Ovenful of Family Goodness!

Money matters!

2011-06-10T22:27:00.001-07:00

It's hard to be honest now a days what with the plunging economy all over the world. I do believe in the saying honesty is the best policy but often people would bend this saying. Little white lies is not considered dishonesty hahahah I have no idea why.

For some people this trait just comes out naturally and for some it gets harder and harder specially with lots of temptations out there.It warms my heart to learn and read that there are still honest people there. I read in an article that a man named Robert Adams found and returned the $17K he found. If it was me? Honestly? I don't know if I would return it but then again I was raised to be a good christian so return I shall. What about you? would you return it too? Seriously? seriously?

First Final Exam!

2011-06-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

My first ever exam when I started culinary school I was really really nervous because it was the first time we had to do it solo. While we were going through the whole module we were in a group although we each have stations to work at but we cook as groups .We were assigned 1 soup and 1 main dish each and I happen to be assigned to ..... tada.....

Corn and crab chowder for the soup!

That was really yummy and creamy and crabby heheheh. The guest loved it.

Then next came the main dish.

Chicken Blanquette a Lancionne

I believe I did well and I'm so proud of myself.

Let's talk about Food baby. Let's talk about you and Me!

2011-05-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

Yup today is the day that I talk about the food that we whipped up while I was attending my culinary classes. It was quite an experience for me although I have been cooking a long time somehow when you have cooking lessons it's just different.

In class we discussed about culinary basics where knife skills , equipment knowledge and product knowledge is taught and I got the hang of it all. We also studied about every useful cooking methods. We talked and learned about salads,sandwiches,international cuisines and of course desserts which is my favorite. Well the salad not so much except when there is boiled egg and anchovies then I'm all for it. The reason why I don't like salad much was the use of olive oil, it wasn't me particularly but the baby sure don't like it lol. Now that baby is out I don't have a problem with olive oil and will probably eat a lot of salads.

For the international Cuisine class here are some pics:

For the garde-manger lessons here are some pics.

First things first!

2011-05-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

The first thing we learned before we began cooking at the school was product knowledge and hence the identification of herbs and spices. Those were a lot of herbs and spices to remember but thankfully I am familiar with most of them so it wasn't that difficult for me when we had our practical exam. I practically aced it. I just got my grades yesterday for product knowledge and I got 1.1 so that is pretty awesome. A lot of my classmates found it a bit hard since they didn't really have much experience, some even don't really know how to cook. Most of them are from ages 17 and up. Here are some pics.

Aside from the herb and spices lessons we also went on a field trip to Rustans Banawa and checked out the produce there. It was really fun and we went on to SM and we had lunch at an eat all you can restaurant, now that was something else. Loved the food there and I ate a lot. Here are some pics of that event :

1 year of culinary done!

2011-05-15T22:34:00.001-07:00

First of I would like to say hi to my friends and family hahaha this makes me sound like I'm on a television show greeting my family and friends well anyhow it has been a while since I have been here. I am finally done with my 1 year Certificate in Advance Culinary Arts. That was really a blast. The people I met are very good friends of mine now in fact most of them are going to be my baby's Godparents as I mentioned in my last blog that I was gonna be a mommy soon well that soon has already arrived but that would be in another blog. I'm gonna talk about my time spent in the culinary school.

Culinary School is both easy and hard. Easy because I already have a background in cooking well that is to say I have been cooking for family for a long time and it is hard because there are new things to learn and change. Now I am able to explain why the food I cooked before came out this way and that way. I not only took up culinary but we had a few weeks in Baking and Pastry class as well as F & B wherein we learned to mix some cocktails which I wasn't allowed to to drink since I was pregnant and that really sucked not that I am an alcoholic or anything but I do drink. I did however taste the cocktails via a teaspoon. Imagine that a cocktail drank with a teaspoon hahahaha. Under F & B we did learn to serve and set up tables and boy are those main dish plates super heavy. First 2 days my arms were sore as if i was lifting weights all week but I did get the hang of it and I had good grades too well not to brag about it but I am one of our chef's favorite student but shhhh don't tell the others I said so.

In culinary we learned cooking basics, knife skills and a little of butchery then we went on to cooking methods where in foods are grilled, steamed, roasted , pan fried or stewed. After that came International cuisine where we cooked some Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Moroccan, Chinese,Filipino and others. We would have 1 hour of theory in an air conditioned classroom which was a blessing since it's always hot here in the Philippines and the tuition is so high also that our comfort are thought of. Anyhow after the theory we would go up to our kitchen , go to our specified station for 3 hours and do some cooking or you could say apply all the theory we have done.

My classes are from Monday to Thursday and that is for 4 hours. Sometimes the time would vary depending on the classes. I experienced a lot while taking up this short course and I wouldn't change a thing of it. So that tells you all my journey into the culinary arts world. Watch out for some of the pics of the dishes we whipped up. Ta ta!

Peeping in!

2009-11-20T03:10:00.000-08:00

Hiya gang I know I have been inactive in my blogging because of my work. I wish I had constant access to the net so I could continue to write stuff on here but maybe one of these days I will be back and write more and more stuff. I'm at my mom's place at the moment and the internet here is off and on so that really sucks for me. Any how I just wanted to let you all folks know that I am still alive and kicking.

Rest In Peace Michael!

2009-06-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

I was sad and blue when I heard about the untimely passing of a great icon. Michael even with all the controversies throughout his life remained the King of Pop. His music was both fun and inspirational. I am sure that his fans from all walks of like and all over the world are devastated about this news. Although he hasn't been active of late but his songs are forever remembered by the fans who consider him king of his arena. His music will forever leave on if not more popular.Rest In Peace Michael. You are loved and idolized by many.

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T01:37:00.001-07:00

I would like to greet all those wonderful fathers out there a big and warm "Happy Father's Day". Last night my mom wrapped this big bar of chocolate for my stepdad. She placed it on his pillow so he will be able to see it when he comes up after using the computer. He was really happy to receive that simple gift. He said that it is not important how big or small or how cheap or expensive a gift could be all that matters is the thought behind it. It makes me really happy to watch the two of them like children and by the way my stepdad really really loves chocolates he has a very sweet tooth. He has been a great dad to me and my sister and I appreciate everything he stands for. To my grandfather,uncles and cousins you guys are the greatest.

Resurfaced!

2009-06-04T21:49:00.000-07:00

It seems like I have been on a long long vacation. I just realized that it has been almost a month since I last written here. I have been busy lately with catering some pack lunches and then entertaining some visitors. I love everything about cooking but mostly it's the eating part that really gets me. Hahahahah I know I know I should stop or lessen my intake on food but since I am single food makes me happy. I know it sounds pathetic but hey it's what I feel. I think I am doomed to spinsterhood bohuhuhu.

In other news, my aunt bought a franchise on calda's pizza. It's a pizza place that serves a 30 and 36 inch pizzas. I've eaten there and we ate the 30 inch pizza. It's very delicious and there were 7 of us there but still we couldn't finish the whole lot so we took some home. She asked me if I wanted to be her cashier and supervisor on her store. I'm thinking of accepting it so will keep you guys in a loop on what's gonna happen.

Sliced Bread Pizza!

2009-05-10T05:08:00.000-07:00

We were watching Supernatural last night til the wee hours of the morning and when midnight came I was craving for pizza but we can't order them anymore because the places where close so I went downstairs and raided the kitchen for something to cook or make or bake or whatever I can get my hands on. Luckily I had sliced bread, cheese, cooked ham, garlic and onion so I thought I'd make a sliced bread pizza. I didn't have tomato sauce so that was a problem but when I looked in the fridge I found tomato catsup(ketchup) so thinking that they both came from tomato anyways why not just use the ketchup instead. So I gathered all my ingredients and chopped the garlic and onion and sliced the ham into cubes. I then spread out some ketchup on the bread sprinkle the minced garlic and onion then spread out some ham and topped it with quick melt cheese. I also sprinkled some crushed oregano and then placed them in the toaster and after a few min. everything looked mouthwatering and smells like pizza too. Ohhh Yum Yum Yum. I then went back up and everybody dug in. My cousin Dominic couldn't stop himself. He was muttering "my diet,my diet" but kept on munching anyways. Hahahahahah.

Food Monster and Yummy brownies!

2009-05-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

I have been away for a while and now I'm back. I have been with food lately, I mean I have been eating and eating heheheheh. If there is a cookie monster I am a food monster. Well here is a recipe of one of the foods I've been eating. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup margarine/ butter softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
5 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts
6 Tbsp. powdered milk

Procedure: (8x8 square pan lined with wax paper)

- Preheat oven to 375 F
- Cream butter then add sugar.
- Add eggs one at a time and mixing well after each addition, add the vanilla then the flour and then the cocoa
- Blend in the powdered milk and lastly add the nuts
- Pour in pan and top with nut
- bake until toothpick/cake tester/knife inserted comes out with little crumbs.
- Let cool slightly and slice into squares.

Attending a tournament!

2009-04-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends and fellow bloggers here I am again letting you know that I will be off the radar for a few days as I will be helping out my stepdad with the cacoy doce pares world tournament. There will be escrimadors from australia,jakarta,us and philippines . I will be there to help out either be a tabulator or just do some errands that needs to be done. My sister will be dropping in on your ec's so don't worry. I will take pictures and get right back in the saddle when it is all over. Take care everyone and have a happy weekend.

Susan Boyle and my gratitude!

2009-04-19T20:55:00.000-07:00

Now that my sabbatical is over I am back to blogging. The latest activity I participated in was my mom's 48th b-day which you can read about in my other blog The evolution of Insanely Chay.There are pictures there that you can look at.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who keeps dropping by my blog and on on ec too. I really appreciate everything. Thanks to my sister Melody for dropping on my ec while I was away.

I have been browsing through the web,reading blogs and watching videos on youtube when I read and saw about the media hype on Susan Boyle of Britain's got talent show and boy was I in for a shock. I just love her and admire her. I can see all the reaction of the people who were set on judging here before she could show her talent. Well she nailed it. It really is a big wake up call for everyone. You can really never judge a book by its cover as what the saying goes. I have been trying to look for vids that I can embbed here but so far everything is turned off. Anyway I am sure that everyone has seen and read about her already.I love how honest her reaction was to all the comments of the judges. I really wish her success.

Sabbatical

2009-04-08T22:01:00.001-07:00

I would like to let everyone know that I won't be on tomorrow Good Friday and Black Saturday. It is the time for reflection and spending time with family. Thank you all for always visiting my blog. Don't worry I will be back.Take care everyone and happy Holy Week.

Siopao

2009-04-08T21:51:00.000-07:00

The vacation I had at my grandparent's place was just awesome. I don't remember any vacation there that went sour. It's all fun and the food are just to die for. I love my grandparents and I love how much they care for the family. We were all gathered there for my grandmother's 76th b-day and it was filled with fun, noise and food binge. From seafoods to vegies to meat, it was all there. That is why I am on a seefood diet when I see food I eat heheheheh. Well before I left their place always and I mean always cook siopao which is a chinese bun filled with meat inside. According to my grandmother she is getting old and she can't cook that anymore and yes she was the one who taught me how to make those. Of course I didn't forget to take pictures. Here they are:

Hmmm don't they just look delish? I made about 60 pcs.

On vacation

2009-03-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

I am on vacation here at my grandmother's place. It's a bit far from a cafe so I won't be on as much but don't worry friends I won't be gone long. I miss you all already. Don't worry I asked my sister ro drop ec's on you all who dropped ecs on me. I will have lots of stories to tell and pics to show for when I get back there. I'm looking forward to it already. Take care everyone.

Take a Bow!

2009-03-17T02:07:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday my cousin Dominic and I went to church around 4 pm. As we were leaving the church after the mass I saw this papaya tree which is bent as if it was bowing towards the church. I was tickled pink when I looked at the tree but since I didn't bring a camera with me I pestered my cousin to take a picture using his phone. He asked me why I want that picture and I told him I would be writing about it in my blog. I was suppose to write about it last Sunday evening but my cousin went out and brought his phone with him. I forgot to take it out before hand. It's the first time I saw a bent papaya tree because most of what I've seen are standing erect like the men in the military would stand.

Missing the inflatable pool

2009-03-09T19:01:00.000-07:00

It's starting to get hot here in the Philippines. I blogged about the new displays in the stores just recently. Since we moved to a smaller place there is no room for our inflatable pool to be placed so I really really miss just soaking there until I turn into a prune. Soaking in the pool takes away some of the heat plus I get to wear my swimsuit which is black of course so as to hide some of the bulges of my body. I miss just splashing and floating about. We plan to bring the pool to ormoc where my grandparents live and use it there when we go to attend my grandmother's birthday celebration. I can't wait.

Scorching Sun fun

2009-03-03T20:35:00.000-08:00

I was out today and the scorching sun was licking at my dark skin heheheh.It really is summer time now here in the Philippines. Whenever I go to the department stores I see a lot of inflatable balls and pools being displayed as well as all sorts of swimming attire. The suits some in different colors and they would really dazzle you. I like looking at children's swimming wear specially the ones for little girls because they are just so cute. Some have raffles around and some are like little grown up get ups. Brings back memories of the first time I learned to swim.

I believe I was 6 years old when I learned how to swim. I mean I can swim a little but always at the shallow end of the pool. My cousins on my dad's side of the family has a swimming pool in their home so whenever we come and visit we would always take a dip in that oh so cool and sparkling blue pool. I am always envious of my cousins and uncles because they would just swim and swim to and fro. Here we are my sister and I at the shallow end of the pool. I would always ask one of my uncles to give me a piggy back ride when they swim to the deeper end of the pool because I really really like to go there. When I get there I would just happily cling to the sides even though it was hell on my arms heheheh but it was worth it at that time.

Then one day my dad called me and so I got out of the pool and went to him and so he hoisted me up into his arms and then suddenly he tossed me in the middle of the pool. I was there sputtering and shrieking like a banshee and splashing like a dolphin and then suddenly I touched the sides of the pool. I was so mad at my dad but then all of a sudden my eyes became wide with wonder.... I swam , I really really swam. Katching that was the sound I heard in my brain. My survival instinct kicked the hell off my fear of drowning. Beat that fear. hahahahah I was delirious with happiness and forgave my dad for tossing me.

After that incident I was like a brave soldier going to battle everytime I swam to the deeper end. I remember my dad did the same thing to my sister but she didn't even try and so I asked her years and years later why she didn't try to swim to the side and this is what she told me " I know they would save me" Hahahahahah that really cracks me up every time I recall that. Shsss don't tell her I said so but I think until now she still is afraid of going to the deeper end of the pool. Let's just keep this between us shall we?

Baked Cheesy Eggplant layer

2009-02-27T23:09:00.000-08:00

Last night mom cooked eggplant in a different way. Usually when we prepare eggplant dishes it would be just steamed then dipped in egg and fried or it could be grilled,peeled and combined with tomatoes, vinegar and other stuff you know like a salad. Or it could also be just sliced and then fried with soy sauce and chilies. I know a lot of people have already made this dish but I just want to say that mom made a delicious cheesy eggplant layer last night. It was layered with pre cooked ground meat, sliced tomato and onion then top with quickmelt cheese. All that yumminess layer by layer is really divine. Even though I couldn't taste as much as when I'm not sick and yet the taste really registered big time in my delicious scale. Our family does love our food so we eat and eat and eat to our heart's content.

The new Place

2009-02-22T21:20:00.000-08:00

We just transferred to a new place recently here in alumnos (cebu). It is just an apartment but now that everything has been fixed, I kinda like the place now. My mom made it a nice place to live. She placed all the plants outside on the walls in a certain design that it looked like it was landscaped. It really is prettier now. Even though we don't have a garden like the old house but the plants are still there to make the place beautiful.We now get a lot of oxygen heheheh as I remember from my old science lessons. Since the old house was bigger, we had a lot of big things but we were able to cramm most of the things here in the new apartment. Although it is sad because we couln't bring any pets here but we had our pets housed in my stepdad's aunt's house in minglanilla. They are quite happy there because they are free to roam around and be animals. I thought it would be hard to adjust but I'm finding that it's easy for me to adapt to my new environment so I guess I'm a very flexible person. Right now though I am sick as a dog. I think I got this from our arranging the plants outside while it was drizzling stint. Our drizzle here is more dangerous than the pouring rain. I don't know why though but it always almost makes us sick all the time. That is why it is good to be prepared with an umbrella all the time.

It is summer time here and it's starting to get very hot. I went to the store recently and saw that all the summer things that people would want are already on display like inflatable pools, swim suits, inflatable balls and inflatable arm bands for kids. It kinda sucks that we are in an apartment because we cannot inflate our 10 ft. pool. Mom and I do so enjoy frolicking in that shallow pool. We enjoy just soaking there, you know it is kinda like soaking in a tub minus the bubbles. In my 31 years I have yet to try soaking in a bubble bath. I wonder if I will be able to experience that hmmmm. But it is cool though at least I got to soak in the pool so it's kinda the same thing I think. So the new place is A OK. Below are the before and after pics of the apartment. Well the downstairs and outside area

Death of a loved one!

2009-02-18T21:03:00.000-08:00

It was just recently that I went to the province to attend my grandmother's funeral. She is the sister of my maternal grandmother. Her name was Dolores or better known to us as "LOLA LOLING". She was the older sister of my grandmother. Our families have always been close to their family that is why her death has made a large impact on all of us.

She was the grandma who was a beauty queen in her younger years, a teacher, a good dancer and a wonderful sister. She devoted her life in taking care of her children and grandchildren. She was the grandmother who rose after any adversity thrown her way.

When they talk about their times together as sisters my grandmother and lola Loling it had always fascinated me specially when they talk about the past-- during the second world war. Yes you heard me right they were a product of that war. My grandma would always remember the times when they had to hide behind the coconut tree when the jets or whatever those planes were called in those days would let off rapid firing. Each of them would hide behind coconut tree praying that they would not be hit. Since my grandmother was the youngest she would often take refuge together with the other siblings and she would hide with the oldest sister but she would send her away then here comes Lola Loling who would take her in her arms and shield her from harm. This story would always enter my mind everytime I looked at lola loling inside the casket. It breaks my heart so to see my uncle and cousins in such pain moreso when I look at my own grandmother and see how painful it was for her to deal with.

Those two have always played jokes with each other and it makes me laugh remembering some of them. At every party the other is always present to celebrate so it is indeed a great loss for all of us to have lost such a wonderful grandmother. Right now I shudder everytime my mind would wander to the what if my own grandma goes..... Even now my mind can't wrap around the image of her going.

But I know that lola Loling is already at peace with lolo Tobal as what her husband was known.He past away a long while ago due to cancer but I'd like to think that he was there waiting for her as they would enter heaven.

Loveless!

2009-02-11T07:14:00.000-08:00

Here we go again. Welcome to the firing squad as what we all say when you don't have a special someone on Valentines day. At the rate I'm going I'm bound to be in the firing squad for a long long long time. As much as I hope that I have someone somehow love has been eluding me. I think cupid has forgotten about me. What do you think? Hey Cupidddddddd...... throw some arrows my way just make sure that you hit someone I would like. But then again beggars can't be choosers as what they all say.

I wonder what I will do on this day of hearts which will be in a few days. Sure I have a lot of loved ones but I don't think they really count because they will always be special to me and close to my heart. Please please please God let someone fall for me and I don't mind it literally as long as it will be for keeps.

A miracle.

2008-10-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

My mom and I have been going to church daily at 6 pm and in one of those masses a visiting congregation came over to ask for the help of the parishioners. Their church burned down and this was in Oslob. After the mass, their parish priest talked about the history of the church. He told the people that the church burned down 3 times already ever since it was constructed before the 2nd world war so you can just imagine how old that church is then the image of the Immaculate Conception which is made of wood had been stolen , retrieved and now was in the burning church but it was a miracle that it didn't burn at all. They found it under a pile of ruble...I took a pic of the tarpolene where they placed outside the church.

This is the image of the Immaculate conception after the fire.

It is just so amazing why it didnt burn when it was made of wood and everything around it was burned down. A simple reminder that there are miracles out there.

Scrapbooking craze

2008-10-12T06:01:00.000-07:00

I just got hooked to scrapbooking so that's where I was these past days plus my stepdad had an operation too so I was really busy.I'm trying to let my artistic side come out as it has been hiding forever. I'm not very good with color combinations so I am trying to look at nature because that is what my mom said. Consult nature as it has all the colors available and Ma nature is very good in combining them. I just remembered the snow white happily ever after movie I saw. Ma Nature or Mother Nature was very skinny and it was a musical cartoon. Anyhow I took some pics of the pages I did so far. I always watch free videos online and it really helps a lot. I'm crazy about scrapbooking lounge, they have all sorts of techniques and how to make stuff. It's like wow. If I had a lot of resources to buy all the materials my room would be full of them.I still have a lot of photos to put up so I'm still thinking of the layout. It's a good thing that Anton brought me some scrapbook embellishments from England so that came handy. Here are the pic of my scrapbook.

Pork Belly Crispy pata style

2008-09-24T00:45:00.000-07:00

At the party and I'm talking about my mom and stepdad's 12th anniversary we decided to have a BBQ party so everything was grilled from the pork BBQ to grilled pork belly and then there was the chicken and longaniza. Mom wanted something to be cooked different so I suggested Crispy Pata which was made from cooking the whole front or hind leg of the pork but then when I got to the supermarket all the patas where too big to fit my pressure cooker but I found another solution I simply chose Pork Belly since that was what we were preparing anyways. So I bought the belly bit it was lechon kawali style in the cut so it's a bit big. Here is how to cook this yummy dish but first the pic.

First you have to cook it in the pressure cooker to make it tender.Just follow the manufacturer's instruction for using it or if you don't have a pressure cooker you can boil it but it would take a while. Put all the meat in the pressure cooker with a lot of salt, yes you have to be a bit generous with the salt to make it tasty but you have to make sure it wouldn't be too salty either, remember you still have to fry them. After putting the salt, you must add crushed garlic then add bay leaf and crushed peppercorns. Add more peppercorns if you want it to be a bit spicy. That's all there is. Just cook it until it is tender (prick the skin with a fork to test.) Yes people there is skin and fat in this dish. The fats prevents the meat from being too dry like your eating leather not that I have tasted leather but that's what I heard people say if you chew on something hard. After it is tender you have to deepfry it in oil yes loads of oil but don't worry you can still use the oil for frying fish and other stuff. A word of warning though when you fry foods like this there will be a lot of bang and oil will be popping everywhere, the trick would be to have a handy pot cover. Don't worry you will get the hang of it eventually. Well as they say no pain no gain. hahahahahah.

Another thing too you can cook cut out pork belly like this but omit putting bay leaf and peppercorn just the garlic and salt. It would be very crispy and yummy. These dishes would go well with vinegar. You dip it and then crunch crunch as you bite into it.. Hmmm just thinking about it makes my mouth water. So enough of this... I have to remember my diet.

The forever blouse !

2008-09-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

Finally I got to try out the crochet blouse I made and it took me like almost forever to finish it. Found the pattern online although I'd have to find the link where I got them. I started making this blouse before I made my box project and you can see the boxes at http://insanelychay.blogspot.com/ this was the project before that and it took me more than a weel to finish which was suppose to be easy. Heheheheheh I din't mind the long wait though as I think it is really really pretty how it turned out. I'm attaching a long a photo of the crochet with jeans and a skirt. I think it looked better with the skirt though.

The Beauty of nature !!

2008-09-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

I was just browsing at my files trying to find out what to delete and I came across these two pictures and I marvel at the beauty of it. I have even forgotten that I took these in our garden. I love nature pictures and flowers. I guess I would make a decent photographer, what do you think? Aye or Nay ? heheheheh. The first picture is of a flower with a small insect and you can just see how the colors come together.

The second picture is of a flower we call "swanga" and I caught it with a grasshopper inside. Just beautiful.

Hotcake (Pancake)

2008-09-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it is just with my family but we eat hotcake mostly snacktime in the afternoon rather than at breakfast. I've experimented with hotcake recipes trial and error you could say. So far everybody loved this particular fluffy recipe specially the foreign visitors we have. I hope you guys would try them too. For fluffy pancake batter is thicker.

Ingredients: makes 20 pancake (like the size in the photo)

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup cake flour
6 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup sugar
2 whole eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup milk
1 cup water
1 tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. melted margarine or butter

Procedure:

* Sift together flours, baking powder, sugar and salt. Set aside. Mix milk and water
* Beat eggs , add the vanilla and then add the milk and melted margarine. Mix well then add the flour and mix well until lumps disappear.
* cook as you would regularly. Stir once in a while as you cook.

NOTE:
According to my sister she cooks the pancake and then freezes them, when she needs it she would just pop it in the microwave and it turns out as if you just cooked it. Thicker batter would make fluffier pancakes. You can also add mashed bananas or cinnamon. Just experiment. Happy eating. If you don't have cake flour all purpose flour would be ok too. With the milk you can use fresh milk or evaporated. You can omit the water and use 2 cups of milk if you like.

Headache dream into reality

2008-09-16T02:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a bad headache and it was all thanks to my awful dream. The dream started with me witnessing someone getting murdered in the pool of our house which was a house I have never seen before but I knew it was our house. There was lots of chaos and so I went to some sort of office where I saw my real dad who looked so stressed out and worried and so I went over and touched his arm trying to comfort him when he just snapped at me and told me I was useless and to get the hell away from him. I was really really really hurt by that. I ran out the door and went to our backyard and cried my heart out. After a few minutes I stopped crying and my headache began which usually happens after I cry and I woke up at that point and then the headache never went away.For the whole day my head ached like crazy.

Darn why didn't I bring my mobile phone?

2008-09-13T06:22:00.000-07:00

Today I went to town, to colon exactly to buy some stuff for my new project. My mom and I will make a Belen in preparation for christmas. I bought an illustration board since that is thick and would be suitable for the project. Elgen was with me, she is our househelper. We got off from the jeepney and stepped into the sidewalk where people were bumping on each other to be on their way when I happen to glace on a little stall where people repair watches, I know filipinos would know what I mean by this. The drawer was potruding and I saw a child sleeping inside maybe about 2-3 years old. And very soundly mind you. I was like berating myself for not bringing my mobile phone as I would have been able to take a picture. I laughed not at the situation but at how soundly he slept even with the husle and bustle of the crowd around and not to mention the music that is loudly playing on the speakers where music was sold.

I envy this child, he is at peace with himself, even with the world that is often cruel just hanging around ready to pounce. It made me wish I was a child again.

My Lola's Rose peanut candy

2008-09-09T02:49:00.000-07:00

My mom wanted to eat the family's rose peanut candy so she told me to make it. It takes a lot of effort to make this dessert. First you have to buy raw peanuts then roast it just like the pic above then after roasting you have to peel it and grind it and then add the other ingredients and then cook it. Here comes the most difficult and tiring part of this dessert. I would get blisters from stirring this because you have to cook it and not stop stirring until the oil of the peanut comes out. It is sort of like peanut butter but thicker and as it gets thicker it gets heavier to stir.I would always remember this dessert. No wonder my grandma would not always make this hahahha I know now the reason for that so when it is cook you must first let it cool a little bit then from this :

It will become this:

Isnt it pretty? I'm sure when my sister reads this blog her mouth will water.

Remembering a good friend

2008-09-03T02:33:00.000-07:00

It is September once again and it is during this month that I remember a good friend. His name was Jonathan Kitulagoda but we called him JK for short. Yes, you read it right, was. He was killed in afghanistan because of a suicide bomber. He was from England and he came over a few years back, and he was still in his early 20's. He was in a what he called territorial army.They were sent there not to fight but for peace keeping or something like that.

He was a student of Anton. He came over to visit us when we were still living in B. Aranas Ext. , and train escrima the Doce Pares way with John my stepdad. He was half English and half Sri Lankan. He was a handsome guy, tall , masculine and got a really nice ass...heheheheh which I used to pinch whenever he passes by.He was a really a nice guy, a bit conservative too. He loved my family like his own and vice versa. Since my Aunt Gigi lives beside us he was renting a room there, but he always ate and chatted with us at our house. I remember one time Mommy Gigi was wondering what the white specks on the floor of his room was when she to inspected it. She asked him and we discovered that he always puts on baby powder on himself. Heheheheheh so that was why he always looked fresh and smelled really good. My Aunt also liked him a lot becuase he was neat and tidy. He stayed with us for a month so we have really gotten to know him well. If we don't go out he also wouldn't because he said he partly came over to be with the family and not to just to roam around. See how good of a guy he is.

He also was a victim of our rainshower which in our dialect we call "taligsik". We told him never to go out without an umbrella or a hat whenever it is drizzling because he would get sick but he boasted that it always rained in England and he was used to it. We just laughed it off and insisted that the rain here is much different. He did get sick. At first he was trying to brave it out but then when he didn't notice we had leftovers from lunch for dinner and he liked it he said, that's when my mom told him to go with her to the doctor.He went as a good son would follow his mom. All went well then.

Another incident, our mosquitoes got to him. I didn't know a person could be allergic to mosquito sting but aparently he was , his ankle got so swollen it looked like an elephant foot. He would always put on a mentholated ointment we called Betit or was it spelled betet? I can't remember the exact spelling but that was what it was called.We all had our share of laughter and good memories.We were sad when he went back home but he already had a plan of coming back the following year but it was not meant to be. He died January of the following year after his visit. We were able to talk to him when he was in afghanistan because he called. He was even able to send us all Christmas gifts. It arrived after his death but when we looked at the postage stamp it was dated before he died. You can just see how thoughtful a person he was.

I don't know why or if you guys would believe me when I say something would always happen during Jan. and Sept. to make me remember him. I can even say that he came and made his presence known to me before we got the call that he died. Let me tell you the incident that lead me to that conclusion... John and I were cooking little colored puto (dessert made from flour,sugar,baking powder and cheese) for our little business. It was the night before we got the call of JK's death. I was busy taking out the putos from it's little containers, it was about midnight. I suddenly felt all the hairs on my head rise, it's kind a likethe feeling you have when you get goosebumps but its just the hairs on my head. And so I kept patting it down as if they were really all standing up. John finally noticed and asked me what was wrong. I told him that all the hairs on my head were standing up. He was puzzled, there was no breeze in the room infact it was so hot from all the cooking we were doing. I told him that I never felt anything like that before. Eventually the feeling stopped so I just thought nothing of it then the following night we got the news and that's when I knew that he was there with me that night. Unbelievable? You can say that again.Here's another incident and this happened on a september. I was washing the dishes (still at the old house) and near the sink is a door going towards the bathroom. My nephew and his nanny was on the other side of the room at the little sari-sari store I had, then my mom and melody and John were there somewhere. I was just washing the dishes when suddenly the bathroom door opened and I saw a dark man's handpushing the door, and so I waited for someone to come out. A few minutes passed by but no one came out so I peeked inside and nobody was there. So I went around and asked if somebody used the bathroom but they said nobody did then bells started to ring in my head it's september and that's when I remember JK's birthday . So you ask me why Jan and Sept? Jan was the month he died and Sept was his birthday.

I know it really seems unbelievable but these all happened to me. So I am writing this blog in dedication to a lost brother and friend. Love you JK. We will always remember you.

MAMA 2

2008-09-01T18:29:00.000-07:00

As I sat down at the computer I was just staring at the screen, I don't really know what I'm going to write so I just sat and stared while eating my sliced apples. Just then thoughts and images came to my mind and I started to giggle. I was remembering my nephew Carl, he turned 4 last may but he is very intelligent for his age. He lives with my aunt since his mother Brigitte who happens to be my cousin is working in Dubai right now so she can provide for her baby boy who uncannily looks exactly like her at that age. He is very close to my heart because I was the person who took care of him when he was born since his mom had a c-section and my aunt had a bad cold at that time so this tiny beautiful baby was mine to take care of.

There was this incident at the hospital which was so embarrassing because he kept crying and crying and crying and it wasn't as if we were the only ones there but there were many other mothers and children there. The nurse told me to go to the nursery to feed him since my cousin was still recovering. And so there I went with the wailing baby to the nursery. When I entered it was very cold and you know what my angelic nephew did he stopped crying instantly which embarrassed me because I was prepared to say that he was crying and crying and crying and wouldn't stop but then where was the proof when he was so happy there. Bummer.

Even when we went home from the hospital I still helped out in taking care of Carl. He was just so cute as all babies are when they are born. Often times I go to their house which is just connected to ours via the backyard door so I can play with him but you know what my mischievous nephew does every time I hold him he goes right to sleep...it was like I was some kind of sleeping pill for him. My Aunt explained then that he knew my smell from when he was born (I sure hope I didn't smell that bad hehehehehe) and we bonded. So hence the name he calls me MAMA 2.

I do so love Carl like my own. In fact a lot of my pictures are taken with him in them. Isn't he just so cute? He was 3 months old in that picture. He would always say the darndest things but then that would be in my other blog. heheheheheh. Well what do you guys expect? If I put everything in now, what else would I be writing about?

A happy and troubled childhood.

2008-08-31T21:09:00.000-07:00

It was two days ago when my cousin Dominic (the cute boy in the picture) talked about our childhood. We were remembering what we were like way back then.That's my sister melody beside Dominic then Regi and Brigitte and then
that's me looking smugly at the camera.

I told him that I remembered him punching me all the time and even going after me with a knife. He said " I don't remember doing that" so I replied " Don't remember or just chose to forget?" I was the only one who always defended him to my other cousins since I was the oldest. We laughed after that.

I was happy yet troubled when I was a child. My grandparents had a big house in Ormoc and it had a big lawn filled with grass, a small pond near the Mama Mary grotto and surrounded with orchids and different plants. My grandmother loved plants and still do. Her house was very beautiful. It also had a round swing where we cousins go and sit and just chat about things that came into our little minds. That was also the spot where Dom's nanny would tell us all sorts of stories and we do so love her stories. I thought back then that she made those stories up but then I realize now that she listened to the radio and that's where she got them. We call those stories in my dialect " Sugilanon." My uncle also made up a story of animals which had each our names. I remembered that I was the turtle carrying my house. I can't recall exactly how the story went but it was funny and nice.

We always watch this cartoon He-man and we would mimic their actions on my grandmother's lawn, tumbling around on the grass pretending to be whichever character we favor the most. My grandmother would always prepare snacks at around 3-4 in the afternoon which ranges from chocolate porridge, bread, roasted bananas and caramelized bananas. I guess that is where i got the passion for food from. My grandma also has this little cave. It is where we play house. My sister Melody and cousins Brigitte(aye-aye), Regi and Dominic would chopped up my grandmother's flowers and plants. My grandma must have cringed every time we would play house because that would mean the loss of her flowers and plants. hahahahahah. We would play all sorts of games, like buy and sell, superheroes and other games. We would use candy wrappers for money or those broken clay pots. We would make juice from red flowers soaked in water. The water would turn red so it was very exciting for us.

My house is located at the far right side across my grandma's house and my cousins house are the far left of it. When we do fight we would each take a lamp post at the side of our houses and would make faces at each other and whoever makes the ugliest face would win. I don't know who came up with what but that was like an unwritten law when we fought. My cousin Regi, the baby in the group we call her the junkyard girl. You ask me why? Well the answer is simply because she would gather all sorts of stuff from leaves, to wrappers to plastic to whatever things she could get her little hands on. We would always take our slippers wherever we are whether we were using it or not whenever we offended Regi because if we don't we won't be able to find it if she gets her hands on them. It was like her way of exacting revenge on us. Hahahahahah. It wouldn't stop with us but with anyone who crosses her. I remember this funny event that she fought with a neighbor of ours, she took the pot which contained cooked rice.. hahahahah just now thinking about it made me laugh. I wonder if the neighbor ever found it. My sister and I would also often go to our cousin's house and watch Tom and Jerry or watch concerts of madonna. We would also go to our grandparent's farm and play there eating different kinds of fruits that they planted. Those were such happy times.

It embarrasses me to recall just now that we would strut around our neighborhood bragging in our costumes letting the other kids get envious. I was an indian maiden, Melody was supergirl , Aye-aye and Regi were batgirls and Dominic was superman. Looking back, some of our neighbors couldn't afford costumes like those so it makes me feel bad now but think that kids really do the darndest things.

It was also during my childhood that came the troubled times when my parents separated. I was 6 and my sister was 5. When my dad left I just grew up. I had to so I could support my mom emotionally and help take care of my sister. Our ages aren't that far apart in fact it's not even a year apart but still she was and is will remain the baby in the family. I have always looked big for my age so that helped in my growing up fast. Some of the events that transpired while my dad was still with us was traumatic to me. That is one of the reasons why now, I don't like hearing people argue. I remember this one time my parents were arguing about my father's infidelity and their voices were so loud that my sister , cousins and I were all huddled in our little bahay kubo (nipa hut) crying our eyes out trying to comfort each other. Even now it makes me cringed inside remembering that. After that I became a grown up and thus started my relative's high expectations of me. I was just a child for crying out loud. But then again I'm thankful for the experience which made me the kind of person I am right now.