Scalloped Potatoes

Instead of making the usual masked potatoes I decided to cook Scalloped Potatoes to go together with our Meatloaf.

Ingredients
5 large potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium onion thinly sliced
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups of milk
¾ teaspoon salt
1 tsp teaspoon pepper

1. In a greased 21/2 quart baking dish, layer potatoes and onion.
2. In saucepan, melt the butter, stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk, salt and pepper, cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thick and bubbly. Pour over potatoes.
3. Cover and bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours or until tender.

a

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I didn’t do anything much last Sunday so I decided to bake a cookie for my hubby and to practice my cooking skills as well. I only have limited ingredients so I chose to bake Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Ingredients:
Set Aside:

2 ½ cup flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
2 cups chocolate chips

Cream together:

1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup butter crisco or just crisco
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

1. After creamed add the flour mixture slowly then add the chocolate chips.
2. Bake for 8-10 mins

Note: Can also use Peanut butterchips
Vanilla
Butterscotch
M & M
Reese pieces

Tocino…what happened?

I made my very first homemade Tocino last week. Since I got here in US, I have been practicing how to cook since I definitely know that I suck in this field. Yes, I am terrible in kitchen; I can do simple cooking like frying but other than that, count me out.

So, since I was craving for tocino for the past few days and with a friend recommendation, I did make one for my self. Unfortunately, the pork that I used doesn’t have enough fats so I made a mistake. It didn’t turn out the way I wanted it to be. I should have used pork that has a fat. Well, maybe next time, I will be able to perfect it and will show you how to cook it.

Registered Pharmacist..

She did it!!!

My sister recently passed the Pharmacists Board Examination. After the entire uphill struggle that she went through, the innumerable paperworks, the never-ending assignments, the strenuous examinations and the frightening teachers, it paid off.

It is really a sweet bliss for her for passing the examination as I have seen her struggled all throughout the course. Plus, the fact that there were monetary problems that cannot be prevented; it was not easy, it felt like that the hill that she was going through was so steep that she can hardly walk.

Now, the time has been successful for her, to face the reality arm with proper education, experiences, and great mentors. It will be tough yet again but I am positive that she will surpass everything. And as her sister, I will be always proud of her for being so tough amidst all the darkness. And will always be her number 1 fan. Great Job sis.

Who likes Chocolate?

Who likes chocolate? I do. Why wouldn't I like it? It’s the best thing in the world. J I can consume a bar in 10 minutes and would love to have more. Isn’t it weird? I guess it’s not really the peculiar side of it but it’s more of the taste and moreover, they concur that it has a positive health benefits, especially the Dark Chocolate. There are different types if chocolate;

Types of Chocolate:

* Dark chocolate is produced by adding fat and sugar to cacao. It is chocolate without milk as an additive. It is sometimes called "plain chocolate".

* Milk chocolate is chocolate with milk powder or condensed milk added

* Semisweet chocolate is often used for cooking purposes. It is a dark chocolate with a low (typically half) sugar content.

* Bittersweet chocolate is chocolate liquor (or unsweetened chocolate) to which some sugar (typically a third), more cocoa butter, vanilla and sometimes lecithin has been added. It has less sugar and more liquor than semisweet chocolate, but the two are interchangeable in baking. Bittersweet and semisweet chocolates are sometimes referred to as 'couverture' (chocolate that contains at least 32 percent cocoa butter); many brands now print on the package the percentage of cocoa (as chocolate liquor and added cocoa butter) contained.

* Couverture is a term used for chocolates rich in cocoa butter. Popular brands of couverture used by professional pastry chefs and often sold in gourmet and specialty food stores include: Valrhona, Felchlin, Cacao Barry,Callebout. These chocolates contain a high percentage of cocoa (sometimes 70% or more) and have a total fat content of 30-40%.

* White chocolate is a confection based on sugar and fat (either cocoa butter or vegetable oils) without the cocoa solids. Technically white chocolate is not chocolate, because of the lack of cocoa solids.

* Cocoa powder There are two types of unsweetened baking cocoa available: natural cocoa (like the sort produced by Hershey's and Nestlé using the Broma process),and Dutch-process cocoa (such as the Hershey's European Style Cocoa and the Droste brand). Both are made by pulverising partially defatted chocolate liquor and removing nearly all the cocoa butter. Natural cocoa is light in colour and somewhat acidic with a strong chocolate flavour. Natural cocoa is commonly used in recipes which call for baking soda. Because baking soda is an alkali, combining it with natural cocoa creates a leavening action that allows the batter to rise during baking. Dutch-process cocoa is processed with alkali to neutralise its natural acidity. Dutch cocoa is slightly milder in taste, with a deeper and warmer colour than natural cocoa. Dutch-process cocoa is frequently used for chocolate drinks such as hot chocolate due to its ease in blending with liquids. Unfortunately, Dutch processing destroys most of the flavonoids present in cocoa.

* Compound chocolate is the technical term for a confection combining cocoa with vegetable fat, usually tropical fats and/or hydrogenated fats, as a replacement for cocoa butter. It is primarily used for candy bar coatings, but because it does not contain cocoa butter, in the US it is not allowed to be called "chocolate." This is especially true for much candy passed as "white chocolate" , which need not contain anything from the cacao bush at all. This can translate to poor taste, texture and possibly health concerns, particularly when partially hydrogenated oils are used to replace cacao butter.

Dark Chocolate

The consumption of high-cacao-content chocolate has been correlated with positive health benefits from flavonol antioxidants derived from the ground and fermented cocoa seeds of Theobroma cacao.

Well, even chocolates have health benefits too..Interesting, isn't it?

WILD WATER RAFTING

I thought zip line was the most extreme activity that I would be in but ah ah, early this year we had the chance to do what I called the most amazing adventure I had, and that was Wild Water Rafting.

Yes, Wild Water Rafting is really a thrilling and exciting adventure that individual should try. It may look scary but when you get to try it, you would be asking for more.

Let me give you a brief detail of Wild Water Rafting:

Rafting or whitewater rafting is a challenging recreational activity using an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other bodies of water. This is usually done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water, in order to thrill and excite the raft passengers.

Whitewater rafts

The modern raft is an inflatable boat, consisting of very durable, multi-layered rubberized or vinyl fabrics with several independent air chambers. The length varies between 3.5 m (11 ft) and 6 m (20 ft), the width between 1.8 m (6 ft) and 2.5 m (8 ft). The exception to this size rule is usually the pack raft which is designed as a portable single-person raft and may be as small as 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) long and weigh as little as 4 pounds (1.8 kg).

Techniques

Rafts in whitewater are very different vehicles than canoes or kayaks and have their own specific techniques to maneuver through whitewater obstacles.

• Punching - Rafts carry great momentum and on rivers hydraulics that are dodged by canoes and kayaks are often punched by rafts. This involves the rafting crew paddling the raft to give it enough speed to push through the hydraulic without getting stopped.
• High Siding - If a raft is caught in a hydraulic it will often quickly go sideways. In order to stop the raft flipping on its inside edge, the rafters can climb to the side of the raft furthest downstream, which will also be the side of the raft highest in the air leading to its name. In this position the rafters may be able to use the draw stroke to pull the raft out of the hydraulic.

Safety

Whitewater rafting can be a dangerous sport, especially if basic safety precautions are not observed. Depending on the area, legislated safety measures may exist for rafting operators. These range from certification of outfitters, rafts, and raft leaders, to more stringent regulations about equipment and procedures. It is generally advisable to discuss safety measures with a rafting operator before signing on for a trip. The equipment used and the qualifications of the company and raft guides are essential information to be considered. Moreover, in any private business for this sport, they see to it that there is a professional tour guide with you.

Who is into extraordinaire adventure go and experience WILD WATER RAFTING

Sunday..first time in Church

Yes, I know that I did not make an effort to go to church since I got here. I was scared and I didn’t know where the church at coz the first time I was here I’ve seen Baptist churches and Jehovah’s Witnesses Church. I came across churches with cross symbol out in the building but still doubting if it’s a Catholic church. It took me forever to ask someone where the Catholic Church at.

So last Sunday which was, August 16, we went to church, finally, and while we were walking to the front door, I was still trying to think what to expect in a different community. Will this be the same in the Philippines, I was really worried and I don’t know why.

Anyway, all in all the whole mass celebration was of the same in the Philippines and I was truly amazed with myself coz I was able to easily feel that I belong. I sang songs that I have always been singing and reply to words that I am really familiar with. I must say, that I truly missed going to church and I’m glad we went there and we promise to hear mass every Sunday

Zip lines

There are so many zip lines in Davao City, which you would really like to experience as they have different impacts on customers. What do I mean by this, yes, they are likely the same, according to Wikipedia A zip-line (also known as a flying fox, zip wire, aerial runway, aerial ropeslide, death slide or tyrolean crossing) consists of a pulley suspended on a cable mounted on an incline. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to traverse from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable, usually made of stainless steel, by holding on or attaching to the freely moving pulley. Zip-lines come in many forms, most often used as a means of entertainment. They may be short and low, intended for child's play and found on some playgrounds. Longer and higher rides are often used as a means of accessing remote areas, such as a rainforest canopy.

But by meaning of different impact is how they design their zip lines, some can go as 70-120 kph, some can do superman, do tandem or sitting. So it is really a new breath taking feeling.

I have had the opportunity to do all the zip lines in Davao City. First stop, was in Camp Sabros, which was by so far the longest zipline I had tried. They have a superman zipline, where in you will have to lay down on your stomach and enjoy the view while you are transferred to another hill in less than 20 seconds. The coming back, is the most exciting part, since you will be in a cable car and you will be able to feel the air rocking your chair while you are in it. Cool, Isn’t it?

Second, was in Eden Nature Park, their zipline is different in Camp Sabros, since you will have to sit down. And while you are transported to another hill, you will see the view of Davao Gulf, which I definitely think is incredible.

The third one was in Outland Adventure, which offers a different variety of positions that you like to do. There are sitting, superman and tandem. I chose the superman as I want to feel the wind blowing on my face and I feel comfortable in that position.

Last but not the least, is in Samal, this is the zip-line that I want to do but wasn’t able to because at that time the owner closed the business. This one is different from the rest, because, instead of ending on another hill, you will be submerging into water. How is that? I think this would be the coolest of all the ziplines.

So if you are interested in all these zip-lines. Come and Visit Davao City.a

Mango Shake

Alas..a friend of mine gave me mangoes last week while I was at there place. I have been constantly telling her that I have missed the fruits in the Philippines, especially mango. How happy I am to have met a Filipina neighbor, feels like im at home.

Anyway, so this morning I decided to make a Mango shake for myself since Dan, according to him is not really a fruity person. I just made a very simple recipe for my Mango shake.

Ingredients:

2 mangoes

1/2 cup sugar

3 cups Milk

By using a blender, combine all together the ingredients. Mix thoroughly until all the mangoes are well blended. Serve. Simple.Isn't it?

Friends...

I am so much happy and thankful for I have friends who I can really call my own and will always be there no matter what. They have been there at times that I needed the most. Friends, who undeniably will be at your side even if I didn't tell them anything yet. See just by your actions, they would know for sure. I am just glad that I have met them and I am pretty sure that the feeling is mutual. We have been friends for more than 10 years already and of course still going strong. We may have our own differences but it doesn't hinder us of weaving our lives together. In fact, our own set of differences, are the reasons that is making us stronger everyday, coz each of us has our own characteristics and we learn from each other, from each others experiences.

Since I got here, I super missed them. There was never a day that I didn't think of them. But this doesn't mean that we are severing our communication. With the help of Social Networking Sites and Online chatting, we managed to update ourselves with whats happening in our lives. Although, its not everyday but the point is we are still making time to talk and update. Isn't that great?

Distance may separate us but we will always be there for each other, a friend who can lean on in time of merry making and sadness.