Travelogue: The 17-Mile Drive

This is a very late post but I am trying to catch up on me  being MIA on this blog for a very long time. I've been flying back and forth to Houston to help out my sister as she being not so well lately. I can't complain as I adore the kids a lot and I miss them too! Anyway, before I flew to Houston, the husband and I had a quick weekend getaway to the famous 17-mile scenic drive in Pacific Grove, California. I fell in love with California even more. Here's why:

 We had lunch at Stillwater Bar and Grill at the Lodge at Pebble beach. This was our view. 

The food was great. Looking at these pictures makes me hungry.

The fresh oysters was to die for! My tuna was cooked perfectly and oh, the dessert was decadent. Definitely worth checking out.

Baker Beach

I had to overcome one of my fears earlier today (blood drawn and needles) for my doctor's appointment. So, dear husband Joseph decided to take me out to San Francisco as a reward. In an instant I forgot the whole ordeal at the hospital and fell in love with view.

This is a nice vantage point for those wanting to get that perfect landscape of the Golden Gate bridge. It's quite cold as summer is about to end in a few weeks. I have to warn those of you who wants to spend a day here to be prepared seeing perverts hanging out in this area. I mean half-naked old guys walking around watching girls or kids (yes, there's a lot of them). I don't know why they're allowed to loiter in this family beach park. So don't blame me if you see something you hoped you hadn't look. 

Thank you so much for reading. I hope you all are having an awesome weekend!

XoXo

Stanford University and Then Some

Sometimes that one thing you wanted so much in your life never comes easy. Quite elusive actually. I might be living the dream of that so-called-domesticated-housewife-in-a-white-picket-fenced-house. Not the grandest but it is what I have imagined my life to be a few years ago. Funny how I envisioned myself as a housewife and a mom..The latter is the most challenging for me for quite some time now. I wish I have the courage to share my story but I couldn't even put into words what I feel about it. I may be able to in the future if success is on its way.

I can only disclose that I've been through a lot. Because of this, I got to go to Standford University and Hospitals. I am so excited to be able to visit the University as I have only read about them in books and magazines before. It's a nice school and pretty expensive I'd say. They have their own shopping mall that sells high-end brands to boot. Here are some of the pictures we took around the campus with my husband.

Are you in the same boat? Share your success stories in the comment box below. 

Lots of love. XoXo.

Tinolang Manok (Filipino Style Chicken Soup)

When I'm stressed I tend to cook more of my home-grown recipes. I've been dreading this month actually as we will be meeting with our RE (reproductive endocrinologist) at Stanford University hospital tomorrow and I am quite anxious. We've been trying to have a baby for three years now and not getting any luck. What better way to calm my nerves a bit is to make my comfort food for dinner tonight. It made me happy in an instant. Praying that all is going to be alright tomorrow. For now, let me share with you this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 Pound chicken (composed of at least wings, thighs, drumstick), cut in serving pieces and unnecessary fat removed
• 5 Cups water or low-sodium chicken stock
• 4 Cloves garlic, roughly sliced
• 1 Medium onion, sliced
• 2 Thumb-sized ginger, pounded
• 2 Pieces sayote  (chaiote,vegetable pear), cut in quarters
• 2 Cups spinach
• 2 Pieces Jalapeno peppers, cut in half diagonally (rib and seeds removed)
• 1 Teaspoon whole peppercorn
• 1 Tablespoon patis (thai fish sauce), substitute with salt if you don't like the fishy smell and taste 

Cooking Instructions:

1. In a large pot, saute onion, garlic and ginger in medium-high heat until fragrant. Add in the chicken and brown on all sides for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the fish sauce and coat the chicken accordingly.
2. Pour in the chicken stock or water and peppercorn. Boil for 15-20 minutes of just until the chicken is tender when poked with a fork. 
3. Add the sayote and jalapeno peppers and cook covered for 5 minutes more or until the sayote is tender. Season to taste.
4. Lastly, put in the spinach and turn off heat. Cover and let the spinach cook for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy with fish sauce on the side.

Meatless Mondays - Vegetable Stir Fry

 There are just some days where I am too lazy to think of a dinner recipe. Planning a weekly meal is not as easy as you think. It's quite daunting actually. I came up with this idea of making meatless Mondays and from then on, it made my life a little bit easier in the kitchen. These are my favorite grocery finds at Trader Joes: the Asian vegetable stir-fry mix and the Italian sausage-less sausage. 

 And this is my favorite local store find: the vegetarian stir-fry sauce from Lee Kum Kee. It's a perfect combination to any vegetable you have in your fridge.

All you need to do is take out your wok and place in medium-high heat. Pour in a teaspoon or two of Sesame oil. Stir-fry your veggies with the Lee Kum Kee sauce. You can either slice the sausage and add it on the stir fry or cook it separately.Voila! Dinner in less than 30 minutes.