Sunday, November 30, 2008

Spam-si-log

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Finally, I made it. I’m posting my very first regular blog after so many weeks of being away. Many of you know that I’ve traveled back to the beloved country where I originally come from, the Philippines. I was there for 5 weeks. My father had an emergency issue with his health that needed to be dealt with. His right leg had to be amputated asap, due to a gangrenous wound that had not healed for 9 months. We were trying to avoid losing my father’s limb, but in the end, it was still necessary, as the infection was growing and spreading fast. That’s why I had to be home for the operation to support my father. My mom passed away of breast cancer just last year. And I am an only child, so it goes without saying that I am the only one my father has to lean on for support (no pun intended).

Anyhow, now that I’m back home in the U.S. with my dear husband, I can only hope and pray that no other emergency concerning my father’s health will take place ever again. It is not only financially challenging, but emotionally trying as well. I can only take so much of those!

In the meantime, I am happy to share with you that my father is doing much better and is getting stronger by the day. Thank God.

I was hoping to be able to get back on blogging immediately after I came back from my trip, but between the jet-lag and work, it was just physically impossible. And honestly, I lost my blogging “mojo” for a while due to my exhausted mind and body. But not to worry, I am slowly recovering.. and pretty soon, I will be prolific again! Promise!

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Today, I would like to share with you my breakfast, reminiscent to the ones I had while growing up in the Philippines.

A traditional Filipino breakfast is a full meal with rice, usually fried rice. Some years ago, a TV comedy sitcom coined the term tapsilog - which refers to a breakfast combination of tapa (cured beef), sinangag (fried rice) and itlog (fried egg). This is a typical Filipino breakfast, but it was the show's "slang" that ignited its popularity, so much so that restaurants and even fast food chains have included these combo type breakfast meals in their menu. Since then, tapsilog has spawned so many other dishes (or slang terms, I should say) such as tocilog, (with tocino, the Filipino's version for bacon); longsilog (with longganisa, the Filipino breakfast sausage); and yes, spamsilog, (with SPAM, obviously) - all with fried rice and eggs.

SPAM is a favorite luncheon meat in the Philippines, but not enjoyed all too often because it is an imported stuff therefore, more expensive than local brands.

Anyhow, here's my spamsilog. I’m so proud to say that while Mr. J doesn’t count Spam as a favorite, but he willingly partakes of it with me every once in a while! I’d say that’s love, huh? :oD

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This breaksfast is an easy one to prepare. For the spam, it is basically ready to eat so I just warmed it up a bit in the skillet. The eggs you can have however you prefer 'em --fried, scrambled, overeasy.. it doesn't matter. The only thing I really had to cook was the garlic fried rice, which I topped with garlic chips that I had gotten from the Philippines. Talk about garlic breath and all! You can bet no witch came near our house that day!

For the fried rice, it is best to use left-over rice. Don't use freshly cooked rice, as your rice will come out mushy. Make sure to separate the rice; I find that the easiest and best way to do this is to use your finger and work them through the rice to break the lumps. Lumpy fried rice is un-appetizing. Then make sure that your skillet/wok is hot.Just let your palm hover about 6" high over the skillet/wok, and when you feel the heat, then you're ready to start. And be ready to do everything quickly.

Sending a serving of this Spamsilog to
Ces of SpiCes, as my entry to this weeks's Lasang Pinoy Sunday Edition #25.


Garlic Fried Rice

2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 c rice (see instructions above)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp soy sauce (opitonal)
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
fried garlic chips, for garnish

1. Set your skillet/work to high heat. When it's hot enough (see instructions above), add the vegetable oil.
2. Then add your rice. Stir the rice continously for about 3 mins. All you are doing is warming through the rice. Add more vegetable oil if you think your rice is dry.
3. Then add the garlic, followed by the soy sauce and pepper. Stir for 1 more minute.
4. Turn off the heat. Serve topped with garlic chips, if you like.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is also breakfast favorite at home. I was also surprised that most Americans I met don't like Spam. They don't know what their missing, hehe.

Hope all is well with your father.

Gay

eatingclubvancouver_js said...

Sorry to hear about your dad, but hope he will start feeling better soon.

Sometimes, nothing beats pan-fried spam with eggs. Spamsilogsarap.

Anonymous said...

Welcome back! And I'm happy to hear your dad is recovering well. Spam! The favorite of my kids! :) for breakfast, lunch or dinner... and in between :)

Unknown said...

hope your dad's getting more better... that's my kind of breakfast... and lunch... and dinner... lol... it's my comfort food... :) welcome back...

Unknown said...

gosh this is really the time when you need to be strong, girl...the rice looks amazing, and i love the way filipinos serve everything with fried eggs hehe

Manggy said...

Sorry to hear about your dad's amputation-- but I know he has plenty of support through you the rest of the family. I hope he adjusts well.

Spam + rice is always a welcome meal :) (Paminsan-minsan lang, though, it can get overwhelmingly salty after a while-- but that's what the rice is for!)

lilmizlynn said...

Sorry to hear about your dad and I hope he stay strong and you too..
Never had spam before but I'm gonna try your garlic fried rice.. looks yummy! :)

dona said...

i'm sorry to hear about your dad...hopefully he gets better as days goes on...i love spam..and i love the typical filipino way of spam silog!

Big Sister said...

yep, don't like spam. parents tried to feed it to me once when i was very young, have to say yuck. but i know many do enjoy it. the rice sounds yummy, but that's a lot of garlic first thing in the morning! LOL I bet no one came around. Miss ya lots!

Cynthia said...

I am very glad to hear that your dad is mending and getting better everyday. I remember when you had to rush off...

It's good to have you back.

I have not had spam for about 20 years now... hmmm, maybe I should remedy that :)

Unknown said...

i am so sorry to hear about your father. i hope he's recovering by now. with a continuously showers from a daughter like you, he would be accepting his condition for the rest of his life.

hugs from me.

grace said...

i'm so sorry your father is going through this, but i'm glad he has you to encourage and support him. you're a good daughter.
meanwhile, on a lighter note, i think that spam is terribly underrated here. it's good eats! :)

Anonymous said...

i like every breakfast with the garlic fried rice & fried egg. I switched to turkey spam a year ago, but recently stopped eating SPAM altogether after my dr. told me that any type of SPAM is bad..:(
SPAM was actually created Post-war era maybe because it was so cheap meat substitue..made from ****you know what I mean. I can still hear him (my dr)in my head..

taste memory said...

oh my visions of spam + rice brings back taste memories: mid-week meal at our house when growing up! served with kimchee and keem (toasted seaweed sheets).....a staple @ Asian home! no more spam for me/but thanks for the sweet memories ;-)

Anonymous said...

i always make it a point to get a can every week, mostly because my kids really love it! i know it's not that good, but i'm happy as long as i serve it with ...what else! egg! then they'll have their own share of the silog!:) thanks for playing and hope to see more!

 gmirage said...

Hello! Sorry for the late visit (thanks for the visit I got
to your wonderful 'kitchen' :D

I like the 'mystery meat' especially with sushi rice...

hope your dad is better now...Have a nice weekend!

Anonymous said...

Any health issue, especially if involving a close family member, is always scary and very stressful. Glad to know your dad's now recovering well.

As for spamsilog, this is also a family fave - especially of dear hubby's. :)

Anonymous said...

I'll have lots of garlic on my fried rice please! This is yummy!

Anonymous said...

Thank God your dad is doing better. It must be hard on you too, being away from him.

anyway, I apologize for the late visit. love your spamsilog photo, really nice composition.

have a great week ahead!