Siizzling gambas & other appetizers

Hello there! I’m actually trying to get the recipe for gambas, preferably the one of Casa Marcos, which has been one of my all-time favorites. I’ve searched all over and have eaten at different Spanish restaurants around San Diego but nothing can even compare to that yummy taste of garlic and olive oil that only Casa Marcos makes! Thank you very much!– Christine Marco, Technology Integration Group, San Diego, California

Hi, Bon! Do you have any recipes for pulutan like sisig, gambas, calamares, or others you know? I’ve opened a Sports Café and we serve beer for our male customers. Do you have the best recipe for tapsilog like the one at Tambo, Parañaque? Thanks! – Tina Embate

The basic goodness of gambas comes from being seasoned with salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper, sautéed in olive oil, sliced jalapeño peppers, and fresh minced garlic, and topped with more toasted garlic bits when served. Slices of buttered garlic baguette are a delicious accompaniment to soak up the flavored olive oil at the bottom of the serving dish!

Sisig can be prepared by boiling pork ears in a casserole of water. Do this a couple of times with a fresh supply of water to remove any slimy residue. Chop the pork ears and sauté this gelatinous delicacy with salt, freshly ground black pepper, soy sauce and vinegar.

Calamares or fried squid rings can be made by dredging fresh squid rings in a batter of flour, salt and pepper, then dipped in a beaten egg before deep-frying in hot oil.

Although no definitive recipe for hearty tapsilog seems to exist, the obvious combination of a cup of garlic rice and seasoned beef tapa can be topped with a fried egg, sunny side up. Vinegar, soy sauce, crushed garlic, salt, and pepper usually share in the tapsilog spotlight. Good luck!

* * * American Apple Pie And Chinese Hopia

Please give me a recipe for apple pie and my favorite mongo hopia. I would like to try them if I can have the recipe. – Susan, Financial Affairs Office National Guard Health Affairs Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

You can visit the "Recipe Cache" on our website for your recipe requests. Go to http://www.whollymollytips.com/Recipe_Cache.htm or simply click on "Library" and then on "Recipes". Although we are still in the process of continually adding more recipes, including hopia, we hope you can find other delicious dessert recipes such as apple pie.

* * * Dropping The Energy Bill

I solved a defrosting problem in my kitchen by not allowing frost to form in the first place. At night, about 8 p.m., I unplug the refrigerator and then plug it in again in the morning at about 6 a.m. Heat enters the refrigerator only when it is opened. At night, there is usually no door opening. Current refs are well built and do not allow heat to get in through closed doors. The times I mentioned can be varied.

The method I use is quite crude, but this can be simplified by installing an on/off switch between the plug and the outlet. If one can afford it, a timing system can turn the switch on and off automatically. This method also results in less electricity bills. – Victor L. Badillo, Ateneo de Manila University

Thanks, dear reader, for the neat defrosting tip! Your reasonable electricity-saving technique will surely help our readers decide on a number of ways to cut down on their energy bills on even new, frost-free refs. Just don’t forget to turn the power back on lest your dairy products go sour!

* * * Can My Old Sink Fit Into My New Kitchen?

I am presently renovating my kitchen and my stainless steel sink still looks good. However, it is no longer shiny and already has white stains because our water is hard. I would like to know how I could make it look brand new to use it again. – Carme

Although we don’t pledge expert, professional advice for all the tips given out through this column, we certainly like to share our experiences and those of our dear readers.

I’m a bit confused over your query. Watermarks on stainless steel usually develop from oily residue (like cooking oil or oily food stains), but lime deposits (that includes the kind of residual staining found inside a metal kettle or thermos!) are normally caused by constant exposure to hard, highly mineralized water. The former can be removed with a little elbow grease from your friendly hardware store or vehicle repair mechanic. The latter only needs a pasty application of kalamansi and baking soda to get rid of the lime deposits. Try both cleaning tips to help get the shine back into your sink!

By the way, a dull, matte finish to your sink doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not usable anymore. A brushed aluminum sink (and counter tops, too!) adds a great contemporary look to your new kitchen renovation!

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