It's almost noon during an unseasonably cold, hazy spring day as my daughter, hubby and I decided to take a walk at the beach. The beach? Really? On such an overcast day? I know, I know... it doesn't seem right but the beach being just in our backyard seems to always beckon us... especially when my eldest daughter comes for a visit... coming from a highly stressed environment, the beach is therapeutic... even minus the bright skies.
Spring is evident all around, even under grey skies. We drove past rows of flowers all in bloom. Vivid hues of shimmering yellow, romantic red and vibrant purple... the lively chorus of birds chirping and the rhythm of their flapping wings as they fly in droves... ahhh this is why I love spring!
On the beach, surfers in wet suits glide with the waves with grace and balance. The beach is not crowded, that makes us appreciate it more. My daughter and I giggled as we realized we moved in synchronized motion as we took our shoes off and ran towards the ocean. Meanwhile, my husband was standing, watching over us by the roadside, seemingly content with the captivating views of the the cliffs and the ocean... and relaxing to the sound of the crashing waves landing on the shore.
We screamed every time the waves hit the shore and washed our feet. We could see my husband's head shake as he hears our screams and shreiks.. but we didn't care... we were there to enjoy and celebrate the beauty of God's gifts in a rare occasion where it's just the three of us.
As we dusted off the sand from our shoes before entering the house, my daughter glimpsed at the pictures posted on the wall. The gallery of photos has always been there on the entry way all these years, but having a wonderful feeling coming from the beach, she looked at these pictures differently.
"Heartwarming" she said... to see the last pictures we had at about the same time in early April, one Easter weekend ten years ago in my hometown.. Even when we move, these pictures always find their space on the entry wall. It happened to be the last Easter we celebrated before we moved to the US. They never fail to remind us of the good times we had in the past. The nostalgic feeling led my daughter to request me to cook one of her favorite comfort food from my home town... and yes, which leads me to share with you the recipe of a noodle dish known in my home town as BATIL PATUNG.
Batil Patung is stir fried noodles served with an egg topping (patung),and a side serving of egg drop soup (batil) the dish is not complete without the sauce--- soy sauce and vinegar with lots of raw onions. It maybe high in cholesterol and sodium but hey there's no taste like home!
Ingredients:
1/4 lb. ground beef
1 pc. chinese sausage, sliced
chinese cabbage, sliced
mongo sprouts
carrots, sliced
onions, diced
garlic, minced
soy sauce
oyster sauce
beef stock
fresh egg noodles (found in the refrigerated items section in an asian store)
Directions:
Saute garlic and onions. Add ground beef and sausage. Cook for about 4 minutes or until beef is brown and the sausage is cooked. Add the vegetables. Season it with soy sauce and oyster sauce. Adjust to taste. Make a quick stir. Set aside. De-glaze the pan using a beef stock. (if you don't have a beef stock, use chicken or pork) Add soy sauce and let it simmer. When the soup stock is simmering, break an egg and stir it into the soup. Ladle up some soup in a serving bowl and set aside.
Using the same pan, add the noodles. (You may add more beef stock if needed) Cook the noodles for about 3-4 minutes.
Put the noodles on a serving plate. Top it with the stir-fried beef , sausage and vegetables. Top it with a poached egg.
Condiments:
Soy sauce with lemon or a little vinegar
Diced onions.
