Wednesday, December 31, 2008

I thank God for the year 2008...

As the year 2008 comes to an end, I would like to thank the Lord for everything that has happened in my life, whether good or bad. The good things encouraged me to do better, and the not-so-good ones challenged me to give my best.

To all that I have offended, I apologize. To those who have helped me in any way, thank you all so much. I have survived 2008 because God has blessed me with people like you.

This coming new year 2009, I pray that God will continue to bless me and my family, relatives, friends (cyber ones included of course!), and colleagues with more hope, faith and love that the rest of the new year will be better than ever.

Allow me to share this message I have received from a well-wisher: God is the reason why even in pain we smile... even in sorrow we believe... even in betrayal we trust... and even in fear we continue to fight.

Again, happy new year to all!

Monday, December 22, 2008

Pork Siomai Recipe

As requested in my previous post, here is our recipe of pork siomai.  This is the simplest one can make.
  • Ingredients:
    • Pork Siomai
      1/2 kilo ground lean pork
      1 bulb of garlic (minced)
      2 eggs
      1/2 teaspoon salt
      ground black pepper
      280 grams siomai or molo wrapper (this pack usually contains 30 pieces of 3"x3" wrappers)

    • Sauce:
      soy sauce
      calamansi or lemon extract
      1 bulb of garlic (minced)
  • Directions:
    • Pork Siomai
  1. In a large bowl, mix the pork, minced garlic, eggs (need not be beaten), salt and pepper.
  2. Put a teaspoon of the mixed ingredient onto the center of a siomai wrapper.
  3. Pull up the edges of the wrapper towards the center, making sure the meat mixture is being covered.
  4. Steam the siomai for 15-20 minutes.

  • Sauce
  1. In a pan, bring to a boil 1/4 cup of cooking oil.
  2. Put the bulb of minced garlic, stirring continuously until golden brown.
  3. Drain the garlic from oil. Set aside.
  4. In a sauce bowl, mix soy sauce and calamansi extract (lemon will be good too).
Serve the steamed siomai, soy sauce and lemon mixture, and browned garlic separately. Others may not want garlic on their sauce. If you prefer, you may also add chilli sauce to your soy sauce and lemon mixture for added spice.

Happy cooking!!! :)

Sunday, December 21, 2008

ASCENT Christmas Party

We had our company Christmas party last Wednesday night in Congo Grille at El Pueblo in Ortigas, Pasig City.  This time of the year has been my much-awaited company event. Unfortunately, I was not able to bring a digicam nor did I remember to take pictures using my mobile phone. I was just busy posing for others' cameras. And now, I don't even have a single picture to look at to remind me of how the party went. :(

Anyway, it's gonna be a few more days before I will be back at work and can grab pictures my colleagues have taken. I'll post a couple of them here and create new albums on our multiply account and my friendster too. :)  So, please come back soon.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Christmas Eve Menu

Mama and I have finalized our menu for the Christmas Eve. As earlier planned, we shall have fettuccine carbonara, macaroni salad, and instead of chicken lollipops, we shall have drumsticks. And because it is quite cold here due to our close proximity to Tagaytay City, we shall also have pancit molo, and pork siomai to match it. And for dessert on Christmas Day, we shall have fruit salad.  However, we decided to forego the traditional ham and queso de bola, since we are not really big fans of those.

We are set to prepare the salads tomorrow, and I'm just hoping we won't finish eating them before the Christmas Eve. *lol*  As for the other food, we'll cook them on the night of the 24th.

I'm so excited already!  :)

Friday, December 19, 2008

Vacation Day 2: a couch potato looking forward to the Christmas Eve

We're home in my mom's place and I have a 24/7 access to the Internet. But why don't I feel so excited about using it? I just check my mails every now and then, log on to my blogger account to see if any blogs I'm following has anything new, if none, I scroll to the older posts. It's the reader-not-a-writer in me, I guess.

Anyway, this is my second day of vacation, and I haven't done anything productive nor interesting. I've been sleeping the whole day, eating as soon as I wake up. I'm having a slight headache, and I'm thinking "have I overslept already?" *lol*

But of course, looking forward to the Christmas Eve, Mama and I have been planning for the menu.  We're only five in the house, and we're not really expecting any guests, not until the Christmas day that is, so we are just thinking of preparing something we will all love: fettucini carbonara, macaroni salad, chicken lollipops.  That's what we have in mind right now.  But I'm still thinking of something else that I would love to feast on during the Christmas Day.  Suggestions, anyone?  :)

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Christmas time again...

This day marks the start of my 18-day vacation from work. Christmas is just around the corner!


Free Christmas Countdown

Merry Christmas everyone! :)

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

my life as a wife... for now.

I have been "angel-less" for four weeks and 2 days now. No, not that guardian angel sort of thing, but an angel as I call household helpers.

And despite the fact that nobody else takes care of our household chores but us, Husband and I feel that we are more relaxed coming home, enjoying our meals and helping each other out with chores that need to be done.

And here is a list of the things I certainly enjoy doing at home even if it means having less rest time:
  • Preparing our meals. I need to get up 30 minutes earlier to prepare our first meal of the day. And even at times I still feel very sleepy and the thought of myself snugging in bed seems to pull me back to sleep, I get up and do some cooking. And at night, when I come home after work, I still prepare food for dinner. Sometimes I cook, other times I just re-heat left-overs. It is rewarding to see that Husband enjoys the meal so much so that he ends up doing the dishes. ;)

  • Taking care of our clothes. Having been brought up by my Mama to wear clean and well-pressed clothes no matter how old the clothes may be, I kind of imbibed that obsession in me. Without a helper to do the ironing, I can meticulously press our clothes, making sure that we both look neat wearing them.

  • Cleaning the house. I used to avoid cleaning the house because I am very much allergic to dust. Even if I use mask to cover my nose, or I use vacuum cleaner to dust off the entire house, I would still have my allergic attacks. Fortunately, I have discovered using the mop to clean the floor and everything else that can be mopped. :) The house is clean, and I don't have to worry about rashes or swollen eyes because of allergies. It feels good to come home when everything around is clean and orderly.

  • Movie marathon. And who says I need to spend all my time doing the chores? Well, it's not really a movie marathon, we just watch one movie every night on poqui. And it's a great feeling after a day of work and some household chores to cuddle up in bed sharing laughter over some comedy films. :)
And last night, due to my insistent demand, we installed the red and green Christmas lights on our door. Christmas spirit is in the house, at last! :)

Shut Up. You're making me famous!

Ever since Husband and I got together, we have been enjoying wearing same shirts. Not just same color, but exactly the same style and prints. We have identical jerseys that we use when we play badminton together, and sometimes we wear them during family gatherings. And last Saturday, during the 1st birthday celebration of Husband's nephew, who is also my godson, we were wearing identical shirts again... this time, statement shirts. :)

And when we are wearing same shirts and somebody asks where Husband is, or who my Husband is, it is easier to say "Just go find the man wearing the same shirt as mine... he is the one!" :)

Kris Kringle Week 4: something red and green


Well, actually, when I reviewed the list, it's not really something read and green, it said something red / green [meaning OR]. But I think everyone prepared for something red and green. :)


I am lucky that the one who have drawn my name is, I think, as excited as I am to prepare for our weekly kris kringle. He or she hasn't failed to give me a gift even for just a week. But for my colleagues who haven't been receiving any, despair not. Your giver is just probably playing some practical jokes on you. ;)

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Kris Kringle Week 3: something funny

I am wondering how or why can this be funny? 8-)

Christmas lights



22 days to go before Christmas!

The child in me couldn't help but get fascinated with all the lights displayed in various colors, shapes and sizes. It is Christmastime indeed!

Nothing has been officially announced yet, but I am now excitedly looking forward to the 16-day Christmas vacation! That will be 16 days of get-together opportunities with good friends, both old and new, time to bond with the family and catch up on latest happenings, and time to take care of some unfinished tasks before the new year comes.

Wherever and with whomever you are spending this Christmas season, may it bring you all the fun and blessings that your heart truly desires.

Merry Christmas everyone! :)