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 and write, at least 40 years of age on the day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least 10 ... (more)
The lonely hammock
Posted on July 14, 2009 · 8 Comments
Years ago, I bought a hammock thinking it would be swell to read a book under a tree. I don’t know what I associated the idea with, I did not grow up in the province where things like these are nothing extraordinary. It just seemed so rustic and tranquil and, for a girl who grew up in the city, almost surreal. To my dismay, the droppings of the insects living on the tree kept falling on me.
Mocha buttercream frosting
Posted on July 14, 2009 · 4 Comments
These were taken on the afternoon of May 23, I can’t remember why I never got around to posting them on the food blog, and I can’t even remember how I made the frosting. Can’t remember the ingredients, can’t remember the proportions, can’t remember the exact procedure. Serves me right for postponing. Had I posted the recipe right away, I’d have no problems remembering.
If one of them had chosen a culinary school
Posted on July 14, 2009 · 19 Comments
There was a time when Speedy and I thought that at least one of our daughters would go to culinary school. When Sam and Alex were around 11 and 12, their interests centered on kitchen experiments and we thought that would be it. Then, their world got bigger and Sam decided she was going to ... (more)
Mango custard tart
Posted on July 13, 2009 · 48 Comments
The plan to bake The Pioneer Woman’s Key Lime Pie, Sorta, was set aside to give way to my daughters’ request for a mango custard tart instead. Can’t say it was a bad decision to do the switch because the mango custard tart turned out wonderfully.
The ingredients are few, the procedure is simple and the recipe is short. The entry only appears long because it is loaded with step-by-step photos — most courtesy of my daughter, Sam. Thank you, baby.
A plate, a bowl, a mug and a microwave oven
Posted on July 12, 2009 · 16 Comments
I think I’ve mentioned it before — standard house designs in the Philippines don’t include storage space. We have a number of cabinets above the closets in all bedrooms and that’s about it. So the trick really to avoid house clutter is to dispose of something (sell, give away) every time you buy something new. ... (more)
Remove fishy odor and taste from used cooking oil
Posted on July 12, 2009 · 33 Comments
Did you know that ginger is also very useful for removing the fishy taste and flavor in cooking oil? It’s a trick I learned from my husband. See, I don’t throw away cooking oil after one use. It’s just too wasteful. So, I reuse. But if I’m reusing the oil for cooking something other than fish, I try to remove as much of the fishy odor and taste first.
Thank goodness it’s not swine flu
Posted on July 10, 2009 · 4 Comments
Alex came home yesterday with a fever. She didn’t even wait for the school bus but took a tricycle and came home by herself. You say “fever” these days and the thought that it might be “flu” is not far behind. And when you think “flu” that’s just one thought away from “swine flu.” The worst part is not knowing. It might be just an ordinary fever. The weather has not been very friendly, hot and humid in the morning then rains and cold winds in the afternoon, and the body’s immunities can’t cope with the too sudden and too frequent changes.
Chicken adobo with lemongrass
Posted on July 10, 2009 · 20 Comments
It’s such a challenge photographing a dish that doesn’t look colorful. With or without soy sauce, adobo looks plain and photos just can’t seem to justify its wonderful flavors and textures. But then again, in food blogging, photos are aids and it is the food that’s important. I never thought that adobo with lemongrass would amount to much until I cooked a pot and was amazed at the results.
The front doors of the Manila Cathedral
Posted on July 9, 2009 · 7 Comments
I’m no church goer and I often cringe at the extravagance of Catholic churches which, I feel, is too ironic considering the simple life that Jesus lived. But the last time we were at the Manila Cathedral, I was still awed by the beauty of the reliefs on the front doors. And I was all prepared to rave thinking they were done by a Filipino artist. But they weren’t.
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