Vegetable Ukoy (Vegetable Fritters!)

My kids are very picky eaters. They won’t eat veggies much more if you don’t put any imagination to the food! But I like this because it is a challenge for me.

This morning, we went to the market and I purchased some vegetables, from carrots, cabbages to monggo sprouts, also some protein – chicken!

I was thinking of just making a sauteed veggies with chicken but that is quite common and I know the kids would just pick on the chicken and leave the veggies out!

So what I did was make “ukoy” my own version. I know the usual “ukoy” sold contains shrimps, monggo sprout mixed in a batter of flour and egg and sometimes it doesn’t taste anything at all!

But since this is my own version – I made it extra special. 🙂 Here are the ingredients…and no exact measurement because I eyeballed all of it 😀

 

Ingredients:

flour

cornstarch

eggs

carrots – minced/diced/strips – whatever you like it

cabbage – strips /mined/ diced

monggo sprout

chicken – minced / diced – its all up to you

salt and pepper to taste

 

Procedure:

I started mixing the veggies first in a big bowl, since I was eyeballing it all out, i did this first so i could also see how much flour will i use.

Then I got some flour – probably the amount I use half a cup will do, then also a quarter of a cup of cornstarch. I added some cornstarch because it makes the fritters / ukoy crispy. After mixing the two, I added eggs, since I am not stingy – I added 3 eggs ( i love eggs!) but 2 will do i guess. But the consistency you want to achieve will be not too thick and not too thin. After that I added the veggies and chicken, then salt and pepper to taste.

I was also thinking of adding some Paprika (very mild) and the kids love it but found out i ran out of it 😦 it would add a bit of a kick to the whole recipe. But if you have it you can add it.

Then after mixing, heat your pan with some oil and then fry it away! 😀 how thick or how big is up to you just make sure you get a crispy crust outside and cooked a bit moist in the inside!

 

The result! 😀 I love the color and i love the smell. Plus it was a hit with the kids. That plate was full of ukoy but my kids devoured it immediately!

So happy because they didn’t know they were eating veggies and lots of it!!! 😉

For those wanting to know the right amount, I could probably make again and will be measuring it! don’t hesitate to comment and ask me questions! Happy eating!!

This & That Tag!

I actually wasn’t tagged but i feel like doing this 😀 my friend Donna (check her blog out by clicking her name! )made this on her blog 😀 this feels like one of those things you answer in an autograph – just a bit on a higher level lol.

Makeup:

1.  Blush or Bronzer. Blush – for now, I haven’t tried Bronzer yet but I so want to. I have read somewhere that it emphasizes your cheek bones and I need that as I have chubby cheeks! 

2. Lip gloss or lip stick. Lipstick. I don’t like lip gloss as it feels slimy or sticky lol

 

3. Eyeliner or mascara.  Eyeliner – bronze or brown in color, i like how it plays with my eyes. I can’t use mascara for now as it elongates my eye lashes more which is annoying because it touches the lenses of my eyeglasses which reminds me to go and get contact lenses! 

 

4. Foundation or concealer.  BB cream 😀 my new found love

 

5. Natural or colored eyeshadow. Copper colored eyeshadow, i love smoky eyeshadow but not just often

 

6. Pressed or loose eyeshadow. Pressed. I didn’t know there is such thing as loose eyeshadow.

7. Brush or sponge. Brush, it balances the color more 

Nails:

1. Opi or China Glaze.  I don’t even know the difference of the two! Can anyone tell me? 

 

2. Long or short. Long as it makes me feel glamorous…but had to cut it short sometimes because It gets in the way in doing household chores. 

3. Acrylic or natural. Natural.

4. Bright or dark. Bright 🙂 It just brighten things up 

5. Flower or no flower. no flower.. i guess i am not too girly. lol

 

Body:

1. Perfume or body splash. Perfume but i barely use it

2. Lotion or body butter. Body Butter – I tried one before when a friend gave me from Body Shop

3. Body wash or soap. Soap – been using Dove lately, I love how it feels afterwards. 

4. Lush or Other.  what is lush? care to tell me?

 

Fashion:

1. Jeans or sweat pants. Jeans. Sweat pants not suitable here. 

 

2. Long sleeves or short sleeves. Short sleeves, I don’t like using long sleeves because I easily feel hot and I get sweaty all over. 

 

3. Dress or skirt. Dress – i know i look better in a dress 😀 

 

4. Scarves or hat. Scarves, but i barely use one. Hats? not also it is so hot i don’t think it is applicable here

 

5. Studs or dangling earrings. Both. depends on the occasion. 

 

6. Necklace or bracelet. Bracelet. Necklace? no no, i don’t like anything on my neck especially chokers. 

 

7. Heels or flats. Heels – they make me feel sexy lol but lately I wear flats so i can run fast in case i need to! 😉 

 

8. Cowboy boots or riding boots.  Riding boots, I don’t have any but they look sexy with denim shorts. 

 

9. Jackets or hoodies. Jackets – it is classic, hoodies make me feel fat…all bundled up. 

 

10. Forever 21 or Charlotte Russe. Forever 21. I have their shop in Davao and I love the clothes but I can’t afford it for now 😦 

 

Hair:

1. Curly or straight. Straight, it’s classic. 

 

2. Bun or ponytail. Both. Depending on what I am doing. Ponytail when I am having a bad hair day and I need to go to the office. Bun – when I am at home and doing chores i don’t like my hair all over my face. 

 

3. Bobby pin or butterfly clips.  Bobby pins – classic again. It stays hidden. barely there. 

 

4. Hairspray or gel. None. I don’t find it a need for now. 

 

5. Long or short.  Long, a few months ago I had it cut near my chin, and I am longing for it to grow fast and now it is past my shoulder so i am happy about it! yey! 

 

6. Dark or light. Dark – but  I want to have highlights too.. probably white (like Rogue lol ) weird. 

7. Side swept bangs or full bangs.  no bangs at all. weird for me. 

8. Up or down. Down 

 

Random:

1. Rain or shine. Shine for now – we can’t afford to have rain in our current situation. 

2. Summer or winter.  Summer – i love the beach and i love summer dresses. 

 

3. Fall or spring. Fall. I so want to experience fall and get to see the leave changing colors. 

 

4. Chocolate or vanilla. CHOCOLATE – need i say more? 😀 

Don’t forget to leave your links down below if you do this tag. See you!

On a serious note

It is the 17th day now. When this all started, I was full of strong emotions – good and bad. And that was one reason why I didn’t write anything because I am afraid it might be too much and I might regret the words I’ll utter.

Now – what do I feel? The only thing I am feeling right now is EXHAUSTION. This is normal I guess. It is that time when I guess I reached my plateaus point.

For 17 days now, I heard so much explosion – from guns, to mortars, to whatever explosive device they used. Too much to last me for a lifetime.

When it started it felt surreal. It felt like out of a movie, soldiers running everywhere with their guns, big humvees, war vehicles in my city, it feels like a nightmare. The city where I used to feel nothing but security. Yes! Before, when friends from Manila or Davao would say Zamboanga is dangerous – the land of bombs! I would just laugh it off and say, no it isn’t, most of those fights before happen in the outskirts, in Basilan or Lamitan.

But now? I don’t think I could even deny it. Everyone must have heard of what is happening here in my city. It is on national news, people are seeing the bad side of it 😦 which is so sad because before no one even dared to take a look at our beautiful city.

But it is still home for me, the thought of living in another city where it will be more peaceful came into our minds. Me and my hubby talked about it…but I don’t know when.

A big part of me doesn’t want to leave this place – this place where I grew up. The place where I could even walk blindfold and I won’t get lost! lol.

I stopped reading the newspaper, I stopped reading facebook posts, I stopped looking at news on TV. why? They sensationalize things. Some would say it is the government’s fault. Some would lash out on the MNLF, some would even hurl harsh comments on the soldiers… it is getting crazy.

All I can say is, we are all human – with this happening, humanity is lost. People from the MNLF side died – meaning they, somehow have loved one grieving too, kids left orphaned and same with the side of the Army, the Marines. NO WINNER and the pain will be endless, the pain will be there and sad to say there will still be someone who will hold grudges and this will never stop. 😦

but somehow i am hoping it will. that someone one or two will initiate to forgive and somehow probably forget – but maybe not forget because it will serve as a reminder how once humanity is being massacred, how humanity was lost…. but will it ever happen? the forgiveness? 😦 i don’t think so as long as there will be persons who will hold grudges, who will feel deprived, feel lost, feel like they have been blindsided…

All i want right now is for my city, Zamboanga to stand up, to hold on to that little bit of hope left now, and somehow Mi Ciudad de Zamboanga, will be stronger and still prosper.

 

Avon Ultra Moisture Rich Lipstick – Nude Perfection

For some months now, I have been wanting to get myself a lipstick in NUDE. Since I am lazy to go to the mall and find one, I would often look at Avon brochures. They do have great shades of lipsticks but sometimes they ran out of stock.

I got lucky when someone gave me a lipstick the other day and its in NUDE!!

😀

Even though our situation here in Zamboanga is still very depressing, I am glad for this little break.

Went home and opened it immediately! See pictures below 🙂

The box 🙂

It says, Ultra Moisture Rich ( I do have to agree, as it is doesn’t make my lips dry, it stays hydrated and doesn’t feel greasy too.)

The inside. Well, as you can see, it is really nude. I love it, it is simple yet feels classic.

The shade, for some reasons, I can’t get a good lighting. But since it is really nude, it’s barely there yet it is there. (don’t know if that sounds right)

I even changed location lol but i don’t know if it gets any better. Anyways, that is its shade and I am raving about it.

But sad to say, I haven’t used it yet formally, just trying it out. Probably when things get a little better here in my place.

This is something I will look forward to. I am also sorry if this doesn’t sound much coherent, probably to many bomb and mortar explosions, my brain is a little rattled.

🙂 but nonetheless, thank you for the lipstick! 😀

Avon Pressed Powder and BB Cream

Like I have said I was never into beauty stuff, just lately when I feel like trying out things.

So for this week, I purchased two beauty stuff and essential products if you want to look and feel nice 😀

AVON Ideal Oil Control Pressed Powder

Before anyone ask me why Avon again, See, Avon comes to me. I have lots of friends offering this product. 🙂

Description: Absorb Oil and Get rid of Shine. A clean, shine free finish is never so easy. This silky smooth powder covers blemishes and skin imperfections, providing a transparent, and shine free finish.

Suitable for every day use.

Verdict: I love it as my skin is indeed oily. 😀 Plus it says it contains SPF 17 🙂 I actually tried it today and I like it because even when I sweat I don’t look like I have flour splattered on my face.

Avon Skin Goodness BB Cream

The second product I paired with the above product was this BB Cream. Honestly, this was the first time I used a BB Cream. I swear, I don’t know what this is for! I know what a concealer is but I didn’t know what a BB Cream is but they both look alike. I texted my friend Donna (check out her blog – http://keepcalmandbeautify.blogspot.com/ for beauty product reviews) and she told me that BB Cream was popularized by the Koreans. (Plus Koreans look like they have wonderful skin, glowing skin) So that was a bit of educational for me. hehe.

I tried it today too. After showering, I moisturized (I used Pond’s Day Cream and Olay’s Moisurizer – hey I don’t have a post about this two yet 🙂 hmmm) So after moisturizing, I took the BB Cream and applied it and see what it feels like. Then I used the pressed powder. I do love it because my face doesn’t feel heavy.

Description: New Skin Goodness Whitening BB Cream. The Silky Smooth formula feel breathable, and lightweight on skin. Enriched with extract of Orange Blossoms and billions of water molecules, instantly refresh your skin to be hydrated and fairer.

Verdict: I love it too. With concealer, I always feel like I have this big cake junk on my face, that was splattered on my face that it feels so heavy. But with BB Cream, I don’t feel anything at all. But when i looked at my face in the mirror, it looks glowing. It helps for someone like me who only get like 4 hours sleep everyday. And I know sleeping late is really bad for the skin plus I have water problems – I am lazy when drinking water which I am planning on changing that too. 😉

So I will definitely keep using this and i’ll see if it has more positive effects.

😀

the box for the pressed powder 🙂

the color of the BB Cream which I believe is the right color for my skin tone. what do you think?

Me, after applying those two. I am not sure if you can see the difference lol.

Sorry for the background my kids thought that the wall was a great canvass for trying out their art skills. 😀 they could pass as hieroglyphics right? hehe!

Happy Weekend!!

My nails and it’s current colors!

My current nail colors!  My phone just sucks. I mean from the picture it turned BLUE but I tell you the color is VIOLET/PURPLE and Pink! 🙂

I bought these nail polish, the brand is RAIN for only 13.00!!!! How cheap is t hat? So I couldn’t wait to use both, I mean if i’ll use the pink one this week and then the purple one the following week, I don’t think I can wait that long! 😀 So what I did was alternate the two. And I love it!!

Plus I feel relaxed today:)

Green Tea with Lemon

I am in the office right now while making this post. Unlike my officemates who would prefer coffee, I go for Green Tea.

Today I made one with a twist.

 

I used Lipton’s Green tea, I took one tea bag out and dipped in hot water. And added some lemon juice!:)

It tastes refreshing plus the lemon juice added some punch! I might do this from now on. And I searched online and found out that adding lemon juice to the green tea increases the tea’s power by 80% more antioxidants!  Green tea comes from the plant Camellia sinensis. It improves mental alertness and thinking! So much better than coffee (i think!)

Try it!!

The use lemon, I still have the other half which i’ll be using this afternoon. And the Green Tea bag which I can also still use this afternoon.

🙂 🙂 🙂 Have a nice day!

For the love of…cakes!

The other day when I took my boys out, I made it a point that we go grab some cakes at Cakes & Cupcakes.

I just can’t help it. It’s like a lifeline of my existence (ok a bit exaggerating here) But yes, I need to eat cake even  once a week! My ultimate comfort food 😀

I am not sure the name of this cake. I mean usually when we go to pastry shop they would put some labels near the cake so we will know what kind of cake that is. It was JJ who chose this cake. I guess he was attracted to pink lol.

 

 

I have to admit I love how pink it is with the frosting on top. It looks so girlie lol.

The verdict? It was so so, I mean it was not that bad but the taste doesn’t stand out too. Will i buy it again? Probably not. 😦 It’s not even average.

 

 

This was the slice of cake I ordered. What I love about it was it was chocolate. The whole cake was moist (Thank God! If it wasn’t it would be one of those epic fail cakes) It was simple yet right on the spot for me.

Verdict? I’ll buy this again 😀

 

To my Jazel

Hi Baby,

 

I am not sure if I will let you read this tomorrow or wait for you to read this when you get a bit older. Right now, while doing this, I can see you asleep in your bed, you hugging a pillow. Unlike other kids who sleep with their favorite toy, or favorite pillow or blankie. You don’t have any of that. Probably because I didn’t condition you to sleep with your pillow or your fave blanket or stuffed toy. Yet you sleep quite peacefully and with a smile on your face once in a while.

I am writing this to you because today you made me so proud. When I left you this morning, my heart was so heavy. 95% of me wants to stay at home yet that 5% needs to go to the office because I have been absent for days because your brothers got sick.

When I told you last night that I your Ate won’t be home yet, I know a part of you was worried because you know you will be in-charge of your little brothers (even though they’re not so little) and a part of you wants to tell me NO and but you still said YES Mama this morning.

Even though I know my sister-in-law was with you at home, I was still very uneasy when I left. Even though I left enough food for the whole day, with biscuits, oatmeal prepared for you. I feel like crap. (that’s not swearing) I feel rotten. I feel like a bad mom. Your dad didn’t have a choice too. He could have bring you with him to the office yet he can’t because your brother acquired Chicken pox.

And I know it was too much for you to look after your hyper active brothers. Who does nothing but somehow gets in your hair (you can’t deny it, I know you)

Yet you still said YES Mama this morning because at a very young age you understand the value of work for mama and papa. You understand that we barely have money, that we need to pay bills and we need money to sustain our lives.

I could not help but also laugh when you called me in the office (and you knowing my office number by heart makes me so proud too because I know you can call me immediately in times of emergency) You called me in your “pacute” voice yet in panic mode that your little brother JJ had his own “little emergency!” I could hear the panic in it and I know you really despised that moment the most. Yet You also told me Tita can’t help because she went to see her little baby too. 😦 It broke my heart that you have to do that too. Yet you still said Yes Mama, I got this. And you hang up.

I had to call back and you weren’t answering. After a few tries you answered again and said you took care of it all. You and your 6 year old brother took care of it (I am so proud of him too) you both helped your little brother in his “little accident” and it was a success.

You just don’t know how proud I am, knowing that somehow you didn’t leave him or left him crying and took care of it without me there.

But on the other hand, I feel so rotten. I should have stayed with you like I have said on the phone when I called you at lunch again asking if you ate already and still you said Yes Mama, you both ate already. I told you to just leave the dishes on the sink and I’ll take care of it. And you said yes, and told me you will now bring your brothers to the room and continue to make some drawings. You make so proud.

 

When I called you again past 3pm, you told me your brothers are asleep. You have done an amazing job and I am proud of you yet I again feel rotten. This is too much of a responsibility for you 😦

And when I went home, I saw that the house was not as dirty as I expected it to be. Your Tita even said you guys were great, no big fuss at all.

If only I could tell you these things, probably I could but I am not sure if you would understand how I am feeling. Maybe you will because you are mature for your age.

I am thanking you for being my daughter, I don’t deserve you or your brothers. Never once did you complain that you don’t have this toy, or that doll. Never once did you complain that you don’t have a Bratz Doll or a Monster High Doll like your bff’s.  Yes you might have mentioned in passing that you would love to have those yet you would always retract your sentence and tell me and your dad, when we have the money.

I am so sorry if we still don’t have that money, with three kids, it’s hard. Yet you would still obey us, kiss us and tell us you love us. I don’t deserve you yet I know I am still up, alive, fighting because of you. Because you are still smiling even though Mama opens your eyes to “big responsibilities”.

I am praying that somehow, someday I would deserve you.

I don’t deserve them

Yes. Right now I feel like I don’t deserve these three kids in this picture. My little girl is soon to be 9 on October, my sons are 6 and 3 years old. This picture was taken last week when they had a school program.

It was a crazy week for me. I had to rush their costumes, set them up early make up and all- but I wasn’t able to go and watch them dance 😦 I feel rotten but somehow I know they understand. I need to be at work.

Wednesday came and this little boy got sick 😦

This is my youngest, Jhon Javen, we call him JJ. I was surprised because i found blisters all over his body and the doctor said it was due to chicken pox. 😦 I know I took them for immunization when they were young, but Doc said it sometimes can still attack their body:(

But he wasn’t in pain, in fact he is still all hyper and jumpy and happy… somehow he probably know how much I get worried when they get sick.

Then Friday came my nanny had to leave us for awhile because her grandfather died!! She will be back tomorrow.

But it was so hard leaving my kids at home. They didn’t have classes this week because of Intramurals and my youngest needs to stay at home, often times my husband would bring them to work. But today he can’t since my son still needs to be kept at home!

I also can’t be absent from work because it’s a Monday! My heart was so heavy this morning when I have to leave them under my sister-in-laws care which is also a bit hard for her because she is taking take care of 3 kids too!

But anyways, I honestly feel like I don’t deserve them. Leaving them at home. 😦 I called them almost every hour today to check on them. I am just glad they were able to handle themselves quite well. Especially my daughter who assumed responsibility. I honestly told her she doesn’t need to since my sister-in-law was there but she end up taking care of my sons and she was even able to put them to sleep and take a nap in the afternoon!

I so feel like I don’t deserve her. See, they aren’t normal “normal” in a sense where they would ask me for toys. In fact they barely have toys. Yet you would not hear them complain AT ALL.

I am just so thankful that God gave me these wonderful kids right now.

I honestly feel like I don’t deserve them. Yet I know God gave them to me as a gift that I wouldn’t take for granted.