Foot and Fire

  This one of my heaviest books in my shelf at home and one of my favorites.... Anyone interested in trivia, history and general knowledge will appreciate this big book filled with glimpses of the 20th century. Browsing through 1978, my birth year, I uncovered that the first test tube baby was born on that year; that decade defining movie Saturday Night Fever of John Travolta was shown; that on same year three popes were headlines as the last two predecessor of the well loved Pope John Paul II died on same year and he was named as pope on the same year! Yes, these are just good to know facts.... Given the photographs and illustrations that accompany the big book, my nephew enjoyed it vy much too... I told him, he can have his first inheritance from me! LOL

My two favorite fried vegetable... Dip the Okra tempura and Camote fries in a plain tomato ketchup or mix ketchup with mayonnaise... Wonderful take on a Japanese cooking!

They may be called Influential Women but in essence, they are all our mothers.  They paved the way for our generation to live as WOMEN, without explanation and extra qualification.  Thank you. From the list, I picked out my personal favorite and the lines lifted from the book: Margaret Mead (1901 - 1978)  "Possibly, her greatest contribution was that she made anthropology accessible to the nonscientist. She invited millions of people to look with her at other cultures and, as she wrote, "to cherish the life of the world."  *** Hellen Keller (1880-1968) Anne Sullivan (1866-1936) Hellen Keller on her teacher Anne Sullivan:  "There is not a talent or an inspiration or a joy in me that has not been awakened by her loving touch." *** Florence Nightangale (1820-1910) "Florence Nightangale profoundly influenced the future of hospital care by transforming nursing into a noble profession." *** Moth

The 100 Most Influential Women of All Time: A Ranking Past and Present By Deborah G. Felder Citadel Press 2001 Edition Who does not love lists? I do love them.  Who does not love women? I adore them.  Who does not love history? Okay, I just like them. Getting through a list of 100 influential women in history is a good window to start a deeper relationship with the women that paved way to our liberation in the societal structure today. After reading some entries, I think of them as my mothers and nurturers and at the same time, female and feminist (if there is any difference) revolutionaries....     There are entries that I do not strongly feel of course, just like when the mythical (since no historical account on her life except for some sporadic and some confusing mention of her in the Bible) image of The Virgin Mary the mother of Jesus Christ was included. But since the argument it will take on is on the "influence," I kind of accept it anyway.

I really loved to plant but I think the plant cannot love me back. At least, just for now.  Must be because I have no sunny-laid lawn yet. A good friend always gave me plants before but they simply did not survive until I declined and told her that I should enjoy them in her garden until such time I can have my own. I pity the plants as they will simply die with me. However, I recalled that I had a collection of cactus in my student days. I loved cactus. Cacti are low maintenance. They thrive in little water, little sun, little sand, little care and attention from me. I am more like a cactus, actually. I am low maintenance kind. And I think I can thrive anywhere. I am planning to have hanging plants soon, the ones which acts as air filter too, and start a cactus collection anew... Soon!   

I think every traveler nowadays had a love affair with postage stamps at one time or another. *** I flipped on my album filled with used stamps. Some were actually from my past letters during my penpal days and some were donated by friends and acquaintances. The pieces were few compared to large collection but there are special ones and old ones. I recently organized some of them and shall put them in a poster frame...There are faces, flowers, birds, animals, fishes, national symbols, Philippine culture collections and a lot more. I did not touch the foreign stamps yet but they are all amazing to revisit too. ** *** *** *** ***

Are you eating the squash leaves and tops too??? It's actually crunchy and has smooth texture. *** Recently, we added the squash leaves to boiled mongo with sliced squash and green papaya. It turned out yummy too... *** A slice of squash *** Green papaya. *** Bring Mongo to boil. Smash the seeds. Add water if desired. Saute garlic, onions and tomatoes. Add the boiled mongo.  Let boil and add squash and papaya. Let cook and season to taste. Add the leaves, cover for a minute and remove from fire. Serve hot.

Choco Mixture... Wonder how chocolates are made? This is how the basic of all chocolates... The preparation of cacao... from humble seeds to grand hot choco... While sipping, remember the Mayans, on how they treasure every cacao bean during their times. Dried Cacao seeds Peanuts Mascuvado sugar Bake or roast cacao seeds.  Remove outer covering by twisting and then separate from the cacao seeds inside. Add roasted peanuts, if desired. Add mascuvado sugar. Let it grounded electrically in the market, otherwise mortar and pestle will be used to refine the mixture. The powder mixture is ready to be enjoyed as hot choco! Mascuvado *** cacao, not yet peeled. *** My lola roasting the cacao! *** The peeled cacao...

4 cups walnut 1 cup raisins 6 cups desiccated coconut 3 cups flour 4 pcs eggs 1 cup canola oil 11/2 cup brown sugar 2 cans condensed milk Grated cheese or pinch of salt (optional) Break whole walnut into pieces and combine raisins in a bowl. Set aside. Combine desiccated coconut and flour in a deep bowl. Set aside. In another bowl, break eggs, add canola oil, beat lightly add sugar. In the coconut-flour mixture, add the egg-oil mixture alternately with milk one portion at a time and mix.  Repeat until all are mixed together.  Add the walnut and raisins, and cheese or salt if desired.  Bake at 180F for 20 minutes. This recipe made about 150 pcs but the macaroons are not uniform in sizes and a small muffin baking tin is needed to hold the batter as the paper tin cannot mold by itself and so that the outcome of the macaroons will be uniform.... Walnut and raisins.... The batter The paper tin cant hold tight The finished product.

4 cups bugnay 6 cups brown sugar Wash bugnay ang remove stem.  Press with both hands until the juices come out of the berries. Separate the juice and pulp from the seeds by using not-so-fine strainer In a pan or small casserole without cover, bring to boil the juice and pulp of bugnay berries Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved. Let boil for 30 minutes still without cover and stir.  In a low fire, continue heating the syrup for about 30 minutes until it thickens a bit. TIP: The syrup is ready if it does not separate or dissolve easily when dropped in a glass of water. Also, if the syrup does not break when spilled from a spoon about a foot high from the casserole.  Sterilize glass jar and transfer the jelly.  Let cool and refrigerate.

Flowers are for the soul and fruits are for the stomach... These are two nature's bounty that bring everyone good childhood memories, Gastronomic experience and wonderful poetry.... MARANG DURIAN Mangosteen KAMONSIL CASHEW OR KASOY WATERMELON PINEAPPLE OR PINYA DUHAT BERBA Atis

To give some continuity to the last romantic post I had about love letters, I am posting here a recent attempt on my part at romantic theme in my poem entitled, As I see it . Enjoy... Ours started with me taking a glance of you, which you paid with a gaze, I know. I could not take another glimpse of you but my third eye says you continued to stare. Ours continued when you remained staring and I could not repay equally. So, I batted another fleeting look which you magnetted and locked with your fixed glare. Ours all started with that glance, I know but you want me to see it all started with that magnetic glare. Perhaps,  I say. June 9, 2013 4:04PM Copyright Gerlie M. Uy *Photo is taken at the foot of Mt. Tapyas in Coron, Palawan.

Slice banana (Saba variety) Roll in brown sugar Wrap in lumpia wrapper Deep fry in canola oil Serve hot and crispy

Love Letters of Great Men Edited by Ursula Doyle Copyright 2008 St Martin Press, New York. And so this compilation was born after Carrie, in a Sex and the City film, reads aloud to Big a book called Love Letters of Great Men. Love letters of the olden days move and inspire us. They exemplify how snail mails and era of voyages can keep the love and passion despite the limitations of time and distance. It makes us rethink over how relationships progress in these times of global connectedness with instant messaging and cheap flights. One may say it is not the love letter but the lovers that matter. The array of 'great men' also has a string of fidel and devoted men. However, not all these passionate love letters come from 'great men' in terms of fidelity and sincerity. So while I can venture to say that longingness produces wonderful love letters, I cannot venture to say that they come from the sincerest, most fidel, and most patient lovers. And th