Secret of Cream of Mushroom Burger Steak

And now we're back again to another yet exciting new discovery of the world of cooking! Lol! Actually, I just want to share a certain technique that I have learned from preparing this dish. All compliments goes to my one and only Mom! Mother always do knows the best! ;) OK, so let's get started! This is really super duper easy to make! Very suitable for the busy people.

"COOKING 103 : Secret of Cream of Mushroom Burger Steak"

The first step is always the preparation of ingredients. For today's menu, I used Argentina Deli Burger Patties. I used to use WOW Family Burger Patties but after I tried Argentina's, I immediately knew the difference.

The quality of this patty is better than that of WOW's. Trust me. ^_^

The second and last ingredient is the sliced button mushrooms.

(Separate the mushrooms first from the liquid part inside the can and set them aside.)

 

Then heat oil in frying pan. And while waiting, let's do the sauce!

I was really wondering how I was going to make the sauce.

I was thinking I should have bought a pack of ready-to-make gravy, when my mom taught me this technique. I was surprised when she

started mixing the liquid part of the canned button mushroom we set aside earlier with flour. She then added a little soy sauce for the brownish complex of the gravy. The result... as good as gravy!
(Note: No need to put any seasonings anymore. The patties are a natural! They'll do the trick!) ^_^

As soon as the oil is hot enough, throw in the patties and start frying them up! Turn them on their backs once in a while and when they turned delightfully red, put in the mushrooms and the sauce. Pour it all over the burgers. Wait till they started boiling then turn off heat.

Voila! Creamy mushroom burger steak with drooling sauce on top of rice! It was really a treat and very easy to make! Cook one up for yourself now!

Another notice to the public:

Before attempting to perform this experiment, please wear your masks, gloves, aprons and shield (highly recommended). The battle with the oil will begin once you throw in the patties!
Good Luck! ^_^




Secrets of life.








Stranger Passing-By
SP-B/07/24/12

An Unofficial Expedition

Sorry for the long wait but here it is now. Our Laboratory offers home-services and for months now, I have watched my other colleagues go in and out doing house-call duties and had always wondered how it felt like. Imagine, doing extractions in an unfamiliar territory. Hmm...Sounds like a challenge to me! Haha. And finally, drum roll please ^_^ , I get to experience it!!! Yeay! Well, it all happened early this morning when I was suddenly informed that I would be sent out for service. I eagerly accepted the request but my heart was already racing even when I was still starting to prepare my equipments...er...instruments...hmm. Anyway, my assigned location was in some area in Tondo. A ride and a companion were provided. It was really a good thing that they sent someone with me to do all the chatting and to keep me from getting a nervous breakdown. Haha. The ride took about 15-20 minutes and within those minutes, I kept repeating to myself "Lord, please help me...please, please, please" over and over again. By the time we get there, I was surprisingly calm. The owner greeted me and I replied with a cheerful smile. They let us in and we waited for a few minutes before letting me proceed to the second floor. The patient was laying on his bed and he looked really really really thin. His eyes were deep but nevertheless, we spoke like we were long time acquaintances. Eventually, I learned that he have colon cancer and that he had been recently admitted to the hospital. Nothing is much more scarier that having an enemy that is destroying you from the inside. The extraction was a success and I felt that the Lord was with me the whole time. The trip home was shorter and by the time I get back back to my workplace, routine activities resumed.
After work, a friend of mine treated us some Fruitas, a fruit drink. Yum! While we were waiting for our fruit shakes, a man suddenly came in the store and looked at us. We were still wearing our uniformed scrub suits when he said "Asiatic", the name of the place where I work, and took out a 500 php bill and paid for our drinks. We were shocked but we thanked him immediately. Turned out he is a regular customer in the laboratory. I was still smiling when my friend decided to treat us in Wai Ying for some snacks. We ordered hofan noodles, siomai, raddish cakes and other dimsums. We chatted, laughed, joked and ate some more. Afterwards, it was time to go our separate ways. I went home happy and full. I didn't even eat dinner anymore. Haha. Anyway, this is an account of my day. Thank you so much for reading. Hope you are now hungry. Lol.

This is me early this morning, wearing my lab.gown and scrubs. ^_^

Oh! I forgot to tell, this is my first tip! ;) The patient really insisted on letting me have this.
It was supposed to be 200 php but I surrendered the money to the Laboratory.
They gave one hundred pesos back to me!
Code of Ethics' Rule!

This is the surprise treat!
Each day is really like a present. You'll never know what you'll get!
Woohoo! Best Day Ever!!!

Thanking the Lord for this day.

Stranger Passing-By
SP-B/07/11/12

Dreamy Woolen Sky

It takes a light sleeper to wake up to the curious smell of dark rich coffee brewing but May seems to always have keen senses. Her mind is still in its semi-conscious state as she looked at the clock hanging beside her. It reads 10 past 5 in the morning. The room is still and even breathings can be heard from below where her other siblings slept soundly. She looked outside the window. The rising sun is always the most wonderful thing to behold. She lay down for a while longer and enjoyed the scenery. Dawns are always a sight to see because of the magnificent streaks of contrasting colors that were made bolder by the rays of sun. She took one last look at it and finally dragged herself out of the bed. Another sun, another day. Time to go to work again. Her salary as a part time waitress is just enough to cover their daily needs but now their rent's due is almost up and if they failed to pay again, they would be forced to live on the streets.
Sheets of rain came pouring down like blankets of wool covering the ground. It began raining as soon as she stepped out of her dingy old apartment. She walked right through them. Tiny raindrops tickled her arms and dampened her clothes despite her efforts to stay dry. Her bent umbrella is of little use as she hurried down the sidewalk. When she passed by a cafe shop, she glanced up and saw herself on the glassed windows. A cold lonely girl stared right back at her. Years of labor suddenly left her empty and weak. She let her broken umbrella fall to the ground as she continued staring at her own reflection. A smile slowly formed itself up. She looked up the sky and for the first time in her life, she enjoyed the rain. Still faced up, she laughed and let her laughter ring down the streets. Her clothes now cling to her skin as she began walking again. She very much wants to continue her studies and someday become a doctor. And after she graduates, she would like to help other people and to help her siblings finish their schooling. She would also like to have her own house where her family would stay and maybe someday open a clinic to treat and offer free assistance to sick patients. These were her thoughts as she rushed across the street to push a frightened little girl away from a screeching vehicle.
Everything suddenly became a blur as she lay there on the middle of the road. A bright light suddenly appeared from the sky and shone at her. She smiled as caress hands held her gently and lead her towards empty space.
More people are now hovering around her. Some watched, some looked confused and some just wondered. A serene smile can be clearly seen on her pale face as distant sirens can be heard approaching.


What if one day we wake up and realize that we have been living in a world where we don't belong. That everything we have worked for and earned for is nothing of worth. What if everything is just a lie. What if... but what if your whole being will be taken away from you this instance but in turn something more, something beyond our nature and understanding will be replaced in us. Would you accept the change? Would you answer God's call when the time have come? Would you have all the confidence, strength and faith it has to give up everything just to serve our Lord?
This is the story of May.





Stranger Passing-By
SP-B/07/06/12

A Stew with Pork Bulalo <排骨汤>

It's time for another cooking mania! I came up with this little recipe and good thing it came out alright. Haha. LOL. I'm really not into cookbooks with all the strict measurements and cups but I'm more of the Hmm-it-needs-a-little-more-this-and-that type. Though I sometimes get ideas from cookbooks and food magazines but I would usually change the ingredients into those that can be more conveniently bought. Convenience, practicality and budgeting are my top priorities when it comes into buying products.
So...what are we still waiting for! Lets get those knives working and pots boiling for this is what I call Cooking 102 : A Stew with Pork Bulalo.

"COOKING 102 : A Stew with Pork Bulalo"

<排骨汤>

I bought 2 kilos of Pork Spareribs but if you want, a kilo would do nicely too.
Now, the first thing to do with these red meats are to wash them thoroughly and marinate them with soy sauce, fish sauce, chili sauce, rock salts, whole black peppers and chopped garlic.
Afterwards, prepare a cooking pot and fill it half full with water. Bring it to a boil and add the main ingredients in.
It is crucial to remember that the water level should only be half of the pot's capacity because after adding the meat, eureka will occur as shown in the photo. ;)

While waiting for the pork bulalo to start boiling again, lets start chopping and dicing up some potatoes and carrots. To dice is to slice up vegetables, usually root crops into fine 5x5 cm. long. Haha. Kidding. Just do what I did on the picture at the right and you'll be just fine...but if you need rulers, go ahead! ^_^




Alright! We're half way done.
Now, this would be the part where I would like to call "foams" would form.
When the stew began boiling, these foams will began to accumulate and they have to be taken out, because if not, they will over flow and spill all over the kitchen floor. Not a great sight and quite hazardous too.
Okay, so what I did is that I spoon them out one by one. It is really hard work because they kept forming and the steam is getting really hot but endurance would be the key to success. Haha. In this case, success to a perfectly stewed pork bulalo. ^_^

After boiling for 30-35 minutes, put in the potatoes and the carrots.
Put on lid and simmer for another 10-15 minutes or until tender.

And finally, add in sugar and seasonings. For me, I put in a rare surprise of chili green pepper (right) and curd beans (left) for that authentic Chinese cuisine flavor.

Bon Appétit!

Caution: There is already a report of a pandemic spreading of a virus called the Mad Pork Disease. Infected people are often asymptomatic but they always tend to behave in an irrational way of over eating even the utensils and the pots. If spotted, please report immediately to your local police department and squads of zombies will surely be on their way.
Reminder: Please eat cautiously.




Stranger Passing-By
SP-B/07/02/12