The Adventures of a Calamari Queen – Page 73 – Christian, Wife, Mommy, Homemaker, Retired nurse, Fur-mama,living a simple and minimal life!

Pork Adobo

Pork Adobo has got to be the most popular dish in PI. My sister, Cynthia, makes the yummiest adobo if you’re gonna ask me (I’m not that biased you know!). Anyways, I got the pork belly in the Asian market and I know they’re just perfect for adobo. I got the recipe from the food network. I fried the pork belly first because that’s how I want my adobo done. I pan fried, braised, fried it again! It needs patience but I really think it’s worth it. There’s something about the super tender but crispy pork belly adobo, comfort food:)

not a big fan of frying because of oil all over the stove!

Here’s the recipe! If you check food network it’s “Filipino chicken adobo” and instead of chicken I used pork belly.

4-5 lbs. pork belly
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup soy sauce
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 tsp. black peppercorns
3 bay leaves

Directions

Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Cover and marinate pork for 1-3 hours. Bring to boil, then lower heat. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover and simmer until sauce is reduced and thickened, and pork is tender, about 20 more minutes. Serve with steamed rice.

Savings

I’m happy with my purchases at Walgreens today! After coupons and cash rewards, I only paid 19$ for retail price for goodies worth 77$.

3 bottles of dishwashing soap =6$ but with coupons, the 3 bottles cost only 60 cents (regular price=1.99$)

Coho Cafe

Hi! I’m back here once again after 3 weeks or more of not blogging. I had a little issue with WordPress in downloading pics and only my computer genius of a hubby can fix it, yet with his schedule lately I gotta wait for all my blogs! Most of my blogs will be from last months food adventures:-)

fave [email protected] short ribs slider!

Chicken Tandoori

I got this recipe from my new food network book, and this was really easy to make, just perfect for busy night at home. My husband likes Indian food and I don’t. The 2 dishes that I only really eat whenever we go out and eat at an Indian place are chicken tandoori and chicken tika masala. So when I got the book I really wanted to try this for my Indian food loving hubby and we really liked the result. We’ll definitely make this again!

WIWW #3!

I’m joining Lindsey at Pleated Poppy again this time for WIWW!

Blue sweater and jeans =abercrombie,bag=burberry(gift from mom and sisters!), Hollister navy jacket,shades=DnG

Pink shirt=Hollister, Jeans=F21,Black bag=Guess(gift from sis in law),Tory Burch Flats

Juicy couture Red sweater(gift from Sis inlaw),Jeans=abercrombie, Tory Burch Flats

stripey sweater= abercrombie, red shirt=HnM, Jeans=Hollister, Shoes=Tory Burch wedge,Black bag= Guess(gift from sis inlaw)

shirt= abercrombie, white pants= old navy, havaianas flipflop

Tortang talong/eggplant fritters/omelette

Tortang talong or Eggplant omelette is a popular dish in PI. Growing up I remember they are always in our school cafeteria. I think it’s cheap yet delicious. It’s so easy to make but one needs patience to prepare this dish. You need to roast, peel, fry the eggplant! Last week we went to the asian market here in WA so I saw these eggplants and the only way I have eggplant is if it is prepared this way (I’m not picky eater, promise!). The grilling part is not my fave, but this is a very important part of the cooking process, after that stage it’s like you’re almost done:)

Roast/grill eggplants! Think like you're roasting red peppers..

It was kinda raining outside so I had to do it inside! HA! even if it’s not raining I’d rather grill it this way, easy to “control” the eggplant and I can adjust the heat:)

after grilling, told you just like peppers!

WIWW

This is my 2nd week that I’m linking up with Lindsey at the Pleatedpoppy for “What I Wore Wednesday”. It’s so much fun to see what other women are wearing and getting inspiration for myself, to dress better(it’s fun being a girl:-)..I’m usually a shirt and sweatpants and flip flops kind of girl thank God for my husband whose been encouraging me to “dress appropriately” ( sometimes I still wear flip flops even if it’s snowing outside!hehe.) The weather here in Washington (last week) was really nice so I was able to wear my flipflops, I’m a big fan of sandals/flipflops! I cannot wait for summer:)

Saturday afternoon, it rained so I had to wear my boots!

sweater- Abercrombie, Jeans- Abercrombie, Shoes- target, bag -gift from my mom and sisters

sweater- old navy, jeans- abercrombie, shoes-tory burch, bag- burberry

the footsie didn't give justice to the sandal!LOL..i need a pedi..

black cardi- target, tee- juicy couture, jeans- abercrombie,slippers/sandals- tory burch

tee,yoga pants,flip flops= abercrombie, best accessory =Riley the puppy

yellow polo shirt and jeans = abercrombie, flipflops= tory, bad=guess (gift from Sis IL)

Gratituesday!

Today I’m linking up with Laura over at Heavenly Homemakers for what she calls “gratituesday”. You should link up with her if you are grateful for something today (and everyday).

This week I’m grateful that:

I’m grateful that the Lord has given me and my Hubby an opportunity to help someone this week and be a blessing.

I’m grateful that I have a loving husband. He is so kind and he just has all kinds of patience for me! There were times this week when I just wanted to not do anything, times when you want to cry but you don’t know why you want to cry (with all the “end of the world news, tornado, missing family and friends, hormones = too much for me). You know that you need to do something but you just “avoid” doing it. Yeah, I’ve been having those days lately. But thank God for my husband because he’s quick to remind me that God is in control!

I’m grateful that for a couple of days the weather here in Washington was sunny and that I’m able to wear my flipflops for 3 days in a row(last week!!)..Now it’s just typical grey, but I’m Ok with that:)

Thankful for coupons! hehe, since I started watching TLCs extreme couponing, I started doing it myself but not the “extreme way ” like what you see in the show. I was so happy that I got this Hershey’s candy for just 1$ when the original price was 3 $..2 $ saved thanks to coupons:) “wooohoo!! LOL! makes me laugh.. I’m starting to “collect” chocolates and candies because before the year ends, I’ll be visiting PI and I have lots of little cousins who will be so happy to get these little goodies that I’ve started to buy for them.

I’m grateful for moments like these:

Photo on 2011-05-12 at 19.50 #2 — bad angle for my arm!hehe, it's not that big in real life:) nose to nose with Riley!

Photo on 2011-05-15 at 21.56 #5 — Riley thinks he's a little person!

Red Velvet Ice cream!

My Sis in law Julia invited us over at her place today! We had pizza and a yummy dessert, krispy kreme donuts and Ben n Jerry’s Ice cream flavored Red Velvet Cake..So good:) I’ve never had it before and I really liked it (I think I like anything that is red velvet flavored) I’m so going to get it tomorrow..Julia also made a very yummy coffee latte! Thanks Julia:) We also brought Riley with us because they miss each other and they are BFFs!hehe…fun time with SIL..

Fast Five Sushi!

We watched the movie fast five, 2 words “PAUL WALKER”… you’re so hot!hahaha…I enjoyed the movie, although there were lots of “yeah right” moments! Afterwards, Hubby and I had dinner at a japanese restaurant and had sushi:)