As an update to my post from yesterday, I was able to cancel my Netfirms account—- quickly and painlessly — but only after moving my remaining site from their servers, of course. I had already paid for my next billing cycle which was supposed to start on the 17th, so the rep issued me a credit. True to her word, it was right there when I checked my credit card account activity.

I’m grateful for that, at least. Too bad their sales/tech support/customer service reps aren’t nearly as accessible or helpful as their billing reps.

In other news, I’m still sick. I don’t have a fever or anything, but I can hardly talk. My throat is all sore from coughing, and my voice is pretty much gone, and if I’m not whispering, it’s difficult to understand anything I’m saying. Hopefully this clears up by later this week

Oh, I was watching Paula Deen’s Paula’s Home Cooking yesterday evening while littleQ lay curled up next to me on the couch, napping. Everything Paula cooks looks like it tastes like pure, unadulterated comestible heaven. Heaven’s where you’ll end up though if you recreate and eat too many of her recipes because Ms. Deen sure as hell doesn’t create her artery-clogging flavor sensations with Weight Watchers, South Beach or Atkins in mind. Anyway, the episode I watched was a Thanksgiving episode from a few years ago, and she went through how to fry a turkey. I feel fatter (and oily) just thinking about it, but oh my freaking gosh what I would do to eat some fried turkey after watching that episode. My mouth has literally begun to water at the thought of it. I would so cook that this Thanksgiving, but then I’d have to buy one of those big ol’ turkey fryers that must be set up in the backyard. Do I really need a turkey fryer? This is a pretty difficult decision, let me tell you.

Technorati Tags: netfirms, netfirms customer service, still sick, paula deen, food, thanksgiving, turkey

I was making meatloaf for dinner tonight, but I didn’t have enough beef, so I added a whole ish-load of tofu, as well as basil, and some previously canned Chinese mushrooms I had leftover from when I made Cha Gio the other night.  I didn’t really follow any recipe, because well, I usually don’t need a recipe for meatloaf.  I suppose I should have looked one up though, you know, before I added all that tofu, before I kneaded in all that basil I probably shouldn’t have added and before I mixed in those Chinese mushrooms that just didn’t go with the Worcestershire or the ketchup.

I tried it with bread, and it tasted yucky.  I tried it with rice, and it wasn’t as yucky, but still quite gross.  So, though I feel kinda bad about it,  in the end it went in the garbage.  It’s a good thing we had some leftover Ziti from my mom.

Technorati Tags: recipes, meatloaf, food disaster

Just in case you’re not aware, pan de sal (aka pandesal) is a round bread eaten primarily by Filipinos. Despite the literal Spanish translation of “salt bread” pandesal is rarely, if ever, salty. In fact, in my experience it is usually slightly sweet.

My grandmother used to make pandesal all the time, dozens of them in one day, and I remember being no taller than the kitchen counter and waiting fervently for her pandesal to be taken out of the oven. Mmm, it makes my mouth water to think of the warm pandesal. Right out of the oven, I would split one in half, and then I’d stick a slice or two of cheddar inside the bread, then I’d smush it flat so the cheese would goooey itself up in the pandesal’s freshness.

Oh my I’m getting myself hungry.

Here’s a recipe for pandesal that I found on the web:

24 servings

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup water
2. 1/4 cup evaporated milk
3. 1/2 cup milk
4. 1 egg
5. 1/2 cup sugar
6. 3/4 teaspoon salt
7. 5 tablespoons softened butter
8. 1 tablespoon oil
9. 4 cups flour
10. 3 teaspoons yeast
11. breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Combine the water, evaporated milk and milk and heat in the microwave for 35 seconds. Run tap water over the egg for 30 seconds to warm it.
2. Add all ingredients (except the bread crumbs) in the order suggested by the manufacturer.
3. The dough is supposed to be somewhat sticky (when I made this recipe, it was not sticky but it turned out well anyway).
4. Spray two baking sheets with non-stick cooking spray; preheat oven to 375 degrees.
5. When the dough is ready, scoop out a small amount (about the size of an ice-cream scoop) and roll in bread crumbs in an oval shape; place on baking sheet.
6. Cover and leave to rise in a warm place until doubled.
7. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown.

Oh I miss my grandma’s pandesal. It’s been years now since she’s baked some. I suppose I should get myself a mixer like this one, hehe, and get a copy of my grandmother’s recipe.

Mmm, and don’t get me started on the cart vendors that walk through the neighborhoods in the Philippines and sell soft, delicious, freshly baked pan de sal, different varieties even, every morning of every day. During my visits to the Philippines, I’ve always tried to wake up early so I’d be able to catch the vendors.

Technorati Tags: pandesal, pan de sal, hamilton beach, mixer, stand mixer, filipino food

I cracked an egg into a bowl today, and out came 2 yolks. I was so excited, because hey, I think that’s pretty kick ass, so I shouted at mrQ to come and see, but of course after finding out that all I wanted to do was show him twin yolks, he declined to entertain my request.

Anyway, I just did a search for twin yolks on google-powered Blingo, and the very first result suggests that finding such an egg is an omen of an imminent death. Well that sucks. There is, however, more than just one opinion regarding the meaning of this twin yolk phenomenon (my opinion, at least lol), and others believe that finding it is indicative of good luck (oh how I need that) and even pregnancy.

I think it’s just a weird egg, but we’ll see

Technorati Tags: twin yolks, eggs, breakfast

For today’s Thursday 13, I wanted to share 13 restaurants in the New York Metropolitan area that serve delicious food, at reasonable prices. They are in no particular order

1. Saigon Grill - The food is addictive. They are, however, in the midst of a scandal, along with a few other Manhattan restaurants, regarding the very low wages they paid their delivery boys, who will now stand outside each of their 3 llocations around dinnertime every day to shout, yell and/or jeer at any patron who enter/exits the establishment. It’s a pity really that they are embroiled in such a situation, because their food is really so delicious. If you can ignore this .. umm… situation, then you can enjoy some very well prepared Vietnamese cuisine. Otherwise, you can join in with others who are banding together to bring a change to the restaurant’s management.
2. Patricia’s Pizza and Pasta - simply the best Sicilian pizza I’ve EVER tasted in my life.
3. Mama Maria’s - My favorite here is the chicken francese.
4. Perlas Ng Silangan - The name means: Pearl of the Orient or Pearl of the East. This restaurant serves up delicious Filipino food, but the service is erratic. They also double as a music venue, and feature some wonderful bands. They also have special events when they have famous Filipino singers perform at the restaurant. Oooh, ooh they also have karaoke, which, if they have it on when you visit, can be very entertaining. Seriously, have you ever heard a thoroughly mispronounced, nearly indecipherable imitation of Blue Suede Shoes? littleQ is partial to the lumpia(mini-egg roll type things) served here.
5. Kystal’s Cafe - Personally, I like Perlas Ng Silangan’s food and environment just a tiny bit better, but if you’re looking for good Filipino food, this place fits the bill. Their Halo-Halo, however, beats any other I’ve ever tasted.. It’s simply DELICIOUS and you must try it if you ever have a chance to visit this restaurant. Apparently there’s also a location in the East Village. Oh, and you can karaoke here as well.
6. Green Tea Cafe - They offer a dim-sum type menu, plus some mini-meals, but what draws me to this Chinatown gem is the yummy bubble tea. My favorite is the milk and green tea bubble tea.
7. Hong Kong Station - Mmm, this place is the best! This is also located in Chinatown, and you get to choose the type of noodles and toppings (fish balls, beef, chicken, dumplings etc), then you can add hot sauce, hoisin sauce; and it’s all served up in a giant bowl. I don’t think you can go wrong here…. as long as you choose toppings that you’re a)familiar with and b)not afraid to eat. A plus is that for 6-7 bucks worth of noodles and toppings, you’ll be stuffed.
8. Kang Suh - I wasn’t a fan of Korean food until we visited this restaurant in Yonkers. Their food is soo good, and of course the restaurant is complete with grills built into the tables, so your food can cook right in front of you. If you don’t know what you’re doing, then your server will probably just cook it for you.
9. Tiny Thai - This Thai restaurant is located on Long Island, but is literally STEPS away from an Long Island Rail Road station (so it’s easy to get here from Manhattan). I live for their food. The restaurant is so tiny it’s almost absurd, being able to fit maybe 15 customers at any given time, but the food makes up for it. If you can handle HEAT then I suggest you try the “drunken noodles.” It’ll make your mouth burn, but it’s sooo worth it.
10. Koenig’s - This German restaurant is located in Floral Park, Queens. I honestly don’t even remember what it was that I ate the last time I went here, I just remember that I inhaled it like a famished pirate. I also devoured the red cabbage. They also have like, tons of beer choices or something like that. Obviously, I’m not a beer drinker.
11. Carlyle on the Green - Situated in the Bethpage State Park with wonderful views of the famous Black Course where the Open was held a few years ago, this restaurant offers gourmet food at relatively reasonable prices. Lunch is considerably less expensive than dinner, but dinner is absolutely worth it.
12. Wo Hop - Another place in Chinatown. This place has some crazy hours. They’re open from 8 am to like 4 am every day, something crazy like that. Anyway, this place isn’t anything fancy, but their peking pork chops and shrimp with almonds dishes are delicious, and certainly worth the pain of finding a parking spot and inhaling the fresh scent of garbage (not inside the restaurant, just outside!) that just never seems to go away.
13. Talia’s Steakhouse- This kosher restaurant is delicious. The service was really, really great (the server managed to make a very cranky littleQ giggle), and the dish I had - something that had “sweetmeats” in the name - was very delicious. I think that was a special that day though. mrQ had chicken if I remember correctly, and he’s picky when it comes to chicken, lol.

If you have a Thursday Thirteen post up, please leave a comment!

Technorati Tags: thursday thirteen, restaurant, nyc