I'm in the mood for.... COOKING!!!

Happy weekend everybody! It's saturday and I'm not following my usual "get-out and hang-with-friends" schedule for today. Hehe... Decided to stay home and cook non-stop. Went bedok wetmarket just to buy all needed stuffs to prepare 4 different viands. Detailed ingredients and procedure/s of each dish is at http://ybeth-food-journey.blogspot.com/

Sinigang na Baboy (Phil Pork Tomyum)

Though I only used instant sinigang powder mix, I'm happy with the end result. Sourness of the soup is just enough and not overpowering the meat. Finally found kangkong leaves after minutes of roaming around the whole market. Another goodthnig this time, I didn't overcook the veggies - long bean and white raddish still crispy on every bite. Only problem is I put so much water again (well, I guess that's one of my over and over cooking mistake). So need to throw excess soup otherwise my sinigang will look like an olympic 10feet swimming pool where the meat and veggies are all doing thier breaststroke rounds. Hahaha!

Sopas (Creamy Macaroni Chicken Soup)

I asked my Mom for a dish I can make using my leftover roasted chicken and she told me to use it for creamy macaroni chicken soup (or sopas in tagalog). I found my mother's instruction very simple so I was very confident I can cook it properly. Smell was good, color of the food was enticing... but different story when I tasted it. Gosh, it tasted so milky as I put one big can of evaporated milk. It's so creamy that if you remove the soup from the noodles and put coffee on it you will have a nice aromatic mocha frap. Waaaaa! I was so frustrated with the result that I called my mother and complain. Turns out, I only need to put small amout of evaporated milk and not the whole can. The solution, throw 1/2 of the existing soup and add more water, put it to boil and season it with salt/pepper again. After so many adjustment here and there, I finally had a decent Sopas. Thank God!

Munggo Guisado (Sauteed Mung Beans)

End result of my munggo guisado is ok. Though taste is a little different since I think the beans here in Singapore is harder to boil and the bittergourd is not like the ones in Philippines (taste and apperance wise). Partner with hot steam rice and fish sauce, I ate alot of this earlier - and my stomach is still full up to now. =)

Green Mussel Soup

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Green mussel is tahong in tagalog and it is one of my favorite seafood. Preparing this soup is very easy as you only need to boil the water with ginger and salt, pour the mussel, wait for the shell to open and viola! Steaming hot hassle-free seafood soup in an instant

Saturday is about to end. After so many finger skin cuts and oil/boiling water mini-burns, I believe I had a productive day. I realize I can stay the whole day at home and make it interesting if I want to. I finished the green mussel soup and sauted mung beans but I still have 4 microvable containers stock on the fridge for my leftover sopas and sinigang. As to when will I eat and finish those foods I don't know. Whether I do this kitchen activity regulary, I can't say. But one thing is for sure - I really had a heck of kitchen fun!

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Gotta go now guys. Will meet with old housemates for dinner and cocktail. :)

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Wordless For My Man - Part 1

Ladies and gentelmen, it goes without saying that you'll all be seeing more of blog titles like this from now on. =)

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

Baby, every "wordless for my man" article is for you. No words enough to express how happy am I with you so let our pictures speak for itself. Thanks for everything. Love you alot babe!

dinner in bed

home-cooked red sauce pasta and red wine - perfect!

thanks for the suprise babe. love it!

our last park night picnic was too good

our tent ready for the next camping. hehe...

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Zy's Addiction: Bye Disney Cars, Hello Naruto

Sharing to you a recent conversation I had with my son.
Baby Zyrus: mommy, i don't want disney cars anymore.
Mommy Ybeth: ok, but why?
Baby Zy: i will turn 6 years old. disney cars only for little boys.
Mommy Ybeth: ohhh... so we will stop buying disney cars toys now?
Baby Zy: yes mommy but i have a new favorite.
Mommy Ybeth: really? what's your favorite now.
Baby Zy: naruto mommy. let's start collecting naturo toys ha.
Mommy Ybeth: sure mahal. you know mommy won't say no to you.

Prior to Disney Cars, my son got addicted to Barney, Spongebob, Justice League and Bob the Builder too. Gone are the days we used to sing barney songs together; watch spongebob episode over and over again; wear superman/ batman costume almost everyday; and just recently he gave up saying bob the builder's famous line "can we fix it". Now, all his old toy fascination are neatly displayed on a transparent cabinet as he is not interested with it anymore - adding his disney cars collection anytime soon.

Now my quest starts by getting to know Naruto and making myself familiar with him. Who is he anyway? I google an image and he seems like one of those famous japanese anime figurines. Whew, difficult to relate as I'm used to a more less-violent looking cartoon characters. Oh well, anythnig for my son. Can anybody help me where and how to start collecting Naruto stuffs? Is he available on any major toy shop here in Singapore?

School Boy Baby Zyrus

As Baby Zyrus started his primary education, it took time for him to adjust on proper school set-up as he was used to toddler class learning. Initial days, he was still expecting alot of play session and complaining why the teacher is always asking them to just sit and listen attentively. He get tired everytime the teacher ask him to write. He don't like assignment, he don't like qiuzzes and seatwork. He want his home tutorial to still be about games and not serious lecture. He get sad when Mama Lola don't let him bring toys to school anymore. But as time goes by, he started to enjoy being primary one. He gained alot of new classmate friends... learned how to read and write faster... and most importantly, he started to enjoy participating on extra-curricular activities.

Remember how Baby Zyrus made Mommy Ybeth very proud after winning 1st runner-up on an informal interschool dance competition? That made him so popular in school now! His confidence and smart attitude made him famous that even the head/ school principal knows him. I'm so proud of you my son!

Last week, their class group perform a traditional Philippine dance "ang mandaragat" or "the sea/ fisherman people". My son is so cute on his costume. Really wonderful seeing my son grow and explore life. Sorry that I decided not to upload the video as it may not be proper exposing other kids that was there on the presentation also. Hehe... Kidding aside, even if my son was not in the front row line while dancing, my focus was only on him... i can see no one but him... i clearly saw my son innocently following the dance step and starting to take school activities seriously.

few minutes before the dance presentation

a more relaxed baby zy after the dance

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Even if he is really lazy and out-of-focus sometimes, I know that Baby Zyrus is really a bright student. I will really strive hard to provide him with the best education possible. Thanks for always making Mommy Ybeth proud and happy. I love you very much my son!

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One Fine Weekend and Baby Zyrus At Home

Mommy Ybeth and Baby Zyrus is on a long distance mother and son relationship for the past 3 years. I terribly miss those times when weekend means going nearby SM San Lazaro mall for arcade playing and toy shopping. Being so hyper-active, my son feel bored when at home (maybe he got that trait from me too... hehe...). No matter how simple or extravagant the activity is, it won't matter as long as he is out. Since we recently tranfered to our new povincial house, big shopping malls are a little far away. Thank God for our subdivision's amenities. Baby Zyrus can just walk around and entertain himself safely at the playground park and swimming pool.

after sunset at the park

zy with uncle zander and cousin xiara

our subdivision has a huge park where residents can do thier usual brisk walking or jogging. Went i went there on my last vacation is even saw elderly people doing their yoga session (hmmm... though I'm not really sure if it's yoga). Baby Zy goes there daily right after sunset - either go cycling, playing on the slides and swing or fly his remote-controlled outdoor helicopter toy. There's also a small ice-cream station where my son loves to order the chocolate flavor on waffle cone. He goes home after 2 hours of playing, just in time for dinner.

swimming at clubhouse pool

our subdivision's swimming pool

Though not so big, our family really appreciate the clubhouse pool. I guess a already mentioned alot of times that Baby Zy loves water. He goes swimming every weekend after breakfast and goes home before the clock strike 12noon.

If you ask me, it's really difficult adjusting to provincial life if you are used staying in the city. No nearby shopping malls and expect that your neighbors are already sleeping as early as 9pm. At least for Baby Zy, the park and the pool make his village stay exciting.

Checklist for Baby Zyrus' 6th Birthday Party

Date and Time: November 15, 2009 / 3:30-6:30pm
Venue: Great Eastern Hotel (Aberdeen Court) Makati City
Theme: Disney Cars Racing Party

After months of brainstorming with the Birthday celebrant himself, we now officially choose Disney Pixars Cars as this years party theme (it won over Naruto and Power Rangers). Whew! So planning bagins this very moment...

Venue/ Food: Great Eastern Hotel (Aberdeen Court) Makati
http://www.greateasternhotelmanila.com/special_occassions.html
Food Package B: Bird’s Nest in Chicken Soup, Shanghai Spring Rolls, Fried Lemon Chicken, Beef w/ Four Vegetable Saute, Fish Fillet in Corm Sauce, Mixed Vegetables Chow Mien, Yangchow Friedrice, Sesame Balls, Jelly Campote
Booked and paid downpayment. This is the same place where Baby Zy celebrated his graduation party, we are happy with the food and service so we choose this venue again. We are expecting 100-120 guest and they gave us a newly renovated function room that can accomodate up to 150pax. Wow! talking about bigger space for stage and party side-entertainments.

Party Planner: Party Time Philippines
http://partytimephilippines.com/index.php
I already sent Mel an email. She was the one who handled my son's Justice league Party last 2007. If her schedule permit, I want her to be my over-all Party Manager again as she did a great job the last time I avail her service. I plan to get the following services to her:

Balloon Decor - table centerpieces, ceiling chandelier, stage pillars
Personalized Party Favor - pinatas, welcome banner, stage backdrop, standees
Giveaways: take-home souvenirs, game prizes
Food Carts: ice cream, french fries, cotton candy
2-layer cake and 60 themed cupcakes (flavor - moist choco chiffon)
Photo & Video Coverage

Party Host: Maurice Supetran (or Kuya Mau as he is fondly called)
http://www.kuyamau.net/
Kaya Mau was highly recommended by a friend. As basing upon the video of my friend's son, I was convince he is indeed a good host - funny, wholesome and entertaining. I already email him and just awaiting confirmation. A party host and magician in one, his services includes the following: hosting, facilitate kids and adult games, puppet show, magic show, ventriloquisom, balloon twisting and candle-blowing ceremony.

So there goes my checklist, less than 3 months before the grand day... I want my son to be happy on his birthday. He is so excited and very much looking forward to it. I won’t fail him. His joy is my joy.

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Zyrus, you mean the whole world to me... And I’m very proud of you. I love you so much my son.

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Giving up "ME" to have "YOU"

I woke up hearing heavy drops of rain making me feel very under the weather. Was it the wind and breeze that’s affecting my mood? Or is it because, as always, I’m missing you again a lot?

Past few weeks attacked us with whirlwind of emotions – a cycle weird combinations of romance, passion, grief and doubts. You hurt me, I hurt you. Both become insecure and possessive. Is it because we are too much inlove or we started to disbelieve each other already?

But thanks Baby for not giving up on me. And I’m well-convinced you never intentionally hurt me. I’m so happy we are back to normal now. I’m really determined to make this relationship work. Love and trust goes hand-in-hand. As promised, I will never ever do anything bad to lose you. Until the time you feel more secured, I’m very much willing to give up “me” to have “you” in my life… And I know it’s all worth it!

“He was inside seated on the cab when I turned my back. Suddenly, I realized how much I love him, more than what I'm actually aware of….” Remember these words? :)