Sizzling Pepper Steak (I forgot which one is which)

I know the weather is kind of hot, hotter this season, but who would like food served cold? If you want your food served hot, I mean sizzling hawt, Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak is for you.

Pepper, Lunch, Steak?!

Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak, is the rival steak house of Pepper Lunch here in the Philippines. Before Pepper Lunch became popular here, there’s already a bunch of other really cheaper (I say cheaper not same as delicious) steak houses available– Steak House, Sizzling Plate, and many other, most are available in SM Malls’ food court and other malls. People came into confused state when Sizzlin’ Pepper Steak opened, “Is this another Pepper Lunch?”, nope not another— Cecile Van Straten would be furious, but yeah, seems to be yet another one (of course, they’d have different menus, and price differences)

Sizzlin' Pepper Steak

Sizzling Steak

Steak at SPS are just like any other steak I have tasted, but I have to emphasize— their steak are soft and tasty. The plate does its magic keeping the food warm, but making you smell horribly steaky after. I think, the reason for the price really is the service and the ambiance (well, not for this one, we dine at Promenade Greenhills).

Taste Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Price Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Servings Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Ambience Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Service Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

She writes again

“Desert Dawn” is the continuation of Waris Dirie’s extraordinary life. This time, she is reconnecting with her past and going home to Somalia after decades of being away. She is of course a different woman now. Waris Dirie, glamorous supermodel and UN Ambassador was reminded of her “true self” when she had her first meal back in Somalia. She could not join the men’s dining area because she was a woman and was deemed unfit.

Finding her way back

It is  interesting to follow Waris Dirie as she  searches for her mother and father. Waris’ parents separated long before and this is quite uncommon for their culture. Yet, just like the headstrong woman that she is, Waris’ mother has kept her kids and herself alive. One incident in “Dessert Dawn” that I will not forget is of Waris giving gifts to her brothers and mother. Along with lotion, Waris brings a mirror for her mother. Her mother upon seeing herself is horrified with the sight. She cannot believe that she is the old and wrinkled woman in the reflection. Waris’ mother then goes on a rant saying that it was her children, particularly Waris that did this to her.

Better than ever

Again, the images of a hot arid dessert sweeps you up and engulfs your senses. You can hear the baying of the goats and you can taste the ghee that comes from their nutritious milk. In “Desert Dawn”, Waris Dirie has become a better storyteller with a better command of the language. This book is recommended for those who were “bitin” with the first book.

And that’s “Desert Dawn” unclanked!

Desert Flower by Waris Dirie

They’re not supposed to do that to little girls

The “Desert Flower” is not your run of the mill shifting of fates, it actually has depth. Waris Dirie did not become a UN Ambassador just by being pretty. She had a horrific past and she had the courage to speak against it. At the age of 5, Waris Dirie just like most little girls in Somalia, was circumsized. I know right! It made me gasp as well! In the book, she goes into detail how the tradition is practiced by their society because if little girls were not genitally mutilated, they would be unfit to marry. Of course, she is able to overcome this and she migrates to England, where she is discovered by Malcolm Fairchild. She goes on photoshoots and even becomes a Bond girl.

This woman is amazing. She’s probably in her forties now and her life has been made into a movie. “Desert Flower” is not without faults though. It is very obvious from the writing style that the writer is a novice. But it doesn’t matter, when you’re dealing with something as heavy as FGM (female genital mutilation), you don’t need highfaluting words to get your point across.

Now you know

This book really opened my eyes to the cruelty and injustice that women suffer from all over the world. I especially liked that Waris Dirie put as much of her culture as she could. I could actually feel the dusty feel of the Somalian Desert sand as I was reading this book. I felt the pain, the fear, and the humiliation that anybody would feel if they were victimized. I recommend this book to those people who would like to learn about exotic cultures that are so far removed from your daily experiences. I recommend this book to people who want to see a cause worth fighting.

And that’s “Dessert Flower” unclanked!

“A Little Piece of Ground” by Elizabeth Laird is a story of teenagers who have to grow up in a world where tanks are as common as buses, and centuries of land ownership can be cut with just a bullet. Set in Israeli occupied Palestine, ”A Little Piece of Ground” offers a glimpse of a perspective that is rarely seen. The ages long strife between Palestine and Israel in the book is tangible and does not budge an inch.

Usually my sympathies lay with the other side of this fence. I read this book thinking how nice it would be to see how the other side lived. I realized a very strong truth that rocked me to my soul: Palestinians are people too. They too feel the pain and suffering of war. Even if the Israelis have a long standing history of misery, this does not mean that this is an excuse to inflict anguish on another race. This is a truth that everyone must learn. We must extend grace when it is not deserved. Yes, it takes superhuman effort. But I promise you, it is well worth it.

Recommended for people who want their eyes opened and their hearts burdened.

And that’s “A Little Piece of Ground” unclanked!

Is it any good?

You know it’s a good book when publishers come up with a 45^th Anniversary issue. You also know that it’s a substantial read when you wee the Newberry Medal on it’s cover. But you only truly know its value to your soul when the book speaks to your heart. That is how I found myself reading this book and needing to stop because I was weeping too much.

Just how good?

“The Bronze Bow” follows the story of Daniel, a teenage bandit whose deep hatred for Romans hinders him from experiencing true joy and happiness. The story is set in Galillee, Capernaum during the time of Jesus’ ministry. Daniel is working to eradicate his beloved land of the Romans, but his methods and motivations cause more harm than good. Although Jesus is not the central character of this book, I learned so much about Him. “The Bronze Bow” paints a Jesus that is so human, so real. Here is a Jesus that is far from feeble or weak. He is strong and capable, and always available. There was one passage in the book that Jesus and Daniel meet, just the two of them. I was amazed at how real Speare was able to paint Jesus. In that scene, Jesus was tired and weary after a whole day of preaching and healing, He is about to retire. Daniel is kicking himself because he lost his chance to speak to Jesus and warn Him of the dangerous men after Him. Just when Daniel has given up all hope and turns to leave, Jesus opens the door of his house and gently asks, “Who is there?” and invites Daniel in. Daniel leaves Jesus having benefited more from this conversation than Jesus did.

It did me A LOT of good.

“The Bronze Bow” speaks a universal truth that is so easy to grasp. I love it for it’s wisdom, it’s sincerity, and it’s truth. My Jesus is not merely stuck on a crucifix; remote and  unreachable. He is real, has a whole array of emotions, and is always within my reach. Like Daniel, it is only my heart and my head that hinder me from experiencing true joy and happiness.

Recommended for those who want not just a Lord and Savior, but also a friend.

“Mara, Daughter of the Nile” reminds me of the Harlequin books and the Joan Collins books that I read before I knew anything about literature. That is, it has all the “kilig moments”, the predictable plot twists, and the lush descriptions that bored me to tears.  The only different feature that “Mara, Daughter of the Nile” has from those trashy novels is that this book has no physically intimate scenes. That’s a relief.

I asked my students (the ones I borrowed  “Mara, Daughter of the Nile” from) what they think about the novel. And they said that they enjoyed it. This is because “Mara, Daughter of the Nile” is a love story and they rarely get the chance to read love stories. I have to admit that “Mara, Daughter of the Nile” is good for teens who are interested in Romance. The description of Egypt is satisfactory but I failed to learn anything new about this exotic country from this book.

This book is a good light read that will definitely give you a good night’s sleep. Recommended for insomniacs.

And that’s “Mara, Daughter of the Nile” Unclanked!

The curious incident of the dog in the night time

Don’t send my to the Principal’s office just yet

I have a confession to make… I am not as charitable and fair to my students as I appear or delude myself to be. I have little or no understanding of how they cope with the hardships that come their way. I am even less compassionate with my learning disabled students. As long as these kids do or perform as is expected of them, we’re fine. But my concern is limited to that. This book has greatly shamed me to be a little kinder to my students.

The story follows Christopher John Francis Boone, a child with autism and possibly Asperger’s syndrome. Boone is plagued with being isolated, belittled, and manipulated. He exhibits the symptoms of one who has a world all his own, and is also the only one in their school to take “A level in Maths”. The story follows a day in the life of Boone who discovers his neighbor’s murdered dog and goes on a journey to an “A” in his Math Standardized Test.

This teacher has learned her lesson

“The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time” is such a treat. Mark Haddon wrote such an engaging novel! It shows how one tracked and simple the mind is for people with Autism. I couldn’t believe it was that simple. It just looks complicated because they understand what is generally “difficult” for normal people. They see things so black and white, they are so uncompromising, it’s so refreshing! Because of this book, I have a better understanding for people with learning difficulties. I have also learned my lesson: am going to think out of the box and stop being impatiently flippant with my students. They deserve better than that.

This is recommended for people who have always wondered what Autistic people think about. This is recommended for those who would like to glimpse a world that is anything but boringly normal.

Take that - Back for Good

A time to give up

The song starts with a tired line. The singer is at a loss over his relationship. The song gives you a feeling of unwanted separation as if the singer still wants to look optimistically at their relationship even while under the strong waves of emotion he’s feeling.

The fist stanza tries to put you in the emotional state of the singer with it’s lyrics for painting the setting. ‘Back for Good’ by Take That opens up in a sad way but then the singer gradually shows what this song is all about. And of course, at the chorus, we find out about his repentant heart.

The music hints a happy ending

When you listen to the tune, it isn’t exactly something that will make you frown. The guitar is light, the beat is quite fairly mellow but it doesn’t imply a sad song. In fact, it’s something light to listen to. So if you’d ask me if this song was open ended or not, I would lean on open ended but only technically. We all know that the music implies a happy ending.

Can you feel it?

Can you sympathize with the singer? Maybe you’ve been through something like this and realized, the fight is not worth losing her over to. This is the song for you. But don’t overdo it. Even if the music implies a happy ending, your emotions could lean on the sad part. Back for good by Take That is one of my favorite songs even if I’ve never been through something like it. I like it for it’s melody and it’s first stanza.

Let’s write down my favorite stanza shall we?

I guess now it’s time for me to give up
I feel it’s time
Got a picture of you beside me
Got your lipstick mark still on your coffee cup
Got a fist of pure emotion
Got a head of shattered dreams
Gotta leave it, gotta leave it all behind now

Yeah… Sometimes we gotta know when to give up

Music Video

Take that – Back for Good

Lyrics Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Music Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Popularity Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Music Video Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Overall Rating: 3.13 out of 5 stars

beef burger with rice; PhP42.00 for ala carte and PhP50.00 for meal

Just a heads up on what McDonald’s has been cooking for the summer. There’s a new product on their menu, the Beef burger with rice!

Home-cooked taste

I tell you, this is different from Jollibee’s Beef burger steak, that is sauced up with their gravy and placed some sliced button mushrooms. It taste like my mom and your mom’s Beef steak sauce, you know that soy sauce and calamansi plus startch and onion mix, it tasted like that. I don’t have the actual photo of the product because it doesn’t look presentable— I ordered from 8-mcdo— so you see, he must have taken the bumpy road to our house.

The birds have it

I really like this book! I couldn’t stop reading it! This book is a cut above all the other books on the Medieval Era. Everything written on the Middle Ages focuses on either the clergy or royalty. This book does neither. “Catherine, Called Birdy” gives us a glimpse into the more than average girl’s lifestyle. The book is written as a journal following the daily travails of Catherine, who is the daughter of a country knight.

It is a smartly written book with very understandable text and the humor just rolls of the page. Catherine is spirited young woman who has a head of her own and finds it hard to submit to those who try to cage her. Catherine details how she fools her would be admirers and chases off pursuers. “Catherine, Called Birdy” reveals how a normal girl would probably have behaved in the Middle Ages, with the pressure to get married, the courtiers, and life in the country.

This book is a real treat. No wonder it’s a Newberry Honor awardee. I would recommend this to those who are curious about the Middle Ages. I would also recommend this to people and parents who would like to know what’s going on in their teenager’s heads.

And that’s “Catherine, Called Birdy” unclanked!