Matcha Egg Noodles, Shiitake Mushroom Pot Stickers and Three Layer Kuching Tea

Is there any happier place than Asian restaurants? The sight of hand pulled noodles, steaming pots of beef broth,  dimsums in bamboo steamer and brewed teas. Is there any other kind of place where the  aroma of slow cooking, with depths  of umami,  the scent of anise, ginger and soy are all together in a bowl?  Is there another planet with sticky rice and more comforting food than Earth?

I am Asian, Filipina to be exact. This means I eat carbohydrates three times (or more) everyday. Noodles, rice, dimsums and flavorful broths.. You name it! Asians eat the best stuff in life. We are not as healthy eaters as the Mediterraneans and why not? We got plenty Culinary gems in every Asian country. My favorites are Laksa, Tantanmen, Sushi, Sashimi, Mochi and many more with carbs. I want to ask God  why  other Asian girls are so petite than I am, but I like eating, so I must not really complain.

There are millions of Asian recipes to learn, some are tricky some are just complicated to look at, and to start up.. 

Welcome to our little Asian Pantry!

Onion Chives, Bok Choy, Chicken Egg, Century Eggs and Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms

Bread Flour

Beef Short Ribs for Nanking Beef Broth

Kutsinta with Dulce de Leche from Muntinlupa Day Market

FRESH PASTA

500g Bread Flour

1 tsp Rock Salt

3 pcs Eggs

1 pc Egg Yolk

Weigh all ingredients together in a bowl and make a well at the center, we wanted to add the eggs at a time

Transfer on the bench and continue kneading until a dough is formed

Gather into a ball and rest for atleast 30 minutes to relax the gluten. We don't need a Window Pane in making Fresh Pasta or Noodles, we don't like the gluten to fully develop as per Breads.

A rough ball of dough is supposed. Cover with cling wrap and chill. Let it rest for atleast 30 minutes

MJ's Pasta Machine

Once the dough is ready, cut into pieces and prepare by running through the Pasta machine. Start by the thickest width which is number 9 (or 10 for some Pasta machine) then go each number one by one.. 8,7,6,5 and 4 for Ravioli and Pot Stickers and until 3 for Linguini and Fetuccini

A rough looking pasta is expected at first, fold it and continue running through the machine. You will notice that the dough is getting smoother as it gets thinner.

Let the flattened noodles rest until it slightly dry to relax the gluten or the strands will curl and tear

MATCHA EGG NOODLES

500g Bread Flour

1 tsp Rock Salt

3 pcs Eggs

1 pc Egg Yolk
3 bags, Green Tea

Perfect strands <3

Hang the noodles in wooden noodle hanger until you are ready for cooking

SHIITAKE MUSHROOM POT STICKERS 

Filling:

400g Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms, chopped

2/3c All Purpose Cream

2 Tbsp Butter, unsalted

2 Tbsp Brandy, (optional)

The filling is very simple. Saute chopped mushroom in butter, flambe in brandy and finish with cream. Don't forget to slightly season it with salt and pepper.

Sauce:

3 Tsbp Butter, unsalted,

1 cup Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms, sliced

3/4 c All Purpose Cream

1/2 c Fresh Milk

To taste, Salt and Pepper

Sprinkle of Spring Onions

For the sauce,  Saute chopped mushroom in butter, and finish with cream and milk. Season to taste and cook until nappe consistency. Toss the cooked Pot stickers in the sauce before serving.

For Pot Stickers, the flattened noodles doesn't have to be dried or the formed skin will make locking of the pieces difficult.

Simply portion the filling on the laid flattened pasta. Using egg wash, seal the surface to paste two pieces of pasta together.

Lock and press together, release air pockets if ever there is.

Let it dry a bit before cooking

"Don't waste another day being bitter. Each day is a gift from God. Use it wisely" - Joyce Meyer

Cook in rapidly boiling water until Al dente

Toss in sauce and serve

THREE LAYER KUCHING TEA

I first had Three Layer Kuching Tea two years ago in The Chicken Rice Shop and it has always been the best Milk tea I ever had in my life that I can finish three glasses in one night, forgetting about the calories and letting go the  guilt..I gained 10 lbs in just a month. 

Using Panocha or Muscovado sugar, make the dark caramel syrup.

Steep teas in warm water and let it sit for atleast two hours or steep overnight for fuller flavor

 Muscovado Caramel as the bottom layer

then pour in Evaporated Milk, about 60ml per serving

then pour in the Black tea, watch the layers until it slowly blend in together. 

Bottom layer:

250g Muscovado sugar

150g Water

Second layer:

350ml Evaporated Milk

Top Most layer:
10 bags Black Tea

1 L Warm water

As needed Tube ice

The summary of my chow: Matcha Egg Noodles in Curry Laksa,Nanking Beef  Egg Noodles, Shiitake Mushroom Pot Stickers, Century Egg with Sessame Oil and Three Layer Kuching Tea

Cooked Matcha Egg Noodles

Curry Laksa Bowl

Lovely Century Egg-boats with Sessame Oil

Cooked Egg Noodles

 Nanking Beef Noodles 

Family style!

"Don't waste another day being bitter. Each day is a gift from God. Use it wisely" - Joyce Meyer

At the end of this day, I reflected on myself to annalyze that I have done something beautiful today even I was having a heavy heart while working. I like my subject, Tea and Asian food. But there are just some people who crosses your mind and distracts you like a curb. I also realized that this day was too beautiful to spoil with sad thoughts..actually, every day is made beautiful as I am loved everyday and to my bitter pill, just have a nice day. 

I would like to thank again my dear friend MJ and his family for his participation and help in this entry. Until our next cooking and Tealogy!

love always,