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rebosadong tokwa
ginataang puso ng saging
ginulay na kangkong na may malutong na dilis


pancit ng Tondo

Caramel Pilipit and Pancit Habhab

One of my favorite desserts but this one in particular because it reminds me of my childhood request to my lolo to always bring me a pasalubong from bayan (town center). My grandparents will always bring me pilipit wrapped banana leaves. The brown sugar caramel forms a crispy crunchy crust on top of the chewy center.

Pilipit is rarely served in restaurants and very few have this on offer. This caramel pilipitis served at Cafe Quezon. A little bit different than what I had in Laguna back in the days.


Classic pancit habhab of Quezon. The difference from the traditional one is that this one is served on a plate and eaten with a fork. The traditional way of serving this is on a piece of banana leaf just big enough to be held by your hand then eaten directly from the palm as it were. served with generous dash of vinegar.

Turon

On a rainy afternoon, specially during bagyong Pedring, we sought comfort in food and home made miryenda.

Simple to make and affordable. You will need
(1) bananas saba variety not too ripe
(2) lumpia wrapper
(3) brown sugar
(4) Langka
(5) cooking oil

Slice the bananas into thin strips, arrange in the middle of lumpia wrapper, insert some langka threads and sprinkle with brown sugar. Roll neatly and seal with a few drops of water. Fry in hot oil. Drain in paper towels or tissue. Serve hot.

Good with coffee or tea. Enjoy!
comfort food even in the worst kind of weather.

Calamansi Pie

Calamansi pie by Earnest Bakes

Taho

This post was inspired by an article I read many years ago about a journalist sharing her experience of the Philippines. One of the things she will miss is taho, as there is no taho in Sydney.

Usually on offer locally on the streets by a man shouting with all the air in his lungs "tahooo, tahoooo". I remember when I was young we bring out our own cups and glasses. Taho is served with sago and caramel. Soft and warm, you can drink it after swishing it around or you can use a spoon and slowly savor like I do.

Cheesecake in a cup (with a surprise in the bottom)

for more information visit Earnest Bakes facebook page

Planking the Merry Macarons

A breakfast with sunlight and macarons. Missed the sun these past few days.

Here is today's macaron adventure...



flavors include coffee, buko pandan, nutella, caramel and coco calamansi



strawberry, apple cinnamon, buko pandan, milk choco at chocnut!




Macarons baked by Merry Macarons of Maye Padilla
Delivered at your door step.

come to think of it...hot pandesal dati naman nilalako, pero ngayon wala na sasadyain mo pa.

Halo halo ala Donsol

Maligayang Bati Elnora...isang hapunan

Elnora's famous salad
inunon
Pansit for long life
buro from balaw balaw "mas mahal pa kita sa buro"
crispy chicken skin cracklings with spicy vinegar on the side

Strawberry shortcake

You can find this cake in one of the hole-in-a-wall shop along session road in Baguio City. If I remember it right Vizco's.

Strawberry Fields Forever

La Trinidad Valley, Benguet, strawberry fields. For about 300 to 500 pesos (US$6 to 10) you can opt to pick your own strawberries in the field or you can buy per kilo. It was early month of January the price was about 20 to 25 pesos per kilo.

The experience to be in field priceless unless you accidentally soak your flipflops into the black mud.

Mt. Isarog

The TNF 100 trail running Philippine leg was held right here at the foot of Mt. Isarog in Camarines Sur.

time stood still

Where have you been that has made time stand still for you?

Was inspired to recall these memories. Because being out there in the water is a big part of my life here are my top ten unforgettable moments when my heart seemed to skip a beat or two.

1. Swimming with the dolphins in the wild in the waters of Cawili island in the Sulu sea

2. Diving in Tubbataha at the north atoll's shark airport. A black tip shark turned its head towards me and I remembered I had my monthly period that time

3. Witnessing an ancient green turtle lay 140+ eggs in Taganak island Tawi tawi

4. Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia with a school of squids

5. Touching a dugong in the wild while trying to help it to be free from the fish pens in Hinatuan Bay

6. Interact with whalesharks in Donsol 19 times in one morning

7. Being surrounded with a school of jack fish in Apo Island-- it felt like a moving white wall

8. Entering the small underwater cave passage to get to the Secret beach of El Nido-- in the middle of a red tide

9. Diving off season in Tubbataha and 9 eagle rays swim by in perfect formation

10. In Bohol, on a two man single out rigger boat, while in the middle of paddling through the waves and trying to take photo our small boat over turned when I opened my eyes I was a few inches away from the coral reef.

Sigh

Mt Pinatubo - Part 6 Crater Lake

Mt Pinatubo - Part 5 Hike into the Forest