"Bartering" Walnuts

As defined by the online Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:

Barter - verb - To trade by exchanging one commodity for another

And this is exactly what my good (and gorgeous!) friend D and I did. .. .we "bartered"!

There is a big pack of walnuts at home and I thought of sharing it with D as she might want to use them for her baked goodies.  (She has turned into a baking goddess and has been spending some time at the kitchen.)

Then yesterday afternoon, I received these delicious, freshly-baked, homemade chewy choco-chip walnut cookies!  They were an instant hit at home.  I had to take a quick photo before they disappear! Haha!

We've been telling her to go big time and start a business with the yummy eats she's been baking.  She also makes moist banana muffins and during our last get-together, she let us try her blueberry panna cotta which is absolutely divine. *Drool*     

Thanks again D!  The cookies were a nice (and sweet) way to end my weekend. =)  

P.S.  I wonder what if I give D  bananas naman. . .  LOL  

Back in the Kitchen

One of my New Year's Resolutions is I want to cook more. . .  I love cooking!   I cook A LOT when I'm in the US visiting hubby.  Zola's Dad and I are a tag team when it comes to the kitchen.  Cooking is also one of our "fun things to do" as a couple.  And I'm proud to say that he is actually a better cook than me when it comes to Filipino food!  (Yes, I'm a lucky one.  I have a husband who can cook and get this. . . loves to do the laundry!  Haha!  No joke!)

But when I'm back home here in the Philippines, cooking takes a back seat because we are lucky to have somebody who does it for us.  

Last week, I cooked one of my favorite Filipino food. . . Menudo!  I tried cooking this a couple of years ago while visiting hubby.  I'm proud to say that I cooked it all by myself! *pat on the back*

My first Menudo!

For the Menudo recipe I used, I got it from Panlasang Pinoy (one of our favorite recipe sources).

Ingredients

• 2 lbs pork belly (about 1 kilo)
• 1/2 lb pork liver (about ¼ kilo)
• 
1 cup carrots, diced
• 
1 cup potatoes, diced
• 
1 cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 
1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 pc lemon or 4 pcs. calamansi
• 
1 small onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 tsp. brown sugar
• 
2 cups tomato sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1/4 cup cooking oil

Cooking Procedure

1. Marinade pork with soy sauce and lemon juice for approximately 1 hour
2. Heat pan and place cooking oil
3. Fry potatoes and carrots for about 5 minutes and set aside
4. Sauté garlic and onion in the same pan where the vegetables were fried
5. Add the marinated pork belly and water then simmer for 15 minutes
6. Add the pork liver and tomato sauce and simmer for 10 minutes
7. Add the fried carrots and potatoes, red bell pepper, and brown sugar then simmer for another 5 minutes
8. Add salt and pepper to taste.
9. Serve hot. Enjoy!

Number of servings (yield): 6

Make sure you have lots of rice to go with your Menudo! LOL

Happy Cooking . . and Eating!

Two Peas in a Pod 2

I was watching Star Movies last week and was surprised to see a preview of a new Narnia movie.  I'm sooo looking forward to watching it and made a mental note of the movie's schedule (bad idea, you'll know why later).  I didn't even know that there is already a third installment for the Chronicles of Narnia film series!  I can't wait to watch the "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader". . . And I can't wait to see the White Witch again! She's one character I hate but would love to see again, haha!

Photo Source

When I saw the White Witch at the first Narnia movie ("The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe"), I thought she was Cate Blanchett!  Haha!

So as a follow up to my "Two Peas in a Pod" post, I thought of googling for some pictures.  And as I did, I learned that I wasn't alone in mixing them up!

Here are some of the photos I saw:

Photo Source

Photo Source

Photo Source

And my most favorite picture . . .

Photo Source

If you like more of these "Separated at birth" type of photos, please click here.

P.S.  I totally missed watching the movie! Aaarrgghh!  Not that I forgot about it, I had the wrong date!    *facepalm*

Love according to Iya

Here is another post on Iya (Zola's cousin) which is really heartwarming.  She had this sweet conversation with my dad (she calls him "Cong-cong" which means grandfather in Chinese)

Iya: Cong-Cong, ilang taon ka na?  (Cong-Cong, how old are you?)

CC: 73 

Iya: Sana umabot ka ng 100 years old  (I hope you reach 100 years old)

CC: Bakit naman?  (Why?)

Iya: Kasi love kita  (Because I love you)

Awwww. . . . *heart is melting*

As my dad said, these are the simple joys in life that money can't buy.

All of us define love in different ways.  For Iya, at a young age, I guess it means having to live for a century so you can just spend more time with the people you love and care about.  

Wishing everyone a LOVEly week ahead!

Spread some Loving. . . . =) 

Dancing . . . It's more FUN in the Philippines!

"INJURED"!

No, I didn't sprain an ankle during my exercise. . . I got blisters! Haha!

My shoes (I've had them for a couple of years now) weren't ill-fitting (or so I thought) when I used them on the first day.  But after 2 days of Walking, my blisters got worse.  I guess it's true what they say, women's feet grow after pregnancy.  I think mine did!  Mom was nice enough to buy me a new pair. *grinning*  (Thank you Mom!)

So my sister and I went to the Nike Outlet store in our city and just what I expected, I couldn't find anything that fit me (I'm a size 10 and I have wide feet!)  But I don't get discouraged easily. . . I went to the Men's Section! Just in case you're wondering, I'm a size 10 in Men's! And now an 11 in Women's! LOL . . .  I tried my best to choose a pair which won't look like men's shoes and this is the closest I came up with.

Photo Source

The Nike LunarSwift 2!

I am perfectly happy with my choice. . . these running shoes are comfortable, light and well-cushioned.  Personally, the polka dots were a plus, haha!  (Wooommen!)  Because they add some sense of style to the shoes.  These shoes are not only good for exercise but can be definitely used for casual wear as well.

For a detailed review of the LunarSwift 2, you may read this runner's blog, A Fly in the Wall.  

Have a nice weekend everyone! 

Baby Steps . . in Exercising!

Photo Source

As I'm writing this post, my feet, legs and thighs are aching . . . because I officially started exercising (Walking) this morning!  And I think my mom is the happiest person in the world now!  Haha!  She's been asking me (and sometimes pushing me) to lose weight!  And the more she pushes me, the more I don't do anything about it.  (Sorry Mom)  

I admit, I am a lazy bone  when it comes to exercising!  I only exercise when I know I have to loose weight for a special occasion . . . like our wedding day! Haha!  But my cousin M is right, I have to think of The Little One and make her my motivation.  I want her to have a mom who can play with her and run after her.  She needs a mom who has the energy to be with her as she grows up and starts to explore the world out there.  A mom who is healthy . .  .spiritually, emotionally and physically.   

As Elle Woods said (Reese Witherspoon's character in "Legally Blonde"), "Exercise gives you endorphins.  Endorphins make you happy."  

As much as I hate exercising. . . it's true, it does make me feel lighter and happier.   

I know I have a long way to go. . . but I'm glad I took my first baby step today.

Please Lord, help me . . . make me love Exercising! LOL