The space that I converted to my study/office was originally designed as a family room. There used to be built-in TV and DVD cabinets but I had them replaced with desks and … [Read more...]
Cook samosas the easy way
July 23, 2009 By 14 Comments
Much as I love Asian food, I have to admit that I'm a late bloomer when it comes to appreciating Middle Eastern cuisines. Growing up, I only knew about curried dishes and I … [Read more...]
Bistek in 10 minutes
July 22, 2009 By 10 Comments
Just like adobo, bistek, or Filipino beef steak, is one of my family's comfort foods and favorites and no one complains if I cook it more than once a week. The best bistek is … [Read more...]
Perceptions and images of women
July 21, 2009 By 8 Comments
In a television commercial, an attractive young woman calls out “Darling” to the out-of-focus image of a man in the crowd. She runs to him, he picks her up, she tells him … [Read more...]
Pork steak teriyaki and asparagus fried rice
July 21, 2009 By 18 Comments
Some people say that cooking for three or four is just the same as cooking for six or eight. Not true. The amount of onions to chop and garlic to mince and ginger to grate is … [Read more...]
Dragon’s blood and incense
July 21, 2009 By 20 Comments
Even when still living in the city, we burned incense in the house because we found it relaxing. Well, at least, that's how Speedy and I feel about burning incense. Sam and … [Read more...]
Carrot cake with pili nuts
July 20, 2009 By 26 Comments
Two years ago, I posted an entry about my dream coffee shop were locally grown coffee with Filipino delicacies like suman, ensaymada, napoleones, cassava bibingka... I'm … [Read more...]
I fired the house helpers
July 19, 2009 By 69 Comments
Last night, we arrived home at 8.20 with a trunk full of grocery bags. I rang the doorbell, no one opened the front door. Thinking that the house helpers didn't hear, Speedy … [Read more...]
Old-fashioned apple pie
July 17, 2009 By 28 Comments
It feels like a lifetime ago when I baked my first apple pie. I've been using the same recipe and technique for years until, quite by accident, I saw a TV show where the baker … [Read more...]
Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak
July 16, 2009 By 6 Comments
Despite the silly games and quizzes which serve no other purpose than to pass time in a harmless way, Facebook has many good uses. Not only does it allow old friends and … [Read more...]
Not in black and white
July 16, 2009 By 15 Comments
Black and white photography has never really interested me. I've heard and read all the arguments in its favor from the dramatic effect to the play on lights and shadows but I … [Read more...]
Great with hoisin sauce
July 15, 2009 By 3 Comments
The lazy way to make onion pancakes is to simply roll them flat. That's what I did on my first attempt. Then, my pride and my self-respect took the better of me -- surely I … [Read more...]
Cabinet door handles and drawer pullers in brushed brass finish
July 15, 2009 By 21 Comments
If I were an interior decorator, I'd probably drive the architect nuts with my specifications. Fortunately for them, I'm not. So it was just me that I drove crazy when we were … [Read more...]
Green onion (scallion) pancakes
July 15, 2009 By 26 Comments
Say bread and most Filipinos conjure an image of something soft, fluffy and mildly sweet. We like our pan se sal that way and, until recently, we associated not-too-white loaf … [Read more...]
Citizenship and residence requirements for presidents
July 14, 2009 By 5 Comments
Section 2 of Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution says, “No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines, a registered voter, able to … [Read more...]
Conversations