In Response to: How Do You Cook Your Adobo?

A dear friend of mine, Connie of Connie's Notebook asked this question: How do you cook your adobo?

Here's how I cook mine:

• pork shoulder and chicken breast (I don't know how much though! LOL, approximately 3 pieces of pork shoulder cut into small cubes and 1 1/2 chicken breasts -- skinless and deboned)
• one whole garlic crushed (sometimes I even put more! I love garlic!)
• 1 cup vinegar
• 3/4 cup soy sauce
• 3/4 cup water
• 1-2 bay leaves 
• peppercorns or black pepper

***I also use pork butt or pork belly sometimes.

I put everything in a pot, boil for 10 minutes and then simmer for another 30 or until tender. I like mine with a little sauce so I don't let it dry up. Serve with hot steaming rice and a side of tomatoes and cilantro salad! YUM!

Simple? Yes. But adobo is a very tricky dish for me to make, which is why it's the only dish that I actually measure!

What about you? How do you make your adobo? :)

Studio City Farmer's Market

***This is a late post and has been sitting in my drafts for 6 months. LOL.

I accidentally found this market online while searching for a vendor for Sofia's 2nd birthday. Once again, this is why I love living in LA. So many things to do, so many places to go!

This market is open every Sunday 11-2pm. Parking is a downside, but if you're early, you can park at the Chase Bank lot or at the CBS Studios lot.

First stop was the train ride around the market and side streets. ($3/person)

I'm not sure if the kid enjoyed this or not. She wasn't at all excited during the ride, lol. As for me, I don't think it's safe. It's kinda old and rickety, definitely not a smooth ride. I would skip this and just take the kid on a real train ride at Griffith Park.

This one she was really excited about! Her first real pony ride! As soon as she saw the ponies, she started jumping frantically. Not scared at all! It was $4 a ride. The saddle has a back support and has a seat belt. I think it's pretty safe (?). The ponies just went round and round and did not go fast at all. She definitely enjoyed this ride even if her face doesn't really show it. Haha.

 My daughter is a sucker for petting zoos. She absolutely LOVES petting the goats, pigs, rabbits, llamas, chickens etc etc. This is not the best and cleanest one we've been to but it's a close second. She had so much fun getting to know the animals and brushing their fur.  As expected, getting out of the petting farm was a struggle because if I actually gave her a choice I think she would rather live there than come home with us. I love that they have a "hand washing station" where you can wash and clean your hands with plenty of water, soap, paper towel and hand sanitizers. E Coli is an absolute NO NO! :D

There were other attractions at the Market for bigger kids like a giant slide and a pirate themed bounce house. Food stalls, flowers, fresh produce and other random things were also sold. It wasn't that crowded but was still busy enough.

We grabbed a breakfast burrito and sat down at one of the tables that they set up in the grassy area. Definitely a family environment and a fun Sunday place to go to with the kids.

Studio City Farmers Market
Ventura Pl  Los Angeles, CA 91604

(818) 655-7744

I Want to Blog, I Really Do

Hi. I did not mean to go on hiatus for so long. The best explanation to this is, I was busy. I kinda really was, or still am. Last post was January, and today is July 1st. There's no other excuse I could really think of. LOL. I do want to blog! I really do! At night when I am stalking Ikea for furniture I know I can't assemble or looking at ideas on Pinterest  that I will never have time to make, I keep thinking of blogging about things that I did actually do. But alas, the lazy bug bit me, and it lasted for 6 months.

I'm not going to promise that I will be blogging regularly because that's like promising my child that we'll be going to Disneyland every year. So no! But I have intentions to blog regularly. :) It's not a promise, but that's what I'm aiming for.

I will be back...(not promising that either! :)

A Letter To My First Angel

My Baby,

You are turning 5 in May. How time flies. Please know that I still miss you terribly to this day. You will always be my first baby. Although our time together was short, it was sweet. You gave me hope, strengthened my faith and taught me that love is love --- whether I held you in my arms or not, it's still love.

You made me understand other Mamas who went through the same things we did. And by that, you have made me more compassionate and understanding.

You made me a better Mama, that's for sure. Your sister Sofia is a complete joy to us. You made me appreciate motherhood even more, to cherish it every moment and every second. To spend more time with our family and make lots of memories.

My darling, I still wish you were here with us even though I know you are enjoying heaven. But I know you are happy there and that is God's plan. I promise that I will see you someday and finally hold you when the time comes.

I love you my Peanut.

Mama

Photo A Day 020: Pho 2000

Photo A Day 019: Bangus Breakfast

Photo A Day 018: Chickenless Chicken Nuggets

Photo A Day 017: A Walk in the Park

Photo A Day 016: Hers and Mine

Photo A Day 015: Appreciated

Photo A Day 014: Treats from Japan

Photo A Day 013: My Cozy Coupe

Photo A Day 012: Birthday Fever

Photo A Day 011: Left Handed?

Photo A Day 010: Work Lunch Al Fresco

Photo A Day 009: I'm Going to Miss This Place

Photo A Day 008: Her Favorite Toy

Photo A Day 007: Long Hair

I can braid her long her hair now. I plan to get it trimmed on her second birthday.

Photo A Day 006: Signs?

The kid arranged her blocks like those crop circles from that Mel Gibson movie Signs. Cracked us up!

Photo A Day 005: Fried Chicken Drumettes

Last night I made fried chicken drumettes for the husband and kid. I am not a big fried chicken person, and I only eat the breast part of a chicken. I know, I know...you just gotta let me have this one food quirk! Anyway, they really liked it. Husband dipped it in Mang Tomas (a Filipino sauce made primarily out of pig's liver) and the kid ate it on her horsey while "watching" footbal with her Daddy. :)

Photo A Day 004: Steamed Asparagus for the Kid

The kid looooooooooooves asparagus! She eats like it's french fries! This is how I steam it, via the rice cooker. It takes only a few minutes! I make it a point to include it in meals once in a while. For lunch she ate it with boiled quail eggs and rice. :)

Photo A Day 003: My Favorite Cold Remedy

The classic chicken rice porridge is called Arroz Caldo. I like mine loaded with chopped ginger! Husband and I have been sick (a really bad cold!) lately so I made a pot. The kid liked it too! :) I top it off with chopped cilantro and sprinkled with lemon. I usually add fried garlic on top too but was much too tired to do that. :) It really hits the spot on cold winter nights and when you have the sniffles!

Photo A Day 002: Downton Abbey

My favorite British import doesn't start 'til Sunday but I found a streaming link online for the new season. The series ended last December in the UK which is why it was available for upload. My husband and I are obsessed!

Photo A Day 001: Steak Dinner

Made New Year's Day dinner: pan fried rib eye steak with gravy, roasted vegetables, baked macaroni chicken and mushroom soup.