some more random thoughts

Mga Panaginip

may ilang linggo na din akong "sober"..
may ilang linggo na din akong hirap makatulog..
may ilang linggo na din akong hirap sa tulog..
may ilang linggo na din akong puro panaginip..

kahit nakainom ako ng alak bago matulog, ganun pa din.. parating may mga panaginip na hindi ko maintindihan..
minsan bangungot na pero hindi naman ako makagising..
nakakpagod.. kulang parati sa tulog.

natatakot ako lumabas ng bahay dahil hindi ko alam kung paano makitungo sa iba..
lalo na sa mga taong nagmamahal sa akin..
pilit ko silang tinataboy at nababalewala dahil sa ako ay walang kwentang tao sa mata nila at ng iba..
sana matapos na itong lahat na ito.. parang bangungot, hindi ka naman makagising sa katotohanan..
tao lang at maraming pagkakamali.. hindi na makabangon.. walang pagasa.. wala ang panaginip ng mabuti at payak na buhay.. kailangan mabuhay sa mabilis at makamundong reyalidad ng buhay..
hanggang kailan kaya? sana maarok ko ang sagot...

Random Thoughts

I just dont know paano mabuhay sa panahon ngayon

there are times when i wake up, my mind always in turmoil.. how to go about things, whether to follow my dreams or to live how people say i should..

mahirap ang pumili kasi malaki ang mga nakatayang bagay.. ang kasiyahan, kalusugan, ang tino ng pagisip..

kailan nga kaya ako matututo?.. alam ko ang kailangan kong gawin pero ang mga taong nagsasaabing nagmamahal sa akin ay naiinip dahil ba sa mabagal ang takbo ng buhay ko at nakikita nilang walang nangyayari o di kaya ay masama lang talaga ang karma na dumadating sa buhay ko?

pinipili ko ang simpleng buhay pero hindi ito sapat para asa kanila.. pinipilit kong maging payak pero maiiwan ka naman sa bilis ng takbo ng buhay ngayon. wala kang patutunguhan, pagtatawanan ka dahil sa ang pinili mong buhay ay ganyan.. walang asenso at walang kwenta..

sino nagsabi na husgahan nila ako at sabihin yun sa ibang tao at hindi sa mukha ko sabihin ng harapan..

masama akong tao pero pilit pa rin silang lumalapit.. pilit ko nang lumalayo para hindi na sila madamay sa buhay ko.. masama akong tao, walang kwenta sa kanilang mga mata..

turuan ninyo ako magmahal.. sinibukan ko pero kulang pa rin.. hindi sapat ang pagibig..
"fish is the begining of love.. minsan nawawala.." kulang pa rin.. hindi yata ito magiging sapat. ano nga kaya ang kulabng/ pera at karangalan siguro. kapag mapera na ako dun siguro nila ako makikita sa tunay kong anyo at kulay, pagkatao at sa lolobin.

kapag ikaw ay walang pera, aalipustahin ka.. wala naman nagsasabi na gatusan ninyo ako. kung wala eh di wala.. mahirap ba intindihin yun?.. hindi ko na alam ang aking gagawin sa buhay ko... ang alam ko dati masaya ako.. ngayon hindi ko na talaga alam.. sinunod ko ang mga bagay at gawain na alam ko ay magpapasaya at magpapaganda ng buhay ko pero hindi ito sapat.. parati pa rin may kulang.. ano nga kaya? sana mayhanap ko ang kasagutan.. sana nga..

Talks & More Talks

there are times when we could talk for hours on end..
there are times when we could talk about nothing and fall silent for many hours..
there are times when i would do all the talking...
there are times when she would talk & i wont answer at all..

i'm glad that we talked last weekend..
taking things slow will make us find each other again...

taking surf pics

Upon Taking Great Surf Pictures

Mahalo!

there are lots of reasons why people get into photography, may be it personal, professional or just to keep moments of special occasions whatever the reason maybe but surf photographers are a different breed! i salute them!

before becoming a surf photog you should have the right know how & eqiupment for it. a simple under water camera for taking pictures of fishes & other marine scenery would not suffice. your underwater casing should be able to withstand the great pressure that a wave will force upon you & your camera. a 4 foot high wave will excert almost a ton of force in pounds when you're on the lip and then crushing you & your camera upon breaking. and being under all that water will certainly break a camera housing. alot of surf photogs have custom made housings which they themselves designed & tested out for there are just no casings available in the market today made specifically for taking pctures out in the surf.

also the photog should learn to be confident & comfortable in the surf. in which it could be very harassing just to go out where the waves are breaking. i remember once at Makati isaland at eastern samar where we have to paddle for 45 minutes just to get to the reef break, head high waves and bowls just right then another 45 minutes to get back to shore. a wave runner can bring you there but who has a wave runner in the middle of a lonely island? you have to have passion for it or else you'll quit the first time you encounter something like this also getting reef cuts, jellyfish or shark attacks is also a consideration. then the photog should know how to surf, respect the ocean & the people living around them. being in top physical condition is a must if you wish to be there at the surf & make sure that you know how to take pictures & time the shots taken to get the right effect or picture you want. of course you can take pics at the shore but you should have real big lenses to get the pictures you want. the surfer & the surf. nobody will apreciate a picture of a surfer that will only be a dot on the whole frame but i have seen pictures taken from the top a hill & still you'll grow in amazement how it was taken. hiking up a mountain just to get that shot is very very tiring but the rewards of getting the perfect shot is worth all the effort.

you should know when the right conditions are for great surf so that your trouble of getting there, the right equipment & the cost of going around would be all worthwhile. weather watching is an element that can't be taken out of consideraton.

someday you'll learn to be a good one for sure..

love for photography is not enough, you have to love of the sea & the surf lifestyle as well..

surf's up! hangloose! Shaka!

La Pizzeria and Kinabuhayan food trip

Yesterday was a very sad day for me.. somebody really close to me went home to England and won't be seeing her again for sometime.. I will be waiting.. how ever long it will take.

But thanks for close relatives and caring friends, the day was filled with happy and fun moments, it started out with my Tita Mati and Tito Nonoy with their son Sherwin and my other Tita Sione coming at the house to visit us just before lunch. So we prepared Siningang PorkChops with Kaffir lime leaves, Grilled Eggplants and Fried Big Eyed Scad with a Chinese Inspired Tomato salad and steamed Pandan rice. Lunch went great with lots of stories and catching up. Started to feel better, gave them herbs from my garden, Pandan, Holy Basil, Tarragon, Thai Spinach, Native Oregano with the white bordered leaves (rare) and the normal one, saw-tooth Coriander, Garlic Chives, Turmeric, Kaffir lime leaves and a few green Papayas all which I planted and now trying to propagate. It was a nice feeling for they appreciate the simple things I gave them. I wish I could have stayed longer but have to run to San Pablo City, Laguna with a friend, Michelle Domingo, just before noon time. She said she wanted to try out her new Nikon D40, shoot at Kinabuhayan Cafe and needs a break from the city. So I'll happily tag along.

After meeting up with Mich and driving to the Total Gas Station at Barangay San Rafael at San Pablo City which is known for their seven lakes, there was a Pizza place simple called "La Pizzeria." A hole in the wall pizza shop where there's a wood burning oven making the pizza truly authentic with lots of toppings to choose from, Margherita, Hawaiian, Prosciutto and loads of other veggies and cheeses to choose from. Its only at one size, 14" and good for 2-3 persons, good for 1 if you're really hungry. We ordered our favorite, Quattro Formaggi (Four Cheese.) It was made in the authentic way with a machine roller and tapered wooden rolling pin. Topped with a very simple tomato sauce, chunky as the way i like it and it looked very promising! Then with Parmesan, Mozzarella, Feta and Romano Cheeses, making me drool while we were waiting for it, after about 7 minutes in a really hot oven, the pizza looked so yummy! With the edges a bit browned black! Trully nice! Very authentic indeed! We took out first slices and it was just perfect! I never thought that pizza this good was just hiding at San Pablo City! All Thumb's up!

After eating a couple slices I wanted more but I was watching my diet but if I were given the chance I could have finished all that big thin crust pizza in one sitting! It was the best! No other pizza came close to this except for the Four Cheese Pizza at Gourmet restaurant going up to Tagaytay City but with the price at PHP 220.00 for dine in with additional PHP 20.00 for the take away box it's not a bad deal indeed! Will go back for more soon! All variants are priced all the same. Goes really well with a cold beer! Sarap Buhay!

After the Pizza eating we went to Kinabuhayan Cafe at Dolores, Quezon. Just several minutes from La Pizzeria. Visiting my Chef friend Jay Herrera was a very nice thing for his place is truly amazing with the open huts and Pinoy Gourmet food that he prepares will make every second fun and relaxing. I was feeling even better now. With a managerie of dogs and a Pig named Onion did make every visit truly interesting aside from the stories and friendship. Jay served us Pancit Guisado Miki Bihon for Merienda, yummy with ice cold softdrinks and water! I miss the cafe for I worked there a year ago. Not much had changed and I'm glad that it did not. I was home again. Was able to reflect on my demise. Have to get ready when that time comes. Jay and I are like very close for we have a lot in common, our cooking styles and philosophies, chatting away with him made me feel really good and that I was not sad anymore. I look at him as a mentor and father figure. He is a very kind man. He is very kind to me. Then the bookings came so he was busy and also it was time to go.

On the way home I started to see that everything is good. I felt so loved. All is good..

Kulitis and Saluyot Fritters with Dill Aioli

Kulitis, Saluyot at Talbos ng Kamoteng Kahoy Fritters with Dill Aioli

You will need the following:

Saluyot leaves, freshly picked
Kulitis leaves, freshly picked
Cassava tops, tender leaves
Sweet Potato Tops, tender leaves
Any Indigenous Vegetable e.g. Eggplants, Okra, Sweet Potato, Cassava root: sliced thinly 1/4 inch thick and patted dry
Mallunggay Fruit, Peeled and cut to 2 inch length
cooking oil for deep frying

For the batter:
All purpose flour, Half a cup
Cornstarch, 2 Tbsp
Cold Iced Water, as needed

For Dill Aioli:
Mayonnaise, Half a cup
Garlic cloves, 2pcs chopped really finely
Dill leaves, 1 tbsp
Salt and white pepper; to taste
Kalamansi juice, as needed

Procedure:
Heat up your cooking oil in a frying pan.

Mix together all purpose flour and cornstarch, pour in cold iced water until mixture has the consistency of thick cream. Please do not over mix because the gluten will develop and the batter will turn out gummy and the fritters won't be as crispy.

Wash the leaves and other veggies, pat dry so batter will stick well.

When oil is hot at about 350 - 375 degrees Fahrenheit or 150-160 degrees Centigrade. Begin to prepare for frying.

Dip leaves or veggies one at a time in the batter making sure all the leaves are well and evenly coated with the batter, not too thick.

Drop in the hot oil and fry for several of seconds for the leaves and couple of minutes for the veggies or until batter is crispy but not browned.

Drain on absorbent paper towels and serve with the aioli.

For Dill Aioli DIP:
Mash the garlic until its very fine.
Mix with the mayonnaise and add in the Dill leaves minced.
Season with salt, white pepper and kalamansi juice.
garnish with a leaf of dill.
Serve with the fritters as a dipping sauce.

Note: Talinun and Alugbati leaves doesn't work well because of the water they have present in their leaves. They make the oil sputter and its a bit dangerous because the oil is really hot.

Aioli dip is good for fried fish and onion rings also.

Try out if Ampalaya leaves are good for fritters also. Send me your comments.

HAPPY COOKING!

recipe: Garden Flower Salad

Garden Flower Salad

kailangan ninyo ng mga sumusunod na sangkap para sa apat:

sa ensalada:
talbos ng pancit pancitan at takip kuhol, tig-isang bungkos
mga bulaklak ng Impatiens, Mallunggay, Caballero o Gumamela
Preskong gulay na sayote, carrots, singkamas, cucumber, sibuyas o kundol, angel hair or jullienne, pino ang pagkakahiwa
Ensalada greens katulad ng pako or fiddle heads, Lollo Rosso, Lettuce Baguio at Arugula
Prutas katulad ng balimbing, kamatis, o rambutan, hiniwa

sa Nouc Nam Dressing:
apat na malalaking kalamansi, piniga
apat na kuytsaritang Patis Labo
isang siling Labuyo, hiniwang pino
isang butil ng bawang, dinikdik
Saw-Tooth Coriander, isang dahon, hiniwa ng pino
isang dahon ng native Oregano, pino ang pagkahiwa
white pepper ground, sa panlasa
Virgin Coconut oil, apat na kutsarita
Virgin Olive oil, apat na kutasara

Ilagay ang sangkap ng dressing sa isang bote. kalugin at tikman.
dagdagan ng patis o kaya ay langis.
Isang tabi muna.

Ilatag ang salad greens sa isang salad plate, ilagay ang ginadgad na gulay at ayusin para maganda sa paningin, ipatong sa isang tabi ang mga talbos, ikalat ang mga kamatis at ibang prutas.
Ayusin ang mga bulaklak sa ibabaw ng ensalada at ito ay iyong palamuti na din,
Kalugin ang Dressing at kutsarahin sa ibabaw ng ensalada.

Mainam na ihanda sa mga bisitang gusto bumaba ang presyon ng dugo at ang glucose level.

mga halamang damo na nakakain

Eto ang ilan sa mga putahe na inihanda ko para sa demo ng mga lokal nating gulay. Saluyot, pancit-pancitan, talbos ng kamoteng kahoy, gabi, kulasi, santol, balimbing at mga bulaklak ng katuray, mallunggay, caballero at gumamela. Marami tayong tinatawag na "indigenous vegetables." Umaabot ito sa higit kumulang limangpung klase, ampalayang ligaw, saluyot, hanggang talinum. Karamihan nito ay napipitas ko lamang sa tabing daan at bakanteng lote. halos libre siya dahil ang pagod at tiyaga mo sa paghanap o "hunting or gathering."

natatandaan ko kapag nababaskyon kami sa Aurora, Isabela. ang daming gulay ang pinapakain sa akin ni Lolo Pedring. Nakasakay pa kami sa kalabaw niya na sobrang laki. ang sarap sumakay sa kalabaw. Ang pakiramdam ko ay para akong nasa ibabaw ng mundo. isang higante sa umano'y maliit na daigdig. Kaya siguro lumaki ako ng ganito. mahilig kumain ng kahit anong ihain sa harap ko. basta sabihin lang nila na nakakain at mahusay sa katawan at isipan ay sigurado titikman ko.

ang aking mga putaheng naituro ay Puso ng saging Burger patties; Saluyot, Kulasi, talbos ng kamoteng kahoy at bunga ng mallunggay fritters at Dill Aioli; Sinantolan at kuhol; Fresh Garden Flower salad w/ Nouc Nam dressing, at Gumamela jam na toppings sa sorbetes o kaya ay palaman sa tinapay.

Madadli lang naman lutuin ang mga ito. isusunod ko ang mga recipe nila..