I Am A Crook...I Mean A Cook...

This year, I don’t even feel like baking anything. I used to enjoy baking Pistachio Cream Cheese Fingers, a recipe my friend had shared with me years ago. Two things hinder me: my family and I are trying to eat healthier and secondly, the time that I would spend baking, I would rather spend with my hubby and child or whoever will drop by for a visit. Christmas shouldn’t be a burden. It should be a meaningful celebration of remembering what our good God had done to restore our relationship with Him through Jesus. It should be about restoring wounded relationships, destroying walls and building bridges instead. It is not easy. Easier said than done. But when you believe in what He can do for you and I, then we can. Because of His grace.

Right now, I am enjoying the nice glow of sunrise, a welcoming break from all those rainy days. Though I’m thankful for the rain He gave! Sipping a cup of coffee, I think about you all in prayers. May you have a wonderful Christmas, returning to the Lord and then, sharing warm memories with your loved ones. May your new year be a complete start of having a closer walk with the Lord. I am not perfect myself. But I know that His faithful love and mercy always awaits for anyone’s return. Always welcomes anyone. Always accepts. Always forgives.

My hubby volunteered to cook stuffed bangus or milkfish. It is a kind of fish you can buy from Asian markets. We bought the boneless and he will mix the flesh with veggies like carrots, peas, garbanzo beans and seasonings and stuffed it right back. I had attempted to make some pickled green papaya few days ago and I thought this would go great with the stuffed milkfish. I had also put them in jars and gave them as gifts. He will also make some “menudo”made from diced beef with veggies and we’ll just eat them with either rice or bread. We opted for the bread so we passed by a nearby bakery and got some rolls.

For dinner, I thought of making some “pansit” well known Asian noodles. Opting for healthier version, I’ll just use chicken and will try to give some to one of my neighbors, whose wife has not been feeling well for quite some time now. 

I am a CROOK….I mean a COOK sometimes. So, if you’re willing to try this recipe, here it is…But I try to cut down on salty stuff so I use low sodium chicken broth. I also don’t like to use pork but it’s your preference, I’ll include it anyway. The rice vermicelli noodles, you can get them from Asian markets or Asian aisles from your grocery stores [I hope].
Photo Credit

Pancit Guisado [Sauteed Rice Noodle]:

14-16oz. rice vermicelli noodles
I cup boiled chicken breast, flaked
1 cup shrimp, shelled
1 cup boiled pork meat, sliced thinly
1 tablespoon vegetable oil [I use olive oil]
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium sized onion, sliced
1-1/2 cup fresh green beans, sliced thin diagonally
1/3 of a whole cabbage, sliced thinly
2 carrots, thinly sliced into 2-inch strips
3 stalks celery, sliced thin diagonally
3-4 cups chicken stock
Salt and pepper to taste
Lemon slices

Soak the noodles in water until soft. Drain and set aside. In a non-stick pan over medium heat, sauté garlic in oil until lightly browned. Add onion. Stir for 1 minute. Add the chicken meat, shrimp, pork, green beans, cabbage, carrots, celery and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 5-8 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove and set aside.

In the same pan, add the chicken stock. I use a little bit of low sodium soy sauce [approximately 3-4 tablespoon or adjust to taste]. Let boil and add noodles. Simmer in medium heat until liquid is absorbed and noodles are cooked. Gently stir in 2/3 of the vegetable mixture taking care not to mash the noodles. Transfer  to a serving platter and top with the rest of the vegetable mixture. Serve with lemon wedges. Enjoy!

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year To All of You! May God bless you and protect you and give your heart's desires according to His will. Love to all of you, my friends...Thank you for your friendships, love, sweet thoughts, prayers and encouragement. May we remain a blessing to each other, to help us all endure and finish this journey we are all in. Safely. Completely. 

9 comments:

  1. ♥♥♥Merry Christmas♥♥♥

    Sounds like a wonderful morning. Enjoy your meal dear one. Blessings.

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  2. I so heartily agree with you about trying to keep it simple this year, instead of doing all the hectic baking/etc. to create the "perfect Christmas". Appreciate your focus on relationships; when I read the Word, Jesus was definitely all about relationships and I want to be that way too.

    This recipe looks delicious.

    May you and your family experience Christ in a new way this Christmas and may it be your best Christmas so far.

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  3. Same here..Simplicity! We are empty nesters and non of our birdies that flew the coop want to visit. God is healer and restorer of relationships. Mmm! Everything sounds so good! We are both getting over having a cold. I too praise God for new found friends here at this site. God Bless you dear sister in Christ. May your time off be a time of rest and to be refreshened in Him..

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  4. Rosel... Just dropped in to wish you and your family a Merry CHRISTmas. God bless, Lloyd

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  5. When my son was little, he always said he wanted to grow up to be the "cooker man". It looks like you are a good "cooker woman"! Merry Christmas and thanks for your encouragement throughout the year!

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  6. Hello Rose, How delicious that looks. My favourite food is Asian and Indian.And I think its very healthy.
    Happy Christmas my friend. God Bless you and your family with health, peace and happiness.

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  7. Rosel, hope you had a blessed Christmas.

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  8. Love this post and what a happy surprise that you also posted a recipe for Pansit. I had a friend, a long time ago, who used to make it, and it was so delicious.

    Don't you have a 19th anniversary coming up this week? If I'm not mistaken, Happy Anniversary to you and your hubby.

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  9. You are so sweet Great Granny Grandma for remembering my 19th anniversary!!! Yes! It's tomorrow! Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness! Happy New Year to you!

    ReplyDelete

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