Christmas Eve Dinner

Hello Everyone!

I was so eager to blog again that I just have to!

So my Christmas 2011 was quite lonely because my dad was not around.

But hey, Jesus Christ was born on the 25^th, which is still something to be happy for.

Here is a glimpse of our Christmas Eve dinner table set up.

Recently for the past 2 years, my mom decided to collect Santa Claus.

So Instead of the usual Christmas tree and stuff, our living room is full of Santa Claus.

Christmas Eve Dinner Table Set-up

So like I promised, I will teach you guys how to cook the food we ate for Christmas Eve Dinner.

The menu was

Garlic olive-oil based angel’s hair pasta

Shredded Potato (another version of mash potato… story later on!)

Steak

The bad news is, I didn’t cook the steak so I won’t be able to share it with you guys.

I will try to ask my mom the whole process again. So keep posted.

So First up, THE PASTA.

Ingredients for pasta.

Ingredients:
       1. Your choice of olive oil
       2. Garlic (cut into flakes ; quantity: as many as you want, the more the better)
       3. Tuna (in flakes ; to stay away from hassle, use the ones in can)
       4. Angel’s hair pasta
       5. Thyme
       6. Black Pepper (powdered)

First, cook the angel’s hair pasta. Follow the instructions found in the wrapper.

Tip: to check if the pasta is OK already, take a small portion of the pasta and toss to a wall. If it stick already, then it is ready. Make sure not to overcook and make it shaggy.

Second, Cool down the pasta by placing it in running water. Strain and set aside.

Third, in a pan, sauté the garlic in the olive oil. Since the pasta as a whole is oil-based, use a lot of oil good enough to cover the pasta you have cooked. CAUTION: Do not overcook and burn the garlic.

Fourth, Add thyme as many as you want. Stir awhile. Then add the tuna flakes. If tuna is submerged in oil or water, drain first.

Tip: If tuna flakes are submerged in oil, add a small amount of oil to pan to add a flavor.

Option: If you want it to have some spicy, Use tuna flakes submerged in Hot and spicy oil. Add such oil to pan in small amount.

Fifth, add powdered black pepper for taste. Adjust it the way you want it.

Lastly, turn of stove and allow oil to cool a bit. Then, mix in the same pan your completely drained angel’s hair pasta. Mix thoroughly and serve.

Lastly, THE POTATO.

I learned this recipe from our family friend (my mom’s bestfriend), Tita Miner Yema from California, USA. She introduced us this recipe when we were there in the US for a visit last summer (2011).

Ingredients:

1.       Potatoes

2.       All purpose cream

3.       Sour Cream

4.       Evaporated milk

5.       Quickmelt cheese

6.       Cornflakes cereal of your choice

First, Shred the potatoes without the skin. Place them in a bowl of water to retain color and prohibit oxidation.

Shredding the potatoes

Second, mix all purpose flour and sour cream in another bowl. Adjust the proportion according to your taste if you want a strong taste from the sour cream or not. (I actually used 1 sour cream:2 all purpose cream)

All purpose cream and sour cream mixture

Third, in a baking pan, place the potatoes first, spread out to whole pan. Then place the cream mixture. Then add evaporated milk directly into pan. Adjust amount according to your choice.

Evaporated Milk

Fourth, shred quickmelt cheese on top. Sprinkle your choosen cornflake cereals on top of cheese for some crunch.

Quickmelt Cheese

Cornflakes cereal

Lastly, bake in oven. No specific temperature and time. Stop if all ingredients mix together and indistinguishable. Taste time to time with a spoon potatoes are cooked according to your preferred texture and taste.

Hope you like them. Sorry if I have no final product results. In this recipes, there are no specific quantities. It is all up to you if you want more garlic or not, more sour cream or not and the like. It is all about adjusting.

I assure you they are all delicious!

Well, that’s for now.

See you next time!

Stay safe! xoxo