Christmas Midnight Snack

I do not prepare the traditional "Noche Buena" every Christmas Eve, but PD and I always have a "Midnight Snack".



We invited Sam, Michelle and Sophie to join us.



Instead of the usual Ham .....  I made my Chicken Relleno.



PD makes THE best Potato Salad!



I super... super.... super.... loved it!!!!  Hahahaha  Maybe because I do not know how to make potato salad?  No... really ... it was very good.

Ensaymada for each one them .... I cannot eat bread.



PD also made Fruit Salad but I was not able to take the picture.

My hot chocolate... I used Bittersweet Chocolate.



A student sent PD a delicious native "kakanin".



We also tried the Marinated Mushrooms....



and.... Olives with Lemon from another student of PD.



That was a light snack!!!



My family celebrates Christmas on the 25th.... so as of this writing.... I am waiting for them!!!  My guest of honor has arrived!!!!  Hahaha .... will post the continuation later!!!

Happy Birthday, Kuya and Mom!

December 23 is also the birthday of my Kuya and Mom.  Imagine, all 3 of them, including PD have the same birthday?  When my Mom was still alive, it was a tradition that she would treat for breakfast.

But today, PD took on that role and we had breakfast at Bizu, One Rockwell.



Since I cannot have the usual breakfast food with wheat, I ordered the La Manille set.

Beef Tapa with 2 sunny side up eggs and garlic fried rice.



I also had the hot chocolate with cream.



PD had the egg with caviar and ....



French Toast.



My Kuya's treat for lunch was Leonardo's Lechon.

I had a very long and busy day.  Hmmmmm what did I do today?

When I got home from Bizu, I cooked Butter Garlic Shrimps and Kare Kare for my Kuya.

Then I made the cream filling and puffs for the cream puffs ....and then ... I started preparing the food for dinner .... Boiled the chicken and pork liempo for the Pochero.

PD and I went to TWG, Greenbelt 5.



She had the Afternoon Tea set.









I had a pot of New York Breakfast Tea.... it has a slight chocolatey taste which I like very much.



Again, I could not eat anything from the Afternoon Tea set because of the bread and scones.

When I got home, a few neighbors and I had the block rosary at my house.  I am so glad that on Mom's birthday, I was able to pray the Rosary.

Then I started cooking dinner for our guests, my Mom's cousins from NY and my favorite Aunt and Uncle, aside from PD, of course.



Baked Mussels....



Lechon Kawali...

 Chicken and Pork Pochero with 2 kinds of Chorizo.





It was a very tiring day .... but it was worth it when all our guests said the food I cooked was very delicious! It makes me happy whenever they show their appreciation by helping themselves with several servings.

It makes my heart swell with joy and then .... suddenly I do not feel tired anymore.

Happy Birthday, PD!!!

A couple of years ago,  PD was telling some of her beading students that the end of the world will be on December 21, 2012 and that she will not be able to celebrate her birthday anymore which falls on the 23rd.

Her student, Tita Zamora said, she does not believe it will happen and to prove that the world will not end, she will host a birthday lunch for PD after 12-21-12.

The world did not end!!!

PD, Anette Zamora and Tita Zamora

And as promised, Mrs. Zamora hosted a birthday lunch at their lovely home.  It was just a relaxed and casual affair.

PD invited some of her old and current students.









She also invited our "lunch group" who were also her students.



We were supposed to have our yearly celebration on December 22 but PD asked them to join the lunch instead.

"Class Roll Call"

PD and Eega Narvaez

Eva Abesamis and Diana Go

Meg Paris and Tess Herbosa

Tess Herbosa, Josie Yao and Tess Colayco

Dolly Perez, Mita Ampil and Butchie Ayuyao

Bibay Nolasco and Sylvia Lacson

Linda Lupton and Barbara Gonzales

The delicious food was catered by Margarita Fores.

Roast Stuffed Turkey with Foie Gras....





Roast Beef....



Buttered Vegetables....





Pasta with Seafood....



Salad with Figs...



Flourless Chocolate Cake....



Chocolate Sans Rival....



Fruitcake ....



Strawberry Trifle...



We were serenaded by former members of the Kundirana.



One of the singers, Dennis, is the son of Mrs. Zamora.



They dedicated a song to her and it was very moving and touching.



I doubt there was a dry eye in the room afterwards!

PD prepared a short "speech" to show her appreciation.  Just last week, she was having a dilema...she does not know what to give her host as a thank-you gift.  Mrs. Nena Yulo dropped by her house a few days ago and PD asked her, "What do you give someone who has everything?  Not just everything but the best of everything?"  Mrs. Yulo promptly answered .... "A mass card, that was what Mely Hechanova gave her friends last year."



Mrs. Zamora has been taking lessons from PD for several years already.  She is one of her most creative students and her finished products are always exceptional.





PD presented Mrs. Zamora with a big  frame which has a few pictures of her in class and in the center, it says.... "Tita Zamora - Class Summa Cum Laude"

Bing Blardony and Tita Zamora

And lastly ..... A 2012 Musical Christmas Globe ....



For Mrs. Zamora to remember that on December 22, 2012 ..... she made one person very, very happy and the rest of her guests!

To quote Beanie, Julie Yap Daza's 8 year-old granddaughter ..... PD said at the end.... "Best Day Ever!"