Lunch

When I am  tired to cook coming home from work, yet I have to eat. Thanks to this quick cooking noodles.   I added egg and cucumber for good taste and nutrients. It is alright to be lazy as long as we do not make it a habit. More so, not to compromise our healthy eating. Bon appetit! 

Lunch is Ready

This is just a recipe for busy me.  I was thinking of buying tilapia fillet at the supermarket after work for a change. But, no more stock, I ended up buying the fresh fish. I bought two for my lunch and dinner. I had them cleaned at the supermarket.

As soon as I got home I stuffed the fish with onions and tomatoes. Put them neatly in my electric griller. On my electric stove, a pot of rice, took out a frozen piece of pork chop for my niece. I waited for few minutes, fish and rice were done.

It is the pork chop turn on the electric stove inside my Happy Call cookware. I peeled and sliced cucumber for my veggies, then set the table for two. I was hungry! Yup, my work shift ends at 12 noon. My niece wakes up 3pm. Before she gets ready for work at 7pm, she eats. By the time she wakes up. I’m sound asleep. That is how it is for two call center ladies, folks. :)

Pata Sinigang

Finally, I got a well cooked vegetables for my pata sinigang, Filipino pork leg stew.  Last Saturday I cooked pata sinigang. It is my niece day off, I got work. I normally prepare lunch or dinner with vegetables on my niece day off as I want her to eat vegetables of her choice.  Preparing vegetables takes time. I cleaned them all up without cutting Friday night, and stored in the ref.

I bought two big slices of pork pata from a meat shop close to my home after work, Saturday. I pressure cooked the sliced pata for about ten minutes soon as I got home.  

 I put the soup and vegetables in this double sided pan, salt and pepper corn, bring to boil. After five minutes, added pata slices and a sachet of sinigang mix for flavoring. I put the leafy veggies on top, closed the lid. Presto! Great tasting sinigang! Thank you to the gift giver of this pan, my cooking is made easy. 

My Kitchen Allies

Here are some of the Christmas gifts I received from my family members. My activities in the kitchen now, made easy. 

I love this two sided pan. For good health, no more oil needed. I can easily cook meat, fish and veggies with this pan. I just put pork chop or chicken inside, cover it up and in less time, it is cooked. I can also put some veggies together with the meat, like carrots, cauliflower, lady fingers and others. No hassle in washing, too. Yes, I can use this on my butane and electric stove. 

Who does not want to have a waffle and coffee for breakfast? I love pancake but instead of flipping pancakes. I have this waffle maker. 

Well, busy people should not spend too much time in the kitchen, folks. I am really happy I received these precious gifts. I just have to edit the first photo. I am not selling the product. I am sharing some ideas here. And.. to tell the givers, how much I appreciate these kitchen allies.  :)

A Day with Glenda

Nice name, yet Filipinos dreaded this name last 15^th of July, Tuesday. This was the local name given to typhoon Rammasun.  

My sister lives in the Bicol area. We had been exchanging text messages about the situation in Bicol. Manila was also part of  signal number two then later number three.  I was telling her Monday evening the weather inside our unit was still warm. It was my day off.  I kept vigil at the news on television. I am at the inner unit and I cannot hear rains or wind from the outside. At around two in the morning I heard some neighbors talking to our lobby guard. While some were busy on their cell phones.  I went down to the lobby.  My unit is at the second floor. There it was the rain and wind.  

Feast of the Saints

Filipinos trouped to  memorial parks to celebrate the feast dedicated to our departed loved ones. The nationwide celebration started as early as the 30^th of October and will end until around the 1^st week of November. Although multitudes visit on the 1^st of November, others like me prefer to visit early to avoid traffic jam.  The traffic jam I am referring to is not on the roads but inside the memorial park.

I left home at around seven in the morning, the 31^st of October. I ate heavy breakfast as I planned to stay for several hours. The plot where my parents were laid to rest is just beside the pathway. It makes it easier to locate if anyone of our relatives would like to visit. I was surprised to meet the family of the lady buried to the right of my parents. The family erected a tent good for about ten people complete with small chairs and small table. I met the husband and one of the daughters of the lady, years ago.  They recognized me, and apologized for the space their tent had occupied. 

The family members started partaking their lunch. The old gentleman offered me a plate of rice, with my favorite Filipino dish abodo and a piece of fried stuffed bangus fish. I felt full, but I do not want to frustrate the old guy who offered me the sumptuous lunch. I told them I got lucky that day for the shade of the tent and the sumptuous lunch. They left at almost noon time. It was when they left I realized the scorching heat of the sun without the tent. 

 All went well during my visit. The weather cooperated, it was a sunny day. I left the memorial park at almost two in the afternoon.  I left behind two candles and basket of flowers I brought for my parents.  I mentioned the items to the care taker, so the children should leave them alone.  I went to the grocery for some household stuff before heading home. I was granted one day birthday leave, the 30^th. The 31^st of October and the 1^st of November were my day off. I was home at around five in the afternoon. After a cold bath, I slept soundly for seven hours.

The Aftermath of Monsoon Rain

This was taken by my nephew outside their office.

Manila, Philippines and nearby provinces, such as Batangas, Cavite and Laguna, experienced another weather disturbance. It happened last 6^th of August 2012. I did not pay much attention to the continuous rain as my place has less rain compared to other places In Manila. Little did I know in most places, residents were being evacuated from their houses as flood water begun to rise to its alarming level. Rained poured its fury in some areas in the evening of the 6^th of August.  After my work shift in the morning of the 7^th, I received text messages from my family members asking me about the flood. I sent text message to my niece, who also works in a call center like me.  She was safely home at five in the morning.