Eat – Page 73 – Jellybeans in the City

#QuarantineCookbook: Banana Loaf Three Ways

It sure looks like the quarantine has turned me into some kind of maven in the kitchen (if I may say so myself; indulge me, please).

With a little bit of extra time that working from home afforded to me, as well as the greater availability of ingredients from online sellers, I found myself getting bitten again by the baking bug.

I decided to try my hand on an old favorite: the Banana Loaf. It’s a simple enough recipe and the ingredients are easily accessible.

It’s also great as a mid-afternoon snack or an after-meal dessert.

Here’s the twist, though: my kiddos and I have varying preferences when it comes to the Banana Loaf. I love it with nuts (for the contrast in texture), while my daughter #ExhibitA prefers it without; my son #ExhibitB, a sweet-tooth just like his mom, would go bonkers for it if it has chocolate.

What’s a budding baker mom to do?

Well, why not have it three ways? I made a plain Banana Loaf, two loaves with nuts, and a loaf with nuts and chocolate. This way, everybody’s happy (especially me, because I get two loaves, hehehe!).

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

3 ripe mashed bananas
2 tsp lemon juice
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups buttermilk substitute (made by combining 1 1/2 tbsp vinegar with enough fresh milk to make 1 1/2 cups of the mixture)
1 cup roughly chopped walnuts
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Procedure:

Preheat the oven to 135 deg C (275 deg F). Line four 8″x 3″ loaf pans with wax paper and lightly grease the bottom and sides.

In a small bowl, combine the mashed bananas with the lemon juice. In another bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda. Set both bowls aside.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter, white and brown sugar in a large bowl for three minutes until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla.

Mix in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk substitute until evenly combined. Stir in the mashed banana mixture.

Scoop enough of the batter to the first loaf pan to fill it two-thirds of the way. This will be the plain Banana Loaf.

Fold in the chopped walnuts in to the batter until evenly distributed then scoop enough of the mixture to fill two-thirds of the next two loaf pans. These will be the Banana Loaf with Walnuts.

Fold in the dark chocolate chips into the remaining batter then scoop it into the last loaf pan. This will be the Chocolate Walnut Banana Loaf.

Place the loaf pans into the pre-heated oven and bake for sixty to eighty-five minutes (depending on your oven) or until a toothpick you insert into the middle of the loaves comes out clean.

As soon as fully baked, remove the loaf pans from the oven and place them directly into the freezer for forty-five minutes. Doing this will add to the moist texture of the loaves. (I’m not familiar with the exact science behind this but I can’t argue with the results).

Serve and enjoy!

The loaves turned out to have just the right amount of moistness and are not overly sweet.

As it turns out, even #ExhibitA likes the loaf with the chocolate chips. Hmmm…

PS:

If you want to add some more sweetness to the loaves, you can top them with some cream cheese frosting, similar to the one used for my Carrot Cupcakes.

You may also adjust the amount of walnuts or chocolate chips you add into the banana loaf batter for the second loaf pan and so on, or the sequence of adding the tweak ingredients, depending on your family’s preferences (and whose preference reigns supreme!).

Try this recipe out and let me know how it goes!

Looking for other easy-to-cook dishes to try out while in quarantine? Check out my other kitchen adventures:

The Jelly List: Fresh takes on Filipino food

The Philippine Independence Day is just around the corner and despite having a lot of restrictions on movements and dining out, there are still enough reasons to celebrate the flavors and ingenuity of Filipino cuisine.

Characterized by the interplay of sweet (tamis), sour (asim) and salty (alat) flavors, Pinoy food is rich in tradition and history, with many recipes passed down from one generation to the next.

Every once in a while, however, a kitchen maverick adds an unheard-of twist to an established Pinoy dish or adapts a foreign recipe by incorporating local ingredients or cooking styles which will result in an entirely new way to enjoy an old favorite.

In this edition of The Jelly List, let me share with you fresh takes on Filipino food from innovative restaurants. And since the community quarantine is still in effect in many areas in Metro Manila, I’ve chosen dishes from restaurants that are open for pickup or delivery.

Manam’s Caramelized Patis Wings (Php180)

Just when you thought that there couldn’t be another twist to fried chicken wings, Manam brings out this zesty appetizer flavored with patis (fish sauce). Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!

To order, visit MomentFood.com.

Sushi bake delivery from Meatsumo Premium, Panay

I admit: I’ve grown quite worried about how restaurants will fare in The New Normal.

Particularly vulnerable are the samgyupsal places wherein unlimited meats and other food items are served for table-top grilling by the diners. These places require groups of people to gather around the table as they grill their food.

One such place was Meatsumo Premium located in Panay Avenue in Quezon City. Located a few minutes’ ride away from my office, it was the perfect place to indulge my craving for all things samgyup. No wonder then, that I found myself dragging my fellow samgyup lovers at work to this resto a few weeks after it opened.

What made Meatsumo Premium stand out from similar restos is Japanese dishes it also offers alongside its Korean fare. For just Php549 per person, we were able to enjoy eleven kinds of meat (including plain pork, pork galbi, regular and spicy pork yakiniku, pork gochujiang, plain beef, peppered beef, beef bulgogi, regular and spicy beef yakiniku and beef gochujiang) as well as twenty different side dishes (including my favorites such as cheese, kani salad, kimbap, California Maki and California Temaki).

Oh, such happy times…

But then, the enhanced community quarantine happened. I knew then that I had to bid adieu to Meatsumo.

That is, until it re-opened a few weeks ago, offering a “Create Your Own” Samgyupsal Set as well as its Japanese-Korean fusion dishes ala carte.

However, what drew my attention was its newest menu item: the Sushi Bake (Php480).

This trendy dish akin to a sushi casserole. The usual Japanese maki elements such as sushi rice, kani (crabstick), mango, zucchini, Japanese mayo and tobiko (fish roe) are there. With all these, you’ve got one scrumptious dish!

To eat, just scoop out a portion (mine tend to be overly large but I don’t care), place it in the nori strip provided, add a bit of finely chopped spring onions and tempura flakes for one tasty bite!

I ordered this for the fam’s lunch, along with Tempura (Php150) and Karaage (Php120), and all proved to be certified hits with kiddos!

Well, I’m glad to see that Meatsumo Premium was able to deftly pivot its business and innovate on its offerings. It sure looks poised to meet the challenges of The New Normal head on.

Meatsumo Premium is located 23 Panay Avenue, Barangay Paligsahan, Quezon City, open for delivery from 9am to 3pm.

To order, fill out this form, send a Facebook message, or Viber +63 933 1346534.

Cook-It-Yourself Packs of premium coffee grounds and hotcake mix now available in McDonald’s!

In case you missed it, McDonald’s has made it easier to prepare meals and snacks at home with Cook-It-Yourself Packs of Premium Coffee Grounds, Hotcake Mix, Hot Fudge Topping, and so much more!

Get them now at select McDonald’s stores through Take-Out and Drive-Thru as they’re available for a limited time only!

See the full list of Cook-It-Yourself packs below:

Coffee Grounds (80 g or approx. 7 cups) – Php 99 per pack
Hotcake Mix (1 kg or approx. 27-28 servings) – Php 149 per pack
Hotcake Syrup (1 kg) – Php 199 per pack
Tonkatsu Sauce (1 kg) – Php 199 per pack
Mayonnaise (1.5 kg) – Php 399 per pack
Hot Fudge Topping (2 kg) – Php 399 per pack
Caramel Topping (2 kg) – Php 399 per pack

View the list of participating McDonald’s stores here and follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook to stay up to date on all announcements.

Header photo by Natanja Grün on Unsplash

The Smokeyard, Poblacion delivers!

Hey, carnivores! Looking for ways to sate your craving for good, old fashioned, American-style BBQ?

Well, here’s some good news: The Smokeyard in Poblacion is open to serve up its barbecued meats, slow-smoked for optimum flavor and tenderness to satisfy your meat craving, such as:

Pulled Pork (Php190/100g)
Beef Brisket (Php290/100g)
US Beef Ribs (Php180/100g)

And more!

So just get your salads and mashed potatoes ready ’cause with just a few taps on your phone, your fam’s BBQ party will be on its way!

The Smokeyard is located at Ground Floor, 5666 Don Pedro Street, Poblacion, Makati City. For delivery or store pick-ups, call +63 02 87711288 or course your order through FoodPanda.

The Jelly List: Food Deliveries for Your Party at Home

Just because we’re quarantined at home doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate, right?

After all, celebrating important occasions and significant milestones helps us in staying sane in these extraordinary times. We and the people around us need a little break every now and then from the somewhat monotonous routines we’ve established since the quarantine was implemented.

What better way to celebrate than to have a party? And what kind of party can it be without lots and lots of delicious food?

Luckily, you won’t have to sweat it out in the kitchen to come up with delicious party fare. With a few taps on your mobile, you can have your party food delivered to your doorstep for you and your family (or housemates) to enjoy.

Check out these yummy delights that can fuel your house party fun!

Grazing Box from Platterea Luna

With Platterea Luna’s stylishly assembled grazing boxes, there’s no need to trouble yourself in sourcing the elements for an elegant charcuterie experience at home. Each box is filled with a well-curated selection of meats, cheeses and accoutrements, perfect for grazing while catching up with friends.

To get your hands on a lovely Platterea Luna grazing box, course your order through Platterea Luna’s Facebook page or Instagram account, or call +63 977 8211591.

Ready-to-eat dishes from San Miguel Foods and Petron Treats

Momshies, does working from home still leave you with little time to prepare and cook your family’s meals?

Worry no more, because San Miguel Foods has a line of pre-cooked dishes that are sure to be showstoppers at the dinner table.

With these ready-to-eat dishes, you won’t have to stress yourself out in the kitchen: all you have to do is heat, serve and enjoy!

I was able to serve some of these to my fam for lunch. Check them out:

Cook Express Chicken Karaage (Php424 for 1 kilo). Karaage is a Japanese cooking technique in which food items – mostly chicken – are marinated and lightly coated in flour prior to frying in light oil. After I’ve heated the chicken karaage in my oven, I found it close to restaurant quality, especially when accompanied with Japanese mayonnaise.

Cook Express Lechon Paksiw (Php495 for 1 kilo). I usually encounter lechon paksiw the day after big celebrations like fiestas or Noche Buena because this is the Pinoy mom’s answer to “”What happens to all those lechon leftovers?” (at least those not carried away by the Tupperware-toting guests, hehehe!). The leftover lechon is simmered in vinegar and the liver-based lechon sauce resulting in a dish with fork-tender roasted pork meat in sweet-sour-savory sauce that’s good for another family mealtime.

Cook Express Beef Kare Kare (Php693 for 1 kilo). I have great appreciation for kare-kare every time it is served to me at the dinner table because I know how much effort went into making it. My mom used to grind peanuts herself, meticulously clean and boil the animal parts prior to cooking up a great tasting peanut-y beef stew. This one has the same tender meat and peanut sauce I love and is enjoyed best with bagoong. Add in some veggies string beans, eggplant slices and pechay and it’s almost like the kare-kare that my mommy used to make.

Chef’s Selection Fresh Corned Beef (Php655 for 900 grams). Corned beef is called that because in the process of salt-curing the meat, it is treated with large grains (or “corns”) of salt. Today, it is one of my favorite breakfast food when served with fried rice and a sunny side up egg. This corned beef version differs from the canned iteration because the beef comes in chunks, not flakes. Still, it can be sliced up thinly to be sauteed with garlic and onions, or added to beef broth and veggies for a fresh take on nilaga.

So momshies, there’s no need to sweat it out in the kitchen. Just order these ready-to-eat dishes and more from San Miguel Foods through this website and schedule pick up at your nearest Petron Treats store.

Thanks to Harvard of AlwaysHungry.PH for sharing from his ulam stash!

Zomato Philippines shaves for a good cause

Last April 7, Zomato Philippines announced the initiative Feeding Philippines, which aims to help provide daily meals to those who need it the most. Zomato partnered with Rise Against Hunger Philippines, an international hunger relief organization that distributes food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable, mobilizing the necessary resources to end hunger by 2030.

Since the launch of the campaign, Zomato Philippines has raised 200,000 Pesos by leveraging on its users and restaurant partners, with the help of the foodie community. However, the fight against hunger is still a prominent problem, especially now with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. The marginalized communities need help now more than ever.

The Country Head, Chris Evans, is taking the cause up a notch by pledging to shave his head once Zomato receives 1 Million Pesos of donations. He has also nominated Zomato Philippines employees to invite them to create their own video to pledge to the cause, and encourage their friends and family to support the fundraiser.

You can support the cause too! Visit www.zomato.com/feeding/philippines for full information about the Feeding Philippines campaign and details on how to donate. Let’s all make a stand together and rise against hunger today.

Samgyup Time at Leann’s Teahouse, Tomas Morato

For quite some time, Leann’s Teahouse has been one of the go-to places for Korean BBQ for me and my officemates.

Located a short distance from my workplace, it’s where we can get our K-BBQ cravings satisfied.

For only Php499 per person, we can enjoy all the samgyupsal and woosamgyup out hearts desire, as well as the side dishes we so love.

Once, my friends and I applied a Booky discount and we ended up just paying Php375 each! Quite a good deal, yes?

Plus, this resto’s Bibimbap (Php210) and Spicy Pork (Php220) are not to be missed.

When the community quarantine is lifted and I’m back to reporting to my office, a silver lining would be the chance to eat here with my samgyup co-conspirators again.

How are you K-BBQ fans on quarantine? Missing your favorite freshly grilled samgyeopsal and woosamgyup yet?

The good news for you K-BBQ lovers in Quezon City is that you can enjoy these at home as Leann’s Tea House has made available frozen meats by the kilo, marinades, dips, appetizers, noodles, rice and kimbaps for pickup and delivery.

Leann’s Tea House is located at 105-R Mother Ignacia Corner Sct. Madrinan Street, South Triangle, Quezon City. For inquiries and to place your orders, send a message via Facebook, Viber +63 917 3240959 or call +63 2 7916356.

Lunch delivery from Belly Good Boneless Lechon, Maybunga

In the time prior to the community quarantine, I haven’t been so conscious of the need for variety among the viands I serve my fam (probably we didn’t usually spend every lunchtime together until now).

Apparently, the kiddos sometimes get tired of the same-old chows.

Well, I also get tired of wracking my brain coming up with fresh takes on the dishes to serve.

So one day, an hour before lunchtime, I just took out my phone, opened the food delivery app and started scrolling.

And lo and behold, the salvation of my family’s lunch came at the hands of Belly Good Boneless Lechon, a Pinoy resto specializing in boneless lechon belly situated less than two kilometers from my home.

After a few more taps on my phone, my family’s lunch soon found its way to our table.

This included:

Family-size Bellychon (Php430). What a wonderful time to be alive when you can just order lechon anytime you crave for it. And no, you don’t need the whole lechon, right? Just the good parts will do, like the tender and flavorful meat and the crunchy skin.

Bellygood Pancit (Php220). Feel like carbo-loading? The serving size of Belly Good’s stir-fried noodle dish is quite large (filling up two bowls!), more than enough for the fam. It does tend to get a bit dry, and its presentation could use some work.

All I had to do was make sure we had enough steamed rice and iced tea, and just like that, a potentially disastrous lunch was averted without too much demand on my poor brain cells.

I felt quite nourished and refreshed that I had an excellent idea on what to have for dinner that same day.

Belly Good Boneless Lechon is located at Second Floor, Hampton Gardens Arcade, C. Raymundo Avenue, Maybunga, Pasig City. For deliveries and store pick-ups, send a message via Facebook or call/text +63 917 5420130. You can also order through GrabFood, FoodPanda and LalaFood.