Foot and Fire

Last year, we had a part two of cook off at the green house. Because this should have been a French Anne vs Spanish Apachicha cook off, Italian Gerl (that's me) stepped in because the French gal didn't make it.  She had us decide on lamb dishes months ago, and had us crave for some cocktails but she snobbed us by December. Haha!  Well, the cook-off between us started when HE kept his grocery list away from me. AHA, he's serious and seriously suspect that I can turn the table against him. His spices from China shall arrive on Jan 10, not Dec 10. His bad luck.  He cooks something chilli-fied and mine will be European-inspired. He did the spicy ribs and làmb skewers with bread sides heavily relying on cumin to cure his lamb.  He also did an appetizer in lieu of dessert which won the hearts of the jurors because it was refreshing to the palate. It earned him 39 stars. Seriously? This isn't a lamb or a dessert dear. (...

Negrense Volunteers for Change (NVC) has always been around distributing their own MINGO meal, a sachet of powdered rice, monggo and malunggay or moringa which comes as is or is flavored with squash and chocolate, to undernourished children.  NVC sent their MINGO packs to TAAL and on continuing effort to collect more. One can drop in by their office at the BACOLOD CYBERHUB and sponsor the MIngo packs to be to taal. A sachet costs P6 and a P1 is added for logistics in sending to TAAL. I tasted the meal and it is tasty. I Love how it can be eaten by both infants and oldies. It can be served in a chocolate drink or in a Cerelac-like consistency. As a campaigner, I could have had easily opted for a drop in a can solicitation but I Chose a rummage sale because I support the reuse and recycle effort to help the environment and curb the effect of consummerism. This is a bit tiring but it pays off.  This was a bayA...

When my cousins brought me in Tagaytay last 11th of January, I was happy. It is a go-to place when one wishes to quickly go out of Manila. I recall that they always bring me here almost each time I visit them in Cavite.  My 2020 visit impressed on me the property development happening around the lake. The scenic view of the volcano and lake is the selling point of the restos and condos or vacation villas. I was able to quip in passing that one buys an expensive property near the lake but one will be so near when the volcano explodes. We were all laughing and dismissed our wishful thinking of buying a property near the tourist spot. Taal Volcano last erupted in 1977 or 43 years ago, so the tragic eruption happened at the surprise, dismay, horror and sadness of residents, property owners, business owners, farmers, fishermen (I tasted Tawilis) and many more who made the tourist spot vibrant in the last four decades. This is one property seen...

  Hallucinations By Oliver Sacks Paper back, 322 pages Published in 2012 by Picador I finished reading this book (the first one from my Sacks pile) a long time ago. I just need a proper sitting to write about this one considering I was awestruck by the narratives and medical experience of Oliver Sacks. I need to go back and forth to the pages to remember the medical conditions and terms. I can't make an exhaustive blog on how I was surprised by the fact how hallucination is actually different from mental illness like schizophrenia.  Oliver Sacks caught my attention because he was the author of Awakenings, the book which the movie starred by my ever-favorite Robin Williams. I did not expect that the movie plot is based on a true story (or I might have forgotten about such a fact) but the movie stuck on me: A doctor in a public health system can make a difference if he pays extra attention to his patient. I wanted to be a public attorney who pays extra a...

5 pcs Apples, sliced lengthwise 2 pcs Korean Pear, sliced lengthwise Water Brown sugar Vanilla Cinnamon bark Crumble: Oatmeal Peanut butter View this post on Instagram My Apple, Pear & Cranberry topped with Oatmeal and PB Crumble may not be the sweetest dessert there is but it sure seals the tastebuds with tempered sweetness and fruity freshness. 12.15.19 #desserts #lambparty #lamb #chefsofinstagram #chef #feelingchef #footandfire #beforesixdiet #crumble #sweets #peanutbutter #apple #pear #cranberry #oatmeal A post shared by Gerlie Uy (@sassy_gerlie) on Dec 15, 2019 at 6:39am PST Slice and deseed fruits. Set aside. Heat water, and add sugar, vanilla and cinnamon bark. Bring to constant boil for 5 minutes until syrupy. Add the fruits and let cook until fruits are soft but still crunchy. Remove fyom syrup and set aside. Crumble: Toast oatmeal in a pan for about 10 minutes ...