Prayer of St. Francis de Sales, Be at Peace:
Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather look to them with full hope as they arise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually:
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart has trusted in Him and I am helped. He is not only with me but in me and I in Him."
Amen.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Friday, December 23, 2011
To keep in mind for Kali's 2nd b-day:
Step2 Up & Down Roller Coaster Ridehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Megaland Pop-Up Playset - Indoor Play Tents, Tunnels, and Balls
Step2 Up & Down Roller Coaster Ridehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Megaland Pop-Up Playset - Indoor Play Tents, Tunnels, and Balls
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Pumpkin stuff
PUMPKIN BURGER
Whisk together beaten egg, chili and garlic powder and cinnamon. Combine mashed black beans, canned pumpkin, rolled oats and the egg mixture to form a mixture that is sticky yet holds together. Shape into patties and bake in a 375° oven, turning once, for about 15 minutes. Assemble with burger fixings.
TRIFFLE
Season the canned pumpkin with pumpkin pie spice (or a mixture of ground cloves, cinnamon and ginger) and pure vanilla extract, then fold in marshmallow cream. Layer in a trifle bowl with crushed graham crackers and candied pecans.
FLAN
* 6 large eggs
* 6 large egg yolks
* 1 3/4 cups sugar
* 1 teaspoon orange zest
* 2 1/3 cups heavy cream
* 1 cup milk
* 5 whole cloves
* 3 whole star anise
* 1 cardamom pod, cracked
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 15-ounce can pumpkin purée
* special equipment
12 6-ounce ramekins
Whisk eggs, egg yolks, 3/4 cups sugar, and orange zest in a large heatproof bowl. Bring 2 cups heavy cream, milk, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and cardamom pod to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat; slowly whisk into egg mixture. Steep 30 minutes. Strain. Whisk in vanilla extract and pumpkin purée. Chill 3 hours.
Stir 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small heavy saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber, brushing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup heavy cream (caramel will bubble vigorously). Divide caramel among ramekins; chill until set. Divide custard among ramekins; place in a large pan. Add hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins; cover pan with foil. Bake at 350° until center is just set, 20–25 minutes. Chill until cold. Invert onto plates.
PUMPKIN BREAD
* 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
* 3 cups sugar
* 3 eggs
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
* 1 (16 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
In a mixing bowl, dream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Stir in pumpkin. Pour into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until bread tests done.
Whisk together beaten egg, chili and garlic powder and cinnamon. Combine mashed black beans, canned pumpkin, rolled oats and the egg mixture to form a mixture that is sticky yet holds together. Shape into patties and bake in a 375° oven, turning once, for about 15 minutes. Assemble with burger fixings.
TRIFFLE
Season the canned pumpkin with pumpkin pie spice (or a mixture of ground cloves, cinnamon and ginger) and pure vanilla extract, then fold in marshmallow cream. Layer in a trifle bowl with crushed graham crackers and candied pecans.
FLAN
* 6 large eggs
* 6 large egg yolks
* 1 3/4 cups sugar
* 1 teaspoon orange zest
* 2 1/3 cups heavy cream
* 1 cup milk
* 5 whole cloves
* 3 whole star anise
* 1 cardamom pod, cracked
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 15-ounce can pumpkin purée
* special equipment
12 6-ounce ramekins
Whisk eggs, egg yolks, 3/4 cups sugar, and orange zest in a large heatproof bowl. Bring 2 cups heavy cream, milk, cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and cardamom pod to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium heat; slowly whisk into egg mixture. Steep 30 minutes. Strain. Whisk in vanilla extract and pumpkin purée. Chill 3 hours.
Stir 1 cup sugar and 1/4 cup water in a small heavy saucepan over low heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat; boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber, brushing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush and swirling pan occasionally, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1/3 cup heavy cream (caramel will bubble vigorously). Divide caramel among ramekins; chill until set. Divide custard among ramekins; place in a large pan. Add hot water to pan to come halfway up sides of ramekins; cover pan with foil. Bake at 350° until center is just set, 20–25 minutes. Chill until cold. Invert onto plates.
PUMPKIN BREAD
* 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
* 3 cups sugar
* 3 eggs
* 3 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
* 1 (16 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
In a mixing bowl, dream butter and sugar. Add eggs; mix well. Combine dry ingredients; stir into creamed mixture just until moistened. Stir in pumpkin. Pour into two greased 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until bread tests done.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
My Pumpkin Beverage
1/2 cup pumpkin
1 vanilla ice cream bar
1 cup milk
ice
1/4 water
2 tablespoon Splenda
cinnamon
cap of vanilla
Mix it all in blender.
Serve with top with cool whip.
This makes 1 serving 14oz.
1 vanilla ice cream bar
1 cup milk
ice
1/4 water
2 tablespoon Splenda
cinnamon
cap of vanilla
Mix it all in blender.
Serve with top with cool whip.
This makes 1 serving 14oz.
Budin de Calabaza, my way
So, my aunt finally gave me the recipe for her budin de calabaza. I tweaked it to my taste and came out with this:
1 pumpkin can (3.5 cups of mashed pumpkin)
2 cups milk
4 eggs
2 tablespoons salt
1.5 cup Splenda
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon ginger
1 tablespoon almond
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 handful almonds
1 box raisins
Heat oven 450.
Mix it all.
Put mix on a pan (you should put some sugar in the pan and melt is before pouring the mix... I placed some more Splenda on the pan and since it did not melt well kept going and placed mix over it).
Place in oven.
450 for first 15 minutes
325 for 45 minutes
Check if it is thick. Use wood stick, if nothing sticks to it then it's done.
Take out. Let it get cold.
Cover & place in the fridge.
Serve chilled with Cool Whip.
Yum!
1 pumpkin can (3.5 cups of mashed pumpkin)
2 cups milk
4 eggs
2 tablespoons salt
1.5 cup Splenda
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 tablespoon ginger
1 tablespoon almond
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 handful almonds
1 box raisins
Heat oven 450.
Mix it all.
Put mix on a pan (you should put some sugar in the pan and melt is before pouring the mix... I placed some more Splenda on the pan and since it did not melt well kept going and placed mix over it).
Place in oven.
450 for first 15 minutes
325 for 45 minutes
Check if it is thick. Use wood stick, if nothing sticks to it then it's done.
Take out. Let it get cold.
Cover & place in the fridge.
Serve chilled with Cool Whip.
Yum!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
DO IT ANYWAY
“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
― Mother Teresa
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”
― Mother Teresa
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
STUFF TO DO WITH GRANDS MUFFINS
I put these here so I can find them later. Really bad memory and too much papers in my desk problems. :P And who knows, maybe you all can take advantage and try these which are idiot proof and fast solutions when you have an oven... I cook everything in microwave, this week only for the sake of trying to do some fishy cooking I will use the big tin monster... Yup, the STOVE! Tadaaaaa! Anyway, I came across these and before I loose them I put them here. I'm a sucker for food in the shape of all-in-one-pockets.
PIZZA CUPS:
Roll the biscuits out so they fit better in the pan, bake them for a few minutes, take them out of the oven, fill them with pizza ingredients and bake some more.
BACON, EGG & CHEESE CUPS:
Get GRANDS biscuits, and put them in a greased muffin pan, form a cup in the middle and put the egg in the center and bake 15-20 minutes. If you want, put the bacon in there as well, but it would be that hard to cook it and then add it later. Sprinkle cheese on top of the egg when it comes out of the oven.
PIZZA CUPS:
Roll the biscuits out so they fit better in the pan, bake them for a few minutes, take them out of the oven, fill them with pizza ingredients and bake some more.
BACON, EGG & CHEESE CUPS:
Get GRANDS biscuits, and put them in a greased muffin pan, form a cup in the middle and put the egg in the center and bake 15-20 minutes. If you want, put the bacon in there as well, but it would be that hard to cook it and then add it later. Sprinkle cheese on top of the egg when it comes out of the oven.
Cooking good? PAELLA VALENCIANA
I have eaten plenty of paella before at my aunt's house, but I have NEVER actually done it. So, I placed the paella in the shopping list for Holy Week, and hubby got it. This is my next culinary experiment.
PAELLA:
Get items out of the box. Follow the 3 easy-step instructions. Hope for the best!
So far so good, at least the apartment smells like paella! LOL I also put some fish sticks in the oven, and some broccoli and corn cobs in the microwave. I just have to finish the mayoketchup, and serve. Wow, this is not a boring menu! How come I didn't think of this while pregnant? (Yup, with Kali it was tilapia with broccoli 7 times a week... no wonder right now I hate tilapia!).
PAELLA:
Get items out of the box. Follow the 3 easy-step instructions. Hope for the best!
So far so good, at least the apartment smells like paella! LOL I also put some fish sticks in the oven, and some broccoli and corn cobs in the microwave. I just have to finish the mayoketchup, and serve. Wow, this is not a boring menu! How come I didn't think of this while pregnant? (Yup, with Kali it was tilapia with broccoli 7 times a week... no wonder right now I hate tilapia!).
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Cooking good? PAN DE AGUA
And today I made my first attenpt in my life to make... tadadaaaaaaaa! Pan de agua boricua.
9:40PM I just put it in the oven... let's see what happens.
Off the bat, maybe once a month, but it is just too much work for a piece of bread... Wow, puts in perspective all the work that bakers do. Kudos to those diligent people that everyday wake up at 3:00am just to make bread... Without them, coffee would be so incomplete!
This was the recipe:
PAN DE AGUA
Time: 3 hrs. Serves: 4
Ingredients:
3 cups of all-purpose flour
2 1/2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of warm water
Preparation:
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Mix in flour, salt. Add the yeast and mix in with a spatula until it is well blended. Flour a clean surface and knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic (same texture as children modeling clay).
Wrap in a plastic film and let rise in a warm place until it doubles.
Put the dough on a floured surface and punch down to get rid of the excess bubbles. Divide the dough in 8 portions.
Work them into rolls, then slash them lengthwise with a knife.
Allow to double again before baking.
Pre-heat the oven to 218 °C (425 °F).
Oil a baking sheet.
Bake bread for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
MY EXPERIENCE
This seemed simple and somehow became tricky... I don't cook, I just do cakes, so bear with me. Mixing the dough gave me trouble as I was not certain if I had to use all 3 packets of .25oz each or if it had to be just .25oz overall. Bad start... Mixed all and saw no difference when I left the mass alone... Separated the pieces and still saw no difference in growth... Maybe it's me or I am definitively doing something really wrong. Placed the dough in the oven, forgot oiling the baking sheet... We'll see what happens. I'm tempted to throw some pieces of butter over it... LOL
10:15PM:
Not bad for a first time. :)
9:40PM I just put it in the oven... let's see what happens.
Off the bat, maybe once a month, but it is just too much work for a piece of bread... Wow, puts in perspective all the work that bakers do. Kudos to those diligent people that everyday wake up at 3:00am just to make bread... Without them, coffee would be so incomplete!
This was the recipe:
PAN DE AGUA
Time: 3 hrs. Serves: 4
Ingredients:
3 cups of all-purpose flour
2 1/2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
1 teaspoon of salt
1 cup of warm water
Preparation:
Dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Mix in flour, salt. Add the yeast and mix in with a spatula until it is well blended. Flour a clean surface and knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic (same texture as children modeling clay).
Wrap in a plastic film and let rise in a warm place until it doubles.
Put the dough on a floured surface and punch down to get rid of the excess bubbles. Divide the dough in 8 portions.
Work them into rolls, then slash them lengthwise with a knife.
Allow to double again before baking.
Pre-heat the oven to 218 °C (425 °F).
Oil a baking sheet.
Bake bread for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
MY EXPERIENCE
This seemed simple and somehow became tricky... I don't cook, I just do cakes, so bear with me. Mixing the dough gave me trouble as I was not certain if I had to use all 3 packets of .25oz each or if it had to be just .25oz overall. Bad start... Mixed all and saw no difference when I left the mass alone... Separated the pieces and still saw no difference in growth... Maybe it's me or I am definitively doing something really wrong. Placed the dough in the oven, forgot oiling the baking sheet... We'll see what happens. I'm tempted to throw some pieces of butter over it... LOL
10:15PM:
Not bad for a first time. :)
Friday, April 08, 2011
Saturday, April 02, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
DEXTER & HOUSE & SPARTACUS
There seems to be some hope for TV. Just finished the 2nd season of Dexter and I absolutely love it. The whole monster living among us concept is so compelling. It actually is ironic that so many normal people like this... or sick? In a way, watching real life, real events, you would expect people to like/enjoy lighter stuff... Us, people with dry witty humor and that see beauty in darkness definitively can enjoy this for the whole social criticism it is.
Same counts for House, who ironically seems like a medical duplicate of one of my best friends... Well, House treats/cures people, my friend treats/cures computers... Close enough. Resistance is futile!
Spartacus still grabs my attention. This 2nd season- so-called prequel is so far ok... Still, Lucy definitively disappointed me in her choice for character portraying... I thought she was classy-er. Just my opinion. I still don't see the value of so many explicit sex scenes on the screen, especially when you can show them with creative coverups... But then I guess they would loose male viewers...
The good news: I am actually looking forward to catch up on these three, as I used to feel when watching Xena, Herc, Andromeda, or even the A-Team... The bad news: It is sad that sex takes over a good script.
10-4
Same counts for House, who ironically seems like a medical duplicate of one of my best friends... Well, House treats/cures people, my friend treats/cures computers... Close enough. Resistance is futile!
Spartacus still grabs my attention. This 2nd season- so-called prequel is so far ok... Still, Lucy definitively disappointed me in her choice for character portraying... I thought she was classy-er. Just my opinion. I still don't see the value of so many explicit sex scenes on the screen, especially when you can show them with creative coverups... But then I guess they would loose male viewers...
The good news: I am actually looking forward to catch up on these three, as I used to feel when watching Xena, Herc, Andromeda, or even the A-Team... The bad news: It is sad that sex takes over a good script.
10-4
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Friday, February 04, 2011
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
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