Week 5: My Palate

Desserts define my palate. I can manage my appetite well enough to have room for sweets after each meal. Heck, I can even have them as appetizers! Seriously. I don't know about you, but I love them in all shapes, sizes, and colors. I want to travel and taste all the sweets this world can offer! When I host parties, I usually (almost always) just order the main dishes and I'd take care of the appetizers and of course, desserts! My friends like my maja blanca, leche flan, and most recently my brazo de mercedes ;-)

On a savory note, I like pasta. I want to explore the different kinds of sauces, and even want to learn how to make pasta from scratch. Spaghetti bolognese tops my list. I make these almost every week, sometimes every other week. I crave for it. I like the tangy and chunky tomatoes, the hint of sweetness (I just need to add that extra sugar), and the aroma of the herbs and spices. Sometimes, I would make bechamel sauce or plain naked pasta with just olive oil and parmesan cheese. A new favorite of mine, are mussels in wine sauce with diced tomatoes eaten with linguini. I never thought I would like seafood, a shellfish at that. A happy pasta surprise hehehe! My friends like my chicken macaroni salad, and my seafood pasta. 

And how can I forget barbecue! Goodness, gracious! I like my meat and seafood grilled. Give me bbq ribs and I would lick it clean to the bones! I appreciate a good steak. I dream of grilled squid. I dream of pork and chorizo bbq at Litang's (Pardo,Cebu). Sometimes (not always, because I'm not really a huge fan), I wish I can have that lechon too! I used to make a lot of bbq ribs, but got tired of it. It is too much work for me.

When I don't feel like eating at home, I crave for dimsum, chicken tikka masala, crepes, roasted chicken, and a burger. Top places to go for these are at Kingsland Dimsum, Star of India, La Creperie, Boston Market or Maggiano's Little Italy, and Wendy's. Our family likes Olive Garden and PF Chang's as well. New discovery, Korean barbecue! Oh, to die for!!!

I better stop because I feel like I'm about to drool....

Week 4: My Home

I am home when I see your face. I am home when I hear their giggles. I am home when I feel that warmth, that comfort, that LOVE!

I was born and raised in the Philippines, and now live in the USA with my three boys and wonderful husband. Colorado has been our home for five years now.

We bought this house built and ready to move-in in 2007. It is quite spacious with three bedrooms, a loft, basement, office, laundry room, and a two car garage. When we moved in, we were one of the first residents in the lane. Now, it has been a happy place for several families.

On summers, it feels like an open house. Kids in the neighborhood come and go. They add to my happy chaos. We have forged friendships and these friends are like family already.

But there is always another home, back home. Back where my mother is, my siblings are, my childhood friends, my classmates, my former colleagues are, and where I drafted my dreams. It is where I nursed my heartaches and frustrations, where I met the love of my life, and where I became who I am now. There is that comfort of knowing that this home will soon be where I'm supposed to be a few years from now...

But in the meantime, I savor my domain where I am queen to four men. Although sometimes I wish I would have more than just my imagination to help me around.