Biko with Mango

This is a Pinoy version of the ever-famous Thai sticky rice with mango which I couldn't stop eating when I was in Bangkok (I'd alternate it with Jay Pad Thai when I was there in early November). My mother said they used to have suman with mangoes and tsokolate for merienda in the early days. It's a tradition that is slowly dying I suppose with many Filipinos always wanting to have anything but local. They'd rather have fries and sundaes from the Big M and pizza from the pizza kubo than having biko, puto or kutsinta for snacks. The latter is only for the poor.

"If you have the money, why settle for something local? Get something imported." Unfortunately, this is how a lot of people think in this country.

I invited my cousins for pizza and halo-halo at Merco, one of the first food establishment in the city and famous for its bake goods and ice cream desserts.

They asked, "Why Merco?"

"The pizza and the halo-halo are good. They have holiday treats, 20% off on pizza and buy-1-take-1 for the halo-halo, plus it's a local establishment that Dabawenyos should really be proud of." I said.

I still don't consider myself a well-traveled person but everytime I'm in a different country I couldn't help but be proud of the Philippines. We have a rich and colorful culture, beautiful beaches, and we are one of the most megadiverse countries in the world. We might not have a distinct character when it comes to our cuisine unlike our Southeast Asian neighbors but for sure we have natural resources, flora and fauna, among others, to boast of.

Pessimism doesn't really have a place in a yogin's life. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali said, vitarkabadhane pratipaksabhavanam. When disturbed by negative thoughts, opposite (positive) ones, should be thought of. This is pratipaksha bhavanam.

There's hope for the Philippines. Even when politicians abuse their power and beat defenseless citizens, ongoing war in Mindanao (I have to make this clear though the war is NOT IN ALL of Mindanao. People have this funny idea that the entire island of Mindanao is chaotic and in a constant state of war), and landslides threatening the lives of many of our brothers and sisters, 9 out of 10 Filipinos are still hopeful for the year to come. No wonder we're one of the happiest people on earth.

It's lunch time. I think I have to stop all these nationalism before I become too engrossed in it and decide to run for public office. My father's relatives are either educators or politicians. I think I'd rather be one of the former.

Thanks for joining me for practice this morning, Sarah. Fritz promised to join us in our next practice session.

Here's a famous Philippine ad on youtube.



And on Kadayawan, the annual street festival in Davao.

Janet's Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Thanks Ja. Will try this soon.

2cups pureed pumpkin
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
small can of evaporated milk
1 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of dried ginger
beat all of this together until smooth....pour into a pie crust and bake at 400 for 10 minutes...then reduce and bake at 325 for about 40 minutes....done when a knife inserted comes out clean.
Enjoy with fresh whipped cream....yummie

Practice was good this morning. Bad ashtangi, I know. It's moon day and religious ashtangis are suppose to take this day off from the mat. Sometimes I follow this tradition, sometimes I don't. Sometimes I feel the difference, sometimes I don't. I guess the key is to simply listen to one's body whenever one is practicing around moon days as it can sometimes have subtle effects on the pranic level.

I've experienced it myself when I was in Riyadh. There were times when practice was really light and I felt like flying during each vinyasa, and there were times when it felt heavy like thick molten lava. Maybe it all depends on the energetic level of the place of practice, maybe not. It's all subjective experience really... like the experience of samadhi. Each experiences it differently thus the different descriptions from those who've reached it. There were similar descriptions of course, like a snake crawling from the base of the spine up through the central channel.

However we experience the energetic shifts during moon days, again it all boils down to listening to one's body from the skin to the core. Be more aware... be fully aware of every single breath... every single movement... every single nuiance in the body... from the skin to the core.

Ginataang Langka & Fried Lumpia

Ginataang Langka (Young jackfruit with coconut milk)

INGREDIENTS
Young/unripe jackfruit, boiled in a little water until soft and cooked
Red kidney beans, cooked separately
Coconut milk
Garlic, tomato, ginger

Saute garlic, tomato and ginger in a little oil. Reduce heat and allow the flavors to come out slowly. Add the jackfruit, beans and just enough water to cover the vegetables. Mix well and allow to simmer for 3-5 minutes. Add the coconut milk and simmer for another minute or until the flavors integrate well. Serve with steamed rice.

Fried Lumpia (Springroll)
Saute garlic and onion. Add mung bean sprouts, singkamas/jicama cut into thin strips, ubod (heart of palm) also sliced thinly. Stir fry for a minute or two. Set aside and let cool. Use about a spoonful of this per lumpia wrapper. Fry until golden brown and serve with garlic-vinegar dip.

Practice was great this morning. That's all what I can really say about it.

In googling for ubod and singkamas, I came across Pinay Vegan's blog and she has quick and simple recipes here.

Happy long weekend.

Quick and Easy Christmas Dinner

Pesto Penne with Tomatoes, Cucumber and Cheese

Egg with Ranch Dressing Sandwich and Cheese-Tomato-Cucumber-Pesto Sandwich

Cheese-filled Potato Balls

Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce and Cheese-filled Potato Balls

Suman, the Philippine version of Sticky Rice wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. Traditionally eaten with latik (sweet coconut cream) and tsokolate (really sinfully thick and sweet hot chocolate).

My version of eating suman... with mixed fruit salad. Had this for breakfast this morning.

I didn't prepare the suman, it was a present from our neighbor. You just have to love Christmas in the Philippines. People sharing food... neighbors singing at the top of their lungs... good thing I was tired enough not to doze off even when the party next door was still full swing at 4 in the morning. Sometimes, a little booze can help tolerate such things. Good thing I know to do vaman, shanka prakshalan, etc. Will just do my detox after the new year celebration.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone. Will post food photos later. Cheers.

Tropical Fruit Bowl

• 2 medium sized bananas sliced
• 1/2 ripe papaya cut into cubes
• 1/2 ripe mango cut into cube
• 2 Dizon oranges (I think it's the Hamlin variety as it was really small)
• Juice of 1 kalamansi (you can substitute juice of 1/2 lemon)
• Yoghurt (I used Elle & Vire yoghurt with apricot as it was on sale yesterday. Having lived in the Middle East where the dairy products are of good quality and inexpensive, I find the Nestle variety very diluted and sweet. It's either you need to buy the imported ones or make your own yoghurt, which I'm planning of doing in the future).
  

Mix well and it's ready to serve.

This was breakfast this morning after practice. It's the 2nd day on the mat after a week-long hiatus. The body was definitely tighter but it was a good opportunity be attentive and present.

Yesterday, I took it really slowly and did only the fundamental asanas and the last 3 lotus poses for closing. Today, I thought of doing only until purvottanasana and full closing but I had enough time so I went on to finish the entire primary.

The pranayama practice will have to wait until I've settled in my new place in Manila. It's more subtle than the asana practice so I really prefer to do it in a quiet place.

Here's the locally produced durian-flavored peanut butter that I bought from Living Bread in Gaisano Mall. It's great on toast.
And just after breakfast, a package from Ireland arrived. Katie's Organic oat jumbles, Cocoa Bean cinnamon hot chocolate and music cds from M. Christmas is definitely here.

Happy holidays everyone!

Namaste.

Labong (Bamboo Shoots)

INGREDIENTS
Bamboo shoots, sliced into strips, and pre-cooked.
Saluyot leaves
Corn kernels, pre-cooked
onion, garlic, ginger
mushroom stock cube
salt and pepper to taste

Saute garlic, onion and ginger in oil. Add pre-cooked bamboo shoots and corn kernels. Add just enough water to cover the vegetables. Bring to boil. Add the saluyot leaves. Add mushroom stock cube. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with steamed rice.

I'm back on the mat this morning. It feels good to be moving again after a week of sedentary lifestyle and late night Christmas gatherings in Manila.

I'm supposed to prepare the vegetarian fresh spring roll that I learned from May in Bangkok but I left the recipe in Manila. I guess I just have to rely on my memory and try to recreate that yummy dish. She had pumpkin humus recipe also which was delicious.

Planning to prepare pasta with ragu sauce and cheese-filled veg balls for tomorrow night and the fresh Thai spring roll with peanut sauce. Some cucumber-tomato-cheese sandwich with pesto for drop in guests also.

I was thinking of preparing an all-veg Christmas dinner but my laziness is taking over.

Happy holidays.

Home

I'm back in the Philippines... home but not quite still... haven't moved to my new place so I still feel like a nomad. Will be posting photos and new recipes once I get home to Davao.

Namaste.