Oprah Says

I went to an organic store recently and saw these vegetables. I keep on forgetting what it's called. But the owner said that this was featured in Oprah's show and Oprah says that these are a very healthy kind of spinach and found only in tropical countries. I'm always on the hunt for new veggies to give to my little girl so I bought one bunch. But they were so cheap at only P10 so I bought more.

The owner of the store said they eat it as a salad and she even made me try one of the leaves. Hmmm... I didn't like it raw. It can also be cooked in butter and garlic. That sounds much better and that's exactly what we did with the vegetables.

Pineapple Porkchop

I've tried making pineapple chicken and in the three times I made it, I was never satisfied with it. So finally, I asked my mom's help since I didn't want to waste perfectly good porkchops.

Well, whatdya know? My pineapple porkchop turned out really well. But I have to work on my plating and presentation. One thing at a time. hee hee

Refreshing Snack

I rarely find this fruit in the groceries or in the markets. It could be also that I don't go out of my way to look for this fruit. Anyway, one time while I was doing my regular grocery shopping, I saw some balimbing fruit for sale and they were huge. I decided to buy one (since no one at home is fond of this fruit), after all, it's been years since I last tried this.

After washing the fruit thoroughly, I had it sliced thinly and placed in the refrigerator. Then I snacked on this. I love the crunchiness and the juiciness of the fruit. It's the perfect summer time snack. And a healthy one at that.

From A Long Lost Era

Long before the ipod or even the walkman, there was this...



When I was a kid and we'd have Sunday lunch at my lola's place, I always admired this even if I never heard it play. There's a certain charm to it that has always attracted me. A couple of Sundays ago, we went to my lola's place and I decided to take a pic of it.

For All The Moms

I couldn't help but smile while I was watching this. This is best shared.

WW 03.04.09 Medley of Flavors

Thai Inspired Dish

I cooked this several weeks ago and I've already forgotten the name of this dish. Anyway, it's easy to cook and it's flavorful and hearty.

Instead of using ground beef, I substituted it with ground chicken. It's a healthier alternative. I'll post the recipe for this dish before the week is over.

A Quick Breakfast

I wonder why parsley is sold in big packs in the groceries, when recipes don't require a big bunch? So with a whole tray of parsley, I had to think of other ways to consume it.

I decided to shred some parsley for my omelet and I added a generous serving of cheese. Quick and easy. But I had to answer the phone when I was cooking this and it got overcooked. :(

Fresh Greens

Here are a couple of vegetables that grow in our backyard.



The pechay are quite small compared to those that are sold in the market. I wonder why? The lettuce are abundant and we've harvested it all and made into salads.

While I can't say exactly how much I saved from buying produce in the market, it gives me a good feeling to know that we can grow our own veggies in our garden. It is a good learning experience for my little girl too, because we show her the progress of the vegetable's growth and point out the names of each one (although I know she won't remember it). She likes to watch the helpers too, when they dig around the soil and water the plants.

Not only does the little girl benefit, but it also gives our helpers a past time aside from their daily chores. And it gives them a feeling of accomplishment to see their efforts paying off when they harvest and cook the vegetables.

The Big Squeeze

Whenever I cook a dish that requires some lemons, I do not discard the fruit after I’ve squeezed it.

Sometimes there’s still some juice left to squeeze into my glass of water to make some lemon water or to prevent peeled apples or potatoes from turning brown. Other times, I use it for cleaning the bathrooms especially on the chrome fixtures. Once in awhile, I use it to clean and sanitize my wooden chopping board. I also use it to clean my face.

There’s another trick that I haven’t tried and it’s to squeeze some lemon to the boiling water when cooking rice. This prevents rice from sticking together into one sticky glob.

But no matter what, I always rub the lemon on my hands then rinse off with water. I love how fresh my hands smell after and it does leave a lasting scent too.

Natural Cold Remedy

My husband is not a big fan of my homeopathic remedies. But I prefer to use natural means to get rid of slight ailments or to aid whatever pills we have to take in.

I learned recently that this specific oregano is most useful for colds. This is different from the oregano herb used in cooking. The leaves are quite aromatic and have a furry texture. Although I haven't tried it, I'm going to cultivate this plant in our garden and when the time comes that we have the colds, I will make this into tea.

One version I heard of, is to pound the leaves and mix it with rice washing and make it into tea. While I can't imagine the taste, I think I'll just pound the leaves and steep it in hot water. And maybe add some honey?

Spice Up Your Dishes

Our household can't live without sinamak (chili infused vinegar), it's a staple in most of our meals. We always have it with fried fish, tapa, and other grilled foods. But as much as possible, I do not get the ready made spicy vinegar from the grocery. I like to make my own, while choosing which vinegar (white cane vinegar, coconut vinegar, etc) to use.

This time, I got this particular vinegar made out of nipa palm sap (sukang sasa) with a blend of pure honey. I carefully washed and sliced some siling labuyo (bird's eye chili)and garlic. And I threw in some whole black peppercorns for good measure. I didn't have native onions nor ginger that time so I just threw in a lot of chili. Some also put bay leaves in their sinamak. Hmm.. maybe I can throw in a leaf or two.

I let the spices sit a few days before trying it out with one of our meals. The resulting sinamak was a complementary blend of sourness, sweetness and spiciness.

Chicken Stir Fry

This is a quick and easy dish to do, especially on weeknights. I can't remember the exact proportions of the ingredients, I just usually eyeball everything and season according to my taste.

Ingredients
chicken fillets, cubed
onions
garlic
chili
2 tbsp thai fish sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
4 tbsp water
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
1 cup basil leaves (packed)

Heat up some oil, saute the onions, garlic and chili. Throw in the chicken pieces and fry until golden brown. Mix the thai fish sauce, oyster sauce, sugar and water together. Pour the mixture onto the chicken. When almost done, add the basil leaves.

Serve with rice. By the way, when I made this, I bought enough chicken to feed 5 people.

When I made this at home, the husband liked it very much. And to prove that he isn't biased, I brought some leftovers for my lunch at work the following day. It was a hit among my officemates, as well.

Floral Arrangement Under 5 Minutes

Our parish organized a procession and they asked the residents to set up a small altar outside their respective homes.

We had set up ours on a small table with a candle but it lacked flowers. So we hastily brought out a small square vase and snipped whatever leaves, ferns and flowers were available in our garden.

And this is what we came up with.

I do take mine black

You Are a Black Coffee

At your best, you are: low maintenance, friendly, and adaptable At your worst, you are: grumpy and stressed You drink coffee when: you can get your hands on it Your caffeine addiction level: high

What Kind of Coffee Are You?

Ensaimada 101

A couple of weekends ago, an elderly relative passed on her ensaimada recipe, along with her baking tools to me. When I was a kid, she was always busy in the kitchen baking and cooking. And her ensaimadas were a staple at home.

I have a long way to go before I master baking this pastry, although it is relatively simple to do.





And the finished product -

The oven went haywire so we used a small electric oven and that's why some parts of the ensaimada are slightly toasted.

Need to Brush Up on Emily Post

You Have Good Manners 67% of the Time

Your manners are quite excellent. You are well versed in etiquette. Of course you have the occasional slip up, but you even apologize with grace.

How Are Your Manners?

The House Test

What the House Test Says About You

You consider yourself important, but no more important than anyone else. You love attention, but you don't feel like you deserve more of it than anyone else. You aren't against being community oriented, but it's not really your thing. You tend to prefer to focus on your family and not the neighborhood around you. You are a calm, contemplative, and smart person. You take ideas very seriously. You take good care of your physical appearance. You dress well, stay in shape, and do your best to look great. You are moved by what's exotic and unique. You often have the mentality of a traveler, even when you're not traveling.

The House Test

Lunch at Murray's and D'Vine

The husband and I ate at Murray's and D'Vine. I was disappointed that the menu selection was too short, although I know they specialize in burgers, I was hoping for other dishes to choose from. I did get to try the scallop burger and even if it was huge, I still finished it all. It's not as heavy as a beef burger, that's why. The husband had the spicy burger sliders, which are 3 small burgers that are on a skewer. I would have wanted to try the ostrich burger but I wasn't feeling too adventurous that day.

The ambience was cozy and intimate. Given their name, they had a good selection of wines from all over the world. And they were all nicely displayed around the restaurant. But the music that day was just not appropriate for the place as they were playing all hip hop songs. I doubt if they're trying to project a hip hop image or target that set?

Do’s and Don’ts in Era of New Poverty

I read this in today's issue of PDI and decided to share it here...

***

By Thelma Sioson San Juan
Philippine Daily Inquirer

IN my gym/club, I’ve gotten used to this regular distraction: a national politician in his middle age (thus not infirm or decrepit) comes with security entourage, from motorcycle escorts, back-up cars (plural) to bodyguards.

As he works out, the security detail stands by. After workout, the factotum brings in our politician’s personal stuff, from shirt to socks (undies, too, we presume) and shoes—and helps him get dressed. All this logistical/security support for a fitness workout!

Don’t even try to imagine what other logistics our politicians can’t live without.

Trappings of power are nothing new; they’ve come with the territory for ages. But, in the Philippines, at no time has their display been more obnoxious than they are now.
Perhaps it’s because our era has seen the end of our sense of decency, decorum and delicadeza (and you thought the Martial Law era was bad).

Bodyguards, police escorts are ubiquitous—whether at the golf course (remember the front-page news?), church, hotel, hospital, school, malls, you name it, they’re there at the beck and call of our public servants. Stuck in a bumper-to-bumper traffic in Edsa, you’re stewing in your car and hear the oppressively shrill wang-wang of a big shot’s siren escort (ambulance, you don’t mind) signaling the rest of the motorists to make way for the majestic entourage—as if there’s an extra yard of road to maneuver in.

So why can’t they go through traffic like everybody else? Either that or they fly off Edsa.
That brings us to what is most uncool in these hard times,

and the don’ts:

That wang-wang. Kill it. Such contraptions are for life-and-death situations, not for when you’re late for your ribbon-cutting or your “afternoon delight.”

Don’t wear your bodyguard like you do your Cartier. We remember tax deductions from our salaries every time we see bodyguards. Don’t “brandish” bodyguards, who, in turn, shouldn’t brandish guns.

Don’t wear your power. A wise, powerful editor once told us, if you really have power, you don’t need to show it. Showing off is tacky in these humbling times, or at any time.

Don’t display your wealth. Ostentatiousness is so nouveau. Hidden wealth is best kept hidden, because every time we see signs of it, we feel bad for our country, our children and our children’s children.

Don’t believe your own press release (especially if you wrote it yourself). People buying their own hype is today’s tragedy.

Don’t max out your credit card. An aunt, who worked her way up the corporate ladder (mining industry at that) and who died rich—and who didn’t believe much in credit cards—told us: Don’t spend money you still have to earn.

Don’t be a “brand junkie.” Being a sucker for brands is so yesterday.

The do’s:

Work, work. To be idle rich is bad enough, to be idle poor is pathetic—and bad for your cholesterol level. Work ethic? That seems like a thing of the past to today’s generation.

Be honest, even as you buy fake brands. Authenticity is not a brand. It is character.
Acquire the taste, not necessarily the brand.

Read. Not just lip-read.

Invest wisely. Not in business necessarily, but in people and relationships. Nurture a talent. That investment is long-term.

Help yourself to some food for the soul.

Even if you can’t be rich, be real.

Find true religion. That’s not a jeans brand. It’s religion.