SAWCLicious: Ricotta Pancakes in Tomato Sauce (Jamie Oliver Recipe)

It's been such a long time that I have not updated my blog. There had been a lot of stuff going on and was not able to blog what I've been cooking. Today, I have a few minutes to spare and create a short post.

I was watching Jamie Oliver's 30 minute recipes a few weeks back and saw an easy recipe that intrigues as I've never tasted one before. I was not able to catch the name so I named it as ricotta pancakes. It was easy to cook and a good appetizer to serve. It's light and taste really good (especially if you like ricotta cheese).

Ricotta Pancake

Ingredients for the Ricotta Pancake (4 small pancakes)

LensBaby Spark!

I got a new lens today! It's a LensBaby and I got it from Photojojo... If you are gaga about photography, you should check this site. They offer some of the best, unique, and special photo gadgets. You also get a freebie when you order, in my case, it's a rraaawwwrrr..a small dinosaur toy. Visiting their website simply lessens my stress as it always leave a smile in my face.

Anyway, going back to my LensBaby, not sure if you have heard this, but it's a fun way of taking pictures in your SLR. Had to play around with focus by moving my fingers around. I should do some practice. Here's some test shots from 10 minutes of playing with my camera.

SAWCLicious: Baked Chicken Tenders

I am probably part of the large percentage who loves fried chicken. I never did like though the greasy feel of eating fried chicken. Of course, to add that it is very unhealthy. So browsing through Pinterest, I found a good way of preparing fried chicken or should I say baked chicken! 

Baked Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

• 4 pcs. chicken breast fillet, sliced into 2x2
• 1 large egg, scrambled with a fork
• 3 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper
• Olive oil

First, heat oven at 200 degrees and lay the panko bread crumbs in a baking pan. Toast it in the oven until color turns golden brown. Next, prepare 3 bowls. Place the all-purpose flour in the 1st bowl, the scrambled uncooked egg in the 2nd bowl, and the toasted panko bread crumbs, Cheddar cheese, and Parmesan cheese in the 3rd bowl.

The chicken should be dry. Season with salt and pepper and dip in the flour. Shake the excess flour. Then dip it in the egg mixture and lastly on the bread crumbs. Place it in the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes on each side at 180 degrees. It should come out crunchy and delicious. Eat it at once for best tasting results! 

Easy right? :)

SAWCLicious: Pan-Fried Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce

There is always a feeling, an urge, a passion... of having to start the new year right. Of course, sustaining that fire of passion is another question. For me, one of it is trying to eat healthy. I prepared salmon with asparagus for my lunch and dinner the other day. Look a the picture, so nice right? Delicious, easy to prepare, and healthy, this simply made my day!

SAWCLicious: Braised beef short ribs on Mashed Potatoes

Last December, I ate lunch with a friend in Bonifacio Global Street. We went to aFrench Restaurant who served braised beef short ribs as their specialty. It was really delicious and I thought to myself, I can try it. So I went to do my own research online and created my own version of braised short ribs. It turned out pretty well. I prepared it on our team's Christmas Party and they seem to enjoy this dish!

Thanks to my colleague Kara for taking the pictures.

French Beef Stew on Mashed Potatoes

The New Year Feast

Still has hangover on our new year celebration... simply because I am longing for more vacation!!! 

The traditional new year celebration in our family is feasting over food and watching fireworks when midnight strikes. This year, we had a Spanish themed celebration. Good thing I still remembered to take some pictures after feasting over the food. I almost forgot to take then pictures!

Welcome 2-0-1-3!

Happy New Year to whoever is reading this! I wish for more blessings and opportunities for you and your loved ones. 

There is always some excitement that runs on my system on a new year. There is always a smell of new beginnings. When the previous year had more challenges that I can count than blessings that arrived, then the new year provides a new start where I look forward for new opportunities and new things to come.

This year is extra special. 2012 was a very good year. It was one of my cherished years. It was also one of the sad years. I realized that I was provided countless blessings by our Almighty Father last year. It was a year that:

• I get to spend half of it in Europe, enjoying time with friends and enjoying new places that I've explored.
• I was able to spend Christmas holidays with my family.
• I received numerous blessings and opportunities in my current job and new opportunities for other things.

There are sad things that happened to me but these helped me cherish what I have and what has been given to me. Voila, I'm gaining some wisdom here! lol

This year, I look forward to a lot of things! I continue to dream because I realized that dreaming without expecting help me enjoy blessings that I receive each day. I look forward to new opportunities to come and realization of new opportunities I am working on. I look forward to more travels, weddings, bonding with friends, moving an inch closer to my dreams, and of course continuing with this blog for the love of food. 

No more of the new year's resolution. I can make resolution each day whenever I realize I need to change or improve on something! Cheers to a new year.