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?

Meatless Fridays: Century Tuna Thai Salad

Mabuhay!

Thank God Blogger has finally gotten its act together! I was a bit stressed that I couldn't log in my blog the whole day yesterday. Anyway, back to business.

Welcome to "Meatless Fridays"... on a Saturday. Haha!

This recipe is a popular one in the Epperson household. It's light, tasty, refreshing and super easy to make (very minimal cooking)! I usually pack this for Aryanna's lunch box meal and it's one of the dishes we take to picnics. The ingredients are low-maintenance; all you need to do is to keep them cool and it would last throughout the day.

I'm going to a BBQ later so I'm thinking of bringing this salad as my potluck dish for everyone to try, plus, it's always polite to bring something special for the hosts.

Century Tuna Thai Salad

 Ingredients:

1 can of Century Tuna in Brine, drained

Clockwise: Cilantro (if you don't like cilantro, replace it with mint leaves), 2-3 scallions or 1/2 red onion, 1 chili (preferably dried), 1 clove garlic, lemon juice and 1/2 tsp of lemon rind from 1 whole lemon, fresh basil, ginger, 1 tsp brown sugar (not in photo)

1 medium pack glass noodles or vermicelli noodles

Clockwise: 1 1/2 tbsp tamari sauce (or any low-sodium soy sauce), 1 tbsp. Chinese rice wine or rice wine vinegar, 2 tbsp fish sauce, 1 tbsp sesame oil

 Easy Peasy:

Step 1: Boil glass noodles.
Warning: The noodles cook fast: from the time the water boils, it takes 4-5 mins to cook. You'll know when it's cooked when the noodles turn translucent.
Step 2: While the noodles are cooking, fry the scallions and garlic chips and set aside for garnish.

Step 3: Once the noodles are cooked, drain and soak in ice cold water.

Step 4: To make the dressing, mix all the wet ingredients, lemon rind, brown sugar, chili, and ginger.
Tip: Since I don't want a tempura sauce texture to my dressing, I just slice a piece of ginger and marinate it for a few minutes and scoop it out before I drizzle the dressing on the salad.

Plating: 

I used my banana leaf ceramic dish to plate it. You can serve it on a regular plate topped with a banana leaf.
Step 5: Cut the bell pepper into fine julienne.
Step 6: Top the glass noodles with Century Tuna
Step 7: Garnish the glass noodles with bell peppers, cilantro, basil, fried scallions and garlic chips

Optional: Garnish with dried chili for presentation

You can drizzle the dressing directly onto your salad or serve it on the side.
Tip: Don't pour the entire dressing on your salad. Add according to your taste. Also always serve the salad cold.

The perfect summer bite! So refreshing!

I can't rave enough about this salad as it is delish! The beauty of it all, it's low maintenance but "high" in flavors!

Bring this to your next potluck party or picnic or as a lunch box meal. It's healthy, filling, and yummy!

Happy weekend everyone!


Shoppingero/shoppingera, what's keeping you cool and refreshed this summer?

Meatless Fridays: Century Chili Corned Tuna Oeufs En Cocotte

Mabuhay!

Here's a Mother's Day recipe you can serve mom for Sunday brunch. Like my other recipes, this dish is easy to make, delicious, and special!

Eggs rule my breakfast. One of my favorite egg dishes is oeufs en cocotte which means "eggs baked in ramekins." A ramekin is a small glazed ceramic or glass serving bowl used for the preparation and serving of various food dishes.

Here's a variation the classic baked eggs in cream:

Century Chili Corned Tuna Oeufs En Cocotte

Ingredients:

Himalayan Pink salt

White pepper

1can of Century Chili Corned Tuna, drained; 2 eggs; spring onions; 4 tbsp. of half and half (2 tbsp cream, 2tbsp. milk)

For individual servings, use a ramekin. If you don't have one you can make a big batch by tripling the recipe and putting it in a cake pan or any oven-proof baking dish.

Easy peasy:

Step 1: Preheat oven to 325° F.
Step 2: Pack in the Century Corned Tuna in the ramekin.

Step 3: Crack the two eggs on top of the corned tuna.
Step 4: Pour the half and half over the eggs.
Step 5: Season it with salt and pepper and garnish with spring onions.
Tip: Pour the half and half on the egg whites avoiding covering the yolk.

Step 6: Bake in preheated oven approximately 10 to 12 minutes, depending on how you want your eggs cook. When done, the whites of the eggs should be completely set and the yolks beginning to thicken but not hard.
Tip: Place the ramekin/s on a baking tray for easy handling.

Step 7: Serve with a smile!:D
Warning: Be careful not to burn your fingers with the hot ramekin.

Surprise mom with this simple, easy, but mouthwatering goodness on her special day!

Personally, I like toasted bread with it.

Creamy goodness!

Oh by the way, after Tom and Aryanna sampled this dish, we all decided to have it for dinner. They loved it! I hope your family enjoys this meal too!


Shoppingero/shoppingera, are you cooking anything special for Mother's Day?

Meatless Fridays: Century Tuna Royal Tea Sandwiches

Mabuhay!

In honor of the Royal Wedding of Prince William & Catherine Middleton, Aryanna and I thought that we would make a meatless dish inspired by the British accompanied by something we both enjoy: tea time.

William & Kate Royal Wedding
Photo source

Tea sandwiches are bite-sized snacks. Despite their name, tea sandwiches fit the menu whenever you're looking for something light to eat and they are perfect for entertaining — they look fancy but are super easy to make.

Traditionally, tea sandwiches are served during afternoon tea time to ward off hunger before dinner.

I usually make tea sandwiches with caviar or egg salad or tuna salad fillings for tea time with Aryanna. Since today is all about the union of two lovers, I thought I'd "combine" eggs and tuna as filling to create a "Royal Tea" sandwich. Haha!

Century Tuna Royal Tea Sandwiches

Ingredients:

Light mayonnaise 

Himalayan Pink salt

White pepper

2 cans of Century Tuna in brine, drained

From left: lemon juice, fresh dill, celery, baby arugula or your favorite greens

Hard boiled eggs

Sliced wheat bread, trim the crust with a serrated knife for clean edges

Ratings:

Level of easiness: 5

Taste: 5

Impress the guest factor: 5

 Easy peasy:

Step 1: Finely chop the tuna, celery, and fresh dill. Add lemon juice, salt, and pepper.

Step 2: Add a dollop of mayo

Step 3: Spread a thin layer of tuna filling onto the slice bread. Top it with slice boiled eggs. Cut your sandwiches in triangles, squares or rectangles.

Tip: A thin coating of butter will keep the bread from getting soggy.

Aryanna doesn't like arugula so I only put it on mine.

Since Aryanna and I are more "rock" than "royalty",  here's our set-up for the "Royal Tea" time:

Tea time with Aryanna!
Skip the clotted cream and sugar for a healthier meal.

Aryanna made mini coconut scones for our sweet tea time treats! So yummy and kyoot!

Thanks Aryanna for helping mom! I couldn't have done the mini coconut scones without your help!

Enjoy watching the Royal Wedding! :D

Having tea with your family is a fab way to spend quality time with them. Aryanna and I usually have tea at home, in a hotel or sometimes, at a coffee/tea joint. It's a great way to bond with each other. Here's one of my favorite "Tea Time" with my daughter.

From "Royalty" to "Royal Tea" sandwiches, I've got it covered! Follow me on twitter.com/jenniepperson for a virtual Tea Time chickahan during the Royal Wedding! Fun!


Shoppingero/shoppingera, how often do you spend quality time with your loved ones?