Yang Chow That Made Me Feel Good

My braces were adjusted yesterday. I spent forty five minutes or so with my dentist-friend while she's doing some work on my teeth. Eww, it hurt. I was telling myself why did I even think of these adult braces? Why haven't I done this oral rehabilitation when I was a lot younger? But as my friend told me, it will not hurt anymore as much as it did yesterday because the succeeding visits will only be minor adjustments. After a few minutes after the session, the pain went away but I still cannot bite even soft food. I have to chew very slowly.

In a way this is good for my diet. For the past weeks I have not been taking my regular food consumption. My rice intake lessened by more than half compared to what I normally consume in a day. Let me just keep it a secret how much rice I usually have. Also, I was able to save some money since I bring my own food at the office. A lot of savings if I may say because when I buy my lunch or snack, a lot of desserts go with them.

At times when I am not able to prepare food to take with me or when I am in a major hurry, I have salad, congee and pancakes. I learned to love congee and soups. I don't prefer them when I can eat food which are a lot tastier. But I greatly appreciate them now and they will be part of my favorites even after the braces.



I have not been to Wendys for several months now. They don't have the salad bar already. Maybe because some customers get more than they can have - like they get what is good for not just one but five persons. Bad for the profit. They still have the macaroni salad which was what I had. Still great but there is no more hard boiled egg which I prefer more than the red jelly.

I love most servings of North Park Noodle House. It was my first time though to order their congee with bola-bola and egg last Friday. I love it! It's actually good for two. There is no garlic aftertaste.

I am a Pancake House diner eversince. Aside from their taco and salisbury steak, I love their classic country medley - sausage and pancakes with butter or syrup plus coffee or juice. Hmmm, delicious. The pancakes' texture is just right for me.

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I was browsing on some nice-to-read blogs earlier tonight when I clicked a link to a blog about a man's chronicles of his life as a single parent and taking care of his only son. There were some posts which touched my emotions, they made me shed some tears as I was reading them. I always want to end something on a good note so I browsed some more of his categories. Good! I was entertained with his choices of music and books. He writes well too.

To make me feel even better, I prepared Yang Chow Fried Rice for dinner. I altered some ingredients I got from Yummy Magazine. Thanks Yummy Mag for being a great part in my kitchen adventures. :) Yes, that's how newbie I am in cooking, I need a recipe for even a simple dish. Anyway, I did not add dried shrimp (hibe) but fresh shrimp. I don't like dried fish much so I skipped adding it. I was not able to eat much but as a newbie in the kitchen, I feel really good if I get compliments for the food I prepared.


They say there are certain foods that make us feel good because of their chemical composition. Like sweets, we experience sugar rush and it keeps us up and about. This one though made me feel good because of two reasons. The hubby and the daughter loved it! And I was able to prepare it without any hitch - no burnt garlic or onion, the green peas didn't fall off as I was transferring them, the Chinese sausage and the shrimps cooperated with me and proved to be good bites. That's my little success for the night. :)

Eight Random Facts

Eastcoastlife has tagged me. This should be fun! :)

The rules of this tag:
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.
3. Tag eight people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).
4. Let them know they've been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs.

Eight Factoids About Me:

1. It's a fact that I am not a numbers person but my career after my short stint in the media revolved around corporate business planning which involves a lot of numbers crunching and analysis.

2. Ever since my daughter learned how to walk, she's been my constant companion in my little adventures, mostly trips to different bookstores, exploring restaurants and places I know we will both enjoy (with the hubby most of the time). My daughter and I, we're cool. We enjoy each others' activities. :) <---- My daughter gave me a thumbs up after reading this.

3. I am always hungry for something new I can explore and I can enjoy doing. Activities that satisfies my senses. At this point, it's cooking/baking. I love preparing food for my family. Suddenly, I don't find it a task anymore but an activity I enjoy and find fulfilling.

4. I am inclined to both off-beat artists and the so-called pop lit - mostly Palahniuk, Coupland, Hornby, Tarantino, Wong Kar Wai, Haruki Murakami, Charles Bukowski, Jim Morrison, Mark Strand, The Cure. I read Murakami's works as if my life depend on them.

5. I love putting into calendar all my schedule and my "to-do" lists. I have several calendars and I'm consistent in logging in all of them. I want my schedule accessible for me. When I am in front of the computer, I can check Outlook calendar. When I am mobile, it's in my Treo. When I am at the office, I can easily check in my desk calendar or when in a meeting, I can easily browse on my planner.

6. I can wash the dishes or do the laundry on the washing machine but I don't like ironing clothes. I get impatient doing it.


7. I'm a Calvin and Hobbes fan. Up to now I still browse on my collection. :)

8. I can't get out of the house without a bag. It's my security blanket. All the necessities are there - money, cellphone, make-up, facial tissue, cologne, things my daughter might need, etcetera. Big bag, huh. Well not really. Just a matter of organizing everything inside. :) Is there any woman who can leave without any bag on hand? I wonder.

Following eastcoastlife with her choices of people to tag with a little twist though. I'll be tagging eight people I want to visit often but not able to because I'm a nocturnal blogger (and that's not even nightly) I get sleepy after an hour or so browsing. I haven't dug deeper in other blogs that interests me. Got mommy duties after office. Most of the bloggers below I only get to visit during Photo Hunt or other meme but given more internet time, I'd visit their sites often.

Meowminx
Maiylah
Lauren
Lulu
Bengbeng
Blur Mommy
Patricia
tegdirb92

Cooking with Rodents

We were mulling over what movie to watch last Friday night. The choices were Harry Potter, The Simpsons and Ratatouille. The hubby wanted the movie from Disney-Pixar since he is a fan of any Pixar creations and computer generated animations. My daughter and I wanted Harry Potter. I don't know how we were convinced to watch the Chef Rat instead. But we are so glad that we picked Remy over Harry and Homer.

Ratatouille is about a rat named Remy who knows how to cook and Linguini, the garbage boy who became the accidental cook. As in most movies, especially Disney movies, suspend your disbelief and eagerly wait what lies ahead. A fish-out-of-water story. And if it's Disney, trust that they will make even the most hideous creature to something sweet and lovable if they have to. Think Monsters Inc. So imagine a rat who maintains a kitchen of a famous restaurant and manages to speak to a dead master chef (Gusteau) and mentors a human (Linguini) to produce the best tasting dishes. You will never look at rats the same way again. Haha! Maybe not but at least for two hours your heart will go for these rodents especially for Remy. The rat who held on with his ambitions against all odds. "I want to add something to this world".

Conflicts arise among rats, among humans and between humans and rodents. There's a universal message of understanding, determination, love and loyalty which the adults will appreciate. There are simple lessons on stealing and eating dirty food which the children will easily get. I'm saying this Pixar offering might not really be appreciated by most kids (especially 6 years old and younger) but it still engages the children with its perfect animation, action sequences and comic timing.

As for me, I love the scene where it shows Paris by night never mind that it is computer generated. I love the scenes in the kitchen. They make me want to learn more about cooking and concocting new dishes. I'm not good in the kitchen, at least not yet, but as the catch line in the movie says, "anyone can cook". I better believe that.

I searched for a ratatouille recipe and landed on this site. Looks yummy! I learned that a famous chef, Thomas Keller, concocted the particular ratatouille recipe for the movie and it's called confit byaldi. Nice trivia.

As in all Pixar movies, expect an appetizer. This time it's called "Lifted". You will surely laugh your heart out.

Enjoy Ratatouille! :) And this is worth keeping in mind, "If you are what you eat, then I only want to eat the good stuff".

Photo Hunt 20: Creative

My daughter and I have visited Cocorama a few months back. It's a cute dining cafe located at Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Mandaluyong City. I find the theme and the decors really creative. The walls are very bright. It has the 70s feel but with 80s color combination. I love the "flower power" mural. Part of the wall decorations are vinyl records I posted in one of my photo hunt entries. There's also a disco ball hanging from the ceiling.


They also have creative names for their menu list. There's Travolta, LSD, Scream and Jackson Five which I took a shot of below. I'm just wondering why there's one pancake which is not supposed to be there. Or is that supposed to be Michael Jackson? No offense to MJ fans out there. :)


A big red VW Kombi serves as a wall separating the kitchen and the dining area. It also serves as the counter. The angus beef cooked and served Filipino style (well-done, with vinegar on the side and garlic rice) is good.

Photo Hunt 19: Tiny

I fancy this one so I thought I'd share it also with the rest of the Photo Hunters. Below is a picture of tiny paper soaps in different shapes and colors. I don't use them nor anyone in the family but they are nice "decorations" for the bathroom dresser and can be a substitute for a freshener for small cabinets or storage areas in bedrooms. At least for me, those are the main purposes of these cute paper soaps. :)


Another sharing is this tiny replica of a high cut rubber shoes sans the shoe lace. My daughter loves this one because it looks so much like her pink Converse shoes. She loves collecting key chains but this one is her favorite.



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To TNChick, get well soon. My prayers are with you.

Photo Hunt 18: Shadow

I'd like to share with you some pictures I took of the monastery I have visited in Malaybalay, Bukidnon - Monastery of the Transfiguration. Bukidnon is known for the Del Monte Farm and its golf course. It's a great site no doubt but this monastery is the best place I've been when I was there.

Benedictine monks take care of the place and run their own store near the chapel. They have Monk's Blend coffee which I bought but haven't tried yet, Monk's Peanut Butter, peanut brittle or the Piniato. Also, religious relics, mostly St. Benedict medals. They say St. Benedict medals is worn to drive away evil spirits and prevent exorcism. The medals bear the phrases begone satan and may His presence protect us in the hour of our death, both in Latin.

I am not a Catholic but I appreciate the beauty of the place. It's very serene. Perfect for retreats or just some quiet walk. It has a very scenic view. This place soothes one's senses.

Here's a picture in one angle where huge church posts cast their shadows inside.

One of the bells of the church

A part of the interior. Note the altar made of solid rock.

The church's entrance.

The scenic view from the monastery.

My Simpson

This is cute. I couldn't resist posting this at this ungodly hour. It's way past my bedtime, *big grin*.

Here's my Simpson Avatar.


Haha, I'm way bigger than what is projected by this avatar. But not as big as the last choice in the 'built section'. It's just a movie anyway, so let me. :) I normally wear my hair down but lately, I keep it in a scroonchie. That means I am needing a haircut. (And I really have to explain my hairstyle, 'no?)

When you go around Springfield Town in the Simpson's website, you might just find yourself one of the characters, even "wanted" at that. Look at me. I'm there. :)



Have some fun and visit the site, The Simpsons Movie.

Photo Hunt 17: Fake

My family and I had our dinner last night at the newly opened Lamesa Grill at, where else, the second mall nearest us, Trinoma. As it had always been, I surveyed the interior and these caught my attention, the rain showers in the middle of the dining area and the bamboos which separate one table from another.

But of course, the rain showers are just coming from a shower hidden around the wooden band.


But the bamboo looks for real. Checking it further, the inside is not hollow but solid. It must be made of rattan.



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Last night was our second try at Lamesa Grill, owned by the Philippines' mega actress, Miss Sharon Cuneta and senator-husband, Francis Pangilinan. We had lunch at their branch at Mall of Asia a few months back. I would say the interior there is a lot better than what they have here at Trinoma. Here, it's very cramped. They tried to make the place cozy by putting in the falls, hanging veneer lamps, the rain showers, the bamboos but the place is not as comfortable as their first branch. Some tables have an awkward size that three seats make it all boxed in but leaving two seats make it really spacious.

The food is good though. We ordered the Lamesa Combo consisting of lengua, chicken barbecue, pork barbecue, baked scallops and tahong, grilled tanigue and prawns. Just take out those 'deadly black carcinogens' when you have your grilled food. One of our favorite dish is the tortang talong (eggplant omelette) - boiled eggplant with ground pork wrapped in scrambled egg topped with garlic and parsley. Very tasty.

The service is great. The food servers are very attentive and quick to respond to every query. Considering it was peak, it didn't take long for them to get our orders, deliver them to our table and bring in our bill. Normally, in most fast-casual restaurants, these three activities take around ten to fifteen minutes each.

What's good also was the 20% discount they offered for every meal. Just show the Lamesa Grill flyer and that will entitle you to a discount. Good enough. :)

***I'll be out, I will be visiting other photo hunters later tonight. :)

Photo Hunt 15: Shiny

I missed last weeks' photo hunt for hair. I was supposed to post the different "hair styles" my daughter since she was a year old up to the present. But I was out of town last week. I'm supposed to be in a mini-vacation right now with my family in a hotel somewhere in the metropolis but I squeezed in a few minutes to post. :)

Here's my share for this week's theme on Shiny. My daughter's got a lovely, shiny hair. She got it from her father. My hair is so hard to maintain whereas my daughter's, it's a breeze. Normally, Filipinos have black hair but my daughter and her father has brown-black. Well, that saves her from hair highlights when she reaches the age when beauty salon beckons. :)

Lakbayan

My Lakbayan grade is C!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out atLakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Got this Lakbayan survey from various blogs. I took the survey four times, weeded out most "just passing through" answers. It's till A+. With Mr. Eugene's comment below, I checked and my booboo, I got them in reverse. Now I'm at ease with my score. Mostly I've been in Northern Luzon and the Visayas. A few places in the south and Bukidnon and Davao in Mindanao. I am in love with the Philippines. Why not? I may not love everything about this country but this is a beautiful place. There are lots of places to see and admire. My trips are both work-related and family vacations. If I may say, it's invigorating to get out of the metropolis once in a while and breathe a different air and see the greeneries.

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I was in the far north last week. It was my first time to try a grill house for lunch somewhere along the highway of Nueva Ecija. I always check out whatever local place we can try whether it's famous or not, both for dining and recreation. If my husband's main goal in going out of town is to rest, for me it's it's the excitement of discovering and exploring the places we go to.

My colleagues and I had lunch at Magellan's Grill before leaving N.E. and head to Isabela via the steep and zigzaggy road of Dalton Pass. The road here is referred to as "bituka ng manok" (chicken intestines) since it is shaped like that. That's how curved the pass is.

The eating place is simple, clean enough for our appreciation. The native motif looks nice too. The food is better than in fast foods. I like their pinaputok na plapla. Delicious. I don't know how to prepare this one. Think popcorn...that's how the plapla is served - inside a bloated aluminum foil placed in a sizzling plate. The novelty of it is in the opening of the foil using a knife. The smell of a well-cooked fish with onions, tomatoes, spices gets out of the foil which makes you salivate and devour the plapla at once.

Some pictures of the grill house. They can do away with the plastic cover which serves as table mats.