Foot and Fire

The Terracotta Army of Xi'an China (at my back) represents our quest for immortality but it quickly reminded me of our mortality. Hence, I shall give life to Life.  Dear Friends, Next to my cooking blog, Before Six Diet , which houses my recipes and some kitchen (mis)adventures, I wished to maintain my Foot and Fire blog which I originally apportioned for my itchy feet and sharp-eyed shots.  However, aside from my travels and travel photos which stand for the word FOOT, I decided to house here my poems and essays which may or may not revolve around travelling but as to other aspects of my daily life that likewise fire me up. Hence, FIRE.   I always wanted this blog to celebrate what I am (a sister, a daughter and a friend) and what I do everyday (from buying curtains to cooking to lawyering) because I love what I do and it gives me some sense of purpose and understanding on what Life is all about and How it should be lived. Given these reasons, I...

By GERLIE M. UY The first fried batch of Lumpia Hanoi 300 g vermicelli 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 onion, chopped 1 canned tuna (about 300g) 1 can green peas 2 potatoes, chopped black pepper soy sauce lumpia wrapper canola oil Sauce: Fish Sauce Calamansi / other citrus chili Place in a bowl the vermicelli. Add hot water and soak until cooked through. Drain. Mix the remaining first 7 ingredients. Wrap in a lumpia wrapper. Heat oil and deep fry. For the sauce, mix all ingredients. Check out other Sauce s here. chopped potatoes solid in water canned tuna Vermicelli, already cooked through The mixture before wrapping The modified Vietnamese Nouc Mam as the original recipe calls for lime juice while I used Calamnsi here.

By GERLIE M. UY Mongo Soup with the green leafy vegetable called Lupo 1 cup mongo water 2 cloves garlic crushed 1 onion, quartered 2 ripe tomatoes, quartered Water dried fish (or dried shrimp) salt 250 gms squash, cubed 2 eggplants, sliced in half lengthwise and quartered 6 cups lupo Boil Mongo in enough water until tender. Mash. Set aside In another soup pot, saute garlic, onion and then tomatoes. Add water and the mashed mongo. Add dried fish. Bring to boil. Add salt to taste. Add quash and eggplant. Let cook. Adjust taste with fish sauce, if preferred. While boiling, add the lupo and cover pot with lid. Remove from fire. Serve hot with rice and fried dreied fish on the side.

By GERLIE M. UY Looking up close to the Summer Rolls which were made in 30 minutes and gone in 30 seconds. LOL 12 pieces rice paper warm water canned tuna, solid in water (reserve water) 2 pieces cucumber, cut into sticks 1 medium carrots, thinly sliced parsley leaves rice noodles hot water Hoisin-Tuna Sauce: 1/2 cup hoisin sauce water from the tuna water, if needed fish sauce pepper Prepare rice noodles by pouring hot water. Allow the transparent noodle to turn into white. Drain excess water and set aside. Lay rice paper in a clean and flat surface. Rub warm water enough to moisten it. Place cucumber and carrot and parsley leaves in the center. Add tuna and rice noodles. Quickly fold the portion nearer you and the sides and then roll. Set aside. Let the summer roll rest in the platter individually as it will stick together when place on top of each other. Sauce: In a pan, place all ingredients, simmer and then bring to a light boil. Serve in a bowl. In a saucer, place the summer roll...

By GERLIE M. UY My First serving of Pho Ga... The coriander leaves should have been left in the stock while it boils and should not be served.... *Stock 1 native dressed chicken 4 liters water 3 cinnamon sticks 1 stalk Coriander with roots 1 thumb-sized ginger,crushed 3 cube Pho Ga stock (use 1-2 chicken stock) fish sauce 2 liters hot water *Noodles Rice noodles Hot water *Garnish: Chopped spring onions mongo sprouts celery leaves coriander leaves quail eggs calamansi or any citrus (I used dalandan) chili sauce fish sauce How To: Clean whole or sliced chicken and add in 4 liters water in a pot. Add cinnamon sticks, coriander roots and stem with some leaves, and crushed ginger. Let boil until chicken is tender and water is reduced to about half. Remove the chicken and set aside in a bowl. Separate the flesh from bones and sliced into strips, if preferred. Chicken may be served as is. Remove other solids (or leave it with the stock). In a large bowl, place the dried rice noodles. Put ho...

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines. In April this year, I chanced to visit Baguio City for a very short time and it happens that it was noon time when my friend and I got there. The heat hit me like I am not in the Summer capital of the Philippines. What can I expect, given that it was summer and it was noon time. My friend and I went to the Mine's View Park and the Lourdes Grotto. The Mine's View was over crowded with stalls that tourists can hardly enjoy the view in the small viewing area. It was such a disappointment because the souvenir and pasalabong shops were mushrooming side by side each other with no air to breathe in between. When I get back, I shall prioritize in visiting Camp John Hay rather than this touristy area which is not that crowded eight summers ago. I was just happy that I was able to climb the Lourdes Grotto despite the direct sunlight... Here are my photos of the Mines's View: *** *** *** The allure of Mine's View...

Welcome to Cambodia's Royal Palace From Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, we took a 6-hour bus trip heading to Pnomh Penh, Cambodia. While it is not a clean city, we had a great time shopping in the Russian, Old Market and Night Market in this capital city of Cambodia. We visited the Royal Palace and we loved the structures found therein and the small museums housing different pieces. While it is not as grand and as vast as Thailand's, it is still a recommended place to visit. Monks and tourists abound in this place. It is also a place to rest for a while. Smiling behind a pretty gate. Having photo shoot all around...  Indigenous instruments played by Cambodian Youth... Some sculpted images and jars with mural at the back Trimmed shrubs and roaming monks... Taken inside one of the museums... This is a Royal Seat... behind is a mural. Life-size elephant image Like our indigenous weaving machine. Wall images.. We stayed here in KI...