Sibuyas Republic

House is as busy as always. The eldest came home from school last Friday.She was asking me to cook spaghetti. Spaghetti, again? Kids.

Since we were out yesterday, replenishing our supplies and do some mall-hopping, and, oh, there were many off-season sale in the city mall. I was tempted to buy few things for the kids.

And, today, I guess, will be another busy Sunday. Preparing and cooking the good ol spaghetti that the kids never get tired of eating. Hopefully, will prepare one sweet treat for them. And, while the kitchen keeps me busy, I could use the wi-fi to update my blog and hope to Get Twitter followers.

Happy Sunday, everyone!

Because it was declared a NO-CLASSES day yesterday, that meant  more things scattered on the floor, more noise specially when the two kids do make few squabbles (i hate a “NO-CLASS WEEKDAYS!), and moreover, more plates to wash, because can’t ever imagine how am I gonna satiate the appetite of the two rowdy kids.

Glad, I had “fishballs” in the freezer. After thawing, I immediately deep-fried half of what was in the package and served them with this brown sauce/dip…

HOW TO MAKE THE DIP:

• In a pot, combine a cup of water, diced garlic, ground black pepper, a little soy sauce, salt, and brown sugar. (red chili may be added, too)

• Let it simmer for five minutes.

• Dissolve half a teaspoon of cornstarch in a small bowl and slowly add it to the pot. Keep the fire low.

• Continue stirring to avoid lumps.

Oh, where’s the stick?

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WHAT YOU NEED:

shrimp paste, pork skin (fats removed), diced garlic, green chilies

COOKING PROCEDURE:

• Fry pork skin until crunchy. Set aside. (This is optional or you can use any meat desired or no meat at all.)

• In the same pan, saute garlic until golden brown, then, add in the green chilies.

• Add the shrimp paste. Cook until all the liquids have evaporated and continue frying until the paste changes its color from pink to golden brown.

• Add in the fried pork skin.

• Add in a little sugar. (Optional)

• This can be used to flavor cook veggies;  in pinakbet, ginisang upo, ginisang munggo, etc.

• This can also be used as dip for green mangoes.

• Best dip also for fried or grilled fish. Squeezed in few lemon extract or plain white vinegar.

STORAGE: 

• Store in an air-tight container to prolong shelf life.

• Can be stored also in the fridge.

Busy weekend.

• We butchered a whole pig (weighing 90 kilos less!) yesterday. Nope. There’s no occasion. We sold the fresh meat for P170/kilo. I always get teary-eyed when my “alaga” would bid me goodbye. “His” life may have ended, but, for a good reason…the “meat” would help me pay my dues on hog feeds ^_^.

• Today, I made “tocino” (cured pork meat), and skinless longganisa. Ready to be sold.

• In between those tasks, I finished my weekly laundry and have ironed the clothes earlier today and have time to read Quote of the Day.

Whew!

Good thing, the kids helped out in doing these “pizza toast” from leftover loaf bread and leftover spaghetti sauce…topped with cheddar cheese which got me a minor cut.

Ouch!

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Scrapping the plan of going to Mine’s View Park because of heavy torrents, it also means not buying goodies at the famed Good Shepherd Convent at Gibraltar Road. The convent is just few meters walk from Mine’s View and their ube jam is to die for ^_^. Really.

But then, there’s ube jams at the Baguio public market. But, but, beware. There were many “fake” ube jams that proliferate in market shops. Been “victimized” in the past. If you want the best tasting ube jam at Baguio City, go check out the convent, you’ll see lots of goodies there.

Sadly here, we got only few sweet treats to bring back home. Rainy months were not the season for really red and succulent fresh strawberries. Was able to find little ones at the market. I skipped buying. Instead, I managed to slipped into my “travel bag” the usual Baguio veggies and strawberry jam which the kids liked to combine with peanut butter, and, few small jars of this peanut brittle. There were lots of peanut brittle displayed in the main Baguio market alley but this one’s, we prefer. Not too sweet, whole peanuts and the taste of butter is really good in which others do not have. Each jar cost P60. I skipped those that sells 3 for P100 or 4 for P100. Too sweet and the peanuts seemed to be MISSING^_^.

LINKING THIS SWEET POST @ Mirage’s Thursday Brownies

Constantly failing to keep tiger eyes for my promised diet, I often thought that reducing or depriving myself of food makes me pitiful. And, at the very end of my coup de grace…I eat mercilessly. Failure!

Can’t help. Especially, I have a husband whose appetite equates Goliath^_^. And, kids, whom I like to serve foods that are as yummy and nutritious.

Thus, this morning, (just like the past 41 years of my life), I resolve to serve myself this plate for my breakfast…:(

Two pieces of “pandesal”. One, with cheese and dressing as spread. The last one, just plain strawberry jam…Plus, a banana for dessert and of course, my caffe latte.

• pandesal (bread) for carbo. – CHECK!

• cheese and dressing for proteins and fats. – CHECK!

• banana for vitamins. – CHECK!

• stawberry jam, another carbo. – OKAY.

• coffee, antioxidant. – OKAY.

Think I had the energy to do tons of house work for the day…

Er, tomorrow’s another STORY^_^. Wish me luck…

LINKING THIS POST @WORK OF THE POET

I guess, we started Saturday with a pork dish. And today, we had also pork ribs over lunch. PORK NILAGA. Hubby favored this dish because he can save on rice and eat as many “veggies” as he can without the strain on his diet. The kids loved this dish too, they loved potatoes which they mashed over their rice plus, they favored soupy dish. The little miss even sips her cup of soup with much passion^_^. And, me? I loved the sweet “saging saba”. The sweetness it incorporates into the pork dish lets me pass on my cravings for “patis” (fish sauce):)

Have a sumptuous week!

JOIN US @ Mellow Yellow Monday

As a budget conscious mother, I veer away from unnecessary food buys. Most of the times, I do schedules on what to cook for the entire week. If I can’t decide, at least, there’s food items ready on the fridge and some veggies to go. Today became an exception.

Living in a rural area where vendors even tripped to residential areas and farm areas such as ours to offer their wares. A tricycle came at our street shouting “isda, isda” (fish, fish). The hubs, who’s a fish lover asked me to buy “dalagang bukid” which is his favorite. There were none. Thus, I settled for these little shrimps…and turned it into “sinigang na hipon”.

Linking this soupy dish @ FOOD TRIP FRIDAY

Howdy! I know, I’m lost somewhere. We had a very busy weekend, plus busy days afterwards, running errands, doing the laundry and all sorts of motherhood thingies…

That’s the price I have to pay for vacationing for three days. Argh! That wasn’t vacation, for Christ’s sake! That was a pain in my wobbly feet, and my hands…for I was tasked to hand-washed daughter’s dirty clothes…a basketful of dirty and oh, never mind the foul smell^_^.

See, that wasn’t vacation…even though we had bonding moments visiting a museum and catching up America in 3D at SM Baguio City…and oh, when I say “visiting a mall”, there goes the real pain, no analgesic can ease off^_^. Pockets were emptied for cashing out on daughter’s whims and paying at every diners, jeepney or taxi rides…AND, WHAT DO I GET? I was wishing for Ogio bags…PRETTY, PRETTY PLEASE^_^

Deciding where to eat would take us an hour or so, especially when you have kids in tow. Without blinking an eye, easy pick for the little miss would be the happy “bee”…most of the times, she gets in the way…lest she threw a tantrum..

Not this time, the “ate” made a “pact” with her. So, off we go at Yellow Cab Pizza at SM Baguio. Besides, it was a Sunday, SM Baguio was jampacked with people. Maybe because there was a three day event called America in 3D, where different programs on Diplomacy, Development and Defense were hosted. People crammed every restaurant and popular food chain. We couldn’t wait for a table at Gerry’s Grill. Yay! I made a separate post about our America in 3D @SM Baguio escapade here.

Good thing, the “ate” remembered it was the 10th of the month, and, we hurried off at the 2nd level (was it?) of SM where Yellow Cab stood. We could have opted to have our seats under a huge parasol beside the mall’s open view terraces, but the heavy downpour (at lunchtime, yes) caused diners to get inside the pizza shop….

SM Baguio’s Yellow Cab, were smaller than the one at Session Road. But, they have quite all the space outside when the rain wont come ruin the day. Such a breathtaking view of the city (especially at nighttime, trust me)…

So, the “ate” took charge of our order…just pizza for lunch because we just had a late breakfast at her boarding house….

She ordered an 18-inch Manhattan Meatlovers for P790. And, boy, was it super huge! I wanted to try the Dear Darla, but, as I tell you, with kids in tow…MEAT IT IS!

I could hardly finish my second slice, I was really full! Pizza this big???

…were meant to be taken home…PLUS A TREAT. With every order of 18-inch pizza you’ll get a free 10-inch NY Classic. That’s P320 worth of FREE PIZZA. Yey!

Promo is open every 1oth of the month as Yellow Cab is celebrating 10. Fantabulous I say!!!

Lotsa pizza for take out…

Here’s the FREE 10-inch NY Classic…

What a treat! I should perhaps watch my diet, fats were all too visible in my snapshots^_^ . Thought I should be looking into sensa weight loss reviews. Bet ya!

Linking this post @ The Mommy Journey