Tag Archives: home cooking

What’s With April?

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Why do I have the feeling that April despised me? 😀 Nope, “April” here is not a person. It’s the month. Have you had those moments where there was just too much going on in a month, and you felt like you were supposed to experience all of them in a year? This month was that month for me.

Plans changed, and methinks it’s God’s will. I was supposed to go back to Manila this April, along with my fur boy, to visit his Dad. But with the energy crisis we’re facing now, I had to stall the visit to a much later date (still to be decided if an opportunity permits), and the same goes for my job applications.

And we had a lot of engagements and ongoing projects here at home, too. My Dad will be needing help to oversee the multiple project management tasks that my sister and I are currently juggling left and right.

Household management, for one, requires that we still do some of the tasks here at home on top of our other obligations. Our stay-out house help can’t do everything here at home because sweeping the yard takes 2 hours, and watering the plants in the garden takes 4 hours or even more, especially during summer.

And for the remaining 2 hours, she had to squeeze in cleaning the chicken cages and washing the dishes. We have 2 turtles, 7 chickens, 1 dog, 4 cats, and Dad, who all have specific needs, and my sister and I are sharing the responsibilities of taking care of them. Oh, and it’s palay harvest time, too.

I am not complaining, though. lol Mom didn’t raise us to be Disney princesses or princes. 😀 It’s actually quite the opposite – know the value and importance of hard work if you want to succeed in any endeavor. And do so excellently. We’re more likely to be candidates of burnout than laziness. lol

I am writing this article to praise God for everything. I have no reason to complain because He continues to supply me with the wisdom, the strength, the courage, the rest, the provisions, and the motivation to keep moving forward.

Some things may not have worked out the way I planned, but I still got to get a lot of important tasks done. What matters is doing God’s will more than mine. And even if I don’t see His reasons why, faith requires complete trust in Him who sees everything and who’s got everything under control.

Here we are still breathing despite how crazy this world has been lately with its many pressing issues. And some say things can get worse. But if you have read the book of Revelation, you wouldn’t be surprised at all. They say that if God wakes us up, it’s because we all still have an unfulfilled purpose.

And this is how I would end this article, because this is actually just “stolen time,” so I have something to post for April. My OC tendencies don’t like seeing a gap in my blogging calendar, so I try my best to post here whenever I can. 😀

In one of my Bible readings and quiet times, I came across this Bible verse, which actually best fits the article I wrote before this: “When The World Starts To Break, Resist Apostasy.” I felt like most of us are so close already to feeling this apostasy that the Bible is warning us about. And yet, this is God’s reminder for us all:

“And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” – Hebrews 6:11-12

P.S. I have quite a lot to share, but getting into details will require me to go on a writer’s seclusion. Unfortunately, circumstances won’t allow for it now. I hope the photos below will suffice.

P.P.S. Please don’t pray to have a life like mine, in case this blog made you think that my life is better. Pray instead that God will show you His purpose for your life. That’s how I got to appreciate mine despite the gravity of the calling. Seek God’s leading first and then obey. ❤

“Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” – Proverbs 3:6

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” – Romans 12:2

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28

“We praise You, Lord, because we are fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, we know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14

Ongoing Construction Means More Inflammation

With my orens catto inspector.
My second sister’s bedroom / main house extension (designed mostly by Dad and my 3rd sister).

Cute Boy Catto’s Recovery

He got a UTI last March. I am closely monitoring his health now. 😦
Early morning cuddle with Meowmy.
Finley and my Bible – I think he’s planning on becoming a pastor catto one day.
He loves to scratch my Bible I had to wrap it with a towelette.
Ah yes, how to focus on tasks when you have a kuletong like this.
Dozing off where he’s not supposed to doze off. lol
That’s my orens micromanager observing me from his office table.
“Find me, Meowmy.”
The fluffy Finley who follows you around 24/7.

Other Pets Edition

Torti, our 20-year-old male turtle, now has a partner. Her name’s Donatella. 😀
Dona’s temporary pen arranged by my sister before we release them in the garden.
Her first egg with us, but I’m not sure if this will hatch.
The Chick-os and The Chick-as
3 Eggs from 3 Hens: Brown (Small), Light Brown (Medium), White (Medium)
Praise God for the harvests. ❤ Itlog at Bilog Na Talong = Bilog Na Tortang Talong 😀

Prabens Home Cooking Using Ingredients From Ze Garden

Talong Ilocano
Dad’s favorite eggplant recipe – talong fritters.
Paired with my favorite protein source – garbanzos and mushrooms sauteed in butter, onion, tomatoes, and garlic sprinkled with herbs.
Kamias/Iba Fever
Gulay Na Iba
Always paired with marinated bangus.
Fave ko na kawali – wok.
Refreshing Iba Drink
Para ma-iba naman. lol
Ang side dish na sinasama sa kada kain.
Fresh Ubod: Ako na ang nagbalat at naghiwa sa next batch kasi sumakit ang siko ni Dad. 😀
I love eating this raw.
Gulay Na Ubod Sa Gata

Farmer Mode On

The many sacrifices of a farmer. Let’s pray for the future of Philippine agriculture. 🙏
Farmshionista – a-Php129 lang itong mga sapatos namin. 😀
That high mountain is the Bulusan volcano.
I can’t wait for this Palawan Cherry Blossom to grow bigger, so I can hug it. 😁
May God take good care of everything that lives on this farm. 🙏
I experimented with ChatGPT again and asked it to create a design of a hospice room inside our farm by giving a prompt with all the design details I previously made. AI captured the ideas almost perfectly. The comfort room is behind the medicine cabinet, and the door near the kitchen leads to a ramp for easy access when transferring a patient. I am praying this vision will come true, even if not in my lifetime. 🙏

Dad’s Pampering Sesh

My 86-year-old Dad, who’s diligent as ever with everything record-keeping. 🙂
For Dad’s hand and foot spa before I cut his nails.
I love giving massages more than getting massages. 😀 This is my special combo for Dad’s weekly 30-minute full-body massage: 80% Lavender Massage Oil + 20% Efficasce

Naunsyaming Lakwatsa Mode 😀

All my bags are packed I’m ready to go….
….swimming sana sa Pasig condo pa-presko any time.
Sa SM City Sorsogon nga lang napadpad. lol

Taga-BICOL Ka Kung….

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Taga-Bicol ka kung alam mo kung anong mga ulam na gulay ang pwedeng lutuin sa mga ito. Meron akong tatlong putahe na naiisip – gulay na iba (kamias), gulay na lubi-lubi (niyog-niyogan), at gulay na ugob (camansi). At syempre hindi dapat mawawala ang gata at lab yu este labuyo. 😍

Iba / Kamias
Ugob / Camansi
Ito ang pinakapaborito kong halaman sa bakuran. Ang daling linisin ng mga dahon na nalalaglag. Perfect sa mga tamad magwalis. lol
Hindi pwedeng mawala ito sa lutong gulay ng mga Bicolano. Tanim pala ito ng mga ibon.
Ready na pang-gata. May extra pang paborito ko – the smaller, the sweeter. Inunahan nga lang ako ng langgam. Tsk.
Ito na ang itsura ng nasa loob ng niyog kapag malaki na sya. Hindi ka taga-Bicol kung hindi mo alam ang “bu-ay.” 😉
Lubi-lubi / Niyog-niyogan

Ang hindi ko lang alam lutuin ang lubi-lubi. But they are very profilic growers in our garden. Madalas nga lang paputulin ni Mommy ang mga ito kasi ang gulo daw sa bakuran. Makapag-experiment nga kung paano lutuin kapag nakauwi na ako. Pero may question ako, gulay ba talaga tawag sa kanila? Hindi ba mga prutas (except sa lubi-lubi) sila? 😅

P.S. Kung ikaw ba ay manliligaw, tingin mo tatanggapin ba ng nililigawan mo kung bibigyan mo sya ng higanteng Pechay? 🤔

P.P.S. Praise God my executive checkup went well yesterday and today, but I still have to wait for the results. I’ll write another article about my experience as soon as I get the results. 😊🙏

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.” – 2 Corinthians 9:11

Home Cooking Made Even Better

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Home cooking is now easier with all the high-tech kitchen appliances and cooking equipment available in the market. Whether you know how to cook or not, prepping a dish has never been this easy, quick, and fun made possible by these innovations designed to make anyone’s cooking experience more enjoyable.

One of my particular favorites is the Turbo Broiler. You can whip up any recipe you like may it be roasted chicken or choco brownie using this kitchen appliance. Yes, that’s basically from viands to desserts.

How different is it from traditional ovens? I think they are the same as far as functionalities are concerned. But, Turbo Broilers are easier to clean and if you live in a condo, it’s a definite must-have because they don’t occupy too much space when using or storing it.

Actually, the truth of the matter is that I am posting this because I miss eating uga/tuyo/dried fish because I can’t cook it here in the condo. lol It’s my second favorite food next to LIGO sardines. Yum!

I love cooking for my loved ones. I just don’t want them to blame me when they gain weight. 😅 And I must say, all thanks to my family for being the best cooking mentors. They are not easy to please though when it comes to home cooked food.

My parents, most especially, require a particular cut, variety, and texture when selecting and preparing ingredients. My Dad also prefers bland meals, while Mom’s on the salty side. So you can imagine how challenging it was before for me to come up with one dish that will satisfy both of them. lol

But, without a challenge, we won’t become excellent in what we do. And with practice, patience, and passion, I must say that somehow I finally met their expectations. However, there are some dishes that I still can’t get quite right according to their preferences.

My own version of Pancit Bato.

Do check out some of my home cooked meals in the video below, and don’t hesitate to comment or message me if you want to know the recipe for a particular dish. I’ll be more than glad to send it over to you. ❤️

This is best watched in full-screen mode on YouTube. 🙂

P.S. My favorite website for Pinoy food recipes is Panlasang Pinoy. Though I tweak some of the recipes a bit to suit my palate. 👍👍

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:25-34

Expressing The Bicolana In Me: BICOL EXPRESS

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It’s been quite a while since I last posted about food (I love food but I hate gluttony thus striking the balance)  and I bet it is time I post one of my recipes. Not exactly my recipe as this is a traditional dish from my hometown in the Bicol region. Thus, where the name Bicol Express was derived.

You will commonly see this dish served during meal time in our home in Bicol. My Mom and Dad always make this as a side dish which perfectly partners with any viand. There are now a lot of variations of this recipe including the one with coconut milk which contains more meat and less green chilies.

I grew up getting used to this dish prepared and cooked having only 3 main ingredients: lots of green chilies, fresh shrimp paste, and pork meat. It’s also very easy to prepare as you’d only need to saute the pork meat along with garlic, add the fresh shrimp paste until cooked and lastly, put in the green chilies. Then wait until the aroma of the chilies come out and it’s ready to be served.

To give you a background on my cooking experience, it was only when I was 20 years old that I started learning how to cook. I am the youngest among 5 siblings and I have 3 older sisters who are amazing in the kitchen – I ended up being the dishwasher and the kitchen assistant (prep the ingredients). lol

My sisters though knew I needed to learn sooner or later as time will come we’ll all go our separate ways one by one and I need to hone my cooking skills to be able to live and survive independently.

They’ve been such great teachers who raised me to who I am now in behalf of my Mom as she and Dad stayed in our hometown in Bicol starting when I turned 16 and came here in Manila to study in college. The cooking skills I’ve acquired from them proved to be of great help now that I am married – got to please my hubby’s tummy. *wink*

It is, therefore, with such gratitude that I give back to God for blessing me with awesome siblings and to my sisters for teaching me the art of cooking and with everything else.

Bon appetit!  ❤

Tin Ginete-Rome

Bicol Express