Hello friends! A bit of a public service post here, as requested by my cousin, Erika. We all know the #MayonVolcano situation and every bit of help can make a change, even your PHP 70.00 can already feed many. But of course, if you have more to share then please do for our fellow Bicolanos weathering this challenge.
The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Legazpi Dawani is undertaking Project Oplan Kaagapay, a reach-out mission to provide assistance to the displaced villagers within the eight kilometers danger zone of Mayon Volcano.
JCI Legazpi Dawani is accepting donations in cash or in kind for the Oplan Kaagapay Wave 1 scheduled on Sunday, January 28, in Camalig, Albay. Cash donations as low as PHP 70.00 will feed a family of 5; or in kind donations of eggs, pancit bato, dried fish (tuyo or tinapa) will help sustain their meals on that day. Please contact any of your Dawani Friends.
Donation in Kind can be endorsed to 2GO Express drop points
Cash Donation can be endorsed to Dawani's East West account or any Palawan and Cebuana branches.
Oooohhh...I'm cleaning up for New Year's but all I can think about is doing a digital clean-up first...hahaha..talk about procrastination :p
So another 'forgotten' blog in my drafts folder is this Beef Stroganoff recipe from Bree Drummond's book - The Pioneer Woman Cooks Dinnertime. Would you believe?? I actually made this back in October or November but am just blogging about it right now at the end of January. Yikes! :) Oh, and this is also the "debut" of the induction cooker from my mother-in-law :) Thank you so much! I really wanted to try it because I feel it is safer to use when I have the kids roaming around, and it cooks faster and I get to use my cast iron cookware too! :) Achieve!! Pak, ganern! Hahaha..
So what got me interested in this cookbook would be the glowing reviews of other homeschooling moms in the US. For now I only have a preschooler and a little baby but a part of me wanted to get in the groove of doing, managing and having it all in the home front so I gave this book a try (In hindsight, it's never an easy task and I don't think I ever did "do well" in doing it all...we all need a helping hand sometimes). I downloaded the kindle version because, I'm "low EQ" when it comes to books (I really couldn't wait) and it's cheaper that way :)
And from this side of the world, I was really enamored with their homesteading life & lifestyle. I mean, if I really wanted to "do it all" then this is the ultimate "doing it all". Just wow! And you know what, I really enjoyed her writing style that is very conversational. Even if I haven't heard her speak or seen her in person, I feel like I'm really hearing her voice (and maybe some of their horses in the background). Hahaha! Or was that Neiighhhh? :) Of course, I also liked her recipes and the simplicity of how it's presented. Nothing too intimidating for a beginner home cook like myself.
Perhaps the part of her book that is making me look forward to when the kids are a little grown - is when they would just come in the kitchen and just scoop up a meal that I would have "effortlessly" prepared by then. Do you see that vision too? I guess you would be able to relate if like me you are also a little bit jittery (excited and anxious) every time you cook cause you want to do it perfectly, as how you imagined the taste to be.
Alright, so enough of my rambling and let's go on to the recipe, as adapted from Bree's cookbook :)
INGREDIENTS
1 lb sirloin steak, cut into small cubes
salt and pepper to taste
2 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 large onion, finely diced
2 carrots, finely diced
8 oz cremini or white button mushrooms, stemmed & halved (I used the canned mushroom)
1/2 cup brandy (I omitted this, adding an equivalent amount of beef broth instead)
2 & 1/4 cups beef broth
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup sour cream, at room temp
1 heaping tsp Dijon mustard
**I added a small block of cream cheese too**
Buttered Parsley Noodles for serving (I omitted this and used rice instead)
Minced parsley for sprinkling (I didn't have fresh so I just used dried parsley and added while cooking)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Season the steak with salt and pepper. Then heat 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. [When buying induction cooker, make sure to test your pots and pans first. Easy way to do this is to test with a magnet. If it sticks, then you're good to go!]
Add half the meat to the pan and sear it quickly (yes, until brown). Do the same to the rest of the meat.
2. Remove and set all the meat aside.
3. Add the remaining 1 TBSP of olive oil to the pan and add the onion, carrots, and mushrooms.
4. Cook until the mixture is deep golden brown, about 5 minutes.
5. Turn off the heat and add the brandy. In my case, it's an additional beef stock.
6. And 2 cups of the stock. Stir, scrape the bottom of the pan and turn the heat to medium-high.
At this point I remembered to set my Zojirushi MICOM Rice Cooker to cook our rice so it gets done just in time for the Beef Stroganoff.
7. Cook to reduce the liquid by about a third, 3 to 4 minutes.
8. In a small pitcher, make a slurry by mixing the remaining 1/4 cup stock and the cornstarch.
With my little kitchen helper :)
9. Pour the slurry into the skillet and cook until the sauce thickens, 1-2 minutes.
10. Turn off the heat. Stir in the sour cream and Dijon
11. Then throw in the beef and stir until the mixture is nice and piping hot. Taste and adjust the seasonings. I also mixed in the cream cheese.
12. Sprinkle with parsley before serving :)
VERDICT??
It tasted good!!! Rich, creamy and I love that it tastes mushroom-y. I love shrooms! :D
BUT, the meat was a little bit tough! Guess I need to tenderize it for the next time I make this.
SOME SUGGESTIONS from BREE..
This meal can be made ahead, especially for busy folks. Cut up the meat and prepare the veggies up to 24 hours in advance. Store in separate containers in the fridge until cooking time.
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging and social media activities, I may receive monetary compensation for links to products from this post. However, I only recommend products that I personally love and use myself :)
Hey everyone! I've been loving Facebook and Instagram stories so much but felt like some of these stories definitely shouldn't disappear in 24 hours!! So here you go, I'll be giving a blow by blow of My Sunday :) It's something I hope to continue (in like forever) so I'm not too M.I.A. here in my blog hahaha :) So how this goes is I still go on FB or IG stories, collate my picture and tell you the story later on. Sounds great?!
This story began late last year when our college blockmate, Mr. Ang, called Daddy A and asked if he can be his groomsman for his wedding. My first reaction was, "Carlos!!!" And all college memories seem to come back like it was just yesterday. You see, for the most part of our freshman year, Carlos and I were seatmates because we were seated alphabetically by surname. Front row, oh yeah!! Front row with our "terror" accounting prof, first ones to get called at class recitation, etc. We were seatmates but as per usual, the boys really bonded with their computer games. I think they also bonded well because of their LRT (train) commute and boyhood shenanigans.
They invited us so that Daddy A can be fitted with a suit and they graciously hosted dinner. We "returned the favor" by showing them what life with tired kids could possibly be like. I think they were shocked! Well, I for one was #shooketh too! Imagine the hysterics in a fine dining restaurant. This is where one would say, "lupa, lamunin mo ako"
Chicken Shawarma with fries and Passionata drinks (not in picture)
Anyway, their wedding day came and off we went to EDSA Shangri-la Hotel for so that Daddy A can join in the pictures with the other groomsmen. I just waited downstairs and had a wonderful time with my Kindle, I kid you not!
A view of EDSA Shangri-La Hotel's poolside
I'm not usually one to post OOTD pics but I think this would be a first. For most days I would be in a shirt and jeans but on this day my legs and my self-esteem (haha) braved wearing shorts! It was okay (and they were on sale! Yipee!) but it got a little bit too cold in the hotel.
Me trying to take a photo of my hair & make-up which I painstakingly did...I don't want to show my whole siopao face so there goes the heart :p
As I was saying, I enjoyed my Kindle reading time until I found out....they had free wi-fi connection. And it was super duper fast! I couldn't resist so I logged onto my Lynda.com account and brushed up on my pending "lessons". Thank you so much to my cousin Ate Julie for this!!! Sooo helpful, you have no idea!
By the way, I'm still trying to learn more about youtube and videos despite the fact that I got Youtube's email that my Youtube channel is one of those that wouldn't be eligible for monetization. Bahahaha..I admit it got me a bit sad that evening but still - #PUSH. Besides, although I'm not earning too much from Youtube, I'm really enjoying editing and posting our home videos, no matter how amateur it looks.
I love Lynda.com
Okay, the wait went past an hour already and I only had very light lunch at home. I just know my tummy won't be able to handle not eating until the wedding reception so off I went to the lobby for some snacks. I asked for a quick snack, they recommended Chicken Shawarma wraps and Passionata iced tea. It IS expensive for what it is (see first picture) but it was really yummy and I was really famished so, take my money, hotel people!!! Of course, this is partly driven by vanity too! *peace* there's a nearby mall which is really just walking distance but I don't want my make-up to get icky before the wedding starts. Hahaha...
So while waiting, I read some more. The books I read were The Christian Parenting Handbook and The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy. I think I need to blog more about the parenting handbook but basically, it helps direct my parenting style as I'm especially struggling between discipline and punishment. In a nutshell, what I learned that day is that most parents are usually right, but not all are always wise. If there are challenges, we have to find the balance between firmness and relationship. Being too firm, our kids might feel like we are just all about rules and being too strict on them. Being too lenient, kids will also be confused because they also need boundaries from their parents. So balance is key. That's what I'm praying for. That's what I'm working on.
Now when it comes to oils and aromatherapy, I only use Young Living. I'm just a few months in yet I'm completely won over! I love the oils and I super duper love and appreciate the support of my team. High Five to the Oil Happy People! :)
However, I'm open to literature that can help expand my knowledge on how to use these oils safely and effectively for me and my family. Valerie Ann Worwood's book is one that I definitely recommend, even if it is not brand-specific.
I've used some of her recipes, and it does indeed support for our family's health concerns. I have more books coming up so I just can't wait to dig in! P.S. If you'd like to talk about oils, just send me a message :)
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Okay so on a Sunday, the drive from EDSA Shangri-la to Fernwood Gardens takes around 45 minutes via EDSA. I know I've been here before some 15 years ago, when Daddy A and I were still dating. And now we have 2 kids! What?!?! I can almost remember my cousin's wedding here. I was a bridesmaid (I think), the motif was blue, I had plantsadong hair hahaha..and our family, I mean most of my cousins and aunts and uncles were all here. Those were the days...
A tip for you, although this is common knowledge, go to the wedding venue early. It saves you from stress and it also helps you find a good parking space. Another tip? Bring comfortable shoes. Not all areas here are paved. Learn from my mistake, my stilettos took a minor beating. Aaackk!
So the special part...the wedding...I really love this part, I'll almost always tear up and cry ugly during this moment. I always think back to our wedding. And then I'll feel how the parents are feeling. Mostly the parents who'll be away from their children. Bittersweet....
The mother of the bride, Ms. Helen, she looked lovely...she really honestly looked like the bride's sister. She was always smiling but I can feel that there's a bit, just a tiny bit of longing. But the bride, she was aglow! When we met her together with Carlos, I could really tell she's a kind and happy lady. So in that aspect alone, Carlos is really lucky! Carlos and his parents also looked really good! I felt like a Tita seeing Carlos so different from the seatmate he once was. Wow!
And you know what? The band was simply fantabulous!!! I can almost fall in love again, good thing Daddy A's there to catch me..hahaha, sino pa ba, di ba? LOL! :D I actually told him that if in the future he can afford to surprise me with a party..to please please please hire this band! Good job really to the Impressions Music Ensemble. Ang galing niyo po!!! :D
Okay, so while the wedding entourage were taking post-nup photos with the couple, we also had some photo session for ourselves right by this phone booth. Hahaha.
Superman
I guess now's the time to thank our OOTD creators hahaha... Daddy A's suit courtesy of the couple is from ZARA Man, his custom-made pants is from Boy Kastner Santos. My dress is from SURCO. :D
Madame
This place is sooo dreamy, right? I can only wonder how many romantic proposals have taken place in this gazebo??
Another shot, this time I tried to apply filters..
Ooohh-la-la. Kids, cover your eyes!
Guess whose plate? Which is his and which is mine?
The party ended at around 9-ish and although most have taken their leave, I really wanted to stay pa for the band coz they are playing one of my faves!! Ahhhh....I'll post some of the links below so you'll hear for yourself...Warning: goofiness in the next videos.
Congratulations & best wishes Carlos & Monique!!!! :D
UPDATE: I got a message the following day from one of the groomsman whose account was suspiciously familiar. Surprise! Turns out he's the husband of a former student of mine. Now I really feel old :)
*In the spirit of full disclosure, there are affiliate links on this post, which means that I may get a commission if you decide to purchase anything from Amazon and Young Living. I only recommend products & systems that I use and love myself, so I know you’ll be in good hands :)
Whoa!! It's Little Miss Z's 4th birthday!!! I know we have just had a big celebration the last weekend but this is a very important day for us and no one's to stop us from celebrating again :) So off we went to the place where she wants to have fun -- Kidzoona! :)
This is really a spur of the moment thing and since we have help at home (borrowed our Ate A from my parents'), we had a mommy-daughter bonding time where I imagined we'd play to our hearts' content. That was the vision. But oh my, SM San Lazaro's Kidzoona is so vast! Gaaaahh...a little too much to handle for a middle-aged (hehe) mom like me. When you have to run after a toddler in a very big play area, trust me, you'd feel old too! :)
Nevertheless, the most important thing is that she had fun. We were part of the mall-openers so we had Kidzoona all to ourselves for the first hour that it opened. I almost cried as I thought back to a couple of years ago when we first brought her there to have a last play date with her first caretaker, "Yaya J". So much has changed, indeed. We've always had to hold her hand and assist her in every nook she wanted to play in, or she might fall over. Now, she just basically runs through the whole area in a very confident manner. Pretty soon, she'll be conquering a bigger play area and I hope we do our jobs well to prepare her for that.
Dearest Z....this early we already have mommy-daughter ups and downs, but always remember that you always make us proud no matter what and that you'll always be our baby even when you're fifty! Mommy & Daddy love you so very much...And I know, little E adores you as his big sister, too! :)
Where we spend the continuation to our bonding -- the newly opened Cafe Mary Grace at SM San Lazaro. We loved the Perfect Plate (indeed, because it has salad, pasta, cake), Carbonara, Squash Soup. She loved the Tiramisu! :)
Of course by almost 3 PM I realized we've been gone for longer than originally planned. So we got some balls and other necessities at the grocery so we can prepare for our dinner :)
Our Dinner Menu
Hotpot with Balls
Inihaw na Liempo (trying out our Saladmaster smokeless grill...thanks to my parents for this!)
Sauteed Shrimp in Crab Paste (Aligue)
Whoooooppssss.....Dearest E, yes...I promise to make you a photobook too!! Wahahahaha :)
How to wind down after a slice of cake and lots of dinner? An impromptu bubble party! We finally got to use this bubble machine we've had since May! Too bad we weren't able to use it during the kids' party...anyhoo, great for home parties naman hahaha :D
Wife to "my loving chinito" Arch. Andrew, homeschooling Mommy to our bright-eyed and beautiful Little Miss Z and also to our cutie ball of laughter Baby E. Prof to my students at the university and a Licensed Real Estate Broker too!
Food, fitness, travel, oiling, and a good read are my cheap thrills and absolute pick-me-uppers.
Happy to explore love and life - then in black and white, and now in technicolor!
