Meatless Fridays: Century Tuna Bruschetta

Mabuhay!

It's the season of DVD marathons, pajamas, and all-day snacking!

One of the Eppersons' favorite snacks is the bruschetta (pronounced "brusketta"). This dish is healthy, yummy, filling and super easy to make. You can also prepare it ahead of time and serve it anytime of the day.

Tip: Traditionally, tomatoes are parboiled before chopping them. Personally, I like to serve them fresh, so I use organic tomatoes or if they're not available, I clean the veggies with drinking water before chopping them. Same goes for fresh herbs.

Century Tuna Bruschetta

Ingredients:

Classic toppings:

6-7 fresh tomatoes
1 whole onion

 2 cloves of garlic

3-5 fresh basil leaves
Low-fat mozarella cheese (grated or chopped)
Balsamic vinegar (optional but I highly recommend you add at least  a tsp.)

 1-2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

Sea salt 

Ground pepper

Add:

Century Tuna in Brine

Choose whole wheat baguette for a healthier meal. You can also try Finn Caraway Crackers (available at Healthy Options), it's like potato chips but waaaay healthier!

Easy Peasy:

Prepare the bread:

Step 1: Slice the whole wheat baguette, diagonally.
Step 2: Rub fresh garlic on the bread
Step 3: Lightly brush/drizzle EVOO on the bread
Step 4: Toast/grill the bread.

For the toppings:

Step 1: Chop the tomatoes (take out the seeds, juice, and cut the stems off), onions, and basil
Step 2: Grate/slice the mozarella cheese
Step 3: Drain a can of Century Tuna in Brine
Step 4: Mix all the ingredients, including the EVOO and balsamic vinegar. Season it with sea salt and ground pepper 

Plating:

I serve the bruschetta in a personal bowl surrounded with grilled sliced whole wheat baguette instead of topping the bread with the mix.

Use the bread/crackers to spoon out the tomato mix.

Shoppingero/shoppingera,  a friendly reminder: It's the rainy season again, be sure to take extra care with your health. Eat healthy to help fight off viruses.

Meatless Fridays: Century Tuna Farfalle

Mabuhay!

Of all the tuna recipes I've cooked, the farfalle pasta with tuna is Tom and Aryanna's ultimate favorite! They both love it for the flavor, presentation, and because it only takes me a few minutes for to cook it.

I've been cooking this particular dish for almost ten years already and it remains as the most requested pasta at home.

I also hope this dish will make it into your family's all-time hits!

Century Tuna Farfalle

Ingredients:

Parmesan or mozarella cheese
Salt

1 can of Century Tuna Hot & Spicy and 1 can of Century Tuna in Brine, drained
Tip: For kids, replace the hot & spicy with Century Tuna Light Flakes in Veg oil. I use two different types of tuna flavors to add dimension to the dish.

Farfalle are a type of pasta. Commonly known as "bow-tie pasta" Kids love this type of pasta because of the kyoot bow-tie shape while grown-ups love it because it's the type of pasta that doesn't overcook too fast.

Fresh organic basil leaves

Easy Peasy:

Step 1: Boil pasta according to the package directions. Don't forget to add salt to the water. No oil necessary.

Step 2: Once the pasta is cooked, strain them in a colander leaving some pasta water in the pan. In the same pan, add the two cans of Century Tuna. Heat up the pasta for a minute or two.
Tip: Leave around 1/4 cup pasta water in the pan to cook the tuna. No cooking oil necessary.

Step 3: Mix the farfalle in the tuna

Plating:

Keep the plating simple, use a plain white plate or bowl to highlight the shape of the farfalle.

Step 4: Garnish with fresh organic basil and grate your favorite cheese on top. I suggest parmesan or mozarella.

You can serve this dish hot or cold.

Shoppingero/shoppingera, what's your most requested dish?

Chalicious

Mabuhay!

So, this is Chatime...

Chatime is the famous Taiwanese pop milk tea chain that's now in Manila.
I spotted one of their branche inside The Landmark. Lots of customers were waiting to be served. The service was fast and the staff was efficient so waiting for your order is pretty stress-free.

I've been reading tweets about "Chatime" for a couple of weeks now and I finally got to try it.

Freshly brewed tea & coffee drinks infused with natural flavors:

I'm glad that I'm not shy or I wouldn't have met Chatime "expert" Nescyn. Haha! Thank you fo recommending what drinks I should first try.

Shoutout to Nescyn and her friend Michiko!

Nescyn and her office mates love Chatime!

The Chatime station:

The metal dispensers on top are where the brewed teas and coffee are stored.

Super cool vacuum sealer

Kyoot!

I tried 50% sugar and it tasted good. Maybe next time I'll attempt 30% sugar and work my taste buds to 0 % sugar.

Nescyn recommended that I try the Roasted Milk Tea with pearls and Pearl Milk Tea for Aryanna. They were both delish!

I prefer the brewed tea taste of Chatime compare to other regular pearl shakes.


Shoppingero/shoppingera, have you tried Chatime yet? What's your favorite flavor?

Meatless Fridays: Century Tuna Heavy Hors d'Oeuvres

Mabuhay!

Heavy hors d'oeuvres (orr-durves) are bite size appetizers that doubles as a heavy snack. This type of food is great for lunch box treats and picnics as they don't spoil easily.

If you're looking for a recipe that is quick, no-cook, and lasts throughout the day, this recipe is for you!

 Century Tuna Heavy Hors d'Oeuvres

Ingredients:

1 can of Century Tuna Light Flakes in Veg Oil, 1 can of Century Tuna Light Flakes Hot & Spicy, drained

Clockwise: Sun-dried tomatoes or sun-dried tomato pesto (my favorite), cilantro (wansoy), shallots or red onions, lemon juice, pitted black olives, ground pepper

Your favorite thin cracker

Easy peasy:

  Tip: To lessen dish washing, prepare the toppings inside your lunchbox

Step 1: Dump all the ingredients into the container. Season with pepper. Don't forget to squeeze the lemon and then mix all the ingredients.
Tip: Instead of using fresh tomatoes, especially for packed lunches, use sun-dried ones (personally, I prefer sun-dried tomato pesto) as it will keep the mix dry. Fresh tomatoes tend to make the tuna mixture watery overtime — I got this tip from Juan Sarte. Thanks, Skwez!

Step 2: Garnish with a slice of lemon

If you're an avid reader of my blog, you would remember my feature on Lex N' Go  collapsible silicone lunchbox.

This is a yummy and no-cook dish that you can serve anytime of the day. You can prepare this ahead of time too. Best served chilled.

I packed this earlier for Aryanna and her friend Danielle and they devoured it in the car even before I dropped them off the mall. They said it was very good and filling. Happiness.

You can add this recipe to your back to school menu and as a packed lunch healthy treat!


Shoppingero/shoppingera, eat healthy!

Readers' Recipes

Mabuhay!

Excuse me for not updating "Readers Recipes", my twitter account was flooded with RT's from the last "Jennirosity Day" that I couldn't recover some of your Twitpics/Lockerz, etc. If your photos are not posted below, please email them to me (jenniepperson.blogspot@gmail.com) or tweet me the link to your blog/Twitpic/Lockerz/Instagram and I'll be happy to blog about them.

From Maricon Lapasaran 

@Miko_cuteko @Century_Tuna @jenniepperson Made a yumealthy meal last.baked red bell pepper with tuna/tmtoes/onions tppings. amazed of hw it tasted! Sorry for d so yellow shot! http://lockerz.com/s/108221165

Thanks Miko! Spotted: Zebra table cloth! Haha! Lav et! It's great that you made this recipe your own with the use of red bell peppers. Your version reminds me of the Argentina Corned Beef and Potato Hash Stuffed Bell Peppers, Basmati Rice and Black Beans recipe I made.

From Florabel Facundo

"Hi Jenni,

I'm a reader from Germany. Ive been following your blog for quite sometime now. I really enjoy reading your posts especially your plato-platuhan and Pacquiao's update from "Lounell, pasok!" hahaha, its my breakfast companion. Ive done several of your recipes before but did not take pictures tsk tsk tsk....I was then quite shy to send you a letter! This time i have the guts to show you my  version of your Tuna ala king!!! Thanks for sharing it and keep posting!

Till your next recipe......Viel Glück!!!

Cherry"
 

@donyafacundo: Here's my Century Corned Tuna Ala King by Ms. @jenniepperson! Yey! Healthy living! SARAP! :) http://twitpic.com/57ozho

Mabuhay, Germany!  Wow! I love your plate and striped table cloth! The photography is also good with matching tilting the camera effect! LOL! The Century Tuna Ala King you made looks delish! Bravo!

My friend Lounell will be happy to know that you read his "Pacquiao" posts. Sulit na. Haha!

From Gian Mogatas

@gian_mogs: I tried my best to do @jenniepperson 's @Century_Tuna Oeufs En Cocotte! http://twitpic.com/56d8n7

Hi Gian!

Judging from the size of the Oeufs En Cocotte you made, you could probably feed a whole barangay! LOL! If not, I hope you shared your family sized dish with friends, family, and neighbors! ;D

Did you add cheese to your recipe? It looks yummy!


From Zahara of Cotabato City

@ZeeVsZombies come taste my soft tuna taco inspired by @jenniepperson http://zaharatales.blogspot.com/2011/06/soft-tuna-tacos.html

Mabuhay, Cotabato City!

I read your blog about having limited ingredients in your place, I'm impressed that you were able to create something amazing with the ingredients you had. Cooking is fun that way. Also, it's good to know you are related to someone who sells the "best" shawarma in the city! I will have to try it if ever I get to visit Cotabato. Haha!

Thank you everyone for all your photos! I'm glad more and more of my readers are inspired to cook my recipes. You guys rock!

Remember that cooking is empowering!


Shoppingero/shoppingera, keep your photos coming and I'll blog about them!

Meatless Fridays: Century Tuna Soft Tacos

Mabuhay!

If there's one dish that is equivalent to rice in our family, it would have be wheat tortillas. Just like rice, it's low maintenance (all you need to do is heat it up) and is a great canvas for adding whatever ingredients you want. We love making soft tacos and buritos with it at home!

Soft tacos are easy to make and if you add the right ingredients, it could be a healthy dish.

I'm sure some of you have your own version of a taco recipe, here's ours:

Century Tuna Soft Tacos

Ingredients:

3 cans of Century Tuna Lite, drained

Clockwise: 1 large tomato, fresh wansoy, chili (optional), 1 medium red onion, 1 small carrot, cheddar cheese

2 tbsp chili powder

wheat tortilla

Easy peasy:

Step 1: Heat up the tuna and add 2 tbsp. of chili powder. No need to add oil.

When cooked, set aside

Step 2: Chop the tomato, onion,  chilis (optional) and wansoy. Add 2 tbsp. of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil). Season it with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Grate the cheese and carrots
Step 4: Using a grill or pan, heat up the tortillas.

Spoon the filling on top of the wheat tortilla

Step 5: Fold the tortilla

This is also another recipe that you could add to your back-to-school menu. I always pack this for Aryanna to school and Tom for the office or his out of town surfing trips.



Shoppingero/shoppingera, have you prepared a back-to-school menu yet?