Yummy Sunday: A Mother's Day Treat

Last Sunday, May 8, was Mother's Day and my family and I ate at Bigby's Cafe where portions are whoppers and the food tastes out of this world.  I ordered my favorite Deep Sea Pasta (bottom left) - but found that my allergies acted up (boohoo, me!) - I left my antihistamines at home.  My brother ordered heavy meat samplers (forgot the name) and my mom had seafood kebabs... For desert we had the delectable Oreo and Cream (I still prefer their Midnight Dream Cake - sigh... craving for it now).  Aargh! Looking at this picture makes me hungry again! Happy YS everyone!

[caption id="attachment_177" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Mother's Day Dinner"][/caption]



 

RT: Twizzlers Nibs (Licorice, My Love!)

[caption id="attachment_165" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Easter Treats "][/caption]

Today is still the third week of Easter so it's not too late to say Happy Easter!!!  Here's my Ruby Tuesday post after a long blogging interruption.

I loooove licorice candy (especially Twizzlers) which is literally not sold in my part of the world, so joy upon joy when my mom brought this for me after a vacation abroad... I love how licorice reminds me of my childhood  - I used to call it a "burnt tire" with its dark color and rubbery texture and "weird" (anise-like taste).

I like how my mom included a "Jesus" sun catcher art activity for my son. Very timely for Easter.  :)

Happy RT one and all!!!

Details, Details

I love details in interior design especially when they are already appointed by the artist/homemaker ready for my eyes to appreciate.  In our trip to Manila, I took a lot of pictures of the details of the Marriott Hotel where we stayed overnight across the NAIA Terminal 3.  I found out that I am actually fixated on light fixtures, or more appropriately, chandeliers that are well-proportioned for a particular space.  Here are some of my shots (they make me wish I had a hi-def camera which I could manipulate [but then again, I'm not SLR savvy in the meantime, so my iPhone had to do.]).

[caption id="attachment_156" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Room with a View (NAIA Terminal 3 is at the left side of the picture)"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_152" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Shooting star light fixtures at the main lobby across the reception area of the Marriott Hotel, Newport City"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_153" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="The Ballroom/Theater Hall of the Marriott Hotel, turn right from main entrance to get here. This is a connecting hall to Resorts World Manila"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_149" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="A closer look at this simple yet elegant "chandelier""][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_148" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="I'm sure this was still in the Marriott, probably at their breakfast buffet lounge. Pretty mod, isn't it?"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_150" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Greenbelt5 decorative chandelier. Looks like a horizontal meteor rain in slowmo. "][/caption]

Now a couple of sculptures at the Marriott again.

[caption id="attachment_155" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="an abstract sculpture that looks like the g-clef to me :D anyone know the artist? i'd like to know. "][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_151" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="My favorite: an infinity sculpture in three loops. These are the details between doors at the hallway of our rooms. Me likey! Artist? I wish I could credit him/her."][/caption]

And now for a dash of red in one of their details from nature:

[caption id="attachment_154" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Detail at the lobby side tables"][/caption]

And before I forget, an abstract painting at our room.  Again, I didn't notice the artist's name.  Very fiery and passionate, don't you think?

[caption id="attachment_147" align="aligncenter" width="580" caption="Tell me what you see. "][/caption]

Breakfast Buffet at Newport City's Marriott Hotel

[caption id="attachment_240" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="i wish i'd done something more ornate :D"][/caption]

Here are some picture I took while having a sumptuous breakfast at Newport City's Marriot Hotel two weeks ago.  It took me too long to post this as I was still recovering from the fright of our flight back home.  Well, that's in the past now and I can enjoy the more delicious memories of my late breakfast at the hotel's Java+ Deli.

[caption id="attachment_245" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Java+ Deli, Marriott Hotel, Newport City, Philippines "][/caption]

If I hadn't slept very late hours before, I would've devoured more than these:

[caption id="attachment_244" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Honey from the Honeycomb"][/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_243" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Fruits Basket"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_242" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Cold Cuts"][/caption]

 



 

Okay, enough now!  All this posting pix on food is making me hungry!!! Happy Yummy Sunday to all!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbecue in the Garden

Because a construction is going on in the main part of our house, I am presently relocated in my Mom's room, which is a separate building away from our little compound.  She lives in the front area of our property and her third floor garden-balcony is overlooking the park.  It's actually an oasis in a desert of concrete.  I had lunch in her garden one day and I had take out barbecue at a neighboring food stall and rice wrapped in woven palm leaves.  It was a satisfying lunch break with tasty barbecue and a beautiful view!  (Check out her decorative tea set, so pretty!)

[caption id="attachment_125" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Garden Picnic for One"][/caption]

 

Camera Critters: Woobin Tweetz

[caption id="attachment_219" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Perched on my laptop "][/caption]

 

Here's little Woobin Tweetz who decided to perch on my laptop after he/she found out that his/her tender wings aren't strong enough to fly yet.  My sister told my son who petted the bird that she read somewhere that bird deaths are caused by "well-meaning" human beings.  My son decided to let Woobin be... The next day, we found that Woobin decided to stay indoors... My sister had to harvest worms in our mom's pot garden... Woobin is the name my son gave this brown bird while my sister prefers calling him Tweetz... Happy Camera Critter Saturday to all!

Ruby Tuesday: Packing for the Trip

[caption id="attachment_215" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Packing my handbag for the trip"][/caption]

My son and I went on a trip to Manila with my sister and our mom last week.  I packed my favorite book, Peony in Love by Lisa See and my son's The Manga Jesus together with some Kit-Kat powerbars.  The Kit-Kats proved to be useful when we were stranded for around 19 hours at the airport on our way home.  But that's another story.  Happy Ruby Tuesday, everyone! Don't you just love this meme!

 

 

 

 

Ruby Tuesday: Fiery Bougainvilleas

Summertime is here!  And look at these fiery bougainvilleas! These ubiquitous flowers are sure to attract attention against the warm, sunny landscape.  Bougainvilleas which are not native to the Philippines were introduced to our country from South America.  This thorny plant with vibrant-colored flowers are sun-loving and easy to care.  But like most plants, they will appreciate daily watering.

From the Manila Bulletin, it is written that the flowers are edible and may be used to garnish salads and may also be trained as bonsais.

Have a brilliant Ruby Tuesday!!!

Yummy Sunday: Ready for the Exotic?

[caption id="attachment_88" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="exotic food: pig's brain"][/caption]

Here's an exotic dish that is popular in our dinner table:  pigs brain in vinegar and garlic.  Definitely not for the faint hearted nor ones with "delicate guts".  But if you're in for an adventure, it's surprisingly good.  My 12 year old cousin tried it for the first time after seeing my son all worked up on having this for lunch.  My cousin said,  "It's actually very good!"

Before I proceed to the recipe, here's a story:

When my mom was still a little girl, she was often told that she was intelligent.  When her mother, my grandma, prepared this dish for her, she thought about how she wanted to add power to her intelligence.  She equated brain size to being bright and thought that if she ate the dish her mom prepared for her, she'd add to her brain size and level up on her smartness.  When my grandmother made this dish for me, my mom told me this story.  It made eating pig's brain even more enjoyable.  I passed this on to my son who likes retelling my mom's story to whomever will listen each time this dish is served.

Enough talking, now for the recipe:

Ingredients:

1. 10 pcs. fresh pig's brain (available in the local market)


2. native vinegar (but regular vinegar will do)


3. salt


4. garlic

Procedure:

1. Clean the pig's brain by running water and gently removing the membranes.


2. Put the cleaned pig's brain in a pot.  Add desired amount of vinegar (the more the better, to wash out the pungent smell of the offal).


3. Add salt and garlic.


4. Cook with slow fire for about 20 minutes.  Do not let the vinegar dry out.

Strengthen up your gut and feel like a Fear Factor winner!

Yummy Sunday: Ossobucco

Sluurrrp! I highly enjoyed this mouthwatering osso bucco (which, according to my computer's dictionary means an Italian dish made with veal shank containing marrowbone, stewed in wine with vegetables and seasonings).  Although my mom said the presentation wasn't good, the taste was absolutely satisfying!  On the left is the pineapple fried rice served in a pineapple shell :D  Bon appetit, Yummy Sunday!

Camera Critter: Cat in Church

 

[caption id="attachment_82" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="kittykitty on my fan"][/caption]

My son and I attended mass tonight and he saw his friend, whom he calls Kitty Kitty.  Here he/she is resting comfortably on my Footstool Palm fan called an abaniko.  :)  Happy Saturday, Camera Critters!!!

My First Camera Critters :)

My first Camera Critters... Caught these two doing some hanky panky in a nook in a ceiling... Grabbed my camera and clicked!  Natural selection happens everywhere!

Yummy Sunday: Improvised Pork Curry & Iced Mango Candy

[caption id="attachment_69" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Improvised Pork Curry and Iced Mango Candy"][/caption]

I loooove curry and mango!  To save time, I improvised this pork curry dish with simple ingredients that are easy to use and cuts cooking time in half.  After this simple dish, I made mango dessert from my childhood, which is prepared in three easy steps.

Here's the recipe of my own improvised pork curry dish (I'm allergic to chicken, but I'm sure you can make this with chicken as well).  Good for a party of two (or three light eaters :) ).

Ingredients:

1. 3/4 k pork cut into strips


2. onion, garlic, ginger, bell pepper


3. 1 can evaporated creamer (instead of coconut milk)


4. 2 medium sized potatoes cut in fours (you can also add carrots for more nutrition and color)


5. 2 tbsps of curry powder


6. oil, salt to taste

Procedure:

1. season the meat with a 3/4 tbsp. of salt, set aside


2. sautee the garlic, onion, ginger and bell pepper


3. add the meat, let it cook until the meat is tender


4. add potatoes


5. add evaporated creamer and curry powder


6. let the dish simmer for 5 - 7 minutes

Dinner is ready!

Now for the dessert:

1. Choose three medium sized, ripe sweet mangoes


2. Dice the meat of the fruit, prepare these in solo bowls


3. Add water and 1 tbsp of sugar and ice

Yum!

Word Filled Wednesday

[caption id="attachment_43" align="aligncenter" width="210" caption="Image Source: http://ilovebeinginlovewithhim.tumblr.com/"][/caption]

"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble." Psalm 59:16

As a builder of a home, I believe in the Power of God's Word.  We all aspire to build houses on rocks, and what better way than to start with His Word.  After all, that is what Jesus has instructed.  So I feel so blessed right now in joining my first ever Word Filled Wednesday meme.  Internet Cafe Devotions is such a blessed site, a blessed sight.  :)  I got my photo from this tumblr blog by a lady named Gracie.  Like the administrators of Word Filled Wednesday, Gracie fills her followers' tumblr dashboards with inspiring words from the Bible and other spiritual snippets as well.  Here's to building our homes with solid foundation!!!

My First Ruby Tuesday

Hi everyone! This is my first time to join Ruby Tuesday - and here are the things that help me with my busy schedule... My ruby red Starbucks 2011 planner and my Pei Pa Koa which soothes sore throat due to overfatigue. Thanks Ruby Tuesday!