Foot and Fire

My pizza toppings include wilted brazilian spinach and it went well with anchovies I really love my Brazilian Spinach. First, it is easy to grow from cuttings and it loves constant harvest. Second, it does not interfere in the overall taste of what I cook. Third, it is nutrient-rich given its lush green color. Fourth, it gives confidence for my friends who doubt their chances of growing plants.  In this blog, I would like to feature my two friends who seem to enjoy the leaves of their green thumb! My other friend loves it as salad and serve it with eggs, but I missed to save the photo she sent. The fried rice with eggs and chopped brazilian spinach by Che. The Japanese noodle soup with sardines, mushrooms and brazilian spinach by Virgie If you want some brazilian spinach cuttings, feel free to message me. 

The main ingredient to a good pesto is the fresh basil leaves and since I have a few cups, I used my brazilian spinach to enliven the usual fare. The authentic Italian pesto calls for pine nuts and I am lucky to have much of it as of this time. It was sent to me from abroad. In the Philippines, a kilo of it cost P2,000. Of course, so as not to consume my nutty sweet smelling pine nuts, I also used almonds.  For this batch, here are my ingredients: Brazilian Spinach Genovese basil Parmesan Cheese Garlic Pine nuts Almonds Himalayan salt Extra virgin olive oil (Evoo) By small batches, put ingredients in a blender and blend until all is done. Store in a glass container and top with EVOo To seal off freshness.  Use the pesto on your pasta, a spoon of it will already make two plates served in your fave resto. Or top ot on your toast and use as marinade for your fish. 

I called this my Extended Psto because I don't want to annoy Italians with my version of their well loved pesto. Well, they started it and it's their fault that pesto is so good that I came to love it. Enough of teasing the Italians! hahahaha Of course, I have to use what is in my garden. Since Brazilian Spinach abound this weekend and I harvested a lot of my Genovese Basil and a few leaves of sweetbasil, I am obliged to utilize the ever greener Brazilian Spinach.  After a brawling match with my new blender, I churned out many batches of pesto. I used it for the french bread toast and flaked roasted chicken, spanish sardines angel hair pasta. Voila, a hearty meal.   Brazilian Spinach, wilted and chopped Genovese Basil A head of garlic, sliced Pine nuts Almonds Parmesan Himalayan salt Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) Process by batch all ingredients in the blender or ideally in a food processor till pasty consistency is reached. Store in jars an...

Please find the recipe on my other blog. Promise, this will be the first and last blunder. :) Enjoy.... http://footandfire.blogspot.com/2016/09/squash-ukoy-with-tostitos-spinach-dip.html

Squash, grated (Use steel cheese grater) 2 heads Onion, chopped 6 cloves garlic, chopped Toasted garlic (optional) Salt and pepper Dried Italian herbs and/or turmeric Oatmeal Flour Canola oil for frying In a deep bowl, put first six ingredients. Add oatmeal until manageable to form into patties. Just add flour a little at a time to adjust. Fry each patty and drain excess oil in a paper towel. Serve with tomato ketchup or Tostitos Spinach dip. Posted via Blogaway

By GERLIE M. UY Sinabawan nga Isda nga may kulitis! 800ml water 2 piece tomatoes 1 onion, sliced 6 fried fishes 2 spoons fish sauce pinch of salt and pepper A bunch of kulitis In a stock pot, put tomatoes and onion. Bring to boil and let boil until tomatoes and onion are done. Add fried fishes, fish sauce and salt and pepper. Bring to boil and adjust taste. Add the kulitis and cover. Remove from fire. Serve immediately. More about kulitis  more . "  Kulitis is known in Philippine various dialects as tampala, uray, kuyapa or kujapa; internationally it is known as Chinese spinach and pig weed in the US. It is considered to be the highest tropical yielding leaf plant with excellent nutritional value. The plant is rich in calcium, iron and vitamin A. The scientific name of kulitis is Amaranthus Spinosus L. Studies have shown that amaranths are good source of medicinal cure that can be beneficial to lactating mothers and use to treat patients with fever, hemorrhage, anemia and ki...