not a plain housewife

Time For Some Changes

2011-05-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

I believe that in order for one to achieve some progress, changes have to be made. I started writing this blog to document my experiences as a wife who aimed to be different and to be better. The problem was I find it hard to write everything because there were times when so much is happening and I don't know exactly what to write. There also were times when nothing is happening and I have nothing to write. I do not want to abandon this blog the way I have abandoned my past blogs, so I decided to do the following:

1. Create 2 other blogs that are very specific namely:
a. http://www.eatingwithmyspoonandfork.blogspot.com/ - my blog for all of my food and cooking adventures
b. http://www.madeforwalkingthetalk.blogspot.com/ - my weightloss/journey to a healthier lifestyle blog

2. Use this blog for
a. remembering the people who touched my life
b. the 47 books I have aimed to read for this year - I featured 3 already (Hunger Games Trilogy)
c. documenting the trips I had with my sweet hubby
d. my Friday movie nights
e. my opinions, views, dreams and aspirations

So how do I describe my blog now: Not a plain housewife is a glimpse of my day to day adventures through books, movies, on the road and the people who shared this life journey with me.

The Hunger Games Trilogy

2011-04-29T22:21:00.000-07:00

It all started with my husband's school activity.

He is not the type who likes to read so he asked me to check The Hunger Games out and see if it was a good read. I was hooked...

Likes:

1. I'm happy that the main girl (Katniss) is not a softie but one tough cookie who loves her family so much.

2. The game consists of several twists and dilemma. It makes the read so exciting.

3. The story managed to include a romantic side of Katniss and Peeta without being too cheesy.

4. Hope was never lost in each of the novels.

Dislikes:

1. I feel bad that Prim died...I wish she stayed alive up to the end.

2. I really don't like the gloomy post apocalyptic setting.

Among the three novels, I like Mockingjay best. I think it was more detailed because it provided better descriptions of all the districts and it's the most action-packed!

I hope the movie won't stray too far from the novel.

Almost 33

2011-04-09T22:01:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm almost 33, I realize that....

I am truly lucky to have the most wonderful husband a woman could ever ask for

I wish my mom and sisters are here

I miss my Dad who passed away 2 years ago

teaching will always be my first love

there is a big possibility that I may never have kids of my own and I've learned to accept it

cooking from the heart will always satisfy a hungry tummy

hugs and kisses will cure anything

I can be mean, difficult and irrational sometimes

pretentious I am not

problems often or if not, always involves money

"absence makes the heart grow fonder"

food taste best if shared with someone

movie dates are done better in the comforts of our home

all pets love unconditionally and some people do too

it's hard to make oneself holy

losing weight is a lifestyle change

couponing can save you oodles of money

making friends are easier than keeping them

it's hard to stop oneself from saying "I told you so"

walking is a good way of clearing one's head, washing the dishes too

no 2 queens can occupy the same thrones at the same time

it's better to give than to receive

insecurities and lack of self esteem will never be cured by anything "new"

familiarity breeds contempt so it's wise to choose who you want to be familiar with

happiness is a choice and a by-product

blessings abound all around us, we just need to acknowledge it

being childless will not make me less of a woman

tragedy brings families and friends together

expectations can cause lots of heartaches

wealth can be achieved by mindful spending

no pain, no gain

it's ok not to like everyone, but wrong to hate anyone

God is good, all the time!!!!

Friday Movie Night - Hope Floats (1998)

2011-01-14T19:59:00.000-08:00

Birdee Pruitt: "Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome. That's what momma always says. She says that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning, just give hope a chance to float up and it will...."

Imagine yourself being on tv, ready for a free makeover and ending up to be the biggest joke ever when you learn that it's a Jerry Springer like show where your best friend and husband reveals that they are having an affair. That's how the story unraveled...

What I like about the movie is the fact that it has shown not just one but several types of relationships. You will witness:

a. a close but complicated mother and daughter relationship between Birdee and Bernice and Birdee and Ramona

b. an endearing relationship between the grandma and her grandchildren as shown by Ramona to Travis and Bernice

c. Justin's unrequited love towards Birdee

d. the crumbling marriage of Birdee and Bill

not to mention the relationship that people have in a small town where everybody knows practically every single person living in the community.

I don't know why but somehow, this movie managed to hit several of my small sensitive spots... I can't help but shed a tear or two as I watched Bernice cry as her unfaithful father speed away.

Watching this with Mommy made my friday movie night more special. It helped me relate to the characters more because I myself have a special but complicated relationship with my mom. sigh.

Can't wait for next friday!

New Year, New Beginning

2011-01-01T22:39:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011 everyone!!!!!!! Hope every one's looking forward to something good this new year.

For this year, I'll be :

1. committing to a much healthier lifestyle

- eat better, move more and sleep on time

2. using my recipe books more and whip up goodies from scratch

- because practice makes perfect

3. joining the 5k walk for the Susan G. Komen's race for the cure

- walking or even running for the cure is so worth it

4. donating some of my stuff to charity

- giving is better than receiving

5. writing and updating my blogs more

- to let my creative juice flow

6. reading more books from the library

- for inspiration and motivation

7. reviewing for my PRAXIS exam

- can't forego my own professional growth

8. saving, investing and spending wisely

- for the sake of our financial health

9. busy thinking about positive thoughts

- because that's the most logical thing to do

10. loving, loving and loving more

- because that's what makes life worth living.

In anticipation of 2011

2010-12-22T05:18:00.000-08:00

In a few days, we will be saying goodbye to 2010 and say hello to 2011...I have to admit that as I look back at some of the highlights I have experienced from this year, I can't help but be excited for the coming year. I looked back at some of the things that I wrote on this blog which is not much but I would like to say have had such an impact on my 2010 experiences.

This 2010, I...
1. joined my first 5K walk for the Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure. It was a very fulfilling experience and I had a blast preparing for it because I was practically walking every single day around the neighborhood with my mom (who is currently vacationing with us til Feb.). I'm very happy that I have my husband G and my friend L with me. The 5K walk was a breeze because of these 2.

2. lost at least 8-10 lbs this year. I have to say that my determination to finish my first 5K walk, worked to my advantage. I walked every day and was finding myself picking healthier food choices as I progress with the training. Hopefully, I'll get to lose 20 more next year.

3. became active spiritually and made new friends which includes L who walked with me during my first 5K.

4. rediscovered my love for books. This year, I was able to do a lot of reading...but I noticed that most of them were cook books but still books nonetheless. I will be featuring some of the books here.

5. baked a pie for the first time this year. We went apple picking (also a first time)during the fall season and just can't help but make apple pie! Have not done my own pie pastry yet but it's a start.

I hope that this coming year, I will have more opportunity to do all the things that I have and want to do. I am thinking of doing so many things in my head like:
a. taking up weights using my new tension cords
b. cooking more from my recipe books
c. writing blogs again
d. running and joining hopefully my first timed marathon in the Susan G. Komen race for the cure
e. study for my PRAXIS exam for Biology
f. losing an additional 20 or 30 pounds
g. baking more

I'm soooo excited!!!!!!!

My shoes were made for walking.....

2010-05-06T00:10:00.000-07:00

walking, for me, is the most agreeable form of exercise that anyone could indulge in. you don't need much....there are no required gadgets - all you have to do is just put on your best walking shoes or flip flops and just walk somewhere.

i love walking.

i'm rediscovering my love affair with this activity for the past 2 days. i'm hopeful that it's gonna be a regular thing for me and hubby, especially now that we discovered this wonderful area near our home called quarry lake. this place is quite peaceful and it helps that it is lined with various cafes where we can have our occasional caffeine fix or even dine outs. hehehe

New Year, New Beginning

2010-01-15T23:30:00.000-08:00

Good bye 2009! Hello 2010!

Every new year, I try to come up with at least 10 goals that I hope to attain within the end of the year. There are some goals that I find attainable, but some - takes a little more time to achieve so, I recycle them. hehehe

Here's 10 of my many goals for this year!

1. I will renew my love for writing by regularly putting something on my blog! I'm thinking of writing at least 5 entries per month - how's that for starters?!
2. I will incorporate more fruits and vegetables in our diet by preparing at least 2 vegetarian fare per week and will be including fruits in all of our meals.
3. I will lessen the intake of red meats and will go for white meats (chicken) and other healthier alternatives (tofu and seafoods). Red meat intake will be limited to 2 per week.
4. I will find ways to do some form of aerobic exercise at least 4 times a week.
5. I will reconnect with my old grade school, high school and college classmates, batchmates and friends.
6. I will renew my love of reading by taking on at least 1 book per month and share something about it in this blog.
7. I will renew my love for cooking by preparing 1 meal/food from any of my food mags and recipe books every week. As proof that I cooked, I will showcase the food in this blog every week also.
8. I will look for couple and group activities that won't cost an arm and a leg.
9. I will be in touch with my loved ones more often.
10. I will be in touch with my spirituality by becoming more involved in our parish.

How about you? What do you have in mind for 2010?

fully domesticated

2009-02-10T04:00:00.000-08:00

last night, i talked with shaina for a long time. it made me realize how much i missed her company and our endless dinner and coffee dates when we used to be co-teachers. she is still teaching but me on the other hand, because of health reasons decided to be a homemaker for a while. i left my teaching post last september and i joined gil, here in baltimore, last november 22. i have to admit that the whole thing is totally new to me, but i am enjoying it. for one, i get to cook and prepare treats and food for gil's baon consistently except whenever i have my bouts with dysmenorrhea which can last for days.

here are some pics of the food i get to prepare for my baby:

this one is called brussel sprouts with bacon. the recipe of which i got from my beloved Williams-Sonoma's Essentials of Slow Cooking - but instead of using a slow cooker, this one i made on top of a stove. i think i overcooked the brussel sprouts but it still turned out delicious and the cream really took some of the bitterness away.

this one is just a simple beef and broccolli stir fry. i just sauted some onions, garlic and ginger before adding the beef. then i added the broccolli. i seasoned it with kikkoman and added cornstarch mixed in water plus a little sugar and pepper. it's done when the meat is already tender. this was a crowd pleaser!

this is my fave dessert contribution: leche flan

i love it's creamy consistency and the smell of vanilla in milk is so heavenly. i vowed though to try making this dessert using fresh milk and cream. and also to try baking it for a change and not steam it. hmmmm....

this one, inspite of the fact that it was steamed and made entirely from canned milk made everyone swoon. proof: it was gone in less than a day.

in my conversation with shai, she asked me what kept me busy when everyone's out. well, it's mostly cooking. and she said, "oh my goodness,rhea! domesticated ka na talaga!" amen, i say... just for how long i can't tell. but for now, i am savoring it, one day at a time.

we were "taken" last saturday!

2009-02-01T23:46:00.000-08:00

Taken is a movie that I think all fathers can relate to. Given the same situation as Liam's character, any father would indeed go out of his way to save his kid even at the cost of his life.

I love this film coz' you see, I can imagine my Dad doing exactly the same thing for me and my 2 sisters.

poster taken from: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/98/Taken-poster-0.jpg

Ai - keeee - yah!!!!

2009-01-27T23:27:00.000-08:00

ikea is definitely my kind of furniture store. i love how they showcase their wares and i also love the in-house cafe that serves good ole swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce.

the store is divided into different sections and when you go around it's like walking through an interior designers' exhibit (pretty much like the ones i've witnessed in festival mall). it makes you want to re-do your room and buy all their furnitures.

we had fun in the kid's section and we tried several goofy masks including an octopus hat which is quite hilarious! we were giggling and stooping really low in the racks so people will not see how silly we were as we try the head gears. G was in charge of the photos the whole time.

Shaved Ice Falling on my Face

2009-01-23T05:41:00.000-08:00

snow is alien to me. i have not encountered it even in my dreams. maybe because coming from a country which is almost warm and sunny the whole year round, i just can't imagine what it's like to have snow...heck! i can't even imagine what it's like to deal with a -14 degrees C temperature!

you can just imagine what i felt when we woke up and witness white specks of shaved ice falling from the sky.... i felt like a kid waking up one delightful Christmas morning and accidentally seeing Santa Claus stuffing gifts onto my Christmas stockings!!!

i excitedly went out, wearing a coat over my pajamas and just pinch myself... asking myself again and again..."is this for real?" well, it is!!!!

i heart snow!!!!

Sinulog in Baltimore

2009-01-21T16:04:00.000-08:00

when i was a kid, fridays won't be complete without going to a small chapel dedicated to Sto.Nino. and i think everyone would agree to the fact that at least 90% of catholic filipino families have a small image of the child Jesus in their altar. so it was a very pleasing surprise that we were invited to witness a Sinulog festival in our small parish (The Shrine of the Sacred Heart) here in baltimore.

the celebration started with a short novena in honor of the Sto. Nino. after that, a small procession was held and i have to say that i was impressed with the kids who performed the dance during the procession coz it was below freezing that day (around -4 degrees C). a mass was held afterwards and a series of songs and dances were inserted in between Eucharistic celebration.

after the mass, everyone was invited to partake of a dinner prepared by the Filipino community in the area. the dinner consisted of pancit guisado, pancit palabok, fried chicken, lumpia and lechon. for dessert, you have a choice of banana cake, leche flan and bico.

overall, this was a lovely celebration, it reminded me so much about our devotion and religiosity. it also reminded me so much of home. i was very happy to be there to witness it.

the week that was....

2009-01-20T22:05:00.000-08:00

i was very happy for the past few days because i get to spend a lot of quality time with my hubby,G. they had a long weekend c/o martin luther king's day and president obama's inauguration. i wish it's already summer.

so far so good, the people here were my official tasters and i am so relieved that the dishes i've prepared so far are getting good responses. phew!!!!

i used my ever trusty "illustrated kitchen bible" for the apple charlotte with which we capped our dinners and i also managed to salvage some of our left-overs by taking joey's (of http://www.80breakfasts.blogspot.com/) advice of making a cottage pie out of it. this cottage pie was a hit and even ayen (who's our picky-eater friend) liked it a lot.

anyway, i was thankful that i managed to prepare something for G and oed all throughout the week prior to the long weekend. both had pork loin steak, daing na bangus and tocino (that i made using Mama Sita's mix), but there was one particular day though that i overslept so oed had spam and G had lamb stew (meal left-over) with his spam. hay! what can i do without u, spam!

we went out last friday and had dinner with joon and ayen. joon prepared baked cod and tortellini with arrabiata sauce which we all loved. after dinner, we went to applebees and had barbecued chicken fingers, fries, burgers and a oriental chicken roll-up. man, all we do is eat,eat and eat!!!!

saturday was a Sinulog celebration in our parish and i will be making another post about it.

we went to Mike's place last Sunday, watched the ravens (they were defeated by the steelers at 14-23) and had really good dinner c/o Shirley, Mike's beautiful wife. she prepared fish sinigang, bicol express, beef kare kare and goto topped with chicharon!!!! wow!

i wish for more days like these....

right now, it's already 1:40am and i'm still thinking of what to prepare later..hay!!!! wish me good luck! ;)

What's for lunch,Baby?

2009-01-13T00:05:00.000-08:00

A question of which I am expected to answer every single day....

Everyday, I wake up earlier than G to fix breakfast and his "baon" for lunch. I know that there are times when thinking of what to cook can be nerve wrecking but luckily, I have a husband who is just so easy to please.

Well, thank God for ready-to-eat meatballs because that was exactly what he had for lunch yesterday with an extra special gravy of course, which I made from scratch. I got the recipe from Yummy magazine (August 2007, p.56) entitled "Swedish Meatballs with Pasta". I have to do away with pasta because he prefers rice and do away with the meatballs because we don't have ground meat in the freezer...besides, what we have are cooked Italian meatballs!

The gravy, I followed to the letter but made it extra special by adding in some chopped small bella mushrooms. I was a bit nervous when I was mixing the melted butter and the flour. I was murmuring "No lumps please" the entire time and phew! Thank goodness it was smooth.

To make up for my cheating (using ready-to-eat meatballs), I decided to fulfill my promise of making an Apple Charlotte using the recipe from "The Illustrated Kitchen Bible" (p.459). The recipe that I am putting here is a little different because I made some modifications which includes putting a streusel topping to add more crunch. ;)

Apple Charlotte with Streusel topping

4 Gala apples
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup golden raisins
3 Tbsp lemon juice (I like mine a little tart)
10 Tbsp butter, melted
18 slices of wheat bread, crusts removed
1 tsp ground cinnamon

1. Combine the apples, sugar, raisins, lemon juice and cinnamon in a heavy saucepan. Cover and cook over low heat for 8-10 minutes until the apples are very tender and beginning to fall apart.

2. Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush your pan (I used an 8 inch square glass Pyrex dish) with some of the melted butter. Cut each of the bread (for the base) in half and brush both sides with butter and slightly overlap the bread which will form the base.

3. Spoon the apple mixture into the bread then, cover with the remaining bread slices which are also buttered on both sides.

Streusel Topping (p.462 - adapted from German Apple Cake of The Illustrated Kitchen Bible)

3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon (+ 2 dashes coz I just heart cinnamon!)
6 Tbsp butter, cut into small pieces

In a bowl, simply mix everything with your hands and once combined, sprinkle on top of the Apple Charlotte, then bake for 35 minutes.

This is a very good recipe especially for the holidays because of the abundance of apples seating on top of the dining table plus the almost forgotten bread.

We ate it for dessert while it's still warm and had it with a vanilla fudge brownie ice cream. It was good but I secretly wished we had a plain vanilla ice cream which is a better pair for this one. Maybe I can go and get some later....

Today, I'll be preparing porkloin steak, my pinoy bistek version minus the beef and calamansi. Hope this one's good!!!

Cooking from the Books

2009-01-12T00:41:00.001-08:00

G gave me two wonderful cookbooks this Christmas and I am grinning ear to ear as I look and browse through pictures and pictures of scrumptuous food. From then on, I made a promise to myself that I would try at least one recipe (from any of these 2 books every week) and showcase them here.

The Williams-Sonoma book entitled, Essentials of Slow Cooking is a book introduced by Eric, (Oed's husband) who loves to cook just like me. I used to browse through his copy before and have actually tried several of the dishes there which were all absolute hits with our friends during potluck dinners. The dishes that I've successfully prepared using this cookbook were the following:

1. Country Style Pork Ribs - (p.159) it filled our kitchen and living room with an oh-so wonderful aroma only baked ribs can give

2. Smothered Porkchops with Caramelized Onions - (p.198) which was featured in one of my blogs here entitled "A Porky Business".

3. Osso Buco - (p.214) I substituted lamb shoulder instead of veal but just the same, it was very good!!!

4. Belgian Beef Stew - (p.237) it was my first time to cook with liquor because this one calls for a dark beer.

5. Teriyaki Chicken Thighs - (p.132) but in my case...Teriyaki Chicken Drumsticks, which was gone before we can even say "Merry Christmas!" to one another.

The second cook book was a whole new thing for me. It's entitled "The Illustrated Kitchen Bible" and oh boy! a budding cook's Bible it was. The recipes were categorized as starters and light bites, main dishes and side dishes and cakes and desserts, not to mention cooking techniques. And with beautiful pictures of finished products...you just wanna grab your pan and start cooking!

Since I have not tried a single recipe from this book, I resolved to use it and work on 2 recipes this week. I hope the kitchen gods will bless me as I prepare:

1. Eggplant Parmigiana - p.228

2. Apple Charlotte - p. 459

Keeping my chubby fingers crossed for these 2 recipes!!!!!

Me in a Nut Shell

2009-01-09T06:46:00.001-08:00

The Proust Questionnaire
A set of questions believed to reveal one's true identity or nature. It was popularized by a French essayist and novelist who enjoyed answering it when he was a teenager.

I think I would like to start my blog for this year by answering these set of questions as a form of introspection.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

- My idea of perfect happiness is to be with the ones I love in utmost contentment which means: having enough for the things we need with a little excess for the things we want and being at peace with myself and with everyone.

2. What is your greatest fear?

- An untimely and painful or horrible death for me and for any of my loved ones.

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
- My tendency to procastinate a lot.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
- Parasitism in different forms: emotional, financial

5. Which living person do you most admire?
- I admire people who strived hard to earn their place under the sun.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?
- Food - enough said.

7. What is your current state of mind?
- There's a hodgepodge of ideas going on inside my head but I am excited about the things to come... so - I think I'm ok.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
- Cleanliness

9. On what occasion do you lie?
- When I don't want to create any complications with anyone.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
- The extra pounds that come and go

11. Which living person do you most despise?
-To say it would create so much complications.

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?
- Character and charm

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
- Intelligence

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
- Bem or Baby - referring to my husband,G

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
- God, my G, family...

16. When and where were you happiest?
- I'm happiest when I am with the ones I love so dear

17. Which talent would you most like to have?
- To cook good food and create a feast fit for kings

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
- To just do it and stop procastinating.

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
- To survive everyday with great optimism and not let the day pass without doing something good or worthwhile.

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
I would like to be reincarnated as water... because you get to travel on land and air, quench people's thirst and make things grow.

21. Where would you most likely to live?
I would like to live in a place close to nature where I am surrounded by people whom I treasure and love most.

22. What is your most treasured possession?
Since my life is borrowed, I would say my relationships - with my husband, family, friends and students.

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
Not to be loved at all

24. What is your favorite occupation?
Being a full time home maker

25. What is your most marked characteristic?
Being stubborn but lovable

26. What do you most value in your friends?
Loyalty and sincerity

27. Who are your favorite writers?
Jane Austen, Paulo Coelho, Norton Juster, William Shakespeare, JK Rowling...just to name a few.

28. Who is your hero of fiction?
Wolverine

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I'm not sure, Jane Austen maybe?

30. Who are your heroes in real life?
My husband who made a big difference in my life, my parents who gave me life, my sisters who will always be my best friends and my friends who stayed with me through thick and thin. Also, my students who made me a part of their lives.

31. What are your favorite names?
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet

32. What is it that you most dislike?
- animosity

33. What is your greatest regret?
- I firmly believe that everything happened to me for a reason and most of them by choice... so, no regrets.

34. How would you like to die?
peacefully, while sleeping

35. What is your motto?
These too shall pass - so live and love like there's no tomorrow.

http://www.vanityfair.com/archives/features/proust

G's Birthday

2008-12-19T05:54:00.000-08:00

It was G's birthday yesterday and of course, I've been looking for easy recipes that I can follow so I can somehow cook something up. Finally, the birthday dinner consisted of bacon-wrapped asparagus, a chicken and shrimp pesto pasta and a banana cream pie.

This was a dish that I got from Rachel Ray's 30-minute meals (http://www.foodnetwork.com/). I made use of a bundle of large asparagus spears (16pcs) which I wrapped with honey maple bacon. After placing it in a glass oven dish, I seasoned it with a dash of pepper and some garlic powder before topping it with 3 tsp of EVOO. I placed it inside an oven which was pre-heated at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and just left it there to cook for 15 minutes. For it's dipping sauce, we just used a combination of Kikkoman soy sauce and lemon juice. It's very good and since I only made 8 bundles (each bundle consisted of 2 asparagus spears and 1 bacon), it was "bitin". Next time, I'll try to make more!!!

The pesto was easy because we just used the pre-made mixes. All I have to do was to cook the thin spaghetti noodles, saute the chicken and the shrimp (separately, because the chicken is actually for Oed who is allergic to shrimps) and then, add the pesto. I then mixed it with the cooked pasta and topped it with toasted pine nuts and some Parmesan cheese.

Abby absolutely loved the pine nuts! That's her hand showing a toasted pine nut which she started picking from the pasta.

And now this is the pie that just wouldn't cooperate... Abby calls it "Tita Rhea's Arctic Jungle Banana Cream Pie". It's a pie that doesn't look like a pie but tastes like one. I would've waited for the pastry cream to really thicken...sigh. But in fairness, it tasted really good. The combination of the pastry cream, graham, whipped cream and banana plus the cinnamon was enough to make G get more than his "fair" share. By the way, this was inspired by the banana cream pie recipe that I got from Yummy magazine's October 2007 issue. (Yes, I brought some of my Yummy mags with me and I hope to be reunited with some of them soon.) I promised myself that I will do this again for G but this time, I hoped to get it right just like the one in the mag. sigh.

G said it was a very good birthday dinner and he even volunteered to wash the dishes. (How sweet!!!) But since it was his birthday, I think it is but right to give him a break from his dish washing duties.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, G! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

A Porky Business

2008-12-15T22:15:00.000-08:00

We have guests that fine Sunday afternoon. Oed asked me if I have anything in mind. The truth was, I was up til the wee hours of the morning minding our laundry and browsing Eric's slow cooker recipes. I saw one interesting recipe.....Smothered Pork with Caramelized onions. I have never tried it before but it was a dish that calls for really simple ingredients so.... Smothered Pork it was!!!!

I dredged the pork loins in 1/2 cup of flour which was seasoned with salt and pepper. I browned them in 1 tbsp canola oil and 1 tbsp butter (I used the "I can't believe it's not butter" brand) and placed them in a baking pan.

In the same frying pan, I caramelized 2 thinly sliced onions to which I added 2 tsps of sugar and after what seemed forever (translate:15-20 mins), I deglazed the pan with 2 cups of chicken broth (made by using 2 cups of water and 2 small chicken bouillon cubes).

The onion mixture was added to the browned pork loins and I baked them for an hour in a pre-heated oven of about 325 degrees Fahrenheit. They turned out pretty good and tasty. The meat was moist and the caramelized onions imparted so much flavor to the meat. I paired it with buttered mixed vegetables and rice. It worked well with mashed potatoes too! Super!

And look at this darling of a boy who kept us busy at the dining table.

Diego is such a cutie patooooteeeee!

out and about with ayen and joon

2008-12-04T16:56:00.000-08:00

This is what we looked like after scouring various stores last black Friday. Ayen got a new vacuum cleaner and Joon got a new GPS. G got me proper winter clothes.

This was taken inside Golden Corral, a buffet restaurant. The food here is great but kinda oily. But we love the overflowing bread, sweet tea and honey spread. This was Ayen's treat.

This was taken when we went to a very nice furniture store called Ikea. It has its own cafe and they make really good Swedish meatballs.

Misplaced in Baltimore

2008-12-02T19:39:00.000-08:00

hey! i'm baaaaaaaaccccckkkkkk!

i'm re-united with my husband after what felt like forever. it was a 22 hour trip. from manila to nagoya. then from nagoya to detroit. and finally from detroit to baltimore.

my husband G(with flowers and teddy bear in tow) plus the torregozas fetched me from the airport.

upon arriving at bonnie ridge where we are currently residing, i was told that there is a dinner party waiting for me at the belvedere towers where some of our friends are staying.

here are several pics that i got from ayen who is our official photographer.

we are obviously hungry!!!!

- this was taken during my welcome party. these people went out of their way to throw me a welcome dinner. thank you so much! joon, thanks for hosting!!!!

to my left you have: ayen, joon, miss ditas, kuya mon and sir andy

next to me is cyrene and to my right, my husband G and ayen

i was a bit tired but the warmth and love shown by G and my friends really made my day.

my furry little shadow

2008-09-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

our furry pet came to us 2 days before the Christmas of 2003. i don't really know what to expect and i was reluctant to take her since i am not so sure how my parents would react to this little cutie. well, just one good look...that's all it took for shadow to win everyone over.

she was born on the 3rd of November. her parents were george and shivers. shadow is a carbon copy of her mom. her size though she got from her dad.

shadow is a diva...she sings a lot and she's very, very smart. check out the poses...

she is such a cutie...and she lived up to her name. wherever we go, shadow is sure to follow.

she used to sleep beside us in our bed (me and my sisters') when she was still a baby. as she grew older, she became more independent and assumed ownership of our couch...

if only she could live forever....i hope she lives to more than a hundred..

of love, passion and lust...

2008-09-09T04:43:00.000-07:00

i watched original sin last night....i have to say that i liked every part of it. antonio and angelina gave so much justification to the characters that i cannot imagine any other actor or actress who could have done a most effective portrayal.

in one particular part of the movie, a friend of luis asked him if what he felt was lust or love. the difference between the 2 according to his old friend was the fact that in love - you give and just give more...lust on the other hand is to take and take more.

as i look at it...in any man-woman relationship...both cannot be separated. it's hard to love someone and yet desire another...but it is possible to love and desire the same person.

anyway, this movie was said to be a screen adaptation of a novel entitled, Waltz into Darkness by Cornell Woolrich. Fascinating! I have to go and get myself a copy of this one.

i love antonio's character. here, he portrayed a man who became vulnerable when he started loving this mysterious woman. he is such a sensitive soul. one of the scenes that i truly love was when julia expressed that she was shy of visits..in other words, she's not yet ready to consummate their marriage and he understands! "if you wish me to come to you, i will but not before" - oh man! if i'm julia...i would adore him that very minute.

what i like about angelina's character was her confusion...is she going to be a bonnie or a julia? a devoted wife or a thief? a lover or a murderer? i guess in the end..she didn't pick any....she came to be her own person...a woman who chose to love her husband....

i love it...

One Night in Baguio...

2008-09-04T11:47:00.001-07:00

It was just an overnight stay in Baguio....but we made the most out of it by going out on a date at Cafe by the Ruins..

We will be back...with a vengeance!!!!!

Lemongrass iced tea with honey as thirst quenchers...

Watercress soup with shitake mushrooms to warm our tummies

Warm camote bread with butter and jam, soft and chewy...

Fetuccine with cream and fish roe for an additional carb fix...

Strawberry shortcake, the star of the night!

thousands of miles away from my love...

2008-09-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

dear bem,

some things i realized now that we are thousands of miles apart:

1. that i would want to sleep and wake up next to you every single day of my life

2. that i enjoyed being your favorite coffee, movie and food trip date

3. that i would never tire of hearing your voice over and over again

4. that i miss your laughter, your presence, your touch....

5. that this would be the last time that we will be away from each other again.

i love you so much and i will be there with you soon...

Some Fun in the Sun

2008-05-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

with roc, malou,ardel,may,mariko and ralf

This is my first blog entry after a very long break from writing. I know, I know....no amount of excuses could cover up the most obvious... that I was having fun wasting so much of my free time. Now that I admitted it, please find in your hearts to forgive poor little me?

with roc, may,ardel,czar,trix and sheila

Last Tuesday, after the retreat, we went to San Juan (Batangas) for our school outing. We don't know exactly what to expect because this is our first time to go to Balai Resort. Worst, we had a really bad start because it took us 4 hours to get to the place even if we were already in Batulao(also in Batangas).

having fun with Roc

Our spirits were a wee bit dampened but all things changed when we had a view of the beach. The beach was clean and oh so beautiful! Never mind if it took us 4 hours to reach it! Never mind if we ran out of water when we were about to take our baths after....we just love the beach! Great view...Great beach...Great company! The only one missing was my baby! Bem, wished you were there!

No more champagne and the fireworks are through...

2008-01-06T06:52:00.000-08:00

Good bye 2007 and hello 2008! Happy new year everyone! Man, how time flies....

What can I say about 2007? Well, para siyang dark chocolate - "bitter sweet". It is a year filled with so many transitions and it has its share of both sad and happy memories! At this point, let me recall some of the memories I intend to embrace forever starting with...

Mom's 50th birthday!

- Malaking bagay para sa amin ang birthday ni Mom. Kasi, other than New Year's day siya pinanganak, there was a time na we thought we're gonna lose her. From that time on, every year counts in my Mom's life.

Papa Vic's 64th birthday! Siyempre pa, di pwedeng walang food ang pinakama-mahal kong papa. Masaya siya during this time. We bought choco mousse cake. Sina mommy na ang bumili ng iba pang handa like the pancit canton, barbecue at pichi - pichi. Significant sa akin ito dahil we never knew that this would be his last birthday. Saan ka man naroroon Papa, we love you.

Ito, medyo naluha-luha ako. Kasi ba naman, teacher's day. Akala ko, di ako mahal ng mga anak ko sa FG. Di na ako nag-e-expect na bigyan ng kahit ano, kahit isang pirasong halls menthol candy. Haaay! May kurot din pala ang lola niyo sa mga puso nila.

Ang lolo Norman Llaguno ko, nabuhay!!!! Love na love ko itong lola este lolo kong ito. Naalala ko bigla yung time na nagkagalit kami, akala ko di na kami magbabati...siya pa ang umakap sa akin. Haay, dramatics...buti di niya nakita na napa-luha ang lola niyo.

Home Sweet Home - Hari at Reyna na kami ng aming sariling tahanan sa wakas. It's different talaga when you're on your own na. Masaya pala! Para kaming nagba-bahay bayan ni Sweetheart. Siyempre, minsan...nananalangin din kami ng amin talagang bahay, pero okey na itong rented apartment for the mean time...ang importante, magkasama kami.

Unang beses kong makaranas ng Eastern Vigil, at "neo" style pa! Kahit na gutom ka at inaantok-antok na, parang exciting pa rin kasi we we're feeding on God's words. Exhilarating! Sana maulit muli.

Happy 29th birthday to me! Nyak! 2 years na lang wala na ako sa kalendaryo! Bumili lang ako ng barbecue pero si Baby, binilhan ako ng pagkaganda-gandang cake. Gawa siya ng co-teacher namin dati na si John Pineda. Lemon yung flavor niya at super duper sarap!

Siyempre pa, Happy 2nd year anniversary rin, Bebem! Love you to the moon and back. Akalain mo bang nakadalawang taon na tayo?

Anyway, may karugtong pa ito. Tomorrow naman yung iba.

Merry Christmas, Darling!

2008-01-05T07:39:00.000-08:00

What is Christmas without the family? Di ko alam, all I know is I cannot imagine Christmas without being surrounded by my loved ones.

This is our first Christmas in our apartment. First Christmas namin ni Sweetheart na "on our own" kami. Medyo nagdrama-drama ang lola niyo kasi, di ako nakapagluto ng kahit na ano. Ang food namin e puro bigay.hehehe God is a real provider talaga.

After our simple noche buena (in our apartment), nangapit-bahay kami kina mommy. I'm happy to see Mom in one of her festive moods. Anna gave out really nice gifts. Weeee! lahat kami may Girbaud na bags. Love u Banotnot!

After that, siyempre, walang kamatayang "kodakan".
Haaay! I love my family!

I'm Baaacccckkkkk!

2007-12-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

Just got home this Tuesday.

The operation took a grueling 4 hours to finish. We started at 3. It ended at 7. I stayed in the recovery room for another 4 hours. Got back to my room by 11:30pm.

I know now how my Mom felt when she had us. Love you more, Mom!

Took pictures of the spuds that the doctors' got from my uterus. Bye-bye goolies, bye trolls!

It was hard to sit, stand and walk after a C-section but I tried it, 17 hours after the op. It was hell! I managed with a little help from my loved ones.

For all you guys out there who prayed really hard for me, thanks and God bless!

i don't wanna wait in vain any more

2007-12-12T04:40:00.000-08:00

Ito yung naisip ko after our ordeal today. Imagine, walang room sa Asian hospital and we waited there for 5 straight hours - with all of our stuff and the only thing that they can offer us was a place in the ward. I felt really bad because we had our name listed since Monday. It was a good thing that I haven't felt any pain at all.

I have nothing against staying in the ward. The problem is, after the operation...they cannot give me an assurance that I will be transferred to a private room. I have to be on the look out for secondary infection during the post-op and staying in the ward is really not a good idea.

Tomorrow, we have to go back again and wait if there is an available room. According to the admission officer, we are 8th on her list. This means that I have to be in the hospital early. Hopefully, we could have the procedure done either on Friday or Saturday morning.

For those who prayed for me, thank you very much and please do pray for the others also. God bless you guys, always.

the flashing "no vacancy" sign was taken from: http://www.myrtles.co.nz/mv%20folder/NO_VACANCY.gif

We, Three Queens...

2007-12-11T07:19:00.000-08:00

Ang sabi, pag ang lalaki daw pilyo nung binata pa...ang nagiging mga anak e babae, to remind them of their "kapilyuhan". Ang tatay ko siguro puro kalokohan nung binata pa, kaya hayan...puro kami girls. mwehehehe

Ang Ate ko, siya ang pinakamalusog nung baby pa kami at magpa-hanggang ngayon. Pero nun ka, pamatay ang kinis ng balat niyan, as in flawless! Namana niya kay Lola. Pag nakita mo sila ni Dad na magkasama, di mapagkakaila na mag-tatay sila. Sabi ni Mommy, nung pinaglilihi niya si Ate, nasa kanto pa lang si Dad, nagsusuka na siya. Nasusuka sa amoy ng tatay ko. mwehehehe

Facts about my Ate:

1. 99+ ang average nya sa NCEE (nung uso pa yun)

2. double licensed yan - ECE (Mapua) at Education (DLSU)

3. magaling siya magluto (her lasagna is to die for)

4. maganda ang boses niya (parang si Tiny ng pugadbaboy..mwehehehe lab u ate!)

5. siya ang Martha Stewart ng family...pag-memekaniko at pagka-karpintero na lang ang di pa niya nama-master

6. Year of the Dragon siya pinanganak tulad ni Lolo Pogi (tatay ni Dad)

7. Ang pangalan niya ay naisip ni Mommy noon pang teenager pa siya. Hinango ata sa words na "penny lane" at "jaywalking" yung name niya e. mwehehehe

Si Bunso, ang aking "Banotnot". Siya ang baby ng family at super duper cute siya, mula noon hanggang ngayon. Bata pa lang siya, feisty na siya. Maabilidad at napaka-self reliant. Kumakain na mag-isa ng mga 2 or 3 years old pa lang siya kasi ayaw magpa-subo ng food. Maliit pa lang siya, alam na niyang "wala siyang pasiyensiya" at gusto lang niya na "mayabang" siya. mwehehehehe Sa kanilang dalawa ni Ate, siya ang madalas na mapag-kamalang ako. Opo, pati mga estudyante ko, nalito. mwehehehe Pero ayaw niyang aminin na kamukha ko siya kasi mas maganda raw siya sa akin (maldits! mwehehehe)

Fast Facts about Bunso:

1. Pinaka-popular sa magkakapatid nung nag-aaral pa kami. Wala pa yang talo pag tumakbo sa Student Council.

2. Sa buong college years niya, twice lang siya naka-miss ng pagka-dean's lister. (yun ay nung na-in-love siya)Pero naka-graduate naman na kasama sa dean's list pa rin.

3. Siya ang may pinakamadaming lugar na napuntahan sa amin. Mapa-local at international, siya talaga ang medyo nakaka-libot. May nunal sa magkabilang talampakan ata itong kapatid ko e. mwehehehe

4. Siya ang may pinakamalaking suweldo sa amin. I'm not kidding.

5. Galit siya sa pera...pero overly generous sa mga taong mahal niya. Siyempre, kasama ako dun sa inuulanan niya ng blessings.

6. Musically gifted yan. Maganda ang boses at marunong siyang mag-gitara at mag-piano. Nung high school siya, naging lead guitarist pa yan ng kanilang all-girls na band.

7. Year of the monkey siya...that explains kung bakit siya mabalbon. mwehehehehe (i lab u, banotnot)

Siguro, kung may super duper close na magkakapatid, kami na yun. Lagi kaming magkakasama noon at hanggang ngayon kahit busy lahat sa trabaho. Love na love ko itong mga kapatid kong ito. Patay ang ka-kawawa sa kanila kasi di lang okray ang makukuha sa akin (mabubuhay si Gabriela Silang). Natutuwa ako kasi, alam ko na kahit na anong mangyari, we will always love each other and watch each other's back. That's what sisters are for, di ba? Sila ang aking mga buhay na guardian angels.

Rainy days never say goodbye...

2007-12-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

We went to the doctor today and informed her that our healthcard agreed to shoulder all my hospital bills (HAAALLLELUIIAAA!) except her professional fee. The next thing that happened was quite fast, my reaction was more than 30 minutes delayed.(mwehehehe) I was scheduled for a myomectomy and cystectomy on Thursday morning (7 am). I will be admitted on Wednesday, then bye-bye trolls and goolies on Thursday!

All of a sudden, I started imagining all these crazy stuff... mostly needles and scalpels. These made my knees wobble again.

At least, I have a valid reason to feel blue.

The good thing though is, I will be home on the 17th, in time for G's birthday on the 18th.

I just realized that I will be out for at least 5 to 6 days, so I will be preparing something for you guys to read while I'm out fighting the goolies and trolls in my uterus. Do pray for me and for the others who will also undergo operations this week. Thanks and God bless!

So honey, let me do the dishes in our kitchen sink…

2007-12-10T05:17:00.000-08:00

Si G ang una at huling lalaking minahal at mamahalin ko…yun ang totoo – peksman, cross my heart and hope to die (of old age). He is my “perfect guy”.

O, walang magta-taas ng kilay! Bakit? Imposible bang makahanap ng iyong “perfect guy”? Hindi ah. Ganito yan, mare…depende yan sa kung ano ba ang “perfect” para sa iyo. Para sa akin si G, siya yung aking “perfect guy”.

Ang totoo niyan, di ko naman alam na siya pala ang makakatuluyan ko. Inis nga ako diyan kasi araw-araw ba naman ako binibigyan ng substitution. Pero, in fairness naman, noon ko pa napansin na siya lang ang bukod tanging lalaki na kayang mag-carry ng white hair at beard. Pogi siya…may balbas o wala, kahit na manipis ang hair niya at naa-aninaw mo na ang kanyang anit. Mwehehehe I love you, Be!

To make the long story short, di siya natuloy sa pagb-brother. Oo mare, magb-brother siya dapat pero di natuloy at di yun dahil sa akin ha! O, ibaba ang kilay ulit. Nanligaw siya a day after niya magbitiw at yun, the rest, they say is “history”.

Ang perfect guy ko e may “imperfect” moments din. Nakakainis din naman siya minsan, pero di naman lagi. Kung tutuusin, 2 lang bagay ang kinaiinisan ko sa kanya: 1) mabagal siyang kumilos (lalo na sa umaga) 2) lagi siyang late. Mwehehehehe I love you, Bebe ulit!

Pero kung may lalaking nagbigay sa akin ng sobra-sobrang pasensiya at pagmamahal…siya na yun. Siya yung nag-iisa. At kung may parallel universe tayo na ala – “The Golden Compass”, I know I will still end up with G. I cannot imagine life without this guy.

Sweetheart, I love you very, very much – to the moon and back.

When I was small and Christmas trees were tall…

2007-12-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

Malamig na ang simoy ng hangin, ramdam mo na talaga na ang pasko ay andiyan na sa tabi-tabi (In English - "Christmas is just around the corner"). Nakakasabik. Sana mabuo naming ulit ang simbang-gabi. Siyempre pa, may puto bumbong na naman at makukulit na nagca-caroling. Haay.

Unang Christmas namin ni G sa aming munting apartment. Two years din kami sa Mama at Papa niya tumira. We only moved out nung February 18 kasi it’s really about time. Nakaka-excite actually. Pray ko lang na hindi ako sa ospital mag-pasko.

Nag-usap na kami ni G, we agreed na pag Christmas, sa kanila kami at sa New Year, sa amin naman (birthday ni Mommy kasi). Pero lahat ng eve (Christmas at New Year’s eve) dito kami sa aming munting tahanan.

Ngayon pa lang, nag-iisip na ako ng aking iluluto. Sana lang talaga makaluto ako kasi magpapa-opera muna ako, di ba? Ganado pa naman akong i-try itong mga recipes na nakuha ko sa mga magazines at free booklets na pinamimigay sa supermarket. What was my basis for picking which food to cook? Basta dapat yung masarap pero di magastos kasi nga, on-leave ang lola niyo. Ito yung sana ay mailuto ko at ma-contribute ko sa aming Christmas and New Year pot luck.

Christmas:
Warm Bacon Potato Salad without Mayonnaise
Beef Pot Pie Lasagne
Mocha Magnifico

Lahat ng recipes ay nanggaling sa “Recipes for Entertaining Food Magazine Cookbook” ni Chef Bambi Sy Gobio except yung Mocha Magnifico. Yun, galing sa free booklet ng Nestle All Purpose Cream na ang title ay “Icebox Treats.”

For New Year naman:
1. Dauphine potatoes or Garlic Mashed Potatoes
2. Roast Baby Back Ribs with Fruit Sauce
3. Mango ala mode

Lahat ng recipes naman para sa New Year ay nanggaling sa magazine na ‘Flavors – a Taste of Fine Living”, volume 2 no.17.

Pictures palang sa magazine, nakakagutom na. Sana magaya ko at para ma-picture-an. I’ll feature them in this blog if I get to cook any of them (operation po kasi).

Nakakagutom naman. Ang sarap talaga pag Pasko at bagong taon. Sama-sama lahat...

P.S. Alam niyo bang itong Christmas tree na ito (opposite side) ay kasing-tanda ko? Yup, 29 years old na yan at maganda pa rin. Siya yung Christmas tree sa likod namin (1st photo). Pamana sa akin ni Mommy. Salamat sa maagang pamasko, Mom. Loveyah! mwah!

and behold, no child but trolls in her uterus

2007-12-05T21:08:00.000-08:00

It all started with a dysmenorrhea that worsened.

I always had one during my period but after I got married (and the weight gain, perhaps?), it became worst...to the point that I have to miss work whenever I have it, plus the pain made me nauseous (I threw up constantly). Well, this prompted us to seek medical help. In the ultrasound, we learned that I have at least 5 myomas or fibroids (TROLLS!) and I also have a bi-lobed chocolate cyst (the little GOOLIES) in my left ovary.

I can't help but look it up, so I did.. From my research, I learned that fibroids are benign tumors (they rarely become cancerous) and they often exist in women of late 20s to 40s. For some, it does not cause pain (lucky them) so they just leave it as it is, because they shrink anyway during menopausal stage. But for those who suffer pain due to their growth, it has to really go so they actually remove it through surgery (myomectomy). There are times when they just try to stunt their growth through embolism but the fibroids stay in the uterus. They also say that fibroids actually cause infertility because implantation does not happen and cannot happen because they distort the uterus. Sometimes, fibroids even prevent fertilization because they block the passage of the sperms to the fallopian tube (it explains why we don't have a baby yet).

There's no question about it...the trolls and goolies will just have to go. Easier said than done..I know. I'm scared actually. Imagine undergoing a C-section when I have not had a kid yet. And did I mention that this will be my very first operation? Oh the horrors!!!

G called me up to tell me that our health card agreed to cover the hospital expenses except for the doctors' professional fees. Okay, fair enough. But my knees wobbled after I put down the phone. This is it...the moment of truth. Is it possible for me to have a kid after the operation? Will I survive the operation? Will I forget some of my Bio lessons after this? So many questions raising in my brain? Oh my poor neurons...my poor nerves. I'm really scared. But I have to be brave, for my sake and everyone else's. So all I can say is "Bring it on, but softly if you please".

everything but plain

2007-12-04T15:46:00.000-08:00

A Few Info about the Writer:
1. I am a teacher by profession. I've been teaching since 1998 and had not stopped since....until now.

2. I am currently married and I intend to stay this way with G hopefully until we celebrate our Diamond Wedding Anniversary which is 4 months, 11 days and 72 years from now.

3. I am a certified bookworm....show me the book and I'll read it to the last page. But there are books that I never grew tired of reading, and that includes the Bible and a Bank pass book.

4. I believe in the saying that "Anyone Can Cook"(Ratatouille). And that is another passion of mine...cooking. I am not sure if I am a good cook but I want to believe that I have tried to be a good one.

5. I love food. The smell, the sight...the texture. But I don't have an adventurous palate.

6. Writing, I dare say, is my first love. I consider it a most therapeutic activity that I have really loved ever since I got hold of a pen.

7. I love my husband, family and friends to the core. They are God's love made visible.