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Showing posts from November 10, 2020

When the longing for authentic Pinoy dishes strikes in the U.S., Isla Grand stands ready to transport your taste buds back to the Philippines.

Carmina is traveling to the United States to spend time with her family. My dad planned a family gathering for Mother's Day at their favorite Pinoy restaurant . Since reservations aren’t possible, we arrived an hour early to ensure we could get a table for twelve before everyone else showed up. As my dad approached Isla Grand , the branch we visited in Pleasant Hills, California , the host at the door said they could prepare a table for twelve at five o'clock. Later, the server called my dad's name and guided us to our table. The place was bustling with people enjoying meals and celebrating Mother's Day. On our first visit to Isla Grand, I was captivated by the décor, noticing many native items that gave the place a fancy yet authentic Filipino feel. They usually have a live band, but unfortunately, there was no entertainment the night we went. My family had spoken highly of Isla Grand and encouraged us to try the Filipino dishes we’ve been missing from back home. Lech...

American Champorado Oatmeal Version Recipe

My friend from California who is also a Filipina taught me this recipe she doesn't prefer to eat rice during her breakfast and when her children want to eat an Filipino breakfast instead of using rice for the request of her family she would make an American champorado oatmeal version served with dried tuyo (fish). American Champorado Oatmeal Version Recipe Ingredients: 1 Cup - Instant Oatmeal (any brand) 3 Cup - Milk 4 Tbsp. - Coco Powder (any brand) Sugar (optional) Dried Tuyo Cooking Instructions: Cook the oatmeal the same procedure on the brand you plan to use instead of cooking with water you will cook it with milk when oatmeal is fully cooked add coco powder stir and transfer to a serving bowl. In a pan when hot add small amount of cooking oil add tuyo until cooked best with your champorado just like the Filipino way just the healthy version.

Two Ways to Make Filipino Champorado Recipe

People often tease me I am not a Filipino if you don't eat champorado with dried tuyo usually served here for merienda in our home. I am not like most Filipino my stomach cannot handle it so I am not a pure Filipino. I am just kidding my staff like to tease me so often although I am use to it by now. Two Ways to Filipino Champorado Recipe Ingredients: 3 Cups - Glutinous Rice or Regular Rice 4 Cups - Water 4 Tbsp. - Coco Powder or 4 pieces of tablea chocolate Evaporated Milk (optional) 1 - Cup Gata (Coconut Milk) (optional) Sugar (optional) Tuyo (dried fish) Cooking Instructions: Step 1: Cook rice how you normally cook it by washing the rice before you cook it add rice and water cook until rice is fully cooked on the stove add chocolate mix and gata stir together until chocolate is melted. The champorado is ready to eat by adding the amount of evaporated and sugar too the amount you want based on your taste. Step 2: In a frying pan pour small amount of cooking oil when hot add tuyo ...

On Our Travel Diaries with Carmina Lifestyle One Day We Can Fly

My mom and I have been planning ahead places to travel for next year we have already informed our close friends that we'll be in town.  My mom's friends who are also experience being alone and wanting to plan their travel and retirement ahead of time while they are experiencing time for themselves to think ahead as their children are giving them a heads up how it will be like when you get older. When is it time to move yourself to a senior community out from the home where you had raised your children? The economy is changing, financial and living arrangements are changing people who are seniors are preparing ahead of time to set a goal what needs to be done before next year comes. They would like to plan out their life to prepare ahead of time to do the list of what needs to be done before they can transfer to their new home. Just like anyone we begin to clean out our clutter to give away or donate unwanted items in our home. You come across other friends of my mom who would a...

The Cat is Away, the Mice Will Play

I always hear this saying when the cat is away, the mice will play from Lola Puring who uses to live with us when she was still alive. Lola Puring would giggle to me and laugh when her daughter is not home most of her employees are so excited when she is not staying at home. During our pandemic our family member decided to transfer to one of their children's home a long vacation to spend time with someone else but what happen when they decide to return back to their original home everyone living in their home begins putting back objects back in its place to make sure their boss doesn't see the misconception by neglecting their home. Did you ever get excited when you're young when your parents would announce that they won't be coming home early? You have the house to yourself over the weekend I remember I would call up my best friend to come over and sleep over just to hang out to watch movies and tell stories to each other during our days social media wasn't the in ...