Lasang Pinoy 24 - Loco over Coco - Buko Custard Pie

29 February 2008 Labels: , , , , , 9 comments

Lasang Pinoy 24

This month's theme for Lasang Pinoy is coconut. There are a lot of recipes using a coconut product. Didn't they say that the coconut is the 'Tree of Life' because every part of the tree can be used in one way or the other.

Living in New England, it is not convenient to get fresh coconut. I miss the wet market in the Philippines where you can buy freshly grated coconut and squeeze it to get the 'kakang gata' or coconut cream or the street vendor pushing a cart full of young coconuts for a refreshing coconut juice drink.Here in the US, you can get a mature coconut from your local grocer but you are on your own when it comes to opening it up. A trip to an Asian grocery will yield a lot of frozen and canned coconut products. These are what I use whenever the recipe calls for one.Coconut products

I had a hard time deciding on what to make since there are a lot of uses for coconut in Philippine cuisine. I only had a week of preparation for this and today is the last day, hooray for Leap Year! LOL

I had the idea of making buko pie but couldn't find a buko pie recipe in the 8(!) Filipino cookbooks I have. While leafing through one cookbook, I came across a recipe for Buko Custard Pie, this is new to me. So, I decided to make this as my contribution for Lasang Pinoy 24.

Buko Custard Pie
BUKO CUSTARD PIE (source: Baking Made EC by Eufemia C. Estrada)

Filling:
1.5 cups shredded buko
0.5 cup sugar
0.75 cup sugar
4 tbsp cornstarch
1 can evaporated milk
3 egg yolks
1 tbsp dayap juice

Meringue Topping:
3 egg whites
6 tbsp sugar

1 pie crust

* Bake the pie crust in a preheated 425degF oven for 15-20 minutes until light brown. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. Reduce oven temprature to 300degF.

* MAKE THE FILLING: Cook the buko with 1/2 cup sugar until slightly thick. Set aside. Combine 3/4c sugar with the cornstarch and add to the milk. Cook on top of double boiler until slightly thick. Beat egg yolks lightly and add a little of the hot mixture to it then stir into the rest of the hot mixture. Add buko mixture and cook a little longer, until thick, stirring constantly. Set aside and make meringue

*Beat egg whites till frothy, add the sugar gradually and beat to soft peaks.

*ASSEMBLE THE PIE: Pour the hot filling into the cooked pie crust and spread evenly. Top the hot filling with the meringue, taking care to spread the meringue to the sides of the crust to seal it. This will prevent the meringue from weeping.

*Bake in 300degF oven for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden. Let cool on wire rack.

This buko custard pie turned out very sweet even though I did not add the syrup from the cooked buko. I suggest reducing the amount of sugar (1/4 cup and maybe 1/2 cup) unless you have a sweet tooth. :) Since I do not have Lime to substitute for Dayap, I omitted it. All in all, this is a good take on the buko pie but nothing beats the original of course.
Buko Pie
2 c young coconut, sliced into strips
1/2 c coconut juice
1/2 c condensed milk
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup evaporated milk
2 ready-made pie crust
Bake one pie crust in 350degF until lightly brown. Set aside.
Combine the filling ingredients except the last two (conrstarch and milk) in a saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly.
Mix the cornstarch and milk.
When the pie filling starts to boil, add the cornstarch mixture, and stir until it has thickened.
Pour into prepared pie crust.
Top with the other pie crust and bake until light brown.
Let the pie cool and refrigerate for a couple of hours until the pie mixture is set.


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Shrimp with Peas and Quail Eggs

26 February 2008 Labels: , , , , 8 comments

Shrimp with Peas It is a treat for me to get fresh quail eggs. I can only buy it at an Asian grocery about an hour's drive from our town. This is one of the dish that I like to cook using these kind of eggs. It is very simple yet full of flavor.

All you need are garlic, onions, fresh shrimp, hard-boiled quail eggs, fresh green peas, chicken broth and cornstarch. Saute the garlic and onions until translucent and soft. Add shrimps and green peas. Saute for a minute then add some chicken broth, just enough to make a sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Dissolve some cornstarch in the chicken broth (1 tsp cornstarch + 2 tsp. water) and add to thicken the sauce.Add the boiled and shelled quail eggs. Cook for about 2 minutes (until the shimps turn pink) it is very important not to overcook the shrimp. If you need exact measurements, just drop me a note and I'll send you the recipe. :)

There are many variations of this dish. You can use chicken in lieu of shrimps or you can add cashews for some crunch. I don't cook this dish often because my husband does not like peas. Too bad for him since he's missing out on a great and simple dish. :)

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The Perfect Bedroom Furniture

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My plan for this year is to convert the extra bedroom into a guest room for friends and family to stay in. Right now, we use it as a play room for my kids and an extra storage space for our clothes and shoes. Whenever my parents visit from California, they use Amber's room which has the queen size bed and Amber ends up sleeping on the mattress on our bedroom floor.

I'm always browsing online for ideas and bedroom furniture. There is a website called Time4Sleep. They offer a large selection of bedroom furniture at a great price and they even offer free delivery. You can order online through their secure website or call them on the phone.

Like any other consumer, I want a quality furniture that is affordable, this website has both. The Time4Sleep website has a section for Faux Leather Beds which is perfect for the 'minimalist or modern look' I would like to create for the guest room. There are a lot of choices that would suit every taste. I like the model called Revive because it gives you the option to change the color of the backboard to coordinate it with the colors of the room. Other than faux leather, they also give you a choice of faux suede and chenille. Now I just need to decide on the colors I am going to use for the guest room then I'm all set to start my new project.

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Sinangag aka Fried Rice

24 February 2008 Labels: , , , 8 comments

Whenever I have leftover cooked rice, I make some kind of 'Sinangag' (fried rice) with it. Usually I'll just add garlic, carrots and eggs. But if I have some shrimp leftover from dinner, I recycle it and add it to my sinangag.

Nothing special with this recipe, as you all know, making sinangag is a 'no-brainer'. The trick to making a 'great' sinangag against a 'so-so' version is the rice. It has to be dry or else you will end up with a 'mushy' blob. Cooking it long enough to get the right texture is the key. Wait, did I say 'it's a no-brainer'? I guess not. LOL

In most of the Chinese restaurants I've been to here in New England, their fried rice is very dark because they use soy sauce in it. It was quite a shock really, after being used to the ones in California. I made it once with soy sauce but it didn't turn out quite as dark. I tried adding Oyster Sauce but found it too sweet. In my one and only Chinese recipe book (authored by Eileen Lo), there is a recipe for fried rice. If I remember it correctly (since I'm too lazy to get up from my seat and check) there is a concoction of Chinese cooking wine, soy sauce, oyster sauce, etc. I made it a couple of times and it is very good but surprisingly not as dark as the restaurants'.

If you are having Tocino, Longganisa, daing na Bangus or some kind of dried fish like Tuyo or Danggit, it won't be as satisfying if you do not pair it with sinangag. I guess it's just nostalgia. In the Philippines, our maid always cook sinangag for breakfast every time we have Tocino, etc.

Old habits die hard, wouldn't you say so?

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Let's Help the Fil-Am Beach Volleyball Team

22 February 2008 Labels: 0 comments

Meet Heidi Illustre and Diane Pascua, the members of the Filipino-American Beach Volleyball team. They are hoping to raise $20,000 for expenses to help them qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics this summer. I heard about them from a friend in CA, Diane is the coach of her daughter.

If you have a personal blog, it would be great if you can write a post about the team and help spread the word. Ask your fellow bloggers to do a post about them too. If we all do this, then hopefully they will make it to the Olympics and represent the Philippines. :)

Their website: http://www.teamphilvb.com/

Personal blogs:
Heidi: http://www.teamhidi.blogspot.com/
Diane: http://www.dianepascua.blogspot.com/

Please help support this cause.

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Our Summer in Europe

21 February 2008 4 comments




My husband and I saved for our vacation this year for a long time. We knew he was going to have a sabbatical from work this year and we wanted to do something memorable. It is going to be a family vacation to several countries in Europe, yes, the kids will be coming with us. :)

The bulk of our expenses will be in the accomodations. Most hotels in Europe allow only a limited number of persons in a room. I've researched the hotels in Great Britain (this is our first stop) and I'm still having sticker-shock from the prices. For our family, our option is to stay in two adjoining rooms and for about $300-$400 per room/night, it just becomes too expensive.

Luckily, I found a website where the prices are very reasonable compared to most hotel booking sites. It's called CheaperThanHotels.co.uk, they have very good and competitive prices for hotels in the UK and all over the world.

We plan to visit a lot of cities in Great Britain. Our first stop is London, of course. We prefer to stay where all the action is at, so we booked one of the Central London Hotels. From London, we will take the train to go to Manchester. We found our Manchester accomodations that is near to the city center, just like the one in London. Having a 3 year old with us, we need to think of the accessibility of the hotel, it should be close to everything. :) We plan to take a day trip to Leeds from Manchester, I heard Leeds is a very nice city with a nice castle which we plan to visit.

From Manchester, we will fly to Scotland and stay in Glasgow first then head on to Edinburgh. I'd like to see the Edinburgh palace, I wonder if they have any tours.

Both our Glasgow accomodation and Edinburgh accomodation are very affordable and from the photos I have seen on the site, very clean. We plan to see the Scottish Highlands and maybe some castle ruins.

Our last stop is Belfast, my husband is part-Irish so he wants to visit the place and see where his ancestors came from. There are a lot of choices for Belfast accomodations, they even offer last minute bookings and the prices are really cheap.

I'm so glad to have found this great website, it surely made planning our 1-month trip to Europe very affordable.

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Blogger Now in Filipino

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I saw this on the Blogger Dashboard. They now offer Blogger in Filipino. My first question was "Why?". Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mean to be disrespectful to my first language but you and I know that it does not fill a need.
Filipinos learn the English language from grade school on up, given that some may not be proficient in it, it is still passable; and if you have your own blog or thinking of getting one, then I say that you understand English well.
So now that Blogger is in Filipino, are you going to use it or stay with the English version? Please share your thoughts with me. :)

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Shopping Cart Software

20 February 2008 0 comments


Online shopping is now very popular amongst consumers. A lot of people nowadays find it convenient and secure. Traditional businesses who are finding themselves opening up online stores and expanding their customer base need a reliable and affordable shopping cart software. Established online merchants meanwhile experience problems with their software and these can cut on their profits. Most of the online merchants problem is with abandoned shopping carts because customers get frustrated if the process turns out to be confusing. The merchants need a very good shopping cart software to help take care of this.

Ashop Commerce has the perfect solution to this problem and more with their shopping cart software. They provide ecommerce software to major online businesses and to small businesses as well. You get free upgrades for life along with fraud detection, SEO (Search Engine Optimization)and full technical support. Their shopping cart software is fully customizable to fit your online business. With the software, you also get statistic reports that will tell you where your customers browse in your online store.

If you want a reliable and trusted shopping cart software, then definitely Ashop Commerce is the place for you.

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A Filipina in American Idol

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Her name is Ramiel Malubay, I knew she was Filipina the first time I saw her. She made it to the top 24. Tonite was the first nite for the female contestants, the male contestants had their turn yesterday. I wrote about it in my new blog. :)

Anyway, back to Ramiel. She did a great job singing tonite. She received all positive comments from the judges, yes, even Simon Cowell. I hope that she makes it to the finals. I made sure I voted for her tonite and will continue to do so as long as she is around.

Here is a clip about her from AI.





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Learn Ways to Avoid Bankruptcy

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People are finding themselves in a bleak financial situation because of the economy. Some lose their jobs, have a large medical bill that is not covered by insurance or they do not know how to manage their finances. There are people who lost control of their credit card spending, their credit card debts are piling up and they find themselves backed up against the wall and have no choice but to file for bankruptcy. There are some who cannot afford their monthly mortgage payments add that to the fact that they have negative equity in their property.

Being in this situation can be very daunting and it would seem that there is nothing you can do. Actually there is help. There is still hope out there for people who are in dire financial straits. You need help with Debt Management.

You will learn how to manage your debt through tools like debt calculators, debt consolidation and debt manager. You can lower your debt interest rates and be completely debt free in a couple of years. Most people just give up and give in to the harrassing phone calls from creditors. With these tools, you have a chance to start over and pay off all your debts without going through bankruptcy which will definitely ruin your credit.
Take the first step now and look into debt management.

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Nice Quality Eyewear + Great Price

19 February 2008 0 comments


I know how expensive prescription eyeglasses can be because I use one. My annual eye exam is coming up next week and it reminded me of how much I paid for my last pair of eyeglasses.

This week, I made a Great Discovery: Zenni Optical $8 Glasses. Yes, you read that right. :) $8 for a pair of prescription eyeglasses, you certainly cannot beat that price. They have a huge selection of stylish frames on their website. They have frames for children, frames with clip-on shades, rimless frames, you name it, they have it. They have the complete selection of lens that you need: single vision, reading, progressive and photocromic to name a few. The site is very easy to navigate and all the prices for your eyeglass options are laid out.

Zenni Optical $8 Rx Eyeglasses are a great value. You can save money on the frame and splurge on the lens. Shipping is only $4.95 PER ORDER, regardless of the quantity. They ship via USPS with a tracking# and delivery confirmation. Each eyeglass order comes with a hard case and a cleaning cloth.

Zenni optical can keep their prices low because they sell only their own manufactured frames, so the savings get passed on to the consumers. Did I also tell you that the anti-scratch coating and UV protection are free?

This is definitely the best value in the web. Go check out the Best Thing found: Zenni Optical $8 glasses.

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A Simple Roast Pork Loin

17 February 2008 Labels: , , , , 9 comments

Roast Pork Loin



You can never go wrong with a roast, all you need is a calibrated oven for the right baking temperature and a cooking thermometer to check for doneness. It is very important not to overcook the meat, the result will be a dry and unappetizing entree. If you do a lot of cooking, then I suggest investing in a digital cooking thermometer.

One of my dh fave is roast pork loin because the meat is very lean. The recipe I use is very simple. I use salt and pepper to season the meat. Preheat the oven to 375degF. Brown the pork loin on the stove top and then put it in the oven. I use either a cast iron pan or a pan that can withstand the high temp in the oven, this saves me an extra pan to clean.
Cook until done, about 40-50 minutes (do not rely on the cooking time, always check the temperature of the meat). The cooking thermometer should register 150degF. Let the cooked meat rest for at least 10 min., this is important so the juice will have time to settle back into the meat. If you skip this step and you cut into it, you'll see all the juice come out and you will end up with a dry piece of meat.

Roast Pork Loin My family is not big on gravy when it comes to roast pork. They like to pair it up with apple sauce. (Yes, you read that right, my thoughts exactly. LOL For Filipinos, apple sauce is classified under dessert/snack, here in the US and some European countries, they cook and serve pork with apples and other fruits.) I also made wild rice and steamed green beans to complete the meal.
Bon Apetit!

PORK COOKING TIME CHART

ROASTING - in an uncovered, shallow pan at 350° F.
Loin Roast, Bone-in or Boneless: 2-5 pounds - 20 minutes per pound
Crown Roast: 6-10 pounds - 20 minutes per pound
Leg: 3 1/2 pounds- 20 minutes per pound
Shoulder Roast (Butt): 3-6 pounds - 30 minutes per pound
Tenderloin (roast at 425-450° F) : - 20 - 30 minutes per pound
Ribs: - 1 1/2 - 2 hours**


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My Filipino Comfort Food - Nilaga

16 February 2008 Labels: , , , , 21 comments

Beef Nilaga

Nilaga

This has been my favorite since I was a child in the Philippines. It is called 'Nilaga' which translates to 'boiled' in English. This is made with either beef, chicken and sometimes even pork. My fave is beef nilaga but we try to eat healthy so I used chicken instead.




It is a very easy dish to make, if you mess it up, I suggest you stay out of the kitchen. LOL



Put the meat in the pot with water and some peppercorns and boil until tender. For veggies, it is preferable to use Bokchoy (also known as Pechay) or cabbage with some potatoes and string beans. For seasoning, I use fish sauce (what can I say, I'm Tagalog. LOL).



How about you? What is your favorite comfort food?


Nilaga


Cooking time: 1 to 2 hours

1 lb. beef, cut into 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" cubes

3 potatoes cut the same size as the beef

1 bundle Bok choy, cut in halves

1/2 small cabbage, cut in 2

fish sauce, to taste

8 peppercorns

6 cups water


In casserole bring water, beef, peppercorns and potatoes to boil. Take out the potatoes when it is fork tender and set aside (after about 10 minutes). Simmer for 1 hour or until the beef is tender. Add the cabbage and the bokchoy. Do not over cook the vegetables. Add fish sauce.


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Ashop Commerce

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Are you a merchant who is taking your business online? Are you on the lookout for software for your online shopping cart?
Setting it all up can be daunting, more so for those who do not have the knowledge of HTML and web coding. Let me tell you about Ashop Commerce, they have an ecommerce software that will make it all easier for you.


Ashop Commerce is a leading provider of hosted shopping cart software. It offers a complete solution for merchants to sell online. Their shopping cart software is used by a lot of big companies as well as small merchants.


Their website is so easy to navigate and all the important information is laid out on the banner page. One great thing about using their shopping cart software is that everything is hosted online. You do not have to install anything in your computer or server. The site is fully encrypted and secure. You can even make your own design using their 'Easy Design Creator'. It has full technical support and customer service for your convenience.

They have a free 10-day trial right now, so don't waste anymore time and get your online shopping cart up and running.

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A Craving That is Hard to Fulfill

15 February 2008 Labels: , 5 comments

I have had this craving for a very long time. When my parents went to visit Manila a year ago, I pleaded with them to bring home some for me. When I went back last July, I could not find it in Manila.

Arrgghh! I want some Lamayo aka fresh dried danggit from Palawan. Lamayo are fish fillets that has been marinated in a spicy mixture of vinegar-garlic mix. I've been craving for Lamayo for such a long time. I can even taste it.

Crazy craving..why can't I crave for something easy to acquire like uhhmm steak?

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A Rising Star - Ingrid Michaelson

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Her name is Ingrid Michaelson. She is an indie artist. Her song was picked up by Old Navy for one of it's AD so it might sound familiar to you.

I just love her songs! If you have not heard of her, then what are you waiting for? She has a great voice and dresses very simple. My fave is her song titled 'The Way I am'. Just look at the lyrics, it's so simple yet so catchy. I like the line "I'd buy your Rogaine when you start losing your hair." LOL Anyway, I hope you enjoy her song as much as I do.








The Way I am
by Ingrid Michaelson


If you were falling, then I would catch you.
You need a light, I'd find a match.

Cuz I love the way you say good morning.
And you take me the way I am.

If you are chilly, here take my sweater.
Your head is aching, I'll make it better.

Cuz I love the way you call me baby.
And you take me the way I am.

I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all your hair.
Sew on patches to all you tear.

Cuz I love you more than I could ever promise.
And you take me the way I am.

You take me the way I am.
You take me the way I am.

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Homemade Mango Ice Cream Recipe

14 February 2008 Labels: , 7 comments


My husband loves mangoes but not just any ordinary mango you find at your local grocery mind you. He loves Philippine mangoes! I don't blame him. Philippine mangoes are the best, if you can get the ones from Giumaras (not sure of the spelling) then you'll be in mango heaven.

Ever since our vacation in Manila, he wouldn't touch any mangoes at all. One time I found some mangoes from Mexico that tastes close to the ones from the Philippines. Upon tasting it, he said that it is just not the same. :)

Every time we see a Magnolia Mango ice cream at the Asian grocery, we'd pick one up. There is just one big problem, it is so expensive! Almost $6 for a pint! I made it my mission to try and make mango ice cream that my dh would love.

Now back to my home made mango ice cream. I used a vanilla ice cream recipe as my base without the vanilla. Then I added enough mango puree and just a little sugar since the puree is already sweet. Mix very well then put in the ice cream maker and voila! An all natural mango ice cream. :)

One side note: I gave my friend some mango ice cream, her American husband loved it. The week after, his father became gravely ill. They asked me if I still have some ice cream and if they can buy it from me, they want to bring some for his father. Of course I didn't make them pay for it. I'm glad that I was able to make someone happy that day. :)
Here is the Mango Ice Cream recipe I used:
Mango Ice Cream
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup whole milk
Pinch salt
1 cup sugar
3 large egg yolks
1 cup mango puree
Combine the cream, milk, salt, 1/2 cup of the sugar and mango puree in a large pot. Place the cream mixture over medium heat, and bring up to a simmer; stirring with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar. The temperature should reach 175 degrees F (just below scalding) for a smooth-textured ice cream; this should take about 15 minutes.

Combine the egg yolks in a large mixing bowl and blend them lightly with a wire whisk. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and continue to whisk until the sugar is completely dissolved and the eggs are thick and pale yellow; about 6 minutes.

Using a large ladle or measuring cup, temper the eggs by gradually whisking in about 2 cups of the hot cream mixture. Return this back to the rest of the cream in the saucepan and turn the heat to medium-low. Stir constantly until the custard thickens and leaves a path on the back of a spoon when you run your finger across it, about 10 to 12 minutes (do not let boil.)

Pour the custard through a fine strainer into another pot and chill completely. Ideally, let the ice cream base "age" overnight in the refrigerator before churning in an ice cream maker to improve the flavor and texture of the final product – but it is still good if you decide to process it right away. Divide the ice cream into quarts and churn each in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's directions. When done, the ice cream will be the consistency of "soft serve."
To harden the ice cream fully, freeze in plastic covered containers.


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Tag from Mareng Amy

13 February 2008 7 comments

Who says you can't dream? LOL This is a tag from Mareng Amy . I changed it to Vogue instead of Cosmo. I hope you didn't mind Mare. Seventeen magazine sana kaso over-age na ako. LOL
You can get your own cover here.







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Tagged

12 February 2008 2 comments

Got this tag from my friend Carlotz. Thanks for tagging me.


Rule #1Copy all the links below and replace a single link under the appropriate alphabet. If your domain name, or even the title of your blog, starts with an “A,” you’d replace the link under that alphabet and put the replaced link at the bottom. Also, don’t forget to credit the tagger, or where you got the list from, at the end of the list with a full URL of the post so that a pingback gets generated.

1. A. acowboyswife.com
2. B. blogaboutrich
3. C. Carlotaonline
4. D. denz-techtronics.blogspot.com
5. E. edsnanquil.blogspot.com
6. F. forumfinder.net
7. G. gotic-peach.net
8. H. happykeg.com
9. I. istilopinoy.com
10. J. julianarw.blogspot.com
11. K. kabalyero.com
12. L. ladylike4.com
13. M. myfavehangout.com
14. N. Not Another Blog
15. O. originalmx5.net
16. P. paintedlife.com
17. Q. qweddings.com
18. R. rantingsofawoman.blogspot.com
19. S. 7107-islands.com
20. T. thinking-outloud.com
21. U. utada-online.net
22. V. valmg.com
23. W. wickedbabylon.com
24. X. xaviermedia.com
25. Y. yimto.com
26. Z. zbudapest.com

Replaced link: enjoyingtheride-jenn.blogspot.com, macheriefrancine.com, notjustmama.net,shirleysdelight.com, ipentimento.com , bloggingcents.com, chocmintgirl.blogspot.com


Previous tagger: Carlotz

Rule #2 You now have to “tag” at least five people and encourage them to participate so that this thing spreads like a virus. Remember, though, that not everyone’s into these kinds of things, so don’t be upset if they don’t participate. Just simply replace your tag. Remember to tag blogs only and no pornographic ones as we do want to keep the integrity as a blogging community.

I'm tagging Mareng Lan, Mira, Phoebes, Glorie and Lucille.

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I'm Frozen!

10 February 2008 0 comments

This is one of those days when I wonder why the heck did I leave California with it's 'almost perfect weather', 'sunshine', beautiful people, and traffic.

Uh, did I say traffic? Now, I remember why. LOL

It is so darn cold these past few days. I'm tired of bundling up everytime I go out. It is so uncomfortable wearing a sweater and a jacket on top of that.

Brrrr...I long for the summer heat...then you'll read me bitch about the hot weather. hahaha

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The Kitchen is Back in Business!

07 February 2008 2 comments

It has been a long while since I posted about cooking in this blog. There is no other explanation, life just happened. I had been heavily involved in the planning and execution of my 25th high school reunion and all my blogging have fallen by the wayside. My bad eh? It was all worth it, we had a very successful reunion with 150 girls in attendance, 16 of us came from abroad. We celebrated our Silver Jubillee at the Tektite Tower in Ortigas,Pasig. It was a whole week reunion and bonding. We definitely formed a long lasting friendship with each other.

Anyway, here I am again, ready to share my success and dare should I say failures in my Filipino-American kitchen. Bon Appetit!

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Yes, We Can!

06 February 2008 0 comments

I am not a Democrat, nor am I a Republican. I am an Independent. I don't vote within 'party lines'. I go with my instinct. This election year, I was still undecided going into the voting booth. Once there, I found myself voting for Barack Obama, a Democrat.

I want to share this video, it was the brainchild of 'Black" Eyed Peas" member Will.I.Am.



It does not matter who you are voting for, what matters is that you go out and cast your vote in November.



Website Metrics and Site Statistics by NextSTAT

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Mental Fengshui

05 February 2008 0 comments

Mental Feng Shui


ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it
cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you
get older, their conversational skills will be as
important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you
have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.

FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in
the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get
married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who
don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get
hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name
calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN! .. When someone asks you a question you
don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you
want to know?'

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great
achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone
sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for
self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all
your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake,
take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller
will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY- ONE. Spend some time alone.

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Winter Driving

03 February 2008 0 comments

Don't you just hate driving in the snow? I definitely do. I would rather drive in the rain anytime. Winter driving is very dangerous add to the fact there there are crazy drivers out there. When we purchased our SUV, we opted for the 4-wheel drive. Having this definitely makes a lot of difference in driving through snow.

On the street where St. Mary's is located, there is a small hill. Imagine going through there when it has not been plowed yet. I can tell you that it is a nightmare! Not for me though, I didn't slip and slide like the other cars and there was even a tow-truck that got stuck.

As much as possible, I try not to drive in the snow unless I really have to. I would rather stay home and watch the snow flakes.

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Are You a True Filipino?

01 February 2008 Labels: 0 comments

Are you a true Filipino?


I got this quiz from Lucille. Thanks 'Cille. :)



Over time, the Filipino way of living has changed a lot, thanks to the influence of the western culture. The once-simple living has gone wonderfully sophisticated that it seems we have gradually lost the traits unique in us Filipinos. Even so, we can’t and won’t deny the fact that rooted in our spirit and being is the pride that we are indeed Filipinos.



But how Filipino are you? Are the Filipino traits strong in you? Are you the typical Filipino? Take this simple quiz I have fabricated to determine your being Filipino. Read the items below and tell whether or not you do or exhibit them and count the items that are true to you. After evaluating all the items refer to the gauge below with your points. Remember to take seriously the frequencies (at least once, twice…) in the items; if you lack even one frequency, then don’t count the item.


Here it goes:
1. You can speak Filipino (erstwhile Tagalog):

Siyempre!


2. Whenever necessary, you take the hand of an elder relative and pat the back of the palm of that hand to your forehead and say “mano po”.

I used to do this when my grandfather was still alive. With my aunts and uncles, it's a peck on the cheek.



3. You know “bayanihan” and had witnessed it personally at least once.

I've only read about it but haven't seen in 'live'.


4. You’ve seen a bahay kubo at least once.

Yes, in the provinces.



5. You’ve ridden on a jeepney at least five times.

Can I say "Mama, bayad." LOL


6. You have separate clothes for in-house and outside use (pambahay at panglakad)

Doesn't everybody?



7. You’ve eaten adobo, dinuguan, kakanin, tuyo, dilis.

Yes to all, although I'm not fond of dinuguan - tried it once or twice.


8. Your meal is incomplete if without rice.

I've learned not to have it everyday.


9. You hear Sunday masses and attend Misa de Gallo with your family.

We do, except for Misa de Gallo. We used to do it in California, we go to mass before Noche Buena.


10. You can sing “Lupang Hinirang” very well, with no lines missed. I

I 'm afraid I forgot some lines. :(


11. You don’t care donning ragged and torn clothes exclusively for use inside home.

Never wore ragged or torn clothes.


12. You have bought items in a “sari-sari store” at least ten times.

Yes, when I was growing up.


13. You have played patintero, tumbang preso and piko during your childhood.

I enjoyed playing these games with neighbors.



14. You can sing at least five OPM songs, and know what OPM means.

Of course I know what OPM means. :) I can sing along.


15. You know the Philippine presidents from the year of your birth onwards.

Hmm, Marcos, Cory, Fidel, Erap and Gloria. Tama ba?


16. You have witnessed “balagtasan” at least thrice.

Again, haven't seen one 'live'.


17. You’ve been recounted with stories involving aswang, tikbalang, manananggal, nuno sa punso.

Yes, I was enthralled by these stories from my mom and our maids.



18. You’ve been read, have read or have heard Filipino legends (Ang Alamat ng…)

It's a required reading in school. I love the old Filipino legends.


19. You’ve lived, stayed or visited Philippine places other than your city or town at least seven times.

Of course :) Only lived in 3 cities.


20. You’ve visited local (or public) wet market at least five times.

I used to go with my mom after church.


21. You have heard guys trying to sing Englebert Humperdink songs on a karaoke machine.

Umm, no. LOL


22. Your main means of expressing anger is tampo.

Not me.


23. You eat with your hands or use your fork and spoon together.

I grew up using the fork and spoon. My cousin taught me how to eat with my hands when I was vacationing in the province. Isn't rice supposed to be eaten using a spoon? Look at those who try to eat rice with a fork, it's taking them forever to finish. LOL


24. You visit home taking with you a few balikbayan boxes.

I never used a Balikbayan box. My mom and dad do. :)


25. You visit your home town and start to say english with full fake slang to all your neighbors, family and friends, in bathrobe and highheels house shoes...

Are you serious? LOL


26. You drink your hot coffee with the teaspoon on it. Naka curlers pa ang hair.

No, I dont. I use a stirrer. No curlers either.


27. You join a Paluwagan.

I did when I was in grade school.



28. Picking up things on the floor with using the feet.

I don't but I've seen my kids do it. LOL




29. Using "pssst" when calling the attention of somebody.

I don't remember using 'pssst' to often when I was growing up.




30. Telebabad for hours

Once in a while but not that often.





These are my 3 additions:

31. You have Filipino condiments and food in your cupboard (Patis, Toyo, Sukang Paombong, Sinigang mix, Bihon, chichacorn, etc.)

I have all of these and more!



32. You still use 'po' and 'opo' when talking to elders.

I grew up using these and feel funny if I don't.



33. You eat/have eaten street foods like fishballs, banana-que, nilagang mais, etc.

I miss all of these.




Here’s the gauge to tell how Filipino you are:
———————————————-
19 - 20 = The Filipino blood, spirit and flame burns intensely in you. You are the typical Filipino, who takes pride of your nationality.
15 - 18 = You are proud of your being Filipino and that the traits unique to most Filipinos live in you.
11 - 14 = You are the Filipino who, even adopting strongly the cultures of other nations, still you dont forget the old ways of the Filipino life.
7 - 10 = The Filipino culture has little by little been forgotten by you. You need to at least try some of the items mentioned.
4 - 6 = The Filipino culture has substantially faded in you, or that you have not been exposed to the true, authentic traits of being a Filipino.
1 - 3 = You’re a Filipino, only that you may have not been born and raised in the Philippines and had not lived up or been accustomed to the ways of Filipino living.0 = You’re not a Filipino.
——————————————



And the score is....Pinoy pa rin daw ako! Hay salamat naman. LOL



This does not prompt you to repost this quiz, however it would be better if you did. You have to add at least three items to the quiz, and you should tag a dozen people after your post. There are a lot of unique Filipino traits and I don’t see any reason why you can’t think of three of them. Do not copy the listed items; provide/make your own and add them to the list above. Let’s see how long the list can get.



I'm tagging Mira for this. :)

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