my Tuna Paella Filled and Grilled Squid

There was this time I left alone at home and nothing to do. Tamad kumain and tamad din maglinis. Wala akong ginawa kundi manood ng TV. And I always end up watching cooking episodes especially in QTV (we don't have cable TV at home).  One of the recipe caught my attention is Sarap at home's San Marino Tuna Paella Stuffed and Grilled Squid. You can view the details at http://www.wmn.ph/article/1591/tuna-paella-filled-and-grilled-squid.

My own San Marino Tuna Paella Filled and Grilled Squid. Went to the grocery and bought everything I need.  I followed the recipe, well, not exactly, I added some chopped garlic and onions. And, instead of lemon, I used calamansi. I didn't threw the fats from the squid.. dagdag flavor sa paella.

                        

6 years + 45 months = the ring

Every girl's dream to meet "the ONE"- the perfect man for me.

I met the love of my life 10 years ago. He was not in my crush list neither in my must-talk-to list. We were classmate but I didn't notice him or talked to him until second semester of our 3rd year in high school. It was that one simple talked on the phone that started our friendship. One common friend called me asking me about our assignments, next thing I knew someone also laughing with us (3-way call). He is not panget. I'm just the kind of girl na "mahirap ma-reach" (according to some of my guy friends). He carried my books to the classroom. He walked me home. We talked 30mins a day (as in). I only allowed him to talk to me at 6:00-6:30pm!! haha... I was mean and heartless. Naging mag-MU kami.  He was my junior prom date. but hanggang doon lang.

Kahit na uso ang bf/gf, it was not for me. I had my reasons and I kinda promise my mom that after college na.  Told him na, it wasn't the right time for us that IF we meet again after few years, maybe, just maybe, we can be more than friends. After high school, we don't have any communication, although there was this one time he brought brownies at home. And he called my mom occasionally (they became best friend).  I was still mean and heartless.

Until that day arrived. He called one time... we had a little chat. He called every other month... we had small conversations.  He called once a month... we had conversations.... (you get the idea here, right?)  We were text messaging each other every hour and minute. I called him when I'm sad.. when I'm crying.. when I'm happy.  We shared our common interest. We date!... until we're in a relationship. 

We celebrate our monthsary with simple gift or dinner (with our chaperon, hehe, strict ang parents ko!). Six months after, he left to study in China. and five months after I left Manila to Cebu for work. When he came back from China... we're in a long distance relationship.  We skype. We talked every night. We text every hour and minute. Distance didn't stop us loving each other. We fight. We laughed. We watch DVD together even though we're miles away. He constantly visits me in Cebu when there's a free days or holidays.

33 month after, I visit Manila every month. I get to see him and family.  We still celebrate our monthsary but this time no chaperon. 

Recently, my last visit in Manila, he picked my up in the airport. We had our night snack in Binondo. He gave me his advance gift for our 45 months, body butter.  

Our next date, he gave me another gift. 

The next day.... day before our 45th month. He gave me a handmade monthsary card..

The base part of the card was a bit bulky for an ordinary card.  It was simple, tooo simple. College grad pics namin un nasa harapan.  When you opened the card, there was a short message about our past and of course, how much he loves me. The other side of the card (the bulky one), at the bottom part he wrote, "pull me...." I pulled it slooooowly... then, I panicked.  haha!! 

I stopped half way... tapos sinilip ko muna....

then I said, "bakit may parang bukol dun?!!!"  He replied, "pull it na!"

I stopped... binalik ko ulit!! then isip ko.....

"sheeeeet....."

"oh My God!!!!"

"anong gagawin ko?"

"How will I reply/answer?"

"Totoo ba to?"

"wait lang, this is it na ba?!"

Init ng pakiramdam... ginawa ko pang pamaypay un card. LOL... 

It took me 12 minutes para maka-gain ng courage! haha!! and he was singing "urong sulong ka!" When I pulled the whole thing... 

there was a note, "will you marry me? na?" ("aaaaaaahh!!!"- nasa isip ko lang, di talaga ako napasigaw)

and the ring?? ......was missing!!! 

"nasaan un singisng?" I thought the ring was with him all the time but he took the card from me and looked for the ring... "ang OA mo kasi!!!" 

When he found the ring.... lumuhod siya and then, this time he said, "will you marry me?... Na?"

It wasn't the way he expected would be.. but still makes me kilig hanggang ngayon.

How I answered?? I was speechless... it took me 12 minutes, yet in the end, I was speechlesss!!!! I just smiled as he slipped the ring on my finger. 

And kissed him.

I'm more than happy (may hihigit pa ba doon?)

By the way, he already asked my family for my hand secretly before that day. *wink* *wink*
My one and only.

Tonight's Dessert: Apple Mango to-Crumble

Achi loves cooking apple, peach, mango with sugar and water (it's like fresh fruit cocktail but not from a can)... earlier I smelled her cooking some apple and mango, she also put some cinnamon that makes me loved the aroma. But I'm kinda sawa na.. hehe.  For a change, I thought, why not apple crumble... or maybe I just love my flower design baking pan makes me loved to bake!! haha!!

My Apple and Mango CRUMBLE:

First, I don't know how to make an apple crumble. I saw Ahya makes one but di ko siya pinanonood.... Although I know the basic principle of making one. hmmm.. So I google-ed just to be sure. (have I tell anyone that I'm so happy of our technology!!).  So I looked for my left over butter from my blueberry cheesecake. Mixed flour and crushed graham. blended it all until it looks like breadcrumbs. topped it on the apple-mango mixture. Baked for 10 mins. Let it cool.

 Thus,

MY Apple-Mango to-Crumble. Some people loved this when chilled. but I like mine hot. Sadly, I don't have vanilla ice cream to topped.

Tonight's dinner: DIY Tortilla

I bought a frozen tortilla in a grocery the other day.. thinking of california maki twister of KFC.  so, why not DIY tortilla for dinner. 

Tonight's Dinner.  

Stripped some cucumber. prepared some lettuce. stripped green pepper. saute some stripped beef with little soy sauce, sugar, and worcestershire (you can also painit some left over foods in your fridge). sliced onion. riped mango. mayonaise, pepper, some cream for the sauce. wasabi (for my california maki twist). Heat the frozen tortilla in a non-stick pan (sprinkled little flour para maiwasan dumikit sa pan) Served everything on the table... and Do-It-Yourself Tortilla!! 

Ang masaya dito ay kahit paiba-iba ng ang ipalaman mo sa tortilla pwede. Be creative to satisfy your own taste!!  Tortilla is originated in Mexico but tonight's Tortilla is mixed asian or mixed of everything.  Thus, one thing I loved about cooking is you can experiment and experiment!! 

My Blueberry Cheesecake

Blueberry Cheesecake

I so wanted to bake again. Although I'm not good at it or lack of knowledge. But trying again wouldn't hurt!!  While buying some groceries the other day, I thought why not try now. Bought some cream cheese, all purpose creams, crushed graham, and butter.. and of course, blueberry (in can). The last time I tried cheesecake... uhh! I didn't like it.. it was too sour!! and stopped trying. Well, that was few years ago! few few years ago!!

Before starting to bake... I did some google-ing about cheesecake and recipes. And watched some "how to bake blueberry cheesecake" at youtube. Write down all the tips I could use. Such as using Nestle all purpose cream as alternative for heavy cream.

Baked it for an hour then left it in the oven until I got home from BTC. Topped it with blueberry. Chilled it overnight. 

Then, Viola!!!!

My home baked Blueberry Cheesecake. and it's soooo goood!!

Everyone loves it!! 

Ganun ba un?

 "Dapat ka lang naman niyang suyuin dahil un naman ang gusto mo d ba?"....

My Oh-So Day

Today is HP7 day!! yey!!

We left the house early today, so that we could reserved seats in early screening. Unfortunately, got my first red day this month... worried. And like what I expected, major major dysmenorrhea AT THE MALL!!  I bought some tea to make me relax but still it didn't help and threw up everything I had for breakfast. I went to SPA at Cebu, to have some foot massage.. just a foot massage for an hour. By the way, it costs 600php for an hour massage (quite expensive).  BUT after the massage, I felt better. yey!! (Altho, some says that we must avoid massage when we had our period. Myth?). 

Had our late lunch at LEMONGRASS. and watched HP7.

I can't remember when was the last time a had a spring rolls.

Grilled Liempo

My bucket wish

Im alone right now in a coffee shop while listening to a band across the street singing "torn" . And while waiting for my siblings from the pizza parlor..thinking my wanna-do wishes nd decided to put in writing. So my bucket list....
1. Be drunk. As In totally drunk. Well, i dnt drink. Last time i've checked im allergic to beer and some wines.
2. Changed tire. So want to do this....
3. Make a masterpiece of ....?
4. To be able to sing in ccp or picc. Had a chance once but blew it!! Hanggang redbox n lng.
5. Bake a real cake.
6. To have a daring portrait of me. Uhum!
..... Pizza's here!!!

Forecast Today 11-19-2010

Expecting too much in a very short period of time, might just, end up in dismay.

Starbucks: Christmas time again!!

My first Starbucks's Christmas Coffee ( peppermint mocha) this year!!  Avail the card now and get one free sticker!!! 


Starbucks offers the same three Christmas flavors as last year; the Peppermint mocha, Praline mocha and the Toffee nut latte.  Sadly, they didn't have the Gingerbread Latte this year (again) which is my fave Starbucks Christmas Coffee.

However, I still enjoy Starbucks coffee!! and thinking if I'll complete this year stickers for the 2011 planner.  I find the planner too ordinary.. but hey, its Starbucks!!

Something Fishy..

I'm supposed to blog this earlier but instead I blogged about my depression about the world. Hehe...

Anyway, few days ago, while having this mixed emotions I decided to step in to my kitchen. Being in the kitchen gives me freedom and happiness. Doesn't matter if i cook or bake, its like painting expressing what's your heart truly desires. My heart truly desires.... the smell of baked fish. I took fish fillet out of the fridge and looked for lemon and cheese.  It wasn't like my chef's (ahya) cheesy baked fish but it was good.

Fish fillet rubbed with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Baked till half cooked.

Topped with cheese, added some ground pepper and dried thyme herbs. Baked for few minutes.

I learned this cooking when I was in HS. My mom taught me this recipe when she left me alone at home. Back then, I felt that I made something special. As in wow!! When she came home, I told her how good it was. The thought that I made it my own made me more happy as a child. Remembering this made my dish more delicious.

The next day, I tried to cook beef broccoli.  Tried? because its feels like I made chopseuy without the seafoods.. I have few beef sukiyaki cut in the freezer, bought broccoli and some dried mushroom the other day. I found carrots and tofu in the fridge. Cut some radish too and veggie mushroom balls (don't have squid balls). When every ingredients in the pan, I discovered I don't have oyster sauce, so I used vegetarian stir-fry sauce...

Fried tofu first!

Culture Kasi

My stay here in Cebu isn't really a blast. Come to think of it, I think I shared my emotions with my sis when she stated "I hate Cebu" in her fb. Because it wasn't fun to live in alone or far from your friends. When you cannot understand the new culture and doesn't want to adopt at the same time. I learned a lot here in my three years of stay in Cebu. As a development studies graduate, I failed my prof simply because I grew tired of thinking that "some people are just not well informed". That, they are mahirap because government didn't helped them and plus, private sectors took advantage of their kamang-mangan. But then again, NGOs cannot do much. hanggang tulong na lang. depende pa rin sa tao if they will learn or not.  I red a lot of articles and books about kahirapan natin, and I say it too, I blame it on the culture.

If you see people in Manila helpless, what's more here in Cebu. When I was in training in Manila for Cebu, I was  optimistic.  That, I will not be a capitalist. Three years later, I am. why? because one worker told me "kawalan niyo, hindi ako"; because I couldn't find a good house helper, and one wanted me to pay her 3,000 for one specific job (by the way, my house have 2BR, 1T, no dining and no sala); because I hired one maid (19 years old) and her parents took her home because she must attend to her husband's needs (live-in partner); .... that you cannot buy loyalty.

Last sunday, we were invited in a party. There was four groups in our table. The two groups were Fil-Cebuanos and the two Fil-Chinese.  I just can't stop noticing how rude people can be; one Fil-Ceb turned the lazy susan while my sis was still getting food in our table, unlike the Fil-Chi who looked first before turning. This happened twice, not the same person but has the same manners.  Where is your table etiquette?

And here I am trying to live with my beliefs... survival of the fittest na lang.

Am I conservative or just Naive

A few weeks ago, I discovered that my lil' bro came home late. I was fine with it for he was with my sister. But to think of he drove my sister first then went out again to drive home his gf was bothered me for weeks. My siblings arrived home past midnight and bro went out again and was back around 1am. 

In my days, I was not allowed to. When I have singing engagements and will come home late, my friends (friends as in my ate/s and kuya/s) see to it I arrived home safely. When I was in their age I don't have bf, I was 23 when I accepted Da.  But, I didn't takas.  I didn't lie. I arrived home early. I informed my mom when I'll be home late.

teens today, haaaaay...... ok lang daw may kahati sila.

Studio Ghibli: Whisper of the Heart

I like Studio Ghibli's works. So I'm sharing this anime.

Whisper of the Heart

It's about Shizuku Tsukishima, a ordinary junior high school students who loves book and literature. Until she met Seiji Amasawa. Seiji told Shizuku that his dream is to become a master luthier. But When Seiji's parents allow him to go to Cremona to study, she felt that she is not good enough for Seiji. So, she decided to test her talent in writing. In the end of the story then both find what they want in life and decided to do their best to fulfill their dreams.

I'm not a spoiler, so hope you watch the anime and discover how wonderful the story is.

This is my fave part, when Seiji asks Shizuku to sing as he play the violin. This song makes my heart happy.

a Birthday Tribute to my Mom

Being a manager, I can handle it all except handling my own family.  My family is my weakness yet they are my strength. My mother taught me well.  Even though I didn't knew what is "woman empowerment" back then, I knew that I am an empowered woman because of her. When I was at my limit, my mom was the first person who told me how to live.  I am free.

My first thought of my mom was she is wonder woman.  She was a career person at the same time a mother.  By 6pm then, my mom made sure that she is home just to watch "ghost fighter" series with us.  She was there in all occasions despite of the business and field works at the office.  She was in my sister's PTA meetings, my ahya's basketball games, my shoti's wushu exhibitions, and in my singing engagements. 

My mom taught me how to talk diplomatically.  What's this and that.  She stands firm. She is strong.

And despite all of this, she is still a WOMAN, fine and gentle.

HomeCooked: Make your own TACOS

I'm very excited about our overnight stay to Casa Ibiza this coming Saturday.. and been dreaming about the Mexican Style resort in Antipolo. Which influenced me on what to have tonight's dinner, Tacos and sweet corn.  What's so good about preparing this dish was having my siblings do some shredding/cutting; preparing and cooking together!!

TACO

• Hard Shell Tacos
• White Onion, Sliced
• Cheese, Shredded
• Cabbage, Shredded
• Fresh Tomatoes, Sliced

    Sauce

• Ground Beef
• Red onion, Minced
• Garlic, Minced
• Spaghetti Sauce

In a heat pan, Saute garlic and onion. Add ground Beef, simmer until the beef cooked. Add Spaghetti Sauce, let it boiled. Salt and Pepper to taste.
Served with other ingredients.

HomeCooked: (Lotsa'f tomatoes in the fridge)

"Lots of Tomatoes in the fridge".. ang status ko kanina sa FB. Comment ni ahya, gawin salsa. Parang marami ata para sa salsa lang. Kaya i cooked kinamatis na baboy. Simple recipe para sa isang may simpleng buhay na tulad ko.

Kinamatis na Baboy

What we need: Tomatoes, Garlic, and Pork
What to do: Slice tomatoes, tanggalin ang mga buto (seeds). Slice into strips ang Pork. Minced ang bawang. Igisa ang bawang sa maiinit na mantika. tapos ilagay ang baboy. lagyan ng konting patis (fish sauce) at paminta. kapag half cook na ang baboy tsaka ilagay ang kamatis. Simmer hanggang sa lumambot na o soggy ang kamatis at baboy. Salt and Pepper to taste. Pwede nang ihanda sa hapag-kainan.

Simple lang di ba?   para naman sa Salsa na suggest ni Ahya. Gumawa ako ng Tomato-Mango Salsa.

Combine: Tomatoes (nalinisan na, natanggal ang mga buto), ripe mango, slice in strips, mince onion and garlic, and sili (siling espada lang meron sa ref). Lagyan ng mga 1 teaspoon na vinegar/sukang puti at paminta. Chilled


Viola!! may Tomato-Mango Salsa na! Saktong sakto, masarap ipartner sa pritong bangus bukas ng umaga!

Let's eat!!

HomeCooked: Peanut Butter Ampalaya

Ampalaya (bow)!

Ampalaya o Bitter Melon, sa salitnag Ingles, ay hindi gusto nang iba dahil sobrang pait nitong lasa. Sabi ng ilan nakakabuti daw ito sa mga taong may sakit na diabetes. nakakatulong daw ito magpababa ng blood sugar level ng tao.

Hindi alam ng ilan ito ang paborito kong gulay.  Ang recipe na ito ay itinuro ng isang kaibigan na vegetarian. may kontiii lang akong binago.

My Favorite, Ampalaya w/ Peanut Butter Sauce

Ingrediets:

      Ampalaya

      Dried Mushroom, washed and soaked in hot water

      Garlic, Chopped

      Peanut Butter, any brand

Cut the ampalaya in medium size, hwag tanggalin ang buto. Set aside, ang iba hinuhugasan ito sa tubig na may asin para ma-lessen un pait. but i like mine naturally bitter.

Cut the mushroom in strips. marinate it with soy sauce (of course, silver swan kami, haha) and konting brown sugar.

Heat oil (konti lang). Saute marinated mushroom until dry. Set aside.

Saute garlic until brown then put amplaya. Until cooked (para medyo crispy). Add water if necessary. When cooked reduce heat of the stove then add peanut butter. salt and pepper to taste...

Serve in plate, topped with our mushrooms.

Viola!!

mas masarap ang pagkain kung may kasalo. Kain tayo!!

HomeCooked: Sauteed Prawns

Simple recipe for my simple life.

I always admire moms who can cook. Especially, my gwama and my mom.  I remember na tuwing may family reunion niluluto 'to ni gwama. So my mom taught this simple recipe to me when I was in grade school. I never thought it was this simple back then.

Sauteed Prawns


Saute ginger (love the aroma of ginger, kaya marami akong nilagay) in hot oil. Add the prawns. Instead of using ordinary water, use 7-up or Sprite soda. Simmer until prawns are cooked.

For the sauce; Combine cane vinegar, half teaspoon of seasoning, and chopped garlic. Viola!!
Happy Eating!!






"He who eats alone chokes alone."
Arab Proverb, H. L. Mencken