My Picture Book

Courtyard Grill, New Orleans

2012-08-13T06:33:00.004+08:00

We were doing one of our 'constitutional' walks at Magazine St., New Orleans when we chanced upon Courtyard Grill. We saw pictures of delicious food and we peered inside their kitchen's glass windows. We saw their cooks grilling, cooking and all the while smiling and chatting with each other. Those are a happy bunch! Hubby said that it's a good thing when the cooks are in a happy mood as the food would surely be cooked with care and consideration. I say the management must be good as the employees are happy.

Then next day, we stopped by for lunch. We ordered Adana chicken wrap, beef gyro sandwich and french fries. We were not all disappointed, that's an understament. The food is simply delicious, authentic Mediterranean. Their Greek white sauce (home-made yoghurt with mint) is fresh and lightly creamy. The Adana chicken wrap, which is ground chicken blended with red pepper, onion and parsley is so yummy. It's served on a wrap and served with tomatoes, yoghurt and rice. It is just what I expected with their spices, and with sprinkling of sweet onions, purple cabbage and lettuce too.

The beef gyro is superb. The beef, slowly cooked on a vertical rotisserie served with lettuce, tomato and onio. It's wrapped in Lavosh with Greek white sauce on the side. The beef is tender and tasty and the Lavosh wrap is fresh and heated to a lovely and crispy crust.

Definitely thums up for Courtyard Grill. See theirfull menu here.

We're the happy diners:

Binuatan Creations in Palawan

2012-05-09T08:46:00.000+08:00

While in Palawan, we visited Binuatan Creations. Their products are very colorful, very Filipiniana, and their handwoven products are done at the back of the store.

Dave tried weaving as instructed by the weaver

Their store have very colrful products such as these bags

There are also smaller souvenir pieces like key chains, wallets, etc.

Their bags are of export quality

Revival of Old Photo

2012-04-10T21:18:00.001+08:00

A photo, faded by age could be revived. Look at this picture, taken in 1989:

Look at how it was 'revived'.

My Food Cravings

2012-03-05T11:59:00.001+08:00

It's sunny and bright as early as seven o'clock in this side of the world, and I am off for my daily 'constitutional' walk after my usual papaya breakfast. And what comes next after my walk - food of course. Here are some of my faves and the good sites for their recipes:

Bacon and cheese Sandwich
Fried Pork
Fish and Chips
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Chef's Salad
Cheese Cake


Bacon and Egg Sandwich


Pork, rice and veggies if I am so hungry


Fish and Chips for a brunch is not bad


Chicken Cordon Bleu if I am inclined


A Hearty Chef's Salad is a Feast!

Actually all I am craving for is a delish Cheesecake!

Fun with Photoshop Effects

2012-01-25T21:20:00.000+08:00

Water color painting

Water Color

Colored Sketch

Water Color

Colored Sketch

Black-and-White sketch

Lyka!

2012-01-14T18:33:00.000+08:00

Lyka, a girl woman

Jo, My Sister

2011-12-27T11:41:00.002+08:00

Studio Shots at Angel Lights Portraits, Photoshop effects by Yours Truly :))

Edited "Original' Picture

Sketch Effect

Artistic Cutout

Grain-Speckle

My Photoshop program is dated, so it may be a waste of time if I tell you how I got these effects, but if you insist, post your comment if you'd like a step-by-step instructions.

Couples

2011-10-23T13:18:00.000+08:00

Travis and Diane Howells


Robert and Lyn Horton


Chris and Marie Haug


Steve and Trina

Beautiful Jean Bagguley and Family

2011-10-08T11:02:00.000+08:00

Robert and Lyn's Wedding Album

2011-10-05T17:04:00.002+08:00

The Album Cover

A Quick Stop for Studio Shots

A Young and Lovely Bride


The Prince Charming


Robert, the Lucky Groom

Lyn's Older Friends brought her to the Church

Bride is Presented to the Groom

Arras

Exchanging of Rings


Candle Veil, and Cord sponsors


Bride and Groom and Sponsors

Bride and Groom and Young Sponsors

Bride and Groom and Friends

Kiss the Bride!

At the Reception -By The Sea Hotel and Restaurant

Arch of Flowers

Ready to Entertain Guests

Bubbles for the Bride and Groom

By the Sea

Waiting for Guests

Bride with her Bouquet of Flowers

More Kisses for the Bride
Now Let me give you marriage quotes:

The bonds of matrimony are like any other bonds - they mature slowly. ~Peter De Vries

Two things are owed to truthfulness - lasting marriages and short friendships. ~Robert Brault

In the opinion of the world, marriage ends all, as it does in a comedy. The truth is precisely the opposite: it begins all. ~Anne Sophie Swetchine

A man marries to have a home, but also because he doesn't want to be bothered with sex and all that sort of thing. ~W. Somerset Maugham

Love is a flower which turns into fruit at marriage. ~Finnish Proverb

Our wedding was many years ago. The celebration continues to this day. ~Gene Perret

Never marry for money. Ye'll borrow it cheaper. ~Scottish Prove

It's easy to understand love at first sight, but how do we explain love after two people have been looking at each other for years? ~Author Unknown

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage. ~Martin Luther

A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. ~Ruth Bell Graham

The highest happiness on earth is marriage. ~William Lyon Phelps

Think not because you are now wed
That all your courtship's at an end.
~Antonio Hurtado de Mendoza

Robert and Lyn, A Love Story

My Celebrity Lookalike (Facemates)

2011-10-02T12:12:00.001+08:00

Here's my friend, Jean de Gracia Bagguley with her look alike - Blake Lively of Gossip girl:

and here's another friend, Marc Almagro with his lookalike, not only Andy Lau but also Jacky Cheung:

and here's the last but not the least for now, my friend Christine Encoy and her lookalike Francine Prieto:

Now' who's your celebrity lookalike?

Rain or Shine, Enjoy Fried Ice Cream

2011-07-14T21:30:00.000+08:00

Sit-n-Bull Subic's Fried Ice Cream

What do you do on a lazy rainy night?

Usually I enjoy a hot cup of chocolate, but I grew tired of this for now. Besides, I'd like to treat a friend to something different. Off we went to the neighborhood resto/bar and enjoyed fried ice cream.

So yummy, with the contrast of hot and crispy crust and cold and creamy ice cream inside. Reminds me of eclair, cream puff, but on a higher level. It's hard to describe, so why don't you try it?

Here's one of the recipes from the 'net.

Fried Ice Cream

http://www.yummy.ph/recipe/Fried-Ice-Cream

This dessert recipe can be made to suit your taste. It works with any flavor of ice cream and dessert syrup.

Yield 6 to 8 regular scoops

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
oil for cooking (fill the pot halfway)
scoops of desired ice cream

1 A night or two beforehand, scoop your chosen ice cream onto a lined tray then place in the freezer to harden.

2 One hour before serving, make the batter: In a bowl, put the flour. Then mix in the baking powder, salt, and sugar.

3 Whisk in the egg into the dry mixture.

4 Stirring constantly, add milk into the mixture.

5 Stir in the melted butter. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the batter rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

6 Meanwhile, heat the oil.

7 Dip and roll each scoop of ice cream in the batter then immediately fry the scooped ice cream, 2 to 3 seconds or until the batter turns golden brown.

8 Place the fried ice cream on a bowl or plate and garnish with dessert syrup and fresh fruits and nuts if desired.

My Friend and I enjoyed Fried Ice Cream on a Rainy Night

Scooping tip Best to scoop your ice cream in advance and lay out each scoop on a tray; cover the tray with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer to harden. When frying, use a deep pot and make sure the oil is very hot, about 375ºF.

Aside from syrup, you could also put whipped cream on top

Here's a video on how to make fried ice cream:

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport

2011-03-15T17:40:00.000+08:00

Dave at DMIA airport, wearing his favorite shirt with Iloilo prints on it.

I love the DMIA. It's so convenient, especially for us who are at least 100 kms. away from NAIA.

DMIA could be called different waysAccording to Wikipedia:

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Diosdado Macapagal Sulapawang Internasyonal ning Diosdado Macapagal

IATA: CRK – ICAO: RPLC
Summary
Airport type		Public
Operator		Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC)
Serves		Angeles City, Manila
Location		Clark Special Economic Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga
Hub for		Cebu Pacific Spirit of Manila Airlines
Elevation AMSL		148 m / 484 ft
Coordinates		15°11′09″N 120°33′37″E / 15.18583°N 120.56028°E / 15.18583; 120.56028
Website		http://www.dmia.ph/
Runways
Direction	Length		Surface
Direction	m	ft	Surface
02R/20L	3,200	10,499	Concrete
02L/20R	3,200	10,499	Concrete
Source: DAFIF^[1]^[2]

Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA, Filipino: Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Diosdado Macapagal, Kapampangan: Sulapawang Internasyonal ning Diosdado Macapagal), also called Clark International Airport (IATA: CRK, ICAO: RPLC), is the main airport serving the immediate vicinity of the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ) and the general area of Angeles City in the Philippines. It also serves the northern and central regions of Luzon, and being 85 kilometers (50 miles) from the older Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) that serves Manila, DMIA also serves Metro Manila and its immediate vicinity. It is located on an area of the economic zone formerly utilized as the Clark Air Base, which was closed in late 1991 by the U.S. Air Forces after the explosion of Mount Pinatubo.
The two parallel runways of DMIA are capable of NASA Space Shuttle landings. However, it is no longer listed as an active landing site,^[3] and it has never had a Space Shuttle land there.^[4]
The airport is managed by the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), a government-owned and/or controlled corporation.

Ground Transportation

Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway
The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) provides access to Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ), including the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport, through two exits. The Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) opened Panday Pira Road on December 23, 2008, and it is connected to the Clark North interchange in Mabalacat, Pampanga, where it leads straight to CSEZ on the left and Sacobia in Bamban town to the right. The Clark South interchange leads directly to the airport, Angeles, Tarlac, and the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
North Luzon Railway
Construction has begun on a new US$421 million North Luzon project (initiated by the Philippine National Railways), scheduled for completion by 2010.^[30] Two separate lines will be constructed, one for the Airport Railway, and another for the NorthRail commuter and high speed rail line serving Metro Manila and the northern Luzon provinces.
Bus
There are regular bus services to various destinations from the airport, charging from PH₱300 ($6.50) for Cubao (Quezon City), Mariveles, and Avenida (Manila), to PH₱350 ($6.75) for SM Megamall, Pasay City and Baguio City.^[31] Operators include:

Genesis Transport (for Mariveles)
Partas (for Baguio and the rest of Northern Luzon except Laoag; and Avenida)
Philtranco (for Pasay, Cubao, and SM Megamall)

Taxi
Taxi stands are located in the arrival halls,^[31] and prices are based on the meter. Operators include:

Airport Shuttle Service Inc.
Avis Philippines
Triangle Taxi

Current projects

New In-Flight Catering Service Facility

Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines has recently mentioned plans to make DMIA the airline's main hub for maintenance, ground-handling and catering services. Talks for long-term lease are in progress for PH₱5 billion to obtain 30 hectares at DMIA to build a new facility for PAL by 2010.^[13]
In April 2008, details that Macroasia Corporation, the airline services company of Lucio Tan and PAL, said it had signed an agreement with First Metro Investment Corp. for a PH₱450 million standby credit line for expanding its facilities at NAIA and DMIA.^[13]
Macroasia management has obtained permission to invest US$100 million in the Clark DMIA maintenance, ground-handling and catering facility, depending on results of ongoing feasibility studies and on projected demands from various airlines.^[13]
Enter Gate Gourmet
Enter Gate Gourmet, one of the world’s largest in-flight catering service providers, is in a joint venture with Miascor to construct and maintain an in-flight catering facility at DMIA.^[13]
As of November 2007, work has begun on the first phase of a 3,000 square meter, US$2 million, world-class catering facility on the grounds of DMIA, close to the current CIAC administrative offices. A second phase will be built, for an additional US$ 5million, that will eventually serve up to 4,000 meals a day as DMIA allows major long-haul international carriers from around the world to operate.^[13]
The Enter Gate Gourmet/Miascor catering facility is an important project that will potentially attract Middle Eastern and other airlines for it will provide quality meals for various flights.^[13]

New MRO Facilities

SIA Engineering Company
SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) will pour an initial US$1 billion^[32] (P45 billion) investment to set up a world-class aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility at DMIA.^[13]
The facility will occupy a 10-hectare property at the DMIA which would be the center of repair, maintenance and overhaul of various wide- and narrow-bodied aircraft, such as the Airbus A380,^[33] currently the world’s largest aircraft, A320, Boeing 747-800 and Boeing 777, among others.^[13]
SIAEC, a major provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul services in the Asia-Pacific region, is part of the Singapore Airlines Group and provides maintenance services at Singapore Changi Airport for more than 60 international carriers, including airframe and component overhaul on some of the most advanced and widely-used commercial aircraft in the world.^[13]
Kuwait and Gulf Link
The Kuwait and Gulf Link (KGL) project, initially costing about US$25 million, will cover aviation-related and dependent businesses, including, but not limited to warehousing, distribution, multi-nodal logistics, light manufacturing alongside complementary business operations, and facilities to support aviation-related activities within the Civil Aviation Complex of DMIA.^[13]
KGL will occupy at least 1.25 million square meters (125 hectares) at the Civil Aviation Complex for the development of a world-class logistics park.^[13]
Spirit of Manila Airlines
On November 9, 2008, officials of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) and Spirit of Manila Airlines led the groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of a PH₱1 billion aircraft hangar facility at the DMIA.^[10] The hangar is expected to be completed by mid-2009 which will house wide bodied aircraft such as the Boeing 747-8 and Airbus A320.^[11]
Spirit of Manila Airlines has acquired a ten-hectare property inside the Civil Aviation Complex, in which the hangar will occupy one hectare of the area.^[34] The hangar can even accommodate the Airbus A380, currently the largest passenger aircraft in the world.^[34]

^{Yes, Priscilla, from DMIA you could go anywhere in Luzon as there are vans, aircon jeeps and buses waiting to bring you to your destination at a very reasonable price. It's safe, you don't have to worry that the driver would bring you to somewhere secluded and kidnap/hold you for ransom.}

Saigon Central Post Office

2011-03-01T21:27:00.000+08:00

Do you like receiving postcards? I do (hint, hint), so I send postcards to my friends when we're travelling abroad so that in case my friends are inclined to send postcards they will remember us too. Hayz, isn't that a roundabout way of getting postcards, why don't I just send myself postcards.

Anyway, while in Saigon, we bought postcards and sent them to some of our friends in the U.S. and in the Philippines. We had a very pleasant surprise when we went to the post office. It should be in postcards. What a beautiful and magnificent building!

Wikipedia states:
Saigon Central Post Office (Vietnamese: Bưu điện Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh) is a post office in the downtown Ho Chi Minh City, near Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, the city's main church. The building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina in the early 20th century. It has a Gothic architectural style. It was designed and constructed by the famous architect Gustave Eiffel in harmony with the surrounding area. Today, the building is a tourist attraction.

Inside, there are also shops selling not only postcards and other post office memorabilia, but also souvenirs for tourists. Would you believe we bought these rings from there. We had been to the market and other jewelry stores, but we found what we like at the Post office.

Robert and Lyn

2011-01-12T08:52:00.000+08:00

I covered a n intimate and romantic wedding recently - Robert and Lyn's.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

2010-12-22T00:25:00.000+08:00

Dear friends,

Here's wishing you all a blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year! Let's take this opportunity to make new friends, forgive frenemies and spread love around.

Thanks to http://pbsp-christmascards.blogspot.com/2008/07/christmas-cards-artworks-006-010.html for the image

God bless us all.

Malou

Corregidor, Bataan

2010-11-13T11:10:00.000+08:00

Corregidor is a small rocky island in the Philippines about 48 kilometers west of Manila which is stragetically located at the entrance of Manila Bay. This island fortress stands as a memorial for the courage, valor, and heroism of its Filipino and American defenders who bravely held their ground against the overwhelming number of invading Japanese forces during World War II.

Also known as "the Rock," it was a key bastion of the Allies during the war. When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in December 1941, the military force under the command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur carried out a delaying action at Bataan. Corregidor became the headquarters of the Allied forces and also the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth government. It was from Corregidor that Philippine President Manuel Quezon and General MacArthur left for Australia in February 1942, leaving behind Lt. Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright in command.

Although Bataan fell on April 9, 1942, the Philippine and American forces held out at Corregidor for 27 days against great odds. On May 6, 1942, their rations depleted, the Allied forces were forced to surrender Corregidor to Lt. Gen. Homma Masaharu of the Japanese Imperial Army after having successfully halted the Japanese advance on Australia. It was only two years and ten months later in March 1945 when the Allied forces under the command of General MacArthur recaptured Corregidor ... making good his promise to return to the Philippines.

The big guns of Corregidor are now silent and the ruins of buildings, structures, and tunnels in the island tell a very moving story of a war that has claimed so many lives. A visit to this former battleground is a memorable experience especially for those who cherish and value peace and freedom. In his speech delivered at the signing of the surrender of Japan aboard the U.S.S. Missouri at Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945, General Douglas MacArthur said, "It is my earnest hope and indeed the hope of all mankind that a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past - a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice."

(http://www.corregidorisland.com/)

Middleside Barracks - a large military barracks made up of two three-story buildings which was referred to as the Middleside Barracks because it was constructed in the middleside sector of the island. Personnel of the 60th Coast Artillery Regiment and the 91st Philippine Scout Coast Artillery Regiment were billeted in this barracks. It was also briefly occupied by elements of the 4th Marine Regiment upon their arrival in Corregidor on December 1941.

Grilled Prawns and Squid

2010-09-03T18:58:00.000+08:00

Nory invited us to a small 'picnic' and surprised us with the delicious grilled prawns and squid, among others:

A litttle info about prawns:
http://www.endeavourprawns.com.au/nutrition.html

According to nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton, prawns are an excellent source of protein, a good source of omega 3 fatty acids and a great way to get iron, zinc and vitamin E. They are also low in saturated fats.
Prawns are extremely low in fat and calories, yet packed with nutrition.
Prawns are even lower in calories and fat than chicken yet with much more protein. As well as being high in protein, prawns contain magnesium, which plays a role in bone development and nerve and muscle function; Zinc, which is good for growing bodies, and selenium, an important antioxidant.
Omega 3 oils found in prawns assist in blood circulation by lowering blood fats and preventing blood clot formation. This aids blood circulation and researchers believe it reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. Research also indicates the omega 3 oil acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and so may reduce the risk of a wide range of health problems, including asthma, pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Nutrition Table (per 100 g):

	Kilojoules	Protein (g)	Fat (g)	Omega 3 (mg)
Lean Beef	527	22.7	3.8	22.0
Lean Lamb	596	22.0	6.0	18.0
Prawns	420	24.0	0.9	120.0
Skinless Chicken	564	19.3	6.4	19.0
Lean Pork	504	21.3	3.9	0.0

HIGH IN VITAMINS & MINERALS

Prawns are an excellent source of vitamins including iodine which is essential for thyroid gland function, iron for red cell formation and zinc for wound healing. They are especially rich in niacin, essential for a healthy skin and for the release of energy in the body and vitamin B complex needed for metabolic processes.
Most seafoods also supply phosphorus (a mineral needed for strong bones and teeth and for so many of the B-group vitamins to be used effectively). Potassium (essential for muscles & nerves and for controlling blood pressure); and small quantities of many other minerals including magnesium. They are a natural source of sodium.

CHOLESTEROL AND PRAWNS: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

In the past prawns have been accused of being high in cholesterol, this reputation in part has come from older measuring methods producing artificially high results. But in order to understand the issue more clearly, we need to understand a little more about cholesterol.
A serving of 100 grams of flesh from prawns grown in Australian waters will provide approximately 130mg cholesterol (range 120-160 mg/100g) or about one-eighth your normal cholesterol production. The cholesterol in Australian prawns is about two-thirds the level usually quoted from American prawns.
In theory, when you eat prawns, your body should reduce the amount of cholesterol it makes. However, if your diet is high in saturated fat and you have the 'wrong' genes, your cholesterol-production mechanism may not work effectively and the cholesterol from prawns (or fish or any other animal food) can add to what your body is making which may be several grams a day.
To put this into perspective, even if your body does make too much cholesterol, the quantity of ready-made cholesterol you would get from prawns will be only a fraction of the total. It is much more important to reduce the saturated fat in your diet than to fuss about foods containing ready-made cholesterol.
There are some problem combinations which provide high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol for example, fried bacon and eggs, or seafood battered or crumbed and then fried in saturated fat.
Prawns themselves have virtually no saturated fat, so as long as you have them grilled, barbecued, steamed or cooked with a 'good' unsaturated fat like olive oil, they should not cause problems.
The Japanese are the world's greatest consumers of prawns. They also have the highest life expectancy. Is it is possible the two things could be connected? We can't answer that with authority, but at the very least, it is fair enough to say that the cholesterol in prawns and other seafood is unlikely to damage the arteries provided the seafood is not battered or crumbed and cooked in saturated fat.

Jean

2010-05-14T01:39:00.000+08:00

Here's beautiful Jean:

Agua Jean Bagguley :) or maybe Agua Jeandita?

For more of Jean and family's pics here's a link:
http://malou165.multiply.com/photos/album/121/Jean_and_Family

Enjoy Filipino Food

2010-05-10T08:58:00.000+08:00

Enjoying Food at Sit-N-Bull Restobar

What do friends do during life's milestones? Celebrate with friends of course! And what were the milestones? We sold our car at lightning speed and we were sending off Nory with good wishes. She will be vacationing in Hawaii with hubby, Allan. Honeymoon!

Wonder what the food above are called? Sinigang na bangus (milkfish in sour soup), Crispy pata and Kare-kare. Hmmmn, Yummy!

How do you cook these food: Here's how:

SINIGANG NA BANGUS (MILKFISH)

PROCEDURE :

1. In a casserole, bring water to a boil together with the ginger.
2. Add the bangus, tomatoes, and onion and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Add the tamarind powder and salt to taste.
4. Add the eggplant and string beans and simmer for another 5 minutes.
5. Remove from heat, add the kangkong leaves, and let stand covered for 5 minutes.

The Crispy Pata recipe, you could find that in my previous entry :)

Kare Kare Recipe

Estimated cooking time: 2 hours

Kare Kare Ingredients

   1 kilo of beef (round or sirloin cut) cut into cubes, beef tripe or oxtail (cut 2 inch long) or a combination of all three (beef, tripe and oxtail)

3 cups of peanut butter
1/4 cup grounded toasted rice
    1/2 cup cooked bagoong alamang (anchovies)
    2 pieces onions, diced
    2 heads of garlic, minced
    4 tablespoons atsuete oil
    4 pieces eggplant, sliced 1 inch thick
    1 bundle Pechay (Bok choy) cut into 2 pieces
    1 bundle of sitaw (string beans) cut to 2" long
    1 banana bud, cut similar to eggplant slices, blanch in boiling water
    1/2 cup oil
    8 cups of water
    Salt to taste

Kare Kare Cooking Instructions:

1. In a stock pot, boil beef, tripe and oxtails in water for an hour or until cooked. Strain and keep the stock.
2. In a big pan or wok, heat oil and atsuete oil.
3. Sauté garlic, onions until golden brown, then add the stock, toasted rice, beef, oxtail and peanut butter.
4. Bring to a boil and simmer for 15 minutes. Salt to taste.
5. Add the eggplant, string beans, pechay and banana bud. Cook the vegetables for a few minutes - Do not overcook the vegetables.

Serve with bagoong on the side and hot plain rice.

We cheered each other with Bailey's shake!

Useful sites:
http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/kare_kare.htm
http://recipe.philippinecentral.com/sinigang.html

Crispy Pata

2010-05-03T12:50:00.000+08:00

Crispy Pata

Have you tried crispy pata or fried pig knuckles? The above crispy pata is from our favorite restobar, Sit-n-Bull. The first time I tasted crispy Pata was from a Barrio Fiesta, about 30 years ago. Even then, I knew it was sinful to eat it with its fat, ligaments and wow, crispy skin! I learned how to cook it too, with turbo broiler, thinking it's not as sinful as deep frying it. It still is, of course.

Sinful pleasure, but why not indulge once in a while?

Here's a recipe (http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/crispy_pata.htm)

Crispy Pata Ingredients:

1 Pata (front or hind leg of a pig including the knuckles)
1 bottle of soda (7Up or sprite)
1 tablespoon of salt
2 tablespoons patis (fish sauce)
1/2 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon of monosodium glutamate (MSG)
4 tablespoons of flour
Enough oil for deep frying
Enough water for boiling

Crispy Pata Cooking Instructions:

Clean the pork pata by removing all hairs and by scraping the skin with a knife. Wash thoroughly.
Make four to five inch cuts on the sides of the pata.
On a deep stock pot, place the pata in water with soda and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Then add the baking soda and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes.
Remove the pata from the pot and hang and allow to drip dry for 24 hours. An alternative to this is to thoroughly drain the pork pata and refrigerate for a few hours.
After the above process, rub patis on the pata and sprinkle flour liberally.
In a deep frying pot, heat cooking oil and deep fry the pork pata until golden brown.

Crispy Pata Dip Sauce:

Mix 3/4 cup of vinegar, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, 1 head of diced onion and 1 hot pepper. Salt and pepper to taste.

Prepare Yourself for a Portrait Session!

2010-04-14T18:12:00.001+08:00

Do you know the difference between a portrait and an ID picture? First let's discuss the ID picture. You know you need ID pictures, right? You need them for your school ID, passport, visa applications, bank account applications, loan applications, SSS records, etc., etc.

What is a portrait? The web definitions says it is a portrayal: a word picture of a person's appearance and character. Wikipedia says "A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness, personality, and even the mood of the person. For this reason, in photography a portrait is generally not a snapshot, but a composed image of a person in a still position. A portrait often shows a person looking directly at the painter or photographer, in order to most successfully engage the subject with the viewer.

I would like to emphasize that a portrait picture is not a snapshot at all. Both the photographer and you, the subject, need to prepare for the photo shoot. Many photographers, photo studios require that you set an appointment for a portraiture.

Why do you need an appointment for the studio or photographer? Because they may have previous appointment, silly. Also, the photographer needs to know what props, costumes, backdrops, would be used for the photo session. Having said that, whether you are a friend of the photographer or a walk-in customer, don't feel bad if you are refused a photo session when you so feel right to project that Angelina Jolie pose/pout that you have in mind.

You, the subject, how do you prepare for a photo session?

1. Book for a photo session at minimum of 48 hours ahead. I said minimum because depending on the time of the year, many of photo studios and photographers are already fully booked during graduation time, Christmas, favorite wedding time - June or December to January.

2. Plan your outfits for the photo session. Plan your makeup, your hairdo. Make an appointment with your hairdresser or make-up artist if necessary. For a timeless portrait photo, opt for a classic look: natural-looking make-up instead of a trendy green eyeshadow or blue eye mascara. Your picture would look dated if your outfit, hair-do or make-up goes out of style, so it is better to have a natural look.

3. Practice your poses in the mirror. If I am the one taking your picture I will guide you with your poses and angles but you should know yourself more. Like do you have a lopsided smile. Would you like to emphasize the downward or upward turn of your smile? Do you have a hairy mole on your right cheek? Is your right eye a bit smaller? Know and choose your best angle. Look at the magazines for nice poses that best suit your body type, your age, your clothes, etc.

4) The night before the shoot, sleep well. You don't like to look sleepy and droopy , don't you. Photo session takes time and if you lack sleep, and therefore you lack energy, that would show in your picture. Avoid alcohol and salty food as they cause puffiness.

5) Confirm your appointment at least a day before the photo session. If you forgot, call before you leave your house. You don't like to lug your outfits, make-up, etc to find out later that your photo sessison is booked another day or canceled, etc.

Recently, I had a client who conveniently forgot that an appointment is needed for a photo session., She came when I was packing for a vacation, and when I pack I plan for each day of our vacation! I was annoyed by the lack of consideration, but since we have a mutual friend, I stopped my packing and obliged for a photo shoot very unprepared. She did not bring extra outfits, I have not prepared the backdrop, props, accessories for her photo shoot, etc. In short, I was not in the mood for a photo shoot but did it anyway, for a friend. Photoshop as always is a handy tool, so I used it liberally as you could see in these pictures.

Here's the picture before Photoshop:

Here's the 'Photoshopped' picture:

Here's another unedited picture:

And here's the 'Photoshopped' one:

As she came without an appointment, I was not able to advise her to use a neutral color for her nails. Of course I could change the color of her nails in Photoshop, but she likes the color. I would have opted for her to have a more classic look, especially with her nice curly hair. In the first photo, I had her remove her blouse and chose an angle that does not emphasize her funky jewelry. She was very cooperative , though. It took time for her to relax and smile but she is a pleasant subject. Aside from being pretty and perky, she also has clear skin and her hair looked awesome! It's her first time to have a photo session by a professional. She confessed that she thought a portrait session is when a photographer takes two shots and have her choose between the two. I told her, that could work for an ID picture. Now she knows the difference between a portrait shoot and an ID shot or a snap shot.

As you could see, Photoshop saved my day.

Would you like a photo session appointment? If you're in my area, call +639277629409. If you are not in my area, I could restore old photos for you or do some digital magic on your digital or scanned photos. Email me, marilousilverman@ymail.com.

Celebrity Lookalikes, Part 3 ( Ka Facemuks?)

2010-03-29T02:13:00.000+08:00

As promised, here are more celebrity lookalikes:

My pretty friend, Maricel looks like my pretty Hollywood idol, Charlize Theron, don't you agree? Both have pretty faces, sexy bods. They gain and lose weight at will, grabe.

Wonder woman Lynda Carter is the lookalike of my sweet friend, May, o di ba? Look at their sweet smiles and beautiful eyes.

I have several lookalike fantasies, like Gloria Diaz, Marilou Diaz Abaya (di ba say mo yan Maritz) and Joyce Jimenez ( o di ba, Monissima and Rina, you told me so), but this actress turned director is my favorite lookalike. I didn' t know her until my Dutch photography client showed me a magazine with this actress on the cover. My client asked me if I have a twin in China. Even our hairstyles jibe although I have not seen many of her pictures until recently, She is Joan Chen, born Chinese, former Hollywood actress, now sought after Hollywood director. Any violent reaction?

And the last for now, look at Ed's lookalike - Richard Gere. Tama ba, Monissima? If you noticed, us girls in the above pics have Filipina noses and our celebrity lookalikes have Caucasian noses. In Ed's case, his nose is more patrician than Richard Gere's. Panalo!

And how about you? Tell me your celebrity lookalike!

Sagada Rocks

2010-03-24T08:52:00.000+08:00

Have you been to Sagada? Sagada is one of the towns in the Mountain Province, Philippines. It is known for its caves, underground rivers, hanging coffins and rocks! On the side of the roads, there are spectacular and curious rock formations. It is believed that Sagada was once underwater thousands of years ago. In fact some say that the whole Philippines was part of the lost Atlantis civilization.

Here's one of those rock formations my hubby is fond of.

Celebrity Lookalikes, Part 2

2010-03-13T20:35:00.000+08:00

This is getting to be fun. Friends whispered another friend's lookalike, the husband's lookalike, the boyfriend's lookalike.

Let's start first with Ann, the one who started this discussion (see Celebrity Lookalike, Part 1) Here's Ann's celebrity lookalike:

Do you agree that Andrea Del Rosario is Ann's lookalike?

Here's Olive, the original topic of lookalike discussion :)

Do you agree with Ann that Olive looks like Alicia Mayer?

Here's another friend, Shiela Marie:

Some say that she looks like Christine Reyes. I say that Iza Calzado is closer. Don't you agree?

Lastly for now, here's another friend, Marie. I can't find a local movie star for Marie's lookalike, I find Natalie Portman close, though. :

How about you, who's your celebrity lookalike? I wonder who's mine.....