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 VINTAGE BRASS WALL CLOCK

by: MisS VictoriA DaviD

A crashing sound woke me up in my bed. I got up and found pieces of glass were all over the wooden floor. This was the scenario when the clock accidentally dropped itself in the kitchen- months back.

It fell in a flash and hit the floor like a thud of thunder; the square glass frame shattered into teeny weeny pieces. They were all scattered on the floor and resembled octahedron natural uncut diamond crystals. Wish they were really diamonds as they would buy more than its replacement. Sadly, the aftermath was that I found it difficult to find another clock that was to my liking.

Although the frame was entirely wrecked, I was left with a functioning machine. Honestly, what was left had a stylish and incredibly enticing appearance to my eyes. That is why I decided to display it on the wall while waiting for a replacement. The ruined clock was purchased at IKEA and the last time I was there, they still had it on display. However I was very reluctant to buy one of a similar ilk as I wanted to posses something extraordinary and bewitching. And I didn’t fail to find one in the end!

It took me months before I finally found a clock that delighted my finicky taste.

I was heading back home on a cold and wet evening when I saw this brass metal clock in the window of a vintage shop. Despite the evening gloom it caught my eyes. It grabbed my attention, like when you accidentally meet the soul mate of your life in an unexpected place. That was my reaction!

I went inside the shop and asked the owner to hand over the only machine on display. When I had it in my hands I knew my intuition was right, it was made from brass. I was so delighted and said to the owner, 'this is the clock I have been searching for the past weeks. It caught my attention while I was walking outside your shop'.

The brass clock was working properly and in perfect condition, so I snapped it up and brought it back home with me. 

It is a round 'ship's clock' which is akin to the pricey newgate ocean wall clock on the internet and in stores. It has roman numerals and more importantly, has a traditional sailing- themed look. Would you agree? Apart from those, the size is perfect as its spear like hands are big enough to read from afar. Personally speaking, it is a handsome and a real gem of a timepiece. More importantly, the brass metal adds a note of class and a brilliant way of aligning home décor with the current cream coloured kitchen.

My long search is now over and indeed, it adds a vintage or metallic accent to a home sweet home!