Project: Domesticated Goddess

***Simple Schnitzel Recipe below***

I think it's safe to say that ever since I moved to Germany, I have been more independent, less lazy and, much as I dislike admitting it, a lot more domesticated.

Where I came from, it is pretty inexpensive to go to a restaurant for meals if one feels too lazy to cook at home. I have friends back home whose diets consist mostly of McDonald's, KFC or some other restaurant. Here of course, we don't have the luxury of eating out often since it is darn costly.

In the four months that I've been here, I think I've cooked more than I have had in all the years that I lived in Asia. One gets pretty much used to it though after a while.

I make it a point to cook an Asian dish at least once every two weeks. The problem is,  Asian ingredients aren't really that cheap here. In my first month, I had a craving for the Filipino dish sinigang wherein one main ingredient is kangkong (water spinach). I went to the Asian store only to find out that they have it for 2,50 euros per 200 grams. Ack! Pretty steep but then I had little choice so I ended up buying it. Instead of throwing the stalks away as what we'd normally do in Asia, I searched in Google and found out that you can actually grow kangkong by planting the stalks.

Soon my kangkong plant will be ready for cooking!

I'm also fond of Thai cuisine since it's pretty easy to cook and yet really delicious. In most of the dishes I like, lemongrass is needed. As with what I did with the kangkong, instead of throwing away the stalks I cut off from the lemongrass, I decided to stick them in a bottle with a bit of water. After a few days, I noticed that the top part which I cut off started growing back and after a week, roots started to come out and leaves started growing.

Lemongrass stalks which I put in water.

Stalks transplanted in a pot.

Of course, I also had to learn some German recipes. One of my favorites is pork schnitzel since it is very easy to make. If paired with potato salad, it becomes an awesome hangover meal.

Homemade Pork Schnitzel and Potato Salad

My Simple Schnitzel Recipe:
schnitzel-cut meat from butcher
breading (old bread that's lying around the house which I run though the processor)
flour
egg
oil for frying
salt and pepper

Get tenderizer and pound on meat so it's not as thick. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. Dip first in flour and shake off excess. Then on to the egg to coat it. Finally, dip it into the breading. Fry. Enjoy.

Come to think of it,  I don't mind the actual cooking so much.  It's actually planning the meals we'll have every day that bugs me. I have a newfound respect for housewives. It definitely is not easy.

Simple Beef Taco Recipe

"Stop, Taco time! Dun dun dun dun..." (to the tune of MC Hammer's "Can't Touch This")

My homemade taco! 

I've been craving tacos for the longest time. Instead of paying $2 for one small taco at Pancake House, I decided to make some at home. The online recipes I found were not simple enough so I came up with my version.
This recipe takes less than 15 minutes to prepare. 


Ingredients:
1/2 kilo ground beef 
2 tsps. oil
1 pack McCormick's taco seasoning (follow instructions on pack)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 small head of lettuce, shredded 
shredded/grated cheese (depends how much you want)
salt and pepper to taste
1 pack taco shells


Heat oil in medium-sized sauce pan. Add the ground beef and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the taco seasoning, salt and pepper. Simmer for another 5-7 minutes and make sure the beef is completely combined with the seasoning. Drain to get rid of any excess water. 


Scoop meat mixture into taco shell and top with lettuce, onions, tomatoes and cheese. Really easy, right?


If you decide to follow this recipe, let me know if you like it. Or, if you have a better taco recipe that I can try myself,  feel free to send me the link. 

Simple Spaghetti Bolognese

Here's a quick and easy recipe that everyone can follow. It's so simple that you really can't mess it up even if you don't know how to cook.

Ingredients:

Sauce:

1/4 kilo ground beef

1 medium onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, chopped

3-4 cups tomato sauce (I used Del Monte Original)

2 tbsps oil

salt

pepper

Pasta:

150g spaghetti

oil

salt

Heat oil in non-stick pan over medium heat. Saute garlic and onions. Throw in the beef and separate clumps. Cook for another 3 minutes and pour in tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper and keep stirring until it is gently bubbling. Switch to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Taste sauce and adjust seasoning.

While the sauce is cooking, boil water in another pot and make sure it's enough to cover the pasta. Add about a teaspoon of salt and oil. Once boiling, add the pasta and simmer for 10 minutes or according to package instructions, until al dente (firm to the bite). Drain and put on a bowl or plate.

Scoop sauce onto pasta and top with grated parmesan.

Buon appetito!

Stuck in the City

It is a bit frustrating to be stuck in the Metro during a long weekend while most of the people you know are having a grand time at the beach. To save myself from boredom next time there's a long weekend and I'm still not able to go anywhere, I've prepared a list of things to do for a more productive time at home.

1. Clean your closet -- Get rid of those old clothes that do not fit you anymore. Or those clothes that you bought two seasons ago that you have never worn. Sell these clothes or give them to charity.
2. Spring cleaning -- This is perfect for those yuppies or professionals who live by themselves and are too busy to clean on a regular week. You'd be surprised how much dirt accumulates beneath your bed or your couch.
3. Grab a good book -- Now is the time to start reading a book you've always wanted to read or finish a book that you've started weeks or months ago.
4. Call old friends -- Catch up with your college buds or friends outside of work whom you rarely see. This is the perfect time to update each other about what's going on in your lives.
5. Cook -- Grab a cookbook or get a recipe online and learn to cook some dishes. Show off what you've learned by hosting a party for friends or by surprising your significant other with a home-cooked meal.

Let me know if you have other suggestions for a more productive long weekend in the city.