11 more days.. and counting

It's the time of the year again and my favorite! Our Christmas tree was already up first week of November, so just can't say we are not excited about the Holiday Season. =)
Strange ,though. I have not started wrapping gifts yet, and have not even gotten anything yet for a few people in our list. So I guess it will be a busy week next week. Taking about Christmas Rush..
And one more thing that I need to prepare - my Christmas menu. =) Though I'm planning of just doing a mini-lunch or dinner, but it still excites me to prepare the banquet.hehe.
Update you soon..

Fashion Passion

This is what I was talking about in my previous post. Been a little busy lately setting up my online store, which takes a lot of time and dedication for you to get decent sale. Yeah, it's not that easy, especially that you are just using free ad in Multiply. With thousands of other sellers out there, it's not very convinving if you only post loads and loads of photos. It takes a whole heard of friends to give you feedback, at the same time upsell to their other friends. Maybe it's really this hard starting up a business of your own. A little more patience, I'm telling myself. A little more..

Anyway, why don't you check out http://fashionpassion78.multiply.com. I am featuring fashio apparels and accessories from Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore. It's a pre-order scheme, so i have 3 more days till cutoff, to give my final orders to my supplier in Singapore, and have it shipped here. I find the items pretty and affordable, personally speaking, considering that it's not the common clothings we find in the mall. It's crazy that I even was thinking of ordering each of the item for myself.lol!

Vacation

I had a week-long vacation with my 4 year-old daughter and it was just a blast!
We had a chance to visit my hometown Bohol, and a few more days in Cebu. It has been three years since my last visit, a ot of changes in the city proper, but still the same old, familiar place where I spent almost 70% of my growing life.
The photo was taken early morning in Panglao, where we spent a night with fresh seafood and luve band music. It still is breath-taking!

New Change

I have been thinking about tweaking a bit on my blogsite. I have started as a foodie site which features food, cooking, kitchen, home, and the likes. And I am thinking of catering some more of my personal life. No, not the one you're thinking(hehe), but a little on my personal preferences when it comes to fashion. Dresses, shoes, bags, cosmetics, etc... And that excites me! :)

Oh, I have to finalize it first before I do a makeover. See yah! :)

Your Crib

It has been a challenge getting a house of our own. After living for almost 4 years in a rented apartment, I realize just how much we could have saved if those monthly leases were saved. But considering expenses on daily commodities and a lot more, that was the only option we had. Until we were able to save enough to get ourselves our own roof. Constructing a brand new house is of course no joke, much thanks to my father-in-law who offered us the lot and also shelled out on getting the house up.

I read about this company which operates and manages commercial and residential properties. Real Property Management, service single family homes, condos, apartment buildings, store fronts, and Homeowner associations. You can browse through the site all about their Management Services, Rental Search, Tenants or Owners, as well as Investment Services. It it was available in the Philippines, I could asked help from them. Giving yourself too much stress from selecting the tiles to the furniture color is just too much that eats much of your time. Taking the hassle out of managing it yourself. It could have been an easier project to have them assist you in times like this. Reason why I suggested this to a friend who is in the Cincinnati area.

My Scent

Last week, me and hubby went to get a bottle of perfume. His cK One is almost empty, so as his Acqua d' Gio. He was thinking of buying either a Banana Republic classic or one from Issey Miyake.

We two are almost the same when it comes to scent. We go for fresh ones, not strong nor too masculine. And maybe because he's athmatic, he is so sensitive to strong smells, of course including perfumes. Spraying while inside the car is a big no-no for us. Doesn't want to get suffocated. I, on the other hand, loves citrussy smell, and more of like 'just-got-out-of-the-shower' smell..

There we went and had one sniffing too much. Banana Republic was not available, so he ended getting the L'eau D'issey from Issey Miyake. Nice pick.

Then I happen to browse though this site, and was surprised that there already is a 'weed perfume' in the market. Yes, you read it right, from the Cannabis plant. Quoting from the site, "Cannabis Flower, which is at the heart of this fragrance. Slightly floral, slightly spicy, but unmistakably Cannabis, this fragrance has a deep and penetrating beauty." Hmm.. I wonder how it really smells like.. and if it makes you high. :)

Getting a Ride

It was raining all day Saturday, the day typhoon Ondoy hit Manila. It spent a grueling 3 hours on the shuttle line just to get a ride home. But still lucky me, with others worried about the flood water going inside their houses, losing valuables and even some, their loved ones.

That's when i thought about getting my own ride. A big decision I should say, considering that we're talking about hundreds of pesos here. The one that we're using can't have me and hubby use it at the same time, so maybe it's about time for me get one myself. I'm not really wishing for a brand new piece, a used car would do. And I stumbled upon this site, which really helped me. The site, an Online Car Search, doesn't just help you find, search and buy. It got a lot of other helpful things on their site too. Whether you're thinking of buying a car, new or used, cash or lease.

This I need to consult to hubby. Maybe after I'm done with my driving lessons. :)

Let's reach out...

Let us do our share to help out our brothers who were affected by Typhoon Ondoy.

A little help will go a long way...

Addendum-

I have sorted out a few of our old but still wearables clothes and together with a big pack of groceries we bought at the grocery earlier, I brought it to our office. Our HR department is currently accepting donations for our employees who were affected by the flood. It's sad to see pictures of their belongings next to nothing. Shocking sights. In my own little way, I hope I was able to help them in the only way I can think of, including the prayers the rest of us are offering..

Got this from The Wifey Diaries. Feel free to repost.

Grilled Chicken and Mixed Veggies

One of the fastest dish I can prepare in a jiffy...

INGREDIENTS:

4 pcs. chicken fillet, thigh
2 cups mixed veggies
2 tbsp, lemon juice (or calamansi)
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

1. Season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Squeeze in lemon juice. Set aside.
2. In a pre-heated griddle, add oil and butter. Grill chicken until cooked, turning it over until each side is a little brown. Only takes about 2-3 minutes per side.
3. Using the same pan, add in mixed veggies on the side. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 3-4 minutes until it turns bright in color. Do not overcook.
4. Prepare in individual serving dish, with the veggies on the side. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Fish Tausi

A healthy choice of your favorite fish, tofu and tausi beans...

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 kilo cream dory or any fish fillet of choice

2 pcs. tofu squares, cute into small cubes

1 tbsp. tausi, save juice

3 tbsp. flour

1 medium size green and/or red bell pepper, sliced

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium size onion, sliced

vegetable oil for frying

salt and pepper to taste

chives or leek, optional

1. Season fish with salt and pepper and in a bowl, sprinkle flour until meat is covered. Set aside.

2. In a pan, deep fry tofu squares. Using the same oil, prepare fish. Keep warm.

3. In a separate pan, sautee garlic, onion and bell pepper. Add fried fish and tofu squares.

4. Add 1/2 cup water and let it simmer for 1 minute.

5. Add in tausi beans and a sprinkle of the tausi juice. Adjust taste.

6.Arrange in a serving dish and add chives or leek for garnish, if using.

7. Serve hot.

Cookies, cookies... anyone?

Another personal favorite - oatmeal raisin cookies. As mentioned in my previous blog, I have been making baked goodies the past two weeks to eventually start my own little business. It's nice to get a few orders for the next day but sometimes feel like I'm still not into mass-production. I usually get tired after a second batch in the oven. With my 3-year old helping me do the 'sprinkles', but more on messing up the kitchen, it was a lot of fun! And getting comments and compliments, just make it more rewarding. ;-)

I also have the classic faves - choco chip cookies, together with banana walnut and moist chocolate cakes. I have these pictures available in my Multiply site, so you can check it out.

Got to go, got a few batches waiting for me. Ciao!

Happy Mother's Day!

To all super mommas out there, Happy Mother's Day! Our day... and I remember a year back when I first started posting on Blogspot. How time flies. ;-)

It was a simple bonding for us. Stayed home all day, did 'ayos' a lot of things. Heard Mass late afternoon and had dinner at our favorite resto - Racks. Yep, my 3-year old murmuring over and over again how she loved her mac & cheese, from the Church all the way to Magallanes.

Had a platter of the original Pork Ribs, hubby had a Quarter Pound Baby Back, and our little girl - a double large order of m&c. Burp! Headed home and a movie followed. Had Brownie Fudge ala mode, a new flavor from Selecta, while watching. What more can you ask for? Though now I get a little guilt from eating all out. And what happens to my Diet Watch?

Oh, by the way, last time I checked, it was still 127, but with an extra .4 lbs. And I just started eating rice about 5 days ago. Now I'm wondering if I'm still on the 20's mark. Let's wait till my next weigh-in. ;-)

Oh well, it's late. Will post some new pics tomorrow. Good night!

I'm Back!

Oh, it's been ages since my last post.. I'm already having this feeling that this could pass as a dormant account now.. Not really, 'coz I'm gonna be back. With a lot more to share. ;-)

I'm currently busy with my baking venture. Uh-huh, a tiny-weenie business I just started about a couple of weeks ago. Excited at the same time tensed..

Good luck to me.. ;-)

Stuffed Bell Pepper

Found these colored beauties in the weekend market and decided to stuff it.

INGREDIENTS:
3-4 salad bell peppers
1/4 kilo ground beef or pork
1 cup bread crumbs
salt and pepper to taste
3-4 tbsp. barbecue sauce
1 medium onion, sliced
2-3 cloves garlic, sliced and minced
mozzarella or cheddar cheese (optional)

1. In a bowl, mix meat with garlic and onion. Add in bread crumbs and sprinkle salt and pepper according to taste.
2. Cut bell peppers on top, saving it for cover later. Clean inside and remove seeds.
3. Stuff meat in the peppers, careful not to overstuff it. Put barbecue sauce on top of meat, pressing a bit to squeeze it inside. Add a slice of cheese if using, before covering it with the top part of the pepper.
4. Arrange in a baking dish, and cook it in a pre-heated oven (350) for an hour.
5. Serve hot.

Brocolli with Sun-dried Tomato Pasta

I was surprised when my Tita told me what she just bought from the supermarket - sun-dried tomatoes! I've been looking for it all over.. and immediately got one myself. I saw mini fussillis still in the jar, and a bunch of brocolli should do good.

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups pasta of your choice
1 bunch of brocolli, sliced
4 tbsp. olive oil
4-5 pcs. dun-dried tomates, sliced
5 cloves garlic, sliced and minced
1 small onion, sliced
salt and pepper to taste

1. Heat pan and add olive oil. Sautee garlic and onion.
2. In a separate deep pan, boil water and cook pasta according to directions. Add brocolli 2 minutes before draining pasta.
3. Add tomatoes to the pan and toss pasta and brocolli. Add salt and pepper according to taste.
4. Serve immediately.

My Diet Watch III

Almost a month from my 'rice-less diet, and I'm still breathing.. :)

Last check on the weighing scale, 127.4. Whoah, that was not bad at all. Considering I still eat the same volume, just no rice. Maybe I will really do a 'stricter' diet, will lose maybe 5 more. But that is not happening so soon... :)

I feel okay with what I'm consuming, maybe if distress signal calls for it, then escalate it to a higher degree. hehe!

My Diet Watch II

A week after my desperate move to 'diet' myself...

Not really giving me a very significant change, but one pound is not bad at all.haha! Oh yeah, only a mark on the weighing scale, but that won't stop me. Another week more and we'll see.

I have been religiously following my 'riceless' diet, stuffing my tummy with bread, wheat and sometimes just white, and my favorite orange sweet potato. I still eat the usual meal, just omitting the sinful rice in my plate.

I have tried to do a little walking just around the village last week, with my 3-year old chit-chatting with me. Been thinking if I can try jogging. Maybe after I get my sneakers off somewhere, still trying to figure out where I last placed it.

So for the record, one week - one pound lost.. Hope to maybe get two or three more off next week.. :)

My Diet Watch

I have not been able to post new ideas lately. One main reason is that my over tendency to eat a lot whenever I'm in the kitchen cooking.haha! But that won't stop me from cooking meals, so I will still be posting interesting menus from time to time. :)

I'm forced to try to start a 'simple diet', after realizing that I need to add extra effort when pulling up some of my favorite pair of jeans. Whew! Not easy.

So I officially started my Diet Watch this morning. I'm thinking of doing it 'rice-less', so here we go...

Breakfast was a cup of sweetened oatmeal, no milk. I could have tried unsweetened, but it was just blunt. A teaspoon won't hurt, I suppose. And 2 small pieces of boiled sweet potato. Oh yeah, camote. And that's my favorite 'orange' camote, mind you. I have searched almost everywhere, and luckily saw it at SM, so I bought almost 2 kilos. Good enough for 3 or 4 days of my fasting. Love it! I grabbed 2 more on the way out and had it for lunch, with 'ginataang langka' on the side. Yum! I almost survived till the afternoon, but took crackers and a cup of tea latte for merienda. Was that sinful enough? Oh, I don't wanna get ulcer instead, so I think that's just okay. :) Dinner earlier was still with my orange potato and a bowl of Vietnamese noodles. And 1 small slice of Spam. Sorry, saw a few slices left from my 3-year old's breakfast. :)

So that's for my first day, hope it will help my 130-lb weight to go down a bit. Even just one mark. We'll see... Ciao!

Beef and Gravy Stew

One of my kitchen experiments. Beef with my favorite gravy, a perfect match!

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 kilo beef
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, sliced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced and sliced
2 tbsp corn starch
1 pack McCormick Beef and Gravy mix
2 cups water

1. Slice meat and remove extra fats(litid). Cook in a pressure cooker for 30-40 minutes, or until tender.
2. In a pan, sautee garlic and onion. Add meat and simmer for 3 minutes.
3. Pour gravy mix in 1 cup water, then pour in. Simmer for another 2 minutes.
4. Mix corn starch with the remaining cup of water and add to concoction. Adjust taste.
5. Prepare in a warm serving dish and serve.

Garlic Broccoli

One of the only few vegetables my little girl eats. And you can just prepare this dish in a flash, so that will give you more family time.

INGREDIENTS:
1 medium broccoli
5 cloves garlic
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
salt to taste

1. Wash broccoli and cut florets. Steam for about 5 minutes, or until cooked. Set aside.
2. In a pre-heated pan, add oil and then toss in butter. Sautee garlic until light brown.
3. Add broccoli and sprinkle salt, simmer for a minute.
4. Add 2 tablespoons water, and adjust taste accordingly.
5. Prepare in a shallow dish, and serve immediately.

Pepper Shrimp

A very simple but tasty way to cook shrimp.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 kilo medium shrimp
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper, ground

1. In a bowl, wash shrimp and remove heads, if preferred.
2. Sprinkle salt and pepper and mix a little.
3. In a pre-heated pan, add shrimp and let it cook, until it changes to a bright orange color. Add some more pepper, if desired.
4. Prepare in a shallow dish and serve.

Chili Pork Steak

Another one of Hubby's personal favorites. Tomato-based with a little spicy twang, just perfect!

INGREDIENTS:
4 pork steaks
2 tbsp margarine (or butter, but it browns too fast)
5 tbsp tomato paste, mix in 2 cups water
2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp oregano
1 tsp worcestershire sauce (optional)

1. In a frying pan, brown meat in margarine.
2. Add remaining ingredients and mix a little.
3. Cover and simmer slowly until tender, about 45 minutes, stirring and turning meat accasionally. Add some more tomato paste if needed, to maintain consistency.
4. Serve hot.

The Holidays... now over

My most awaited part of the year is finally over. :(
But now that we're just left with keepimg the Christmas decors, I guess it will give me more time to post new articles.. or menus, I should say. But the holidays kept me busy in the kitchen, and that's where I will have to share in my next posts. It's just sad that it's finally over. And I hate the additional weight I gained. But as much as I hate it, I just love pigging out.haha!