{Weekend Footnotes} Smoked Salmon & Asparagus Pasta Recipe + Central Square BGC

The long weekend that just happened is another excuse for me to share with all of you our foodie indulgences.

Let me start by giving out my recipe for this Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pasta. What I love about this dish, other than the smoked salmon, is that it is so easy to do.  It is almost fail-proof, and provides a lot of room for improvisation.  You can add cream, leave out asparagus, use arugula, throw in some capers, etc. The essentials are smoked salmon, salt, freshly ground pepper, garlic, and pasta with some olive oil.

Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pasta
8 ounces spaghetti (or other) pasta
Salt
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup cream (optional)
4 ounces smoked salmon, cut into bite sized pieces
Freshly ground black pepper

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of salt and the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package. Add in asparagus at the last 2 minutes of cooking. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water before you drain the pasta.
2. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil over medium heat in a pot large enough to hold the pasta, such as a 12-inch saute pan or a large, shallow pot. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until it just begins to turn golden on the edges-don't overcook it! Carefully add the reserved pasta-cooking water to the garlic and oil and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, add 1 teaspoon of salt, and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the liquid is reduced by about a third. If you want a slightly creamy sauce, add the cream and let boil a minute more.
3. Add the drained pasta to the garlic sauce and toss. Turn off the heat, add the smoked salmon and toss well. Allow the pasta to rest off the heat for 5 minutes for the sauce to be absorbed. Taste for seasoning and serve warm with lemon wedges and Parmesan on the side.
4. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

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If you've been following me on Instagram, then you know that I've been cooking up all sorts of dulce de leche sorcery. These choco chip cookies filled with dulce de leche are just so good that one tray is not enough for my family.

We promised the kids pizza night, and C's favorite pizza is Yellow Cab.  It surely did not disappoint, and left-overs were gladly eaten for breakfast the next day.

I am so happy that Purple Oven decided to open in the Scout area.  It is now much more convenient to pop in to buy their baked goodies. My kids love their lemon bars and chocolate revel bars. 

Purple Oven

F7 Building, Scout Rallos corner Tomas Morato, QC

What's a long weekend for if there's no time to visit the bookstore? For my kids, a trip to the mall will not be complete without a pit stop at the bookstore. Fully Booked at Boni Hi-Street is always a fave.

Baskin Robbins Philippines just reopened at Central Square in BGC, and C wanted to take the kids there.

Do you know that Baskin Robbins has 31 flavors?  Look closely at their logo and you'll see 31 between the “B and R”.

Central Square is located beside BGC High Street, and this is also where the new 4DX cinema is located. On the floor where the movie theaters are, we tried Mr. Franks. 

On the opposite end, but on the same floor, one of our favorite Italian restaurant opened its second store. It's thep erfect place to have an early dinner when watching a movie at Central Square. Va Bene Pasta Deli's original store is located at Petron Gas Station in Dasma.

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