Summer Road Trip 2013

Also found some pictures from our summer road trip to Idaho last year. Some pictures were taken by my little photographer Leila.

First stop was in Cranbrook, BC.

Somebody enjoyed taking pictures :D

Welcome to Silverwood Theme Park!

Boulder Beach

M O N T A N A

I needed this trip so bad after mom's sudden passing. It was a wonderful trip despite the timing and the kids had so much fun, that itself made this trip all the more memorable.

'Til our next road trip :D

Long Lost Food Pix

So I have unearthed some food pictures from my camera, let's see if I still remember what they are and I'll try my best to describe them.

spaghetti with butter and grated parmesan

My kids love spaghetti however they like the sauce plain meaning no meat or veggies. They tend to sift through the sauce leaving bits and pieces on their plate. During our vacation in New Jersey few summers ago they saw their cousin Tristen eat her pasta this way. It also reminded me of my dad who used to eat spaghetti with only parmesan on it so I tried it with the kids and surprisingly, they loved it! I love it too as it is so easy to prepare, I do eat it too except I put some garlic powder on mine.

honey garlic wings

pizza

We were addicted for awhile on honey garlic wings and pizza which we normally have during movie night. We would rent a movie and literally pig out. We haven't done this in awhile, the movie yes but not the wings and pizza (ugh!)

mixed seafood

Frozen mixed seafood in a bag cooked in canned tomatoes. A little like paella but my lazy and short cut version. Don't forget to enjoy it with fish sauce!

steamed bok choy

Hubby cooked this one. I have requested this again and again and he still hasn't cooked it. I don't know how he did it but it was delicious, so flavorful and had a nice crunch from the bok choy.

Pinakbet

Hubby's favorite pinakbet! I cook this probably once a month so I'm guessing I've already posted this one already. I'm gonna try this bulanglang recipe next time.

grilled beef and veggies

If there's one thing I don't mind cooking everyday it's gotta be steak. I am no expert on steak cooking nor do we buy the expensive steak cuts but I love experimenting on marinades. The one on the picture looks like store bought dry rub. I also found this grilled korean marinated flap steaks recipe from Pinterest which is definitely a keeper!

pork asado

I remember liking this dish when I was little. We always eat it at Goldilocks every time we go to Manila. This and their lechon kawali. I have never learned how to cook it though. While I have attempted cooking it before it was never successful until I tried this pork asado recipe. I tweaked the recipe to my taste, more five spice powder I think.

chopsuey

This vegetable dish has become our recent favorite. I have cooked it more than five times since December. I like to change the veggies every time I cook this just so we won't get sick of eating it. The quail eggs are a must! Thank goodness for canned quail eggs :D

Shrimps in pineapple juice

I rarely cook shrimps but when I do there's always a chance nothing's left for me. My friend taught me this recipe. I eyeballed it though (pineapple juice, brown sugar and soy sauce). I have posted this previously.

grilled shrimp

I forgot the exact marinade I used for these shrimps. Pretty sure there's lemon and soy sauce in there :D

crispy smelts

Leila goes crazy over these crispy smelts. She can eat a ton with lots of rice too. Lance is another story, as much as he loves fish he only wants tilapia. He doesn't like eating the bones and tails of these smelts (tsk tsk!)

pork in mango curry sauce

I scored a few free indian and thai sauces a few months ago. I used the mango curry sauce on pork instead of chicken. I bet this sauce will work on shrimps too.

fish and chips

When we went to BC back in June, we stood in line for hours just to get a taste of fish and chips. They're amazing! I still have to get the right batter though :P

vigan longganisa

We don't go to the Asian stores anymore because I tend to buy stuff we don't normally need. But when we do go there I like buying longganisa, frozen grated yam, and other whatnots.

adobong kangkong

This particular dish I don't get to cook as much as I want to because this type of water spinach isn't always available which reminds me that I really need a trip to the Asian store ASAP.

ube halaya

And lastly, one of our favorite desserts. I can't believe how easy it is to make this and that's mainly because one can buy it already boiled and grated. I use one can of condensed milk per one pack of yam and close to a cup of butter and lotsa lotsa grated cheese on to!

I'll take more pictures soon. Glad to be back :D

Glad to be Back

Wow! It has been awhile. I have to go back to this not that I have a lot to share but I just need to. I miss sharing my thoughts or my random rambles.

I should start taking pictures of what I'm cooking these days. In my mind I'd like to believe that we are on a diet but we aren't. We are eating more vegetables though, bread instead of rice or no rice at all (sometimes). Zucchini has got to be our most favorite veggie lately, that and cucumber of course. Oh and celery too! Hubby finally likes eating them raw and between the two of us we could easily finish several stalks. Snacking on veggies instead of chips? It's about damn time!

I've always loved raw veggies maybe because when I was young I ate grass at one point. YUP <---- that right there is a true story!

:D

See You Again Soon

Ask me about grief and for sure I can tell you more about what it is now that I have experienced it. I will miss you Mommy. I won't dwell on the what if's but there are thousands going through my mind. Why too soon?

I know you are happy wherever you are right now. This takes away an ounce of burden in my heart, at least that's what I want to think. I would give anything to feel your presence, to say a proper good bye, to hug and kiss you for the last time. Is this even possible?

I am comforting myself with the many memories I have of you. I have no words to describe how much I miss you, Kuya and my nieces. I miss my childhood and the family we once had. But now all I could think of is the time I spent away from you and that if I could've done things differently. It is easy to distance oneself when your many miles away but I never stopped missing and loving you. Did you know that?

If I had known I won't see you anymore I would've hugged you tighter at the airport, I would've done things a thousand ways more different, if only I could bring back time.

I wouldn't let my guilt eat me but I will try to become a better mother for your grandchildren. You taught me everything about being a great Mom and hopefully I will live up to that. I will never be as hard working as you are, I can barely clean the house everyday, I don't iron clothes, both a NO NO for you. I have always wondered where you get the energy and the talent to make our home the cleanest and our table filled with the most delicious home cooked meals.

You raised Kuya and I the best way you can. It's always been the three of us. I remember us going to the movies, shopping, or all of us busy with whatever books we are reading at the moment. You sheltered us from life's cruel intentions as much as you could and no matter how much we failed, you were there for us, always to the rescue paying the bills, taking care of your grandchildren, etc.

It got me thinking if I had been a good daughter at least? I gave you so much heart aches and yet you never hated me. You got mad yes but in the end you always told me that life experiences are the best teachers. I never had to tell you what's bothering me, you've always known. You have a way of knowing what I am going through and I never had to explain myself to you. So many unspoken words but I know in my heart that you knew but I would've said it aloud if only I knew you were leaving.

I still can't process in my head that you are gone now. I don't think I have cried enough but I know you would want me to go on with my life and not get drowned by sorrow. Please don't get mad when you see me crying. I'm just a child pining for her mom. It gives me relief as the tears flow, it's not about being sad but also relieving all the memories we've had.

It only shows that time is our biggest enemy. I prayed and prayed for you to live a long life. I never once thought that you will go at a very young age. I wanted you to at least experience life at its best again, the way you deserve to live it. I'm so sorry I didn't get to see you again but I promise, you will forever live in our hearts. I will never forget you Mommy. I am what I am because of you. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU!

A Summer Worth Remembering

Just when I thought I'd have more time blogging because it is summer, of course I turned out wrong. Having the kids 24/7 is the culprit. We didn't plan any summer vacation this year which I'd like to think is a blessing in disguise (I will explain in a bit).

Prior to the kids' summer vacation, we spent a week in Vancouver to renew our passports and discover Beautiful British Columbia which was indeed beautiful! We explained to the kids that the BC trip is our summer getaway so don't expect more.

So the first couple of weeks into the summer, the kids were fine. We were enjoying late nights, sleeping in, being lazy and doing stuff they can't do throughout the school year. We were just basically hanging out with friends or staying home, kids doing their 'chores' and me paying them allowance money as promised.

Our summer was going on it's usual course (minus our yearly vacation) when I lost someone dear to me. I can't imagine getting this sad news while on vacation somewhere. Good thing we are home and had nothing special planned. For a week, I just wanted to be alone. I could've stayed like this forever but I had no choice but to pull myself out of the slump I'm into. I have kids to entertain, a family to take care of and somehow keeping myself busy helped big time but robbed me off the chance to properly grieve :(

Few weeks more and the kids will be back to school. We decided to go on a trip somewhere close but to a place the kids will surely love and make their summer memorable. It is hard grieving for you own mother and at the same time trying to be the best mother you could be for your kids at a time like this but hey that's what my mom would've done anyway. I am sure wherever she is, she is smiling down at me saying what a great job she has done raising me :D

New Endeavors

 buttered arctic garden veggies

I have a ton to post, hopefully I get to find the links for the recipes. We moved a few weeks ago and have been at my busiest. Why am I sitting here and doing this instead of cleaning up? I need a break. Every bone in my body hurts. I just told a friend I feel like I am 50 years old!

Anyway, I'm gonna lighten up the mood and avoid talking about aging and muscle aches as much as I can. LET"S TALK ABOUT FOOD! Yay!

Prior to moving, we originally planned to have tea every single night. We probably had it for two nights and that's it haha. When things calm down I'll start doing this again. Maybe tonight? ;-)

tea time!

My kids bug me non stop for homemade cookies. They have this crazy notion that their mom is a great baker which of course isn't true but thank goodness for Pinterest I found a couple of easy recipes. I love cake mixes!

my cookie monsters!

I also found a frozen cookie dough in the freezer. I baked it as a whole and it worked a lot better, way better! Kids said it was good :)

choco chip cookie

I tried this two ingredient cake recipe because I was curious and was dying to eat something sweet that day. Who would've thought that a box of cake mix and soda will result in a delicious fluffy cake? Whoever did was a genius. I used yellow cake mix and Sprite.

2 ingredient cake

My kids,specially Lance can be picky so their meals have to be a combination of their favorites and something new all the time.

store bought fish balls

turkey bacon

bologna cups

turkey bacon sandwich

This soup recipe has given me another reason why I need to stock up on coconut milk. It is definitely delicious and easy to make. I followed this recipe.

Thai Coconut Soup

Just when I thought spring's here, I was wrong of course. It's been cold for weeks now and when I mean cold, cold as in winter just came. More reason to cook sou. Below are two different beef soups, they might look the same but they aren`t, both taste awesome though :)

Ooops! I think I put way too much beef fats :)

Bulalo (beef shank soup)

Here comes some of my Pinterest inspired recipes. I will tell you which ones have been elevated to family favorites!

I tried this korean bbq beef short ribs recipe but used pork belly instead. I love this site, the recipes are easy to follow and I bet all her recipes are good!

korean bbq pork belly

I found this stir fry pork belly recipe on Pinterest as well but tweaked it a little in terms of some ingredients, used bok choy instead of spinach, hoisin instead of oyster sauce. I prefer not to stir fry pork belly and would rather go with my usual route of boiling and then frying.

pork belly stir fry

It dawned on me that this will go well with chili oil. I made my first ever chili oil and my life has never been the same again. I added brown sugar to the usual sesame oil, olive oil and chili flakes mix for added flavor and crunch. We now put this on almost everything.

chili oil

Next is this mongolian beef recipe, such a keeper and I`ve put it along with the family favorites. Again, the chili oil made this dish more awesome!

mongolian beef

And here are some more food, the good, the bad, highlights of what we had the past few weeks before and after the move.

chinese sweet and sour

baked lemon chicken

steak

fried basa with cucumber/tomato salad

the perfect chicken

And here goes the perfect chicken. It was actually a spice rub for a whole chicken to be cooked in a slow cooker but decided to try it on chicken breasts then baked instead. Still working on it to make it more kid friendly. But believe me when I say it is the perfect chicken, so perfect I don't even want to share the secret recipe :D