Long Live the Queen!!!

I got this e-mail from a friend and I thought this is a very interesting subject to share...

This puts her age into a proper perspective... Long live the Queen!!!

What Typhoon Ondoy/Ketsana Left Behind the Metro

Last Saturday, September 26, 2009, Metro Manila experienced a continuous rain and thunderstorm that flooded the whole city... and this is what Ondoy/Ketsana left behind...


















We continue to pray for God's grace and mercy... may He give us the strength to help and provide for those who are really in need... may all of us recover from this devastation, but may we learn from our mistakes and start changing our ways and to love our mother nature more... may God heal our land....

A Simple Engagement Dinner at Choi Garden Sea Food and Shark's Fin Restaurant, Annapolis, Greenhills, San Juan

After so many years of searching, my 40 year old brother-in-law finally found the woman she's going to marry... Everyone in the family, was really excited about this... The happy couple decided for a very simple engagement ceremony and dinner to formally introduce both families to each other and of course, to celebrate... :D

My parents-in-law decided to have the ceremony and dinner at Choi Garden Sea Food and Shark's Fin Restaurant since it's a very reputable Chinese restaurant nowadays and the food is really good here...

Anyway, the ceremony was held inside a private function room with just the immediate family and our Pastor and his wife present... Inside the room, the accent wall was really eye-catching...


After the simple ceremony of exchanging of rings between the couple, the bracelet and necklace giving by the groom-to-be's parents to the future daughter-in-law, and some picture taking, of course, the dinner was served...


Cha Misua... very tasty and really good...

Cold Cuts... slices of Smoked Ham, White Chicken, Lechon Macau, Century Eggs, Jelly Fish and California Maki...

Herbal Chicken Soup... a clear soup that's so simple, but full of flavor... this was very good...

they also served the very tender chicken meat, you can actually put some in your soup...

Baby Lobsters... these were perfectly cooked...


Fish Fillet with Broccoli... the fish and the veggies were very fresh... cooked just right...

Fried Pigeon... this is the specialty of the house, you need to order this 2-3 days before... and yes, the meat was tender and juicy...


Deep Fried Crab Claws Wrapped in Noodles... crab claws with fillings wrapped with noodles and deep fried... very crunchy...

Braised Fish Head Hot Pot... this is my favorite... the slices of fish head were coated with flour and deep fried before they were cooked in a claypot with beancurd skin, pork slices, and lots of garlic...


Steamed Chinese Cake... it was very soft and light...

Sesame Seed Balls or Butchi... a favorite dessert of the groom-to be... deep fried glutinous rice balls filled with yellow bean paste and rolled in sesame seeds... it was crunchy, and the filling was not too sweet...

Sweet Taro Soup with Sago or Tapioca... not too sweet, but so creamy because of the mashed taro...

It was indeed a great meal and a great celebration... and I'm truly happy for them... watch out for the wedding next year... :)

Choi Garden Seafood and Shark's Fin Restaurant

12 Annapolis St. cor. Purdue St., San Juan, Metro Manila

Tel. No. : (02) 727-6042

Tocino with Malunggay Marinara Pasta

I think it was around late last year when I posted Tocino with Malunggay Carbonara Pasta... and I thought, maybe it would be interesting to share the twist that Hubby and Kid1 did for this, may I present to you, Tocino with Malunggay Marinara Pasta...

As I shared before, Malunggay is a kind of herb which you can easily find anywhere here in the Metro, be it in your own backyard, vacant lots, or market... very affordable and nutritious too... most of the time, this herb is use to cook traditional Filipino dishes... but more often, most new moms in this country add Malunggay in their Chicken Soup, or what we call Tinola, to help them produce more breast milk... while Tocino, is a popular Filipino cured meat that is often served during breakfast... Now, let's get started...

Tocino with Malunggay Marinara Pasta

The ingredients...olive oil, garlic, tocino, diced tomatoes, linguine, malunggay, sugar, salt, and pepper...

First, I washed and sorted around 2 handfuls of Malunggay leaves and set it aside... then cook 250 grams LinguineNoodles according to package direction...


Heat Olive Oil and cook the 2 cloves of minced Garlic...

Add the sliced 220 grams Tocino until the meat renders its' fats and caramelized...


Add the Diced Tomatoes...


Season with Sugar, Salt & Pepper...

Add the Cooked Pasta...

the Malunggay Leaves... and mix, fold everything together...


And enjoy... :D


After a long absence, I like to share this pasta dish to this week's Presto Pasta Nights, hosted by Psychgrad of Equal Opportunity Kitchen... this is headed and founded by Ruth of Once Upon a Feast...

Saying Goodbye to President Corazon Aquino

It's so sad that after more than a month of absence here, I have to come back with this post... But I guess, in my own little way, I have to say goodbye to the simple housewife who became the first woman president in Asia, former Philippine President, Corazon C. Aquino... After a year of courageously battling with Colon Cancer, she finally went back to be with the Lord early this morning...

She was not a perfect president, but her honesty, simplicity, and faithfulness made up for it... May her legacy of democracy, peace, and love of God continue to live on...


Goodbye Madame President...

Celebrating Father's Day with a Häagen-Dazs' Ice Cream Cake

As I woke up today, I remembered that it's Father's Day and sadness filled my heart as I know that I won't have the privilege of enjoying greeting my father as he is no longer with us... I just closed my eyes and let the good memories roll in my mind and in my heart... It's been a year already but I can't help but miss him more... So, please treasure your fathers, show them your love as often and as much as you can... do not be too late... not only for your fathers' sake, but for yourselves too...

Anyway, we celebrated Father's Day with Hubby and Father-in-Law as the leading celebrant... We had dinner at Penang in Shangri-La Plaza and eagerly went home to enjoy our dessert, Häagen-Dazs' Ice Cream Cake...

Lovely huh... :)


Well, to all the fathers out there, a very Happy Father's Day to all of you...

Smoked Salmon Pita Wrap

Yes, I'm still alive... I know I haven't been posting lately but it's been a really busy Summer with all the traveling and work going on, I'm hoping that everything will be back to our normal pace since school will start next week for the kids, though they are already dreading going back, ha ha... Anyway, with school starting, I just hope the AH1N1 Virus will be contained soon...

Well, one of the activity we enjoyed doing this vacation was the bonding time we have at the kitchen... The kids truly enjoy creating something in the kitchen with their Dad, so when a friend gifted us with Smoked Salmon he brought home from Canada, we are thrilled to make something special, yet simple enough to do, out of this... And we all decided to make a Smoked Salmon Pita Wrap...

The Ingredients... Smoked Salmon, Tortillas Wrap, Creamy Yogurt, Mayo,Tomatoes, Alfalfa Sprouts, Goat Cheese, and Fresh Basil...

Prepare the Yogurt Sauce by mixing some mayo and yogurt...

and season with a little sugar, salt, and pepper...

Spread sauce in the pita wrap and add some alfalfa sprouts...

Add some smoked salmon...

Add tomato slices...

Add some fresh basil leaves...

Drizzle with some more sauce and add slices of goat cheese...

Wrap...

And the finish product...

It was good and filling... healthy actually... :)