Oregano

This oregano was given to Marco as a Kris Kringle gift last year for the category "Something GREEN".

Oregano is considered as one of the medicinal herbs here in the Philippines. This can cure cough, inflammation, urinary track infection and even colon cancer. (see Benefits of Oregano)

This herb is also important in culinary arts. Cooks usually use dried oregano for it is more flavourful than the fresh. It is often used in Italian dishes.

Monggo Soup (Mung beans soup)

It's been raining these past few days and the food that is best served during rainy days is soup. Here's a budget version of monggo soup my mom made last weekend. Take note, the only ingredient she bought is the monggo. I think it just cost her more or less Php15.00. So cheap yet very tasty. :D

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups monggo (mung beans)

1 small papaya (cut into small pieces)

ginger leaves

rice stock

salt

vetsin (msg)

COOKING PROCEDURE:

In a pot, pour the rice stock then bring monggo and ginger leaves to a boil. Simmer until the monggo is cooked. Add the papaya. Season with salt and vetsin. Wait until cooked. Serve with steamed rice and tuyo (dried fish) on the side.

What kind of food are you?

I took the quiz What kind of food are you? and here's the result. Hahaha! I am Mexican Food... interesting... :P

Let's Boodle Fight

I remember when I was still in college I attended the Leadership Training Program. It was my first time to join such training. Participants were class officers, organization officers and the student council. If I were not the class president that time, I would not be able to experience it and I would have missed half of my life. I would never forget how the facilitators made us crawl on the muddy ground, cross the big branches of some trees, climb the wall and jump into the pool that we all did blind-folded. They made us touch dung and they even put dung on our faces that we discovered later on it was only mud (in Tagalog, putik as in putik talaga!). But then the most memorable is the Boodle fight. The facilitators laid banana leaves on a table, started to serve varieties of food and spread them over the table. If I remember it right there were pansit, Filipino-style spaghetti, steamed rice, ripe bananas, ripe mangoes, tuyo (dried fish), sardines, barbeque and some chichiria (junk food). Boodle fight symbolizes camaraderie among team members so the food were eaten together and with bare hands. According to en.wikipedia.org, this way of eating was devised by PMA cadets, and does not represent authentic Philippine culture, but instead symbolizes fraternity and equality among PMA members by their sharing the same food without regard to rank. The term is taken from pre-World War Two West Point slang meaning "any party at which boodle (candy, cake, ice cream, etc.) is served."

Nowadays, having a boodle fight is still a practice especially in the military. But somehow it became a tradition. It will not be missing in some team building activities and even in some town fiestas. Also, some team games like Airsoft also put in practice having boodle fights within the team.

(Photo from blogneffy.blogspot.com)

Tin's Fucilli with meatballs

The cooking procedure is just similar to the tuna macaroni a la mayaman. The only difference is, Tin used fucilli pasta and she added beef meatballs to the sauce. By the way, the meatballs are homemade so here's how to make them.

INGREDIENTS

1/4 kilo ground beef

2 cups seasoned bread crumbs

3 cloves garlic (minced)

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

COOKING PROCEDURE

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl with your hands. Roll mixture into meatballs. Keep them in the fridge for about an hour so they would become firm enough. Then pour cooking oil in a pan. Over medium heat, cook meatballs in oil until lightly browned on all sides. Then you can now pour spaghetti sauce or any tomato based sauce all over.

(For Tin's review :P)

Afritada a la Tina

I think this is the first time Tina cooked Afritada. Let me share her own version.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 kilo chicken (cut into pieces)

10 pieces baby potatoes (unpeeled and halves)

1 red onion, diced

1 head garlic, minced

2 chicken stock (broth)

1 cup tomato sauce

salt

pepper

cooking oil

COOKING PROCEDURE

Heat oil in a pan. Sauteé garlic and onions. Add chicken and wait until slightly brown. Pour the tomato sauce and stock. Bring to a boil and allow to simmer until the chicken is almost cooked. Add potatoes and continue to cook until the potatoes are cooked. Season with salt and pepper. Then sprinkle cheese cube on top. Serve hot with steamed rice.

(For Tin's review :P)

Pasalubong (goodies) from Bohol

I've been to Bohol 3 months ago together with my boyfriend and girlfriends. Aside from enjoying the breathtaking scenery, we also went to a side trip to buy pasalubong. One of these pasalubong is Bohol's famous delicacy, Peanut Kisses. Ressembling the shape of the Chocolate Hills, this treat is said to be made from high grade peanuts, roasted and processed with all natural ingredients that comes out crunchy and low in cholesterol.

Star Peanuts is also as popular and the taste is similar to Peanut Kisses.

I recently got some of these goodies from Cathz. Hehehehe. :D

Pasalubong (goodies) from Tacloban Leyte

Even though gone for a business trip for 3 days, Cathz didn't forget to take home some of the best pasalubong from Tacloban last weekend. These are the famous binagol, chocolate moron and sagmani. (Thanks so much Cathz!) :D

Binagol

Chocolate Moron

(Photos from backpackingphilippines.com and taclobandailyphoto.blogspot.com)

Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries - Dumaguete City

When you're in Dumaguete, one of the places you should not miss is Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries. This pastry shop is well known for its delicious Sans Rival and Silvanas. I haven't been to Dumaguete but I feel lucky enough because many of my friends have. Hehehe. In fact, my friend Mel was there last week. She brought home these popular baked goodies. (Thanks so much Mel!) :D

The SANS RIVAL

The SILVANAS

Remember that these goodies are best eaten when frozen. Yum yum!

The story about my recent hang-up on airsoft stuff

My dream...

I had this dream last night. I was in Glorietta 3 looking for something to buy. I had Php1100.00 in my pocket but still undecided what to do with it. I knew I should buy something useful and important. Then suddenly, a FOR SALE banner called my attention. Airsoft rifles for sale! 3 for only Php1100.00. Alright! I had the exact amount so I bought 1 JG Spetz and 2 other rifles (that are more like old-style airguns; the long, light brown ones) with a free blue leather gun bag. More like a handbag that has 3 round faded gold metal embelishments horizontally aligned on the upper part. Hahaha! I asked for the FPS (feet per second) then said "Oh, it's 380...". The saleslady corrected me, "No ma'am, it's 280...". Okay, good enough to penetrate one side of a coke can. The FPS didn't bother me so I decided to leave. I realized I had no money left. Good thing I brought my ATM card to cash out some. And then I woke up. Geez! It was just a dream. I bet my brain processed all these airsoft stuff my boyfriend recently indulged himself with.

How my recent fascination with airsoft started...

Marco wants a new hobby. We were talking about airsoft since last week. So I shared with him a little about airsoft to encourage him. Since my bestfriend introduced it to me 3 years ago, I know a bit. I told Marco that I was able to watch an airsoft competition called KALIS (Yes, I was there during KALIS 6 - the 1st and last KALIS I've ever watched. Hehehe). And I think it's a fun activity. Then the last thing I knew was my dear boyfriend was lurking in FilAirsoft.com (aka FAS). Hahaha! He wants an airsoft rifle with at least 380 FPS.

We started canvassing...

Yesterday after dinner, we went straight to Makati Cinema Square (aka MCS). We were after the hobby shops that sell airsoft guns and other things. We know 2 shops there. One is located on the 1st floor and the other one is on the 2nd floor. We first went to the shop on the 2nd floor. It was small but has plenty of airsoft rifles to choose from. We were actually looking for JG steyr aug, JG g36c and JG spetz. But the store only has JG spetz for Php3750.00. Next stop was the KIKAY store on the 1st floor. Yep! you read it right. It's a kikay store that sells lots of airsoft things. Maybe the store considers airsoft as kikay stuff for men. Hahaha! Just guessing! And only JG spetz was available among the airsoft gun models we were hunting. The kikay store also offers the same price as the other store. Our theory - the kikay store is an extension of the store on the 2nd floor. Our observation - Sales staff in both stores have same uniforms. Hehehehe. :D

Still undecided...

Marco has not decided yet if he's going to play airsoft or he would buy a rifle and enjoy just having it. Whether he plays or not, I'll support him all the way! That's the sure thing! :D

Nanay's homemade doughnuts

It's a good news that Nanay has her own business now like her daughter Myke... Very inspiring... She now sells her homemade doughnuts - 2 pieces for only Php 15.00. She didn't tell me how she made them but here's a similar recipe (resource: Cooks.com).

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup milk (scalded)

2 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. brown sugar

1 pkg. yeast

3 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

1 egg

Confectioners' sugar

COOKING PROCEDURE:

Pour milk over butter and sugars; stir until melted and cool to lukewarm. Add yeast, stirring until dissolved. Sift flour, salt and nutmeg. Gradually add half the dry mixture to milk; add egg and beat well. Add remaining flour and leave dough in warm place for 1 hour. Knead gently, roll to quarter inch thickness and cut into diamonds. Allow to rise 30 minutes to 1 hour. Fry in deep fat, 375 degrees and dust with confectioners' sugar or use confectioners' sugar glaze if desired.

These doughnuts are best served with custard dip, best paired with hot choco or brewed coffee and best eaten anytime of the day.