Sopas (Filipino Chicken and Pasta Soup)

We had a cool weather prevailing over the last several days. No heavy rain but then the sun is always covered by thick clouds causing the atmospheric temperature to plunk down much lower than normal. Given with such a moderately chilly condition, what could be better than being home sipping a piping hot, rich and tasty soup and at the same time munching on some delighting buttered toast? The two rather simple foods make a true comforting meal perfect to be eaten amidst an equally comforting and calming state of the surrounding.

This is exactly what I was thinking when I decided to make “sopas”, a popular Filipino pasta soup dish flavored with milk. “Sopas” is a quite thick soup made from boiling some chicken meat and sometimes pork bones, to make a tasty broth then added with elbow macaroni or shell pasta and finished off with some vegetables like carrots, green onions or leeks and cabbage and of course, some milk to create the rich and creamy consistency of the dish. For me, addition of lots of freshly ground pepper provides the kick which makes this dish even more interesting.

Authentic Filipino Foods at a Pinoy Christmas Party in Sri Lanka

Last Saturday, we were invited by our Filipino friends from another construction firm engaged in the other phase of the same national expressway project we are constructing here in Southern Sri Lanka, to grace and participate their early Christmas Party. Most of the Filipinos living or working here, or abroad in general, are going back home during the holiday season so early Christmas party is inevitable. Since it has been always look forward to have party full of fun with our friends there, we excitedly headed to their place bringing a modest pot of beef “caldereta” as our share in the food, some items for the prizes and some bottles of the best local brandy for the drinks.

We arrive quite early. Everyone is still busy with the preparation of food, drinks, physical arrangement, Christmas decorations, sound system, prizes, gifts, etc. and we had our chance to somehow help our friends. We watch in awe while the whole pork “lechon” is roasting, the “lechon kawali” is sizzling in hot oil, the pork barbeque is grilling, the “lumpiang shanghai” is frying and the “menudo” is stewing. Soon after, the Christmas atmosphere started to build up as the familiar tune of the delightful Filipino Christmas Carols filled the air. Suddenly, the magical feeling of Christmas overwhelmed everyone ……. and all is smiling …….. laughing ……. eagerly anticipating the party ……. and probably thinking home. :)

It turns out that our friends also invited other Filipinos from other companies who have project in this tiny Island nation. Some are coming from other construction companies and some from the garments industries. All showcasing the expertise and talents of the world renowned human resource called Filipinos. Let me not resort to the crap hero-branding of the Filipinos abroad. That is hardly felt by us.

All in all, more than 70 professionals and skilled workers gathered for the special Christmas celebration hosted our hospitable friends. For such a big number of hungry Christmas celebrators, mostly males, who will sing, dance, play, frolic and drinks all night, lots and lots of food is needed. :-) But our friends made sure no one will get hungry and thirsty and everyone will be tummy-filled with delicious Filipino foods and at the same time heart-filled with the Christmas spirit. c“,)

As the party celebrates Christmas and promotes unity and camaraderie among us, it also serves as a showcase of authentic Filipino foods highly missed by all of us here. Whilst of course, the center piece is the famous Filipino pork “lechon”, many other main course dishes are prepared for everyone’s amazement and enjoyment.

"Pork Lechon" (Roasted Whole Pork)

"Menudo"

"Estopado"

"Asado"

Beef Caldereta

"Lechon Kawali" (Deep Fried Pork Belly)

"Lumpiang Shanghai" (Meat Spring Rolls)

Pork Barbeque

Chop Suey

Spaghetti

There were also some sumptuous traditional rice cakes (“puto”) and delicacies (“kakanin”) for dessert.

"Puto" (Filipino Rice Cake)

Maja Blanca

There were also lots of drinks which turned everyone into better singer (except me) and dancer as the night gets deeper. But since this is a child-friendly blog, I can’t show any of those drinks. :-) Instead, I’ll let you enjoy the colorful images showing the fun, happiness and blast that everyone felt during the party.

From me, my Pareng Jun Roxas and the rest of our group from Kumagai, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to our friends from Taisei Corporation headed by Mr. Don, the Pangulo, and Ka Pedring, the other Boss, for a wonderful night. :-)

At least for one night, we forgot about concrete pouring, residents’ complaints, delayed work schedule, cost and time claims, cut slope collapse, rectification works, unending variations, uncertified amounts, billing preparations, etc. etc. c“,)

Three Sausages Pasta

Many discoveries are out of necessities. Sometimes the condition seems so ideal that everything appears to be in the right place at the right time. All you need is some ingenuity, perhaps inspiration or even just the will to try, to do new things using your instinct, to satisfy your need. And voila! Even you will be amazed by what you can create………what you can achieve.

I have many different types of excess sausages in our freezer: Bockwurst, chicken sausage and several kinds of hotdogs. They have been sitting there for quite sometime waiting for the moment to be eaten. Then came the time when we want to eat a pasta dish. I don’t have minced beef to make Bolognese or bacon to prepare Carbonara. I could have resorted to simple Alfredo but we want something more elaborate……...more than just butter. And I thought sausage pasta would be great. After all, I have a really nice macaroni in the cupboard which could be the perfect match to the sausages in the freezer.

So I brought the macaroni out, three types of sausages and some other ingredients I thought would help bring out the best in my sausage pasta dish and started working the kitchen.

Of course the main ingredients are: 400 grams macaroni pasta to be cooked al dente following the manufacturer’s instruction and three types of sausages – bockwurst, chicken sausage and some hotdogs, sliced diagonally and then quickly stir fried in small amount of oil, about 4 cups all in all.

The macaroni is cooked in briskly boiling water with 1tbsp salt and 1 tbsp vegetable oil for about 11 minutes as directed in the package.

In addition, I also take out about 8 pcs fresh tomatoes, slightly boiled them in water, peeled and chopped to make this gorgeous plateful of goodness.

The other ingredients are as follows: 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp butter, 6 gloves garlic, peeled and minced, 2 large onions, chopped, 1 pc green bell pepper, minced, 2 pcs mild chili pepper, minced, 1 pc bay leaf, 1 tsp salt or to taste, 1 tsp ground pepper, 2 cups sweet style tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce, ½ cup fresh milk, about 1 cup pasta water, ½ cup grated cheddar cheese and 1 tbsp fresh celery or coriander, finely chopped.

In a heavy pan or wok, heat the olive oil and butter, sauté garlic followed by onion until translucent. Add in the bell pepper, mild chili pepper, bay leaf and continue sautéing for about a minute. Add salt and pepper, then the slightly fried sausages. Stir everything to blend and continue cooking. Add the tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce and simmer on low heat.

Add the fresh milk and some pasta water to adjust the sauce to right consistency. Add the grated cheese and continue simmering for another minute. For the meantime take the now cooked macaroni, drain and swirl in 1 tbsp of butter until evenly distributed. Mix this to the sauce and continue cooking. Add the coriander and stir for a minute more. You might want to take out the bay leaf at this point.

Voila, three sausages pasta. Transfer in a large platter and top with some more grated cheese and chopped coriander. Serve and enjoy. :-)

This is delicious! True! c",)

Family Dishes During Ordinary Occasions

During ordinary occasions in the family, like month birthday celebrations of the new babies, Charize and Attila or AG, my mom, with the kind assistance of the sisters and Aunties, prepares sumptuous dishes for family members and select guests. Not really special dishes per se but the ones truly enjoyed by everyone during previous occasions. The taste, the mastery of preparation and the overwhelming approval of the guest and family members make the rather simple and usual family dishes, special and grand in the eyes of all of us.

On the last occasions celebrating 7th month and 4th month birthdays of Charize and Attilla respectively, several dishes were prepared by the family. It is more of a “merienda” (snack) meal serves in between lunch and dinner when family members and invited guests will gather and celebrate the events. The foods composed of favorite noodles and pasta dishes, fried chicken and meat spring rolls, some Filipino sweet cakes, desserts and jelly drinks and with some store-bought cakes and soda drinks, the feast is complete.

To showcase some of the family dishes often cook by mom and company during rather ordinary celebrations, let me give you a photo tour once again.

Filipino Pansit Bihon – A family favorite and a constant winner to guests

Fettuccini Carbonara – My sister’s specialty and a treat to those who love creamy pasta dish

Fried Chicken – Another regular entrée in every occasion, simple but sure to delight everyone

Spaghetti – This Filipino sweet-style pasta dish of sister Ines is as popular and loved as the “pansit bihon” of mom (photo is showing the sauce)

Meat Spring Rolls – Sure to salivate everyone and always gone in no time

Chicken Sopas – A rich and tasty soup dish providing the soothing touch to everyone

Chicken Macaroni – A dessert sure to complete the meal

Leche Flan – The undisputed winner of desserts, everyone’s favorite

After indulging in such an abundance of delicious and delectable foods, expect everyone to be happy and satisfied. It will be shown from their big smiles and blissful behavior.

With the kind of satisfaction exhibited in the above image, be surprised not if the food was all eaten up. And upon learning that all the food prepared for their birthdays was all gone, of course the celebrants will be worried and startled.

And it will require a great amount of convincing and funny antics to set them back to happy moods.

And once again allow everyone to have their customary kisses to babies after the gathering. c“,)