Happy Birthday, Jing!!!

Happy Birthday to .....

Mawi! = Maria Wilhelmina!!!  But only a few people are allowed to call her that.  Just me, Celine and Ompy!



The best mother of 2 little boys!



The very loving and supportive wife of Sherman!





To the most patient and helpful in-law her in-laws ever had!



To one of the most gracious ladies I have ever known!

To my eating partner in crime!

To my romance novel junkie addict!

To someone who hates Black Forest Cake and anything ube!

To the wittiest and dirtiest minded person among the 4 of us!



and especially .....

Happy Birthday to a best friend who is well loved by all her friends!

 

Tawilis

I loved the Tawilis fish that Hermie cooked for me.  I asked how it was done.

Tawilis Wrapped in Mango Leaves



small tawilis fish
big mango leaves
vinegar
salt
garlic
whole peppercorn

Place about 12 pieces of tawilis on one half of a mango leaf, then fold over.



Arrange in the cooking pot one on top of each other.  Add the vinegar, salt, garlic and peppercorn.  Simmer until fish is cooked and sauce is almost dry.  Let cool and deep fry without removing the leaves.

The fish was crunchy and you can eat from head to tail.  I did not leave anything for Sabrina, our cat.

Hermie also made Mongo Soup!



I like the way she cooked it, not too thick but swingy.

My food was so good that I finished a cup of brown rice! Normally, I would just eat half a cup.

Very sweet star apple for dessert. 

Simple dinner but ohhhh so yum!!!  Food does not have to be elaborate to be delicious.

Chicken in Mirinda

Chicken in Mirinda is the favorite of PD and Sophie.  They always ask me to cook this dish.  Finally, I relented and made this stew/casserole.  It actually tastes like Chicken Pastel sans the cream but with a hint of orange.

Chicken in Mirinda

1 K. chicken, cut into serving pieces
500 ml. Mirinda Orange
3 pcs. calamansi
1 t. rock salt
black pepper
1/2 C. flour
1/4 C. cooking oil
1 Knorr  Chicken cube
potatoes, cubed
carrots, cubed
green beans, cut into 1 inch length
half a bar of quickmelt cheese, grated

Marinate the chicken in 1/2 C. Mirinda Orange, salt, kalamansi juice and pepper overnight.

Dredge the chicken in flour and fry slightly, turning the pieces once.

Add the rest of the Mirinda Orange and Knorr cube.  When it boils, add the carrots and potatoes. Simmer for 30 minutes over low fire, covered.  Remove cover, increase the heat and add the green beans, when cooked, add grated cheese and serve.

Sinigang

Who would believe me if I said, I ate sinigang today 3x???  Since I have been feeling sick lately,  I only wanted to eat soup. 

I knew Mona was coming today to visit me, so I made Pork Tail Sinigang.



Sorry, Mona.  No fat... just a lean cut of meat.

I just followed the instructions at the back of Knorr Sinigang Mix.

My Kuya also wanted to eat sinigang but he does not like eating pork, so for him.... I made Sinigang na Hipon.



Celine also visited me.  My friends know when I am sick, I want to have visitors.  I asked Hermie to cook Sinigang ng Ulo ng Salmon sa Miso. 



I just gave her instructions how to cook it.

I am feeling a bit better today.  The medicines prescribed by Dr. Manuel Canlas were really so effective!  He told me to take 1/2 tablet of Iterax, but did I listen to him?  Of course not, I took a whole tablet and I could not wake up this morning! 

The nasal sprays were the best decongestants ever.  A bit on the pricey side but it was all worth it.  Would you believe when I woke up at 10:30 there was no pain in my ears and throat???!?!?! 

I learned my lesson. As soon as I get sick, I should visit the doctor immediately and not let it get worse.  Plus ..... I will just go straight to Dr. Canlas.  He is my miracle man.

Hototay Soup for the very sick.

I have not been feeling well these past few days.  Same old... same old ... my doctors just patched me up to be able to go to Boracay but I  am back to square one and even in worse pain.  I have been to several doctors, I am now on my third round of antibiotics.  Hopefully, Dr. Manuel Canlas, my allercologist will make me well. 

On a positive note, I might lose weight because I cannot eat.  It is quite difficult to swallow.  I do not want to eat anymore but I have to so I can drink my medicines. 

I cooked my own version of Hototay Soup.  I looked in my fridge what kind vegetables I had in there. 

Hototay Soup



1 T. cooking oil
garlic, minced
onion, sliced
red and green pepper, cut into square
carrots, sliced
green beans, cut into 1 inch length
Chinese cabbage, sliced
2 C. chicken stock
1 t. chicken powder
2 t. cornstarch diluted in 1 T. water
dash of pepper
1 egg

Saute in oil the garlic and the onions until soft.  Then add the peppers, carrots and beans.  Continue sauteing, when vegetables are half cooked, pour in the stock.  Season with the chicken powder and pepper.

When vegetables are crisp tender, add the diluted cornstarch and the Chinese cabbage.   Let it boil until the soup is thick, then switch off the heat.  Add the egg and stir slowly.

I guess you can add any vegetables you have in your fridge.  Some recipes call for meat or liver but I opted for a simple version.

I hope to feel better really soon.  Sometimes, I would just drink all the medicines I have here at home to feel better, I even had a couple rum toddy care of Bibo yesterday!!!! 

Dr. Canlas prescribed several nasal sprays and Iterax! Yay!!!



I am praying  I will be able to sleep through the night and not be bothered by dry and itchy coughing.

Dear God, please let me get well already.  It has been 2 months since I have been sick.  I am not a patient person but I know soon, you will hear my prayers.

Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Mimi invited David, PD and I for dinner at Circles, Shangri-la Hotel, Makati.  Her birthday was yesterday, March 17 but had our dinner the night before.



I was quite worried at first because I was not feeling well.  There was pain in my ears and throat again.  I only survived in Boracay the past few days because I was on anti-biotics, steroids, decongestants and pain killers.

While I was having dinner, I was feeling better by the minute.  Maybe because I was distracted with a lot of delicious food.  They had an on going Singaporean Festival.  Which meant.... Chili Crabs!

I got a plateful of Chili Crabs.



I had HUGE river prawns. 





I asked the waiter to wok-fry  with Chili and Garlic.



Really jumbo!



I am not much of a prime rib fan but I asked the meat carver to give me a thin slice.





As usual, a few pieces of sushi and sashimi.



The others had steamed shrimps



Butter Garlic prawns and shrimps





Deep Fried Fish with Chili Sauce




Pasta dish




My dessert was homemade vanilla ice cream with thick chocolate syrup, creme brulee, fresh ripe mangoes and mango puree with pomelo.



My favorite nuts, cheeses and dried fruits.



 It was a nice quiet birthday celebration but the food was really YUM!



The next night, PD and I hosted an after dinner affair with Mimi and David.



Just drinks and chips.

I made Mango Mojito!!!!  It was almost a virgin mojito but I saw a bottle of Tanduay rum in my pantry and added a few tablespoon.  I was afraid to add more but the drink tasted good just the same. 

Mango Mojito



mint leaves
1/2 C. sugar
rum, as generous as you want
juice of 2 limes
500 ml. seven-up
400 gr. mango
1 C. simple sugar (1 C white sugar : 1 C water, boil until sugar is dissolved)
2-3 C. ice cubes
mint springs
lime slices

In a tall glass pitcher,  muddle the mint leaves with sugar and rum.  Add the seven-up.

In a blender, puree the mango and sugar syrup, add the ice.

Pour the mango juice into the pitcher.  Garnish with mint springs and lime slices.

Our bar chow.....

Nachos with....



cheese sauce, beef and fresh salsa.



Chicharon with fat



Sweet potato chips



okoy and dilis.



Yema with Pili



PD got Mimi a small birthday cake.



Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Boracay ... my alternate reality.

I am so blessed for having Boracay as my alternate reality.  I always have a need to escape my busy and stressful life. (Pokerface.)  Hahahahahaha!  Busy????? Stressful???? Nahhh.. I do have a wonderful life, one that is filled with love and laughter... and let us not forget, filled with food!

I love Boracay! 



I guess everybody knows that by now.... my 10th visit to the beautiful island.  It was recently voted as the number 1 beach in Asia by Tripadvidor last March 9, 2012.  So why go somewhere else?  I do not even want to dip my foot in other bodies of water.

I was with Mona, Celine, who bought her ticket last Sunday - just the night before the trip and a Canadian couple, Michelle and  her friend, David.  We enjoyed the company of each other and of course, had heaps of fun.

My first Boracay meal was at Island Chicken Inasal.



I have always wanted to try the grilled chicken there but I never had the opportunity.  Finally!!!! 



It was different from your usual run of the mill inasal.

Also tried the Kansi.  It is a cross between Nilagang Bulalo and Sinigang.



Dipping sauces for the chicken



and kalamansi with chili and patis for the soup.



Another want-to-try was the Halowich ice cream. 



Lots of Korean tourists there all the time, I just got a small serving with fresh mangoes and a cherry on top.



We checked in at Milfores de Boracay after lunch. 



It is a small bed and breakfast place, just 9 rooms but big, 30 sqm. each with two queen sized beds.  My dream is to have my own B and B in Boracay.

While waiting for Celine to arrive, Mona and I ate our way along White Beach.  We had siomai, cheeseburger, boiled corn, balut and looked for my hotdog Manang.  She still remembered Lisa.



The best late afternoon activity in Boracay is to wait for the sunset.



I can modestly say, I take quite good pictures, especially of friends.

Let me ask you .... what is wrong with these pictures?????

Celine .... wow ... nice sunset shot.! Lia took this picture.



Another nice photo of Mona ... ahem ... am I a good photographer or what?



And .... wait for it .......



Lia! Lia??? Where is Lia??? Is that you, Lia????  Where is justice when you need it?!

Hahahahaha! I definitely did not take this photo.

Our dinner was at my favorite D Talipapa Paluto restaurant, Aquafresh (036-2881636 or 09993957035).





You may want to reserve a table in advance because sometimes they are full of tourists. 

Photo-op with the crew and staff, they know me by name now and they have read my blog!



We bought the seafood from the wet market and had it cooked.



Grilled Sea-Water Prawns



Grilled Squid, plain salted.



Butter-Garlic Scallops



Grilled Porkchop



Sinigang na Lapu-Lapu



Giant bottle of vinegar dipping sauce.



Fresh! Delicious! My shorts were a little loose before dinner but after, I could hardly breath! So full.

I did not have ice cream anymore at Aria, only Celine and Mona.





The accommodations came with free breakfast.

Beef Tapa



Aklan Longanisa



Daing na Bangus



Pork Tocino



I was ready to head to the beach!!!!  I bought a new swimdress from Marks.



LOL I looked like a Chinese or Korean tourist. 

Michele and David invited us to go island hopping and snorkeling with them but I said our favorite activity was to swim only in chest deep water.

It was a hot day and good thing we saw a stall selling soft serve ice cream!



Our late, late lunch was at Nagisa Coffee shop, my favorite Japanese Restaurant in Station 3.



Mixed Tempura.



Takoyaki.



Gyoza



Grilled Eggplant



They now have 2 pc. Ebi Tempura.



Ton-Ton, my favorite waiter, still remembered me from my previous visits.  I told him, I was not able eat at their restaurant when I went to Boracay last November and February because it was quite far.  He gave us lots and lots of peanuts!

The highlight of the day was our Sunset Paraw Sailing.

We were waiting for our Paraw ....





Red Pirates Paraw Sail Boat





Sunset photo taken while sailing.



The girls with the crew of the Red Pirates.



Hunky Island Boys!!!!!   Cougars!  Sheath your claws!   hahahahaha

Aria was our choice for dinner.



Pizza with Anchovies, seafood, parma, mushrooms and ham



I tried the Minestrone but I like my version better.



Foccacia - did not realize their bread was flat like pita



Aglio Olio with Chili



Homemade Black Fettucine with Creamy Seafood Sauce



Fish and Chips



Mango Cheesecake



Caramel Cheesecake



I have to learn how to take better pictures when the light is yellowish.

Our last day was so great because the sun was really out and the water was so clear! We even saw a school of black fish!   At first I thought it was a black coral, but upon further inspection by Celine and Michelle, they were little black fish!  Of course, I swam away from it.  Reason why I do not go snorkeling, I am afraid of fish and other sea creatures.  I only like to eat it.

Lunch at Nigi Nigi Too on our last day.



Seafood Platter



We all loved the crackers that went with the meal.  So yum!



We also ordered the Pancit Bihon



and

Salad Greens for Michelle and David.



They were offering me their salad but I said,  it is only for my diet days.

I did not want to go home yet, I was really enjoying myself.  I always feel that way when I am about to leave.  It does not matter if I stayed 3 or 4 or 5 days... the feeling of saying goodbye to my happy place was not a happy one.

Being in Boracay is like being in an alternate world for me.  I tend to forget everything else and I just live in the NOW.  I do not have to think of all my problems and what the future holds.   It really is an escape from reality.

Surreal??  Maybe .... but all I know is that when I am in Boracay I feel so happy and beautiful.



Life is beautiful.  Boracay is beautiful.  I AM beautiful. :)