tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88047602752220574442024-11-06T11:04:05.588+08:00Food always comes to those who love to cook. --Auguste Gusteau (Ratatouille)Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-49570029506902004982014-04-12T22:27:00.004+08:002014-04-12T22:42:32.167+08:00

Two Christmases ago, I got myself a blender. It was on sale, so I didn't have to think twice about buying it. Besides, I wanted to start my smoothie regimen, and my last blender had conked out (Lesson learned: DO NOT buy cheap, nameless appliances!). Why make smoothies, you may ask. Well, I have 2 main reasons: I wanted to detox (it was after Christmas, so I wanted to get rid of all the

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-65754894155130169512013-01-09T17:29:00.000+08:002013-01-09T17:33:04.677+08:00

Last Christmas Eve, I was, as usual, on my feet for hours preparing our Noche Buena. I kept everything simple, though. Two kinds of spaghetti (three-cheese for the kids, Pinoy style for the yayas), ham, tacos, nachos and jap chae. Noche Buena In my Facebook account, I captioned my Noche Buena photo, "A simple meal for Christmas Eve" and earned this comment: "Simple?!" So I posted, "Nadaan

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-68384476940053874212012-12-09T20:46:00.002+08:002012-12-09T21:00:12.615+08:00

In a previous post, I confessed how bad I am at baking cakes ( see Baking as the Bane of My Culinary Existence).  In that post, I mentioned my desire to learn how to bake properly, like a cake which can actually be eaten or would at least be presentable. Last week, I was asked to make a mock gingerbread house using graham crackers. So I learned how to make royal icing and proceeded to

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-27120279496960123242012-07-07T00:08:00.003+08:002012-07-07T00:08:43.471+08:00

Last month, I saw my friend May's FB post of a cup-ful of homemade banana ice cream made of—guess what?!—bananas and nothing else! I've been meaning to try it, but I wasn't sure if it would be any good. And so, seeing May's post, I quickly interrogated her. Below is an account of our Facebook conversation: Me: Now I can try this! Been meaning to, I just dunno if it'll be any good. May:

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-54626880122500412602012-06-21T21:26:00.000+08:002012-06-21T21:33:29.330+08:00

It's been kind of warm the past couple of nights.  This weather is so unusual, as forecasts of a storm hover above us like the sword of Damocles. Another thing that's hanging in front of my face are deadlines.  And when there are deadlines, sleep should never be entertained.  Especially when it knocks early.  So how do I combat both?  With one crazy solution: a nice,

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-35884583546405341972012-06-21T09:42:00.002+08:002012-12-09T22:37:18.466+08:00

I love making my own lunch!  Although there are times when I get lazy in the morning and just settle for what's in the office cafeteria, I make it a point to plan my menu for the week, or buy my favorite ingredients and mix and match them to create my lunch for the day.  Sometimes, I even surprise myself! Today, I decided to do a pasta dish.  It's something that I always make. &

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-5051530128503441362012-06-21T00:16:00.001+08:002012-06-21T00:19:23.508+08:00

Lately, there has been a mushrooming of tea places all over the Metro.  Hot tea, iced tea, spiced tea, herb tea, infusions... name, they have it!  However, long before this tea-crazy phenomenon began, my friends and I have been tea fans. No, I am not, nor will I ever renounce my love for the perfect brew (aka coffee).  In fact, I have a tiny collection of coffee from some

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-90394703516329897012012-06-19T21:38:00.001+08:002012-06-19T21:43:56.658+08:00

Who says you need a campfire or a fireplace to enjoy s'mores?  S'm... what?  S'mores!  Those campfire favorites American kids enjoy so much. First time I had this was when we were vacationing in Baguio last December.  Manong Uly, my cousin from Hawaii, had this bright idea of roasting mallows by the fireplace.  I don't remember who seconded the motion, adding

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-23770196788186768182012-05-24T19:02:00.004+08:002012-05-24T19:02:41.863+08:00

I'm back from the dead!  Actually, I'm back to cooking and shooting, and as a "comeback", I decided to feature one of my leftover delights―Baked Chicken Pot Pie That Looks Like Shepherd's Pie! I know, the title itself is a mouthful (pun intended), but that's what it is!  Basically, it's leftover roasted chicken, shredded; baby carrots; a sliced celery stalk;  all-purpose cream or

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-77163885820782082512012-04-24T15:39:00.002+08:002017-08-22T19:29:58.474+08:00

You never know what 'sizzling summer' means until you're out of the house waiting for a cab with only an umbrella to shield you against the heat of the sun. That's why today, after a morning meeting, I decided to stay home and work from here instead of collapsing on the street due to heatstroke.  According to the weather bureau, it's 34°C today, partly cloudy (I wonder where the

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-71717775419098647482012-04-11T01:19:00.001+08:002012-04-11T01:40:31.059+08:00

Yeah, yeah... it's been a while since I made something special from the kitchen.  But during the Holy Week, I found myself sauntering near the fiery furnace once more to make a few dishes for lunch or dinner. Thursday was Fish Tom Yum day.  That was after I got excited when I got dried galangal, dried lemongrass, and kafir lime leaves from my favorite supermarket.  My sister got a

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-3634329371061477362012-01-23T23:10:00.001+08:002012-04-11T01:37:43.956+08:00

In my lifetime, this is only the second time that I've been to the Chinese New Year celebration in Manila Chinatown.  And like a kid, I was really excited to go!  My sister Mia, my nephews Christian and Gian and my niece Lily Anne came with me.  The kiddos were all first-timers, so my sister & I wanted to make the trip memorable for them. To begin our journey, we boarded the

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-33774914528680051472011-11-04T13:48:00.003+08:002012-04-11T01:37:54.019+08:00

Lately, I have been craving for sushi. But instead of going to the restaurant, I headed for the grocery store to buy ingredients for sushi! And one weekend, it was just sushi and nothing else! I found the recipe from this cookbook on the left. It was a gift from the Ridao Family of Hawaii. They came over to the country last March, and then sometime in October, a package for me arrived from

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-67613209854949092552011-10-16T23:11:00.003+08:002012-04-11T01:38:04.883+08:00

Champagne taste on a beer budget?  Check out some of my favorite go-to places for great meal deals! No more food on the table! Check out the ceiling furniture though. Pan de Americana - if you're in the mood for some pan de sal, don't go for the 2-peso teeny-tiny ones. Rush to Katipunan Extension towards White Plains and get gigantic 1950s pan de sal for P6.00 each. Their ensaymada is

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-60099691681132509662011-10-16T11:15:00.002+08:002012-04-11T01:38:10.907+08:00

Yesterday was a lot of fun! My friends and I went on a trip to Laguna, primarily to support our prayer group head, Tita Ethel. She was invited to speak at the Laguna HOLD Echo Conference, so the whole gang decided to come with. After Tita Ethel's talk, it was free-for-all, so first we agreed to visit the house of Dr. Jose Rizal in Calamba. At Jose Rizal's After a tour of Dambana Rizal,

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-60738582642088985552011-06-15T08:50:00.000+08:002012-04-11T01:38:22.208+08:00

Today, I start over with my quest for the hard-to-get IBW, a.k.a. Ideal body Weight.  For the past month, my diet consisted of fat, sugar, carbo and salt... all washed down with a hefty amount of caffeine.  But as my life begins to normalize once more, I decided to get back on track with my crusade. First off on my checklist is to go back to eating healthy.  Yep, all the fat,

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-19322945023992808862011-05-28T15:15:00.004+08:002012-04-11T01:38:35.095+08:00

For the past 2 weeks, we have been cooped up in a house where the only thing we are to do is do the layout of a new book.  It has been a couple of weeks of sitting in front of the computer.  The only time we ever stand up, aside from bathroom breaks, is when the dining table is set.  So much for my ideal body weight goal... And once the dining table is set, I always have

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-31395866958466781162011-05-17T20:25:00.000+08:002012-04-11T01:38:46.044+08:00

One of my greatest desires is to be able to bake and decorate a cake.  Yup, while others take baking as natural as breathing, it has caused me great distress. My first attempt at baking a cake was a total megaflop.  Decorating it was catastrophic.  I never touched the baking pan after that. This is not MY cake, but the one I first baked looked like this. (borrowed from 

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-82599982712555368012011-05-08T17:33:00.000+08:002011-05-08T17:33:33.203+08:00

It's been three months since I last posted.  Has it been that long since I last cooked?  Or eaten? I admit, I have been delinquent in my posts.  And now that I am back to pounding at the keyboard, I reflect: Why have I been remiss in my writing?  More importantly, Have I lost my passion for food? I check my calendar for clues, especially during the last 3 months, and I

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-68631849425376278002011-02-01T10:32:00.003+08:002012-04-11T01:39:04.561+08:00

I am on a crusade. A very personal crusade. Although I haven't been posting religiously for the past few months, I have, in fact, been busy in front of the stove. For starters, friends have gifted me with all sorts of condiments to use in my cooking. It would be such a waste not to use them! Thus the Nyonya Fried Rice (using belacan from Tita Mimi). And the Steamed Okra with Cincalok Dip (

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-80523811281543863002010-11-07T09:15:00.002+08:002012-04-11T01:33:30.651+08:00

Yesterday, November 6, we decided to go to the cemetery to visit our loved ones who have gone ahead.  But since it was already 11AM when we arrived at Talisay, Batangas, we opted to have an early lunch first. In our hometown (Talisay), the best place to go to for great food is Club Balai Isabel.  I'm not saying this because my Tita Mary knows the owners.  I am declaring this to

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-69304933587157052892010-10-03T16:23:00.001+08:002012-04-11T01:39:22.763+08:00

Last Thursday, I went to Divisoria.  Instead of taking the train to Recto, I took my usual route: FX ride to Quiapo, then walk to Sta. Cruz Church, cross to Ongpin and walk all the way to Binondo Church, and finally traverse the stretch of Juan Luna street.  Except for the FX ride, I walked ALL the way. My friends find my addiction to walking quite crazy.  But what can I do? &nbsp

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-21068971337666660082010-07-29T22:22:00.004+08:002010-07-29T22:40:47.396+08:00

As I was skimming through my Facebook page, I chanced upon this post on my wall: July 29 - Today is the Feast of Saint Martha, sister of Lazarus and Mary of Bethany, patron of cooks.  And butlers, dietitians, domestic servants, homemakers, hotel-keepers, housemaids, housewives, innkeepers, laundry workers, maids, manservants, servants, servers, single lay women (this is for another story;

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-79280571625604833362010-06-22T16:24:00.010+08:002010-06-22T16:35:13.746+08:00

Yep, you read the title right. And I’m not writing this blog to dishonor my mother. In fact, through this entry, I want to honor her. Because despite the temporary setback, she emerged as my main influence in the kitchen. I remember my Dad’s sisters telling us how my Mom didn’t know how to boil rice! Whenever Daddy came home from work, Mom would be sitting on the staircase waiting for him.

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8804760275222057444.post-60698890943310535892010-05-20T00:23:00.009+08:002010-05-22T00:23:45.216+08:00

For so many years now, I had been planning to go to the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon. And every year, I condition myself that I would be going. But each year, I end up not going at all. I can't remember the reason why I plan and end up not going to the Pahiyas. I thought the closest I would get to it was when we went to the Kamay ni Hesus, and made a side trip to Lucban on the day

Almahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13162955268683148499noreply@blogger.com1