Attempted Sushi Rolls

my own version of sushi rolls

My nephews Marek and Janssen with their Mom just came back from Australia to attend school here in the Philippines. Marek likes to eat everything prepared in the table may it be vegetables, fish and meat. He likes spicy foods too. Janssen on the other hand, likes fish and meat and take note it had to be soft or else he would settle making the sauce or soup as his viand. 

                                         

Marek mentioned to his Mommy Rayd to make Sushi Rolls (using Salmon), and his Mom accepted the request because Marek loves to eat Sushi. However, she was busy doing important tasks before she gets back to Australia. I on the other hand overheard their conversation and volunteered to make one for them though i haven't made one for myself.

 It took me two weeks to collect information on how to make Sushi with all the ingredients, utensils and other stuff needed to make the Sushi a success.

The first I did is to visit a Japanese store where I could find the things for my plans like the Bamboo Mat, Nori, Rice Vinegar, Japanese Rice, Sesame oil, and veggies to complete my own version of Sushi. I requested my brother to buy me some of the stuff.

It was not until Tuesday night that I had the confidence and time to prepare the menu. And with the help of you tube, I was able to watch the pandora of Sushi. Then the procedure begins with only confidence to back me up. (hekhekhek!).

Marek and Janssen were my avid assistants during the whole process, starting from the slicing of the ingredients, to the rolling of the bamboo mat down to the slicing of the Sushi and putting it into the plate with wasabi.

As I mounted the plates filled with Sushi rolls and Wasabi mixed with vinegar, I could see the excitement of Marek and Janssen’s eyes. The two kids enjoyed the Sushi using chopsticks and paired with Mango Shake.

This is just an attempt at making Japanese dish and will surely make another one worth savoring for.

Note:

Making Sushi requires sharp knife, so you will not experience disappointments as I slice the Sushi with a blunt knife. 

piaipipiaythots

What will you do when you can't do anything but wait. What will you do when you can't do anything but sit. What will you do when you can't do anything but listen. What will you do when all you can do is to love!

With Eyes Wide Open

There are moments in our lives that we tend to be so cliche with situations that we would rather just be alone and reflect on the times we spent with non-sensible things. There are also situations that we resort to apathy because we could only do so much.

And I myself choose to speak for them....

Choosing what we like are sometimes affected with so many factors may it be internal or external (stereotyping, prejudices, discrimination). But choosing what we are deep inside us should not be subjected to any medical or clinical diagnoses like a disease or illness worth of scientific treatment.

If only we are human enough to stand for our right not to be discriminated by reasons of gender identity and sexual orientation then we should be human enough to come to the open to fight for one's right to be respected and protected above all else.

Let us look behind the facade of Human Rights and with eyes wide open maybe we could also speak and encourage people to be human no more no less.

My Name is 911

About three weeks ago, my friend recommended to me "a you should watch movie", I was so excited that she brought along with her a copy of the movie entitled "My Name is Khan". It's a movie starred by Indian prestigious actors and actresses.

The movie, revolves around the life of man named Riswan Khan a Muslim from Mumbai with a suffering from an "Asperger's syndrome". Said syndrome is a type of autism according to Wikipedia as an autism spectrum disorder that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction, along with restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It differs from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. Although not required for diagnosis, physical clumsiness and a typical use of language are frequently reported.

The movie depicts the life of a Moslem as an aftermath of the 911 NY attack, how some of our Moslem sisters an brothers living harmoniously with their peers in the United States but somehow devastated after the terrorism attack.

With Khan's depiction of the movie, I felt his innocence and loving nature this was made possible by Khan's mother who taught him about life and love. Even with his differences he became a man full of gifts like he knows how to repair things and even had a brilliant mind. His life changed when he met Mandira, a single mom who took Khan's breath away. They eventually get married and live a normal life until the death of Mandira's son that was found out to have been related with racial discrimination vis-a-vis 911 attack. Mandira blamed Khan (him being a Moslem who adopted his only son), and told him not to ever see him again until he finds justice for her son.

The story revolves around the objective of Khan to meet the President just to tell him that "MY NAME IS KHAN AND I AM NOT A TERRORIST" and that after that he would be able to faceMandira and that he could give justice to their son. But his journey towards his goal was not easy, however he made it through that stumbling blocks and even met people who not only help him but became so close to him as Khan touch their lives in ways they could not imagine.

Indeed, the story is both politically and romantically enticing as it depicts the aftermath of the 911 attack and how it affects the lives of all people in he United States may they be American or not. That behind the chaotic situation lies the story of an ordinary person not only worth telling but WORTHY TO BE HEARD. Racial profiling continues to be a decay of every nation and that children and ordinary people are the primary victims of this illness.

The story made me cry for hours, realizing that I too became part of the web of discrimination. Let us put an end to war, let us bring love and peace to every nation and state!

Photos: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1188996/plotsummary

Simple Potato Treat!

While I am suffering from this pinky-eyed monster thing, there is nothing left for me to do but cook, eat, check my inbox and browse some important documents. Cooking with both my eyes in pain made me forget for awhile that I have an ailment going on for six days.

Here's my simple corned beef potato topper.What I did was just to boil two medium size potato, 3 fried sliced corned beef (Hormel), fried minced onion, and quickmelt cheese. Although I could have mixed green peas but loose the courage to buy outside. I just used ingredients that I have inside the fridge. And after all the ingredients were prepared, I placed it in a plate ready for baking (using microwave oven.) Whola!!! I just had a sumptuous dinner treat!

* Pinky Eye *

What comes to your mind of the word pink?

Yes, there are a lot of things that describes pink and one of it is that it is CUTE ! But that description does not fit the characterization of a PINKY EYE because I am definitely talking about sore eyes in local parlance (Conjunctivitis).

Where's the cute in all that? For four days now I have been laboring of this situation aside from the red teary-eye, I also got mumps near my left ear that made my head ache. I never got used to having this sordid virus or bacteria whatever this one is.

The sad thing is, I cannot just self medicate using all types of eye drops because it might not treat the ailment. All I do is to take vitamin C, frequent washing of eyes (using tea or the chamomile feminine wash). However, the comfort of having myself treated take only a minute or two. So what to do with this one is to rest my eyes for a while and let it heal on its own.

When the cat is away the mouse will play!

It's the time of the day that I love to have the company of cat (not that i hate having one, I just don't enjoy their presence!) and wishing their were many of them. I even summon the heavens above to bring me a cat instantly and wonder where all the cats have gone? I used to see them crawling and waiting to be fed at the back of my sisters home. But I did not see them, not even one. Literally, the mouse did play well last night and called that act a "nuisance per se". If only this animal is so cute like "ratatouille" my night would have been different. This is how my story went....

Last night I lay down early in my bed seeking the comfort for my back after waking up so early yesterday. I closed my eyes and started to relax and hope to have a good dream of which I could not remember. I heard a creeping sound at first then the next thing was a loud scratched. I tried to sleep again and hoping that the sound would end but it did not! As the night gets late the louder it became or was i just so damn disturbed. I tried to breathe four times to relax and let the interruption slipped away but that did not work either.

Guess what? I end up reading a magazine but could still hear every bit of its annoying scratch. If only I could crawl up to the ceiling and kill that thing I would do exactly like it. Even imagined putting a rat trap that would gradually kill the house rat (a big one indeed). I had lots of "if" words last night that leads me to think of so many things other than the annoying sound only to find myself helpless and restless and woke up late this morning!

Photos:http://www.google.com.ph/searchtbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=600&q=ratatouille&gbv=2&oq=ratatouille&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=644l4838l0l5134l15l11l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0

I WROTE A NOTE FOR YOU!

My dear twin sistah,

So many thoughts are babbling out of my mind but one thing that I am absolutely certain is that I am so proud and grateful that you are my sister, my best friend and twin for all time. There are lots of unspoken thoughts but whenever we hang out together, may it be over a cup of coffee, plates of salads, hot sikwate, spaghetti, paksiw and humba we always find time to talk about things that matter not only to your family but to your own self. In fact, I am a witness to your personal, social (school-grocery-home routines), and family affairs and I am glad I was there during those moments may it be low or high but I know it didn’t matter because you always soar high even beyond your limits.

Many are your journeys and have come a long way to step into another phase that would not only change the way you see things but will definitely nurture your being. Wherever you may be rest assured that you have a home to come home to, right here in my heart because that is where you should be. I won’t bid goodbye but rather I will send you a song as you travel and find the things that you valued the most! I love you always and forever ate Raydine. KUDOS to your new life!

Love and Prayer,

Baby Piai

Welcome Home Baby BLEU

Just this weekend my puppy named “BLEU” was brought to me and totally made me happy because I now have a dog that means so much to me. I called her baby Bleu because she still looks like a baby with her size and height. She is a mix breed of Havanese-Shih Tzu Poodle and is five months old already. She is a sweet dog and loves to play around and lick peoples’ faces and skin.

Although she literally destroyed some of my favorite plants while enjoying her “out of the cage moment” I let it go because I can see her joy while roaming around the house. The next day we went out to the beach so she could swim with us, we let her swim and swim until we could feel her heart pounding so fast. As we went home after that short swim, I could see her tired body lying down her cage and even slept during our trip back home. After we fed her with delicious meal we could no longer hear her barking as she sleep so soundly inside her cage.

This puppy indeed had a characteristic that is easy to understand, for example, if she wanted to pee or poo and she is inside her cage, she would call your attention by barking and wagging her tails, that means she is experiencing the call of nature. However, I will still have a lot to discover about her in the days to come. Welcome my baby Bleu and thanks to the one who gave you to me.

Perfect Weekend Getaway at Kampo Juan!

Yes, i had perfect weekend getaway, one I could never forget. Why is that so? because first i was with my closest friends, second, we were among the few people to visit the newest and will be one of the best Eco-Friendly 10 hectare Park named "KAMPO JUAN" located in Diclum, Manolo Fortich Bukidnon. The place is just 36 Km away from the City of Cagayan de Oro and just a few kilometers from the main highway! Thats just not it, on our way to that place we will pass by the Mac Arthur Shrine and reminded me that my history professors were wrong about one

thing, that Palo Leyte is not the place where he said the line "I SHALL RETURN" but rather he made it in Diclum, Manolo Fortich.

For me KAMPO JUAN is remarkably beautiful with nature at its best, nice location, accessible and with warm and friendly guides. My friends and I get readied wit

h our zip line ride (250 meters), hanging walk bridge that lead us to the main camp. I also took the 480 meters zipline with my friend where I could almost reach the cliff with "balite tree" touching my back with a smooth swift. I did enjoy the whole trip back to the main camp while we passed by another viewing deck that provides us with view of the scenery, where we could also see Mount Kitanglad!

Other than zipline and hanging bridge, Kampo Juan also offers parajumping activities, the ultralight, rapelling activity, unicycling and other stuff. I was told that they will officially open this April 22, 2011 with expected guest stars, so if you like to spend eco-friendly time with family and friends you might want to try Kampo Juan.

My next trip will be Jatico!

KAMPO JUAN kong gusto mo makasinati og nindot nga lugar diin makauban ang imong pamilya ug mga higala sulayi kini nga Eco-F

riendly nga Parke nahimutang sa Diclum, Manolo Fortich! Makita nimo ang Mt. Kitanglad, suba ug ang mabati nimo ang kabugnaw sa maong dapit. Uban sa akong mga higala nagsulay kami sa pagsakay sa ilang zipline diin makahatag og kaabtik sa atong kalawasan. Busa adto na, aron makatagamtam og kahupay ang imong panghuna-huna nga naipit sa kadaghan nga trabaho.

Mao kini akong entry para sa letrang K!