one chicken, one meal

Last week, I decided to use my new dutch oven (at my fiance's flat) to bake a whole chicken.

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When I got back from the store I started by warming up the lemon and poking small slits.  This lemon would go into the chicken cavity together with salt and herbs.

So far, so good.

I peeled the cling wrap from the chicken so I can wash the bird.

OMG!

I jumped back. 

The head was still attached!

AND THE FEET! 

The feet were in the cavity.

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I called my fiance and he came into the rescue but cutting the monster's head and feet off.

He was also kind enough to wash the chicken for me--I think that was his apology for cutting off the leg the from calf rather than the ankle.  No wonder it looked funny!

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With adrenaline pumping into my veins from the fright I just had, I continued seasoning the chicken.

I laid it over a bed of onions inside the dutch oven, turned on the heat and prepared to bake potato and sweet potato in the oven.
 

missing 'calves'

The chicken came out super juicy and tasty! 

Only...the onions were burnt!  There was no burnt taste at all.  Nor burnt smell. 

I'd research on how not to burn the lining.  I know my dad uses a bed of sea salt, but where I live that is not really very practical.

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My Fiance loved the chicken.   He ate 3/4 of the bird! 

We finished it all in one sitting--even with all the baked sides.

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For next time, I need to figure out which chicken for sale no longer have a head and feet.

And how not to burn the ingredients that touch the bottom of the pan.

somewhat settled

Eighty percent of my stuff was brought to our first marital home last Saturday, and we had managed to unpack all the boxes.  Miraculously, everything fit. 

AND...

WE HAVE MORE ROOM!!!!

This is very reassuring.  Granted I had a number of rounds clearing things, there was always that nagging feeling that maybe I did not let enough go.  I did pull out some more items while unpacking and I think this constant evaluation is something I will be implementing at home.

I'm quite confident that the rest of my stuff still at my brother's will fit.

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Next steps?

This week:

• Fiance hands over old flat (clean!)
• Dinning Set for delivery
• Revisit and finalise dinning set layout (eg. Rugs, Lamp, etc.)

Next Week:

• Move some more clothes and shoes from brother's
• Buy shelf / drawer organisers
• Secure lamp bulbs
• Organise media wires in living room

I break the yolks, make a smiley face

I never put ketchup on my eggs--but if I did, I would have put a smile on these :)

I had always struggled about oil for my eggs.  Not trying to act all innocent and healthy here, but personally, I'd rather get fat from somewhere else.  Like butter on my toast.

Or olive oil on bread.

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A couple of months back I learnt how to flip eggs.  Pretty cool!  It however, required oil. 

Maybe more practice can help me pull this off in non-stick pan (though tutorials say otherwise), but how many more eggs can my fiance eat in one weekend?  Surely, his health is more important!

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Trying out our new pans, I decided to cook eggs.  Based on the reviews I read, it really didn't need oil.

I broke two eggs and left it. 

Didn't bother it at all.

Practically ignored it--until I saw a thin shiny film on top.

Then I knew it was ready.

I got my egg flipper, and checked the sides.  It was free.  

 I slid it to my plate.

Just.  Like.  That.

just pack

Packing is never easy--but somehow it comes naturally to me.

Typically, it would take me this long to pack.  The trouble with this move is that while my things will go on Saturday, I am still living here till after the wedding.

So as I pack I need to consider:

• Will I use this the next few weeks?
• Will I bring this for my wedding holiday?
• Should I give this away?

It takes more the double the time it should take because of the over analysis.

I was complaining to my fiancé about it yesterday when he said:

Just pack everything except some clothes and basic toiletries.  Get the movers to bring your stuff over, you can do your screening here, just be done with packing.

Turns out, he is right.  

I am done :)

induction crazy

In the middle of packing, shopping for essentials, canvasing next batch home related purchases, actioning on small details for the wedding, I decided to test the hob and oven in the new home.  The warranty period will end before October and this was was the only week I had time.

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For the oven, things ran quite smoothly.  I made a simple dish that I make all the time so I know just how long and how brown it should be given cooking time and temperature.  It came out perfect.

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The hob.

Well, I started easy.  I fried an egg on my new skillet that boasts of being non-stick.  I didn't put any oil--at all.  This is like setting up the pan to fail for even with non-stick, I like to put some fat into the egg.

Success.

In my mind, I justified the cost of the frying pan (not overly extravagant, but there would have been a decent equivalent that costs half).  Mine is beautiful outside and performs as promised.  Talk about choosing well ;)

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It was getting late and I was getting bored.

But the vision of my Visions kept me going.

I bought a set of ceramic glass a few weeks back at it boasts of being compatible with stove and oven cooking.  It has clear amber coloured body and looked so good, it would be a shame not to use it as a serving dish too.

I also love the idea of being able to see what is going on inside the pot without constantly hovering.

I kept it simple and boiled water for soba.  Attempted to boil water may be more fitting.  It never boiled.

I took out another pot, filled it with water and gave it a go.  Nothing.

Forty minutes.  Nothing.

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What is wrong?

The hob was spoilt?

I didn't do anything odd.

There was no indication of something going wrong.

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I told my fiancé that he needed to contact the agent to advise them about the stove.   He calmly said that he will check it the following day and read through the manuals.

I said that the pot is compatible with glass top and whatever other type of electric stove.  It said so in the box.

Plus, I tried the other pot and nothing happened too.

He looked at me, and I knew what he was saying.  I will look into it.  Don't worry.  It will be okay.

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Turns out, nothing is wrong with the hob.

It was just that it is an induction hob.  Without explaining the whole science of induction hobs, it translates to it is picky when it comes to pots and pans.  

Material, shape (bottom) and size matter.  And when I say material, it isn't simple saying stainless steel or aluminium, the ferromagnetic property counts!  Needless to say, to be sure something would work, you would either have to bring a magnet along--or look for the logo.

I hate that logo.  

It is a reminder that I won't be able to use Visions.

It also means I need to let my other new caldero that was perfect for risotto and paella go.

Ceramics are also out so my fiancé's happy call pan and pot, need to go too.  I love those two.

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We managed to find a caldero replacement that would work.

And I am still in the lookout for the perfect stock pot.

can you see it?

I had accepted the truth that there are times when we are sure about things that are not necessarily true.

The day I was told of the induction hob, I had accepted that I was wrong and that I have no choice but deal with it.

On the flip side though, when cooking with the correct pot or pan, I quite love using an induction stove.  No black marks at the bottom.  It heats up pretty fast too.

The induction stove and I, I think that maybe we just started off with the wrong foot.  But I'm quickly realising, that maybe it is really a match made in heaven.

Looking at the logo now, I can't help but see intertwined hearts.

ceremony reading selection

As the ceremony is very important to my fiancé and myself, we spent some time looking for potential reading selections.

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He did an exemplary job summarising appropriate material and identifying his choices.  Most often he would mark something as either a top or second choice.  There was also one reading for which he only specified one preference.

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He told me that I should read the selections and mark which ones spoke to me.

I did.

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Most of our choices were unanimous--except for the gospel.  

He opted for a wise man built his house on a rock.  He said that he felt this is especially meaningful to him because foundation is important to him.  He also talked about choosing well and how be continue to build on top of.

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I chose they are no longer two, but one flesh.  I feel that this is something that I must always remember. All my actions, all my decisions, I should now consider our family (only myself and him--for now).  This is something I am perfecting everyday, starting with small things like picking a dinning table and choosing which cable package to get.  I anticipate bigger things and harder decisions to make.

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In the end we, as a single unit chose they are no longer two, but one flesh.  

It was only fitting :)

glorious day

My fiancé and I decided a long time ago that we will accept whatever God's intention was in terms of our wedding day.

The rain.

The ceremony.

Everything.

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This didn't mean of course the we slacked.  We did (and continue to do) what is required from our side to prepare for our wedding day.  

We now have all the paperwork done.  We had attended all the seminars.  We continue to work of on-the-day details.

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While we are not overly religious, my fiancé and I feel that the church ceremony is the highlight of our day.  It is the moment that we promise ourselves to each other in front of God and man.

Usually, if there is a priest who is close to the family, it is requested that he presides.  Unfortunately for us, there isn't anybody.

So we wait for the parish to assign one of their priests to wed us.  That is okay too.  We are sure that any priest would hold a meaningful ceremony for us.

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The interview with the priest is another requirement for Catholic weddings.  It is an opportunity for the priest to assess the readiness of the couple, elaborate on the sacrament of marriage and provide guidance to the soon to be husband and wife.  

It also presents a opportunity to gain insight about the bride and groom in preparation for the sermon.

Yesterday was our interview.

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I left Fr. Manny's office practically skipping!

I gave my fiancé a big hug, repeatedly saying I'm so happy.  Not that it wasn't obvious or anything.

We truly felt blessed because through a friend, we were able to meet the perfect priest for our ceremony.  

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This is a bonus.  A BIG BONUS.

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Grateful.

Beyond words.

Thankful.

Overjoyed.

just white

My blog had become such an exciting space, filled with exciting things like dinner plates and saucers.

It had just gotten more exciting with today's entry that is the noodle bowl.

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I think the designer of the bowl crafted this piece with proper ramen in mind rather than instant noodles.  However, I had decided that I would use this for such.

And ramen too, if I ever come around making those :)  

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In case you are wondering who my fiancé feels about such a feminine bowl, the answer is that he doesn't mind.  

He said that he just wants something that is big enough to handle his soup and could not care less whether it had flowers, butterflies or guy things like gears and tools.

When probed, he confessed being partial to simple plates.  And by simple he means plain white.   

He commented that it was good that I got a spoon and holder with it because he deemed those useful.  

He notice the glaring truth that we have no chopsticks yet.

skinny dipping

in bloom--cherry blossom saucers & mini flower bowls 

One of my favorite Japanese stores was on sale yesterday and I found two things that I loved.

First is small cherry blossom saucers.  I love that it is off white--and very subtle.  It's plain and not plain at the same time!

The other is just slightly bigger (extremely small) flower bowl.  Not sure if it is meant to be a flower, a cloud or a four leaf clover--doesn't really matter.  I got a pair anyways.

There is still an on-going debate in my head about which plates I should get.  

I hate to rush into a decision only because whichever plate I buy would be staring back at me every night for at least two years (maybe even a lifetime, if I keep them well?).

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I did see a set of white-on-white floral bowls that would be perfect when we eat noodle soup at home.  Maybe I'll get a pair tomorrow ;)

'dine in'

In the Philippines, when you order in a fast food restaurant you are expected to state whether you are eating in the premises or you are having it to go.  

The question would be, dine in or take out?  

In Singapore, the term to have food to go is tabao.  The english version being, take away.

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To end a very exhausting-but-productive-and-exciting Saturday, we headed to our future home to fix up.

My fiancé is yet to move in, but this will be his very own flat until after the wedding--when we start living together.

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We had our first meal.  At the terrace.

It was beautiful.  

I was consciously memorising every detail, feeling, sight, sound--how it felt the first time we experienced the view.  I anticipate summer nights spent talking, dinning and enjoying being together. 

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Dinner was tabao japanese skewered chicken and pork with seaweed rice from a place we frequent--a stall, really.  We would eat standing up, only to taste the soy soaked rice and charred meat.

Today, it tasted extra good :)

glorious take away

Everyday brings us closer to our wedding day, and more importantly our new life as husband and wife.

I truly can't express just how excited I am.

Everyday, I would ask my fiancé how much longer.  He would say we are almost there.  

ALMOST.  THERE.  

SOON.