Recipe: Tomato Soup with Toasted Cheese Croutons

Homemade Tomato Soup

This particular recipe came from Oprah's website and part of her comfort food menu. Me and my siblings do not fancy tomatoes that much, except probably when it comes to Spaghetti, lol. And since we've just tried mom's Pumpkin soup and ended up loving it, I  thought then maybe a Tomato Soup could be a hit too! Without further ado, let me share Oprah's version:

Ingredients
3 Tbsp. butter
1 small onion , chopped
1 medium carrot , diced
1 stalk celery , diced
2 cans, 28 ounces, crushed tomatoes (I used Hunts diced basil-garlic-oregano)
6 sprigs parsley
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
1/2 sourdough baguette , sliced into 1/2-inch rounds (I simply bought croutons)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
In a large pot over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add onion, carrot, and celery and sauté until tender but not browned, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Add tomatoes, parsley, and stock. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and cover. Skim foam and fat from top and cover. Simmer until carrots are tender, about 25 minutes. Remove parsley sprigs and discard. Puree soup in batches in a food processor or blender (or use a hand blender). Return to pot and stir in cream and remaining tablespoon of butter. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground pepper.

Meanwhile, cut baguette slices into chunks and toss with olive oil and Parmesan. Place on a sheet pan and bake at 400° until golden brown and crispy, about 10 minutes. Pour soup into mugs and place a few croutons on top.

Recipe source

Well, I find it too sour-y for my taste, except for mom who just loved everything about this tomato soup and finished almost half of the serving all to herself (it took her two days to finish). I like the pumpkin soup more because of its sweeter flavor.

Recipe: Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Soup

Sharing with you another healthy feel good recipe that's both fresh and friendly to the budget. Adding to that, preparing this homemade Pumpkin Soup dish is another way to trick your kids as well as adult meat lovers into eating vegetables that will surely win their tastebuds. A smash hit to our family, we'll definitely be cooking this soup more often.

Here's the recipe. I promise, this is oh-so delicious!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup magnolia gold butter
1 cup chopped onions (2 medium sized)
1 cup carrots, cubed
1/2 c sliced celery (3 stalks)
2 cups cubed pumpkin/kalabasa (peeled and seeded)
1 cup cubed potatoes, peeled
8 cups chicken stock
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg

Procedure:
1. In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat.
2. Add onions, carrot and celery and cook until soft (about 10 minutes)
3. Stir in the pumpkin and potato cubes
4. Pour in chicken stock
5. Bring to a boil, add salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cover.
6. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until all vegetables are cooked.
7. Cool slightly and pour in a blender and blend until smooth
8. Adjust seasoning to taste.
9. Preheat to boiling just before serving. Stir constantly. Serve hot.

Recipe: Homemade Shrimp and Corn Soup

Homemade Shrimp and Corn Soup

Inspired to try Knorr's Crab and Corn Soup, I attempted to make my own soup version using corn and shrimp. My uncle who can also stir a delicious lomi advised me to stay away from those preservatives and easy to cook packs. One time, he made me taste their homemade version of corn soup and it I was easily turned into a convert, inspiring me more to try the much healthier twist at home.

To make, simply saute minced onions and garlic. Next add chopped shrimp until it turns into red color then add cooked corn kernels. Add corn broth, a cup of water and add salt and pepper to taste. Finally add one egg and mix. For measurements, feel free to make your own, whatever suits your taste. In fact I don't really measure most of my ingredients especially during my first try, it's just me. Anyway, it's fairly easy but probably not as tasty as that of the dried mix from Knorr. But hey, this one's got no preservatives!

Recipe: Misua Soup with Fried Meatballs

Monsoon season has already started here in the Philippines. I feel quite fortunate that I won't have to go drag myself outside and worry on possibly wearing the whole wet look drama just to report for work since work is already at home. Faced with loads of online tasks, Jing was kind enough to cook this warm cozy meal for our dinner. The rains hasn't stopped and it's bringing in cold chills in the house, this Misua Soup with Fried Meatballs is very much a delicious comfort meal to end a rainy cold day.

Misua Soup with Fried Meatballs

Ingredients:

For Meatballs

1 k ground pork
1 c onion, chopped

1 tbsp. salt
1/8 tsp white pepper
1 raw egg

1. Combine pork, onions, salt, pepper and eggs.
2. Shape into 2" balls and roll in flour.
3. Fry in hot fat until brown. Set aside the meatballs.

Misua Soup

100g pack of misua

garlic, chopped

onion, chopped

3 cups of water

salt and pepper to taste

magic sarap

spring onion, chopped

1. From the pan where you fried the meatballs, saute garlic and onion.

2. Add about 3 cups of water and season with maggi magic sarap, salt and pepper to desired taste.

3. Dropped in the fried meatballs and misua. It usually takes about 2 minutes for the misua to cook. 

4. Sprinkle with spring onions. Servings:  6-7 

Baguio's O' Mai Khan (Mongolian Grill and Hotpot)

It was already 1:30pm when we arrived at Burnham Park from a great tour at BenCab Museum, so we're pretty much hungry for food. Scouting for the nearest restaurant from our spot, we immediately settled at O' Mai Khan.

O' Mai Khan's Mongolian Hot Pot

A Chinese favorite also known as "steamboat" this Mongolian hot pot is a healthy soup based meal perfect for the cool Baguio climate. You can also get additional orders like beef, shrimp, tofu, chicken, fishballs, squid etc. We ordered a pot good for four for Php 420, dynasty chicken, garlic rice and the Confetti dessert.

Homey ambiance greets you as you enter

Food cooked right before our very eyes

the dynasty chicken

I still prefer Good Taste's garlic buttered chicken better which I think is much tastier, way more affordable and has more servings. However, I really like the ambiance of this place, feels like home.

Confetti dessert

Cakes and Desserts

O' Mai Khan Menu

O' Mai Khan is located along 12 Otek Street, Rizal Park, Baguio (few steps away from Burnham Park)

Chowking's Beef Wanton Noodles

Chowking's Beef Wanton Noodles has always been a favorite especially during the chilling months of December and on rainy days. It's also a familiar comfort food when a family member is confined in the hospital. I witness how this hot Chinese dish evolved, from a bigger bowl to a smaller bowl, from the classic white serving dish to striking black bowl. I find it weird though during my last beef wanton noodle meal that the dish tastes a bit different from the original beef wanton noodles that I first tasted way back 1998 (If my memory serves me well). I can’t say if Chowking made minor changes with regards to its ingredients. As we know, most dishes can change over time.

I can't help but muse over how the dish tasted then, especially its soup. It was served on a bigger bowl that it’s quite hard for me to finish the whole bowl. Suffice to say, it was during those early Chowking years that Beef Wanton Noodle first captured the heart of my Pinoy tastebud.

Crab and Corn Soup

I got the first taste of Crab and Corn soup when our catering then would serve this as a hot morning breakfast treat together with other viands. It's a great comfort food to start our day gearing up for a long production shoot. Since then I would always store Knorr Crab and Corn Soup in the pantry so when the craving sets in, I simply toss the pack's content in a hot boiling stockpot mixed with egg.

Recipe: Fish Ball Soup

Ingredients

1 c flaked cooked fish (any leftovers)
1/4 c chopped onion
1/4 tsp. salt
dash of white pepper
1 egg
cornstarch for dredging
6 c stock or rice water
1/4 c green onion leaves, cut fine
1 egg, beaten
1 tbsp. dash of white pepper


Procedure

1. Make fish balls out of the first 5 ingredients. Shape into balls; roll in cornstarch
2. Bring the stock or rice water to a boil.
3. Drop in fish balls.
4. Season with patis and pepper
5. Just before serving, stir in beaten egg and sliced green onion.
6. Serve hot.

Recipe: Chicken - Macaroni Soup

8 chicken broth
1 c elbow macaroni (cook as directed)
1/4 c chopped onion
2 tbsp oil
2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp white pepper
1/4 c evaporated milk

• Saute onion in hot oil
• Add cooked macaroni and broth. Let boil.
• Add seasonings and let simmer.
• Just before serving, stir in evaporated milk.
• Serve 6-8