...cooking comfort food...

All the rainy, cold weather was making me crave my favorite comfort food...Arroz Caldo (Filipino Chicken Rice Soup). I actually made it myself for the first time today! I've never had this at a restuarant (although I can hardly imagine messing it up-it's so easy) but the key ingredient is huge peppercorns. Mom used to make this whenever we were sick or it was cold outside. In fact, I called her while I was making it and guess what...she made it yesterday!
YUMMY!



I used this recipe...and added a few changes
Arroz Caldo

Note: This recipe is from Reynaldo Alejandro's Philippine Cookbook available at The Filipino Book Barn

3 tablespoon vegetable or corn oil
2 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped onion
8 1/2-inch slices of ginger
1 2 - 3 1/2 pound chicken, cut into serving piecies
4 tablespoons patis (or 2 tablespoons salt)
1 carrot chopped
6 cups water
2 cups uncooked rice
1/4 cup chopped scallion
Peppercorns


In a large covered stockpot, heat oil and saute garlic, onion and ginger. Wait for the garlic to turn brown and onions become transparent. Add the chicken and patis or salt. Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes. Chicken will produce its own juices. Add water, rice, and peppercorns. Stir often to prevent sticking, simmer for 25 minutes over low heat or until chicken and rice are tender. Add carrots. Add chopped scallion and pepper before serving.

I also like to add fresh lemon juice before eating.




Staples of a Filipino kitchen...I'm forgetting a tomato! =) By the way, Patis (filipino fish sauce) is TOTALLY different than Thai fish sauce (which is sweeter).








Grace tagged me with this quiz months ago, so I guess I should anwser it...(I changed a few of them)

Seven things I want to do before I die (not in any particular order):
1) Lead someone to Christ
2) Read the whole Bible
3) get married
4) adopt children
5) travel to 6 continents (not too hyped about Antarctica)
6) go on a Jane Austen tour
7) live in the Middle East

Seven things I cannot do:
1) live without flip flops or some sort of open toe shoe
2) go to Mecca (even though I really want to!)
3) ice skate
4) live in Vegas (sorry mom and dad!)
5) eat beets
6) prevent loved ones from dying
7) make someone fall in love with me (i don't believe in falling in love...nor do I think anyone is capable of forcing someone to love them...I just couldn't think of a good seventh thing!)

Seven things I find attractive (in general...again no particular order):
1) KCRW - their free eclectic music streams, news, and awesome radio broadcasts like This I Believe and Story Corp.
2) flowers-especially bulbs and fragrant ones like Sweet Peas and Lavendar
3) hearing other languages spoken in public
4) stuff you find at shops like Cost Plus World Market
5) food blogs
6) people who listen
7) bookstores, card shops, farmer's markets, and parks

Seven things I say most often (not in any particular order):
1) Take out a piece of paper and a pencil
2) Too bad!
3) It's your choice...
4) I'm looking for a quiet hand...
5) I'm looking for the cleanest, most quiest row/table...
6) laughing really loud
7) Crap!

Seven books (or series) that I love:
1) Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2) The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery
3) Anne of Green Gables series by L. M. Montgomery
3) The Raggamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
4) The Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers
5) The Princess by Lori Wick
6) Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen
7) Price of Honor by Jan Goodwin


Seven movies I can watch over and over again:
1) Pride and Prejudice (the A&E, 2005, and the mormon versions)
2) The Sound of Music
3) Hitch
4) Ever After (I'm such a girl!)
5) My Name is Kim Sam Soon
6) You've Got Mail
7) Alias (not the last couple seasons! =(


Seven people I pass this on to:
1) traderjoys
2) fifistorm
3) aDORAble26
4) monkeyfries
5) delta boy
6) allison
7) chiudpht