meal, me, and more

My vampire craze

2010-12-02T03:38:00.000-08:00

After finishing the last book of the Twilight Saga a few days ago, it's just now that I feel so into it. Breaking Dawn made everything else clearer and more... due to the lack of a better term... fascinating.

The end of my reading means a lot more interest about the Saga, and vampires in general. Well, I also enjoy reading trivia and answering some quizzes. I'm just so proud to get a perfect score in identifying the vampires' powers!

Twilight Quiz

Can't wait for the Breaking Dawn movie/s. Hmmm... does this count me as an official Twilight fan? Haha!!!

P.S. Due to nostalgia for vampires... I bought DVDs of Vampire Diaries (seasons 1&2).

Virtual Cafe, Growing!

2010-01-23T03:23:00.000-08:00

It's been more than three months since I started taking Facebook "seriously", though my account has been active for more than two years already. I must say I love it! It connects me to the world, plus, it gives me some time (or force me to have time) to smile in front of my laptop screen amidst the windows of piling class requirements.

OK... I posted my "virtual cafe" in FB last October. A first, it's just a recreation, but now, it has somehow become an addiction. Actually, mine is nothing compared to my cafe world neighbors. But hey, I have kids, husband, house, school, and a life to look after.

Look at how my cafe grew out of few minutes snatched from my papers =)

Sorry I had to zoom the screen out because, due to expansions, the land area won't fit into the screen anymore. Parang totoo. Hehe...

CD 201 class (2nd sem, AY 2009-10) advocacies on climate change

2010-01-13T01:26:00.000-08:00

We can do something, if we act now.

After my report on "Climate Change and Globalization", our class came up with individual advocacies to fight the frightening climate change. As much as I want to summarize my report, which took me three hours to present, I have time and space constraints, and so I will just enumerate our answers for the said activity.

Mine:

Addressing climate change requires social energy and networking among institutions and players around the globe to act within an interconnected system of parts where each one has a vital role to play, each voice is right, every right is represented.

For Fleureeza Marie A. Liwanag:

Promote 3Rs (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle)
Plus an additional "R" for Refuse to using anything that may contribute to more wastes (like plastic bags.

For Kat Cordova:

Plant a tree.
Recycle - avoid using plastics, reuse paperbags.
On policies, the government must strictly implement the Clean Air Act. Smoke belchers should be punished, companies who violate must be closed.
Practice walking instead of commuting or using vehicles that burn fossil fuels.
To those who want to engage in business, invest on renewable energy projects (fengshue says it's good)

For Ryan Israel T. Advincula:

Revive the Philippines' natural resources like rainforests, mountains, oceans, etc.
Create protected and/or areas off-limits to industrialization such as reservation parks.
Recycle and segregate.

For Sol Lawagan:

Be part and be involved in fighting climate chnage for our children and our children's children!
Save the Earth for tomorrow's sake!
Act now, be Earth lover!

For Karla Futatsuya:

Increase use of ecological products
(Since economy affects the environment, companies should change their products. Further, it helps people to increase consciousness toward environment. If many people bought only ecological products, use of unecological products would decrease)

Our advocacies may look simple, yet I would like to believe that if all of us would start taking simple steps toward combating climate change, it will make a significant difference to the status of the world at present. As I've said, it would take "social energy" to do this.

To summarize, our professor said it all...

For Prof. Elmer Ferrer:
The three most important concepts of addressing the problem...

presence
mindfulness
values formation

For next meeting, I'm looking forward to hearing other pressing issues that the world is now facing. Be it simple or complicated, we have to do our individual share toward resolving it.

Spicy Garlic Chicken

2010-01-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

This is an adaptation of a not-so-old Knorr Real Sarap (a seasoning) recipe presented in one of its advertisements, with Claudine Barreto as the endorser-cook. It's presented as a "pulutan" dish, but I must say it's also a good viand for those who love spicy taste to top their rice.

Ingredients:

1/2 kg chicken breast fillet, cut into small strips
1/4 cup Knorr or Maggi original seasoning
1 small pack Knorr Real Sarap
1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
salt
pepper
1 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic, chopped
chopped chilis (red and green)
mixed veggies (as garnish)

Directions:

Marinate chicken in the first five ingredients for at least 1 hour.
In a pan, sautee garlic in butter.
Sautee chicken (without the marinade) until it changes in color.
Add mixed veggies until cooked.
Pour the marinade and let the sauce thickens.
When almost done, put the chilis.
Remove from heat when the sauce evaporates.

Choco-Chip Pancake, a No-No

2009-12-21T01:59:00.000-08:00

I admit I'm a certified choco-chip addict. Be it a cookie, ice cream, donut... name it! I simply love chocolate. However, I discovered choco-chip flavored pancake won't do it for me. I loathed the Chocolate Chip Pancake served to us at Pancake House in Trinoma.

I love Pancake House's waffles and classic pancakes. It's only this time that I tried other variants of their pancakes, and there... found it not so satisfying. The pancakes weren't light and fine, perhaps because of the melting chocolate chips that penetrated the each layer. Not in a good way, though. They didn't look appealing, too.

After about an hour, I was only able to finish half of what was served. I loved the peanut butter scoop on the side, though.

Goodies from all over Japan

2009-10-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Although I don't get to talk intimately with hubby's business partners (especially the foreigners), I'm touched everytime they remember the family with pasalubongs. The Germans and the Japanese are the most thoughtful based on hubby's engagements but the Chinese, of course, will not drop out my list.

Last week, Umezawa sensei visited the project site here. Since the financial "transactions" with hubby's group are done, he just bought some sweets for the team. Actually, only Doc Berns, hubby, and the plant owner received the token. The goodies' box was beautifully wrapped in Japanese paper. The package was so neatly arranged that I didn't want to touch it. Haha!!!

I labeled it "from all over Japan" since every pack has a Japanese province/city on it. The ones visible here (pix on top) would be Tokyo, Okinawa, and Kyoto. The taste? Hmmm... most of these cuties taste like our local "hopia". The others are like "tikoy", though more sophisticated. Haha!!!

Thanks sensei! Till next time =)

A rare moment

2009-10-25T03:55:00.000-07:00

God, I just need to vent!

Hubby's leaving for Singapore, Cambodia, and Thailand. He'll be there for a project site visit and will be back after 10 days. We're meeting in Bangkok on Oct. 31 and staying there until Nov. 4.

Still, I feel so lonely. Lonely, I think, is an understatement. It's been years since we got married but I still get this empty feeling whenever he leaves out of the country. Well, I simply hate it!

Why can't I wait for Oct. 31 when it's just a few days away? Why can't I feel the excitement of spending some time for a vacation to a foreign land? Why can't I just look forward to celebrating my birthday?

God, good thing my babies are with me. Grrr!!! I'm going mad! Hahaha!!!

Facebook's Cafe World

2009-10-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

I should be accomplishing my two final papers for my Master's Degree courses, but look at what's keeping me awake at this wee hour (1 am).

Tadahhhh!!! My virtual restaurant in Facebook - Cafe World! I discover this is a lot more fun than Farmville which takes hours to cultivate and harvest. This one's more interactive (sorry to FV's fans).

I just wish this wouldn't be a hindrance for me to finish this sem. What a stress reliever! Hehe...

Pork Spareribs

2009-10-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

I'm super proud of this recipe! This is the first time I cooked it, but I must say I pulled it off pretty well. The whole family, including the kids and the househelps (who have very diverse taste), loved it, too.

It's pure experimentation. Haven't read anything about this recipe before coz I thought it needs to be roasted all the time. Well, I just found out I was wrong. Yeah, it took some time for me to get done, but it's OK. The taste justifies the means =)

Ingredients:

two baby back ribs (approximately 3/4 kg), cut into desired size
3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
juice from 4 calamansi
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
peppercorns, freshly cracked
2 cups water
3 tbsp brown sugar
4 pcs bay leaf
1 tbsp oil

Directions:

Marinate the ribs in the first seven ingredients (from Worcestershire sauce to peppercorns) for at least an hour.
After marinating, boil the ribs in low fire with the marinade and the water. Let the ribs absorb the liquid.
When only half of the liquid is left, remove from heat.
Heat oil in a pan and pan fry the ribs.
Add the liquid from boiling the ribs, sugar , and bay leaf.
Wait until the sauce thickens. Taste and add the necessary condiments (salt, pepper, sugar).
Remove from heat and serve.

Optional: Before serving, cook it in a microwave oven for 3-5 minutes in HIGH setting. It will make the liquid penetrate more the meat. Further, it produces a somehow glaze-looking dish. I did it here.

Crema De Fruta

2009-09-30T04:55:00.000-07:00

This is just like the usual recipe of Crema De Fruta that most Filipinos know. I just want mine to have "volume" and so I combine the all purpose cream with the milk using a hand mixer. The process makes the mixture creamier and fluffier, avoiding the stacking together of the layers of crackers.

I must say this one's look neater.

Ingredients:

one pack of Graham Crackers
one brick pack all purpose cream
1/2 brick pack of condensed milk
1 mediun can fruit cocktail
1/2 pack gelatin powder

Directions:

Whip the cream and milk using a hand mixer until mixture is fluffy.
In a pan (glas or plastic), arrange crackers to form a base.
Make a layer of the cream mixture on top of the crackers. Use 1/3 of the cream.
Repeat the alternate layers of cream and crackers. (Six alternate layers for this recipe, but you may want to add more or to lessen)
Top the last cream layer with fruit cocktail. Chill.
Prepare and cook the gelatin as per package direction.
When cooled (not hardened yet), pour the gelatin mixture on top of the cake.
Chill (do not freeze) again before serving.

This is my humble, ever-reliable hand mixer. It's been with me for three years now. It's not the sturdy, expensive type, but hey, it's doing miracles for my dessert. Hehe... Thanks to my SPHD family who gave this to me as a gift last 2006 Christmas.

And look who stole the cream from the cream jar! Third liked the mixture so much that he "wiped it out" till the last drop... with his tongue =)

Carbonara 2

2009-09-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

This is just another version of my Carbonara. The only variation is that I used colorful vegetable pasta shaped like seashells. Well, it's just to tickle my babies' appetite. Also, I put chopped fried ham in addition to the bacon. This added up flavor to the dish.

I paired this recipe with hot pandesal (instead of french bread) topped with herb cream cheese, both from Pan De Manila. Here's a review of the cream cheese from a blogger.

Chicken Wings Teriyaki

2009-09-27T22:25:00.000-07:00

I don't eat chicken skin except when it's well grilled or "crunchily" fried. That's true to every part of the chicken, including the wing part which most people would say tastes better than any other part.

This recipe, however, made me churn all of the "eatable" portions of the wings. It can pass to Max's "sarap to the bones" shout out.

I also discovered something that made this recipe easier to cook, and cheaper, too. I tried Kim's Teriyaki Marinade and it did work for this. It's cheaper (P48 for a 308-ml bottle) than other marinating liquids in the market.

Ingredients:

1/2 kg chicken wings
1 cup teriyaki marinade
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 tbsps oil

Directions:

Marinate chicken for at least 30 minutes in the teriyaki marinade.
Strain the liquid from the chicken. Save the marinade.
Pan fry the chicken wings until golden brown. Set aside.
For the sauce, sautee garlic and onion then add the remaining marinade until thick in consistency.

That easy! Of course, you may want to try other teriyaki sauce and marinade recipes. There are a lot online. It will depend on your preference. Here's one.

Rancho Zabaco

2009-09-22T00:49:00.000-07:00

Hans and I both love wine so much. My fave would be the sparkling white while his would be red. We always try to test and taste the new brands we see in the market. It's also a way of "shooing away" too much alcohol from our body. Since we got married, we make it a point not to drink too much alcohol. We cut on beer and brandy, even mixed drinks... well, almost. =)

When we went to Pangasinan last weekened for a family outing, Cocoy brought a bottle of drinks called Rancho Zabaco (Zinfandel). It's from his bro-in-law who just got back from Briatain. He said it's red wine. However, it didn't taste like wine to me. It's like rum mixed with grape juice. The tag said it contains 30% alcohol (Whoa!!! A relatively high amount for wine!). But who cares? Hans and I liked it that when the group finished half of it, the two of us took care of the other half. =)

My Chicken Curry

2009-09-13T20:42:00.000-07:00

I only know one recipe that uses curry powder. Yeah, it's chicken curry. But I don't put milk in mine. Just like what I read in most Filipino food blogs, I also use coconut cream to replace the milk. I must say it's creamier. So... here's mine:

Ingredients:

1/2 kg chicken cuts
2 tsp oil
2 cloves garlic, pounded
1 onion, chopped
1 tsp patis (fish sauce)
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup fresh coconut cream
1 tbsp curry powder
1 medium potato, cubed
1 small carrot cubed
3 finger chili, cut into two, diagonally
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Fry the potato and carrot. Set aside.
In the same pan, sautee garlic in oil. Add onion and patis.
Add chicken and allow to simmer until the chicken changes in color.
Add water and let it boil until the chicken is tender.
Sprinkle with curry powder.
Add the coconut cream.
Put the carrots, fried potatoes, and chili.
When the mixture thickens, sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Re-blogging

2009-09-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

When I enrolled in graduate studies, I thought I would have all the time to update this blog. Besides, I'm only allowed to take 6 units - a relatively light load. After couples of months however, it's obvious I'm wrong. Is it just a problem on time, or simply... on attitude? Discipline! Discipline! Hehe...

I think one more reason is my effort to make this blog somehow thematic, thus the "meal, me, and more". I wanted to maintain a food blog, but now I realize it isn't always possible. I sometimes feel the need to express my random thoughts through writings.

Just now, I decided to make this a personal blog, not the diary type though, but definitely would not be confined in a single topic/genre. This would allow me to keep it updated, at least with one post a month (updated daw o...)

It starts here... bear with me.

Menudo (minus liver)

2009-05-10T02:32:00.000-07:00

I love menudo but I'm not a fan of pork liver, and so the "minus". I tried cooking it without the liver and I must say it tastes good, or even better than the usual recipe my mother taught me. Hehe... My taste buds might just be biased but to those who share the same "tongue" with me, this one's for you.

Ingredients:

oil
crushed garlic
chopped onion
1/2 soy sauce
3 tbsp vinegar
100-mg pack tomato sauce
1/2 can (small) liver spread dissolved in 1 1/2 cups water
1 small cubed carrots
2 medium cubed potatoes
3 pcs diagonally sliced sausage or hotdog
1/2 kg cubed pork
mixed veggies
1 red bell pepper
pepper
bay leaf

Directions:

Fry carrots and potatoes in oil. Set aside.
In the same pan, sautee garlic and onion in oil.
Add soy sauce, tomato sauce, and vinegar.
Put the pork and simmer for about 3 minutes.
Add water with the liver spread and boil for another 30 minutes or until the water is reduced.
Drop in the sausage/hotdog, mixed veggies, and bayleaf.
Cook for another 5 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients, including the fried veggies, and cook until the sauce thickens.

*We had chilled watermelon slices after meal, and I found it super bagay (fitted) as a dessert.

SMAP's (last) shot

2009-04-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

Mourning for a great writer...
...a mentor
...a friend.

You will never be forgotten, Dr. Sosimo Ma. Pablico. You'll always be the SMAP you've been in DevComm's midst.

This space's for you.

Cheesecake Delight

2008-11-28T02:05:00.001-08:00

After an irky seafood dinner (No, don't get me wrong. I love seafoods but there's this one mollusk that made me almost vomit after tasting it. Eeeewww talaga!) at Dusk Till Dawn in Torres, Davao City, I found this "couple" really redeeming. Thanks to Ate Anna - my surrogate mother everytime I go to Davao. Hehe... Too bad I can't remember the name of the pastry shop. It's like CHIZ something.

When I opened the door, Ate Anna told me "May pasalubong ako sa'yo..." Being overly excited, I immediately grabbed the plastic bag she's holding and opened the styro pack in it. There! The cute cheesecakes! Still with the traces of what I've eaten for dinner, my tongue is salivating for sweets. I so wanted to take a picture of the cheesecakes but I didn't find my camera handy, and so I took a small bite first. Then, the picture. Sira tuloy. Hehe...

The cheesecakes only cost P40 each, very worthy enough for its mouth-watering taste. Liked it better than the Red Ribbon's.

Breaktime 1

2008-08-04T08:07:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last posted here. I'm super-duper pissed coz I think my blog has been infected with my YM virus. Can't edit the text correctly. Wahhh!!! So... breaktime muna... (thanks for this, Lou Franz =)

Does your bestfriend have a boyfriend?
♥ Nope, she has a husband

Walking into a party, what's the first thing you notice?
♥ People, overly dressed and the gwapitos of course

Who was the last person you ate with?
♥ Hanah and Tina

When was the last time you were TRULY happy with your life?
♥ Always, but tonight, waiting for my hubby... nahhhh!!!

When did you last cry?
♥ 2 weeks ago

Why?
♥ Silly... I'll never get used to waiting for my hubby when he's on travel

Who made u feel better and say 'everything will be ok'..?
♥ Still, him... hubby

Do you believe exes can be just friends'?
♥ yes.

What's to your right?
♥ A lot... things contained in our living and dining areas

Whats to your left?
♥ Window... and the smell of Blotch (Third's puppy)

For you, which is more important: looks or personality?
♥ looks! haha! sige na nga, personality! =)

What are you going to do after this?
♥ GT, then eBay, then here, then GT, then eBay and so on... until I feel sleepy

Have you spent any time in your life in jail?
♥ Yes... in Hanshel's arms (shucks corny!)

What was the last thing you ate?
♥ rice and binagoongang veggies (yummy!)

Your ex is next to you, what do you do?
♥ Chika to the max, perhaps talking about our common friends' wedding on Friday (I'm attending. He's the bestman.)

What are you craving right now?
♥ S... SE... SLEEP na nga lang!

When you buy something and your change is 2 cents, you keep it or tell them to?
♥ I keep it. That's mine.

What are your plans for the weekend?
♥ I want to go to my parents' place. Hope time would permit us so (crossed fingers)

Last restaurant you went to?
♥ Pizza hut

How many hours did you sleep last night?
♥ I didn't... I slept this MORNING for 6 hours (2am-8am)

Do you think someone is thinking about you right now?
♥ Surely! Aside from the Supernatural being... there's three more! Haha!!!

Whats your favorite food at thanksgiving?
♥ Thanksgiving on something (not the real Thanksgiving in the US)... cake with butter icing =)

How did you get your name?
♥ My parents just wanted it to start with M. My dad gave three M names. Mom chose this.

When's the next time you will see the person you like?
♥ Later, after a couple of hours.

How's the weather today?
♥ It's been raining the whole day. Chilling!

What did you do last time you were home alone?
♥ Whew! That's years ago! Can't remember, but my wild guess would be texting and watching TV

Are you friends with your neighbors?
♥ I don't know. I don't go out of the house just to chat with them. In fact, I'm only familiar with one or two faces here.

Has anyone ever told you that they want to spend the rest of their life with you?
♥ Yes, and he did start.

Pancit Miki

2008-07-09T02:55:00.000-07:00

I want to give my babies as much vegetables as possible. Pancit (rice noodle) is just among those they love to eat along with its other ingredients like vegetables and meat. Their yayas even eat pancit as their viand, thus call it pancit-kanin (rice noodle-rice).

There are many types of pancit. Among the most common are bihon, sotanghon, palabok, malabon, mami, canton, etc. If you’re a Filipino, you’re definitely a pancit person.

Miki is a kind of pancit that’s a bit sticky and thick. Cooking this, I must say, is somewhat tricky so as to ensure that it won’t be soggy. Oh well... I’m still trying to master the technique but I’m getting to it, almost. Hehe...

Ingredients:

oil
400 g miki, blanched then drained
1 tsp garlic, crushed
1 medium onion, chopped
100 g ground pork or chicken flakes
2 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp oyster sauce
½ c water or both
2 pcs tofu, fried and squared
10 pcs orlian (fish nuggets), fried and halved
1 carrot, julienned
10 pcs beans, cut diagonally
1 small cabbage, chopped
salt and pepper

Directions:

Sautee garlic, then onion in oil.
Add soy sauce and cook pork or chicken.
Add oyster sauce, then water. Let it boil.
Half-cook the carrots and beans for about 2 minutes.
Add the miki and cabbage. Let it simmer until the miki absorb the water.
Add tofu and orlian. Toss thoroughly.
Dash with salt and pepper before removing from heat.

“Smallest” Tuyo*

2008-07-07T18:27:00.000-07:00

*Tuyo is a salty dried fish. It’s usually done in areas along the shorelines. Since the Philippines is an archipelago, there are a lot of tuyo “versions” here. The fisherfolks have learned to innovate and make almost all sea creatures “dry”. It’s also a way of preserving these water resources for longer shelf-life.

I called this one the “smallest” since on my part, this is indeed the tiniest tuyo I’ve ever seen (2-3 inches long). The usual tuyo we eat with our favourite Pork Sinigang or Pork Nilaga is far bigger than this one (5-6 inches long). My mom-in-law, the one who gave this, said this is not dilis (small dried fish but not that salty). She said she bought this from the Bicol region and the vendor told her it’s one of the smallest kind of tuyo they sell.

I don’t really mind as long as it tastes the way I’m familiar with. Actually, this one’s more convenient to eat since it’s crunchier and I don’t have to remove the bones and scales. You just have to pan fry it, and it’s ready to munch!

Globe Visibility's "invisibility"

2008-07-07T03:24:00.001-07:00

I'm super bad trip coz our internet connection is down! It's been three days! The reason why I can't post at home. Oh well, we still have connection but with GPRS only, not HSDPA.

We've been using Globe Visibility for almost a year now. It enticed us then since it's mobile, HSDPA 3G capable, and can be used for texting (and even calling when the simcard is inserted in a phone). It's like having a postpaid line and internet connection in one.

However, we observe lately that the signal is not that stable. Yes, we're in the province but our area is already 3G connected. There are times that we get the maximum speed (3.6 Mbps). Most of the time, it's just 800-900 Kbps. It's fine as long as I don't wait for eternity for a picture to upload.

Since typhoon Frank happened (some time in June 20-ish thi year), we can't maximize the use of this modem. I don't know if it's affected by the heavy rains but it shouldn't be that way.

I don't want to have bad reviews about Globe's service since they've been very friendly in answering all our queries. However, at this point, we can't do anything but to wait for the signal to stabilize.

I love the comfort the Visibility plan is giving us. I just hope this is just a technical glitch. If not, I'm switching... and am not paying my last monthly dues. Harhar! Joke! (Di kaya naputulan na kami? Hehe...)

Crunchy Mushroom

2008-07-07T00:35:00.001-07:00

I’m not really a fan of Ms. Anabel Rama (actress Ruffa Guttierez’ mom) but I believe in her TV ad that Pillsburry is the best fried chicken (and others) breading mix in town. I’ve tried a lot of brands but this one’s the most convenient, crunchy, and tasty. It may be just me, but my family loves this, too.

Pillsburry made my mushroom crispier and more appealing to my babies. Whenever I cook this, my eldest would call it “chicharon”. Harhar! I owe it to its crunchiness.

Ingredients:

250 g table mushroom
1 small pack Pillsburry one-step coating mix
¼ c water
oil for deep frying

Directions:

Mix the coating mix with water until free from lumps.
Wash mushroom thoroughly.
Heat oil.
Dip mushroom in the mixture and fry until golden brown.

This recipe is great with sweet vinegar dip. Just mix vinegar, water, sugar, chopped onion, and siling labuyo. Measurements depend on your taste preference.

Pork-Hotdog Steak (my banner)

2008-07-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

Every Friday night, I have to be in my most creative self in the kitchen. Why? Because the fridge is running out of my weekly stock! One product from my freezer's "tira-tira" (leftover) is this one - pork and hotdog steak! Frozen veggie bits, pork chops, hotdogs, and potatoes equal tasty and colorful meal for the kids and kids-at-heart.

Ingredients:

1/2 kg pork chops
1 medium-sized potato, cut in wedges
1/4 c soy sauce
3 tbsp calamansi extract or 4 tbsp lemon extract
1/2 c water
1 tbsp whole peppercorns
1/4 c frozen veggie bits (green pease, corn, carrots)
4 regular size hotdogs, sliced diagonally
oil
1 big onion, sliced into circles
salt
1 tsp sugar

Directions:

Boil porkchop in water, calamansi extract, soy sauce, and peppercorns until tender. Set aside.
Fry onion in oil and set aside.
Fry potatoes, veggie bits, and hotdogs until cooked. Set aside.
Semi-fry the pork chops in the same pan.
Pour the remaining juice from boiling the pork.
Add sugar and salt and continuously boil until it thickens a bit.
Toss with the other fried ingredients before removing from heat.

A salute to SG Bayani Sagum of SM Pampanga

2008-06-30T00:28:00.000-07:00

My belief that the Filipinos are still the most honest people in the human race is once again strengthened by SM Pampanga's security guard, Bayani Sagum. Too bad I wasn't given the chance to see him in person or even talk to him to thank him for surrendering our car key without hesitation. This is the least I could do to show him how I appreciated his act of incorruptibility. Also, I would like to congratulate the SM management for handling their customer service so well.

It was 30 minutes before SM Pampanga's closing time (9:00 pm) when I finished grocery shopping. Since the kids and the yayas were with us, waiting outside the supermarket, hubby decided to bring the the stuff I bought to the car. While I, with the kids, went to Jollibee to order our dinner in advance. Hubby bought his food from Chowking (just across Jollibee's location). Dinner was finished. It's nearly 9:30 pm.

We rushed to the nearest exit to our car but the door was already closed. A lady guard led us to the other door that's supposedly closing that time. Through her help, we're able to pass through.

I was the last one to get out when hubby ran toward my direction, going back from the car. "Nasa'yo ba yung susi?" he asked uncertainly. I said I just kept it when we're at Robinson's. Without a word, he rushed back to the mall's door and talked to the guards-on-duty. Confused, I went to the parking lot where my babies and the yayas were waiting. It's confirmed, the car key with its alarm was missing.

I called hubby and he told me that the guards were helping him, and that he will just call me back when everything's settled. I prayed hard since my babies were already sleepy and I knew the rain's gonna come anytime.

"What if they can't find the key? Am I going to call Tatay to fetch us? Oh my... it's still an hour away from my parents' house. Are we just going to check-in the nearest hotel without anything but wallet and phones? What about my babies? We have their things (good for 2 days since we're visiting and sleeping at my parents' house) inside the car. I have to call my father now." These things, and others, run through my mind.

I called Tatay and told him what happened. He told me to call him immediately if ever we can't find any way to go home. After a couple more minutes, hubby's running back, holding a piece of paper with a key attached on it. It's our car key!

Written on the paper was: :ILC Main Atrium (where the key was found), SG Bayani Sagum (the guard who returned back the key). I sighed for relief. I asked hubby to look for SG Sagum but he told me he's already out of duty and that he didn't see him either.

The head guard told hubby that it's a good thing a guard, and not a civilian, found the key. He explained that we had to leave the car in the parking lot until we get the duplicate (wahhh!!! I used to bring it but forgot it this time. The duplicate key in my wallet was the Safari's). In that case, the "key keeper" would have an easy access to open the car and get eveything from it. Worse, he can drive the car out of the parking lot without the parking ticket if he's an efficient tricker. But of course, the SM management would not allow that to happen.

Hay... thank God for people like Mr. Sagum. I hope I gave justice to his good deeds. To you Mr. Sagum, bayani ka! May God bless you more and more! And to the SM management, keep up the good work in training your personnel on quality customer service.

Cheers!

Beef Steak

2008-06-16T19:17:00.000-07:00

With the help of the pressure cooker, even the "gummiest" beef shank can be turned into sirloin! Tired of my usual beef recipe, Caldereta, I tried "pressuring" my shanks and produced this recipe. This one's kinda overcooked. The kids drool over this, anyway.

Ingredients:

1/2 kg beef shank, cut into thin slices
juice from 6 pcs of calamansi
1/4 c soy sauce
1/2 c water
salt and pepper
bay leaf (laurel)
2 tbsp oil
1 big onion, sliced into rings
1 small potato, cut into wedges

Directions:

Pressurize the beef with the first seven ingredients for 20-30 minutes
Meanwhile, fry the potato and onion separately. Set aside.
When the beef is done, stir fry the beef until brown in color in the remaining oil.
Add the sauce from boiling the beef until it thickens or evaporates.
Add the potato and simmer for five minutes.
Top with onions before serving.

Ginataang Kalabasa at Talong (Squash and Eggplant in Coconut Cream)

2008-06-16T00:45:00.000-07:00

Honestly, I just came up with this recipe because of the coconut powder in my cupboard that's about to expire in a month's time. Hehe... The squash and the eggplant (along with other veggies) came all the way from MMSU in Ilocos Norte. My in-laws always bring some when they visit us. They believe that vegetables are fresher and cheaper there. It's also a subtle way of telling me to cook healthy foods for their son and grandchildren. Oh well... I choose not to disagree. It's an advantage on my budgeting anyway.

I remember the recipe my mom taught me way before. But in hers, she used fresh coconut to get the cream from. I'm kinda lazy with this so I opt for the "unnatural" one. My bad!!!

Ingredients:

1 tbsp oil
1 tsp minced garlic
1 small onion, chopped
1 tsp fish sauce (patis)
200 g pork belly, boiled until tender and cut into pieces
1 pack coconut powder (to yield 1/2 c cream when prepared as to directions)
1/4 c water (use the pork broth)
2 cups squash, cubed
2 pcs eggplant (big), sliced into 1/2 in.
5 pcs sweet pepper
salt and pepper

Directions:

Sautee garlic and onion in oil.
Add fish sauce and pork.
Add water and bring to boil.
Add squash and simmer for 3 minutes.
Pour in the cream and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add eggplant and sweet pepper and simmer until the sauce thickens.
Dash with salt and pepper to taste.

The breakfast I miss (Omelet)

2008-06-15T04:51:00.002-07:00

It's only during weekends that I have time to eat breakfast, and cook for all of us. Oftentimes, we just settle for bread or hotcake and coffee. Anyways, my baby's diet doesn't include rice for breakfast. And so I have no major reason to prepare since my hubby is also not used to eating rice in the morning.

This Saturday, I woke up early since the electric bill collector came at 7am. Yes, 7am is still VERY early for me during weekends. With nothing to do, I searched the fridge and found the smoked fish (tinapa) I bought two days ago when I passed by the public market. I fried those pieces and paired with my TOP (tomato, onion, potato) omelet. It may be a redundancy but I also chopped some tomato, onion, and fresh green mango as salad.

Here's what I did for the omelet.

Ingredients:

4 large eggs, beaten
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 c cheese, grated
1 small onion, chopped
1 small potato, chopped
2 tomatoes, chopped

Directions:

Dash the beaten eggs with salt, pepper, and cheese. Set aside.
Pan fry the potato and onion until half-cooked. Remove from heat and add the tomatoes. Set aside.
In a non-stick (use oil if not using a conventional frying pan), pour half of the egg mixture.
Top the egg mixture with the TOP mixture. Flip into half when done, then remove from heat.
Do the same with the remaining mixtures.

Arroz Caldo (and the feverish week)

2008-06-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

My heart is crushed everytime my babies are hurt. What more when they get sick?

I was so excited the night of June 4 while fitting the swimsuit and cover-up I'm going to use for the DevComm Division team building in Asin Hotspring in Baguio City. At last, I'll be able to wear my longed-for pair of two-piece.

The team's supposed to leave at around 7am the following day. Come 5:00am, Hashka's tiny cries woke me up and hubby. When I reached out to her (she sleeps on the bed beside me), her whole body was unusually hot. I thought it's just because of the pillows that surrounded her, but when I touched her forehead, I knew there's something wrong. I asked hubby to get the thermometer and after a few minutes, it's confirmed. She had a 39.5-degree fever! I wanted to cry as she was crying hard, too. The ever-reliable Tempra drops lowered her temperature to 38.5 degrees after an hour. Still, we knew she wasn't completely OK as clear mucus started to flow out of her nose.

I've forgotten all about the team building, the swimsuit, and the hotspring. Come 8am, we searched for our pedia's directory. Dr. San Juan was out. Dr. Santos was out. We also tried Dr. Tadeo who's a general practitioner and a friend just to have someone check on her, but she's also out. Finally, Dr. Mendoza!

As diagnosed, Hashka had fever probably caused by her colds. The pedia gave her medicines for that, but in the morrow, she's not getting any better. Worse, Third also got sick, probably infected by Hashka. We went back to the pedia Sunday morning. She checked on both of them but can't find anything seriously wrong. She advised us to bring Hashka and Third for urinalysis and CBC. She also did a test for dengue (I forgot what it's called). Thank God all results turned out negative. Dr. Mendoza checked on them again and gave them anbiotic to take for the next 7 days. On the fifth day, both of them got well. There's nothing more relieving for a mom than to see her babies all well. *Sigh*

OK... the Arroz Caldo story. I just cooked this during the time that my babies can't eat well. At least, this recipe has carbohydrates and protein, good for faster recovery. Also, it's easier to eat.

Ingredients:

1/2 kg chicken breast, boiled and flaked (broth reserved)
1 c uncooked rice, washed
5-6 c water
6 hard-boiled eggs
2 tbsp oil
1 tbsp julienned ginger
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 small onion, chopped
2 tbsp fish sauce (patis)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Sautee ginger, garlic, and onion in oil.
Add fish sauce.
Add the chicken to fry. (If you don't want overcooked chicken, do this later when the rice is done.)
Pour in the water and broth, then let it boil.
Add the rice until cooked. Add more water if needed. (You may add the chicken here if not done earlier.)
Dash with salt and pepper to desired taste.

Not-so-pizzy pizza

2008-06-13T03:24:00.000-07:00

Dean and Ivy availed of Pizza Hut's palm card. Of course, they had to buy a family-size pizza and a bottle of Pepsi. In return, they got another pizza for free. Yes, they are absolutely pizza lovers but can't finish two of this size. They dropped by our house before going to Tarlac City just to give us the free one. I love pizza myself. I found the gesture of my BIL and future SIL so sweet.

However, I'm kinda disappointed with Pizza Hut when I saw how the pizza looked like. I was hoping it would be the same as the pizzas they serve when you dine in. Well, definitely not this one. It's so dry to think that it's still hot. Dean, being a typical thrifty Ilocano who really wants the value of his money, was also foiled. Who would not when this one's kinda burnt, with cheese and other toppings obviously penny-pinched? And the taste? As bluntly dry as how it looked.

Oh well, Pizza Hut's still one of my faves. But I think I would never go for a take-out anymore, moreso with the one that comes with the Palm Card.

Inabraw* na Kabute at Bulaklak

2008-06-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

Inabraw/Inabrao is a recipe from the Ilocos region made of vegetables with native fish sauce in steaming broth.

Being a true-blooded Ilocano, my hubby loves this dish so much. Before we got married, I really tried so hard to perfect this recipe. Well, it's only after three years of marriage that I somehow learned to cook it in the taste he wants. Hehe...

Now, I have lots of versions of inabraw, combining different veggies available in the fridge. I have tried a combo of two or more of these: horse radish (malunggay) leaves and fruit, squash, eggplant, lady's finger (okra), string beans, bitter gourd, battle (upo), sponge gourd (patola), sweet pepper (siling haba), and a lot more. The choices are endless actually. You just have to experiment as to which ones match best.

This one is my most recently discovered version. The squash flower (bulaklak) came from a village vendor who walked by our house one morning. She said she picked the flowers herself from her own backyard, and are pesticide-free. The mushroom (kabute) I got from the supermarket. They said it's organically produced. If so, then I can consider this recipe healthy =)

Ingredients:

4 pcs tomatoes, sliced
2 pcs smoked fish (tinapa) or any fried fish, deboned and halved
2 tbsp fish sauce (bagoong isda)
1/4 c water
1 bunch squash florets, anther/pistil removed
200 g mushroom

Directions:

Put the first four ingredients in a pot. Let it boil.
Add the mushroom.
After 3 minutes, add the squash flower.
Remove from heat after a minute.

I served this recipe with fried milkfish (daing na bangus). I used the fish's head instead of smoked fish.

Chicken Afritada

2008-06-11T02:28:00.000-07:00

When I arrive late from office, I always make it a point to choose a recipe with less preparation and cooking time. Still, I make sure the taste isn't sacrificed. Chicken Afritada is one of my family's all-time faves in my list of easy-to-do ones.

Preparation time would only be for about 10 minutes while cooking time, about 30 minutes. The househelp can do this themselves, too (although I really handle the cooking myself).

Ingredients:

1/2 kg chicken parts
1 tbsp oil
minced garlic
1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp patis (fish sauce)
1/4 c tomato sauce
1/2 c water
1 medium potato, quartered
1 small carrot, cubed/sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
salt and pepper

Directions:

Sautee garlic and onion in oil.
Add patis and tomato sauce.
Add chicken and simmer for five minutes.
Pour in water and let it boil.
When the chicken is almost done, add potatoes and carrots.
Add the bell pepper, salt and pepper two minutes before removing from heat.

Pork in Creamy Garlic Sauce

2008-06-06T02:07:00.000-07:00

I remember reading an almost-alike recipe from the Nestle Philippines Quarterly Magazine in December 07. In theirs, they use chicken fillet instead of pork, and low-fat milk instead of evaporated milk. The sauce is kinda like that of my carbonara.

Since my hubby is not an avid fan of chicken (health reasons), I always try my best to come up with something that can substitute any meat for chicken. This one is just one of them. Also, Dean, my bro-in-law loves this, too. He happened to be our visitor the night I prepared this.

Ingredients:

1/2 kg pork, cut into thin slices (about 4x4 in) marinated for at least 30 minutes in
1/4 c soy-based seasoning mix (I used Knorr here)
dash of salt and pepper

1/4 cup oil
minced garlic (as much as you want)
1 big onion, cut into rings
1 small can whole button mushroom, sliced
1/2 c all purpose cream
1 c evaporated milk
salt and pepper

Directions:

Fry the marinated pork in oil until both sides are brown, about 2 minutes per side. Set aside.
In the same pan (you may remove some of the oil), brown the garlic and onion. When cooked, set aside half of the mixture.
Continue cooking by sauteeing the mushroom.
Add the milk and the cream. Wait to thicken in low fire.
Add salt and pepper.
Toss the pork in the sauce until coated, or you may pour the sauce over the meat instead.
Serve with onion rings and garlic on top.

Sinampalukang Manok (Chicken in Tamarind Soup)

2008-06-03T20:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not actually sure of the recipe's name English translation. My apology if I'm wrong, and would appreciate to know the correction.

Anyway, my babies just so adore this recipe. First because it's soup-based and, secondly, they simply love the tenderness of chicken. I usually use the breast part instead of thigh and leg cuts for soup and sauce-based recipes since I find the breast part more tooth-friendly for my babies.

Ingredients:

1/2 kg chicken breast, cut into pieces
1 tbsp oil
1 pc small ginger, julienne
1 tsp garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp patis
2 cups water
1/4 cup tamarind extract* (or 2 tbsp tamarind-based powder)
5 pcs green pepper (lady finger variety)
a small bunch of pechay, stems separated from the leaves (did not do this in this recipe)

Directions:

Heat the oil in a deep wok (kawali)
Suatee in order the ginger, garlic, and onion until cooked.
Add patis.
Drop in the chicken, mix, cover, and simmer for five minutes.
When the chicken changes its color, add the water and simmer for another 10 minutes.
Add the tamarind extract and stir.
Drop in the pechay stalks and pepper and simmer for 2 minutes.
Lastly, put the pechay leaves and remove from heat after a minute.

*traditional way of getting the tamarind extract by boiling young tamarind fruits in water until the fruit is softened, then pressing the fruits by hand and passing the extract through a strainer.

Iam's Carbonara

2008-06-02T20:50:00.001-07:00

Note: This is actually pasta with alfredo sauce (since one of my GT sisters told me that genuine carbonara recipes have eggs as ingredient) but physically, they look the same. And so I'm calling this my own version of carbonara. In the picture, I served it with fried breaded pork cuts.

I cooked this one night since I wanted to disprove the claim of our office cafeteria management that their "macaroni salad" is the same with what we call carbonara. Yes, when we order carbonara, they deliver macaroni salad - the one with mayo, pineapple tidbits, tuna flakes. It happened thrice already. They just don't understand! Duh!

The following morning, I brought about a small bowl of the leftover to the office just to show them the true (or at least, near) taste and look of carbonara. Four of them rushed toward me and had their own taste through their fork. Literally in a snap of a finger, everything's gone from the container. Too bad I wasn't able to take a picture.

Ok, here it is...

Ingredients:

250 g spaghetti or fettuccine, cooked per package direction then drained
250 g bacon, cut into small pieces and fried
1/2 brick butter
garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp fish sauce (patis)
1 tbsp flour
1-250 ml brick pack all purpose cream
1 small can button mushroom (pieces and stems)
1 big can evaporated milk
1/2 cup cheese, grated
salt and pepper to taste
chopped parsley (optional for decoration)

Directions:

Melt butter in a pan.
Sautee garlic, onion, and patis. Add flour until dissolved.
Put in the mushroom and cook for 2-3 minutes.
Pour the milk and cream and bring to boil while stirring constantly.
Add half of the bacon and cheese and cook until the mixture thickens.
Lower the fire. Add salt and pepper according to taste then stir.
While still in fire, toss the pasta in the sauce until fully coated.
Before serving, top with the remaining bacon and chopped parsley.

something new to me

2008-06-02T19:53:00.000-07:00

I'm welcoming myself to blogging!!!

Nahhh!!! Blogging (defined by wiki as the act of maintaining a website by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video) perse has been a part of my regular, or, should I say, daily routine. However, this one's gonna be the first time that I'm using an online site for expressing mostly "text" ideas rather than pictures.

Yes, I do write in multiply and friendster, and other picture-sharing sites. So, how do this entire brouhaha would divert from the others? Ok, let's just say this is gonna be more of my personal space... anything about my thoughts, likes, ramblings, insecurities, etc.

The other sites I'm maintaining are for my family, my babies in particular. Another yes, I'm a mother and a wife, too. So please expect more of my household rants here. I'm actually wanting this to become a food blog. Wahhh!!! Please my Precious Time, allow me to do so...

So there... I am IAM, Third and Hashka's super mom and Hanshel's gorgeous wife. Bow! =)