Winter Recap

"A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step" - Lao-Tzu

It was still snowing and freezing last month, but now it’s officially spring. Seasons come and go, but there’s always beauty that was brought to us. Every season is unique and they give different memories and experiences to our life.
We didn't do much this winter except for the holiday rush, so I got the chance to do more blog posts and did a lot of baking. I tried a lot of recipes and experimented with ingredients that can be added to my cooking repertoire. My resolution for this year is to have a healthy lifestyle, although it's challenging, I'm getting there one step at a time.

I did a lot of reading too, since my goal is to read two books a month.

Here are some of the highlights and activities from this winter season:

Here are our pictures from the holidays.

Here are some of my food from my past blog posts.

Celebrating the Seahawk's first Super Bowl win in history!

The only snowfall of the winter season.

Books I've Read: 

"The decisions of our past are the architects of our present" - from Inferno

Inferno: This book is like a tour guide to Italy. It is extremely informative about the culture, history, art, and facts. It's also as if you are experiencing an adventure in the book; the events are very realistic that they are life-like.

Da Vinci Code: This book was like a scavenger hunt; it was a definite page-turner. This book began with a surprise, a certain "code;" but as you try to unravel the mystery, it leads to more questions that need to be solved.

Presumed Innocent: This story is about a man's obsession which puts everything he loves and values on trial - including his own life.

The Apostle: It follows the character of Scott Harvath as he is sent on a top secret assignment for the United States Government to save a kidnapped American doctor. 

He Sees You When You're Sleeping: The mother and daughter reunite for a heartwarming holiday, a tale of redemption and love. 

Insurgent: This story is book two of the Divergent trilogy wherein Tris continues her journey being in the faction she chose. She discovers a secret from her old faction involving her parents that put her life in danger. She wonders if being divergent was really a gift or a curse. 

St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated annually on March 17^th. It marks the death of the most recognized patron of Ireland, St. Patrick.

This day commemorates St. Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrating the holiday generally involves public parades, festivals, and wearing green attire or shamrocks.

I prepared some food for the holiday, like corn beef. It’s essential for St. Patrick’s Day. You can celebrate it with Irish food, like Irish bread, shepherd pie, shamrock pizza and any other green food. And don’t forget beer, and also wearing something green! If you don’t wear any, you’ll get pinched!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Shamrock Donuts

Shamrock Donuts and Other Treats

Shamrock Donuts

Chicken Alfredo Pasta

Corn Beef with Steamed Vegetables

Pork Tapa (Cured Pork )

Tapa is a popular dish that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. A traditional version of this cured meat requires a few hours of drying and it usually uses beef. There are lots of ways to prepare this, but to make it quick and easy, you can use pork and marinate it with common seasonings for four hours or overnight.                                                                                                                                                                        
In the Philippines, it is usually served for breakfast, along with eggs, fried rice, and fried eggs. They call it tapsilog, a combination of three Tagalog words ( tapa + sinangag + itlog ). This can be found even in famous fast food chains and restaurants.

Ingredients

2 lbs. pork sirloin  (thinly sliced)

3 tbs. olive oil

6 cloves garlic minced

4 tbs. soy sauce

3 tbs. lemon juice

1/4 cup pineapple juice

2 tbs. sugar

1/2 cup soda (sprite or 7up)

3 tbs. oyster sauce

2 tbs. sesame oil

salt and pepper to taste

Procedure

1. In a bowl, combine the pork and the rest of the ingredients, except for the olive oil. Mix well and marinate for 4 hours or overnight.

2. Place the marinated pork in the pan and let it boil. Then, lower the heat and simmer until the water evaporates. 

3. Then add the olive oil and fry it until brown. Add some onion slices and stir.

 

4. Serve with tomatoes, rice, eggs, or side dish with veggies of your choice.

Garlic Bread with Olympic Rings

“Winning isn’t everything; it’s how you played the game.”

Last week, the Olympics ended, so this is a late post. I’ve been busy, so I wasn’t able to post this on time.

The Olympics is an international sports competition bewteen countries to give recognition to the greatest athletes of the world and bringing world cultures together.

The spirit of the Olympics is to have taken part fairly, and to have done one’s best. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have played well. It’s a two-week competition being held every four years.

I have always watched the Olympics’ opening and closing ceremony and my favorite is the ice skating and hockey.

I prepared a snack, a garlic cheese bread, during the closing ceremony. There aren’t many things better than a warm, buttery cheese bread in a form of Olympic rings.

I also got this recipe from this site: http://www.laurenslatest.com/fail-proof-pizza-dough-and-cheesy-garlic-bread-sticks-just-like-in-restaurants/. It’s from one of my favorite bloggers.

This garlic bread is also perfect with baked spaghetti!