It's been 3 years.
9 years ago
Sunday, January 31, 2010
i came across making bento this week and i am hooked! maybe because it combined two of my favorite things... that is, art and food. :) an added plus is it's japanese-inspired! yep, i love japanese food! dunno how to make them, but i definitely know how to eat it. hehe. i am however, up to the challenge. ;)
i was off to Daiso this Saturday and just went gaga with all the bento gadgets available. too bad, they don't have the collapsible sandwich box mentioned in other bento sites. here are the stuff that i was able to get. i actually have to restrict myself to the basics. siguro, bili na lang ulet kapag successful bento'nian na 'ko. haha.
i was off to Daiso this Saturday and just went gaga with all the bento gadgets available. too bad, they don't have the collapsible sandwich box mentioned in other bento sites. here are the stuff that i was able to get. i actually have to restrict myself to the basics. siguro, bili na lang ulet kapag successful bento'nian na 'ko. haha.
the bento boxes
cutters and punchers
the rice molds
shaped-sauce containers
another set of sauce containers
the silicon dividers and plastic picks
for the finale, here's my first bento lunchbox. theme is about family. i have 3 odd-shaped rice molds to represent daddy, mommy and baby. a big heart-shaped rice mold to represent big love. ;) all of these are resting on a bed of lettuce with mayo on the side . the second layer contains the viand and the desserts. chopped chicken nuggets and chicken adobo strips as viands and kiwi and strawberry for fruits. verdict: kulang!!! hahahaha. next week, i'll prepare more. lol.
bento'inks no. 1
Thursday, January 28, 2010
we were supposed to go with the Photobumbong folks tomorrow for the Al Ain Airshow but i suddenly changed my mind. ang lamig kasi sa city ngayon. for sure, mas malamig dun eh kakagaling lang ni lance sa sipon at ubo. he would enjoy watching the planes and all but if he'll catch colds again after that, baka ma-guilty lang ako. saka sobrang aga...goodluck na lang kung magising si lance ng ganun kaaga. hehe.
anyway... browse-browse ako ngayon sa net at may bago akong gustong gawin!!! hahaha. bento-making??!!! from what i understand, it's the art of making art at your lunchbox (redundant ba? lol)... ang galing grabe. aside from fan ako ng japanese food, just looking at it kung baon mo siya sa office, parang makaka-tanggal ng stress. =) seeing those smiling goodies at you. truly uplifting!
backtrack --- ewan ko nga kanina sa office, the whole day... hindi naman ako in-asar-talo ng amo ko, pero ang tamad-tamad ko at antok na antok talaga ako the whole day. the day just got better pag-uwi ko when i took a nap and woke up an hour after kasi kiss ng kiss si lance. hehe. pero kung bento box siguro ang baon ko, baka tanggal bad day ko in a flash. hahaha.
heto nga pala ilang sites ng bento:
http://www.kitchencow.com/category/bento/
http://lunchinabox.net/
yun lang.. sharing lang. i suddenly missed my hello kitty chopsticks. sana hindi pa na-arbor nina IA at Raizza. i'm gonna take them with me pag-uwi namin. makapunta nga ng Daiso this weekend. ngahaha. hopefully, when lance starts schooling, i'll be a certified-bento maker. hihi.
anyway... browse-browse ako ngayon sa net at may bago akong gustong gawin!!! hahaha. bento-making??!!! from what i understand, it's the art of making art at your lunchbox (redundant ba? lol)... ang galing grabe. aside from fan ako ng japanese food, just looking at it kung baon mo siya sa office, parang makaka-tanggal ng stress. =) seeing those smiling goodies at you. truly uplifting!
backtrack --- ewan ko nga kanina sa office, the whole day... hindi naman ako in-asar-talo ng amo ko, pero ang tamad-tamad ko at antok na antok talaga ako the whole day. the day just got better pag-uwi ko when i took a nap and woke up an hour after kasi kiss ng kiss si lance. hehe. pero kung bento box siguro ang baon ko, baka tanggal bad day ko in a flash. hahaha.
heto nga pala ilang sites ng bento:
http://www.kitchencow.com/
http://lunchinabox.net/
yun lang.. sharing lang. i suddenly missed my hello kitty chopsticks. sana hindi pa na-arbor nina IA at Raizza. i'm gonna take them with me pag-uwi namin. makapunta nga ng Daiso this weekend. ngahaha. hopefully, when lance starts schooling, i'll be a certified-bento maker. hihi.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
we are due to make our inital entry sometime on 3rd quarter of this year. just the thought of it is exciting and frightening at the same time. i'm excited because i'll be finally setting foot on the land that i have always dreamed of. frightening because i do not know what's at stake.
it is good that i am going there with my son and husband. however, planning that entry is quite difficult actually. this is because me and lance are continents apart from his dad. hehe. ang hirap mag-plano! airfare palang, pamatay na sa budget. =(
anyway, we have 3 options to choose from. the decision hasn't been reached yet. there are more things to do and plan for prior to that. so far, here's what we have in mind arranged in an order from cheapest to the most dreadfully expensive: lol.
it is good that i am going there with my son and husband. however, planning that entry is quite difficult actually. this is because me and lance are continents apart from his dad. hehe. ang hirap mag-plano! airfare palang, pamatay na sa budget. =(
anyway, we have 3 options to choose from. the decision hasn't been reached yet. there are more things to do and plan for prior to that. so far, here's what we have in mind arranged in an order from cheapest to the most dreadfully expensive: lol.
Plan A
(Will go to Oz for 1 week) March 24 to March 31 ?
March because as per airline websites' April is a peak season. no idea why.. hehe. where in Australia? could be in Perth so we'll be familiar about the situation there. could also be in Brisbane. because as per my aussie officemate's story, this is where the theme parks are. i'm sure, lance will love it here in lieue of the HK trip that i think we need to remove from the plan.
Marvin - takes local flight to Oz (via Qantas Airways) = 30,000 pesos = 3,000 aed
- takes Oz to UAE with Mai & Lance (via Sg airlines) = 3,000-3,500 aed
Mai & Lance - takes roundtrip ticket UAE-Brisbane-UAE (via Sg airlines) = 8,500-9,000 aed
- me and lance should arrive early in Oz than Marvin
Max total airfare involve = 15,000aed
Disadvantage -- napakatagal ng stop-over sa Sg!!!! halos 10 to 12 hours!!!
Plan B
the family will meet in HK, then go to Oz, then to UAE.
March 24-March 30 in HK
March 30-April 7 in Oz
Mai & Lance - flies via Cathay UAE-HK-Oz-UAE = 8,000-10,000 aed
Marvin - flies local flight to HK = 1,000 aed?
- flies HK to Oz to UAE with Mai & Lance via Cathay... = 16,000 aed
BUT kung Mla-Hk-Oz-UAE = 11,000aed (ang weird noh? mas mura pa, hehe)
Max. total airfare involve = 21,000aed
Advantage = Magkakasama kami sa Hk to Oz and Oz to DXB flight. that is, if i will be able to book and arrange everything on time.
Plan C
the family will meet in HK, then off to Oz after. after a week, then Mai and Lance go back to UAE and Marvin stays in Oz.
March 24-March 30 in HK
March 30-April 7 in Oz
Mai & Lance - flies via Cathay UAE-HK-Oz-UAE = 8,000-10,000 aed
Marvin - flies ia Cathay Mla-Hk-Oz = 11,000aed
Max. total airfare involve = 21,000aed
Another advantage: Marvin can stay behind and look for work in Oz. hopefully, i will be able to arrange an accommodation to his trip. thanks to my forum friend, Anavy who's also due to make their big move same as us.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
i have forgotten from whom i owe this recipe from. probably from one of my GT sisters? i dunno. anyway, thank you so much. you are very generous to share this recipe eventhough this is your business recipe. mwah!
ingredients:
1 1/2 stick butter
2 tablespoon lard/oil
3/4 cup cocoa powder
2-3 tablespoons semi-bitter chocolate chips
1-2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 cup flour
2-3 tablespoons white chocolate chips or flakes
directions:
- heat the butter and oil in a saucepan until melted.
- add the sifted cocoa powder and place in the butter-oil mixture. heat until melted but make sure to mix continuously so as not to burn it. remove from the heat source.
- add in the chocolate chip and stir in until melted.
- add the vanilla and sugar.
- add the eggs one at a time. make sure to add an egg only after the mixture is fully incorporated.
- add in the flour and the chocolate chip. do not over-mix to avoid making it aerated (not unless you want it to turn into a cake, hehe).
- spread in a greased and lined baking sheet and bake for 18 to 22 minutes at 350 deg F (warning: do not overbake!).
- cool and cut into squares.
notes (why i love this recipe):
- sobrang gooey nung outcome! this is what i like in brownies.. yung makunat-kunat. hehe.
- i mix this manually. wooden spoon nga lang gamit ko eh! hehe. kasi kapag electrical mixer andun yung tendency na maging aerated siya.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
fresh lumpia has been the family's favorite dish which my mother and my auntie baby make superbly. here in the UAE, i have more or less lived up to the family's standards when making this dish. i made this for the new year (hooray 2010!) and the preparation time was around 3 hours. the sauteed veggies were prepared ordinarily. however, the sauce - which is hit or miss factor which i usually hit. :) my recipe is listed below. take note that i do not measure the vegetable part because i cook with tantiyahan. hehe. but normally, i make sure that i have ample quantity of carrots because it gives color to the mixture. also, it is important to have as much sweet potato because it gives the sweet contrast to the salty sauce.
as for the sauce, i listed the measurement that i use. this is a no-fail proportion. so, be sure to use those measuring cups and spoons! =)
ingredients:
for the lumpia:
cooking oil
finely minced garlic
finely chopped onion
ground pork
shelled and chopped shrimps
chicken/vegetable stock
string beans, julienned
carrots, julienned
cabbage, julienned
singkamas (turnip), julienned
sweet potato, boiled and cubed
celery (optional)
dash of salt and pepper for seasoning
for the sauce:
1 cup sugar
4 cups water
6 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 6 tablespoons of water
finely minced garlic
toasted peanuts, pounded
a dash of pepper for seasoning
extra ingredients needed:
lumpia wrapper (nope, i do not make one! hello, ayoko nang pahirapan sarili ko noh!)
lettuce
directions:
to make the lumpia:
as for the sauce, i listed the measurement that i use. this is a no-fail proportion. so, be sure to use those measuring cups and spoons! =)
ingredients:
for the lumpia:
cooking oil
finely minced garlic
finely chopped onion
ground pork
shelled and chopped shrimps
chicken/vegetable stock
string beans, julienned
carrots, julienned
cabbage, julienned
singkamas (turnip), julienned
sweet potato, boiled and cubed
celery (optional)
dash of salt and pepper for seasoning
for the sauce:
1 cup sugar
4 cups water
6 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cornstarch dissolved in 6 tablespoons of water
finely minced garlic
toasted peanuts, pounded
a dash of pepper for seasoning
extra ingredients needed:
lumpia wrapper (nope, i do not make one! hello, ayoko nang pahirapan sarili ko noh!)
lettuce
directions:
to make the lumpia:
- brown the ground pork in adequate amount of cooking oil over medium fire.
- set aside the browned meat in one side of the pan and sautee the garlic and onion, then combine with the pork.
- add the shrimps until it turned into orangy-white color.
- add chicken/vegetable stock. the amount needed to steam the vegetables later on.
- add the string beans, carrots, turnip, cabbage and the sweet potatoes in this order. make sure to cook in low to medium fire at this stage. allow only a minute or two of interval between these ingredients. cover the pan but ensure that the vegetables are cooked still crispy altogether. please lang, do not over cook! not only does you lose the vitamins in the veggies, you also lose the pleasure of biting into a crunchy delight. hindi masarap ang lumpiang hindi na fresh. hehe.
- season with salt and pepper to taste.
- place the sugar in a sauce pan and dissolve in the water. heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- add the soysauce and salt. heat and stir.
- add the mixed cornstarch (with water). heat until the mixture becomes thick.
- add in the garlic and ground peanut.
- season with a dash of pepper.
- let the sauce simmer while stirring constantly. remove from heat once the garlic and peanut flavor are mixed with the thickened sauce.
- lay the lumpia wrapper in a plate.
- place the lettuce on one end with a portion outside the wrapper.
- spoon some cooked and drained lumpia over the lettuce-wrapper portion.
- seal in by turning the ingredients wrapped with the lumpia wrapper.
- put the prepared roll on aplate and spread the sauce over.
;;
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