Desperate Cooking: GINATAANG PAKSIW NA GALUNGGONG

In my own dialect (Cebuano) I call it “TINUNUAN NGA INUN-UNANG BODBORON.”

All right! I’m not a cook, just a wife who’s desperate to please my Significant Other’s tummy. I don’t even know the right cooking terms so please overlook my slip-ups and extend patience on apprehending what I want to explicate. I am sharing this because I just love how the hubby begs his wifey to prepare this on the table. Here we go!

Ingredients:

1 kg Galunggong
1 cup Gata
¾ cup Vinegar
 2 tbsp. cooking oil
 2 pcs Eggplant slantways sliced
 3 pcs Okra slantways sliced
 few slices of siling haba / finger chilis
onion chopped
garlic chopped
 salt to taste

Procedure is very simple. Put together ALL ingredients in the cooking pot with seasonings at your preferred amount, and the main ingredient (Galunggong) at the bottom. Then simmer until liquid considerably reduce. That’s it!

That’s my way of cooking it. Anyways, do forgive my poor presentation. Bizarre and unappetizing it may seem yet my husband loves it and that’s all that matters to me. Mind you, I got a reward today for preparing this food which prompted me to blog on this! So love it! Whoopee!

Suggestions for improvement are very much welcome! Gracias!

About CATS and Their Home Benifits

ate Jijie's awesome capture (Jijie Forsythe Photography)

I’m never a cat aficionado. Even so, absolutely not a hater. Every residence has its own pet(s) of choice. In our region, I found cats the usual, very usual that I guess every household own one; some even have a feline clan which seems like a valuable possession that passes through generations, like my own kinfolks for instance. However, I never feel the like. I don’t know! I don’t hate them though. I just can’t stand that freaky feeling of that furry body rubbing at my skin; I hate them messing up my table and settee with paw-prints and furs; and especially that disgusting malodorous discharge!

Anyways, please allow me to share a few reasons why some find cats dearests.

v  Pests Control. Cats love those annoying creepy creatures for grub.

v  Build Up Sense of Responsibility and Thoughtfulness. Cats, like babies, hinge on their owner for their needs.

v  Long-term Companion. Cats subsist for decades. They say, “Cats have nine (9) lives!), though unproven, but yes they can last a lifetime.

v  Health Beneficial. Positive interactions with cats help pull through emotional conditions such as bereavement, downheartedness, and other enfeebling situations.

v  Impartial Ear. They lavishly provide attention without grouchiness to air mawkishness.

v  Stress Reliever. I agree that cats are actually amiable, sweet and playful. And they have that patent charm that can turn ire to awe.

Wow! Indeed a lot of good stuffs. I always marvel at each and every God-created being along with each distinctiveness and significance. But please oh please don’t take it against me if I still prefer to dwell away with such.

'SWEAT-HEARTS' Galore!

Oh my! These darlings constantly stun me with their overwhelming cuteness! Can’t help but marvel!

They’re all dear to me, especially the one in the midst. Please forgive my partiality, obviously he’s my own. (And also, I’m really sorry Frank John for the failure of finding a better picture.)

Oh no! I never meant to compare them, not at all! Honestly, just wanna show off a little, hmmmm Okay! Okay! I wanna blow my own trumpet loudly!

They are family! Well, not the biological kind, but God has richly blessed me with them around. OH MY SWEAT-HEARTS!!! I am so attached with these adorable sweeties. Seeing them, especially having them makes the world such a much better place. They've superbly turned these blessed mamas’ lives upside down. I bet their moms totally agree! They mean the world to us! Yup, they made our lives tougher, yet a lot happier. Ah, wait! Heavenly says it best, indeed, only a mother can imagine. Cheers moms!

Oh no! CATS in my Closet?!

I have been wondering where this certain sound is coming from. Well, I know for certain that they’re cats. And I heard from my brother that their cat just gave birth so I just ignored. But yesterday, they seem to be in my vicinity. It alarmed me a bit but still tried to ignore. But when I woke up this morning, I heard that alarming sound just behind my ears, oh-oh! I hastily seek where it’s coming from. Atop our bed? Nope, not even underneath. Around the corner? Not even. Behind the closet? Not at all. Where oh where is that sound coming from? Oh no!!!!!!! Cats in my closet?!!!!!! I was so disgusted the moment I found them! Argh! I was sure they weren’t there when I closed my eyes to sleep. The mother cat must have sneaked his kittens in while I was snoring hihihi oh well, time to find a better place for them to be and do some immediate clean-up. But before I could even start doing that, a scene paused me for some time.

Yes, I know it’s not a good capture as they were taken inside the closet but please take a close look. These made my ire to awe. Awww! Such cuties!

Then, I took them out to have a better shot. Hihihi better but still not that good, well at least. Yes, they are four cutie kittens. Good job cat-mama! Who want some?

I then remember what my mom told me about cats. Once a cat-mama senses that a stranger or even its master touches her little ones, she would then search for elsewhere to safe-keep them.

Okay then, cat-mama, time to evacuate, but allow my little assistance. And by the way, you’re forgiven for messing up with my closet. I don’t hate you and your clan mama cat; in fact I know you and your babies especially are cute, quick-witted and helpful. Helpful in a way, that you guys do me a lot of favor in ridding of hideous pests such as house rats, creepy cockroaches and the like which really freaks me out. And thank you!

"My SWEET-TOOTH Fantasy"

How could have Hansel and Gretel felt being in that candy house? That ecstatic feeling that makes you completely forget all life’s quandaries. It has always been a fantasy that I want to come to reality.

A chamber jam-packed with chocolates, cakes, ice creams, toffees, cupcakes, bonbons and everything sweet and nice haaaaaaay…. “a Confectionery!” – An atelier and paradise for every certified-sweet-tooth pal. Who’s with me? hihihi!

Anyways, it has been a life-long goal to own a personal profitable enterprise, and one of the immediate top options is a food business. But I fear of just being my own business’ only costumer hahahaha!

Today, I still have it as a dream. But sooner or later, the heavens surely have its ways of making such fantasy a reality! Hubby’s dream business had already been granted last year, THANK GOD! And I’m praying and waiting for mine. Hmmmmm… with my long list, which one would I have at hand soon? Hihihi sooo excited! Godspeed! =D

A YELLOW Watermelon?!

As a certified food lover, I gained too much unnecessary calories, so, I decided to eat healthy! I know for a fact that I can never stop myself from loving food and eating them. But one way of keeping illnesses at bay is giving my God-given, awesome, natural 'food-processor' a good care (to be able to eat more food!). =P hihihihihi Okay, let’s get back on tract without further hoo-hahs.

I would never miss chocolates, soda, chips and the like every time I’d go for the grocery, but lately due to health reasons, I try my best not to look at them and go to fruits section instead. And there I am with bunch of fruits. And one of such is my one-of-the-ever-so-favorites, the oh-so-yummy-and-juicy watermelon. I rushed a slice to grab a big bite, but to my astonishment, the inside is YELLOWish?! Is it unripe? Am I being deceived?! Is this a watermelon?! I was so disappointed but because I wanted to eat and save some bucks, I tried a little bite to see if it’s eatable. Whoah! It’s sweet, and tastes like a watermelon, and even better because it has lesser seeds, lesser hassle. Wow! So delightful!

But then, a yellow watermelon? All my life, I know watermelons are reddish or pinkish inside. This must be another kind, so after munching to my satisfaction, I hurried to inquire Mr. Google. Now I know a little better. Thanks Mr. Google! Here’s what I got.

now i know better (photo not mine)

Our Rightful Duty as Children

respecting is also loving (photo not mine)

“Honor your father and mother”,

the Scripture says in Ephesians 6:2. The Word of God did not require any distinctive condition for us to do so. Whether our parents are the best in the world or perhaps the contrary, we ought to honor them, show them some respect regardless of our personal circumstances. The Bible did not say that if they are good, then honor, if bad, then don’t. Thus, making it our rightful duty, as children, to honor our parents.

“that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” – Matthew 5:45-47

And if you do, whatever it takes, the Lord promised…

“ that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” – Ephesians 6:3

Yes, the Lord knows, that at some point, for some of us (like I for one), has all the reasons to wrangle over, and believe me, He truly understands, He feels for us. But true love and obedience to God comes when we still choose to adhere even at the hardest, at the most painful points of our lives.

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

Obedience to His Word is a must! Is God unjust? Absolutely NOT! Remember, HE chose to save you instead of sparing His only begotten Son from the cross. It wasn't easy, never easy! He loves us above all and saved us despite our sinfulness!

Is it too much to ask to honor your own father and mother the way God wants u to? 

In my case, it took me a lot of hardships and tears. It wasn't easy. But God’s perfect and unconditional love mended my broken bitter heart.