We have a big bottle of ube haleya in the fridge which has an expiration date of one month so I don’t know how we would finish it. Of course I don’t want to waste it as it’s not cheap and it’s made by nuns in Baguio. Have you tried it? It’s really good and made with no preservatives hence the short expiration date. So I thought about baking ube bread. Wow it’s been a long while since I last baked something. Hmmmn… let me think when’s the last time… I really can’t remember so I guess it’s been almost a year.
Another factor why I baked? It’s because of the weather! It’s so hot outside it will be perfect for dough rising. And I was right.
Ube Bread
Ingredients:
1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 tsp. sugar
2 tbsp. lukewarm water
1 small egg + 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup milk
1 tbsp. melted butter
1 1/4 cup bread flour (additional for dusting)
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup ube halaya
6 inch diameter round baking pan
So I had ideas about shaping them. I don’t want to make a loaf because in my experience before in baking monggo bread, the filling inside didn’t distribute well. It didn’t have that nice design even though I rolled it well. I thought about making it cinnamon rolls style too. Also individual buns where I’d use my muffin pan. But I ended up making knots and baking them close together in a round baking pan and it turned out really pretty. I haven’t made knots before so I’m just glad it turned out well.
Lumpiang Sariwa with veggies as filling is what I want so bad. With sweet potato, turnip, carrots, tofu, and more veggies wrapped in a soft crepe like wrapper with sweet and salty sauce. Before if I want to eat and if how I want it is not available then I’d just buy the ingredients and cook it myself. But given my current state (pregnant) I am still not myself yet. I just want to eat but I can’t cook. So how? I tried to trace the old vendor in our village who prepared my sought after lumpiang sariwa just like how I want it. Actually, I didn’t like lumpiang sariwa before I tasted one prepared by her. She used to sell in our village beside the Admin office but she’s not there anymore. Oohh I will not stop. She used to sell it at only 20php or 25php only. How I miss cheap and good food.
While I was torturing myself with this craving, another fire related news came on tv. The fire trucks wasn’t able to go in the street in front of the burning house because there’s a big hole in the middle of the street. Some renovations has been started but it was left unfinished for two weeks and then the fire happened. Only one fire hose was able to reach the house. Whew! Again, I couldn’t believe myself. My dear Philippines.
Is crazy! I can’t say what I like and what I can and cannot eat. It’s so hard. Forgive me for complaining but this is really difficult for me and to be honest, I feel like it has kicked me out of my comfort zone. See, food used to be my comfort zone. Now, I lost it. This pregnancy has made me feel like I have healthy trim side effects I am experiencing all day everyday since the moment I learned I am pregnant.
One of the thoughts that has helped me get through from day to another is the assurance given to me by my Mom and OB-Gyn, that the moment I pass through my first trimester, I’d feel much better and I’d be able to eat well to the point that I will have to stop myself. Hmmmn… I’m passed my first trimester and I feel much better but not when it comes to food. I have really bad food aversions and I have more of it than the foods I can eat. Did I mention that I still can’t cook? Whewww! This is the longest break I have from cooking.
I guess I just have to wait until things get better.
Wahhhh! I guess this is the right word to describe how I was and still am feeling these past weeks… I am always hungry! A different kind of hunger I have never felt before. The kind of hunger that scares me as it is painful and it needs to be dealt with ASAP.
Only able to smile a bit after I felt relief from drinking Milo. Wahhh!
Yeah, I am always hungry, but I have a problem; I can’t eat. I feel like vomiting whenever I put food in my mouth. It’s like JBL Subwoofers are banging in throat! So yeah that’s my predicament these past weeks. I’m always hungry as in like every hour but I can’t stomach food. I feel like crying like a baby whenever I feel the hunger coming up and when I’m forcing myself to eat. Ok, to be honest, I’ve cried more than a couple of times already. Out of frustration and hunger. One was gentle crying the other with shoulders rocking.
I don’t recognize myself anymore. I used to LOVE food. Just the thought of food used to excite me. Just looking at food photos made me salivate and when I finally get my hand on that food, 100% of the time I had to stop myself from eating way too much, more than my tummy can handle. Now just the thought of food makes me want to cry. I feel like I’m fighting a battle whenever I’m eating. I also have to drink ice cold drinks to help with the nausea.
Another thing is I can’t cook anymore. I used to love cooking. I took my time sauteing the garlic, onions etc until they sweat fully but now I can’t even stomach just the smell of it. Now my poor husband has to do the cooking that is after his day of work. I feel guilty. Like my mother, one of the ways I show my love is by cooking for them. Now I can’t do that. I truly hope he understands. So far I think he does.
Oh and I have another confession. I used to snob junk food, specially instant noodles. Now they are my life saver. Boiling hot Nissin Seafood noodles cured my mad hunger. I can’t eat healthy home cooked meals. I’m scared to eat just any food before I research if it’s safe or not. I don’t know. I’m desperate. Now I understand just how it feels to starve so bad.
Oh and I lost a lot of weight already. Ahhhhhh! I can’t wait until this phase is over!!!
I’ve always wanted to become pregnant and be a mommy. Since I know that I need to do these kind of things in the perfect time and with the right person, I put a full stop on this dream for years. Fortunately, I reached a point in my life when I am in that place and everything is right for that dream to happen already. I am now married to a wonderful and funny man, and I felt ready for motherhood since last year even before we got married. I am one who do things when it feels right. He asked me to marry him year 2008 but I did not feel like myself is ready for marriage then more so having a baby.
After getting married baby is next but it seemed to be more difficult for me, that’s what my Reproductive Endocrinologist told me. Still it is possible, we just need some help. So I took medications. Wow, it was not easy on me. Those medications made me feel down and low and even caused me to gain a lot of weight. There are times when I was so down I always cry. It is so stressful and the fear of not knowing if will ever happen or if it is even possible was just haunting me. Add to that other different stress life brings and I was a mess on the inside. I was always mad at the smallest things. Thank God I have my family who understands.
Then by December of last year, a really big stress in my life is finally gone. I guess I was stress free that month and happy. I also reached that point when I just prayed to Him leaving everything up to Him since having a baby is beyond my control. I said to my husband, we will do our part then just pray. If it happens then great I’ll be very happy if not then try again. Trying again is much trickier since time is not on our side. But I have my faith. Knowing the odds, I didn’t keep my hopes too high.
Then I got the biggest surprise of my life. It was positive! That is after feeling sick and feverish for about a week .I was actually really scared to test because seeing that single line really broke my heart many times. I really waited for day 35 before I used a home pregnancy kit. I really couldn’t believe my eyes. I immediately went to Asian Hospital for the first pre-natal check up. Talking about being excited. I was only 4 weeks 4 days then.
Still can’t believe I am now pregnant. My husband is happy same with Mommy and my Dad is so cute and being extra caring with me. Haha he is really excited which is something I somehow knew would happen. Why? He is the one who keeps on asking me when I’ll give him a grandchild. Haha I told him, “Daddy, you know it’s not easy! It’s not like I could just go to the mall and pick the one with the most dots!”
Now I am at 8 weeks and boy it’s not been a walk in the park! I have trouble eating as it makes me feel like vomiting so I can’t eat much but also, I am always hungry! I’ve never felt this hungry before! This kind is different, the type that makes worries me. The first week I lost 2 lbs now I guess I lost even more. I really lost a lot of weight. I even wake up at the middle of the night because of severe hunger.
I stopped using lotions. I am extra careful now. I want to use comodynes but I guess that will have to wait until after.
All of these inconveniences are worth it because after a few months I will have a baby! I so wanted to have a baby that I tried to adopt many times before and even went to an orphanage just to cuddle a baby. Now I will have my own. Thank You Lord. I am so happy.
I am a person passionate over food, even more for simple foods like eggs and eggplant. I love eggplant! Whether it’s fried or grilled, I’d take it anytime over fried chicken and pizza.
So it’s no wonder I also like other variations of it.
Ensaladang talong is one of those dishes that excites me.
Read the rest of this entry »
The past 3 months has all been about shawarma for me. Before that I know what shawarma is, that it consists if minced meat (can be beef, lamb, chicken, fish) and veggies but I never paid attention to it. Early November I was really busy and I resorted to fast food to eat but is totally sick and tired of the usual fare you would find in the malls, always fried chicken and pizza. So a shawarma stall caught my eye. I bought a large one to taste it and my initial reaction was, hmmmn ok.. that’s new.
Then I started feeling this crazy urge to try different shawarmas. I had a fancy shawarma from a fancy restaurant delivered in Mommy’s office once (again to try it) and was disappointed. I don’t like the more authentic tasting shawarma but prefers the localized version which only costs a fraction. I’d take that anytime.
So I have tasted Turk’s Shawarma, Babba Shawarma which can be found in any SM Supermarket food stalls, Chummie Shawarma in Festival Mall, Uncle Moe’s and two in SM Pampanga, Passport foods (which isn’t my type) and Jetnor’s Shawarma in SM food court. I like Jetnor’s the best and it has that something that makes you addicted to it! Too bad it’s too far from Cavite huhuhuhu I can’t have it anytime I want. This seriously makes me a bit sad. Oh and I have to try Jacob’s Shawarma which they say (over the net) is the most authentic shawarma in the Philippines but I’m not really that interested as I like the localized version better. But let’s see, it doesn’t hurt to try.
Small is worth Php40 and large is Php50. It’s beef with cucumber, tomatoes and onions with garlic sauce, cheese sauce and the chili. And the guy preparing your shawarma si kind of nice too. I’ll try to take more pictures of it once I get my hands on it again. Whew just thinking about it makes me salivate. Haha I am officially crazy over Jetnor’s and I can tell everyone around me is getting tired of hearing me talk about it all the time!
During the holidays with all the food available to us to munch on, it’s only shawarma I wanted. Constant craving so bad I’ve always invented reasons to drop by there. One time I brought my niece Mae and had her taste it. Guess what, she liked it so much she’s as crazy fro it now as I am! She even bought two for herself. Am I a proud aunt or what? Hahaha too much influencing going on then.
Now that Bee is here and because he’s a Kapampangan, we’re always going there to spend time with his folks and I have to be honest here, first thing we’ll do right after we pass through San Fernando exit of NLEX in to get myself two large shawarmas! When is this phase going to end? I’m tired of thinking of it when I am too far away and other shawarmas just won’t do it for me.
I really am interested in making shawarma myself. I need a good recipe that taste like it. Where on earth?!
By the way, Happy New Year to everyone!
My healthy but very filling plate of pan grilled chicken, steamed buttered veggies and pancit with lots of veggies. Yum.
Been craving for nasi lemak real bad. One day I saw a local food stall franchise in SM offering the rice of nasi lemak (I tried making it myself but it’s not the same hmmmn) so I bought it and bought a fried chicken wing and good thing I still have the chili of nasi lemak in the fridge and with cucumber pa! So here it is. Nowhere near as good as the real nasi lemak but I have to give it to myself for at least trying haha.
Once upon a time I got somewhat addicted/obsessed to some kind of Halo-Halo. (Well I just realized, I’m always addicted to something, obsessed with something.) So yes, macapuno.
See I always want to make things myself, this is usually with food, to make them better than if I just buy them. (I want to learn how to sew now.) But I also get lazy hehe. So What I do is I compromise with myself. Like in this case, instead of having an all star cast of Halo-Halo The Movie with sweetened munggo, beans, bananas, jackfruit (langka) and gulaman and tapioca pearls (gelatin and sago), I just pick my some from my favorites or whatever is available in the market. So sometimes my halo-halo will just consist of sweetened saba (plantain) bananas and sweetened macapuno. It taste as good. For me, together with the effort (effort counts like 60% of everything) nothing beats homemade.
So buying macapuno is a hit and miss as you won’t know the quality of it until it’s cracked open but somehow the vendors know which is good and not. So I just want to share this photo. These gorgeous gooey macapuno. This should act as basis for future macapuno purchases. It shouldn’t look like simple coconut. It flesh should be thick and gooey, water thick as well. Hmmmn… temptation temptation!!!!
This I have made months ago. Haha so late. But I think this is too pretty and yummy not to post here. But honestly I have forgotten what I put in here to write a decent recipe. But hmmn let’s try. Perfectly boiled eggs (do you know that there’s a right way of boiling eggs?) mayonnaise, celery, salt and pepper and a bit of carrots and a dash of curry powder. Here’s a rough guide. Boil the eggs then cool down to room temperature. While the eggs are cooling down, wash and chop your celery and carrots and onions. Once the eggs have cooled down, mash it with a fork, don’t dice it too fine, better to have some bigger chunks in it. Then add the mayonnaise and celery, onions and carrots and salt and pepper to taste. Can add a bit of mustard but we don’t have that then. This is a nice snack for someone to show them you care or you can give them New Asus Tablet Canada, whichever you feel like.
I have also fried some crinkle cut fries with this. Oh and I like this with coffee. Yum.
I love eggs. Good thing it’s in my list of foods I can still eat now.
