Project: TURDUCKEN

Thanksgiving Turkey!

Just this morning - I made a Plurk/Tweet that I wanted to have a Turkey dinner. I've been secretly wanting to make one - but was always overwhelmed with the preparations and the size! I can only dream of making one. I was honestly thinking of buying a cooked bird, and inviting friends over to share the feast! Then, one of my friends Bny, commented on my Plurk/Tweet that he wanted a Turducken.

I thought I was reading wrong - turducken? What the hell was that? Thank goodness for Google! A Turducken - simply put is a chicken in a duck in a turkey!

from this site

Now - where did that come from? Like you, it’s the first time for me to hear this and first time for me to research about it! After reading through a number of articles - I immediately declared that indeed, a turducken is much more yummier than a roast turkey!

What's better? Most everything of a turducken - i CAN eat!! Wooohoooo!!! :) This can be my 'lechon'! Hahaha.. :)

Doesn't it look yummy??!! I'm so excited!!

My friend sent me an email - that got me really excited. Project: TURDUCKEN - the email said:

Hello friends with iron chef potential...

I am commissioning a TURDUCKEN. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turducken

I will be willing to pay for the ingredients and lend our oven if you need it and of course share the feast with you.

If you think you can make one please get in touch with me at your earliest convenience. If you know someone who can make one please forward this email to him or her.

COOK ME A TURDUCKEN YOU ARE MY ONLY HOPE

If you would like to join this project as a sponsor please let me know as well.

This has got to be the project of the year! (after my wedding of course!)

I am so freaking excited!

Let's make this happen!!

Let's DO THIS!!

LET'S GO!!!


Any suggestions? Recipes? Tips?
Email me at candishhh (at) yahoo (dot) com

Thanks!!

Luxe Print 2010 Planners: Which one are you?

In this digital age - most everyone has a cellphone / pda to log in their reminders and things to do for a certain day. But for one who is not apt with these techie gadgets - I still rely on a trusty planner to jot notes and dates and what not's. I'm still fond of the idea of having to buy pens and write down my reminders on a notebook!

And at this time of the year - we, I think go through a 'Planner Craze' phase. We receive a lot of planners from people - as corporate giveaways, or we earn them buy purchasing a number of drinks from a certain coffee house, or we buy those 'generic' planners from our trusted bookstore.

I am very OC when it comes to choosing a planner. Firstly - it has to be cute or something that has to be Didi, I mean - I am not into those generic types of planners. I want something nice to look at when I jot down things on my planner. Secondly - the size, it has to fit my bag - something not too big and not too small. Thirdly - the paper of the planner! I am very critical when it comes of the paper - as you know - I am very critical of my pens - so my pens need to have a nice surface to glide on. Fourth - the price, remember! You get what you pay for!

You may say - I might have a hard time looking for a planner right? With all my kaartehans? Well, think again - because I found one four!

Fashionista!

Party Girl!

Beach Babe!

Rockstar!

So, which one are you?

Take a look inside!

Aren't they the cutest??

They're just P475.00 each!
And for pre-orders during November - its just P450.00 each!! Cool right?!
Planners will be out first week of December.

These cuties will be available in bazaars during the holidays! (List to follow)

For more information:
Luxe Prints
info@luxeprints.org
+63905-4022032
www.luxeprints.org

P.S. I will be giving one away this Christmas!! Stay tuned for the mechanics!!

Cooking Quest #2: Parmesan Baked Fish

I have been wanting to do this for months! But it was just now that I found the time (and the urge) to make it.

There's the baked fish bandwagon - you have Cookbook's Parmesan Crusted White Fish, Angel's Kitchen's Parmesan Cesar Fish, then there's Moksha's Baked Fish, and some others.

Here's my attempt to satisfy this craving:

Didi's Parmesan Baked Fish

Ingredients:
1 small bottle - Mayonnaise (the REAL one and NOT the 'lite' one! 220mL)
2 fillets - Dory Fillet (easiest one to find in the grocery!)
1 teaspoon - Paprika
1/4 cup - Milk
Bread Crumbs
Grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste

Pre-heat oven to 3750C

1. Wash your fish in cold water then season them with salt and pepper.

2. In a bowl - combine well the mayonnaise, bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese (I can't say the exact measurements of the last three ingredients - its up to you - just make sure that the mixture is creamy thick! The more Parmesan cheese - the better!!)

3. Coat the fish fillets with the mayonnaise mixture. Make sure to coat them very well.

4. In a semi-deep baking dish (the smaller the better, but make sure the fillets will fit well with a little space to spare!) place the coated fillets one on top of another.

5. Pour the remaining mayonnaise mixture over the fillets.

6. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
*Check you fish from time to time to avoid burning!

Here's the finished product!

Cooking, cooking in the oven!!

Cooking is finally done!!

Didi's Parmesan Baked Fish on a loaf pan, haha!!

*I used a loaf pan - as I didn't have a smaller baking dish (the smallest that I have is the one for the lasagna - so I had to improvise!)

Blood Donation - A+

Image borrowed from THIS site

I recently just discovered that I was an A+ - I always thought that since I have a twin brother, whatever his blood type - is mine as well! But I was wrong. He's and AB while I'm an A. I gathered that since we two has our individual sacs - we had different blood types.

Yesterday morning, my Panget asked for my blood type, he said that a relative needed blood - he then asked if I wanted to donate. And I said Yes.

Things to consider:
1) I am deathly afraid of needles piercing my flesh (except for the derma and the dentist - i LOVE them both!)
2) I hate the sight of too much blood!
3) This will be my first time EVER to donate blood.
4) I am afraid of pain, period

So - I thought, this is a good thing. A good deed! I am helping another individual, right?

Then, there's the waiting period. I hate the waiting because it makes me think of so many things! Then there's the fear coupled with the waiting! I hate it.

So it was my turn. I had to grip on my Panget's hand tightly. It was so hard to relax as I was imagining the needle. I didn't want to look so I hid behind my Panget's back. I told the nurse/lab tech - to chat with me, so I'll be distracted, but then - she said 'Hinga ng malalim ma'am!' Oh, great - that means only one thing - she'll be piercing the needle on my arm now. I was about to cry - when I felt the pain. But then in my mind I was saying 'God, give me strength!' I was repeating this over and over again in my head. She then told me to squeeze the stressball - but every time I squeezed it, there was pain!

After a few minutes - another technician came to me and told me she was going to fix the needle. My imagination ran wild, again!! And when the moved it - the pain sort of went away and I was able to squeeze more comfortably.

My Panget was by my side - holding on to my hand's tight grip, telling me to relax and to keep on squeezing. A few minutes later - the technician took out the needle and I was done.

Wrong!

The reason why she took it out was because - there was too little blood that was flowing, and that she gathered that my vein was too small! And I thought the flow was going smoothly! My Panget agreed that there was too little blood flowing out of me. Another attempt meant that another needle will be pierced on my opposite arm! The technician said that she'll have a hard time looking for a vein because my veins are just too small!

Looking at the bag - the technician declared I gave only 300cc.

For my blood to be used - it was to be 500cc.

Darnit - my efforts were futile. My blood wasn't enough!!

I couldn't understand why they needed a full bag for the blood to be useful.

Oh well, medical explanations will just confuse me more.

So, there goes my first ever blood donation - gone futile.

Too bad!!

But it was a brave thing my Panget said.

Indeed it was!!!!!!!

Quezon City - Garbage Collection FAIL!

We are victims of the flood.

Our house, office and factory were flooded with thigh deep water during Ondoy.

The day after the typhoon - my family, our helpers and workers cleaned out everything that was damaged. It was only a few days ago, that we fully cleared out the flood damage. All that were flooded and unusable - we put in sacks and brought them out for the garbage trucks to pick up.

We waited.

Garbage trucks passed by - but only got the small sacks. Telling us that the sacks are too heavy to carry.

We then divided the sacks - into smaller sacks, even offering to help carry the sacks to the garbage trucks. But we were ignored and even told that the sacks were still heavy. A basurero even snickered saying 'Wala kasi kayong panigarilyo'

Why in the effing hell are we supposed to give 'panigarilyo' to them when in fact it is their job to pick up garbage?

Are we required to give them 'panigarilyo' just for them to do their jobs??

Is that even right??

We called our Baranggay captain - we told him that the basureros didn't want to pick-up the trash! You know what he said - 'Kung ayaw nila, anong magagawa natin?'

What kind of an elected official is that?? He IS an elected baranggay official, we voted for him because we thought he would do our baranggay good - as of press time, he is in TAGAYTAY (We knew, because we called him to let him know what happend, but with his answer - we wasted P7.00 for the call)

Our baranggay is called PALTOK
The baranggay captain is CAPTAIN ANOS
Plate of the garbage truck WJJ-283

I already called the QC City Hall to report - they told me that ALL garbage MUST BE COLLECTED.

What an ass these people are becoming.
Is it because election time is coming??

What an IRONIC thing! This article says that the QC government fielded ADDITIONAL garbage trucks to collect trash!!

Nihonbashitei - Malate

I have finally tasted the BEST gyoza!!

Interiors

My Panget and I found it on NIHONBASHI TEI in Malate.

The place looks fairly new and authentic. Why do I say authentic? Well, because there were a lot of Japanese diners!! They were coming in one after another - thus my Panget and I became curious! What kind of fare did they serve? We both hoped that it was authentic and very good! We were crossing our fingers, this place was recommended by my Panget's sister's boyfriend - Boggs.

Upon entering, we were greeted by charming servers - they greeted us in unison. The place looked clean and very organized with servers positioned strategically on the floor - perhaps, to look at the needs of their clients.

We were given a complimentary sidedish type of appetizer. It was squid with chili - and it tasted very very good! I was amazed, to be honest - because I don't fancy squid that is not fried! Hahaha.. But this tasted very good. The spices were mixed just perfect!

Server said this is called KOBAJI

These are what we ordered:

California Maki (Php200.00)

I was honestly skeptical - I mean Php200.00 for 6 pieces, I have to say - I was expecting this to be good (for the price). And indeed it was!! The maki tasted very fresh - the seaweed crispy and the the toppings - just right.

Ebi Tempura (P200.00)

We were not shortchanged. The prawns used were huge! You know its huge because when you bite into the Tempura - you can feel the 'crunch' Another fresh dish! And even if it was just _ pieces - the price was well worth it!

US Beef Sukiyaki (P470.00)

This has got to be the most expensive dish on the table, and the most expensive sukiyaki I've ever ordered in my entire life! It serves only one - yes, just for one person. And for my Panget - I think it was just for him - no room for sharing any to me!! But he did - one bowl, hahaha!! I was grateful - the soup tasted so yummy that I wanted to get seconds - but I stopped, I knew my Panget was loving the dish - so, I'll sacrifice, he is my husband now right? Hahaha!!

Gyoza (P150.00)

Truly the BEST gyoza I've ever tasted! It literally melts in your mouth! And the sauce - the sauce, WOW! It made the gyoza taste more amazing! The spicy sauce brought another yummy flavor of the gyoza!

This dinner has got to be the BEST Japanese dinner my Panget and I have had in a long loooong time.

Nihonbashitei - Malate
Adriatico Street, Malate Manila
(near Starbucks)

WINNER: Sassa Bikini Contest - Jodilein!!

CONGRATULATIONS Jodilein!!

You've just won a two-piece Sassa Bikini!!

Here's how Random.org picked #9 on the list of comments:

Please check you email Jodilein! :)

Thank you to all those who joined!!
(even if there were a number of disqualified entries because they either just sent me an email or just left a message at the comment section. You needed to do both to qualify)

Win a Sassa Bikini CONTEST!!

Photo grabbed from Sassa.com.ph

I know the timing is odd - since its not yet summer..

But what the heck!! Hahaha..

I won on Jayvee's Sassa Bikini contest on his blog. Since I've been winning contests - I want to pay it forward.

So - I'm running this Sassa Bikini Contest!! :)

What are the mechanics?
1. Simply leave a message on my comment section and
2. Send me an email (candishhh@yahoo.com) with your complete name (and nick/handle) and subject WIN A SASSA BIKINI CONTEST!

You can post as many comments as you want - as I will be using Random.Org to pick the winner!!

Incomplete entries will be invalid!! Please don't forget to read the mechanics carefully!!

Contest will run from today 10/19 till October 22, 2009 11:59PM - I will be announcing the winner on October 23, 2009

Good luck peeps!! :)

Disappointed with Dinelli

I've heard so many good things about Dinelli.

Good selection, good food, good price and since it was near my area - good location as well!


Last Saturday night - together with my new family, we dined there. I have to say - expectations were quite high. But I was greatly disappointed with the quality of service and food we got that night.

We were seated on the second floor - and being the only diners there at the time we were seated, I was expecting a server to somehow come up and down to check on us for orders and some other things. But we didn't get that.

Yes, the server took our orders - but right after that, we were somehow forgotten. Since there were no servers on our floor - we had to tap on the glass windows to get attention. This happened not once but four times. Our orders then were given one at a time with intervals of 10-15 minutes each. The Alio Oglio pasta was a bitter, the Seabass was relatively small and overcooked, the ribs - tasted bland and seemed like sauce was just poured on it. The steaks that were ordered arrived last and very late and very undercooked! (the steaks ordered were Medium and Medium-well)

Since the orders were given one at a time - my Panget's steak was given another round of grilling as the steak was still rare. But when my FIL's (father-in-law) steak arrived - it looked good, but as he cut further - it appeared rare as well. We wanted to complain - but there was no one to complain to, as the servers were all downstairs.

When we asked for the bill - we politely asked for a discount as our orders were served very late and the steaks were both undercooked. It seemed like they forgot the orders and cooked them quickly. We also showed the server how rare the steak was. When she came back - she told us that it was the chef's fault that the steaks were undercooked and that we were given a 10% discount - when my SIL (sister-in-law) looked at the bill closely - she noticed that the discount was only given to the 'very rare steak'. We then asked to speak to the Manager, we were told that the manager was not around, but the assistant manager was there instead. The server told us that if we wanted to speak to the manager, we should go down. We were dumbfounded as to why we needed to go down to speak to the assistant manager. We then asked her to have the assistant manager come up instead. This request was REFUSED. We never saw the assistant manager. Instead, the server was the one who handled the complaint.

When the manager is not around, the assistant manager should be the one to front the establishment and handle complaints. But with this - well, we never saw the assistant manager. We were actually suspecting that there was no assistant manager - because if there was, for sure he or she will speak to us. We then asked for a name but was told - to ask it ourselves! How can we ask for the name of a person who doesn't want to speak to us! After much talk - the 'very rare steak' was taken off the bill, the server then apologized for not giving us quality service - she reasoned that they were only two, handling the whole deli/restaurant.

For a first time diner of Dinelli - my new family and I were very, very disappointed. I think the chances of us coming back is very slim - unless of course, the quality of service improves greatly.

Take a look on the very rare steak - this for them was supposed to be a MEDIUM.


Dinelli - Timog
5 Timog Avenue, Quezon City
+632.666.3544 / 3766849