Surprise!

One week.

I was just sitting across my brother and sister in law.  

We were talking about the joy that is my nephew coming in June.

Over fried chicken, that my brother liked.

Over strawberry iced tea, that my sister in law tried.

In our home.

Sunday lunch.

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And without warning, without as much as a hunch, my sister in law, a week later, gave birth.

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The day everyone was cheering Pac Man, celebrating the unanimous victory, my husband and I were standing outside a controlled room where a little boy lies with his mom by his side holding him.  

From outside, I could only see his body and a side of his head.

His head.  Covered by a white and yellow striped bonnet to keep warm.

His face was turned away from me, but somehow I knew he had the face of a child determined to get stronger so he can come home with his family.

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His hands.

His feet.

His left cheek.

I could see his chest go up and down, as he took each breath.  A constant reminder of the miracle of new life.

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I looked at my sister in law who is supposedly exhausted from delivery just half a day ago.

I saw happiness.    

So much, that my own heart fluttered.  And for a second, I was floored with gratefulness.  

We are blessed.

There was no way that her journey to childbirth could be smoother.  Perfection.  A path paved by God.  

I said a short prayer of thankfulness.

Smiled to myself.

And sent my love to the little guy I'd soon meet.  

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Holding my husband's hand, I countinued to watched.  Looked.  Enjoyed.  Shared.  That.  Moment. 

salsa (in no) time

eat fresh

I love love love our food processor.

We really made the right decision getting the 2L capacity food processor versus a cute chopper.

I can pop anything in (in a logical sequence) and go go go without having to take things out to make room.

I've always made salsa--by hand. And while we have a hand slicer and I don't mind chopping so much, I appreciate getting the job done turning knobs!

Now where are those corn chips?

so(ap) happy

served

I think the key to furnishing a new home is restraint.

Trust me, it is not the easiest thing, especially for someone like me who wants to complete things as soon as possible.

The thought of being stuck with something I don't particularly love was enough to get me through critical shopping moments, where I make the call to turn away or head to the counter--the altar of stores.

Getting a soap dish had been on top of my list even before I moved in to our home but for some reason, I could never find the one I would be willing to spend year and years with.  This is after all something you'd use at least twice a day, everyday.

My Mom will be surprised to find out that we had been living for a few months without one. 

Not anymore.

who are you calling 'chicken'?

basics

my favourite

So this is my chicken balls post.  

I made some refinements in my balls making processes based on lessons learnt making beef balls and falafel.  

What I can truly say though is that it is a lot of fun!  I feel like a child given a box set of play-doh.  And as I never truly owned a set, you can imagine my excitement.

processed food?

Yin and Yang.  The vegetables and the seasoned minced chicken.

Did I mention that I love how after vegetables come out of the food processor, it smells amazing?

hunger games

I arranged the balls on baking sheets in rows.

When my husband saw me halfway through he said two things.

First was that he didn't realise I could make so many balls.  Second was that maybe I was trying to trick him, that these were in fact all veggie.

domino effect?

I did a trial batch.  I placed some chicken balls into a glass baking dish and popped it into the oven.

When I took out the meatballs, this.  

Polka dots.

New Year food?

i'd like to swim in spaghetti

Finished product.

I have a feeling my husband will dip these in tomato catsup.  Unless of course, I throw them into a bowl of spaghetti.

what matters is who you are inside

While I still have what could be two batches of chicken balls, I can't help but think about my next ball recipe.

Happy Saturday :)

processed

We welcomed a Food Processor into our home during the Chinese New Year.

The decision was long and hard.

My husband and I spend good hours thinking about whether we should get one.  On one hand, I really don't mind chopping, plus with our peeler, (manual) slicer and good quality knives, food prep doesn't take too much time.

I really don't mind doing things manually.  I bake without a mixer.

My growing frustration came from the hard truth that couldn't mince vegetables properly that would allow me to incorporate extenders to meatballs.

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A few weeks later, I had not only made beef meat balls but also falafel--two batches.

I've also been able sneak more vegetables into almost anything.   Dishes I make suddenly have extras.

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This weekend, I'll make chicken balls that are 30% chicken, 70% (natural) extenders.

And I bet, my husband won't mind :)

tokwa!

I decided it was time to make (my version of) tokwa't baboy.

Direct Translation: Tofu and Pig (Pork)

For the tofu, I sliced them thin, painted it thinly with olive oil, sprinkled it with rock salt and parsley.  It went to the oven at 180C.  

I waited.

Patiently.  At first.      

baking in progress

I am guilty of hovering over the oven window, watching things bubble, turn brown, soften, rise.  I love watching the magic happen.

My husband always reminds me that I don't have to do that.  Things will cook.  And he is right, but it is exciting for me.   Watching.

Not productive, but I had time :)

golden

The pork dish was simple.  Using all the standard ingredients for tokwa't baboy like onion, soy sauce, vinegar and black pepper, I something similar to a chunky stew.  I thickened the sauce with some corn starch.

ebony and ivory (of some sort)

My husband and I ate this with brown rice.  Lots.

hummus me

 It is funny how my Mom and I prepared similar dishes for New Year's Eve.

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Hummus.  Somewhat.

naked

I don't have a food processor or a mixer.  No special gadget to make the task easier.  With that, I anticipated that mine will be chunkier, but that's cool!  I am all about the taste.

facade

I did take the extra step of taking out the skin.  

That took longer than I anticipated, taking out the skin.  It would be worth the effort through.  Plastic texture is definitely unacceptable!  

Did I mention, I didn't even have a masher?  (I think I'd get one, together with a new apple corer.)

hardwork

I knew at the beginning that it won't be the traditional hummus, and in fact purists would definitely hate this.  

I wanted to clear ingredients I have, so I decided to put in some sour cream.

Of course, Cumin remained to be the star of the show.  I also added Paprika.  The other ingredients were typical hummus players.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  

alien

In the end, I had a silky somewhat chunky bread dip.  

Not too easy, but A LOT less work compared to mashed potato.  Somehow, I think I have not gotten over how troublesome mashed potato preparation could be.

party ready