by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 8, 2021 | Bon Appetit
As I get older I find that I tend to lean more towards healthier dishes … in part for better health, but mostly because the price of meat has skyrocketed! While I am wont to enjoy vegetable dishes sadly the rest of my family are not so inclined. I don’t want to trick them with veggie meat (mom already tried it and didn’t like it) so the next best thing for my carnivorous family … tofu!
In the past, I’ve made tofu steak, stir-fried tofu with eggplant and mushroom, etc. But often I find that if not for the tonkatsu sauce or oyster sauce to top off the dishes, the tofu would be bland. This led me on a search for tasty tofu dishes.
How this dish evolved
Whenever I try new dishes at home I usually like to work with ingredients that I have on hand rather than wait until I could run to the grocery to get the additional ingredients I need. This usually means that I go through a lot of recipes in recipe books I have here at home and online to find the one that suits my needs the best.
One such dish is this garlic pepper tofu. One frustrating thing about tofu is how in most recipes, no matter how flavorful the sauce is, the tofu itself is always bland. So I searched and searched and searched until I found this recipe for salt and pepper tofu on thewoksoflife.com which I then modified based on what ingredients I had on hand and made it more garlicky than salty.
What’s in my pantry
Obviously, I had most of the ingredients from the original recipe. I just cut out the chilies which add spice and color to the dish because, well, it was New Year’s Eve and I didn’t want to go to the grocery again. Plus, I was already elbow-deep in cooking other dishes at the same time.
I just wanted to highlight a few ingredients …
Sesame oil is readily available in most groceries. The one I used here is a Korean brand (I think) because that was the last one I bought at Robinson’s Easymart down the street. Popular brands of sesame oil are Lee Kum Kee and Good Life.
Cooking wine might be a little more difficult to find but is readily available at Hi-Top Supermart. In case you weren’t aware of it yet, the price of most grocery items is less expensive in Hi-Top than in any other grocery. Cooking wine comes in red and white. For tofu, I personally think white cooking wine is a better choice but if what you have is red, go ahead and try it.
Now, if you don’t have cooking wine but you do have regular wine, I say have at it! 😀 It just means that your food will have a stronger wine flavor. As for rice wine vinegar, no, you cannot use that as a substitute for cooking wine. It will make your food more acidic.
Weber Roasted Garlic & Herb Seasoning was something we purchased at a whim at S&R which we use for seasoning meat when we are in the mood to grill. But who says that’s the only time we could use it, right? Fair warning, though, this seasoning is a bit pricey at P350 per bottle.
Most of my spices are from McCormick as that is the most readily available brand here. My dream is to one day have a spice rack filled with every spice imaginable. 😀 Other than McCormick, I also get some special seasonings from Badia and Weber which I get from Landers and S&R respectively.
What really caught my attention is how Bill (the author of the post on thewoksoflife) managed to infuse the tofu with flavor so that is what I did my best to imitate as well. This dish turned out so well that I was not able to take a picture of it before the horde could attack it, lol! I hope you enjoy this recipe! Do let me know how it turns out when you try making it yourself.
Garlic Pepper Tofu
This dish is proof that vegetarian dishes can be exciting! And zesty!
Prep Time2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese, Vegan
Keyword: tofu, vegan, vegetarian
Servings: 4
Calories: 239kcal
Author: Penny Angeles-Tan
Brining
- 1 block firm tofu
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp white cooking wine
Seasoning and dredging
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground white pepper
- 1/4 tsp cracked pepper
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 to 3 tbsp corn starch
Cooking
- oil
- 5 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground white pepper
- 1/4 tsp cracked pepper
- 1 tsp Weber roasted garlic and herb seasoning or Badia garlic pepper seasoning this is, of course, optional, but personally, I like the extra zest and crunch. In lieu of that, you may replace it with more garlic and cracked pepper. 🙂
To get some flavor in the tofu, the first step is to brine
Make sure to slice your firm tofu into bite-sized cubes, which is approximately half an inch.
Combine the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sugar, and warm water in a shallow bowl and mix.
Place the sliced tofu in the same bowl and mix it gently so that each piece of tofu is coated in the brine, not just the bottom. Cover the bowl and let it sit for 1 to 2 hours.
After 1 to 2 hours place a strainer over a bowl and pour the tofu gently to drain and let it stand for 5 minutes
In another bowl, combine the sesame oil and cooking wine and mix. Pour the drained tofu in the mix and gently mix to coat.
We dredge to get that crispy outer coating
Combine the salt, white pepper, cracked pepper, flour, and cornstarch. Sprinkle over the tofu soaked in sesame oil and wine and use a spoon to turn the tofu so that all of them are coated. You can also give the bowl a gentle shake or two (or three) making sure not to crumble the tofu. The combination of ingredients will create a white paste that is meant to coat every single piece of tofu.If you think the batter is too wet or if you want your tofu to be crispier, go ahead and add a little more cornstarch.
It's time to get cookin'!
Mix the salt, white pepper, cracked pepper, and optional seasoning and set aside.
Place oil in your wok and heat up for around 30 seconds on low heat only. DON'T GET TEMPTED TO RAISE THE FLAME/TEMPERATURE! That comes later.
Put in the chopped garlic and move it around the pan to cook evenly. If the heat is low, it should not burn. Cook it until it is light golden brown. Voila! Crispy garlic!
Use either a slotted spoon or a fine mesh strainer to fish out the garlic and set it aside for now. Make sure to leave the oil in the pan! You're going to need them for the next steps.
Heat the oil to medium-high heat, you may add oil if you feel the need to. Place the tofu in the pan in a single layer, making sure each one is touching the oil. Once the bottom part is browned flip each piece to brown the other side.
When all the tofu is browned on all sides put the crispy garlic and remaining spices in the pan and toss everything for about 15 seconds. Scared to toss like the chefs? Not to worry, stirring with a spoon or spatula will do as well. 😀
And you're done! Serve your dish and watch the fam eat it with gusto!
It may seem at first as if preparing this dish takes too long, but trust me when I say that brining is an important step. Brining is also very simple to do – combine the ingredients then forget it for 2 hours. 🙂
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 8, 2021 | Awards and Competitions
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), Citi Philippines, and the Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc. (MCPI) have launched its annual Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards (CMA), which aims to recognize the achievements and contributions of microentrepreneurs all over the country. Now on its 18th edition, this year’s CMA has been modified to respond to community needs resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Benjamin Diokno
Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed
Through a virtual launch held via Zoom, BSP governor Benjamin Diokno and Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed revealed that the 18th CMA will have two components: the COVID-19 rehabilitation support package and the recognition of outstanding microentrepreneurs amid the crisis.
“More than ever, it is vital to sustaining our microentrepreneurs, who provide essential products and services in the “last mile”. Predominant in low-income areas and serving as engines driving local economies, microentrepreneurs also nurture swathes of the Filipino population depending on them for post-pandemic recovery and rebuilding. Through CMA 2020, we highlight the creativity and internal fortitude of our microentrepreneurs to serve as a great inspiration,” said BSP governor Diokno.
“We are happy that through the CMA program, we can help microentrepreneurs overcome some of the financial challenges that they are facing and to improve their business proposition, their products, and their services. These businesses need to learn to adapt as well as implement new strategies. This will be particularly important in the coming months as we start moving towards normalization,” added Citi Philippines CEO, Aftab Ahmed.
2018 CMA Regional Awardee for Visayas Rosario Amoroto
2017 Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year Keith Varias
The first component focused on responding to the rehabilitation needs of previous CMA winners, with each winner getting a cash incentive of up to ₱50,000 each. Among the COVID-19 rehabilitation support package recipients are the 2017 Youth Microentrepreneur of the Year Keith Gonzales Varias and the 2018 CMA Regional Awardee for Visayas Rosario Amoroto.
On the other hand, the second component will highlight the important role of microentrepreneurs in rebuilding local economies during the COVID-19 crisis. The awards are open to microenterprises with assets less than ₱3 million. Three island group winners from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao and two other special awardees, namely the Youth Entrepreneurship awardee and the COVID-19 response champion, will be recognized.
All five awardees should have successfully rebuilt their enterprise to a level that is now contributing to local economies during the COVID-19 crisis while maintaining a healthy repayment record on their loan even as they continue to rebuild their enterprise. Additionally, the COVID-19 response champion should have supported, innovated, or led pandemic response initiatives to help others.
The three-island group winners, the Youth Microentrepreneur, and the COVID-19 response champion will get ₱100,000 each, as well as one-year microinsurance coverage. A National Winner will be selected from the five winners who will be receiving an additional ₱100,000. All winners will be determined by the NSC and recognized in a simple awards ceremony in June 2021.
Through these efforts, the CMA will ultimately highlight role models for aspiring and hardworking entrepreneurs and generate greater awareness and appreciation of microfinance and microenterprise development as a tool for employment generation and poverty reduction.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 8, 2021 | Ponderings
Anyone who knows me will tell you I am not a religious person. I don’t do Bible studies or prayer meetings but I don’t shun them either.
But growing up Catholic, attending a Catholic school all my life, being part of a church choir, and our family being part of Worldwide Marriage Encounter means being told from the beginning how much God is a part of our life and how much He loves us.
Sometimes I forget and wallow in doubt and self-pity and at times I feel helpless and alone in a house filled with furbabies and people and I start to question my worth.
I wrack my brain, chat with my sisters or mom, and search online for answers or solutions. I fight to keep the demons of despair away.
Later at night I curl up in a ball on my bed with the furbabies snuggled against me and I close my eyes and pray. Oftentimes, I don’t even know what to say except … “help, please”. And I try not to cry myself to sleep.
The following day I woke up resolute and determined to get back up on my feet. I go about my day and then I feel a warmth envelope me … like a hug from my dad and next thing I know my phone pings. Some projects are coming in!
All of a sudden I felt as though a burden was lifted from my chest and the first words out of my mouth were, “Thank you, God!” My fervent prayer was heard!
And immediately the song Out of the Dark by Gary Valenciano played in my head like prayer and I found myself teary-eyed and singing, my faith restored and reinforced.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 4, 2021 | Art and Science
A LEGACY TO HONOR. David Medalla visited the BDO Corporate Center Ortigas during the inauguration of his sculpture, “Cloud Canyons No. 31,” on August 31, 2019
BDO Unibank honors Filipino artist David Medalla, who passed away on 28 December 2020.
It commemorates Medalla’s legacy with the continued display of his sculpture, “Cloud Canyons No. 31,” at the lobby of its Corporate Center in Ortigas (CCO).
“Cloud Canyons No. 31” found its way to CCO for bank employees, clients, and visitors to enjoy in 2019. Before coming home to the Philippines, it was exhibited in the Hepworth Wakefield Art Museum in England when Medalla was one of the shortlisted artists for the inaugural Hepworth Wakefield Prize for Sculpture in 2016. It is made of Plexiglas tubes, wood, fiberglass, water, soap, and oxygenators, and is part of a series often referred to as the “bubble machines.”
Mara Coson, who oversees the BDO Art Collection, said of Medalla’s passing:
“David Medalla was magnetic. He lived a life that drew people in while he himself could not be contained. He left the world with stories so wild and infinite they can never all be told.
Medalla was born in Manila in 1942, with literary and visual genius uniquely attributable only to his bright spirit. His biography is too vast for a short note and is kept alive by the many who encountered him on his life’s adventures, strangers and friends, periods from explorations of kinetic art in the 1960s and beyond to performances anywhere, and travel whether physical or otherwise. He spent his life around the world, at home everywhere, and still home was also the Philippines, where he died peacefully.
More than ever, we must make sure the bubbles of Cloud Canyons No. 31 continue endlessly and fully in our care—and most of all, welcome to the public to experience these clouds for always. We will do Medalla proud.
When you visit the bubble machine, I encourage you take a moment to wish David the best for his next life, as he dances with ease among the brightest galaxies.”
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Dec 26, 2020 | Gift Ideas
Not all gifts come in boxes and wrapped in a bow. If you’ve been busy all year and haven’t found time to finish your Christmas shopping, you are not alone! It’s definitely not too late to get your family and friends something special before the year ends and show them your love.
Since we’re all advised to stay home this holiday season, you don’t have to go out to get these items. Here are some gift ideas that are just a click away, and that you can order or make virtually and send to your loved ones before the year ends:
A special playlist
If you don’t want to spend money on a present but still want to make it extra special and personal, craft a special playlist for your friend that will make them remember the good times you’ve spent together.
You can also include newly discovered songs or videos that you think they’ll love, or add in a few that you know will crack them up! Don’t forget to label it with a playlist name that’s very specific, quirky, or witty and share it via YouTube or Spotify!
An iWantTFC premium subscription
The holiday break is the perfect time for binge-watching! If your loved one is on the hunt for new shows to follow or intends to catch up with their favorite ABS-CBN show, you should sign them up for a premium, ad-free access to the iWantTFC streaming service, the biggest library of Filipino content! With over 1,000 movies, live channels, full episodes of classic and currently airing ABS-CBN shows, Thai boys’ love shows, and originals, one will never run out of things to enjoy on iWantTFC! Plus, a premium subscription only costs P119 a month.
Tickets to concerts on KTX.ph
Treat your loved one and their family to a concert without them having to go out of the house! Let them enjoy great live music while helping others in need by buying them a ticket (P1,200) to the special benefit Christmas concert titled “Our Grown-Up Christmas List,” featuring musical theater royalties Gian Magdangal and Carla Guevarra-Laforteza who will sing songs about “home, love, family, and friendship.”
Access to the show is available for 48 hours from December 24 (8 PM) to December 26 (8 PM).
Your friend can also usher in the New Year on December 31 starting at 7 PM by watching Resorts World Manila’s “The Grand Countdown to 2021,” which will offer performances by Morissette, Jed Madela, Jona, and Jon Santos.
The general admission ticket costs P600 and gives the holder access to the show only, while the special ticket costs P1,200 and gives the holder access to the show and a chance to win exciting gifts.
Digital scrapbook
Instagram carousel posts are a good way to show your appreciation for someone, but why not make it more fun and unique by crafting a digital scrapbook of your favorite photos together? You can DIY your own design and layout using Photoshop or use free templates available online!
Cover of a song you want to dedicate to him/her
In the mood to sing your heart out? Pick up an instrument and give your loved one an intimate performance of their favorite song! If your group or family wants to surprise someone, you can also use a social karaoke singing app like Smule to let you all cover a song separately without sharing a microphone!
Unleash the performer in you and upload the video of your song cover on social media or just send it to your friend for their safekeeping.
Gaming skins or in-game goodies
Got a competitive friend who’s into Mobile Legends or League of Legends? The holiday season is the best time to spoil them by getting their gaming champions or their weapons a festive makeover, or by purchasing them event passes! If you’re not sure what to gift them, you can just send them over currencies in their favorite game.
A personalized video greeting from your loved one’s favorite Kapamilya star
If your goal is to make your loved one shocked or surprised by your gift, you should definitely go for a personalized video greeting from their favorites! Just head over to FanLove.ph, a new online video shoutout request platform that allows you to book a special video message or a song dedication from over 50 Kapamilya stars. You can also enjoy their special holiday promo if you book from 24 December 2020 to 07 January 2021.
Book a personalized video greeting from your favorite Kapamilya artists such as Elisse Joson, Belle Mariano, Loisa Andalio, LouDre, KiaNo, KarJon, FumiYam, and many more by visiting FanLove.ph! For updates, like www.facebook.com/fanlove.ph or follow @fanlove.ph on Instagram and @fanloveph on Twitter.
If you don’t want to spend money on a present but still want to make it extra special and personal, craft a special playlist for your friend that will make them remember the good times you’ve spent together.
Treat your loved one and their family to a concert without them having to go out of the house! Let them enjoy great live music while helping others in need by buying them a ticket (P1,200) to the special benefit Christmas concert titled “Our Grown-Up Christmas List,” featuring musical theater royalties Gian Magdangal and Carla Guevarra-Laforteza who will sing songs about “home, love, family, and friendship.”
Your friend can also usher in the New Year on December 31 starting at 7 PM by watching Resorts World Manila’s “The Grand Countdown to 2021,” which will offer performances by Morissette, Jed Madela, Jona, and Jon Santos.
If your goal is to make your loved one shocked or surprised by your gift, you should definitely go for a personalized video greeting from their favorites! Just head over to FanLove.ph, a new online video shoutout request platform that allows you to book a special video message or a song dedication from over 50 Kapamilya stars. You can also enjoy their special holiday promo if you book from 24 December 2020 to 07 January 2021.
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