Easy Gambas

For a Spanish themed potluck, this dish will leave the crowd saying, "Con Mucho Gusto!"

Credit goes to one of Baby Bee's favorite Aunts who he fondly calls Telephone. Or in Espanol, shall I say Telefono!

Gambas Recipe with no Measurements

Small to Medium Sized Shrimps

Green pepper

Red Chilli Flakes

1-2 Tbsps Tomato Paste (for color)

Knorr Liquid Seasoning

Garlic

Brown Sugar to taste

Salt

Pepper

Pepper Shrimp

Had just come from an interesting dinner with friends hosted by a great chef and even greater friend, Mr. London. He whipped up an amazing dinner, but out of all his dishes, this one was my favorite.

Pepper Shrimp Pepper Crab

2 pounds Large Shrimp

Lots of Freshly Ground Pepper

6 cloves Garlic

1/2 c. minced ginger

1/2 c. minced onions

1/2 c. minced green onion

Oyster Sauce

Soy Sauce

Pinch of Brown Sugar

In a large wok, saute all ingredients in peanut or vegetable oil. Add the shrimps and toss until it turns pink. Serve hot over a bed of steamed rice. Serve with vinegar and garnish with fresh cilantro. Winner!

Eat your Veggies!

I think there's no better way to cook asparagus than this. It's a versatile dish that goes well with many dishes. This is my cousin Jenny's specialty, although I have her full permission to replicate it for Mr. Bee.

Roasted Asparagus with Gorgonzola

20 stalks of fresh green Asparagus

Salt

Pepper

3 tbsp grated Parmigiano

3 tbsp crumbled Gorogonzola

Season asparagus with salt pepper. Drizzle olive oil. Top with the two cheeses.

Bake at 350 for no more than 15 minutes. Magnifico!

Secret Japanese Beef

On a recent trip to Hong Kong, my brother took Mr. Bee and I to a hole in the wall Japanese restaurant where only those who know the secret handshake are allowed to dine in there. Lucky for us, my non-Japanese speaking brother knows a whole lot about  the Japanese sign language for great beef! Since then I've prepared this dish a ton of times, but only when Baby bee gives me the secret handshake.

2 pounds rib eye sukiyaki cut

3 tbsps. butter

salt

pepper

onions slices as rings

Fry onions in butter, set aside but still in pan. Fry meat until it changes color. Season with salt and pepper when cooking. Serve on top of steamed Japanese rice. Konichiwa!

Nori's Tapa

This recipe is from Mr. Bee's maternal grandmother Mama Nor who was an excellent cook, hostess and simply a magnificent woman. This recipe was passed on to me along with many others, over cups of hot chocolate.

Tapa is  Filipino breakfast favorite. Served with garlic rice and fried egg it completes your entire morning.

2 pounds thinly sliced sirloin, rib eye or breakfast steak

1 tbsps. salt

3 tbsps. sugar

Dash of chili flakes

Marinate beef at least overnight. Fry in corn oil until well done.

On the Other Side of the Coast

This is by far my favorite pick me up dessert, although I rarely make it. I discovered it again on a recent trip to NY. How can I not replicate it now?

Magnolia's Famous Banana Pudding

1 14 oz can condensed milk

1 1/2 c ice cold water

1 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding mix, Jell-o is good

3 c heavy whipping cream

1 12 oz box Nilla wafers

4 c ripe sliced bananas

On medium speed, beat together the sweetened condensed milk and water until well mixed. About 1 minute.

Add pudding mix. and beat for about 2 minutes more.

cover or refrigerate for 4 hours for pudding to set.

On medium speed, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold pudding mixture to the whipped cream, until well blended

to assemble dessert, use a trifle bowl. Use 1/3 of wafers, 1/3 of bananas, and 1/3 of pudding. Repeat alternating layers. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for 4 hours or no longer than 8 hours, before serving.

Yummmmy! 

Banana Crunch Cake

Baby Bee has learned to say the word Monkey. In celebration I attempted to bake another oh so delicious banana breakfast muffins. I top these with a generous serving of whipped cream cheese frosting. (1/2 c. cream cheese, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 3 cups powdered sugar whisked together)

melt 1/4 c butter in saucepan

add 2 c cornflakes and 2/3 c sugar

cook until sugar is melted

cool in a tray

mash 2-3 c bananas (i like them chunky)

add 1 c evaporated milk

add 1 c condensed milk

2/3 c water

sift together 4 c flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. nutmeg

cream 1 c butter

3 c sugar

beat until creamy

add 4 eggs one at a time

add the banana and flour mix alternately

bake 325 for 15 minutes

add cornflake topping and bake for 45 mins more.

Go Bananas!