Month: March 2018

Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas

How to Arrange Fresh Fruits in a Small Glass

By on March 23, 2018

It’s an easy way to serve dessert or a pick-up healthy snack that’s refreshingly good and in addition, the simplest individual touch to catch your own mood. Here’s how to arrange all-time favorite fresh fruits in a small glass, Fruit medley on the table gives you the freedom to choose your best favorites as well, a few slices of Kiwi, fresh pineapples, red strawberries, green/red apples and pomelo as the best example of my favorites.

You can try-out mixing different kinds of fruits to enjoy the balance of sweetness and refreshing taste.The basic arrangement and good combination applies here, fruits on the served should be fresh, bright and not cluttered.Using the appropriate size and right glassware for individual serving, it looks elegantly clean and at the same time, it’s safe for your health better than the plastic containers. I’m avoiding using plastic containers at all cost. Check other fruit servings and arrangement next posts..

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Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas

Biggest and the Longest Avocado I’ve Ever Seen

By on March 15, 2018

I haven’t seen a fruit like these before, it was exceptionally long and big avocado ! I was lucky to discover such a huge one. Awesome! It was shiny greenish skin, firm and hard fresh. When I bought it, it was still hard and green, it aren’t ripe yet. Day after, the color starts turning into a reddish one and the next day, it was already dark reddish and purple in color. That means, it was already perfectly ripe. However, some varieties when ripen stays the same in color but this one undergoes color changes.

Avocado is good when ripened on and off the tree. Ripening affect the flavor and texture so, it is good to eat when it is still firm and perfectly ripe. When underripe, it tastes bitter, however, when overripe, starts to become soft and the taste you might not like it. For a sweeter version, it is best eaten raw with honey and all purpose cream. Others, they like to eat it with a full cream chocolate milk. Other uses; avocado is good for snacks, salads, soup, sandwich, dressing and sauces.

Avocados nutrition facts is good. It is rich in potassium and vitamins. It is also very rich in fat and high in calories. My dietitian always reminds me of some benefits you can get with it and at the same time, it is bad to people with high cholesterol level and high blood pressure. You must also think of what you can get for the calories that counts also, just eat moderately to be safe.

Here’s the funny thing, I’ve measured it with a piece of foot rule, one foot in length or 12 in inches I’m curious, I want to find out how long?

Got 2 big avocados to measure. Amazing! You can see the foot rule here in between 2 avocados. The foot rule is by inches and centimeters. The measurement of one avocado is 12 inches in length while the other one is merely closer.

Viewing per piece, both avocados has tapered neck and this one is longer than the other one.

It was completely ripe inside, the color is just right, the flavor is perfectly great. The big size is just enough for the whole family to enjoy. Now, I want to prepare something using these fruits, there were many uses and what I have in mind is to make Avocado shake.

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Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas

Sinabalu / Piat Cagayan

By on March 9, 2018

Sinabalu is a local specialty famous in Cagayan Valley especially in Piat and neighboring towns of Tuao and Rizal. Sinabalu is a staple of local cuisine; it’s made by roasting glutinous rice flavored with salt and coconut milk in a bamboo tube over a low fire while wrapped in banana leaves.The subtle flavor is wonderful and pairs perfectly with brewed coffee, hot chocolate, or tea. I’m confident that you’ll enjoy it because it has no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. When cooked over real wood charcoal, the aroma and flavor are at their peak.

Cagayan residents have spent generations perfecting their distinct regional cuisines and delicacies. Sinabalu and other local specialties like Pawa, Puto, and Patupat (all dekats fairly beginning with letter P), to name a few, are essential components of each Christmas, wake, fiesta, wedding, or other special holiday celebration. I’ve loved it ever since I was a kid, and not just for breakfast or midday snacks. Because I live in the city and don’t get to eat the same favorites all the time, I always look forward to my brother and his wife’s monthly visits, because they always bring some local specialties from Piat. A relaxing way to spend time with friends is over a cup of freshly brewed coffee and some Sinabalu slices.

The good quality you can buy it fresh in  Piat Public Market first hour in the morning and food stall vendors near “Basilica Minore de Nuestra Senora de Piat Church” You can find the best Sinabalu in a reputable source from Barangay Accusilian, according to my relatives from Tuao, a 2nd class Municipality in the Province of Cagayan.

Both the traditional White Sinabalu and the more recent Brown Sinabalu are available, with the latter offering additional health benefits, particularly for diabetics, thanks to the use of brown glutinous rice in the cooking process. It has a very short shelf life and can only be frozen for 2 days before rapidly losing quality.

Visit my birthplace Piat Cagayan to taste all local specialties. I’m sure you’ll love it!

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Events/ Holidays/ Special Occasions | My Indoor and Outdoor Photography

Chinese Cultural Festival 2018

By on March 7, 2018

Chinese new year celebrations around the world is always welcomed by cultural performances, festive shows, fireworks display, lucky foods, good wishes in their own traditional way and Philippines is no exception to that. In connection with the annual New Year celebration at Shangri-La Plaza ( a world class shopping and dining mall destination)  Elegant Chinese pagoda on the ground level with an artistic modern looking designs of 12 animal zodiac. Of course! the reigning animal symbol for this year 2018 ”The Year of the Earth Dog”

The grand celebration at Shang Atrium last Sunday February 25, 2018 showcased the Chinese folk culture includes the thrilling high pole lion dance, Dragon dance, Wushu and Amazing drummers performed by multi-talented performers of Chinese Ling Nam Athletic Federation. Ling Nam Athletes performed at Chinese New Year and other holiday events.

The president and vice-president of Ling-Nam Federation with other prominent personalities

Chinese Ling Nam Athletic Federation and Fire and Rescue Volunteer, a non-governmental organization aims to promote traditional martial arts, they produced multi talented performers and received various awards from competition abroad.

With their own field of expertise, the Ling Nam Fire and Rescue Volunteers are very attentive and responsive to the needs of the community. Other projects includes the medical and dental mission. Over the years of helping the needy, their accomplishments has progressed with its vision and growing bigger and very popular. Congratulations and Thank you for continuing fine tradition of service to your fellowmen.

Master William Soon (center) and company

Master William Soon, the chief instructor of Chinese Ling Nam Athletic Federation is very smart and accommodating. He referred me to ‘’Aga’’ for a broad interview detailing the culture and history of the organization.

Playing the gong is Gumey Bautista, Wushu and Lion dance junior instructor.

Lion dancers all dressed with vibrant colors displaying their new year greetings and wishes for the year 2018 ”the Year of the Earth Dog”

Taking part in the photography and publishing level, I’ve excused myself last Sunday from other activities scheduled for the day just to attend the said event. It’s all done and worth it! So many good performers, I feel thrilled and excited more than exhausted.

The dazzling glow of Shangri-La and colorful splendors of the lions.

Loud sounds of drums, gongs and cymbals filled the whole of Shangri-La plaza, it’s the instrument of expression to drive away misfortunes and bad spirits.

The Dragon Dance

The Lion dance

The drummers

Comic performers

Philippine Ling Nam Athletic Federation Dragon and Lion Dance Exhibition, Wushu and Drum Performance

Other pictures taken during the live exhibition

 

 

 

Welcoming the new year marks new beginning and good expectations, hopefully it will bring more blessings. It’s the year of the dog, please be more kind to your dogs and love all animals as well. Happy Chinese New Year 2018 everyone!

I would like to thank Master William Soon, to you Aga, to all performers, organizers and to all who supported the event. See you all again soon. Thank you guys!

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