Fall Fashion

"Fashions fade, style is eternal" 

- Yves Saint Laurent  

It’s October and it’s getting cold. Fall is officially here, which means we need to transition our wardrobe
from summer to fall. It can be tricky but you can do it through different techniques. For example, you can still wear a dress but instead wear it with tights and boots.

Fall Must Haves:

            Knit Beanie: The beanie is one of those cozy trends; it’s also practical and affordable.

2          Over the Knee Boots: You can wear this with a shirt dress and pair it with legging or jeans.

            Turtle Necks: This will keep you toasty without adding bulk. For an ideal outfit, wear a basic cotton turtle neck under a heavy coat. Audrey Hepburn would approve!

4          Animal Print: Animal prints can be best paired with leather jackets and black boots.

6          Wedge Sneakers: Perfect with jeans or leggings

7            Leggings under shorts/rompers: Another great way to transition a wardrobe. Simply add a pair of leggings to go with your summer outfit.

8      Layering: Light layering is a must for this season, especially when it’s chilly in the morning.

9          Leather Jackets: This is another must have for this season! You can pair it with boots, dressy shoes, and almost anything. You can dress it up or down. 

            Faux Fur Vest: This can be used instead of having a jacket, if the temperature isn't too cold yet.

Pumpkin Witch

Pumpkin Witch

It's officially fall, and it seems that there's an explosion of autumn colors. There are pumpkins everywhere in grocery stores, in front of houses in our neighborhood, and even at my workplace. This is the time of
year when people are busy decorating their houses and buying costumes for Halloween.
                       
So I decided to start putting decorations on my house's front porch. My family and I went to the Pumpkin Patch at Bi-Zi Farms last week and we bought a couple of pumpkins to be made into witches. It's very easy to do, and it's perfect for little kids who want to create a project from it. I also got this idea from one of my favorite bloggers. Below are the materials needed to create a pumpkin witch.

Materials

pumpkins
fake or real greenery
big green peppers for the nose
broom with long handle
witch hat
little white flowers for the eyes
pot or urn

Source: http://hookedonhouses.net/2008/10/29/fun-halloween-decorating-ideas/

Here are some of the pictures from the pumpkin patch I went to.

Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Barbecue

Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken  Barbecue

"I love cooking not for myself alone, cooking is about giving."

-Christine Lagarde

Our summer evening barbecue is over, and since it's getting cold, I grilled the remaining teriyaki chicken from the freezer, which I marinated a week ago. This dish is very easy to prepare, but it's very delicious. The chicken thighs marinated in teriyaki sauce are grilled into a tasty finish.

Leftovers are great for green salad and sandwiches. If you don't have time to make the sauce, just buy the ready-made one from a grocery store.

Ingredients

• 10 pieces boneless chicken thighs
• 1/2 teriyaki sauce
• 1/4 cup lemon
• 2 tbs. minced fresh garlic
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 tbs. sesame oil

 Teriyaki sauce

• 1/4 cup pineapple juice
• 3/4 cup original BBQ sauce
• 3 tbs. sugar
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 tbs. mirin
• 2 tbs. sake

Directions:

1. Place chicken and the rest of the marinade ingredients in a large resealable ziploc bag. Seal bag and shake to coat. Place in the refrigerator for four hours or overnight.
2. Prepare the sauce by adding all the sauce ingredients in a small pot. Stir to combine.
3.Bring to boil and simmer for 15 min. Sauce will thicken as it cools.
4. Preheat grill to high heat.
5. Lightly oil the grate. Remove chicken from bag, grill for 6-8 minutes each side or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a pork.
6. Brush the BBQ with the sauce during the last two minutes of grilling.

Summer Recap

     Hello everyone! Before I begin blogging in the fall season, I thought I would share a little recap of what I did this summer. Looking back at these pictures make me miss the hot summer days.
     My youngest daughter celebrated her 18th birthday and high school graduation. A two-in-one party! It was a lot of preparation with cooking and decorating. I can't believe she moved out now for college. How time flies! We also went hiking, had picnics, and went to the farmers market. We also worked in our backyard patio.

     Lastly is a collage of the flowers in our garden. I took pictures of them while in full bloom. Nothing can compare the joy and beauty every time you gaze at these flowers. 

     And that's it! I'd love to know how your summers were, my dear friends!

Veggie Calzone

No one is born a great cook; we learn by doing.

-Julia Child

My daughter, Michelle, is taking a cooking class, and she has a project about different recipes, but they're supposed to be healthy.

Her first recipe is something with whole wheat as the main ingredient. I recommended a vegetable calzone to her. I've been making this for years, and it's one of my daughter's favorites. It's like a different version of pizza. If you don't have time to make the dough, you can just buy a pre-made one in the grocery store, like Winco.

Ingredients

1 lb. whole wheat pizza dough
1/2 lb. chicken tenders chopped
1 1/2 mixed broccoli, red bell pepper, and mushrooms
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/4 parmesan cheese
1 packet of herb goat cheese
1 small onion chopped
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 egg

Directions

1. Rinse vegetables and drain well.

2. Put a little olive oil in the pan, and brown the chicken. Then add the onions and vegetables. Sautee it just half-cooked.

3. In a medium bowl, combine the vegetables, cheeses, chicken, and pepper.

4.  Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll out each piece into 6-inch circle. Spoon 1/4 of vegetable mixture over 1/2 of each circle, leaving 1/2-inch border. Moisten edge of dough with water; fold dough over filling to form half circle. Pinch edges well to seal. Cut several slits in top of dough; brush with egg.

5. Place on greased baking sheet and bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.

Summer Favorites

   

     It's September now, and summer is almost over. We didn't travel far, but we did many activities such as hiking, cooking, going on picnics, and working around the yard. So I wanted to share all of my favorite things from the past three months.

- Food: 

Ceramic Dish:
I bought this in the farmer's market this summer at a reasonable price. The lady said it was oven safe, and I was initially skeptical, but I found out she was right. I tried to use it a few times and it was wonderful. You can bake anything in it like baked pasta.

Paella Pan: 
We went to World Market and I saw this pan, and really wanted to cook paella. I like it because you can cook it on the stove or bake it in the oven, and it's ready to serve. It's very convenient if you're bringing food for a potluck. It can also be used for baking bread; I used it to bake my sweet bread rolls.

- Decorations:

Wall Mirror: 
We converted our formal dining room to an extension of our living room and I bought this mirror to face the china cabinet. It creates an illusion of space in the area. I didn't even know that it matched the old console table we bought a few years ago.

- Places:

Farmer's Market: 
Almost every weekend we go to this place. They sell an abundance of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. I love trying the different foods they have in the street market. You'll never know if you will find cool stuff that you can use as decoration or use in the kitchen.

- Books Read:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee:
Can a man be convicted of a crime he didn't commit because of his color? Even though he was innocent, there wasn't enough evidence to support his case, and was persecuted until his last breath.

Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio:
It is possible to solve a crime eight decades later? This story is about a young reporter who was able to unlock the mystery of a disappearance of a three year old boy back in 1933. She found out that she also has a connection to the mother of the boy, and was able to find the person responsible.

I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark: 
This is a story of a young interior designer, whose son was kidnapped in broad daylight. Somebody was trying to destroy her and steal her identity. The person behind this crime will shock you!

Divergent by Veronica Roth: 
If you have to choose between your family and your own happiness, which would you choose? This book is about a young girl named Tris, who made a choice that will change her life forever.

Ukoy (Bean Sprout Fritters with Shrimp)

   

     Ukoy is another typical Filipino food. This can be eaten as a snack or appetizer. This is my family's favorite, since my daughters request it all the time. In the Philippines, this is another street food alongside with turon, lumpia, and bananaque. We usually eat this after school as meryenda (snack). You can serve this with spicy vinegar or sweet chili sauce. There are different variations; instead of bean sprouts, you can use julienned squash, which is rich in vitamin A.  

Ingredients: 
- 2 cups bean sprout
- 1 lb. small shrimp
- 1 cup spring onions cut into strips
- 1/2 cup julienned carrots

Batter:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 egg well beaten
- 1/4 cup anatto water
- 2/3 cup vegetable stock or water
- oil for deep frying

Directions:

1.) Sift dry ingredients in a bowl. 

2.) Blend in the remaining ingredients listed under batter except oil. Mix thoroughly to make a smooth batter.

3.) Add in the bean sprout, shrimp, and onions until combined.

4.) Scoop about 1/4 cup of the batter and lower carefully into the pan with the hot oil.

5.) Fry until crispy and golden brown on both sides.

6.) Drain in paper towels to remove excess oil.
7.) Serve with vinegar seasoned with chopped chilies, salt, and black pepper.

Enjoy!