I have fond memories of my Tita Nena Pilaring, who was such a great cook. She has gone on ahead to that much better place, but I will always have her in my heart, as one of those who greatly influenced my palate and my love for traditional home cooking. I used to hang out in her kitchen every Sunday as a child and as a teenager, while she supervised, guided, and chided her ever faithful cook, Marcelo. For me, those Sunday lunches at Tita Nena and Tito Nanding’s house, was a treat that I really looked forward to. It has helped nurture in me, that desire that I too one day, will have relatives and friends come over to my future house so that I can cook for them! Thank you, dear Tita Nena!!!

SOTANGHON con ALIMANGO de Tita Nena
6 big mud crabs (steamed and made “sik-sik”)
500 gms sotanghon or rice vermicelli (soaked in water for 1 hour and drained)
3 large red onions (chopped)
1 head garlic (minced )
2 Knorr beef cubes; salt & pepper 
¼ cup soy sauce; 4 cups water (more or less)
1/3 cup cooking oil; 4 tablespoons achuete seeds) 
6 stalks sibuyas dahon or bisaya ( sliced thinly including the white stalks)

PROCEDURE:
1. In a small “sarten”, heat up your oil and stir in the achuete seeds. Turn off the fire when  that deep yellow orange color has come out. Set aside to cool. 
2. Heat up a bigger “kalaha”. Strain the oil with achuete seeds directly to your “kalaha”. Add the garlic and onions and stir around till translucent.
3. Add your crabmeat plus all that glorious “aligui”!  Season with the Knorr cubes, salt, pepper, and soy sauce. Add the water and bring to a quick boil. 
4. Incorporate your drained sotanghon and let it absorb all the liquid. Stir occasionally until all the broth is gone. Use the sibuyas dahon as a garnish.

TIPS:
- The more crabmeat you use, the better this dish becomes.
- It’s okay to use “casag” or the crabmeat sold at SM and Rob supermarkets.
- Use the meaty claws as décor around your platter. You can serve with calamansi.

Enjoy your Sotanghon con Alimango de Tita Nena, and a big hug from the Red Hot Mama!!!