Sibuyas Republic

One of the things that lets me enjoy living in the province? The access to sooo many vegetable. Fresh local produce. While en route to the fruit section of our public market, I saw these snake-like, worm-like veggie widely known here as himbabao (alukon in other provinces).

My mom loves these in her dinengdeng, together with kulitis. You see, my mom, typically raised from a poor farming family, ate every kind of veggie available. My “sosi” dad used to taunt her as a “goat”. As a kid, I also went to that “I-don’t-eat-gulay-stage”. As an adult and with the hubs besides me, I came to appreciate more veggies. But, please no to okras and other “slippery” variety

I guess, my mom had not been too convincing as I am now with my kids. It took me easy introducing them to veggies. I guess, when they see that you eat the veggies and put them on the table as if it were the main “entree”, they get to “explore”, until eating them is like eating their favorite fried drumsticks.

This himbabao, is no exception, the two older kids have no qualms about it. The little one would always fret seeing greens in the table. I am in no hurry. Surely, the day will come she’ll get to take her veggie share.

In the meantime, these fresh green flowers were frantically waiting to be cooked. Had few pieces of other veggies to go with my pinakbet...

I would always prefer my pinakbet sauteed in garlic, onions, tomatoes and shrimp paste. The sauteed ingredients gets to be infused to the assorted veggies which makes it more scrumptious.

Enjoy!

Linking this post to Foodie Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Got invited to a nearby water resort by two balikbayans and soon-to-be groom and bride. Both came from Dubai and went home just to get married. Sweet! They visited me two days ago and asked me as one of their principal sponsors.

What can I say?

Right after I finished off my scheduled laundry, we scurried off to the resort not to get wet but to splurge on these pork barbecues…

Tender and sweet…what a Saturday BURP!

Linking this post to Thursday Brownies and Yummy Sunday

I believed sharing this infographic to my readers will effect as to how incarceration has increased over the years. Showing the demographics of people who were incarcerated. Of the different crimes committed, and, of, the percentages of crimes people do get locked up with. In relation to this, let it be known that government spend millions in taxpayers’ money on housing and food alone with today’s alarming incarceration rates.

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More: Online Law Degree

As the holiday season approaches, food and drinks were surely be present. Be sure to eat in moderation to avoid gaining extra pounds. Much of the foods served during the holidays were carbo loaded and fat-rich. Same with the drinks. Alcoholic beverages, such as cocktails, contain sugars. Alcohol drinking is associated with decreased in certain types of heart diseases. However, heavy consumption of alcohol can be health damaging.

Among popular alcoholic beverage in the world is beer. This post allow readers to get a glimpse on the process of beer making.

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Source: CaliforniaCulinarySchools.org

Veggie prices hasn’t decreased as yet. Cost me sixty pesos for this bunch of colorful veggies. Still reasonable price, I know. But, when you are in a farming village, I am used to buying them at low prices

Sorry, but, my veggie vendor failed to include the pea. Anyway, we’re missing the chopsuey. Sans missing items, I did go about our veggie craving…

Cooking procedure is as easy as A-B-C. Saute everything in butter/oil/garlic, including the dried shiitake mushrooms (20 pesos per pack in the market) which was pre-soak in water for rehydration. It’s the one that gives the vegetable medley a distinct flavor. For flavor and taste, I used a teaspoon of oyster sauce and salt and pepper. That’s it.

Come now and enjoy a bite or two …while still hot and in the pot

Linking this post to

Yummy Sunday

Orange Tuesday

Barrio Fiesta’s crunchy, crispy and unbelievably addicting deep-fried pork leg is best paired with a hefty serving of Shanghai Fried Rice. Wash it all down with a frosty glass of coke as you also get a 1.5L bottle when you present your Ensogo voucher.

Aye! I love this deal. We loved Barrio Fiesta:) Voucher can be used at multiple Barrio Fiesta outlets at selected SM Malls.

Definitely, I am getting one, two, perhaps Get this deal at ensogo.com.ph

Prior to 2003, our small grocery shop in the public market were literally doing great. Modesty aside, sales were good everyday, 12-hour each day is not enough.

Then came the biggest blow in my life. I have learned that “there are more things than money.” You just can not sit and enjoy two different worlds at the same time. At the most crucial time, you have to make a tough decision. Whether it is your family or the money.

In September 2003, at the height of our business, I got pregnant. That was our third. We were both overjoyed. Another blessing in the offing. Husband wanted a big family. But, then, that pregnancy became too delicate for me. I am constantly bleeding. The last bleeding sends me the hospital for three days. A threatened miscarriage. I need to be very careful. Bed rest is the only solution.

What would become of the business? Hubby could not quit his day job. Gotta give up the store. With the help of a CPA/Lawyer friend, she helped me with the proper dissolution of the business. She took charge arranging the books, footing the liabilities, listing down the receivables from the clients and writing off bad debts.

More importantly, after turning the remaining stocks in liquid assets, she asked us to pay off our property that was mortgaged in the bank. That way, she said, our asset is protected, and, we are free from interest-bearing loan which can hurt our financial capacity.

Looking back at those years, I may have lost a business, but the blessings that comes in after that were too many that my heart is always full of joy. That pregnancy produced a very smart and active kid, now 7 years old. Hubby’s little princess, as he fondly calls her.

And, I will be forever indebted to my friend who lends her expertise in taking care of preventing us from a financial breakdown. It is always necessary to employ people who are knowledgeable in their field and someone who does their craft professionally.

I am participating in a blogger campaign by Bucks2Blog about bankruptcy attorney nc and was compensated. However, the views and opinions are my own.

Were you also the one who would wake up in the morning trying to think up what to cook for breakfast? Then, while frying some eggs, will try thinking again what to cook for lunch and dinner and onto the next day. Motherly thoughts were filled with nothing else but what food to serve to the family. Routine thoughts. Which adds up to my migraine

Because Monday became a holiday, twas came a rice holiday, too. No fried rice and hotdogs on the table. Cereals were the other option on a laid back morning when school is off. Of course, the kids’ ultimate fave, PANCAKES.

I veer away from buying package pancakes in the grocery. As making them is more economical plus it is very easy to do.

1 cup flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 eggs, 1 cup evaporated milk, sugar. Were the stuff needed to make these fluffy pancakes.

Quick tips:

-Work on the dry and the wet ingredients separately.

-Sift flour and baking soda to get best fluffy result.

-Slowly add in the dry ingredients to the egg/milk mixture.

-Mix thoroughly to avoid lumps.

-Vanilla or cinnamon may be added as flavor, or grated orange zest for that tangy flavor (two thumbs up for this one)

 The little miss works on her own plate. With fried “saba” bananas on top.

After finishing one pancake, she said she wanted another one and yet she’s already full.

Linking this post to Thursday Brownies  , Food Trip Friday, and Food Friday.

When it rains, the kids get hungrier^_^. It pays to have stacked up on food for them to eat. I don’t know what’s inside their tummies, that, even they’re just sitting with their lappies on, they drain up fast.

While me and the hubs were busy with the Christmas decors, I took a respite and prepare sandwiches with a twist. MY kids were the typical ones who do not like monotony in food. Sensing they might snubbed mayo and cheese or ham and cheese, came up with this out of the world sandwich

Got me these store bought raisin loaf…

Smother the loaf with choco syrup. Topped with colorful marsmallows. Cover with another loaf with choco syrup also…

Toast for 3 minutes…

Bon appetit!

Linking this post to Pink Friday, Color Connection, Yummy Sunday

The last two weeks of October had been full of  gastronomic treats. Birthdays from both side of the families came one day after another. My own birth date came also with the usual “faMEALy” fun and the gifts were overwhelming. My heart and my tummy has never been this full Have since stopped counting the calories I gobbled up

On two birthdays we have attended, table was teeming with foodies, you don’t know what to pick first. Why is it when foods were aplenty, you can’t eat more? Especially, when big as this Pinoy classic treat were to make one drool. DROOL…

After tearing off few pieces of the super crrrispy and golden brown “balat ng lechon”, I begged off. The oils seemed to snatched off my appetite. In the end, as is the typical Pinoy practice, “nakikain ka na nga, nag-take-out ka pa”. SIL is too gracious to give us a Tupperware full of Lechon.

Which happened to hibernate in the dark and cold area of the freezer for two weeks. Yesterday, I made it into “lechon paksiw”. An easy dish and needs minimal cooking time.

Procedure:

1. Place the pieces of lechon in a shallow pot. Add in the sauce (which I kept in the freezer, too) or store bought Mang Tomas Lechon Sauce. Add also half cup of water or add in more when needed.

2. Add in chopped garlic, onion slices, black peppercorns, 1 laurel leaf.

3. Season with salt and sugar (I used 1 tbsp. brown sugar).

4. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Linking this classic foodie at Thursday Brownies, Food Trip Friday and Food Friday.