spiCes

As some of you are aware of, I am currently in panic mode [and still procrastinating, teehee!]…doing some back-breaking packing and unpacking, cleaning and painting, scrubbing and re-decorating…and everything in between. and so…

Sans autre delai or without further ado…I present to you the lovely and talented Weng of Cafe Munchkin, who has been a consistent early bird in this weekly event showing off her skills not only in food photography but also in cooking and baking [and now cake decorating!].  We both share the same passion when it comes to the arts, being another Architecture graduate and a stay-at-home mom, and so an undeniable cyber-friendship has bloomed…my warmest thanks, wengski! mwah! this is free stuff for me! now, would you like some promotional pens yourself?

Steaming is the cooking technique of choice by the health conscious. For one, food cooked by steaming has considerably lower fat content because the use of cooking oil is eliminated. Two, food come out to be more nutritious because less nutritients are killed, for lack of a better term, by this method of cooking.

One of my favorite and most used cooking contraptions is my bamboo steamer. There was a time when my daughter only preferred siomai, siopao and dumplings for her school lunch. Although the frozen dimsum we buy at the Asian store can be nuked in the microwave, I prefer not to take the short cut and steam them instead, which is how they are meant to be cooked in the first place.

These days, I no longer buy frozen siomai and dumplings. I now make them myself. At least, I know for sure what ingredients went into my daughter’s lunch. For this week’s Lasang Pinoy, Sundays, I made Steamed Turkey Dumplings.

I’ll admit that I used store bought dumpling wrappers. I tried making my own siomai wrappers once. Although they tasted fine, I wasn’t too happy with how they looked. But it looks like I’m ready to give it another try after I saw on YouTube, the proper way of making dumpling wrappers from scratch.

Now that I’ve made my own siomai and dumplings from scratch, siopao shouldn’t be too far behind. *cross fingers*

I’m Munchkin Mommy of Cafe Munchkin, your guest La.Pi.S. food photographer. Thank you and mabuhay!

…i just want to share with you guys…i did it! i passed the road test today. and as the examiner said, with flying colors! yay! never mind the flying colors, but i am just oh so relieved that it’s done and over with. i have been driving for years and years in the Philippines, in Brunei, in the Philippines again, in New York and here in Massachusetts…i just don’t understand why i have to go through all these again. i know i know, i have been whining about this for some time now, but it just felt so good! finally, i am an official Mass driver! heeh! thank God! ayayay! i still wish it was just something like a no exam life insurance i had to go through, but then again…thank goodness i had a very good examiner too!:) not to mention the support of M who was at the back seat all throughout the test. and it felt a bit funny that he was sitting behind me this time. i’m just not used to that, i guess:]…just a thought.

Yes, we are…we’re moving on. Moving on to a new chapter again in our life. Starting off with a literal move to a new house.  I have already started unpacking some stuffs but there’s still more to pack here and move out.  I have even managed to dispose some bigger items like our beds.  The only bed that we still have is our own king size bed and I would really want to get rid of this thing. You know why? Only because I am dreaming of a brand new one with Memory foam mattress that offers an ultimately unique sleeping experience.
With all these packing, unpacking, cleaning up and sanitizing that I have been doing recently, it would be a good idea to reward myself and cap the day off lying down on the most luxurious and comfortable bed there is.  The one that you get to sleep on in a nice hotel room.  Those superior quality of fluffy, soft, thick layers that cushion your entire body in cloud like sensational experience. Even the kids are requesting for a set of their own. Some of these memory foam beds have a  more firm and supportive mattress and others are designed just like how I like it, with a more luxurious cushion like quality that almost cradles you in comfort and support. Such a mattress will surely result in a more relaxing and restful sleep. Just what I need to start a new day…a new life, for that matter.

ONIONS

…i had a hard time deliberating on what to post for this week’s theme, maybe due to the fact that the color lilac or even violet do not exactly top my list of favorite shades. this is why when i noticed these chopped onions on my Beef Burrito from Chipotle[ yum. i tell ya!], i took a quick snap! i wonder why they are called red onions instead of red violet onions? lol! they are red violet right? that’s not red:]

[...marahil ito ay isa sa mga kulay na hindi nabibilang sa aking mga paborito, kaya naman sa linggong ito... ang aking unang lahok ay isang mumunting gulay. ang sibuyas...]

S’s SPECS

but as we were about to go back home, i suddenly noticed this! S has a pair of reading glasses in the shade called for this event! yay!
[...e ayun naman pala, suot suot na ng aking anak ang ilalahok ko! *toink!*]
…lahok para sa

I have never imagined myself choosing kitchen gadget stores over clothes, shoes and bag shops. But it has become the reality ever since I got engaged in the food blogosphere and so far it has only done me good. Other than improving my craft in the arts department through food style and photography, I learned to love food and it’s preparation in itself. It follows that I almost always drool on tools and gadgetry for the kitchen. Just check out Robot Coupe and their amazing products for personal use to commercial equipments from food processors, popcorn poppers, fryers to pans and steak knives.  They even offer a 30 day money back guarantee.

spring rolls from Pho Hoa, again. a bit dry for me, or maybe i didn’t put enough peanut sauce? i don’t know. what i know is that i enjoyed the Beef Pho Soup a lot more!

…an entry for

Can you believe it? Christmas and New Year went by so fast that we are a few hops away from the day of the hearts! Hehehe, okay, okay…Valentine’s Day if you wish. Of course we all know what this day is all about. Even my little ones prepare something lovely for me every single year. Once my daughter S gave me a bunch of blooms made out of anything she has on hand…like colored cotton buds and tissue strips. It is truly amazing, very cute and creative.
I myself once dreamt of becoming one of those creative florists who manage to come up with such beautiful arrangements in such a swift and precise manner. Amazing, right? I tried my hands on flower arrangements once in my lifetime and I must say fared well. But for now, I’ll leave that task to the pro’s like those from 1-800-flowers. M! are you reading this? *hint, hint* As always, I would love to receive a bunch of white long stemmed tulips!:]

that’s how i feel now. with the never ending snow and snow storms that has been hitting New England, particularly our part here in Mass! When will it ever stop? I think we have had enough of it already this year…and we are oh so ready for Spring and summer!

C my little boy may be one canny kid when it comes to making his dad say yes to his whims, lego toy speaking. We have always been reminding them that there are more important things in life other than toys and..well clothes now for the older kid, S. When they ask for something that is a bit expensive and we know that they really want it, we ask them to save up for it and prove that they deserve that little something. Ever since we started giving them allowance together with their lunch money, they have been doing just that and some, like doing small chores in the house. Those chores would cost a dollar at the least! But once the boy asked for something that is really way too expensive for a toy. We naturally discouraged the idea and told him we have other priorities. Suddenly, he asked me if I have gold jewelries! I was shocked and asked why. He said, ‘mom, we can have more money with your gold jewelries!’ I can’t help but laugh because I knew he was talking about that TV advertisement on exchanging cash for gold!  It is a well known refinery group who caters in buying scrap gold, fine jewelries, even broken gold, gold coins online and as the little one said, that is instant cash indeed!

Needless to say, there is no doubt that everyone is facing the bitter reality of the times right now and I cannot deny that we also do.  Some reality check, coming from my son, this must be a better idea, right?  Those gold even silver jewelries that I have are only burried in my drawer.  It has not been worn for a long time since I prefer the more up to date yet fancy accessories nowadays.  Giving them up won’t be a pain since it will be replenished by cold cash anyway, which is what we need more at this trying times.  The good thing about it?  You can simply mail your gold, silver or platinum jewelries in their insured envelope for free, and in return they will instantly send you the money in check or in cash within 24 hours of processing!

a most delicious and guilt free snack or hors d’oeuvres…all i need is a glass of wine, huh? i’d better stay wordless for now cause it’s almost midnight! and i’m dead pooped! good night y’all!
An entry for , tuesday edition!