Saturday, January 29, 2011

Childhood Memories


A nephew and his wife, from the freezing East Coast, spent a night with us before they started their journey to Down Under. They brought some "pasalubongs" (gifts) for us one of which was a steamed sticky rice wrapped in banana leaf. We call it "suman". The moment hubby unwrapped one and the familiar scent wafted in the air, I was automatically brought back to my childhood!
Isn't it amazing how a simple sight like, color, or scent, or sound can transport you to another "era" in your life?
That "suman" sure did!

Saturday, January 01, 2011

My Favorite Things


If you are like me then you must have an item in your house that you just can not let go!
When hubby and I first arrived in America to stay, we had to learn fast so the little amount we brought with us would last until we found jobs. A cousin-in-law introduced us to weekend yard saleing in Beverly Hills where I found a mother-n-daughter frying pans (the name I coined myself). It has become an absolute favorite of mine.
Through the years, we received frying pans as gifts for our birthdays, anniversaries or Christmas. Glass or ceramic pans, non-stick pans, cast iron pans... but I would always go back to my stainless steel yard-sale pan. It never broke on me. None of its finish ever scraped off to give my food unwanted color. It taught me to be patient. I learned to wait until it reached its correct temperature before dropping or pouring any ingredient so none will stick to the bottom. And as long as I remember to soak, rinsing is always a whizzzz!!
If I had a golden friend, this pan of mine is the one!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!