong here) are also the rage these days. Unfortunately, mature internet users now have "ad blindness" -- that is, they don't click on the ad because they know it's an ad. Unless they really want that cappuccino jelly beans or gourmet cheeses & chocolates on my ads, hehe! So, how will I earn from every visitor in my blog now? AUDIO ADS! Your visitor doesn't have to click anything, the ad just plays instantly if the visitor IP is valid. And the ads are unobtrusive, just 5sec! Interested? The go to AudioAdHosting.com =) You can also earn as an affiliate from them if you don't like to put audio ads in your sites.

super yummy sizzling squid in MACKY's!

If you're from Davao City, there's this not-so brand-new small restaurant in front JS Citimall (okay it's GS now but JS is more sosyal, lol!) along Ilustre St. named MACKY's. One lunch time, Labsie and I went in and ordered their super yummy Sizzling Squid (pictured above) and Grilled Porkchop. Our total bill? A measly P128! In other restos, that would just get you 1 squid order. MACKY's is truly light on the pocket and heavy on the tastebuds. Can't wait to come back! =) You can view their full menu HERE. If you'd like to cook your own sizzling squid, you need to have a grill (an electric or gas grill is fine), sizzling plate and super yummy sauce. Here's the recipe:

INGREDIENTS

1 pc. big squid
2 slices ginger, julienned (cut into thin strips)
1/2 tsp. salt
3 cloves garlic
1tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. sugar
1 tbsp. vinegar

STEPS

Combine salt, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic and sugar in a bowl.
Marinate squid in the mixture for half a day.
Grill to almost done, but not quite, basting regularly with the marinade.
Slice into rings. Transfer to a heated up sizzling plate.
Pour a little marinade over the grilled squid and serve.

YUMMY! =) If you have your own secret grilling sauce, you can use that actually. You can even use the gravy for steaks to make it really sizzle when you pour it on the squid. Remember, when you cook, it's all about experimentation and what works for you. Don't follow recipes to the letter -- improvise, innovate, experiment! =)

crunchy cereals!

I love eating cereals in the morning (my fave is the frosty cornflakes) but I hate it when the flakes turn soggy when I'm not finished eating yet. Ruins my day! And then today, I stumbled on Coolest-Gadgets.com the EatMeCrunchy Bowl (pictured above). It apparently solves your soggy cereals! Here's how it works:

The concept behind this revolutionary breakfast bowl is forehead-slappingly simple. A removable shelf covers 70% of the bowl’s base, holding the cereal above the milk. All you have to do is eat your cereal from the shelf-less section of the bowl where the cereal and milk meet, pushing the cereal in as required.

You can buy the EatMeCrunchy Bowl for $10.20 (£4.95) from Firebox =) Not so cheap eh? LOL! Still, if it makes my mornings happier..

Scrambled Eggs ala Microwave!

Full article HERE. Thought I'd share this helpful cooking how-to with you guys! I've been "frying" eggs by microwave so that I won't use oil (less cholesterol, definitely healthier!) but I haven't tried scrambled eggs until this how-to came along. Love it! =)

Ingredients

2 eggs per person
1 tablespoon of water or milk per egg
1 tablespoon of butter or cooking spray
salt and pepper

Steps

1. Spray or grease a microwave safe bowl with cooking spray or butter. If you do this, the egg batter will not stick to the bowl in the cooking process.

2. Crack eggs into the bowl. Whip them with a fork or whisk.

3. Place in the microwave and cook for 30 seconds. Remove, as they will be partially formed (see Warnings below). Use your fork and stir them gently, so that the uncooked blends in with the still loose egg. Set the eggs back in the microwave.

4. Microwave the eggs for about 10 seconds and check them. If they're not ready for your taste or are too liquidly, stir and break up the egg with a fork and place back in the microwave for a few more seconds.

5. Microwave for 10 second intervals until you get more solid egg than liquid. Be sure not to overcook or burn the eggs.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It's a brand-new year and I bet most of you want to have a happier life this 2008! My suggestion? Focus on “body mind spirit” – be healthy, be smart, be in touch with your soul! And within the first quarter of the year, I bet you'll be as a bunny hopping on the field =) Be healthy is easier said than done since you have to undo all the unhealthy habits you’ve been practicing for years. So let’s just start with the mind-be smart thing! After graduating from college, most of us didn’t go for higher education anymore (masteral, short-course diplomas, etc). Often, we just deal with work stuff and sometimes, with repetition, our mind stagnates.

For 2008, why not try to join programs aimed for self improvement or personal development? Who knows, you might gain a new talent and look at yourself with a new perspective. At the very least, your brain will be happy with the stimuli you gave it. Ergo, you’d be a happier person! =) As for the spirit, it doesn’t have to be religious. Do what your soul tells you to do. For me, meditation just right after waking up and going to sleep does it best =) And my last words? THROW OUT YOUR JUNKFOOD and start bingeing on fruits and vegetables. And if you can forego meat too, that'd be the best thing you can do to make your body happy. Ergo, you'll be happier! But then, these are all just suggestions. No violent reactions please ;-p