filipino dish

Here is my menu for today –

Pinakbet or Pakbet is one Filipino recipe that is much enjoyed by people who are into vegetables. This famous local dish is one of the nutritious because of the variety vegetable ingredients such as bitter melon, eggplant, squash or pumpkin, okra, string beans and I would say one my favorite ingredients - tomatoes. These vegetables are great sources of vitamin A and C.

Better try this recipe, if you have Filipino blood – you’ll sure love this one

Here is the complete list of what you’ll need:
· 1/4 kilo pork with fat, cut into small pieces
· 2 bitter melons sliced to bite size pieces
· 2 eggplants, sliced to bite size pieces
· 5 pieces of okra, cut in two
· 1 head garlic, minced
· 2 onions, diced
· 5 tomatoes, sliced
· 1 tablespoon of ginger, crushed and sliced
· 4 tablespoons bagoong isda or bagoong alamang
· 3 tablespoons of oil
· 1 1/2 cup water
· Salt and pepper to taste

Here is how to prepare
· In a cooking pan, heat oil and fry the pork until brown, remove the pork from the pan and set aside.
· On the same pan, sauté garlic, onion, ginger and tomatoes.
· In a casserole, boil water and add bagoong.
· Add the pork in the casserole and mix in the sautéed garlic, onion, ginger and tomatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
· Add in all the vegetables and cook until the vegetables are done, careful not to overcook.
· Salt and pepper to taste.
· Serve hot with plain rice.

Happy cooking =)

eat all you can

I first went to this restaurant late last year, where you eat all you can for 115 pesos for meryenda. It was all worth the price, there are plenty of choices, was it 12-14 choices, mostly native Filipino foods. What I liked much was their carbonara, i am not really a kakanin lover. The second time I went there was two weeks ago with my brother. The price increased, the back then 115 is now 130 pesos. I didn’t really enjoy my second visit. I wasn’t satisfied. The food was not as good as my first visit. My brother shares my view. I had to treat my brother so I think of this restaurant.

Anyway, speaking of food, a friend of mine is getting married not so soon =) but already asking some ideas to make his wedding more organized and early planning he says will lead to better wedding. Having a little worry on how to arrange for the reception and catering and of course the foods to serve. Gave him some advice then suddenly I thought of this eat all you can for meryenda or perhaps dinner. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from that offers the eat all you can promotion – is promotion the right term? =) My friend considered my idea but of course he will consult the bride first.

Isn’t it practical? Well nowadays, as what I see and observe especially in weddings, foods serve is the main attraction. Guests will talk about how good the food was. How plenty and satisfied they are attending the wedding. And somehow, compare it to the next wedding they will be attending.

What do you think people? Is my suggestion good and acceptable or some kind of informal? Make some suggestions =)

recipes

I would love to hear and get some tips and cooking recipes from all of you…please share….

thanks :)

sadly missed

I was more than a month away from my computer. Allow me to tell what pain and sadness my family is undergoing.

It was September 29, we were all alarmed upon learning that our father was hospitalized. Upon receiving the news, I right away set my schedule to fly home October 1 to help my younger siblings take care of our father. I was thinking that I need to do my share and return the love to him by being present and strengthen mother’s emotional condition. Two of our younger siblings were very much supportive and at all times were in our father’s side with mother. The rest of us, 7 children away from home, so all we were doing was to check our father’s condition from time to time, which was the first time our dear father was hospitalized. Cardiac arrest – that was the findings, he was breathing so difficulty but after some checked was calmed. He was then put to sleep and all who were with him were all put to relax since everything was fine.

I wasn’t able to had a good night sleep that time, I was crying, I never imagined of seeing my father hospitalized and if possible not to experience pain. It was 6.30 in the morning ht following day, September 30 my sisters knocked on my door made me feel so bad, father died fifteen minutes earlier. He wasn’t able to utter his last words to anybody around him.

I am still emotional every time I think of my father. I imagined his smiling face, his looks, his angry face, his funny looks and everything he did for me – for us.

I wasn’t able to tell him how much I love him, I wasn’t able to kiss and hug him for long time before his death.. Losing a loved one is a real painful thing.

Realizations are always late, so never ever forget to let your parents know how much you love them – let them know and show your love every minute, everyday… always!

Mind your Meal

In this world where everything is expensive, extra care is very much important especially within the family. With all efforts, we are trying to be cautious and sensitive especially if our family’s health is at risk. That is why we have to be careful in preparing Meals for our family.

Healthy Foods

Serve healthy and nutritious foods. Fresh vegetables are especially important for the growth and health of the children. Fruits in every meal should be considered, and of course the need of enough liquid. The need to replenish every time we lost some liquid from our body is important.

Clean Environment

This is very important to avoid diseases cause by bacteria. Cleanliness in everything we serve is very vital for the family’s health. Vegetables are to be properly clean before cooking, for instance, if we are putting cabbage for a certain menu, individually check the leaves and properly wash. Clean environment is as well an important factor for our family’s health. Practice washing our hands before preparing foods and prior to meal time. Use antibacterial soap to get rid of the germs that are spreading in our hands.

Clean Water

Make sure to use clean water in preparing meals for the family. Water used in cleaning vegetables, fruits and especially the drinking water. There are deadly diseases caused by improper cleaning of cooking ingredients and drinking of unpurified water.

Remember to serve only healthy and nutritious foods. In every Meal, make it a habit for the whole family to eat together and make that a time for catching up and a moment to bond. Mind your Meal and Be Healthy.