I wasn’t able to cook dinner again. I told the helper to reheat half a gallon of the paksiw na lechon from the leftovers on Speedy’s birthday and that’s what we’ll have. I fell asleep in the middle of the afternoon. Dead tired. Because I have been out for two days this week to attend ... (more)
Pianono from Shoppersville
Posted on July 10, 2007 · 21 Comments
A long time ago, at a time when we were staying at an uncle’s house, pianono was a common mid-afternoon merienda (snack). If it wasn’t pianono, it was something called rainbow bread. There was a bakery across the street and the house helpers’ idea of merienda was buying what was available in the bakery. We ... (more)
When Marks and Spencer is a necessity
Posted on July 10, 2007 · 35 Comments
I admit it. I’m a cheapskate. What I can buy from the nearest tiangge, I will not buy from boutiques. If a 500 peso blouse with a Korean tag fits, I won’t give the gorgeous blouse from Vida Doria another look. But when I buy my bra, I splurge. Without guilt whatsoever. For those of ... (more)
Adobo, corned beef style
Posted on July 8, 2007 · 35 Comments
It’s long been an enigma to me as to why adobo is largely associated with pork and chicken but not with beef. There are cuts of beef that contain just the right amount of fat and we all know that meat fat is essential in making good adobo. Ironically, this is one of the criticisms ... (more)
My dream coffee shop
Posted on July 8, 2007 · 39 Comments
From what I’ve read, coffee is not exactly native to the Philippines. It was introduced to the country by the Spaniards and the local coffee industry did not begin until the 1700s. But coffee grows wonderfully in our soil and climate that we began producing high-quality coffee beans. According to one author, “The plant thrives ... (more)
My new Tefal blender
Posted on July 8, 2007 · 14 Comments
My very first blender, bought before I was married, was an Oster. I enjoyed it for years. It lasted all through the early years of my marriage. It was the blender that pureed fresh fruits and vegetables for my daughters when they were first learning to eat table food. My second, bought about two months ... (more)
Not immune to the shopping bug
Posted on July 7, 2007 · 13 Comments
Last Sunday, July 1, was the last day of the mall-wide sale at the Power Plant Mall. I didn’t know there was a sale until we were in the area and there were all those street signs pointing to the sale. We weren’t even planning on driving all the way to Makati that day. We ... (more)
Scenes from a shopping mall
Posted on July 7, 2007 · 5 Comments
I don’t remember the last time I went to a shopping mall where there was an ongoing mall-wide sale and bought nothing. I don’t think it ever happened before. Well, until last Sunday. We only had time to eat, have coffee and watch Transformers. My daughter Sam enjoyed herself immensely though. Taking photos.
Sexy is not sex-starved nor a sex toy
Posted on July 6, 2007 · 34 Comments
I was waiting for the furor to die down before writing my thoughts about the “sexy mom” slash “sexy Filipina” issue. I figured there wasn’t any point in raising another angry reaction. First of all, I hope that those who have taken the side of the original “sexy mom“, Dine, has not done so out ... (more)
Creamed cabbage soup
Posted on July 6, 2007 · 11 Comments
Soups with cream are usually called “cream of” followed by the main ingredient. You have cream of mushroom soup, cream of asparagus soup, cream of chicken soup… Mushrooms don’t have cream; neither do asparagus nor chicken. You can squeeze them as long and as hard as you like and you won’t get any cream out ... (more)
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