Canberra October Getaway

It has been 5 months since we last saw our family in Canberra.. We miss them so much especially the kids. Jon and I hardly get the same days off together and since it has been a chaotic month at work I can't request for any days off any more. Guess what I did?? The thing I hated most about people at my previous work.. Shhhhhhhh.... SL :)

Yeah.. I need off so I can regain my strength, recharge my soul, being commune again with nature, reconnect with my in laws and the never ending chismax until dawn. 2 nights at Canberra is all worth it. Plus I get a chance to spend time with my instant babies most specially Tilly Bear.

Isn't she Adorable?

Griffin planned this after school field trip at the Zoo since he remembered that her Ninang hasn't seen a Wombat yet..

My first Wombat encounter

Some of my new found friends at the Zoo.

Lemon Butter Cake

Another day of cravings... I miss my Mom's buttercake. Too bad I haven't got the recipe from her yet. Then I decided to browse the net for the best moist buttercake. Which lead me to this food blog Nasi Lemak Lover .

I tried and baked it..It was good. Then I added it to my recipe book for future reference :)

Ingredients
125g butter
100g sugar
1 lemon rind
2 large eggs
175g self-raising flour
4 tablespoon milk
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice

Lemon glaze
3 tbsp sugar
1 lemon juice


1. Beat the butter with the sugar until fluffy.
2. Add in the eggs one by one, then add in lemon rind, mixing well.
3. Fold in the flour and milk, combine well.
4. Pour the mixture into a loaf tin lined with greaseproof paper.
5. Bake in pre-heated oven at 180C for 40mins.
6. Mix sugar and lemon juice and cook over low heat till sugar dissolved, add in lemon rind, set aside.
7. When cake done, remove cake from the oven and prick all over with a skewer.
8. Pour over the lemon glaze over the hot cake.
9. Ideally to leave cake to set overnight, to have better flavour.

Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies

I started baking again lately... Last September 24 is my last day at my short course in Medical Administration. The whole day I am just thinking about sweets..brownies and wanted to buy one after class. But when I went to Coles to buy something to satisfy my cravings I end up buying the ingredients. I told my self that it would be better if I just make it on my own and try something different.

I saw at Joelen's blog a brownies recipe but with a twist.. Yeah! Red Velvet Cream Cheese Brownies. I gave it a try..it looks yummy though! Besides..aprobado ni Chef :)

Red Velvet Brownie layer:

1 stick unsalted butter (melted)

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup cocoa powder

pinch of salt

1 tablespoon liquid red food colouring

1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

2 eggs

3/4 cup flour

Cream Cheese layer

8 ounces cream cheese ( 1 pack)

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1/8 teaspoon vanilla

1. Preheat the oven at 180C
2. Combine melted butter with sugar, vanilla, cocoa powder, salt food colouring and vinegar in order. Mixing in addition.
3. Whisk eggs in a separate bowl and combine with warm cocoa mix
4. Fold the flour into the chocolate batter and combine lightly.
5. Reserve 1/2 cup of the batter for the top and set aside.
6. Pour the remaining batter in a prepared pan.
7. For the CREAM CHEESE: Blend together the cream cheese, sugar, egg and vanilla in a bowl. Gently spread cream cheese layer on top of the brownie batter.
8. Add the remaining batter on top of the brownie batter and create a swirl
9. Bake brownie for 30 minutes
10. Remove to a cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

Let's get physical...physical...

It has been 20 days since I started her 30 days shred off exercise video. I am determined to finished this since I noticed difference from my waist na. I don't think I lost weight pero I noticed na nagka shape na naman yung katawan ko. I still need to continue it kasi 8 months left pa before my wedding day. Jaja my Couturer's assistant is keep on pushing me to lose weight para daw maganda yung hapit ng gown sa akin. When I first tried on the lining ng gown..nalungkot ako kasi maganda sana kung may shape pero ang shape nya eh bulging sa harap nakakahiya. I have to make excuses like: I stopped going to the gym kasi nagkasakit ako and I have abnormal heartbeat, I am on therapy o naka bakasyon ako kaya nag enjoy ako sa food. But to be honest these excuses are mean excuses. I cannot excuse myself on my wedding day kasi I have a lot of time to do something.

First thing Jon and I did is to start being physically active. When we arrived in Canberra, we explored the place through jogging around the neighbourhood. Then we went jogging along the lake to enjoy the scenic view. When we transferred here in Melbourne we took advantage of the Yarra Riverbank's busy running trail. Ang daming physically active dito sa Melbourne. Almost everyone is running around, nag bibike going to work kahit na naka corporate attire at naka rubber shoes kahit na naka suit.

I stopped jogging with Jon when I found from a website regarding Jillian's workout. Sabi nila it made a big difference sa weight nila sa muscle tone sa strength at kung ano ano pang eklavoo..

I stopped exercising once in a while lalo na kung may nararamdaman ako. Sometimes kasi I get headache while doing the exercise video. Siguro kasi sa sobrang lamig ngayon sa Melbourne at hindi gumagana ang warm-up ni Jillian kaya nabibigla yung katawan ko then sasakit ang ulo ko while doing the workout video. Jon started to try the video work out. At first he was hesitant kasi it looks like girly work out and too easy for a guy like him. But then whe he tried it super pagod and hingal sya. From then on..ginagawa na nya alternate jogging ang Jillian's workout video.

We are still far from the wedding day.. Ang dami pang muscle aches and diet. But one thing is for sure. Jon and I are determined to do this not only for our wedding day but for our health na rin.

We will be posting before and after photos para ma motivate kami lalo but as of now fingers crossed I hope our determination will continue until we reached our goal.. sana hindi kami gumive-up.

Chinese Fried Rice

I love making this fried rice especially if I have a lot of leftover rice or kung tawagin sa amin ay "BAHAW" kanin'g lamig... Inspired by my Papa who loves to make fried rice out of left over food. Fried rice is his specialty aside from giniling.

We always have the key ingredients sa house. Our fridge is always stocked with frozen peas, carrots, ham and eggs... and that is why it's easy for me to do this as long as may tira kaming kanin ni Jon.

Ingredients:

2 cups cooked rice

1/2 cup frozen peas

diced ham

shredded carrots

5 cloves of garlic

2 tablespoon cooking oil

1 piece large egg

1 teaspoon light soy sauce

spring onion

salt

Direction:

1. Heat the oil in a hot wok over high heat.
2. Add the garlic into the oil when it is golden brown add the ham and frozen peas and cook for 2 minutes.
3. Add the shredded carrots and mix.
4. Reduce the heat into medium high and pour in the egg into the wok.
5. Add the cooked rice to the wok and toss them until it is well combined.
6. Add the light soy sauce and dash of salt to taste.
7. Serve in a bowl and sprinkle with spring onion.

Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Shrimps

(plating courtesy of my husband)

I was just intrigued about this recipe. I saw it in one of the menu for our wedding and I asked my husband "What is Aglio Olio?" and he replied.. "It's easy it's just Olive Oil and Parsley" What?? So I made a research.. Thank you Goggle and You Tube. Thou it sounds complicated and gourmet...mukha namang achieve na achieve ang cooking instruction. I gave it a go.. Ma try nga.. And this is what I prepared for husband one fine dinner.

Ingredients:

250 grams Spaghetti Noodles

5 garlic gloves finely chopped

50 ml Olive Oil

chopped parsley

100 grams shrimps

salt

parmesan cheese

Direction:

1. Cooked the pasta as per cooking instruction printed at the back portion of the box.
2. In a frying pan, sauté the garlic gently and the shrimps. When the shrimps are already cooked add the parsley.
3. Stir well and remove from heat.
4. Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the pan.
5. Toss until the pasta is well coated and ingredients are evenly distributed.
6. Serve it with grated parmesan cheese on top.

Welcome to Australia!!!

I thought I lost my account it has been ages since I last posted something here. I still do baking but not as much as I do before. Wala na kasing kakain...it's only me and my hubby na lang dito..We don't have friends pa since we are just new in the city and I am still a Housewife.

Eureka Skydeck

Melbourne CBD

We came here on February 14, 2011, it was supposedly a surprise for Mom and Dad but since may ESP si Daddy he has this gut feeling na we're coming earlier that what we've told them.

We stayed at Canberra for a month.. Oh!.. What a beautiful and scenic place. Feeling ko nasa set ako ng sound of music. Its peaceful and away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.. it's just perfect for raising up a family.. But not for us as of now..

Canberra, Aerial View

Black Mountain Tower

We spent our 1st wedding Anniversary in Sydney... Sa totoo lang I still can't believe na nandito na ako.. I remember when I was still young I always wanted to go to US hindi ko alam kung bakit..siguro ganun talaga mostly ng Filipino. They thought that going to US is the answer for poverty and a good life. Even when I was still studying Nursing, I never thought about Australia..But look at me now.. this is one of God's blessing I must say =) Things come unexpectedly and you just have to embrace it.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Opera House

Jon and I with my first encounter with a Koala.