Filipino Cuisine

Mabuhay!


Throughout the centuries, Filipino cuisine has been a constantly evolving amalgamate of Oriental and Occidental influences. Chinese, Malay, Arab, Spanish, and American explorers and settlers have each contributed to the regions colorful culinary delights. Hence, the variety and difference in tastes - which makes it unique. One of Filipino cuisine's most dominant attributes comes from the Spaniards, whose cuisine is at the source of nearly 80% of all Filipino dishes. 


Below are some recipes that truly show the richness and simplicity of good "Filipino" food. Feel free to enjoy!!

ADOBO

Typically pork or chicken, or a combination of both, is slowly cooked in vinegar, cooking oil, crushed garlic, bay leaf, black peppercorns, and soy sauce, and often browned in the oven or pan-fried afterward to get the desirable crisped edges.

AFRITADA

Chicken and/or pork and potatoes cooked in tomato sauce.













BISTEK TAGALOG

Strips of sirloin beef slowly cooked in soy sauce, calamansi juice, and onions.













CRISPY PATA

Deep fried portions of pork legs including knuckles often served with a chili and calamansi flavored dipping soy sauce or chili flavored vinegar for dipping.











EMBUTIDO

A meatloaf shaped in the form of a sausage.









HAMONADO

Stuffed pork roll coated in a sweet sauce.
Humba Eastern Leyte Meat dish





KALDERETA

A dish made with cuts of pork, beef or goat with tomato paste or tomato sauce with liver spread added to it.









LECHON

A dish made by roasting a whole pig over charcoal. It is often cooked during special occasions. A simpler version has chopped pieces of pork fried in a pan or wok (lechon kawali). Also refers to a spitted and charcoal roasted marinated chicken (lechon manok).




MECHADO

Name derived from mitsa meaning "wick" which is what the pork fat inserted into a slab of beef looks like before the larded beef is cooked, sliced, and served in the seasoned tomato sauce it is cooked in.








ESCABECHE

Referring to both a dish of poached or fried fish that is marinated in an acidic mixture before serving, and to the marinade itself. Can refer broadly to sweet and sour dishes.

PAKSIW

Generally means to cook and simmer in vinegar. Common dishes bearing the term, however, can vary substantially depending on what is being cooked. Paksiw na isda is fish poached in a vinegar broth usually seasoned with fish sauce and spiced with siling mahaba and possibly containing vegetables. Paksiw na baboy is pork, usually hock or shank, cooked in ingredients similar to those in adobo but with the addition of sugar and banana blossoms to make it sweeter and water to keep the meat moist and to yield a rich sauce. Paksiw na lechon is roasted pork lechon meat cooked in lechon sauce or its component ingredients of vinegar, garlic, onions, black pepper and ground liver or liver spread and some water. The cooking reduces the sauce so that by the end the meat is almost being fried.

Give me back my comfort zone!

No, really, don't make me leave my comfort zone.

For some reason, all sorts of people or thing seem determined to push you out of where you're comfortable to where you're .. . well ... uncomfortable. which is bizarre enough that it's worthwhile to find out why.

Ju

Fireworks!!

A stirring classical soundtrack booms over the dock and two rockets soar into the air, exploding with a deafening bang over the bay, lighting it all in a dazzling canopy of sparkling orange and white that's reflected in a glittering shower over the still calm water of the bay. My jaw drops as several more rockets fire into the air and explode in a kaleidoscope of color. I can't recall ever seeing a display this impressive, except perhaps on television, and it never looks this good on TV. They're all in time to the music. Volley after volley, bang after bang, and light after light as the crowd answers with gasps and ooohs and ahhs. It is out of this world. On the pontoon in the bay several silver fountains of light shoot up twenty feet in the air, changing color through blue, red, orange, and back to silver and yet more rockets explode as the music reaches its crescendo. My face is beginning to ache from the ridiculous grin of wonder plastered across it. For the finale a volley of six rockets shoot into the dark and explode simultaneously, bathing us in a glorious golden light as the crowd erupts into frantic, enthusiastic applause.

Season of giving

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! 

Who does not love Christmas? It is the season of love, giving, sharing, smiles, family, friendship, happiness, hope, faith and a lot more! Aside from that, it is only in this season where everywhere and everything is shining with light and colors. Christmas is mostly anticipated by everyone for a lot reasons: 

First, is our parents salary bonus. Who wouldn't love that? 

Second, christmas trees and lights. Suddenly, you can feel that Christmas is near when you see christmas decor along the streets or in your neighbors house. 

Third, Sharing. It has already been like a tradition among my friends to share our blessings to people who are less fortunate. Every December, me and my friends gather up to plan our agenda (to feed a number of street children) on the same day as to our Christmas party. Coming up with a simple snack and walk along the streets and pass on the food to the children is our routine. It has been a heartwarming activity and it is just a pity to stop. As much as possible, we wanted to continue doing this as long as we can. It feels good. Trust me. :)

LASTLY, fireworks! Tell me someone who doesn't love it. .Personally, I can watch it all day. . . 

Though Christmas is not part of the menu for my family, it never gave me a reason not to love it. I love this season! I mean, who doesn't? It is the season of giving and receiving, smiles and happiness, hope and love, family and friendship, and faith. Everyone is happy and complete for a lot of reasons! 

that's it for now,

CHEERS! 

Bookish. . .now?

This is so unexpected. I've never been really fond of reading, until now. And now I'm done reading the books. I feel bad! I so want more!! soo OA!! :)) :(


Well, I am not really sure if I am happy or sad right now. Though I have been eager to finish the whole book last week because it is already causing me too much trouble, like sleepless nights, no interest in food (which is not normal :D), less time with my family during my free time, and worst is I couldn't concentrate on my studies because I always wanted to read the damned book. It is weird because this is a first. Like I said, I wasn't really very interested in books before. Not only if someone would encourage me to. I've read like less than ten books in my lifetime. I don't mean school books but more of Stephenie Meyer, Jack Canfield, E.L. James and etc kind of books. All of which are greatly influenced by my loving cousins! ~Oh I love them! They are so good at books and telling stories that ignites me to READ. Yes. They just bring out something in me that I never thought existed (In a good way! :D). 


This might sound corny but the books I read and actually finish are in line with Romance. . .and Fiction. I like reading stories about people and their experiences in love because somehow I get a picture of how it feels. . . and also how it would hurt. I also like the feeling of "kilig". No one can really blame me about that, I am a college teenager! ;D 


Maybe the sad thing about getting to love a book is actually finding the end of it. Every time I open a book and eventually if I learn to love it, I have the tendency of getting so attached to it not wanting it to end. Depends. . . I don't know. I am also confused with this paragraph. Let's move on. . .


On the other hand, the one thing that I love about books is that it portrays characters that are somewhat hard or impossible to find. It usually portrays perfect personalities, a dream guy perhaps, a perfect relationship. We all know that people like that are becoming scarce and that the word perfect is not really applicable to people. Books can give the glimpse of a perfect life that a person can imagine and fantasize to the not so perfect reality. 


So now that I thought of it, maybe I will be reading more this Christmas break! I just hope I could finish it in time before class resumes in 2013! and hopefully get a diploma! :) Cheers! 


*last week of classes for 2012.. goosh! So help me God! 


P.S. Any good books to share? I would be more than happy to hear about it! :))) 


k.thanks.bye!"

Self-centered piece of note

Saving. Spending. Eating. Money. Gone.

Unfortunately, I have this ridiculous pattern in my fate all throughout this year. And as the New Year's Resolution coming to trend again, I decided to put this on my list, only to make it better.

Though spending money for food is never a waste, for some reason, I make it look unreasonable. Unwise. I hate bringing my wallet but ironically I still bring it around with me. The reason for that is because I HATE running out of money in times of need or emergency. I had a worst memory of that before where I intentionally left my wallet at home thinking of making my savings safe. Then an unexpected thing happened and I'm out of cash. .I cursed that moment! Though my wallet don't really contain much cash. .

Impulsive Buyer

 I became one. Usually for food. haha  I seriously need to change that! Be number 2 of my NYR list and maybe start spending something more for myself (other than food). I don't really buy myself stuffs like clothes, beauty products, or gadgets because I thought I don't need all those extras. I was always contented. Everything is being handed to me for free, courtesy of my parents and siblings. But I am getting older, needs and wants change and I can't ask for everything to my parents all the time.:)))

For a change, I wanted to spend for myself. Save up for a challenge to buy a want and a need. I don't know why I haven't done this before. .hmm


Klaire x

The Vampire Diaries loco

Hey you! Are you interested to know the best drama television series in the planet? Well, look no more! Because you have found it!

So first, I am going to talk about my personal favorite series, The Vampire Diaries. A lot of you have already heard about it or watched it. But for those who doesn't, here's a little sneak peak of why this series is loved my many..

The vampire diaries is a supernatural drama television series based on the book written by L. J. Smith. The main focus of the series is the love triangle between the protagonist Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev) and vampire bothers Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (Ian Somerhalder). As the narrative develops in the course of the series, the focal point shifts mysterious past of the town involving Elena's malevolent doppleganger Katherine Pierce and the family of the Original Vampires, all of which have an evil agenda of their own. 

In this series, there are vampires, werewolves, witches, doppelganger, and hybrids all in one series.

The Doppelganger
Nina Dobrev plays a double role, starring as Elena Gilbert, a beautiful young girl caught between two vampire brothers, and as Katherine Pierce, the ruthless vampire the brothers knew and loved in the nineteenth century. 

The Salvatore Brothers

They are not going to kiss. But they will kiss one girl in this show. Lucky Nina.. :)

Paul Wesley portrays Stefan Salvatore, a good-hearted and affectionate vampire, and the complete opposite of his older brother, Damon.

Ian Somerhalder plays Damon Salvatore, the elder and far more dangerous of two vampire brothers who share a long and bitter history.

Klaus and Caroline

Niklaus, known as Klaus, a hybrid and the son of the Original family. He is portrayed by English actor Joseph Morgan. Klaus is one of the most dangerous characters on the series. 

Caroline Forbes on the other hand is the vampire best friend of Elena Gilbert and the love interest of Klaus.

Personally, they are my favorite couple in this series, aside from Damon-Elena. 

The Original Family

 The world's first and most dangerous vampires in the fictional universe of the series. They were created through an occult blood ritual performed by their powerful witch mother, Esther Mikaelson. She made her family into vampires in the ancient times, in order to protect them from  werewolves. 

The Witch

Kat Graham stars as Bonnie Bennett, a powerful witch whose life and friendships have been turned upside down by the arrival of the two vampire brothers.

The Vampire Diaries is currently airing its fourth season on the CW every Fridays.