Changes

 Paradigm Shift...

Coined by T.S. Kuhn, a US philosopher of science which means a radical change in underlying beliefs or theory.

A paradigm shift means to have a sudden change in perception, a sudden change in point of view, of how you see things. Hopefully this change will be in the right direction 

   ~ source, deeptruths.com

Now, you'd be wondering why I am writing about this in my food blog?

A lot of things happened in my personal life lately which caused me to have a different perspective about my health, my lifestyle, the way I look at things. And a much deeper personal reason (a life-altering one) looming ahead would in a way have an effect on the way I see my life from now on.

For one, this blog will soon see a lot of changes.  

A few months back, I quit going to the gym. In lieu of that, I enrolled in Milo Apex Running School without any goading from anyone, much to my friend, Mae's surprise. I thought I'd resume what I started last year - running...hoping to transcend beyond brisk walking/jogging to being able to run in races.  I was intent on losing weight by eating healthy too. In my mind, losing weight would equate to being a fast runner. 

Then the inevitable came. On a recent trip to the ER, I was diagnosed with 

Cholecystitis, an inflammation of the gall bladder caused by a gallstone.  I thought I could be cured by just eating a low fat diet or by flushing with apple juice and lemon/olive oil.  I would eventually undergo an open cholecystectomy which meant changes in my diet. I won't elaborate anymore on this topic. It's enough to say there will be major changes in my eating habits, my lifestyle and this blog. 

As I write this, it's been 6 days since my surgery and on the road to recovery, waiting for my body to adjust to my new diet.  Some say I can still go back to normal eating. But I dare not to. I am not getting younger. I want to be fit and healthy. As they say.... Mahal magkasakit. 

Like what I wrote in my FB shout out, this is just a minor setback, I will be back to running soon.  This food blog will have a revamp. There will be less dining out and food reviews and more healthy recipes, hoping that in my own little way, as one close friend said, could help others have a healthier lifestyle. 

P.S.

Let me have this chance to show my appreciation & gratitude to those who have been with me through this ordeal. You all know who you are. I am deeply thankful. :)

Vietnam: on a culinary & gastronomic adventure.

It’s been a long while since my last entry. I know I have been negligent in keeping this food blog updated and active.  I have a lot of materials, stories and food reviews to write, but my work kept me from writing.  This year, I vowed to write at least one entry a week (keeping my fingers crossed). 

Next week,  I will be off  from work for five days  for a much needed R & R and break from the hectic schedules that started November  till  January, and before the onslaught of another killer month of March.

I will be going on a trip that revolves around my two passions – photography & food. 

My love affair with Vietnamese cuisine dates back to the early 90’s when  M & I would feast on dishes of a Vietnamese restaurant in Megamall.  A cookbook on Vietnamese cooking was a constant presence in my little kitchen.  And going to Vietnam is a dream come true.  And I’m excited.  

serendra 10.13.11

feed your soul, take time to relax and savor the world around you...

what do you do when you get tired of walking?  when life seems to give you punches left and right?  

stop. sit down. eat ice cream... in this case, sorbet in mango tango!

:)

Learning to cook

In one of our food trips at Eastwood Mall, we chanced upon CCA Kitchen’s  Young Chef’s Academy cooking class schedule.  Pipay got a bit interested. 

Now, I’m not the kind of Mom who would drag her kids to all sorts of extra-curricular activities like karate lessons, ballet, even, photography class, unless they show interest and willingness to pursue them.  I just let them be…. when they’re ready, then I’ll be the most supportive mom!

At home, whenever I cook, there were times when Pipay would offer to help out.  I look at this as an opportunity to have a mom-daughter bonding and teach her the rudiments of cooking.  I don’t like her to feel that it’s a chore or a must-do thing in your life as a girl. I want her to enjoy and appreciate food and cooking. 

So, I got the flyer for CCA’s class schedule for September.  There’s a junior chef class for her age bracket.  I forgot all about it when a week after, she asked me about the cooking class again. I asked her if she likes to join.  She said yes.  

September 18, a Sunday, we went back to Eastwood Mall for her first formal cooking lesson.  I could teach her to cook (which could save us enough money to buy us 2 dinners), but I also wanted her to experience the classroom set-up just like what I did 13 years ago (also at CCA Katipunan for the 5-day professional cooking course).

She was given a toque, an apron  and a sheet of paper containing the 3 recipes they’ll be cooking that day – Pimiento drop biscuits, Garlic parsley finger sandwiches and Potato skins with mixed herbs. 

Enjoy the photos just as much as I enjoyed documenting my daughter’s first formal cooking lessons and being a stage mom!  ^_^

 

 

little ms french fries

my daughter.

my little miss French fries.

who loves mangoes.

thank you for being my food trip buddy.  ^_^

jo is happy in a happy gogh

jo is happy in a happy gogh...

Pwedeng pang tongue twister. :)

Last January 22, I signed up to join The Alcove’s photography challenge. I was excited for the event…nervous even.

Over breakfast that Friday, January 21, I told M I’ll be joining the event, that it would be something like an amazing race thing. He asked, “what shoes will you wear?” I was so focused on the photography side, I forgot all about the other necessary stuff…. like footwear. I replied, “my hush puppies shooting shoes”. He said I should wear something more comfortable and apt for running and whole day walking. But my rubber trainers that I used to wear during my gym days had seen better days.

Incidentally, a few weeks ago, I was browsing at fitflop’s website and fell in love with their red clogs. It reminded me of Mario Batali’s orange clogs. Kung si mario may signature orange clogs, si jo naman, red clogs! :P But what kept me from buying the clogs (happy gogh line) was the price….. P4500…. Red clogs or flash? …. Flash or red clogs? ….. red clogs or flash? Hmmm… this is hard…. Argh!

So, I brought M’s attention to the red clogs. The pros – I can use it during shoots too. It’s very comfortable, I can use it more often than rubber shoes, etc. Armed with info from the net, I was prepared.

After he left for work, I went online to check out the clogs again. I texted M about the price. He replied back…”hati tayo?” without hesitation I replied “it’s a deal”.

I called up the fitflop boutique in MOA to check if they have stock. It’s on stock! I asked for my size and told them I’ll be there in an hour. Talk about shopping by phone di ba?

When Pipay arrived from school, she saw the clogs and thought it was hers….. she liked it too. One inch na lang, kasya na sa kanya. :)

When M came home that night, he asked, “why red? “

I like red. :)