My Pigs

When I got hungry one evening, I scoured the fridge for some remedy and came up with some stuff for Pigs in a Blanket. I decided to make some and took pictures. Once posted in Facebook, some friends wanted the recipe. Here is my unscientific method and measurements for my "masterpiece"...Enjoy!

PIGS IN A BLANKET

1/2 kilo ground meat (I combine pork and beef)
1 egg
1 carrot
1 onion
1 singkamas
1 potato
1/2 c rice (uncooked)
1-3 cloves garlic 
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste
2 heads of cabbage (1 head, shredded)
tomato sauce
water
toothpicks


To make my life simpler, I used a grater instead of chopping the veggies. It is faster and means easier clean-up. I don't use any food processor coz i hate washing it after use :)

Mix first 10 ingredients thoroughly.

In a big pot of boiling water, let sit a whole cabbage (with core removed)... for  a few minutes until leaves have softened. This will make it easy for the leaves to separate without tearing.

Separate each cabbage leaf to serve as wrapper or "blanket"

Find a clean work table for assembly of your "pigs". Take out one leaf and fill a third of it with the meat mix. Roll and secure with a toothpick. I used only half-a-pick coz my cabbage was on the small size. If you want bigger pigs, you gotta use bigger cabbages.

Assembly time!

A pig getting into a blanket :)

Pigs in their blankets - cozy and secured with a toothpick

Spread leftover shredded cabbage at the bottom of a pan. Sauerkraut is supposed to be used here, but we don't have any here in the Bacolod, specifically at home..hehe! Place all your pigs in blankets over the shredded cabbage. Pour in tomato sauce. Simmer for 10minutes or until meat is cooked. Season to taste while simmering. 

My Christmas Pigs...not lechon, hehehe

M E R R Y    C H R I S T M A S !!!

ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS !!!

*  *  *

P.S.

mini-burger patti

Because I didn't have enough cabbage leaves for "blankets", I added flour to my meat mix and made mini burger patties. 

had a happy busog dinner! 

My Love Affair with Beaches

My love for beaches probably stems from my fond memories of endless Sundays at the local beach with my family. We used to go every Sunday, after mass, sometimes with my younger cousins. We always had fun even when jellyfishes sometimes got us. All the rolling around in the sand and waves in our inflated tire lifesavers made it all worth it. Lunch also meant grilled pork or fish, oysters and coconut juice... then it was dessert! Ripe...Yellow...Yummy....Mangoes!

 OH, how fun childhood was! How simple everything was!

just jumping for joy...happy to be back in one of our local beaches in Punta Taytay
 (literally means "end of the bridge")

Anyhow, before we get lost down memory lane, let me give you a picture tour of some of the best beaches (mostly in the Philippines) I have been to, recently and not so recently...Enjoy!

Best, favorite and nearest to home (without crossing any ocean) is Sipalay, about 4 hours' drive to the south from Bacolod City, Negros Occidental...

My first time in Sipalay was ages ago, with friends on a forbidden Holy Week vacation in Langub 

From then on, I was hooked...I either went with family, with girlfriends, co-workers, or relatives...

sunbathing in turtle-green waters of Campomanes Bay, Sipalay

absorbing the peace in one of the serene beaches of Sipalay

...then to the Northern part of Negros...Sagay City is a couple of hours' drive from home...

Just very recently, my friends and I braved Typhoon Pedring
 just to dig in our feet into the healing black sands of Margaha Beach
 in Sagay City :)

Carbin Reef is another sanctuary and sand bar off Old Sagay City, 20-minutes by boat 

Off to Luzon...flying two sectors to get to Batanes was worth every glimpse and memory of this cove...

Stormy weather in Batanes was what I expected, but this sheltering cove
just took me by surprise...
and then took my breath away..

...located in Mahatao, a town in Batanes

In Luzon, Puerto Galera and Subic beaches are also nice, but I visited those waaaaaay before digital cameras were commonplace... :) I have always wanted to go to Isabela, and Ilocos for their beaches, but haven't yet the chance.

Crossing the Visayan seas....

Sunset at The Coco Grove in Siquijor, the Island of Fire

in one of the many beach coves of Siquijor

Sta. Fe Resort in Bantayan Island of Cebu, Philippines

hungrily waiting for lunch in Panglao, Bohol 

taking a long walk to Diniwid Beach in Boracay Island

Palawan is famous for its Underground River, one of the Seven New Wonders of the world...what  its closely-guarded secret is that they have yummy seafood as well :)

chillaxin' at Snake Island, Palawan

Jumping to Mindanao beaches...

low-tide bathing in Dakak

White Sandbar in Camiguin Island, home to seven volcanoes!

party-parteeeee time! :D

after the bursting atmosphere in White Island, Mantigue's beaches are indeed a sanctuary...

...broken only by our presence...

Samal Island is only 20 minutes from Davao City, but worlds away from the hustle and bustle of city life

Beaching in the Philippines is an adventure for me. It sometimes requires some traveling to get to them. Because this country is an archipelago, it could take you a couple of hours, or a couple of days to reach your destination...depending on where you start off.

In the US, however, the beaches are a just a drive away...but to compare these beaches for beauty in nature, I think I am partial to our own white sands :)

trying out beach bicycling in Waikoloa, Hawaii

riding the waves in Sta. Monica Beach, California

testing the cooooooooooold waters of Lake Superior, Wisconsin

You be the judge ! :D

My New Love (1st of many parts, hehe)

Beaches used to be my passion, the source of my excitement and happiness. They still tickle my fancy, but having gone to most of the beautiful ones scattered around in this country, each new one could not entirely satisfy my expectations anymore. 

Lately, I have discovered a new love...for Catholic churches. 


First off, our cathedral in Bacolod City...
At the Bacolod Cathedral, there is an Adoration Chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is exposed from 6AM to 7PM (til 830PM on Sundays). Chapels to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and Our Lady of the Rule are found on both sides of the Cathedral. There is also a crypt below the sacristy, a small canteen near the office and a small botica ng bayan near the parking area.

the San Sebastian Cathedral in December 2009

The Carmelites Monastery is located in Mandalagan, a few steps away and across Robinsons Place and the Convergys offices. This area used to be isolated but over the years, commercial buildings have crept up around this sanctuary. The monastery opens its gates to the public for masses (Saturdays, 5PM anticipated Mass). 

inside the Carmelites Monastery, mass was offered when former Pres. Cory Aquino passed away

Its gift shop is filled with religious articles, books and novelty items worth checking out. Also, some fresh vegetables and produce from the sisters' gardens can be purchased before and after the mass every Saturday. Their special bingkas are what I look forward to when December comes. So yummy and soooo worth it at P35 apiece :)


Located in Brgy. Alijis, St. Jude's is just one ride away from the downtown area. Though very accessible, I seldom go to this church because it is a couple of rides from our place. St. Jude is my mom's favorite saint because he is the patron of impossible causes. My sister was named after this saint. Wanna guess why? :) ....coz she is impossible! LOL  

Erap was rumored to have made a major donation to the building of this church

Nearer to home, Our Lady of Compassion is a rather small chaplaincy located in Gardenville Subdivision in Brgy. Tangub. Its anticipated Masses every Saturday at 530PM are televised and aired locally in ABS-CBN the next morning at 6AM.

the scene above the altar

Our Lady of Compassion stained glass window

entrance to OLCC

Commuting 7-8 hours due to road repairs, I was able to visit a couple of Dumaguete's churches.

the Belfry near St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral

after an evening mass outside the Redemptorist Church, or also known as Our Lady of Perpetual Help

I was born and raised Catholic but really never appreciated the many churches I have been to. Admittedly, there were some that made me more prayerful and intent while inside these holy places, but I always took for granted that they were there, everywhere, always.


It was only when I visited other countries that it struck me. Filipinos are lucky, blessed because we have our chapels and shrines and churches located in almost every corner near us. In other countries, you have to get up early in the morning to catch the daily mass, or else you miss it for the day. In the Philippines, we have masses in the morning, at noon, in the afternoon, and even at night. And yet, oftentimes we miss these opportunities.

So, to make up (sort of) for my shortcomings and lack of appreciation, I am hoping this post will encourage you to go visit the one nearest you...and revere it the way we all should :)

GO!

Fun in Singapore

One of my friends commented that she enjoyed my trip to Malaysia more than the one I had in Singapore.  Singapore was as much fun as Malaysia, Glendz, and I'm posting pics that i earlier deemed too much for my previously "serious and formal" SG blog :D


On the plane, I was a bit apprehensive about my arrival in Singapore. I was expecting tough questions at Singapore's port of entry because it was my first time in Asia. Contrary to my expectations, immigration was a breeze. And thus, these happy scenes... 

happy to arrive safely in Changi Airport...whew!

meeting tita manuela at the Budget Terminal

Excited and eager to immerse myself in Singapore, we decided to take the MRT from the airport. In all my travels, this is always when I and the country's currency first meet :) It's always confusing counting coins and putting them into machines, but such a fun way to get familiar with different kinds of money all over the world!

laughing at my clumsiness at the MRT ticket machine

Tita, me, and Deoneter inside one of SG's MRTs...touted to be the most efficient and cleanest in the world

sometimes like Manila transportation, standing room...but infinitely more comfy and cooler :)

Next stop was DINNER!!!! Yeyyyyy!!!...:) specifically, the famous Chicken Rice in Lion City!

my first Chicken Rice meal at Junction 8 Shopping Mall Food Court

savoring my un-spicy version of Chicken Rice, a treat from my tita looking on

Time to go see my Tita's place and meet her family so we took a cab. 
Guess what? Cabs accept credit cards and debit cards! ...and drivers give you back your change to the last centavo!  ...without you asking or begging for it! :) 
What's more? Benzes are commonplace as taxicabs in SG!  Coolest trivia of the day.

inside a taxi cab, don't know what i'm laughing at

maybe I was excited to be in my home away from home ;)

with my trusty baby pillow from home, i slept like a baby...

...And woke up refreshed to my first morning glimpse of Singapore

With so many tourist spots to see in the city, I had a hard time choosing from those found in the free map i picked up from the airport, hehe!  I stuck with what i've already decided on when i was surfing the Net planning my itinerary: The Chinese Garden.

Jurong East MRT stops right at the Chinese Garden entrance

the Rainbow Bridge has a spectacular view of the pagoda, and the city on the other side -
this was the finish line of The Amazing Race Asia 2

Confucius is one of the Eight Legendary Heroes that welcomed tourists near the towering pagoda

I should stand right up there with him for a better view! :)

the Koi Pond next to the Live Turtle Museum 

a very large (a scary-looking!) monitor lizard under one of the twin pagoda steps...
good thing we were at the top when it came up from the lake waters!

the twin pagodas

resting my feet AND photo ops at the same time at the pavilion

at the Garden of Abundance...thought this was Mickey Mouse...it was just simply a mouse haha

my birth year animal: Rabbit - 1975

clowning around coz it felt like I had the garden to myself, well, except for Deoneter who took the nice pics 

even the toilets were green

Chinese structure

the Bonsai Park was closed for renovations

Confucius: A Great Philosopher and Educator...like me! LOL

one of the little bridges scattered all around the gardens -
who wants to join me at this ""Bridge of Romance" ?

direction map of the two gardens

finally, we found the Japanese Garden (my secret favorite)

walking a bit aimlessly around the Japanese Garden grounds
(maybe we were a bit lost, hahaha!)

one of the many stone lanterns in the garden

that red Japanese arch behind me is called a Torii Arch - A torii gate marks the approach and entrance to a Shinto shrine. It is the division between the physical and spiritual worlds. 

All the walking and posing (hehe) got me famished, so we crossed the street and found some hawker food. The dimsum was a great balm to my tummy while the rain fell in earnest.

finished with lunch - and HAPPY :D

...all these, in just less than a day in S'pore!