Kris Aquino Launches 'The Greatest Love' Album on ASAP

Yesterday I and hubby were just at the house, taking it easy, he was at the computer while i was watching my favorite TFC channel. Kris Aquino was one of the guest at ASAP program and she was launching "The Greatest Album" her tribute to her Mom former President Cory Aquino who is suffering from colon cancer. The proceed of this she said is for the charity of her Mom. I really admire her mother for her courage. I remember when she was campaining for her Presidency we were there supporting her. From campaign 'til she seats as President. For those who do not know Kris Aquino's Mom, she is the First Filipina President of the Philippines. I will post here a video clip for the readers. Enjoy watching....

HUMBA

The weather is cold, and the sky here in my place is gloomy. Seems it will rain. I know it is already fall- this weather is just like December in the Philippines. When it is cold you will feel lazy to go out and you will just love the comfort of your bedroom. I remember that i and other members of our family would stay at home and we gather at our small living room watching tv, singing in with our karaoke, playing scrabble, poker, chess, sungka and my mother would cook the food for us. Back home my father used to cook our favorite dish "HUMBA" this is a pork with lots of fats. I really love this dish especially if the meat is so tender, wow, i could eat much mixing the fats with hot rice, "uummm sarap". When i get out of the table huh, i could not walk anymore belly being full, then my brods and sis would tease me, you walk like a buddha he he he....NOW since i am not working yet i looked at my recipe book which i brought from my country, i'll try to cooking this dish for my Italian hubby. I just hope that he will appreciate our Filipino food although he eats our favorite rice noodles "pancit". While we know that Italians are more into pasta i'll let him taste it. wooosshhh, i'll just imagine he will like it too...I like their food too but i miss my native dish. I will share with you my recipe:
ingredients :
1 k. pork liempo with fats cut into big cubes
1/2 cup peanuts
1/2 head garlic, crushed
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
5 tbsp. brown sugar or
5 pcs. bay leaf
1 tsp. black pepper, crushed
salt

procedure:
1. In a pot put a little banana leaves or if you don’t have pot just in a thick sauce pan put all ingredients add enough water to cover meat and bring to a boil.
2. Set heat to medium low and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until meat is tender.
3. Remove all scum that rises, add more water if necessary.
4. When pork skin turns to gelatine like texture. Add the peanuts.
5.Taste if saltiness and sweetness are even, set heat to low and continue to simmer until all the liquid has evaporated and pork start to have fat.
6. Now cook the pork on its own fat until brown on low heat . Add a little oil stir occasionally to avoid burning the bottom. If the meat is already tender take it off from fire. Serve hot….

Enjoy……

Leche Flan

Ingredients:
1 can (390g) evaporated milk
1 can (390g) condensed milk
10 egg yolks
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract or lemon essence
For the caramel:
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
Cooking Instructions:
In a saucepan, mix the sugar & water. Bring to a boil for a few minutes until the sugar caramelize.
Pour the caramelized sugar into aluminum moulds - you can use any shape: oval, round or square. Spread the caramel on the bottom of the moulds.
Mix well the evaporated milk, condensed milk, egg yolks and vanilla by hand or blender.
Gently pour the mixture on top of the caramel on the aluminum moulds. Fill the moulds to about 1 to 1 1/4 inch thick.
Cover moulds individually with aluminum foil.
Steam for about 20 minutes OR
Bake for about 45 minutes. Before baking the Leche Flan, place the moulds on a larger baking pan half filled with very hot water. Pre-heat oven to about 370 degrees before baking.
Let cool then refrigerate.
To serve: run a thin knife around the edges of the mould to loosen the Leche Flan. Place a platter on top of the mould and quickly turn upside down to position the golden brown caramel on top.
Cooking Tips:
You can tell when the Leche Flan is cooked by inserting a clean toothpick -if it comes out clean, it is cooked.

Christmas Countdown in the Philippines and how they celebrate the occassion

Christmas is the most awaited season in Philippines. It is the happiest time for the Filipinos. We had Christmas parties & family reunions. Exchanging gifts and food galor. Christmas Bonuses given by the employers. Isn’t that exciting!

As soon as September 1 hits the calendar, we call it the start of “ber months” meaning September to December. Philippines, is known to have the longest celebration of Christmas. Malls and department stores started dressing their place outside or even inside in the hall you will see Santas and tall Christmas trees with lights and other christmas decor. If you are at the mall you will never get sad looking those sights and you will sigh ah... Christmas is here again.
Inside the mall they have the booths full of items they sell, such as different Christmas decors , Christmas lights, Christmas trees of different sizes, wrappers, Christmas songs in cd’s and tape or even gifts items.
Homes are decorated too.Santa's dancing, deers and they put lights in it too. Some houses have Christmas lights in and out or sometimes in their trees in the gardens. In the evening when they light it up, wow.
And the church were adorned too with lights, lantern and they highlight the Holy family being the symbol of our catholic faith.
In the streets and radio stations will hear Christmas Carols being played.
People are making Christmas list and some has already started shopping for bargains in Tiangge’s, Divisoria and other Christmas Bazaars.

For Filipinos in the US, or in other parts of the world not only they send money the also start shopping and sending balikbayan boxes to families back in the Philippines. This has become a major part of our lifestyle. Those who have children, parents or siblings left in the Philippines send boxes regularly, either on a monthly or quarterly basis. But, at Christmas time, many FilAms double their usual padala, adding special gifts and holiday treats to the usual staple items. The top 15 items that Pinoys usually send back home are: 1) Spam, 2) Hereford Corned Beef, 3) Centrum Multi-vitamins, 4) Chocolates (top on everyone’s list: Hershey’s, Kisses, Ferrero Rocher, M&Ms, Nestle Crunch, Cadbury & Toblerone), 5. Bath soaps (Dove, Ivory, & Irish Spring are the preferred brands), 6. Shampoo & Conditioner (Pantene, followed by Head & Shoulders, Neutrogena, & Kirkland ), 7) Colgate toothpaste, 8) Coffee (Folgers,Taster’s Choice and Maxwell are favorite brands) and hot chocolate drinks (Swiss Miss and Nestle), 9) Quaker Oatmeal and Breakfast Cereals (Corn Flakes, Frosted Flakes and Choco Puffs), 10. Cookies (Famous Amos, Oreos, and Chips Ahoy), and Chips (Pringles, Doritos and Nachos), 11) T shirts, 12.Towels, 13) Bath and Body Works and Victoria Secret products, 14) Rubber Shoes (Nike is the preferred brand), and 15) Sugar Other items such colognes, pants, flip-flops, sandals,shoes, bags, wallets, and magazines. We make it sure that there is a gift for everyone in the family –sa lahat ng pamangkin, pinsan, katulong etc.,” “For us we feel better if we could share and it’s not really just the gift that our family treasure, it’s the thought that think that you remembered them and took the time to shop and send Christmas gifts to them. That’s what it really counts.” Balikbayan boxes are not just filled with goods, they’re filled with love, affection and devotion.


The weather has started to feel a little cooler. Days are becoming shorter and nights are getting longer. Sometimes you don’t want to get up from bed because of its cool weather.December 16, children will start singing Christmas carols in front houses, in the cars, or even in the streets when the jeepneys and buses stop. When they are finished singing, people will give them some coins and sometimes they receive bills from generous people.
Simbang gabi as we call it or evening mass (9 days novena in commemoration with Child Jesus birth) is held at the church from December 16 to 24. Outside the church or along the streets you will see people selling “Puto Bumbong & Bibingka".
And at midnight December 24 after the church it is the tradition of the Filipino family to gather in their living room open their gifts, saying Merry Christmas to each other, calling friends to greet Merry Christmas and hug each other then go to the table, together they would pray for thanksgiving and eat or share whatever food they prepare for the occasion. In the morning children are excited to visit their God parents, kiss the hands and greet Merry Christmas and get their gifts either money or in kind. There are stories that Philippines celebrate their Christmas merrily not like in other countries. Writing this, make me feel homesick, on the verge of tears as i miss happy memories when i was there; since this is my first Christmas away from my family in the Philippines. To the Filipino they really value the family being together on this season even though they suffer financial crisis for as long as they are intact and the members are around they are happy sharing what they have. For me being away from them i have to keep strong for i know this is my new life together with my husband i would just pray that i would be with my sons sooner.

Autumn or Fall

Summer is out and yesterday was the official start of the Fall Season here in United States.
It is the period between summer and winter season in which the transition of warm
weather to cold took place. According to the stories it is in this season, that tourists and locals travel to the United States just to witness the spectacular display of this nature’s beauty and
since this is my first time here i the US I would like to witness it myself.

Simple Message from the Priest Moments Corner

Sorry friends I was not able to post a blog for quite a long time . Got sick and have to rest for a while. And while I am laying on the couch I turn on the TV, while searching the channels I happen to open the TFC channel. And I happen to watch Father Jerry Orbos message at his moment portion. His message was this whoever you are and wherever you are if you are watching this channel my wish for you this Christmas is maraming pera(more money) Magandang pangangatawan( good health)and sana buhay ka pa(hope that you are still alive). It was a simple message but I was touch. You know why as he explained it ; you are working too hard that you sometimes neglect your health that you forgot the quality of life that you had. Yep, he is right sometimes when we work too hard we forget to eat and lack sleep that cause us to have poor health and what do we expect with our short life and because of this we regret in the end that we did not have time for ourself and before we know it, it’s too late, the damage had been done….. This is just a reminder for those people that we love and dear to us…..

My Memorable Weekend

I AM HERE


Wow….. Shopping , this is my favorite! Speaking of shopping last Sunday I and my hubby went to Kohls Department store located in Porchester, a place part of New York.. I’ve never been there since I came to US and as part of his weekends treat for me we visited the place to see what I could buy in there for myself.I was fascinated by the items they sell and alas I come to love this cute hat and scarf.


See me modeling it and let my hubby take the picture which he did.
HHHmmm,,, this is just a secret I modeled it to show my hubby so he would approved if I ask him to buy me one. And true enough he approved it he he he. . Not a good pose though, my husband seems in a hurry....
Then we went to the flea market where i buy this one
at a Filipino stall, the owner was a Filipina from Zambales. I forgot her name as it is just a quick introduction. At least i was able to practice my tagalog language he he he. When we feel hungry we stop by this place which was located in Mamaroneck, NY, place is good and look at me i am so thirsty that my eyes are big when my hubby take this shot, My God...after drinking i was relieved that i pose like this feeling cute(kuno). When i get hold of the camera i snap a shot of my husband there he was.... this is my way of thanking him for being a good host for me he he he.....What a good weekend for me...