MY KITCHEN, MY RECIPE!

 by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

Ten years ago I only weighed 40 klgs. with a waistline of 2_ inches. Wish I still was but I will leave it to all of you about the measurement of my waistline. 

I could still vividly remember that I used to buy my clothes, most of the times, at the children's department; which were a lot cheaper. I was that tiny and slender before and knew the meaning of hardship when I was living in the capital city of the Philippines. Literally speaking, it would take me about 3 hours to reach my destination when I used to commute from my sister's house to work and vice versa. I have to say that my physique and most especially my booty benefited from all of the hardship. I commuted for 6 days in a week during which I had different time schedules and used 3 types of self-powered motor vehicles. Imaginatively, I was the walking superwoman version of my favourite fictional character superwoman (Lol!). After all, it was the joyride of my life! 

Those memories are now well kept in the left hemisphere of my brain which I frolickingly treasure: from time to time and will until my last day on Earth. Psychologically, it isn't very good to live in from past recollections and then, as we may just completely abandon how lovely it is to be in the now. After all, who we are today is the by-product of our colourful past?

Inevitably, I missed my waistline more than my weight and its because it was very very small. My love for cooking and eating, in general, supplemented my weight with another 10 klgs. and buttressed my waistline to a grown-up woman. Yes, I do miss my waistline (what a picayune!) but the additional klgs. means, given my height that I belong to 'Healthy/Normal Weight' category as per the Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator. I am happy to say!

You are what you eat... 

Having my own kitchen with a great selections of ingredients within a hand's reach and then, cooking without restrictions has led me to love the art of preparing food. Which is why, from altering the ingredients, to cooking the dishes in my own ways has become very enjoyable. Undeniably and of course, the eating with their distinctive and delicious flavours. 

Without further ado, here are my versions of Filipino (mainly) dishes as an efficient cook...

(Superfood Shake)

 

(Cassava Cake: Before and After)

   (Coconut Milk Marinated and Oven-Grilled Pork: After and Before)

 (Classic Cascading Beef Lasagne)

  (Coconut Milk Marinated and Oven-Baked Pork: Before and After)

(Pork Adobo and Bicol Express)

(Seafood Paella)

(Pinakbet and Savoury Scones)

  (Chopsuey and Pizza)

(Sweet, Savoury and Meat Muffins)

      

(Meat Siopao)

(Beef Adobo and Garlic Oven-Grilled Chicken Parts) 

  (Garlic Oven-Grilled Pork and Chicken Sopas)

 (Chicken/ Vegetables Steamed and Oven-Baked Muffins)

(Rellenong Oven-Baked Baguette) 

(Pineapple Topped Coconut Macaroons)

THE QUAK

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

 

QQQQQQQQUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKKK... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the distinguishable and noisy sound of a duck that alarms and awakes people at home especially when sleeping. A fleshy bird that has the ability to float and dip-in in the water without the worry of getting drown and also, their strong wings covered in thick feathers are spread and use in the air to fly in flock. Apart from floating in the water, their pad feet (web feet) with toes joint by a web are also use to walk on soil. This bird possesses and adapts to the three powerful elements that makes it versatile and proficient.

When I was about 12 years old, my father cultured and raised this type of bird in our back garden. He turned the barren garden into a wide big cage using pieces of wood. He nailed each piece into wood frames until he completely surrounded the back of our house and also provided an entrance door.

I really admire my Tatay (Father) for being so constructive and innovative in turning that part of our land into a spacious and cosy habitat for our tamed ducks and ducklings.

Ducks were raised and bred. 

There youngs were separated from their mothers/hens as young as 3 week old and placed in a cage that generates warm. Their mothers/hens were released and joint the rest to breed and produce more eggs that we also used in cooking and in supplying bakery's demands.

I don't act like a 12 year old child any more but my childhood memories will remain fresh and youthful!

MY ANTIPOLO, PHILIPPINES CLIQUE

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

It wasn't in my top most plans to visit Philippines last year but I'm glad I pursued it!

I purchased my return flights weeks before my arrival day and happily managed to send a balikbayan box, too. Flying over to my beloved country wasn't a plain vacation to relax as I had special reasons at the back of my mind. These reasons were successful and went well. Nowadays, I feel incredibly complete and a woman full with joie de vivre.

  

Year 2015 wasn't the best year of my life but it has given me a few things to remember and treasure. Such as my cheerful memories with my Antipolo Clique. They were beside me when I needed extra hands and showed love when I was down and almost losing hope. 

My charismatic sister BABANG who truly believes that I can do most things in life. You witnessed my struggles when I was in Manila like getting up at 21:00 or 22:00 in order to go to work on time. Thank you for forcefully pushing Tatay that I should stay with you when Kuya Boyet had to go back on board the ship. I treasure all the memories we shared especially the flood days at Cainta, Rizal and our 'love & hate' bonding as sisters. 

KUYA GODFREY who is now taller than me and was my helping hand from the day of my operation until my last day in the Philippines. I have to say that you have become smarter as shown in your grades and sturdier for withstanding the test of commuting, for hours, the busy metropolis. I was once a commuter in Metro Manila and you need to have a strong sense of yourself aside from your stamina in order to survive. Kuya, Thank You so much and I'm very proud of your achievements at school. 

You are my cousin and we didn't talk much when we were in General Santos City. Were you scared of me? You must have been but I was completely different all those years ago. Thank you ATE MAICA for helping me too, like when I needed your presence to change my bandages in the toilet. I remembered that we weren't talking much for a few days but our bloodline taught us how to become closer. You have to stay strong as being away from your parents will never be easy but it will yield something good for your inner self. I enjoyed and loved our Makati day/night out, especially our friendly yet flirty smile and hand waves to passers-by from Starbucks' glass window. 

The over-eager and loquacious Kate who was a bit aloof towards me for a few days and who later called me, MOMMY. You called me Mommy with your cute voice with a very warm hug too that made me closer to you. You have an advance brain and always made me smile when you conversed with me in English. I was very amazed how you correctly used each English word in a sentence. I have to say that I could even see myself in you when I was at your age. I love you articulate ATE KATE! 

I was able to breastfed you when you were a baby as you couldn't stop from crying. Can you believe it? You stopped, slept and I think that was the reason why we are so bonded until now ATE NICOLE. I arrived there a week after you were born and it was a very delightful feeling to see you grow. I will forever treasure your annoying behaviour (at the age of 3) every time you tried to wake me up in my room at Cainta, Rizal. You are no longer a baby but you will always be my baby and I will forever be your MOMMY. 

  

 

I traveled alone in reluctance and when I stayed there with you all, we shared memories of laughter, aloofness and even got very closer than years before. Then, the day I traveled back again to England you all made me cry but I was left with elated tearful eyes. The worst part was, you ruined my applied eyeliner (LOL!).