Stillness.

"In the midst of movement

and chaos,

keep stillness inside of you."

Sarciadong Isda

Hello Friends!!

How are you all doing?

Last week me and my mom was craving for some seafood.

We eat a lot of it in the Philippines so we decided why not make some

Fish dish!

This is one of my favorite!!

Sarciadong isda or Fish Sarciado translates to "Fish with sauce"

Fried fish simmered in a sauce that is usually made with tomatoes, onions, carrots or sometimes

Bell peppers.

Let me know what you guys think!

Ingredients

• 2 lbs Threadfin salmon (or fish of your choice) cleaned
• 3 pieces medium-sized tomatoes diced
• 3 pieces medium-sized onions 1 Red bell pepper diced
• 1 Red bell pepper sliced
• 2 Carrots sliced
•  3/4 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons garlic minced
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce

Instructions

• Heat oil in a frying pan then fry the fish. Ensure that salt has been rubbed over the fish before frying.
• Remove the fish from the frying pan and place in a a plate with paper towels. Set aside.
• Using a clean pan, heat about 2 teaspoons of cooking oil then sauté the garlic, onions, and tomatoes
• Add the fish sauce and ground black pepper then stir.
• Put-in the diced bell pepper and carrots and water then bring to a boil.
• Add the fried fish and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer to a serving plate.
• Serve hot. Share and enjoy!
  
  
  xoxo
  
  

Cassava Suman with Coconut Filling

My cravings with Filipino food these days are through the roof. 

I'm glad some of them are doable while being here in Italy.

When I found out that the Commissary were selling Banana leaves this is what 

I first thought of making.

I have never made these before, omg so good!

Let me know what you guys think!!

INGREDIENTS:

For the coconut filling:
1 cup grated coconut (mura na niyog)
1/2 cup brown sugar

For the suman:
1 kg fresh cassava or kamoteng kahoy
3/4 cup brown sugar
banana leaves, wilted
1 tsp vanilla (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

How to Wilt Banana Leaves (Preparasyon sa pambalot na dahon ng Saging)

1. Divide and cut the banana leaves into 6 inches width.
2. Cut off the edges or the hard part. 
3. Gently pass on the leaves over low flame on the gas stove.
4. Wipe it to clean with a towel.

For the Coconut Filling:

In a pan over low to medium heat combine grated coconut, brown sugar and cook it for 8 to 10 minutes. Keep on stirring to prevent scorching. Adjust heat to lowest if needed to prevent scorching. Turn off heat and transfer to a bowl. Set aside.

For the Suman:
Prepare the cassava by peeling the skin. Slice it to same size or lengths and cut it in half (lengthwise) to remove the rind.

Wash the flesh thoroughly. Rinse it several times. And using a grater, finely grate it one by one. You can put it in a cloth to squeeze out excess cassava juice.

In a large bowl, combine the cassava, sugar, and vanilla (optional). You can use spatula or a hand mixer if available.

Spread 2 pieces of banana leaves on a working table or flat surface (smaller piece on top of the bigger piece).

Place 2-3 tablespoon cassava mixture and put it in the banana leaf (smaller piece). Flatten the mixture.

Add the coconut filling in the middle of the cassava mixture.

Gently wrap the banana leaf (smaller piece) to make thin roll shape.

Wrap it again using the bigger piece. Fold the ends to seal in the mixture. Do the same procedure until all mixture is used.

Place the unused banana leaves to line your pot. Transfer and arrange the wrapped cassava suman in the pot. Pour water until it all cassava suman is submerged in water. 

Let it cook in the steamer for 1 hour.Remove from heat. Strain water and let it cool. Serve and enjoy!

It was so yummy friends!!!

So happy I got to make it. 

xoxo

-Jen

Best day ever.

The longest 6 months of our lives is over.

My Love is finally back. 

Tai Ji (Aviano)

Hello everyone!

It's another Beautiful weekend in Italy!

It is cold, but I'll take it than rainy days. 

We treated ourselves for a dinner out last Friday. 

It was such a busy weekday since the kids are back in school. 

Before going to the restaurant, we walked around for a little bit around downtown Aviano.

It's not as big so it didn't take us too long to see everything.

They still have Christmas decorations up.

A quiet night in Aviano.

Mama loves it.

After that we headed to Tai Ji Restaurant.

Just few minutes walk from downtown. 

I have been craving for Chinese food, so this was perfect.

We usually just get take out from this place.

I wish we go more often to eat there.

Came here for this!

Crab ragoons! 

My beautiful momma.

We ordered some Yaki udon.

It's my baby's favorite.

My mom ordered sweet and sour chicken.

It was good.

I ordered Beef chow mein and General tsos chicken.

My favorite!

It was all so good.

And ended the meal with some Fried ice cream for dessert.

Can't believe its my first time having fried ice cream, so yummy!

I'm ready!!

I hope you are all having a good weekend!

Ciao,Ciao!

-Jen

Life....

"Life is meant to be experienced.

Put yourself out there.

Do things you've never done.

Live a life where at the end,

you will have no regrets."

Lucca

Ohhh Lucca, Nice to meet you. 

Before heading back to Aviano we stopped by in Lucca.

I was so interested this underrated city. 

Lucca is just about an hour from Pisa.

I suggest stopping by if you have time to check it out.

This city is definitely interesting. 

Not crazy crowded like other places.

The Beautiful Duomo di Lucca.

I wish we had extra time to go inside.

We just wander around and just explore.

Kids having some Bubble fun!

After walking around we decided to stop by for some Gelato.

..And let me say that the flavors they have here is very interesting. 

Not the usual colorful flavor that I'm used to.

It was all really good!

We tried at least 7 flavors!

The squad.

Then we headed back home.

It was about 4 hours drive back home.

The drive was not bad. 

Probably the last time we will go to Pisa. 

What an amazing experience to be able to go. 

xoxo

-Jen

Pisa

 Feels like it was just yesterday when we went to Pisa for the first time. 

( Pisa )

But, that was in 2017. 

I thought it would be a good city to show to my mom while she's here.

I think she loved it.

First...

Look how awesome is this. 

We have a similar dessert in the Philippines that looks like this.

Crazy how time flies.

This was my baby 2017.

Now..

Pisa is Beautiful!

Like the last time, we just walked around and explore outside.

We didn't go to any museums. 

The obligatory Pisa pose. haha

It was a beautiful day!

When we were done we decided to have lunch in the same restaurant we ate at when we went here.

I got this one for a change.

It was good!

Lunch with a view!

It was a fun, fun day. 

Ciao, Ciao!

-Jen