Teaching Speedy how to love okra. I might start with one of these three beautiful okra dishes: okra fries (microwave recipe), breaded fried okra and okra sabzi.

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie. ~ Jim Davis

Dear KK: the vine tomatoes are growing wonderfully in our garden

cherry-tomatoes

Last summer, fellow blogger KK offered to send me seeds of vine tomatoes. She did. But because the typhoon season came early this year, I postponed planting the seeds. Speedy saw the packet one day, planted the seeds and, before I knew it, there was a vine growing. But tropical typhoons are no joke. As ... (more)

So she can have her soup and veggies too

chicken and vegetables soupIt worries me that Sam doesn’t get to eat enough vegetables during weekdays. Although she assures me that the meals in the school cafeteria is decent and that they do serve vegetables, I still worry. Vegetables are notorious for making cooked food spoil faster but I figured that if kept down to the basics and if the vegetables are cooked as a soup, perhaps, the dish can stay fresh in the fridge for a day or two. I decided to try cooking and packing a chicken and vegetables soup for Sam this week. I ought to call her up tomorrow though to say she should reheat and eat this one ahead of the other packed ulam.

Malunggay tree in the garden

Two months ago, we planted two sturdy branches of malunggay in the garden. They were cuttings from a mature tree owned by an aunt of one of the house helpers. It took a while but it looks like we’re finally going to have a steady supply of malunggay. I can almost taste it… clams and ... (more)

I’ve always dreamed of a malunggay tree in the garden

Back in the old house, a malunggay tree growing in an adjacent property was visible from our backyard. And I would covet that three, wishing it was growing in MY backyard instead. See, I love malunggay leaves. I love adding them to fish soup with lots of ginger and garlic. A few days ago, my ... (more)