LP 5: Noche Buena in Singapore

Though Christmas is just an ordinary holiday here in Singapore, we were able to make it a grand celebration in our own home for the past many years. Not only because we were so excited to celebrate it as an independent family unit, but also because we were able to understand among ourselves the meaning and importance of each other as made stronger by the relevance of the birthday of Jesus. Though of course, the thoughts of all the laughter and merriment and the joys being with relatives during Christmas made us a little bit sad, the fact that we were together as a family made us so thankful.

Having a happy family celebrating Christmas every time, I was inspired and wrote Singapore Christmas Story. In it, I was able to tell that we Filipinos celebrate Christmas with a table full of food.

Our Christmas celebration last year was so wonderful for us a family. But when I was still basking on the merriment brought by the celebration and ate a lot the next morning, I felt guilty the next moment. The time I was eating with much gusto, the Asian tsunami devastated homes and killed lives. How would you feel when every minute the number of dead people escalated into thousands?

With the memory of last year’s calamity, I told myself that I would minimize the materialistic celebration of Christmas. And maybe, it was just a coincidence, but on Christmas Eve, I really felt that there were a lot of angels around. It was really a different christmas

So for our Noche Buena, I prepared simple dishes. Just enough. For the Filipino in us. For the angels .And for Jesus. To honour Him with food we prepared together as a family.

menudo, as cooked by my husband

kare kare, as cooked by yours truly

pasta as cooked by my second daughter

potato salad as cooked by my youngest daughter

That heavenly taste

I really like chicken in whatever way it is cooked. Though my favourite is fried, I enjoyed eating Kenny Roger's Chicken which is roasted. Come to think of it, it has cheese macaroni and sweet corn with baby carrots or you can have a choice of fruit salad and rice or any other combination, you'll really be able to consume all with much gusto. After that your next meal will be the next day's dinner. And surely, you'll be tempted to order the same dish again. But on second thought, I rather explore other restaurants. Variety is one of the the answer to life's never ending problems. Same as variety in food preparation style is the answer to our never ending search for that heavenly taste.

LP 4.5: Puto Bungbong

I am so happy visiting Jeff's site for he's posting photos of things he sees while on vacation in Manila. One of those is this photo of the puto bungbong.

As you all know, puto bungbong is a Filipino delicacy associated with Christmas. During early dawn of the Christmas season in the Philippines, foods are abound in the streets. For after the morning mass called "Simbang Gabi", (note: during my childhood days, the simbang gabi were celebrated in the evenings) people who attend mass are welcome outside the church with an array of food to eat that are all affordable.

My favourite then was the puto bungbong. Not only that I liked its colour of purple for it was made from purple yam, the shredded coconut with white sugar or at times white sugary sauce tasted heaven on my mouth. A real yummy!

With Jeff's photo of the puto bungbong, I feel I am in the Philippines eating it with a happy and contented heart. And with a vision of a purple mouth, who can beat the feeling I am having right now?

NO TO PLAGIARISM. I believe on that. We should give credit where credit is due. And so I would like to thank Jeff for giving me the go signal to use his photo of the puto bungbong.

LasangPinoy4.5

Japanese Food

I am not really a fan of Japanese food. Though my youngest daughter is very fond of it, I am reluctant to eat those food she brings everytime she can. But then, when I tried eating these food, my perception changed. Japanese food is delicious.

Getting Ready For The Holidays

Now that Christmas is approaching, my book Complete Guide to Food and Cooking will be a great help for me in preparing our Noche Buena and Media Noche.

Me and my daughters are already discussing on what to prepare, on what ingredients to buy and what dishes to cook. We eve came to a point wherein we were weighing on whether to travel to a neighbouring country and spend the holiday there. But then, our being Filipino became more dominant among us. We decided to spend the holiday at home for isn't it nice to cook and eat food at home together?

So, I am already browsing this book of mine.

And last Sunday, we went to NTUC for we wanted to eat fish this time. We bought 2 white snappers. I paid SGD 12.00 for these 2 white snappers.

I read the Fish Doneness Test on page 166 of the book. And of course I didthe test with my white snappers.

To test fish for proper degree of doneness, insert the fork tines into the fish. Then twist the fork gently.

PROPERLY COOKED FISH

When the fish is opaque, begins to flake easily, and comes away from the bones readily, it is properly cooked. The juices should be a milky white.

My white snappers passed the test. And ubos nga eh!!!!

Shakey's Pizza

When I was still in the Philippines I used to eat at Shakey's. For I like its pan pizza better than Pizza Hut's. Though, I could say that Pizza Hut's pizza is also okay.

Over here in Singapore, there's no Shakey's only Pizza Hut. That was why I was so happy when I visited KL for over there they have Shakey's.

Wow! I really enjoyed my pan pizza.