Muquecas in Santa Cruz

Brasil Cafe

Fish Florentine



Muquecas

MOS Burger

Before coming out here, I kept hearing about MOS Burger, but never in the context of YOU HAVE TO TRY IT. It wasn't until I found out they served a peanut butter breakfast sandwich with lettuce, egg, and sliced ham, did they jump on the to-do list.

They stop serving breakfast after 10:30 am. The clock said 9:45, perfect. I walked in, asked to see a menu and they handed me a laminated sheet with pictures and descriptions in english. #7 Found it. I pointed. The woman replied, "Mei you". I officially had my first Mandarin lesson. I frowned, hopped on my bike and headed for another Mos Burger down the street.

Score! I forked over the cash and popped a squat on the nearest bench. I unwrapped and examined the sandwich. I wasn't sure of what to expect, but I was excited. How could you possibly go wrong with peanut butter?



MMMmm.. Mos Burger PB breakfast sandwiches. Not too sweet, salty, gooey or crunchy. I can't wait to share this combination with the rest of the world. No wonder their motto is "Making people happy through food."



Check out their Main Menu

Mister Donut

If you were raised out in the east coast, perhaps you remember Mister Donut. The company started out in Boston and was founded by Harry Winouker in 1955. Then, in 1983, a Japanese company (Duskin Co. Ltd.) acquired the sales and trademark rights for Mister Donut in Asia. Since then, Mister Donut has taken off and is now one of the largest donut retailers in the world.

I am not big on donuts, but I am a huge fan of almost anything made with green tea. I keep hearing about this amazing old fashion green tea, made exclusivley at Mister Donut. I had to try it for myself.

Blag.

This particular location didn't have any in stock, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from making my visit worthwhile. The glass cases were filled with probably twenty different kinds. They all seemed to scream, "Pick me!".

I once saw a macaron recipe that combined chocolate and green tea. What an interesting pair of flavors that I had yet to try.



Not too sweet and not too rich - just the way I like it. American desserts are waaay over the top. Just a touch of sugar is all the world needs.

Welcome to Taipei

I'll admit it. I wasn't looking forward to the food on this trip. Why? Because I'm obviously closed-minded enough to think Taiwanese food = Chinese food. Tisk tisk. Lesson learned.

Eating out in Taipei is like dining out in any other metropolitan city in the world. Restaurants, take away joints and food carts are found on every block.

Whenever I travel, I try to eat like a local because it is usually the most cultural (not to mention cost-effective) alternative. In Taipei, you really can't go wrong with checking out crowded mom and pop shops.

Here are some of my favorite spots and dishes.

Dan Bing - Normally served for breakfast, eggs, scallions, and either, pork, cheese, chicken, ham, or bacon are wrapped in a thin pancake. I frequented the JSP across the street. 140NT or $4.40 USD will get you more than enough food to feed two people. And yes the hash browns and radish cakes also yummy local favorites. The women at this place are so friendly - you can tell they are smiling behind their masks. And don't forget to give their heavy set dog some love too.













Beef Noodle Soup (Niu Rou Mian) is another Taiwanese staple and can be found everywhere. There is a spot on the corner of San Min and Minsheng (Songshang) that had the best dan bing and niu rou mian. Restaurants almost always offered a side of fresh greens - yumm.




Beef Noodle Soup (120NT)


Pork Roll with green onions(75NT)


Some Kind of vegetable (40NT)

The only thing I didn't try was the stinky tofu. If you have ever been to Taipei, you know why.

Birthday Scones

That's right.. we are celebrating yet ANOTHER birthday. In the past few weeks, family and friends have been eating all of the baked goods I have been dishing out and everyone is starting to notice the weight gain. So my mom specifically, asked me to NOT make her a cake, pie or cookies for her birthday. My older brother is getting married in May and she wants to fit in her dress. Mind you my mom is a petite woman - size 0. Yes, she is as crazy as I am. But since it is her birthday, I decide to make her scones (the perfect accompanyment to her daily english breakfast ritual).

I didn't have a food processor or a pastry blade, so I used my hands. SOOOO much fun. If you decide to make this recipe with blueberries, I hope you don't mind the aftermath of purple fingernails.

Enjoy!




Lemon-Blueberry Cream Scones
Adapted from the Joy of Cooking

4 tablespoons butter, chilled
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 1/4 tsp baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup to 3/4 cup blueberries
1 tablespoon lemon zest

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
2. Sift dry ingredients and mix with butter with two knives, pastry blade or your hands until the mixture comes together in the size of peas
3. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in cream, lemon zest and bluberries
4. In a few swift movements combine ingredients. DO NOT work dough more than needed.
5. Pat into a 8" round cake pan. Cut into 8 or 12 pieces.
6. Place triangles onto parchment paper and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Coconut and Macadamia Nut Muffins

There is something special about bite-size desserts because each bite is complete. Take a cupcake for example. Depending on its size, it usually takes at least 3-8 bites to finish it off and there is a good chance that a few of those bites are missing frosting and/or filling. With bite-size desserts you don't miss out on a thing. All the textures and flavors are experienced simultaneously, sometimes intense and overwhelming, other times delicate and subtle. In addition, I can't help but find their petite-ness irresistibly adorable.



This recipe is from the Bite-Size Desserts: Creating Mini Sweet Treats, from Cupcakes and Cobblers to Custards and Cookies, by Carole Bloom.

Makes 1 dozen

- 1/2 cup and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/8 tspn baking soda
- pinch of kosher or fine ground sea salt
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 extra large egg yolk (at room temperature)
- 1 tspn pure vanilla extract
- 2 tblspns buttermilk
- 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped, toasted unsalted macadamia nuts

1. Preheat oven to 375, place rack at center of the oven
2. Mix flour, baking soda and salt
3. In a separate bowl, beat butter until fluffy
4. Add sugar to butter and creme well
5. Use fork to lightly beat yolk and vanilla, add to butter and sugar mixture (blend well)
6. Add flour mixture to bowl in three parts and alternate with buttermilk (ie. add 1/3 of flour mixture then 1 tbslpn buttermilk and blend)
7. Add shredded coconut and nuts and mix well
8. Spoon mixture into muffin pan
9. Cook for 14 minutes or until toothpick pulls clean

Black Rice for Breakfast

Bubur Injin or Black Rice Pudding. Ingredients: Palm Sugar, black rice, grated coconut and coconut milk. Westerners normally mistake this dish as a dessert, but it is normally eaten for breakfast. I Putu (from Teka-Teki) made me my first batch this morning. Sooo goood.


Sample Picture Courtesy of New castaway

Check out this recipe

10 Grain Pancakes and Chicken Apple Sausage

I couldn't imagine eating dinner for breakfast - like how the Chinese can eat rice porridge in the morning. Its a concept I have yet to understand. Breakfast however is the kind of meal I can eat at anytime of the day. Just think of all the times you have eaten cereal, Longsilog, or fruit, yogurt and granola after hours. It almost tastes better at that time, doesn't it? Anyway, here is what's for dinner..

Ingredients
- 1 cup Bob's Red Mill 10 grain pancake and waffle mix
- 1/2 cup water/milk
- 2 tsp oil
- 1 egg
- 2 Aidells Chicken Apple Sausage links

1. To make pancakes*, mix egg in with pancake mix
2. Mix in water (use milk for fluffy pancakes)
3. Mix in oil
4. Ladle batter into a heated, greased griddle (I used butter)
5. Should be less than a minute for each side (pancakes were about 6")
6. Garnish with butter, one sliced strawberry and syrup
7. Aidell sausages are pre-cooked. Feel free to pan-fry, grill or broil for about 8-10 minutes
8. Serve warm

*Since I made dinner for one, I cut all the pancake ingredients in half. This yields about six 6" pancakes. Leftover pancakes freeze well, just be sure to suck out all the air (with a straw) and separate pancakes with waxed paper.

Baking with Sour Cream

Sour cream does wonders for baked goods. It has a butterfat content of about 20% and is acidic, which helps to make breads, pies and cakes more dense, moist and creamier. It is a popular ingredient in cheesecakes and pound cakes. No wonder Martha Stewart uses it in her Banana Bread recipe.

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 medium sized ripe bananas (mashed)
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- Rolled oats*

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in nuts, and pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle rolled oats over the top of the loaf.
3. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

This loaf came out really well. The bananas I used weren't extremely ripe, and I'm glad they weren't - I can't imagine it being any sweeter. The rolled oats make it look like you bought it from a bakery ... YUMMMM!

Squat and Gobble Sundays

Brunch with the bubs is one of my favorite past times.

Crab Cake Florentine: Crab cakes, two poached eggs and sauteed spinach over two toasted english muffins topped with hollandaise sauce. Served with rosemary potatoes. We also ordered a side of chicken apple sausage. Delish!


Chicken Pesto Crepe: Mozzarella, onions, sliced chicken breast, pesto and sun dried tomatoes. Served with rosemary potatoes.


Squat and Gobble is perfect for families, couples, singles, friends, the young and old alike. I will definitely be coming back.

Apples

A is for awesome! Apples:
- can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma and type 2 diabetes
- are packed with vitamin C, dietary fiber, phytonutrients and antioxidants



It's a cold and gloomy Sunday morning, so I decide to make apple and cinnamon oatmeal. It is a such an oldie but goodie - and Quaker's just doesn't cut it in nutrition, taste or texture. Here's a healthy way to enjoy this meal at home.

2 mini gala apples (yields about 1 1/4 cups), diced
1/2 cup slow cooked oatmeal
1/2 cup vanilla soymilk
1 tsp cinnamon, or to taste

I always have a batch of oatmeal already cooked in the fridge.
1. Mix diced apples, oatmeal and soymilk in a microwaveable bowl
2. At medium high heat, microwave for about 4-5 mins (or until apples are tender)
3. Add cinnamon

Enjoy!

**Update: I soaked all the ingredients (minus the cinammon) in a bowl overnight and warmed it up in the morning! The apples were sweeter, the oatmeal plump and I used less cinnamon. YUMM!

Fresh Tropical Fruit Cocktail

1 medium sized banana, sliced
1.5 cups papaya, cubed
1/4 cup fresh jackfruit, sliced
Serves one

No preservatives or refined sugars here - just a whole lot of folate (papaya), vitamin B6 and potassium (banana), and Manganese (jackfruit). All three are also packed with vitamin C.

Banana Nut Oatmeal

1 banana (small to medium in size)
1-2 tblspn walnuts, chopped
1 tspn blackstrap molasses*
1/4 cup steel cut oatmeal, cooked
1 tblspn flaxseed meal
vanilla soymilk

1. Spoon chunks of banana and oatmeal into a microwaveable bowl
2. Microwave for about 1-2 minutes on medium heat
3. Mix banana and oatmeal well
4. Mix in walnuts and molasses
5. Add soymilk and flaxseed meal

Enjoy!

*If the banana is overripe and you don't have much of a sweet tooth, omit the blackstrap molasses.

Huevos del Cabo

I havn't had Mexican in a good three months or so and there were a few eggs and an avocado that needed to be used before turning bad. Voila - Huevos del Cabo! (The portions below serve 1)

2 eggs, beaten
1/4 avocado, coarsely chopped
1/4 roma tomato, coarsely chopped
Trader Joe's Salsa del Cabo, to taste (I smothered mine - almost a 1/4 cup!)
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Add chopped roma tomato to skillet with oil over medium heat
2. Add beaten eggs to skillet once most of the moisture from the tomato has evaporated. Proceed to scramble.
3. Add avocado and salsa, then turn heat on low.
4. Serve with toast

Dr. Lin's Mohinga

This traditional Burmese dish is both healthy and comforting. There are a million different varieties of Mohinga, however the standard is akin to a catfish turmeric chowder. Dr. Lin's version is a combination of catfish, turmeric, red pepper, lemongrass, ginger, galanga, mung beans, lentils, pepper, paprika, fish sauce, homemade shrimp paste and Japanese rice noodles. I love that he makes the 'chowder' chunky. Garnishes include hard-boiled eggs, cilantro, lemon juice and baked lentils. YUUMMMM! Be forewarned, mohinga is an acquired taste. When I first tried it, I wasn't a fan - but now I can't get enough.

Apple Pecan Oatmeal and Scrambled Eggs

I always make time for breakfast, especially during the work week. It gets my day off to the right start and it doesn't have to be so complicated. Breakfast = Gwoeyn-time




Slow cooked oatmeal (1 cup cooks in about 30-40 mins) is a staple on my breakfast menu - there's SO much you can do with it and it's really not a hassle to whip up. I usually make a batch that lasts about five days. You can pretty much have a different bowl of this stuff every time!

1 cup diced gala apple (or whichever you prefer)
1 tablespoon toasted pecan pieces
1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses (I FREAKIN LOVE this stuff - it tastes like brown sugar/maple syrup - AND it's good for you)
1 tablespoon whole ground flaxseed meal (optional - I use this stuff more for health reasons than flavor, but it is nutty and adds slight texture)
1/2 cup slow cooked oatmeal

Mix in apples and slow cooked oatmeal into a microwaveable bowl. Top with blackstrap molasses and pecans. Heat in microwave. Mix in flaxseed and it's ready to eat.

As for the scrambled eggs - I used organic, free range ones. It might just be me, but they taste SOOO much better than that other crap. I cook them over medium heat with extra light, extra virgin olive oil.

I enjoy my breakfast and brace myself for what may come..

Desayuno

Where can I find mermelada de la manzana (apple jam) in the US?!?!

**Nevermind, we do have apple jam .. but we don't have guava jam - bummer.

Noah + NYPC

cinnamon raisin bagel w/ honey almond shmear

+

nypc

=)

Snappy Scrambled Toppers

Summertime in the city is finally here so you know you'll be out and about enjoying the sunshine. It's 10:30 am and you haven't had anything to eat. You pass up having cereal because you know it'll only last you a few hours, but you don't have enough time to make a full on pankcake bonanza. And then it hits you.. snappy scrambled toppers. It's quick, easy, and filling.

1 egg
1 Aidells sausage, butterflied (any sausage will do: chicken apple, sun dried tomato, spinach & feta, etc)
Basil, whole leaves
Red Chilli Paste
Baby Swiss Cheese, sliced
Colby and Monterey Cheese, shredded
2 Alfaro's Santa Cruz Extra Sourdough bread, sliced
Spicy Brown Mustard

1) Butterfly sausage and cook in a frying pan with some water
2) In another frying pan, start to scramble the egg
3) Add red chili paste to your egg
4) Toast sourdough bread
5) Let the topping begin!!!
- mustard
- basil leaves
- baby swiss cheese
- scrambled eggs
- sliced sausage
- colby and monterey cheese

Bon appetit

Pluots

Also known as the best fruit on earth.