spiCes

…Pinoy street food is one thing i truly miss especially here in Boston. way back in New York, you’ll bump into street food here and there. hotdogs, peanuts, tacos and burritos, Astoria’s famous Souvlaki, gyros…the works. i miss those too but not as much as i miss fishballs and squidballs dunked in sweet and spiCy dipping sauce! *drooling*! here!!!! and this is what this week is all about…STREET FOOD.

but let me deviate from our usual PHOTOGRAPHY meme this time, as I have the pleasure to introduce you to…

FISHBALLZinc…this is M’s work in progress. but feel free to browse about it here on Facebook for now. and if you’re at it, you can be a fan too. now..if you’re really really at it,  go ahead and spread the word!!!:) this will be very much appreciated. here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll expect on the page. the main characters. meet…

and the gang…

this is M’s recent crazy outlet to boot his  genuine and palpable wacky imagination coupled with his natural creativity. [sensya na, asawa ko eh, haha!]  comments and suggestions are very welcome!:)
now let me see your drool-worthy entries!!! thanks!

is a weekly thematic FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY meme, Pinoy style!

Sardines…as they say is one poor man’s meal. maybe. not so when it is cooked the way M did a few weekends ago…think prawns, wonton noodles and fresh basil! could be something you will find in a fine dining restaurant even! don’t i just love having a very creative and great cook husband?

SARDINES and PRAWN with FRESH BASIL WONTOn NOODLE SOUP
Ang SARAP!!! subukan ninyo! ang ginisang sardinas…naging gourmet!:)

Lahok para sa na may temang…TANGHALIAN.

S’s very first attempt on baking all on her own! it may be out of the box, but now i know somebody has followed our footsteps! at least gastronomically speaking…she did everything by herself! from opening the box to using the mixer and frosting [not in photo], even to washing the baking tools that she used!

sinigurado ko na maging ang paghuhugas ay dapat nyang matutunan at gawin para malaman nya ang lahat ng steps na nakapalibot sa pagluluto o pag-b-bake.

it all came out as a success! from the super moist and soft cupcake to the washed utensils/tools! big girl. mah girl.:)

ang aking almusal the very next day…paired with a cup of coffee! delicious!:)

Lahok para sa na may temang…ALMUSAL!

This week has been very spring-like here playing between the 50’s to lower 70’s, which is always a welcome atmosphere for most of us. not too hot, not too cold. as they say, it’s just about right…and it’s so nice seeing all the greens with reds, yellows, oranges and pinks a-blooming outdoors!

Now that the warmer weather is fast approaching and bikini season is in full blast in the Philippines, we would like to tackle the colors that signify the beginning of spring that eventually leads to summer. As for my photo this week, I am sharing something with a prime ingredient that never fails to enthrall me when I bump into a recipe in magazines, cookbooks or even TV shows…pasta.

This PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND CHERRY TOMATO is actually more of a salad dish as it can be served fresh and warm or even in room temperature. As the weather warms up, I find salads and pasta dishes so much fun to make as the bright and vibrant colors of different ingredients that can go with it is, as they say can only be limited by ones imagination. These often result to light, fresh and mild flavors infused with zesty and citrus ingredients such as lemons and limes.
for the detailed HOW-To, go here. This is so filling yet you do feel that it’s so light, you won’t even think of checking out diet pill reviews. Not this time anyway.
is a weekly thematic FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY meme, Pinoy style! Come and join the fun as we celebrate the colors and flavors of SPRING and SUMMER!

The weekend went by so fast. Starting off with the kid’s Luau Dance on Friday night, which was fun especially for the girl. The little boy did not exactly have the best of times since his buddies weren’t around and the only kids surrounding him were girls! haha! Saturday was spent doing our usual weekly grocery shopping and a playdate for the kids. Now, Sunday…was entirely a family affair, other than C’s first Reconciliation where he just had to go to the priest and pray.  Afterwards, we heard mass and off we went!

…to the beach, where the kids got to play a wee bit since it was fairly sunny but still breezy. it was lunch time then and when we felt our tummy’s grumbling…literally! we crossed the street and had a lovely lunch at The Clambox. Fortunately, they re-opened a week ago after closing store during the colder months…

We are 4 days away until it is officially SPRING here and we just can’t wait! I, cannot wait…An entry to

…i was half anticipating the possibility of going on a date for Vday because i knew all along that the kids are invited to a swimming party that day. that said, i also knew that the protective mom in me cannot just let them swim by themselves. so we stayed.
until it was time for them to play games in the gym and eat. that’s a good couple of hours more to ourselves.

[kaya dito kami napadpad sa Outback Steakhouse, hindi kalayuan sa lugar kung saan ginanap ang party ng mga bata.]

…and we can’t help but order steaks! opkors:) at syempre pa, hindi matatapos ang tipanan na ito ng walang???…

DESSERT! matamis na dessert!

We still had less than half an hour until it’s time to pick up the kids, enough time to order a slice of Raspberry Cheesecake.
so there goes the slight chance that we got away even for a little while… a good couple of hours.

[pasensya na at sa sobrang excitement sa matamis na ito, hayan...blurry ang kuha, hehe. sarap eh!]

An entry to , na may temang…TIPANAN. DATE or dating place as this week’s theme…for a while there i thought i won’t have an entry. you know very well that DATES when you have little kids here in the US and some, are very PRECIOUS! and rare! something to be thankful for! and another thing to be thankful for are facial kits for microdermabrasion, when you need instant rejuvination when going on a date such as this!:)…
[kaya sisiguraduhin kong maging kaibigan ng mga bata ang nagdiwang ng kaarawan ng matagal tagal na panahon, sa gayon...tuwing araw ng mga PUSO, siguradong makakatakas kami! nyahahaha!!!]

LOVE BIRDS

…as Rachael Ray coined this dish. the  reason? obviously, LOVE is for the heart-shaped fillo or puff pastry atop the chicken breast inside for the BIRDS part [my take, boneless/skinless thighs].

[HOW-TO ]

…I seasoned the birds with salt, pepper and rosemary or any spiCe of your liking. layered with a slice of fontina or gruyere [in my case, one of the very special Holland cheeses sent my way by titaThesserie!, thanks!] and a slather of fig preserves. it is then wrapped up by the fillo and topped with another layer of fillo cut-out into hearts, a little egg wash to seal the edges and add gloss. and finally, popped in the oven @ 400deg F for about 12 minutes or until it turns golden brown.

…our pre-Valentine’s Day dinner. it has been our tradition to celebrate the big day slightly off the 14th, be it before or after. so i decided to make it last night, the 13th for this event. M deosn’t have the slightest idea that I was preparing something special and just imagine the shock on his face when he saw the dining table all dolled up…unknowingly on my part, he also took the cue to grab some flowers for the ladies in the family…great minds, eh?

with some grilled fresh asparagus on the side, this lovebirds was perfectly paired with delicious and spiCy Carbonara, a glass [or two] of Blanc Sauvignon capped with some fresh strawberries for dessert, just to keep it simple and easy on the pocket too. [i'm still waiting for that mixer, then i'll do that special after-Valentine's day dessert!]
…now that’s what i consider a lovely dine-in dinner…that simply resonates LOVE, in itself and my love affair with FOOD!

For this week’s …it’s all about luscious Valentine’s Day food, be it anything heart-shaped or your favorite food.  your V-day spread or just about anything that’s got something to do with your love for food.
LaPiS is a weekly themed FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY meme, Pinoy style! Happy HEARTS DAY! it would’ve been nice to celebrate Vday in a lovely exotic island though, huh? just make sure that you have travel insurance especially during these times…

are you getting serious into getting those food photography skills sharpened? why not join Dexie in her newly launched project over at foodluscious! it’s one way of showing off your knack and passion with anything and everything but FOOD!!! Plus, once you’re a member one food blog will also get  featured on the website, giving you more traffic and popularity! so? go! register! if you don’t mind, that is:]…teehee!

just one of those nights when M had the urge to prepare Japanese-inspired dinner. this crab, cucumber and avocado sushi is just one of them. and since the kids don’t actually eat those food inside it, he also made another batch with just plane sushi rice wrapped and rolled in nori. all gone in one sitting! ours and theirs!:]

…this is a classic holiday food, Meat Loaf from our Christmas Noche Buena. too bad i didn’t even get the chance to ask for my mom’s recipe. another comfort food with lots of childhood memories to be cherished forever…this on the other hand was a to-go cooked by one of my cousins from Connecticut. still delicious and up until this day, i still have a few slices left which i will eat for lunch in a few minutes!:]…
For LaPiS, it’s all about ‘pangat’ as we call it…a jargon of sorts for ‘pangatlo’, for the nth time, recycled…LEFT-OVER food! tends to be tastier eaten this way! though there is that guilt feeling and a desire for me to grab some acne treatment after eating all those oily stuff! lol!
is a weekly FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY meme, PINOY style! Kain na!