Matagal-tagal na akong hindi nakakalahok sa Litratong Pinoy gawa nang ako’y naging lubos na abala nitong mga nakaraang buwan…at patuloy pa ring abala. :)  Ngunit nakita kong ang tema ngayong linggong ito ay madali para sa akin kaya nagawa kong makalahok.

Amoy rosas dito sa aming tahanan noong nakaraang Sabado.  At hindi bulaklak na rosas ang aking tinutukoy kundi mga pagkaing kulay rosas (pink)! Masarap ang amoy ng bulak, oo.  Ngunit simula nang ako’y nahilig ng husto sa pagluluto, para sa aki’y wala nang sasarap pa sa amoy ng bagong lutong pagkain. ;)  Nagkaroon kami ng kaunting pagsasalu-salo dito sa bahay na siyang dinaluhan ng aking mga malalapit na kaibigan at siyempre, narito rin ang aking pamilya.  Napili kasi ang aking food blog para sa Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24. Rosas ang tema ng pagsasalu-salo bilang paggunita sa Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Pati ang aking mga panauhin ay nakasuot ng mga kulay rosas na damit.

Ang mga larawang inyong makikita ay kuha ng aking mga kaibigang sina Andrew at Edwin.  Sabihin na lang nating sila ang aking mga panauhing litratista para sa aking lahok sa Litratong Pinoy.  Dahil nga naging abala ako sa pagaasikaso ng mga pagkain, nawalan ako ng panahong kumuha ng litrato.  Mabuti na lamang ako’y kanilang sinaklolohan.

Heto ang aking mga amoy rosas na at kulay rosas pang handa…

MGA PAMPAGANA (APPETIZERS)

1. Shrimp Dumplings

2. Turkey Siomai

3.  Kani Maki

4.  Spam Musubi

5.  Puto Pao

6.  Pulang Cocktail Hotdogs at Marshmallows

Karaniwang tinutuhog ang mga pulang hotdog sa isang bamboo stick at nilalagyan ng marshmallow sa dulo.  Dahil naubusan na ako ng oras sa pagtuhog at inilagay ko na lamang sa isang wine glass ang mga marshmallows. ;)

SABAW

Sinigang na Hipon sa Bayabas (Shrimp in Sour Broth)

MGA PANGUNAHING ULAM (MAIN DISHES)

1. Sweet and Sour Shrimp Balls

2.  Fish Sarciado

3.  Ginataang Manok (Chicken with Coconut Milk)

Ito lamang ang pagkaing tila pumalpak at di nagkulay rosas. :D

MGA PANGHIMAGAS (DESSERTS)

1.  Ginataang Bilo-Bilo (Rice Balls with Coconut Milk)

2.  Mamon (Filipino Sponge Cake)

3.  Tinuhog na mga Sariwang Prutas (Fresh Fruit Kebabs)

Bukod sa mga prutas ay mayroon ding kasamang sponge cake at marshmallow.  May sawsawan rin ang mga ito….

Ang matalik kong kaibigang si Bet ang siyang naghanda ng mga prutas at mga sawsawang ito.

4.  Chocolate Kisses

5.  Pink Marshmallows

MGA INUMIN (BEVERAGES)

1.  Sagot’s Gulaman (Tapioca Pearls with Jelly)

2.  Tropical Fruit Punch

Maagang dumating kaibigan kong si Bet sa party kaya siya ang naatasan kong gumawa ng mga inumin. :)  Maraming salamat sa kaniya at di nauhaw ang aking mga bisita.  Hee hee. :)

Nakakapagod ang maghanda.  Mabuti na lamang at nagkaroon ako ng katulong sa kusina, walang iba kundi ang aking ina. :)

Sana’y nagustuhan ninyo ang aking lahok.  Mabuhay! :)

Why has updating this blog turned into such a struggle?  My mind is oh so willing, yes, but…

So let me take advantage of this moment, when I actually managed to get to my “add new post” page before the moment passes me by yet again.

Last Saturday, hubby and I were at our stage parenting best. :) The Little Munchkin Princess was invited to a birthday party where she did an hour of bowling (her 2nd time to bowl) with her classmates and another hour of rock climbing.

It was Abby’s first time to rock climb.  She had a chance to give it a try some time last year but it turned out that she can’t just yet because she has yet to turn 5.  Now that she is 5, she has the “license” to finally go for it…and she did!

Hubby helped Abby during the first few tries.  The thing is, Abby loved the rappelling part so much that after climbing up to a certain height, she’d just rappel right back down.

We had no doubt, however, that she can reach the top of the wall and ring that bell!  So what’s a mother like me to do?  The most natural thing, of course! I offered her a prize! :P  Oh come on, what’s a little motivation, right?!  And as soon as she heard the word “prize” there was just no stopping her.  She reached the top to ring the bell!  Twice!  Ehem, ehem!

It was a proud mommy and daddy moment, I tell you!  Abby had more than enough encouragement, what with hubby and me yelling “You’re doing great!”, “Almost there!” and “Good job, Abby!”

“That was easy!”…Abby’s words after her second triumph.  Well, the cockiness needs a little working on. ;)

Here’s a 30-second video slideshow to remember the day…

Go, girl!  Never stop believing in yourself! :D

It’s a pink month, October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month!  Hmm…maybe I should change the font color to pink.  I think that’s a good idea!  Hee hee….

I meant to write this post yesterday evening, but I fell asleep while putting my daughter to sleep.  Oh well!  I am nevertheless still excited to share one bit of exciting news.  Yesterday, October 1st, I did what I thought would be a fitting kick off for this pink month…I registered my family for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.  I’ve been wanting to join this race since 2007.  I guess the participation of my cousins and their friends in a recently concluded SGK Race for the Cure in California was just the inspiration and motivation I needed to finally go for it. It might interest you to know that since 1982, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has funded research grants and community-based outreach projects that focus on breast health education, screening and treatment for the medically underserved.

We have a team name, too, which I didn’t really have a hard time coining,  Tickled Pink Munchkins!  It’s so…us, don’t you think?  We are 4-member strong, unless anybody joins us, which I will consider to be a huge bonus.  And we’ll come up with a team shirt, too!  To tell you honestly, I’ve been doodling t-shirt designs for the race even before we were officially registered.

We will be joining the 1-mile Family Walk so we won’t really be racing.  Joining the timed race will be a goal though, perhaps for next year.  It is the event’s goal to raise funds, and we’ve set a reasonable fund raising goal for our team – $200.  Unfortunately, due to the current Philippine situation, what I thought was a reasonable goal may prove to be unattainable after all.  But I will not be discouraged.  I will remain hopeful that WE WILL REACH OUR GOAL, surpass it even!

Come November 1st, we will be one with the people of Austin in honoring the people who have been touched by breast cancer one way or another.  On a personal level, we are walking in honor of my Mom, who is a breast cancer survivor and of each and every one of our relatives and friends, and friends of friends who have had the disease.  Do you want to join the event but can’t?  Allow us to walk for you then and help us reach our fund raising goal! Just let me know and I’ll tell you how. ;)

A cure will be found…for breast cancer and all other cancers.  That’s the exciting news I look forward to receiving, hopefully, soon!

oOo

More Pink Chikka

Incidentally, a friend of mine, Camille, and I had a joint birthday celebration in July.  Both Camille’s and my family was touched by breast cancer so we decided on a pink party.  It was a lot of fun!  Except for a select few, all our guests came in all their pink force.  It was nice seeing the men in pink, because really, only real men can pull off wearing pink.  Hee hee!  More than a birthday celebration, it was a celebration of life…of love…of healing and survivorship.

Here’s a 30-second video/slide show from that wonderful evening:

And that’s all I have for you for now. It’s going to be a great Autumn and Winter. I can feel it…I know it. :)