Wordless For My Man - Part 5

Wordless for my Man... but photo captions allowed. (wink!)

our last prawn and baron beer dinner...

i'm so excited to claim my love cheques babe =)

loved your atama kata massa-ji?


google, google baby! *wink*big-smile* lol!

let's not burn our healthy bread next time ha... hehe...

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Mommy Ybeth's Photoshoot

When: October 24, 2009
Where: MacRitchie Reservoir Park
Photographer: Mark Cannios

*partial photos (will get the full-cd copy next week)

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Cooking On A Sunday...

Since I'm loaded with so many activities for Saturday, I decided to do my usual cooking session on a Sunday afternoon instead. So after attending an early morning catholic mass and meeting some friends for a hainanese chicken rice lunch at joo chiat road, I proceeded to doing my weekly grocery at a nearby Tampines Mall supermarket. Detailed ingredients and procedure/s of each dish is at http://ybeth-food-journey.blogspot.com/

Menu for the day:
1. Gambas Aglio
2. Chopsuey with Prawn
3. Chicken Afritada
4. Eggplant Omelette (Tortang Talong)

all the ingredients

My man requested prawn dishes for our dinner so item 1&2 for him while 3&4 is for my office weekday lunchbox. Hehe...

gambas aglio

A very famous appetizer, you'll find this dish present on major nightclubs and bars in the Philippines. Gambas aglio is perfect partner for beer and/or some local cocktails. Basic ingredients is olive oil, tabasco and lots of garlic and ginger. I'm happy with the outcome, I know my man will love the thick spicy sauce.

chopsuey with prawn

Me and my baby tasted this dish at 2 of the biggest Filipino restaurant here in Singapore - 7,107 Flavours in Marina Square and Bonifacio at Kreta Ayer. And he personally requested me to prepare one like that. So the pressure is on! Hahaha... I cook the chopsuey based on my Mom's recipe. The end result tasted similar with what we ate before. Well, will update you guys what's my man's verdict later. (wink!)

chicken afritada

Decided to cook chicken afritada since I still have some carrots and potatoes on the fridge. This is an ideal viand also for office lunchbox. Stir-fry all ingredients, pour some tomato sauce and viola! A hearty chicken and vegetable meal. Been a little trigger-happy on the seasoning so it turned out more salty. But quite tolerable, especially with you mix and it eat together with rice.

eggplant omelette (tortang talong)

If you are on a tight-budget, eggplant omelette or tortang talong in tagalog is one of best dish you can prepare and still have a nice meal. Though you can modify it also by putting minced meat if desire. Ideally, the eggplant must be grilled but since it's impossible for me to do so, boiling is not a bad option. Just be careful not to overboil the eggplant as you need to peel the skin before soaking it on beaten eggs. Fry with ample oil then serve with tomato catsup. Wow! So long I never eat this, can't wait for dinner time.

Oh well, the story ends here. Gotta go as I need to cook one cup of Thai fragrant rice now. So until my next kitchen adventure guys! Oh, and of course, I'm eagerly waiting what will be my man's dinner request for next week. Hehe....

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Wordless For My Man - Part 4

Wordless for my Man... but photo captions allowed. (wink!)

new page of our paradise falls book... :)

ready for your prawn dinner baby?

Love midnight drinking with my man!

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All I Ask Of You....

No more talk of darkness
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I'm here, nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you...

Let me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I'm here, with you, beside you
To guard you and to guide you...

Then say you love me every winter morning
Turn my head with talk of summertime
Say you need me with you now and always
Promise me that all you say is true
THAT'S ALL I ASK OF YOU

Let me be your shelter

Let me be your light

You're safe, no one will find you

Your fears are far behind you...

.

All we need is freedom

A world that's warm and bright

And you always beside me

To hold me and to hide me...

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Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime

Let me lead you from your solitude

Say you need me with you, here beside you

Anywhere you go, let me go too

THAT'S ALL I ASK OF YOU

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Thank God I Have You Baby Zy...

Looking at my son's recent photos, it made me reminisce those days when I would think back of the decisions I made in the past. When I was so scared and doubtful if I was making the right choices. The future seemed so bleak, I didn't know what to expect or anticipate. But now, as I am in the future of then, I am very much smiling. It's one of those times when I think about how I managed to get to where I am now. Since I become a mom, life hasn't quite been this good... and it's only going to get better.

Thank God for having Baby Zyrus. He is my pillar of strenght... My source of inspiration... My world... You my Son brought me to so much happiness... I love you very much!

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I'm in the mood for cooking... AGAIN???

You read the title right guys. Spent my Saturday afternoon in the kitchen again and cooked 3 different dishes this time - 1 fish, 1 chicken and 1 pork. But I didn't went wet market anymore, just at nearby grocery store. Detailed ingredients and procedure/s of each dish is at http://ybeth-food-journey.blogspot.com/

Menu for the day:
1. Ginataang tilapia (tilapia fish in coconut cream)
2. Chicken in baked beans
3. Menudocillo (minced pork in tomato sauce)

all-set for my cooking session

ginataang tilapia

As mentioned in my food blog, not everyday you'll find black tilapia here in Singapore. So I decided to buy one and ask my mom for any recommendation on how to cook it. She gave me two options, make it "pesa" (soup-based) or "ginataan" (coconut cream-based), I choose the latter as I miss this dish already. This is the first meal I prepare and turns out to be ok. Though, I wish I made it more spicy. My mom told me that the longer you store it, the tastier it will be,. Because the more the fish absorb the coconut cream flavor, the more it will be yummy. So I put everything on the fridge... can't wait to re-heat and eat it tomorrow.

chicken in baked beans

Next, chicken in baked beans. This is one of my Mom's very own original recipe. I remember when I was young, me and my brother always finish the food on our plate everytime Mama cook this dish. Now, even my Baby Zyrus loves it. So I tried preparing one for the first time. Again, I'm happy with the taste - little similar like how my Mom does it. Secret is you need to mashed half of the baked beans while stirring continously so the sauce will be thicker. Taste and presentation wise, I'll grade myself 8 out of 10 for this! Hehe...

menudocillo

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Very common filipino dish, menudocillo is minced pork in tomato sauce. This is not the first time I prepared this dish. I tried cooking this even way back when I was in Manila. But this is definetely the first time I did it on my own - no maid to buy the ingredients for me, no maid to do the cutting for me and lastly, no Mama to finish my cooking when I feel irritated already. Hahaha!

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Another tolerable standard dish from me. Hmmm... seems luck is working on my side today. Taste is a-ok. the meat, carrots, potatoes and tomato sauce blended well. It should have hotdogs though, but I forgot to buy one when I went grocery. I'll save some of this and bring it to office on monday for my lunch. :)

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Oh well, another saturday afternoon spent in the kitchen. Suprisingly, lesser finger cuts and water/oil burns today. Am I impoving or did I just choose hassle-free dishes? Or maybe I'm getting used to being a kitchen diva? Wow! Maybe my last statement will make all those certified cooking fanatics react violently. Hehe... I know I'm still far from being a food expert, but at least I'm sincere with what I do. I had fun and that's what matters the most.

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So kitchen apprentice Mommy Ybeth is signing off as she need to prepare for a Diwali dinner courtesy of Rica (it's actually his husband Tony's office celebration, she just tag me along. wink!). And hey Baby, before I forget I'll tell you something on whisper mode - I'm practicing how to separate egg whites from the yolk for your leche flan dessert and now thinking of what prawn menu to cook next dinner. You requested prawn remember? Hahaha! Goodluck Babe! =)

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Wordless For My Man - Part 3

Wordless for my Man... but photo captions allowed. (wink!)

our last breakfast dinner baby... you love the soyamilk? hehe...


you look so hot drinking manila beer during lunch =)

obeying what you signed? :P

more happy thoughts & great memories together...


another karaoke session? you're my one and only fan babe. haha!

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Cub Scout Baby Zyrus

Boy scout is for big boys... Cub scout is for little big boys. And yeah oh yeah, Baby Zyrus is a certified Cab Scout. He is soooo into it that everytime he roam around our home he will always say "left, right, left, right, left, right, left", march-style walk mode always. Whew! Also, he keeps on saying that he will give me a grand salute when I go back Manila on November. Imagine how sweet the gesture will be. My son plans to give honor to me, can't wait! Hehe...




Mommy Ybeth: so what do you do every cab scout gathering?
Baby Zy: so many things mommy but you know what I love most?
Mommy Ybeth: what mahal?
Baby Zy: unlimited coke in can every breaktime!
Mommy Ybeth: lol!



Baby Zy: i'm a cub scout mommy, should be ready to help someone always.
Mommy Ybeth: right mahal. very good my son!
Baby Zy: so mommy can i bring beggars to our home and feed them?
Mommy Ybeth: ah... ah... (not sure how to answer actually)
Baby Zy: mommy?
Mommy Ybeth: hmm... still thinking mahal...
Baby Zy: it's ok mommy, don't answer anymore... i understand.
Mommy Ybeth: why you said that?
Baby Zy: because i asked the same question to our scout teacher and he can't answer also!
Mommy Ybeth: waaaaaaaaaaaaa!



Baby Zyrus: we do cub scout activities in a group mommy.
Mommy Ybeth: really? that nice. nice teammates?
Baby Zy: yes mommy. but thier nannies prettier than yaya (his nanny)
Mommy Ybeth: oh, don't bring that topic again and again...
(*history - he's been asking me since he was 4 years old why his nanny is not pretty and requesting me to replace her with a younger pleasing one. hehehe...)



Baby Zy: i also won the drawing activity mommy.
Mommy Ybeth: wow! you got any prize?
Baby Zy: yes mommy. very precious - chewing gum!
Mommy Ybeth: (really laugh hard on that answer) :D


On a serious note, he knows that cub scout should be society's role models and serves as an inspiration for others (adult and kids-alike). I'm so proud of you my son. You have been living to the cub scout principle even wayback when you were still inside my womb. In fact, I'm the very first person whom you did such a big help. You gave my life direction. You mold a better me. Your mere presense reminds me to strive hard for our future. I don't know where will I be without you. Been continously thanking God for letting me have a treasure in you. I love you very much Baby Zy! You mean everything to mommy.

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Wordless For My Man - Part 2

Wordless for my Man... but photo captions allowed. (wink!)

looking forward with more months and years being with you...

don't you just love 11 baby? =)


pares-pares or lucky 9? hehe...

orange lemon tea with bubbles always gives us big smile korek?

hi spiderman! :)

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Happy 2nd Birthday Baby Xiara!

Even if her real birthdate is October 9, today is Baby Xiara's barbie-themed 2nd birthday party. Baby Xiara is my one & only niece and my brother's one and only daughter. Sorry sweetie that I'm not there to celebrate with you. Aside from your parents, always remember that Tita Ybeth, Kuya Baby Zyrus and Mama Lola will always be here for you.

baby xiara's baptismal reception

baby xiara's "dora the explorer" 1st birthday party invites

my brother alexander with his one and only daughter

baby xiara with her mommy sharon


baby xiara with mama lola and kuya baby zyrus

Again to you Baby Xiara, wishing you great years of happy childhood. I know you will grow-up beautiful, smart and God-fearing. We love you!

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