My first sewing project....Necktie

I have always told myself and to others that with enough courage and determination, you will accomplish something. And that’s what I did with my first sewing project! All this time I have never touch or horse around with sewing machine. If there’s a need to stitch something I’d sew it by hand. These past few weeks, I was having a hard time finding a necktie for my hubby and my son to match. And so I thought of making one! After several search on the internet about how to make it, what to do and the things I need, I have decided to make one. With the help of Purl Soho’s website for the necktie pattern, I did it! And I am proud to share you this DIY project of mine. 

wheeewww...it's not that bad, isn't it? and it's not hard to make too!

Puto Bumbong (steamed cake in a bamboo cylinder)

This is one of the favorite native delicacies in the Philippines especially on Christmas season. This has been in Filipino tradition for a very long time. It is time consuming yet worthy of wait. It is a mixture of 3 different kinds of rice; ordinary, glutinous and purple rice (pirurutong as they call it). It is soaked overnight, grounded the next day and then let set to dry. It is cooked on a special kind of kettle like steamer with 2 holes for the bamboo cylinders. Puto bumbong is the most sought delicacy (aside from bibingka) after Simbang gabi or the Christmas Eve mass, people would line up to their favorite stalls/vendors just to have a taste of this delicacy.

I was not able to take a good picture of the puto itself (silly me). I did not use any food color. That is the actual color, purple. I was actually shock when I was grinding it because the color was pale but when I took it out from the bamboo cylinder, it was a deep purple. I'm glad I did not use any food color to add on. As for the steamer and the bamboo cylinders, my mom sticks it in her luggage when she took a vacation here.


Utensils
cheese cloth
measuring cups
food processor or rice grinder
strainer

Ingredients
2 c glutinous rice
1 c purple rice
1/2 ordinary rice
2 tbsp melted butter

Toppings
grated coconut
margarine
brown sugar

Fondant Peterbilt - Groom cake

I made this cake in 1 1/2 day, but not actually the full 24 hrs. As per grooms' request...mocha frosting and a lot of it. The frosting of the base cake is mocha (well not really mocha because there is no chocolate in it, maybe i should call it cappuccino) and the truck filling is butter-cream since the cake itself is already blended with coffee. I baked and used pound cake for easy handling and cutting. This is my first fondant truck and i'm happy with it(",)

Being Single

Single means you have the time to grow and be the person you want to be. It gives you space to grow. Sometimes it is harder to grow when you are too close to someone or to somebody.

Trees are planted far apart so they can spread their branches and become strong as they mature.

Single means learning to live by yourself. However, that is no more difficult than learning to live with somebody else. This means freedom. You are free to spend a week's vacation on the beach, take classes, work late on an interesting project, spend the day on bed or on a couch with a good book or comics.

Single means learning not to need a man/woman to make your life meaningful but learning to live with a man/woman because you want to be with him/her.

Single means that sometimes you will wonder why you will bite your lip and feel wistful and wonder if marriage is better. Ironically, yet quite happily, single is feeling good about being in control of your life. It is liking and respecting who you are and why you are.

It is the state of realizing that being married is not necessarily better, it is merely different.

Single means that there could be something wonderful around the corner and you can take advantage of it.

This only means you are free to do whatever you want, whenever you want and however you want things to be. Most especially, you are free to love again.

stir fry tofu

I call this budgeted yet healthy meal! This is one of my favorite food growing up with lots of rice!!!

Ingredients
1 block of tofu
2 medium tomatoes (or more if you like)
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic
1 bunch of bok choy, sliced (pechay in tagalog)
2 cubes of beef bouillon
cooking oil
salt and pepper to taste
3/4 c water
2 tbsp soy sauce

Direction
Fry tofu until brown. Cut in cubes then set aside.  Heat oil in pan, saute garlic until brown, add onions, saute until caramelized, then add tomatoes. Simmer for a minute. Add sliced bok choy (pechay) and tofu, add water and soy sauce, simmer for 3 minutes, season with salt and pepper. Served with rice.

Chicken and Asparagus bundles

7 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
35 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cornstarch
1 c chicken broth

Flatten chicken breasts slightly. Combine the oil, lemon juice and seasonings. Wrap top and bottom of asparagus w/ foil. Wrap the asparagus in chicken, secure with toothpicks. Place in a 13x9x2 baking dish coated w/ non stick or brushed w/ cooking oil.  Cover and bake at 350F (175C) for 15 mins. Uncover. bake for another 15 mins or until the chicken juices run clear. Remove bundles to a serving platter and keep warm. In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and broth until smooth; stir in pan juices. Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 mins until thickened. Remove toothpicks and foil from bundles; top w/ sauce.

Basic Sponge Cake

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease sides of parchment paper lined pan (12x16x1/2 inch).

2 c Cake flour
1/2 c white sugar
1/3 c vegetable oil
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp salt
8 egg yolks
1/2 c water

Mix together all dry ingredients then add the veg. oil, water and eggyolks. Blend well using whire wisk. Set aside.

BASE 2
8 egg whites
3/4 c white sugar
1 tsp cream of tartar

Place egg whites and cream of tartar into the mixing bowl. Using wire whisk, shift the mixer to 5 until it resembles to a float/bubbly(like beer). Gradually add in sugar. Whisk until soft peaks form. NOTE: Do not over mix, the consistency of the white should be like shaving cream, not dry and a little bit stiff.

Fold the cake flour into the white mixture by using rubber spatula.

Put the batter into the greased lined pan and tap once onto working table to release air bubbles.

Bake at 350F for 30 mins. Turn the pan upside down, and peel the paper. Let it cool.

NOTE: you can also roll this cake as in jelly roll. As soon as you take the cake out of the oven, roll it w/ the paper inside. Set aside while you prepare your own filling. Otherwise, you can slice it like a cake, put some fruits and some whip cream. Enjoy.

No fail Black Forest Cake

CAKE
1 2/3 c Cake flour
2/3 c cocoa powder (unsweet or sweet)
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 c shortening
1 1/2 c white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 c buttermilk

MOCHA FILLING
1/2 c butter
1/2 c shortening
1 1/2 c confectioners' sugar (add more if you want it sweeter, and how you want the consistency of your filling)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp instant coffee (dissolved in 4 oz heavy cream)
bottle of maraschino cherries (reserve the syrup)

FROSTING
2 c heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp maraschino syrup
1 square semi sweet chocolate

Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Line the bottoms of two 8 inch round pans w/ parchment paper circles. Sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda and 1 tsp salt. Set aside.
Cream together, butter and white sugar, beat until creamy and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Beat in flour mixture, alternating with buttermilk, until combined. Pour into 2 round 8 inch pans. NOTE: I use 1 measuring cup to pour my batter in the pans to make it even.
Bake at 350F for 40 mins. Cool completely. Remove paper from cakes. Cut each layer in half, horizontally, making 4 layers total. Brush each layer with  the reserved syrup from the cherries. set aside.

In a medium bowl, cream the butter and shortening until light and fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar, salt and dissolved coffee. Beat until smooth. NOTE: If the consistency is too thick, add 2oz of heavy cream.
Spread first layer of cake with 1/3 of the filling. Top with some cherries. Repeat with the remaining layers. NOTE: You don't have to spread filling on the top layer, if you don't want to.

In a separate chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream to stiff peaks. beat in 1 tsp vanilla and 1 tbsp of cherry syrup. Frost top and sides oc ake. Sprinkle w/ chocolate curls or shredded chocolate. You can decorate the sides and put as much chocolate you want.

Coconut Salad (Buko Salad)

3 package of Shreded Coconut (thawed)
1 can condensed milk
1 can all purpose cream (buy it at Walmart store > latin or institutional aisle)
1/2 c heavy cream
1 c palm fruit in syrup (you can buy this at the oriental store)...you can use 1 jar if you like
tapioca pearl (optional)
fruit cocktail (optional)

Mix all ingredients. Chill before serving.

unfounded accusation

An accusation even if it's unfounded always leave a mark to a person. We have to be careful at all times on what we want to say or do.

Its' been a long while since I wrote my last blog. We've been quite busy, running errands here and there. And I am thinking of something to blog about, until recently my friend shared a picture she entered in a contest. In order to win, you should share it and gather votes, which my friend did! She shared it to a website where friends, friends of friends, friends and relatives..etc. should "like" the page first before they can cast their vote for her entry.  I visited the page and click the "like" button so I can vote, unfortunately the contest has expired. All I can do is look at her entry and several people's entry. She made it on top of the list after the 1 1/2 day of working in it without sleep, exerted all the effort just to win the said photo contest. Sad to say that in that contest somebody had ruin her effort to win. Somebody who is not sport enough to accept that they got lost and beaten big time, and I mean big time! He posted someting about cheating and faked accounts on the page's discussion board, referring to my friend. He requested that her profile, voter's account be checked because it is impossible to gather a lot of votes in just 1 1/2 day (he had to, I guess bec he only have 9 votes compared to my friend's 189 votes). And so the discussion went on and on like a circus, exchanging ideas and words. FYI, the voters can also read evertyhing that's in the discussion board. My friend's mom read about the accusation of this "guy", and as a mom she did her job, and that is to protect and defend her daughter regarding the matter. As goofy as this guy is, he accused the mom of having a faked account too, that this person is the same person who casted 185 votes (which means 185 accounts is solely my friends'..but that is accdg to him), and that he cannot believe a 70 yr old woman is active on that site and can speak perfect English. And now he is being a racist!!! grrgrgrgrgrg...I can't stand what he said and so I made a comment and gave my own opinion. I have to discuss outside the topic since he brought it up. I am a Filipino myself. I may not speak perfect English but most Filipinos can, just like other nationals out there. English is our second language, heck...even toddlers can speak English there, too! So, there is no question about how well our elderly can speak perfect or not perfect English. After my comment, he now accused me of being one of the faked accounts of my friend, and asked me why am I so engaged in the discussion board.

lessons in life

"people are eager to come to the defense of those who they feel are worthy of it..but if you are a jerk, don't expect any help"

Obituary for Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of an old friend by the name of "Common Sense"...Common Sense lived a long life but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium.

No one really knows how old Common Sense was since his birth records were long lost in bureaucratic red tape. He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospital, homes, factories, and offices: helping folks get jobs done without fanfare or foolishness. For decades, petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as, (1) to know when to come  in out of the rain (2) the early bird gets the worm and (3) life isn't always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids). But his health declined when he became infected with the "if it only helps one person, it's worth it" virus.

Pansit Bihon (Stir-fried veggies over Rice noodles)

1 lbs pork, cut into strips
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 med. onion, chopped
1 1/2 c shrimp, peeled (blanched in boiling soup stock)
3 c soup stock
1 tsp salt
1/2 pepper
1/2 c soy sauce
green beans, cut into strips
snow peas
carrots, julienne cut
cabbage, sliced thinly
1 pack of bihon (rice noodles)

CHEF's note: I did not put any measurement on the vegetables, use how much veggies you want(",)
                    ....soak the noodles into the hot water for 15 mins, don't forget to strain it before putting into the                       simmering soup stock

In a pan, place pork, add a little water, and simmer until the fat is rendered. Add oil in the pan, fry the pork.

Saute garlic and onion. Add soy sauce, soup stock, salt and pepper.

Bring the soup to a boil and blanch the vegetables one at a time. Set aside. Blanch the shrimp. Set aside.

Add the strained bihon (rice noodles) and cook until tender over medium heat (keep on stirring the noodles until there is no more stock left on the pan).

Add half of the vegetables and half of the shrimp into the noodles and mix thoroughly.

Place on a platter and garnish with the remaining veggies and shrimp.

Serve with lime slices and toasted bread.

don't mess with a filipina

In a New York ouside cafe', a Filipina is enjoying a hearty breakfast, Coffee, croissants, toast, butter, jam, etc.

While an American, chewing a gum, sat next to her and started an unwanted conversation. ..

American: You Philipinese eat the whole bread?

Filipina: Of course!

American: (Blowing bubbles with his gum) we don't. We, Americans only Eat what's inside. The crust we collect in a container, recycle, make these into croissants and sell these to the Philippines.

American: Do you eat jam with bread?

Filipina: Of course!

American: (Chuckling and crackling his gum between his teeth) we don't. Americans eat fruits at breakfast, put all the peels, seeds and Leftovers into containers, turn these into jam and sell it to the Philippines 

Filipina: Do you have sex in America?

American: Of course, we do!

Filipina: What do you do with the condoms?

American: We throw them, of course!

Filipina: We don't. In the Philippines, we put them into containers, Recycle them, turn them into chewing gums and sell it to America. LOL...

Why go to Church

You might as well ask me why I got to the table and eat as to ask my why I go to church. I go to feed my soul. There is a void in my soul that none but God can fill; and since the emptiness of the human heart was made for fullness of God I know of no better place to go to partake of his fullness than to church.


I go to church to worship God. If I can worship God just as well elsewhere as at church, then I can't understand why Christ attended church and said, "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together." I feel that the spiritual atmospheres created by the singing, the music, the reading of the Bible, the prayers, and the sermon is conductive to a more acceptable worship than an atmosphere void of these things. 


I go to church out of appreciation of what she has done for me and is doing for others. When we are sick, what institution prays for us? The church. When we are in sorrow, what institution comes out to our aid? The church. When the crape hangs on the door, what institution showers its love and comfort about us? The church. When sin was hovering over our souls and we were groping in darkness seeking light, what institution stood ready to point us unto Jesus Christ, the light of the world? The church. I appreciate an institution like that, I want to give of my time, money and service to her cause. 


I go to church to support her because she has the only message that can save the world. Wherever you find the Gospel of Christ unknown you will find a land of heathens. The message of the church is responsible for our civilization. Regardless of whether or not you are a Christian in our land, you owe your civilization to the Church; for without the church in our land, you would have been born the son of heathen parents, and therefore would have been a heathen yourself. When I stop to think that I would be living today as a heathen in an uncivilized land if it had not been for the church, then I can't bring myself to the place where I ca be so grateful as to ignore the church and keep my best from her. How any thinking man can be indifferent to the church is beyond my apprehension.


There are many reasons why I go to church, I will say in conclusion that the main reason I go to church s because I love Jesus Christ. Christ loved the church. He gave himself for the church. Then out of love for him, I love his bride- the church. I like her jewels-the members of the church. I like her message-"Ye must be born again."


by: REV. Vaughn Fults, Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Mini Black-bottom Cheesecakes

nonstick spray
24 plain chocolate wafer cookies
3 tbsp butter (melted)
8 oz cream cheese (room temp)
1/4 c sugar
2/3 fromage blanc (6 ounces) (at room temperature)
2 large eggs
2 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract
1/4 (s)  raspberry preserves (warmed)

Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a standard 12-c muffin pan with foil baking cups and spray with nonstick spray. In a food processor, crush the wafer cookies. Add the butter and process until fine crumbs form. Spoon the chocolate cookie crumbs into the prepared baking cups and press with the bottom of a glass to compact. Bake for 5 mins, or until almost set. Leave the oven on.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until smooth. Beat in the fromage blanc, then add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.

Bake the cheesecakes for 15 mins. Remove from the oven and spread 1 tsp of raspberry preserves on top of each cheesecake, (you can topped it with cherry if you like, just like I did). Transfer the muffin tin to the freezer and chill the cheesecakes for about 15 mins.

Remove the cheesecakes from the pan and peel off the foil baking cups. Transfer the cheesecakes to a pltter and serve.

CHEF's note: cheesecake can be refrigerated for up to 4 days.
                      instead of fromage blanc > creme fraiche, goat cheese, lebneh or quark

Mini Banana Cupcake

Ingredients
1/2 c shortening
2 c sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 c mashed bananas (3 bananas)
1/4 c buttermilk
2 c all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

FROSTING
1/2 c butter, softened
2 c confectioners' sugar
3 tbsp milk

In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add the eggs, vanilla, bananas and buttermilk. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to banana mixture. Fill 18 paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full

Bake at 350F for 15-20 mins or until toothpick comes out clean. Place the muffins to wire racks to cool completely. In a small mixing bowl, cream the butter, sugar and enough milk to achieve desired spreading consistency. Frost cupcakes.

CHEF's note: you can also use piping bags to design your cupcake, if you don't have piping bag, you can snip a little bit of hole on a sandwich bag.

Inipit (sandwich cake)

I made this as one of my Christmas give aways at my son's school, 2 years ago. The taste and the texture is good. 

Ingredients

1 c cake flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

6 eggs (separated)

1 c sugar

4 tsp water

1/4 c sugar

Preheat oven at 325F (160C). Grease two 13x9 rectangular pans and line with parchment paper. Set aside.

CHEF's note: you can also use wax paper, wipe it with shortening.

In a bowl, beat egg yolks. Add water and sugar and continue beating until mixture thickens. Sift flour and baking powder. Add in to the egg mixture and blend well. set aside.

In a mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Slowly add in sugar and beat until peaks form. add in beaten egg yolks and flour and mix well. pour batter equally into the 2 baking pans. bake in oven for 20 to 25 mins, set aside.

Prepare filling.

filling

3 pcs banana (mashed)

3 egg yolks beaten

3/4 c sugar

3/4 c milk

1/4 c margarine

1 tsp lemon zest

In a saucepan, mix all ingredients except egg yolks. cook until mixture thickens while stirring continuously. Add in egg yolks and cook for a few more minutes. Set aside.

spread custard filling evenly on each baked chiffon layers and lightly press the two slabs together to form one large sandwich. Brush melted margarine on the top layer and lightly sprinkle with sugar. Slice the sandwich in rectangles. Refrigerate or serve immediately.

Pandesal (Philippines' version of rolls)

1/2 c water

1/4 c evap milk

1/2 c fresh milk

1 egg (in room temp. TIP: I set the egg out overnight)

1/2 c sugar

5 tbsp softened butter

2 tbsp oil

4 c flour

3 tsp active dry yeast

bread crumbs

Direction

Combine water, evap milk and fresh milk then heat in microwave for 35 sec. (TIP: the mixture should be lukewarm not hot).  In a bowl, pour lukewarm liquid mixture and add all ingredients according to list of  order. Mix well with a dough mixer (if you dont have one, pwede n un wooden spoon! then mix it manually). 

Mix it for 20 mins.

Sprinkle a little bit of flour on your working surface. Turn the dough out. Knead the dough w/ your hands by folding it when pushing it with the base of your palm. Knead for 15 mins. Dust w/ flour if needed. Remember the dough needs to be a little bit sticky, so do not add to much flour when kneading.

Put the dough back in the bowl. Cover loosely w/ a damp, clean cloth or plastic wrap sprayed w/ nonstick cooking spray. Set the dough in a warm, draft free place. Keep the dough covered until it doubles in size.

Preheat oven to 375F ( 190C )

Spray 2 baking sheets w/ non stick cooking spray.  When the dough is ready, scoop a small amount (about the size of an egg), shape it by putting your palm together. Place on baking sheet, 1 1/2 inch apart. Sprinkle w/ bread crumbs. Cover and leave in warm corner until doubled. Bake for 15 mins or until golden brown. 

Ensaymada

Ingredients:
5 cups bread flour (separate 1 + 1 + 3)
1/2 cup sugar
2 envelopes Fleischmann’s RapidRise Yeast (1 envelope is 0.25 oz = 2-1/4 tsp)
1 tablespoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup water
2/3 cup shortening 
1 cup mashed potato
2 eggs
3 egg yolks
2-oz grated sharp cheddar cheese, added to the 3-cup flour above
melted butter (approximately 1 stick)
softened butter (approximately 1 stick to 1-1/2)(for rolled method)


Directions
Combine 1 cup flour, sugar, undissolved yeast and salt. Heat milk, water and shortening until very warm (120º to130ºF). Gradually add to dry ingredients. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in mashed potato, eggs and 1 cup flour; beat 2 minutes at high speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour to make a stiff batter. Detach dough hook and cover dough plus hook loosely with plastic wrap; refrigerate 2 hours. Remove from fridge and add the 3 egg yolks, stir setting on the mixer. Remove hook from the dough this time and cover loosely again with plastic then refrigerate for another 1-22 hours.

The next stage will make use of a method depending on how hardworking you are or how time pressed you are.

Coiled: If you got lots of time, do the old-fashioned way of coiling like katol by pinching off pieces from the chilled dough about the size of a small pandesal. Get only a few at a time and chill the rest of the dough again because it becomes harder to handle when warmer; it becomes too sticky. Sprinkling flour on work surface helps lessen the stickiness. Shape the dough into a long rope about a foot long and coil as previously illustrated in older posts. Place on greased baking pan and brush with melted butter. See this post for step-by-step slideshow on how to shape into coils.

Rolled (para sa tinatamad): Get a chunk of dough about the same as one that you have for 2-lb recipes of bread (or about the size of a grapefruit or suha). Flatten to disk, fold over the four edges like that of an envelope, and roll to make a rectangle about 8 x 10 inches. Place a generous layer of softened butter except near the edges. Roll tightly from the long end. Cut in 1 to 1-1/2 inch intervals. Dip one end of cut side in melted butter then place on baking pan. Brush the rest of the surfaces with melted butter.

Fried Ice Cream

1 quart vanilla ice cream

3 cups crushed corn flakes cereal

1 tsp ground cinnamon

3 egg whites

oil for frying

Scoop ice cream into 1/2 cup sized ball. Place on baking sheet and freeze until firm for about 1 hour. In a shallow dish, combine cornflakes and cinnamon. In another dish, beat egg whites until foamy.

STEP 1 Roll the ice cream balls in egg whites then in cornflakes, covering ice cream completely.  Freeze again until firm for 2 hours.

STEP 2 Repeat Step 1 and freeze again for another 3 hours or overnight.

In deep fryer or large, heavy saucepan, heat oil to 375F (190C)

Using a slotted spoon, fry ice cream balls 1 or 2 at a time, for 15 seconds, until golden.

Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.

NOTES:

You can substitute cornflakes with vanilla wafers. I used peanut oil instead of regular cooking oil bec you can fry the ice cream quicker. Some have used pancake batter for coating but I haven't tried it yet.

Coconut Meringue Pie

Ingredients

·         1 blind-baked 9-inch pastry shell

·         2 1/4 cups whole milk

·         3/4 cup sugar, plus 1/4 cup for the egg whites

·         3 eggs, separated

·         1/4 cup cornstarch

·         1 teaspoon vanilla

·         1 3/4 cups toasted coconut

·         1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. In a saucepan, whisk the 2 cups of the milk and 3/4 cup sugar together. Place the pan over medium heat and bring the liquid up to a simmer. Whisk the egg yolks together. Temper the hot milk into the egg yolks. Whisk the egg mixture into the hot milk mixture. In a small bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining milk, making a slurry. Whisk the slurryinto the hot milk mixture. Bring the liquid up to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until the filling is thick, about 4 to 6 minutes. Fold in the vanilla, coconut, and butter. Mix well. Pour the filling into the prepared pan and cool the pie completely. Using an electric mixer with a whip attachment, whip the egg white to soft peaks. Add the remaining sugar and whip the egg white to stiff peaks. Spread the egg whites over the top of the pie. Place the pie in the oven for about 3 to 4 minutes, or until themeringue is golden brown.

Importance of a pen

Lost your pen = no pen
No pen = no notes
No notes = no study
No study = Fail
Fail = no diploma
No diploma = no work
No work = no money
No money = no food
No food = skinny
Skinny = ugly
Ugly = no love
No love = no marriage
No marriage = no children
No children = alone
Alone = depression
Depression = sickness
Sickness = death

Lesson: Don't lose your pen, you will die

Mango Cake

BASE 1

cake flour - 2cups

white sugar - 1/2cup

vegetable oil  - 1/3cup

baking powder - 1tsp.

salt - 1 1/2tsp.

egg yolks - 8pcs. (save egg whites for base 2)

water  - 1/2cup

Procedure

1. Preheat oven at 350'F for 30 minutes

2. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and blend well using a wire whisk. Set aside.

BASE 2

egg whites - 8pcs.

white sugar - 3/4cup

cream of tartar - 1tsp.

Bacon Mac and Cheese

This is my 9 yr old son. Since he likes macaroni and cheese, I asked him to cook it, with my supervision, of course! This picture was taken last year. He was told that if he wants mac and cheese for supper, he has to cook it. There's 4 people in the household, everybody has a week turn for cooking, except him! My 9 yr old son cooks on Fridays, providing he wants Mac & Cheese. It's really nice to have your kids be involve in cooking at a young age. (",)

Ingredients

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

5 bacon strips (slice in 1/4 inch)

2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

1 cup evaporated milk

salt and pepper to taste

1 1/2 cups, about 6 ounces, shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

medium onion, chopped (optional)

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water as package directs. I added 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in the boiling water (the noodles won't stick to each other when you drain it). Drain the cooking liquid into a 2 cup measure. If necessary, add more water to make 2 cups. Fry bacon; remove to paper towels to drain. Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of bacon fat; add 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in flour. Slowly stir in evaporated milk and 2 cups water. Stirring constantly, bring mixture to the boiling point; season with salt, pepper. Add cheese and continue to heat over low heat until cheese is melted. Add cooked macaroni; mix well. Serve with crumbled bacon on top or mix into the macaroni mixture. Serve with fish sticks.

A most remarkable Puzzle

Let's start this March blog with a puzzle. I got this from my sister's Sunday School Assignment given by Mrs. Bettie Rose. I saw my sister working with something after the bible study but I didn't bother to ask. I know that it's an assignment from their bible study. Until yesterday, she was sitting by the dining table looking at her paper. My husband looked on it and sat with her. Out of curiosity (remember not being nosy (",) ) I looked on it too, and found out that they are trying to solve the puzzle. The puzzle of finding 30 books of the Bible in a story. Try it! You can print this and share it with your friends and family, then solve it together...Have fun(",) 

This is a most remarkable puzzle. It was found by a gentleman in an  airplane seat pocket, on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu. Keeping him occupied for hours. He enjoyed it so much; he passed it on to some friends. One friend from Illinois worked on this while fishing from his john boat. Another friend studied while playing his banjo. Elaine Taylor, a columnist friend, was so intrigued by it she mentioned it in her weekly newspaper column. Another friend judges the job of solving this puzzle so involving; she brews a cup of tea to help her nerves. There will be some names that are really easy to spot. That's a fact. Some People however will soon find themselves in a jam, especially since the book names are not necessarily capitalized. Truthfully, from answers we get, we are forced to admit it usually takes a minister or scholar to see some of them at the worst. Research has shown that something in our genes is responsible for the difficulty we have in seeing the books in this paragraph. During a recent fund raising event, which featured this puzzle, the Alpha Delta Phi lemonade booth set a new sales record. The local paper, The Chronicle, surveyed over 200 patrons who reported that the puzzle was one of the most difficult they had ever seen. As Daniel Humana humbly puts is, "The books are all right there in plain view, hidden form sight. "Those able to find all of them will hear great lamentations from those who have to be shown. One revelation that may help is that books like Timothy and Samuel may occur without their numbers. Also keep in mind that punctuation and spaces in the middle are normal. A chipper attitude will help you compete really well against those who claim to know the answers. Remember, there is no need for a mad exodus, there really are 30 books of the Bible lurking somewhere in this paragraph waiting to be found.

Heaven's Grocery Store

I was walking down life's highway a long time ago.
I saw a sign that read "Heaven's Grocery Store"
As I got a little closer, the door came open wide
And when I came to myself, I was standing inside
I saw a host of angels; they were standing everywhere
One handed me a basket and said, "My child, stock with care"
Everything that a Christian needs was in that store;
And if there was some that you could not carry, you could come back the next day for more

Double Chocolate Cookies

All I can say is...WOW!!! I'm so proud of myself! For the first time I was able to bake cookies!!! yeheeyyyy.....other's may find this crazy but for me this is one of my accomplishment...I have been making, looking, trying and baking cookies for a long time..well not too long because I am always frustrated with the outcome..and finally, I baked one recipe that I am so proud of(",)

Yield: 2 dozen

11.5 oz Bittersweet chocolate chips or bar

6 tbsp butter

3 eggs (room temp)

1/3 c all purpose flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

12 oz Semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c chopped walnuts (you can use your all time favorite nuts)

Melt the bittersweet chocolate chips and butter in a double broiler. I used a small pan over the big pan w/ boiling water. Set aside.

In a bowl, combine eggs and sugar. Mix until thick. Add in the melted chocolate. Scrape the bowl until combined. Mix in flour and baking powder. Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and nuts. Mix until a thick dough forms.

NOTE: If you have a mixer bowl, you can mix the eggs and sugar using the flat beater, using speed 4-mix it for 5 mins. then add the rest of the ingredients except the ice cream(",)

Divide the dough in two logs by placing it on the plastic wrap. Roll like a log. Wrap tightly. Refrigerate until you are ready to use it. You can also freeze one of the dough logs if you are not going to use both. 

READY TO BAKE(",)

Preheat oven to 375F. Unwrap dough and cut into 3/4 inch. Place the dough slices 1" apart. Bake for 14 mins. Let cool on the counter.

Cooks' tip: You can make a cookie sandwich w/ this recipe, too! Scoop ice cream on 1 of the cookies and place the other cookie on top of it(",)

Leche Flan (Custard)

I finally came out with this perfect leche flan (custard) after searching and experimenting different recipes. I remember the one that my grandmother (god bless her soul) always made in an open fire whenever there was an occassion. This is like hers. Not too rich, not to sweet..mouth watering!

Yields : 8 ramekins

caramel syrup
1 c white sugar
1/4 c water

Put the water then the sugar on a non stick sauce pan. Do not mix. Let it boil until it is caramelized. Put syrup in each ramekin immediately bec. the sugar gets hard fast. Be careful.

Flan/Custard

4 large eggs
1 can condensed
1 can evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp of orange rind

Preheat oven to 350F. Put hot water in the pan and place your ramekins in it.
Beat the eggs first. Add the rest of the ingredients, then tap bowl once to release some of the bubbles. Put 1/2 cup of the mixture in each ramekin and place it in the pan. Bake it for 40 mins. Best serve if cooled

Goin' Bananas

Bananas help us keep fit and healthy! Not only that, it keeps our shoes shiny too! Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose & glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained & substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.

Depression : According to a recent survey, many people felt much better after eating banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood & generally make you feel happier.

PMS : Ladies, forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia : High iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood & so helps in cases of anemia. Blood Pressure : This tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. The US Food and Drug Administration hast just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

A Second Chance

Hold on to me, mommy! These are the words I will never forget the time I gained my consciousness. It was January 16, 2006, Martin Luther Day, about 4:00 in the afternoon. My husband left for work around 2:30 that afternoon. I was wearing my thick brown Carter coat to protect me from the cold wind. John, our son, 5 yrs old then, was playing outside. I was washing barn 4 (one of the grow-outs barn) when something went wrong to the high pressure pump. I rolled the hose and drove the tractor to the well house to fix it. Fortunately, we have a spare parts for it and so I began to fix it. I started taking the damage part off when suddenly I couldn't take the other bolt off. Luckily, our older son, Richard, came home from work and stopped by the well house and see what I was doing. He helped me take the other bolt off and replace the parts. I turned on the tractor (M4700), run the PTO (power take off) to check if the pump is still leaking. And no doubt it's still leaking! I tighten the bolts to fix the problem, got closer to the PTO and there you go... guess what happened! My coat got caught in the spinning PTO shaft and started to pin me on the other side. I saw darkness! How it happened? It was so fast and nobody knew how it happened, why it happened and what happened. I went black out! The scary thing... I saw myself stucked in between the pump and the bar of the spray rig, my coat around my neck. After seeing myself, I said "Ayoko pa mamatay" ("I don't want to die yet"). Seconds later, (I guess) I'm back!!!. I saw Richard at the well house and called him. He rushed towards me and said he will call for help. He run to our neighbor, John approached me, held my hand, and said, "Mommy, hold on to me, ok, Richard is going to call for help".