Home Cooked

My family attended my aunt's 61st birthday celebration a few weeks ago. Everyone looks forward to events like this because we rarely see each other. I miss them and as expected, there were lots of updating from each other. I didn't notice the time. It was already 12 midnight when we left my aunt's house.

My aunt is a great cook and I think two of her children got her talent in the kitchen. I eagerly anticipate seeing my cousins and my niece and yes, the food that they will be serving. Nothing unusual or grand but they really cook well.

Three of my favorites from my aunt's menu are chicken cordon bleu, spaghetti with meatballs and biko!

I was so inspired by how my cousin prepared this that I tried doing this last weekend I think. She said she just followed what she saw in YouTube. That's the problem with me. I don't have the patience like that when it comes to cooking. Anyway, the appearance of what I did was nothing like this but taste is okay. I have to start somewhere, y'know.


Chicken cordon bleu
And I thought I have mastered spaghetti. Well, compared to this, a big NO. They only added Italian sauce and added meatballs with basil but I don't know why it tastes sooo good.


Spaghetti with Meatballs
Oh yes, my all time favorite dessert, biko! I love this!


Biko
I don't have their talent for cooking but I'm working on it. I have been working on it and will continue to work on it. I don't surrender easily. :)

*All pictures courtesy of my cousin posted in my aunt's Facebook.

***More food sharing at Picture Clusters and Food Trip Friday.

Monthly Highlight: January 2012

1. I enjoyed watching these:
Movies:
- Ides of March

Television Shows:
- Anderson
- The New Girl
- American Idol, Season 11
- Sometimes PBB Unlimited amuses me.
- I tried catching up with the coverage of the impeachment trial.
- Enchong Dee's soap

2. I read:
- Mockingjay

3. I listened to this music a lot:
- Someone Like You by Adele

4. I received/I gave:
- Cake for my aunt.
- Potluck during the small family get-together at my FIL's place.
- I received a lot of cakes this month.
- Baby feeding set for my husband's godchild.

5. I bought:
- My gym outfits - cycling shorts and bottoms.
- A lot of food.
- Refurbished my eyeglass and my daughter's.

6. I savor these memorable days of the month:
- 15th wedding anniversary of husband and I.
- My sister's birthday.
- Get-together during my my aunt's birthday celebration.
- Family get-together at my FIL's place.
- PTC at my daughter's school which was really rewarding.
- My daughter's first duty at the church's evangelical mission.
- First time to attend an evangelical mission at the church for both my daughter and I.

7. Bonding time with family and friends:
- Lunch date with my friends at Yakimix.
- Customary Jan 1 get together at my father in law's house.
- Attending the reception of my husband's god child.
- Going to my aunt's house to celebrate her 61st birthday.
- Dinner at Stacy's with my family.
- Lunch with my daughter at Shakey's.

8. Restaurants I visited (with family and friends)/Food I love:
- Buffet at Yakimix. I love the Korean BBQ.
- Dinner at Stacy's. Wheat bread which comes along with shrimp scampi is good!
- Lunch with my daughter at Shakey's.
- Fry and Pop, sour cream variant.

9. Accomplishments:
- I managed to organize very important work-related documents which serve as my references for the time being. I have now ease in using important files.
- I lost 2 lbs from the holiday binge.

10. New/routine workout I enjoyed doing:
- Religiously attending Body Pump and Body Combat.
- Surprisingly I am again enjoying Body Balance and Gentle Flow.

11. For the first time:
- My daughter's suitor came to the house, handed me a cake and greeted me a belated Happy New Year. Oh geez. There are a number of boys who has a crush on my daughter. Once one of them went to the house but we were not here but this is the first time that a boy actually goes to the house and stays for several hours. My 13 year old daughter has a persistent suitor.

- Attended our church's evangelical mission with my daughter.

12. My feel good moments:
- My daughter's 3rd quarter grades significantly improved. She's already in the top 4. Her adviser's very good feedback on her - that she's one of the star pupils.
- My daughter represented their class in two essay writing contests in school.
- Seeing my daughter bond with her friends here at home.
- Opportunities presented themselves to me.
- Being able to give time to blog again. Also diligently update my Project 365 blog.
- Mom and Pop's phone calls.
- Get together with the relatives.
- Dinner with the family.
- New outfits for daughter and me :)
- Daughter's new hairstyle.
- My red toenails.
- My haircut!

I am holding on to a dream I had on the first day of the year 2012. It's a dream I never had for so many years. The feeling was fantastic! I feel good about it. Whenever I feel down, I try to think about it. I know my dreams tell me about what's going on and what is happening. It may be one of God's signs to me. I am definitely having a breakthrough year on 2012!

This year 2012 I declared it My Breakthrough Year and A Year of Giving (from me). When I say breakthrough, I mean going up the next level, achieving things and dreams I am just so excited about and being where I want to be, God willing. At this point, a month after 2012, I'm fervently working on them and praying hard for their realization.

When I say giving, they need not be big but I am also speaking about small gestures of kindness which is a part of my goal to be a better person. So far, I'm able to wholeheartedly do this. :)

Resolution for January:
I choose to keep the faith. God has always been with me. I will only give room for hard work, a prayerful heart with high hopes and great expectancy.

Have I been faithful in that resolution? 95%, yes!


Note:  My resolutions don't just start or end on a specific date. I do them continuously as part of my Be the Best Person I Can Be Project. :)  I just highlight each monthly for focus.

Stacy's, Capitol Greenstreet

We just had a long weekend in the Philippines, the first for the year, because of the Chinese New Year which fell on a Monday. The family attended two events on Sunday, a christening and my aunt's birthday, so our scheduled dinner on a Sunday was put off for Monday night. I urged them to try Stacy's.

I have read about Stacy's and recently, one of the celebrities I follow in Twitter and Facebook had their picture taken at the restaurant. It is such a dainty restaurant. If you are familiar with Sonja at Bonifacio High Street, it's like a bigger version of it. I researched some more and found out prices are very reasonable and menu is actually a mix of Filipino, American, and Italian dishes. And they have cakes! :)

This if for free. A cup of marshmallows, popcorn, and pink pretzels. I love the cup. I hope they give it away. Or peg for a certain amount, as long as it's reasonable, I'd take it.


Share popcorn while waiting for the food to be served.
My daughter ordered Homebaked Chicken Parmesan which she devoured up to the last piece. She loves food with cheese generally.


Home Baked Chicken Parmesan, P215
She partnered it with hot choco. Hot drinks come with a cookie I suppose because my husband's coffee has one too.


Hot Chocolate with Marshmallows, P95
I do not take rice often so I settled for the Spicy Lemon Shrimp Scampi which comes with a soft wheat bread with garlic and butter spread. I love it! I also like it that the food server asked me if I do not like my scampi spicy. It's as if she read my mind. I do not like spicy foods. I was about to say to just make it mild.


Spicy Lemon Shrimp Scampi, P215
My husband had Mobster's Meal which has sausage and a mix of stir fried vegetables. This one's really spicy. By the way, the rice is molded in a heart shape. Nice.


Mobster's Meal, P215
For dessert I ordered Devil's Cake. I love the chocolate filling with chocolate bits.


Devil's Cake, P125
My husband ordered Cafe Americano which perfectly matches the cake we shared. My daughter really has no sweet tooth so it's only husband and I which consumed the cake. Good thing. :)


Cafe Americano, P80
Oh yes, the change comes with butter ball. I do not see butter ball in the grocery. I thought this is phased out a long time ago. :)


I love the interior of the restaurant. My husband loves it too as he is so fond of the 50s. It looks cozy, dainty and just so much fun.

Cuteness!


I love the pink ref!

Us :)
We're going to visit this restaurant frequently. It's just a short distance drive from our home. :)


Stacy's
Capitol Greenstreet Commercial Center,
1 Capitol Hills Drive, Quezon City

***More food sharing at Picture Clusters and Food Trip Friday.

The Hunger Games Trilogy

I am officially missing Katniss, Peeta and Gale. Even Cinna.

I finished Mockingjay yesterday, the final chapter of The Hunger Games Trilogy (written by Suzanne Collins). I know these books since they were released, from 2008 for the first book, 2009 for Catching Fire and around August of 2010 for the last book. Obviously I have not paid much attention to them until last December when my daughter wanted the books.

There were no single issue of The Hunger Games but they come in threes already. I bought the whole set for my daughter. I started reading it too. I got hooked.

Yes, this book is classified under the Young Adult (YA) category, roughly from age 14 to 21. But a middle-aged woman like me still loves this particular trilogy.

Why do I like it? Let me see. My thoughts are racing why I like these books so much I need to organize them.

1. Characters:
Katniss Everdeen's character is very interesting for someone her age who lived through poor conditions in a post-apocalyptic world. With a sister to take care of, a mother who seemed to withdraw from the world when their father died and an ugly cat who's another border in their house - she's both strong and vulnerable.

She poaches, she hunts, she trades in a black market, she manages her feelings for a certain boy. Stubborn, strong-willed for a 16 year old girl. She doesn't always make the best decisions but always manages to hold on and stand by her words and actions.

I am glad to note the writer did not make her a superwoman nor someone too pure and great but someone who shows her vulnerability, picks up where she messed up, plans another course of action, and do it.

The boys are there of course. I like Peeta Mellark for his being honest that it hurts. He bakes too! And paints and knows what to say and what not to say which makes him someone to lean on in times of distress. He's someone you look for when things are getting so chaotic.

Gale Hawthorne is the hunter, strong, good looking, fighter with almost the same family background as Katniss. I love his character in the way that he loves Katniss but not lovelorn. He lets go of the woman he loves knowing he is not the one she needs to survive. This he did with no drama. Letting go and moving on.

2. Setting:
As always, in every book I read, the setting plays a major part in my imagination. I get all the more enticed to read the book with how I imagine how the characters live and move in their houses, in their buildings or wherever they may be. In this case, in the arena where the hunger games are held. I cannot wait to see the Cornucopia in the movie version. How does the Capitol look like? The other districts? The whole of Panem?

3. Plot:
It's the plot where I got so really engrossed which also made me wonder why it's under YA category. The Hunger Games and later on in Mockingjay, Quarter Quell, leave nothing to your imagination the way battles are described. Your mind will see how it is happening. I mean it's very graphic your heart will race as to how this will end.

That's the reason why it's hard for me to put the books down especially reading towards the last part of Mockingjay. How on earth will this end? It's like there is always a cliffhanger. The author is very good at that.

For Catching Fire and Mockingjay, I can't seem to guess how they will end the story because the pages are thinning already but the story still does not suggest what is going to happen. As a reader, and I'm talking about myself here, I get to foresee or at least imagine how the story will flow. But with the two books I've mentioned, I was really waiting how they will hack it so to speak. In some books that I read somehow I know "oh it's bound to happen" (like Dan Brown books). But The Hunger Games trilogy excites me in this way, what will they do next?

Oh dear, I cannot wait to see the movie version of The Hunger Games. It's on March 2012. I love the preview.


I am not really keen on post-apocalyptic movies or television shows that's why I am surprised I love The Walking Dead and The Hunger Games. Well, pleasantly surprised. :)

Yes I'm Doing It Again

I'm just so excited about the new year. Well, a different kind of excitement this time. I am just savoring the feeling. I am starting on a lot of things this year. May God be with me in all my endeavors. I know He is with me as I have been praying all this time. I am doing my best but I trust in God to lead the way. May God's will be done for His plans and perfect timing are always the best.

Anyway, on the blogging front, I have revived my Life Bliss Daily. Yes, I am doing it again. :) I love, love the template. It's just so happy. I tried recalling since last night what was that site which gives cute, dainty free blogger templates. I was just glad to see the link this morning in my inactive blog.

My dilemma is how do I make a distinction between this blog, and the Life Bliss Daily blog. Oh I will know it. My Life Bliss Daily Blog are are mostly picture (or pictures) which highlight my day or my thoughts. And this blog will still be about sharing my life's bliss the way I'm dong it. :)

Here's a screen shot of my Life Bliss Daily blog. This is where I will post pictures on a daily basis of what I consider to be the highlight of my day or anything at all which captures my emotions, my thoughts, Life Bliss Project 365.

WELCOME 2012! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I woke up early to prepare the food and other things we need to celebrate NEW YEAR'S EVE. The new year always, always excites me!

It will get so busy as the day progresses so let me just make a quick but sincere and really excited and happy greeting here in my blog. :)

Thank You, God, for all the blessings of 2011. Lessons learned, experiences gained, loved with all my heart, happiness earned. Life well lived. I am looking forward to another wonderful year. Thank You for providing me great family and friends I can count on.

Welcome 2012! Cheers! God, let the good times roll! Thank You! I'm looking forward to my breakthrough year this 2012! :)

I wish everyone a truly fulfilling and happy 2012! A peaceful and joyful year ahead of us. May all the desires of our hearts come true according to God's will.

God bless!

*Image from this website: Photoming.

Yabu, The House of Katsu

I met with my two college best friends yesterday afternoon after my business in one of the offices in Ortigas. I was really looking forward to this day because I haven't been with my friends for several months now. We have been so busy for the past months...well, throughout the year, that we cannot find a date when the three of us are available. The last time I met with one of them was around April this year.

This meet-up has in fact been postponed I think twice already. We've talked about this since mid-November and finally it pushed through, thanks to the holiday break. :) We were supposed to go to Serendra but I suggested we try Yabu, The House of Katsu. I have been reading a lot of good reviews about this restaurant - from the warm ambiance to the good service and the great food. Also, I have not been to SM Megamall's Atrium for a looooong time.

I must say I like the interior of the restaurant. I like the soft, warm light which gives some touch of intimacy among groups of diners but it does not make you feel stiff and too business-like. It's cozy-laid back as a matter of fact. I like the murals on the left side of the dining area - kind of cartoonish focusing on Japanese characters and katsu. Next time I will take pictures of the mural as well as the facade.

The service is prompt too. Someone hurriedly went up to me smiling just as I was about to enter the restaurant. This gave me the feeling of being so welcome as a special guest. We didn't have to wait long for our food. Maybe it's only about 5 minutes. The food servers are also very polite and fast.


I have been eating katsu dishes for years but I don't exactly know what it means. I know the food is breaded and fried which are also two descriptions I find in Google. It also said katsu is a shortcut of katsuretsu which means cutlet.

Katsu sets all come with miso soup, shredded cabbage, about three slices of fruits (watermelon and pineapple). Katsu sauce will also be served where you can dip your pork or chicken cutlets - toasted sesame seeds to mix with katsu sauce. I must say the chicken katsu can stand by itself even without the katsu sauce.


My friend ordered chicken katsu. I tried it and boy, it's soooo tender. Next time this is what I will order. I love the Japanese rice too - sticky, soft and chewy.


Chicken Katsu, 190 g, about P250 (I missed the exact price)
The other friend ordered Rosu Katsu Curry Set. I am not into curry so I passed on this.


Rosu Katsu Curry Set, P295
I ordered Rosu Katsudon which is very tasty. I love eggs so I love that this is covered with lightly scrambled eggs.


Rosu Katsudon, P265
All the servings are quite huge for one person. Is it value for money? I must say it is. So far, it's the most tender meat cutlets I have ever tasted. Pork and chicken are covered with panko (Japanese bread crumbs) which make the meat really crispy but very tender and juicy once you have taken a bite of them.

I will definitely go back here with my family even if it's far from our house. It's that good.

Great place, great food, great friends - I am very grateful about all these. :)


To my friends, thank you for the gift of friendship. :) I love you, girls!


***More food sharing at Picture Clusters and Food Trip Friday.