My Favorite Food Posts

Many netizens would say that the secret to a successful blogging is to focus on a particular area or specialty.  So some friends recommended that I focus on political commentary.  But I’m really not out to make money out of this site, and I’m not the type who’d want to be limited by just one category.  I want to write about anything and everything — and make sure that they do come out.  I am now my own gatekeeper and judge after all. And on this site, no story gets, ahem, dropped.  Living the spirit of true and responsible blogging, I write without any ulterior motives or agenda, and no one to be afraid of.  The truth, one’s conscience, one’s principles are enough.  Not to mention, what is delicious.

I am passionate about many things, and one of them is food.  I’ve made my best friends because of food — eating out with them, cooking with and for them, sharing recipes with them.  That is why I am passionate about writing about it.  Eating and cooking are not just about satisfying one’s palate.  For me, food is a medium of expression very similar to writing or art.

I’ve compiled below my favorite recipes from 2008 to 2009.  May they enrich your lives and relationships as they did with mine.  Here they are in no particular order…

Home-Burger: My own take on the hamburger.  I love how the cream cheese adds flavor and richness to the patty.  It was quite a hit when I served it during a recent lunch for friends.

Spaghetti con pancetta, prezzemolo, limone e coriandolo: Translated as spaghetti with pancetta, parsley, lemon, and cilantro.  I usually make rich sauces.  It’s one of the most flavorful pastas I have ever made.

Beef Caldereta SurpRICE: A healthy version of the Caldereta, which uses very little salt.  This was an entry to a low sodium cooking competition held recently.  While I didn’t win, this recipe is a milestone because it gave me the experience of joining a food contest.  I must say that It stretched my creativity and my plating skills to new heights.  It is also one of the most viewed recipes on this site.

“Berry” Yummy French Toast: I love breakfast.  It’s a favorite guilty pleasure.  And if I do have the time for it, I would work on really making it perfect all the time.  And a breakfast for me is not perfect without this recipe for french toast.

Fusilli with Toasted Vegetables, Bacon, and Anchovies: This is my stand against scrimping on ingredients and the compromise on taste and quality of some restaurants.  Haha! I like how this recipe tasted very rustic and down to earth.

Avocado Pistachio Cake: This cake brings back good memories of friendship and bonding over slices of this unique cake, which I first ate at a bakeshop in Quezon City, and eventually tried at home — with some improvements, of course.

Martha Stewart’s Cauliflower Pasta: Another rustic recipe.  Wonderful combination of prime ingredients (How I wish pine nuts here were cheaper). It’s not the usual pasta. A must try indeed!

Fresh Ravioli with Cream Cheese and Cilantro Filling: One of the best pasta dishes I have ever made. I’m proud of this recipe because I conceptualized it from scratch.

Raspberry and Chocolate Chip Ice Cream: Brings back memories of my trip to Minnesota.  It’s a favorite among friends and family.

Linguine with Crab Fat and Smoked Salmon: This rich and delicious dish was a result of following pure instincts.  A very rich recipe I’d only make once in a while because of the crab fat.

Rustic Carrot Cake: The recipe that got me into baking and the recipe I made for the first time in about seven years.  I served this for lunch recently as dessert, and it surprisingly stole attention away from another equally good cake, my chocolate ganache cake.

AND LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST…

How to Make Pasta Using the Microwave: This shows a fool-proof way on how to make pasta in the microwave.  I have been using this formula since 2006, and has been one of the most read posts on this page from readers worldwide.  This self-discovered formula is the foundation of so many other recipes, many of which are posted on this site.  It has been my pleasure sharing it with the rest of the world.

Hehe, just don’t blame me for the extra pounds you’ll gain because this is a perfect midnight snack!