Hui! pss-pss...and den?

If you're filipino - you should've gotten the title...I miss how my Grandma would call me that way. :) Love ya grams!

Anyway - just had to tell you about this yummy bread-snack-dessert known as ensaymada. It is the one of my faaaavorite filipino things. I used to crave the version I knew growing up with in Hawaii which was just a round flat pastry smothered with a sugar and butter spread. yummy! But THEN...oh, then I got introduced to this version made by Goldilocks Bakery and Restaurant in Cerritos and I was forever changed. Though I'll still buy the other ensaymada at Zippy's when I'm at home, out here - Goldilocks' ensaymada reigns. I like it straight outta the bag - but a tip from my friend is to heat it up for 10 secs and then enjoy!

And you thought 50% off was good...

Get 60% off!

1. Go to www.restaurant.com to search for restaurants by zip code or state.
2. Click "Add to Cart" to buy certificates.
3. Enter discount code 78440 at check out and click "Recalculate Total".

Important Stuff: No dust bunnies were harmed in the process of releasing this promotion. Offer cannot be combined with any other discounts, rebates or promotions. Discount cannot be applied to the redemption of Mega Certificates or Restaurant.com certificates. This offer ends on 4/30/06.

:)

And the winner is...

Congratulations to Rokes! Winner of the first ever contest I've ever had. Have fun with the certificate Rokes :). Thanks to all those who entered...so bascially thanks to you too Ona!

50% off Restaurant.com certificates

Well, if you're too shy to enter the contest, the next best thing would be getting 50% off. :)

Restaurant.com's April Showers Savings Event
April showers may leave you all wet, but remember that it's raining savings, too! Right now you can take advantage and save 50% on certificates to over 7,000 restaurants nationwide. Or indulge with fantastic Mrs.Field’s cookies. They're the perfect treat for a rainy day.

Extend the savings on past the rainy season by stocking up on certificates now to give for gifts later. Choose from online merchants, such as Spawish.com, Lobster Gram, Allen Brothers Steaks or The Fruit Company.

Clean up with savings by following these simple steps:
1. Go to www.restaurant.com to search for restaurants by zip code or state.
2. Click "Add to Cart" to buy certificates.
3. Enter discount code 10606 at check out and click "Recalculate Total".

Contest!

Alright - since no one believes me how awesome these certificates are...I'm going to give one away. Enter a comment to this post and enter to win a $25 gift certificate to Restaurant.com. Ofcourse - these certificates are only good if you find a restaurant in your area that participates in this program. But who cares, IT'S FREE! Not like I have a lot of readers anyway since I am very very VERY delinquent on posts...but I've been inspired by new co-workers to write more about food...more specifically about the food that they're telling me about.

Anyways - back to the contest...still not convinced to enter? Well, me and my girlfriend just had teppanyaki at Chomp in Fullerton for about $10 each (y'know, the Bennihana style entertainment where the cook throws knives in the air and makes an onion volcano?). If that don't convince you, I give up.

Deadline for entering is midnight Friday (04/21/06), Pacific Time. (The certificate will be emailed to the winner.)

good luck!

Gyoza

Ahhh, gyoza. This is my Japanese comfort food. I can never go to a Japanese noodle place and not order a side of gyoza to go with it. I helped make these this past weekend. Oh - how I just love gyoza. My fiance's mom taught us how...well, all I really did was "roll" them up. I never really took the time to know how they made the gyoza look so good. The secret is in the pleats. Yes - you have to pleat those tiny little gyoza wrappers! It was crazy - but when you saw the finished product, it was beeeautiful. Below is a random recipe I pulled off the internet. Though the recipe says to "pinch" the wrappers instead of pleat...the rest of it is still good. Don't forget to pleat!

Gyoza - Japanese Potstickers
From Rhonda Parkinson

Serves 8 to 10 (as an appetizer)
INGREDIENTS:

1/2 pound ground pork (1 cup)
3/4 cup shredded Napa cabbage
1 green onion, diced
2 teaspoons minced ginger
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon hot chili oil, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil for frying, or as needed
30 gyoza wrappers, or as needed
PREPARATION:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Blanch the shredded cabbage until it is tender but still crisp. Plunge into ice cold water, remove, and drain thoroughly.

In a medium bowl, combine the ground pork, cooked cabbage, green onion, minced ginger, egg, soy sauce, chili oil and sesame oil.

Lay a gyoza wrapper in front of you. Wet all the edges with water. Place a teaspoon of filling in the middle of the wrapper. Fold the sides up to form a semicircle, and then pinch the edges (and pleat!) to seal. Continue with the rest of the gyoza wrappers until the filling is gone.

To cook, heat 1 tablespoon oil in a heavy frying pan over medium-high to high heat. Add 12 - 15 of the gyoza and cook for 2 minutes, or until golden brown on the bottom.

Add 1/2 cup of water to the pan. Cover the dumplings and cook until the water is absorbed (5 to 7 minutes). Repeat with the remainder of the gyoza dumplings.