Group Food: Filipino spaghetti

I am by no means a cook or chef. Growing up I got stuck peeling shrimp for dinner parties. Although I now have master shrimp peeling machine abilities, I pretty much lack any other kitchen-related skills.

The lunch team ministry at my church is called Soul Food. Now I can try out new recipes and develop new culinary skills on a guinea pig group of 30 people. What could possibly go wrong... [insert BIG smile]

FYI: There hasn't been any casualties yet. That I know of.

There is nothing more awesome than gathering around a table with friends/family/community for a meal. The Group Food labeled posts are ideas for cooking/serving for large groups. I will only put things that have worked for us. If they worked for you or did not, please let me know!

Filipino Spaghetti

Filipino Spaghetti was quite a hit a month ago so we tried to repeat our luck. Filipino food is awesome because everything is sweet, flavorful, includes tropical fruits like avocado or pineapple and is almost always fried. This is one of those non-fried dishes but it is sweet and it contains HOT DOGS! (Did I mention I like hot dogs?)

Family recipe from: Franz

Ingredients:

4 cloves garlic

1 big onion

1 big carrot

1 red bell pepper

1 1/2 tablespoon small crushed pineapples (can)

1 teaspoon sweet relish

1 bottle jufran

small Hunt's tomato sauce

1pound ground meat (pork, beef, turkey, etc. Franz likes pork. I like beef.)

3 Ballpark hot dogs

oil 

salt and pepper

1/3 cup ragu (optional from jufram to become only 1/2 bottle)

water (optional)

sugar (optional)

1 package spaghetti 

parmesan cheese 

Chopper/food processors are your friends!

How To:

[pasta]

Cook according to directions. Add salt and oil to water for taste and keep noodles from sticking together. Strain when ready.

[sauce]

1. Chop garlic, onion, carrots, bell pepper.

2. Add oil to cover bottom of pot. (If you are Franz, you will sautee each ingredient separately. If you are me, you dump in everything at once.) Sauce garlic, onion, and carrots until soft.

3. Add meat and sautee until meat almost completely cooked. Color will change.

4. Add bell pepper, jufran (ragu), and tomato sauce. Mix until some of liquid evaporates.

5. Add one glob each of pineapple and relish. Salt and pepper to taste.

6. Optional, gradually add sugar to taste and water to thicken.

Serve sauce on noodles. Sprinkle parmesan on top.

Multiply batch based on size of party. For 30-40 people we probably quintupled it.

Serve buffet style.

Eat at home with a tiki cup.

Kitchen: Japadog

Do you dream of how furikake could be incorporated into every meal?

There is a place in Canada that combines two of my favorite foods- the all American hot dog with a dish dash of Japanese details. Ballpark meets what a Japanese night market could be. Japanese food tends to be several small dishes delicately prepared and allotting with a few bites each. Americans don't seem to appreciate this as much. We want to be filled, with portions worthy of the cost. I'm surprised I haven't seen something like this sooner.

The Japadog

[see the original]

 

Unfortunately, I am no longer within driving distance of Canada and cannot experience the place firsthand. Perhaps it is better this way. Not knowing and living in ignorant bliss completely satisfied with the homemade imitation.

Inspired by: Japadog
As imagined by: JM

Other props: Gary

How to: [in order]
Hot dog in bun. Teriyaki sauce. Caramelized onions. Grated turnip. Seaweed flakes. Sriracha mayo sauce. Furikake. Green onion.

[last thing: Starbucks iced caramel macchiato]

Hello

I've thought about this project on and off for the past year.

This blog is a spin-off of my facebook photo album titled "You Are Getting Hungry" which apparently made many people hungry, including myself. The photo album was actually created to get more eating buddies and share/recommend dishes I truly enjoyed. I spent the year procrastinating, researching and debating everything from which blog site to use, titles (this f life, hello delish, yumyumintum, ahhyum, iloveyum), and what I should include as content. This cycle of hesitation and procrastination probably would have continued if a certain chain of events hadn't occurred.

1. Yesterday, I read an article of top 5 regrets people have on their deathbed, the first one being lacking the courage to live life true one's self instead of according to others expectations.

2. Two days ago I read a guide to blogging that mentioned a) committing for the haul, b) choosing a topic you enjoy and c) focusing posts on the topic(s). I tend to blog all over the place. This will be great practice in discipline for me.

3. Someone was playing loud rock music outside at 1am. I couldn't sleep.

4. In my sleepy-but-awake state, scrolled through my facebook notifications. Someone commented on the photo album, I scrolled through my photos and quickly became hungry.

5. I decided. Nothing fancy, just start something and work out the details later.

A work in progress. Suggestions are very welcome.

[last thing: starbucks green tea latte]