ELIZABETH: TGIF'S TASTE OF AMERICA

In celebration of 20 years of loads of great food and fun, TGIFriday's Philippines takes guests on a culinary journey featuring some of the best dishes across the USA.

Have a "Taste of America" until November 30, 2014 and savor new dishes that are popular in Chicago, Kansas and Miami and take pleasure in delicious Southwest comfort food. First up is...

Kansas Mashed  Potato Cakes

Taste deep-fried potato cakes that are stuffed with caramelized onions and mixed cheese, further topped with Colby cheese, crisp bacon and drizzled with horseradish cream. It is served with special aioli sriracha dip.

You may get on a road trip Kansas to Florida and discover why the latter is one of America's hot spots. Or you may grab a plate of... 

Miami Cubano Chicken Stack

Two lightly breaded chicken breasts that are stacked high with shredded mozerella, sliced ham, and stir fry mushrooms to find out why. This all-star Cuban-style fare is drizzled with a lemon cream sauce, garnished with fresh tomato  basil mix ans served with rice pilaf.

Then there's rustic Southwestern cuisine.Start with the...

Southwestern Shrimp Caesar Salad  

That has grilled blackened plump shrimps sitting atop a Southwestern salad. This dish is served with a crispy tortilla chips to make the experience more colorful and authentic. Also a must try is...

Chicago Braised Pork Belly

Braised pork belly topped with rich brown sauce served with mashed potatoes and sauteed broccoli.

Brownie Obsession

A warm brownie covered in dark and rich chocolate fudge, topped with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce and pecans.

Mocha Mudpie

Watermelon Spa

combination of fresh watermelon, cucumber and honey

Carrot Apple

combination of fresh carrot, apple and honey

They also have Fridays Mojito's that comes in two new flavors. A hot kick from the Chili Pineapple Mojito with mint leaves, bacardi white rum, fresh sour rocks mix, fresh pineapple juice, simple syrup, lime, chili and soda.. And they also have Apple Cucumber Mojito with mint leaves, bacardi white rum, fresh apple juice, simple syrup, cucumber, apple slice and soda.

with Ms. Rhoda of TGIF :)

with my sister Gerilen and nephew baby Clyde! ;) 

He really wants to jump at the couch! haha! To know more about my little date, clink this link: http://youngwifechronicles.blogspot.com/2014/10/toddlers-top-5-today_12.html

Savor "Taste of America", have a fun dining experience and find out out why it's always Friday at TGIFridays for the last 20 years! 

live, love, laugh,

Beth :)

Food Trip: Homemade Carrot Siomai + Carrot Juice

What I missed most about staying in Baguio was that all the vegetables are fresh, plus the price is way much cheaper than the limp veggies I see on the wet market here in Manila - there really IS a big difference! If you wanna live well, you have to start eating right, and eating right starts with fruits and vegetables - the usual left behind food blocks in the food pyramid! Today, in this blogpost, I will share to you my mom's homemade carrot siomai! :D

Ingredients and Materials for Carrot Siomai, Carrot Juice and Siomai Sauce:

• 1 kilo fresh carrots
• 2 cans of tuna in oil flakes or corned tuna
• siomai wrappers
• salt
• pepper
• stalk of celery
• flour
• 5 medium-sized eggs
• Juicer
• Steamer
• 5 pieces calamansi
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• a spoonful of chili sauce
• Olive oil

fresh from the steam pot! :D

Clean the celery and carrots and lightly peel the surface. Cut the carrots in medium size and process both the carrots and the celery stalks in the juicer. Measure 1/4 of the carrot-celery juice on the cup and put the rest in the fridge to chill.

Put the carrot fiber in a big bowl, add the following ingredients-

1/4 carrot juice,

tuna in flakes,

a spoon of flour (add more if necessary),

salt and pepper to taste

Crack the eggs in a small bowl, leave a spoonful of egg whites in a saucer.

Beat the eggs and mix it to the ingredients. Mix well.

Prepare the siomai wrapper.

Individually wrap the mix in the siomai wrapper and use the white eggs to seal the tip.

Cover the steam pot with a thin layer of olive oil (you could also add/use butter, if you like *wink).

Place the siomai inside and steam for 15 to 20  minutes.

Cut the calamansi and squeexe the juice in a small bowl, add soy sauce and chili sauce.

Enjoy!

That is how we do it at home. Don't forget to put some ice on the Carrot Juice and shake it well before serving. Carrot is a good source of vitamin A. It can also melt small tumors and lumps inside the body. You can replace the tuna with grinned beef or chicken as well, but our favorite is the tuna flavored carrot siomai! Mouth-watering labor of love! All those wrapping is really well worth it!

What are your favorite carrot dish and dimsum?