At Italianni's

Me and my Kumare dated last December at Italianni's in Glorietta. It's been several months already the last time we saw each other.

It's nice seeing friends especially during holiday season. We only became friends when they asked hubby to be their son's godfather. His husband was a former work/roommate of hubby and we began talking through Facebbok and YM. And the friendship blooms from there.

And our choice of food:

Tropicale for our pizza...

And Penne Arabiatta for our pasta..

It was a good choice, I love the pasta more because it was hot and it tasted so good. The kind of food I want to eat again and again. In fact, I looked for the recipe last time, been planning to cook it myself. :)

Pasta Arrabiata Recipe

I was browsing earlier for easy and affordable recipes to prepare on new year's eve. The last time I dined at Italianni's with a friend we ordered something similar to pasta arrabiata, I am not so sure whether its pasta arrabiata or arrabiato. But sheeessshh, the dish was so delish. You should try it too!

Anyhoo, here's the recipe I found at myrecipes.com.

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons minced garlic (about 5 cloves)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 (28-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (29-ounce) can tomato puree
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 (16-ounce) box penne pasta
• 1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese blend*
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
• Garnishes: Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese shavings, fresh basil sprigs

Directions:

1. Sauté garlic in hot oil in a 6-quart saucepan over medium heat 1 minute. Add tomatoes and tomato puree. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Stir in red pepper flakes and next 4 ingredients; cook, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.
2. Prepare pasta in a large Dutch oven according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta and reserved cooking liquid to Dutch oven, and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
3. Stir basil into tomato sauce, and pour 3 cups sauce over pasta. Toss to coat. Serve with remaining sauce. Garnish, if desired.
4. *1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese may be substituted.

Lunch at Tokyo Cafe

My kid is a food critic, well that's according to her grandma (my MIL). When we went to Mall of Asia to have lunch during their field trip, this young lady dragged me inside of Tokyo Cafe. Obviously it wasn't her first time there. She's been there couple of times already. And yes, maybe she knows the food at heart.

Well, what can I do but to surrender to her whim. :)

I ordered a glass of lemon ice tea for her drink.

My favorite pasta with mushroom and shrimp. Pardon me, I forgot what it is called. :(

And she ordered this burger with fries for herself.

The foods were superb as always. And looking forward to taste all their yummy foods.

Lasagna Recipe

This is a special request from hubby.

He wants me to learn how to cook lasagna and he even said to buy me an oven so I could cook once we're there with him...

But because we don't have an oven  here at home, I only googled recipes such as lasagna and label it under recipes to try so it would be very easy for me to dig when I need the recipe.

photo not mine

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces bulk Italian or pork sausage or ground beef
• 1 cup chopped onion (1 large)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed (optional)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 dried lasagna noodles
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese or 2 cups cream-style cottage cheese, drained
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
• Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:

1. For sauce, in a large saucepan cook sausage, onion, and garlic until meat is brown. Drain.
2. Stir undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, fennel seeds (if desired), and black pepper into meat mixture. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Meanwhile, cook noodles for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender but still firm. Drain noodles; rinse with cold water. Drain well; set aside.
4. For filling, combine egg, ricotta, and the 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Set aside.
5. Spread about 1/2 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Layer half of the cooked noodles in the bottom of the dish, trimming or overlapping as necessary to fit. Spread with half of the filling. Top with half of the remaining meat sauce and half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. If desired, sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese over top.
6. Place baking dish on a baking sheet. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
7. Makes 8 servings
8. Make-ahead directions: Prepare as above through Step 5. Cover unbaked lasagna; chill for up to 24 hours. To serve, bake, covered, in a 375 degree F oven for 40 minutes. Uncover; bake about 20 minutes more or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
9. Quick Lasagna: Substitute 6 no-boil lasagna noodles (one-third of a 9-ounce package) for the regular lasagna noodles and skip Step 3. Omit the tomatoes, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning, fennel seeds, and pepper. For sauce, stir a 26-ounce jar pasta sauce into the browned meat mixture. Do not simmer. Continue as directed in Step 4. Per serving: 391 cal., 24 g total fat (11 g sat. fat), 97 chol., 1,047 mg sodium, 18 g carbo., 2 g fiber, 22 g pro. Daily Values: 15% vit. A, 9% vit. C, 33% calcium, 8% iron Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 2 1/2 High-Fat Meat, 1 Fat

Cafe Picarre

Last two weeks ago I visited Baguio City particularly at DFA to get my new passport. It was actually scheduled few weeks back when I went there but due to other errands I wasn't able to get it on time. Good thing though, there's no penalty when you get it late. LOL

And after I went to Orchidarium for picturing taking, I went to the market then headed to SM for lunch.

Because I carried too much weight on my shoulder due to the vegetables I bought from the market I decided to just eat near the entrance if possible. And I walked past Cafe Picarre then back there again. I haven't tried there before so I settled myself in the place for a simple lunch.

You have to order at the counter, no table menu.

Wall decoration, brown and orange color filled the place.

Hehe! Of course that's me.:)

I love Sarsi with plenty of ice.

Pasta Olio Y Aglio

Pasta and garlic bread, such a perfect combination.

I paid 120Php for the meal. Such a treat, eh?
The food is yummy especially when you add some more spices to it like spicy sauce.