Homemade Pasta for the Holidays

Christmas Day has come and gone and a few days ago, we have just welcomed the year 2012. While most of us are probably still clearing our plates of the leftovers from our holiday feasts, some may already be on the lookout for their next holiday dish.

Allow me, therefore, to share this recipe I tried for our Media Noche this year. I have been looking for a pasta dish to cook for the holidays since November, and a trip to Yellow Cab prompted me to search for this particular dish. I found one here and made some adjustments to suit our taste.

Without further ado, let me present my Homemade Charlie Chan Chicken Pasta recipe (under the cut).

Elfav Ice Creamery

December has arrived, and for people living in a country where it’s mostly sunny like the Philippines, we’d get all excited for this month because with it comes the gush of cold Christmas wind. Yet lo and behold, even the weather these days can't seem to make up its mind. One moment it's really sunny, then it's raining cats and dogs the next. It really makes deciding what dessert to get a big chore. One lesson we've learned in life though, is that whatever the weather may be, you can never go wrong with a hefty scoop of ice cream.

We headed down to the Pergola Mall in BF Homes, Parañaque and settled at this appealing ice creamery. The exterior was designed to attract people from all ages, especially the kids (and kids-at-heart), and the inside really screams chill.

Pito & Mita

The stretch of Aguirre Avenue in BF Homes, Parañaque houses some of the best, yet undiscovered gems of the South when it comes to dining experience. Today, our Delicious Down South adventure brought us to Pito & Mita, a cozy Mediterranean-inspired restaurant along Aguirre Ave. for late lunch. From the menu (and fliers) of the restaurant reads this very fitting description for the place:

“Pito & Mita is what our children, nephews, and nieces endearingly call our parents. Short for Papito & Mamita, these are the names that bring to mind thoughts of warmth, family and hearty meals.

This place where friends gather is a product of Pito & Mita’s love for good food and great company. We warmly welcome you and invite you to enjoy the dishes that we have always looked forward to at Pito & Mita’s house and the hospitality their home is known for.”

Spaghetti Aglio Ol-Yum!

Browsing through pictures of food on the Internet during the wee hours of the morning isn't really a good idea especially when you can't do anything to that grumbling stomach at 1 am. After a vain trip to the fridge, I opened the cupboard and saw nothing but the stock of ingredients we have for cooking. I went to bed that early morning still thinking about food, and had a magnificent idea of cooking when I wake up later that day. With what I found in the cupboard came the birth of unique pasta recipe on my mind.

So, here's what I found:

garlic; 555 Spanish-style Sardines in oil; Doña Elena Pure Olive Oil; Ideal Gourmet spaghetti

And we're on!

Inspired by the rise of the food blogging industry in the country, as well as the growing number of new and good places to eat at, friends Suni, Rizzi, and Oshin decide to embark on a journey to bring to the readers their latest finds of great foodie spots to spend a measly student budget on. From casual dining restaurants in Taguig to quaint coffeehouses in Muntinlupa, these Southern girls will share their latest chow adventures and give us honest-to-goodness verdicts on their foodie discoveries.

Suni, 21, student
Weapon of choice: Novi, the good ole' car
Favorite pizza flavor: 4-Cheese Pizza
Comfort restaurant: Bag of Beans, Tagaytay

Rizzi, 21, student
Weapon of choice: Dubu, the trusty camera
Favorite dessert: Dirty ice cream
Greatest 200-peso foodie find: Pizza from Friuli Trattoria

Oshin, 21, student
Weapon of choice: Zeid, the dependable old laptop
Favorite coffee drink: Iced Mint Mocha Latté
Best supermarket item: McCormick Perfect Pesto Mix

Know more about this all-girl trio of food lovers who will definitely try to get their money's worth as they take a trip through DELICIOUS DOWN SOUTH.