How to Put Links

Hyperlink is a link from an electronic document or file to another location. Links can be activated in a single-click. If a highlighted word or picture is clicked from the page which the hyperlink can be activated, the browser will navigate to the page where the link points to.

Still a lot of people need help on the proper way of putting links to a blog entry, comment, forum post, etc. I used to be one of them. But I was able to find answers to my questions because of research and help of Bebeğim.

These past few days, I had a chance to teach some friends who are not so familiar with linking. I am actually doing this post for them. Guys, you now have a page to check in case you'll forget the codes..^^

PUTTING LINK in a FORUM
[url=destination web address or URL here] clickable text here [/url]

PUTTING LINK in a PHOTO or LOGO
<a href="destination web address or URL here">
<img src="image URL here">
</a>

PUTTING LINK in a BLOGGER COMMENT or BLOG POST
<a href="destination web address or URL here">
clickable text here
</a>

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How to Earn Money through Blogging
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Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo's Wedding

Ryan and Juday finally tied the knot early morning today, around 7 AM, in an old church in San Juan, Batangas! Last year, on her 30th birthday, Ryan popped the question with a diamond ring. After a year of engagement and after careful planning of the wedding, the celebrity couple are now officially Mr. & Mrs. Agoncillo.

The couple vowed in a private ceremony and held their reception in the private Balai Resort, three hours away from Manila. The attendees are their relatives and closest friends only. Among the invited guests are Sen. Francis Pangilinan, his wife Sharon Cuneta, and daughter KC Concepcion. Another celebrity couple Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid were also spotted there.

SNN Showbiz News Ngayon (SNN) reported that they are planning to go to Mexico for their honeymoon. But aren't they afraid of the swine flu outbreak?

Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS and BEST WISHES to the both of you. Welcome to the baby-making world. Hehe!

Swine Flu in the Philippines

In the news today, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said, "There are no recorded cases in the Philippines in relation to the outbreak from Mexico and other infected countries." However, he stated that people still needs to observe important preventive measures.

The government assured that people from other countries entering the Philippines are being monitored at the airports. They are doing that through the help of thermal scanners. Those who are coming from countries where swine flu cases had been reported are monitored more closely, too.

There is no vaccine against swine influenza yet. However, people can avoid the said virus by doing the following:
- frequent hand-washing and usage of alcohol or hand sanitizers
- avoid close contact with people which includes handshaking and kissing
- usage of tissue when coughing
- usage of face or surgical mask while in public
- avoid close contact with sick people

The following are the signs and symptoms of swine flu:
- fever
- disorientation
- stiffness of the joints
- vomiting
- loss of consciousness

Consult your doctor or run to the nearest hospital immediately if those signs and symptoms appear.


Picture Source:
GMANews.TV

PhotoHunt 1: Protection

I'm doing this for the first time! I took this photo over two years ago while on our way to Romblon for an island vacation.

In this photo is a child beggar, trying to cover her face for protection from the camera. In the streets of Manila, they usually try to get close with commuters while the red light is on. They will knock on your car window, begging for some coins to buy food or, sadly, inhalants to some.


Sam of Nerd is a Compliment
Shabem of Embrace Simplicity
Sweet Seoul of My Lapland
Rors of On my Left Hand Corner
Shy Kulasa of Shie's Asylum
Czel of Vanity Child
Michelle of Hits and Mrs
Lace of Style and Relax
Moccalyn of Life Spices
Larla Anne of Larla's World
Jhaney of My So Called Life
Soapaholic of Confessions of a Soapaholic
Janelle of Embracing the Clutter in my Head
Gel of Make my not-so-interesting life more interesting

Cheers and have fun!

Romblon Papaya

I saw this photo today as I scan through my archive of pictures taken during our last December vacation to Romblon. On the first photo, bebeğim is holding a really, really large papaya that our neighbor delivered for only P30! It was too big to be eaten by the both of us, so I shared it to the rest of my (extended) family.

I miss Romblon. These days, everywhere in the province, people are celebrating fiestas one town after the other. There are parades of beauties, competitions, bazaars, dances, and so on. One can never get bored during summertime in the province. It is the main reason why a lot of people grab the opportunity to have fun and visit their family at the same time.

Hmmmm.. should I buy ticket nah?

Scrapbooking

I love creating something during my spare time. My creations are not limited into one thing, though. I write poems and articles, cook, sew, make wall decors, work on my book of remembrance, etc.

These past few months, and since I gave birth, I have been busy doing chores and other things home, but I already forgot working on my scrapbook.

I love keeping memories in any form. I have loads of pictures, some notes and letters, a few tickets, money, blah, blah, blah. You name it, I have it there in my magic box. Still loads and loads of memorabilia waiting for me to put them together in my large book.

Today, I took pictures of the first two pages. Here you can see the photos of my mom and dad dated back in the 70s. I created a pocket to put their letters, too. I tried to preserve the old pictures by removing the damaged edges, glued them into black cardboard, and finished with some decorative butterflies. Ahhh.. I should be back to scrapbooking again!

Allergy to Berries

"Do not give strawberries to your baby or any kind of berry at her very young age," that was my pediatrician's warning to me a few weeks back when I told her my story.

So here goes the trouble of a first time mom. I should've known it from the very start 'cause we bought some strawberries for our baby a week before the visit to the doctor. I washed the berries, chopped them into bits, put them in the blender, and started feeding our little one with the purée. Actually, she was able to finish over 3 spoonfuls until she threw up everything on the floor and all over her walker. Well, I thought, maybe, it was because of the seeds.

Our pediatrician added that strawberries, blueberries, or whatever berries are not advisable as baby food. Infants may develop some allergic reactions to them. To be safe, I have to wait for my baby to turn one year old. Her digestive system will be more developed at that stage. And after a few months of eating some solid food, her tummy will be ready for berries.

If your baby already reached 1 year old or older, you may feed her with tiny pieces of berries. Just be sure to wash them very well before slicing them into halves or even smaller, though. Berries are choking hazard. Your baby might have the trouble chewing them. They could just slide into your baby's throat, so be careful not to give the whole ones.

Here are some signs of food allergy that mothers should be aware of:
- swelling of the tongue, lips, and face
- skin rash
- wheezing
- abdominal cramping
- vomiting
- diarrhea

The moment you notice any of these signs on your baby, you should be calling her doctor right away.

Choco Mallows

I am not a big fan of sweets made from cocoa nor any form of chocolates. I just can't be a big fan. See? We have a history of diabetes in the family. I was even diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus last year, while I was pregnant with my first baby.

Today, I made this very simple treat which is great for kids and even grown ups! Well, just to finish the leftover bars of chocolate which we got from Bakers Depot in Walter Mart-Makati for some crispy chocolate squares.

Ingredients:
- 4 bars of chocolate
- 1 small pack of mallows

You will need:
- a double boiler
- a plastic container

Procedure:
Using a double boiler, heat the bars of chocolate over a very low fire. Make sure not to burn the chocolate by stirring it well until smooth and runny.

Put the mallows in the plastic container. Pour the chocolate unto them, spreading and coating each mallow properly. Let dry before serving.

Since I am no big fan of chocolates and can't be one (sigh*), I'm letting this super sweet treat stay in the fridge, waiting for baba to grab.

Crispy Chocolate Squares

Do you have a sweet tooth? Chocolates must be a part of your guilty pleasure, eh?

Like three weeks ago, I discovered Bakers Depot in Walter Mart-Makati. Got bars of plain chocolate and some rice crispies from that store which I used in making these really simple chocolate squares I'm sharing now.

Ingredients:
- 4 bars of chocolate
- 1/2 cup of rice crispies

You will need:
- a double boiler
- chocolate squares molder

Procedure:
In a double boiler over very low fire, heat the bars of chocolate. Make sure not to burn them. Stir well until smooth and a little runny.

Spread the rice crispies in the molders. Pour the chocolate unto them. Cover the chocolate squares with rice cripies again. Let cool before serving.

* This recipe makes 16 chocolate squares.

Creamy Fruit Medley

It's summertime in the Philippines! The heat index is around 34°C to 36°C. Most people try to do a lot of ways to beat the heat like swimming, picnicking, island hopping, etc. etc. But in my case, I usually stay at home, take care of my baby, mind bebeğim, blog, cook, prepare food, and eat. Well, except for the weekends, which we often spend outdoors in shopping and looking around or visiting some friends or family.

Anyway, supermarkets have one-way of taking advantage of the summer season. That is to sell summer foods like ice cream, fruits blends, fruit juices, and salads. In Makati, one supermarket is selling a yummy fruit medley. I actually took home buckets of them more than a couple of times, but felt the same not "satisfied" feeling everytime.

Here is my solution - to make my own version of fruit medley and enjoy at it home.

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup cooked red sago or tapioca pearl
- 1/2 cup cooked green organic gelatin, cut thin square slices
- 1/2 cup nata de coco
- 3 cups of fresh fruits*, cut bite-size pieces
- 1 cup of whipped cream, refrigerate before using
- 1/2 cup condensed milk

Direction:
Whisk the milk and cream in a large mixing bowl. Add the sago pearl, gelatin, and nata de coco; followed by the fresh fruits. Mix them all together. Chill and serve.

* You may use any of your favorite fruits for this recipe. In my case, I had watermelon, melon, and banana only.
**This recipe is good for 6 people.

Earning Money through Blogging

This is good news for everybody esp. for mothers who are full-time at home like yours truly. If you have a computer or laptop with you including an internet connection, one way of helping your spouse in bringing more bread in the table is to open up a website for blogging like utotmopink and amelita.

These days, prices of grocery items, meat products, and other goods and services are more likely to go up than go down. To help with the household budget, you have to be creative. If you are a student, blogging can help you with your school expenses. If you are an office worker, the money you will get from your blog can make your shopping and night out with friends more enjoyable.

How to start a blog?
You don’t have to be a computer genius to do this job. One can start easily by getting a free domain and webhosting from multiply, wordpress, blogger, etc.

Select a very catchy domain name. Remember that creating a domain name is like creating a household name like Coke. Choose a simple, not complicated layout. People find it difficult to stay long in a webpage full of boxes or pop ups.

What to blog about?
You may blog about almost anything under the sun. In my case, utotmopink is a bit of everything. I have blogs about parenting, politics, gadgets, etc. My blogs about hobbies like for example cooking, traveling, dressmaking, and the like attract people of the same interests.

In blogging, you may focus on something that you won’t be tired talking about, something that you can debate with others and something that you studied and continue studying. Always choose the nicest title for your post; simple and clear. Make it sure that your title tells about its content and no hidden meanings. Also try to put appropriate tags. Titles and tags are important for search engines like Google and Yahoo to be able to find your post easily.

How to earn money through blogging?
After personalizing utotmopink, I signed up for an Adsense account to earn money from every page impression or click of advertisements in my website. One may also try other advertising networks like Chitika to generate revenue. On the other hand, other bloggers earn by selling products and services through their website. Some get money from donations.

Promote your website to get more traffic. More traffic means more visitors. More visitors mean more followers. More followers mean more click. More clicks mean more money. I do this by participating in forums and social communities like Facebook or Digg. So, if you will try to google my nickname utotmopink, you will be able to see results linking to such sites.

To promote utotmopink, I also try to be a follower of other bloggers. I write comments and put a link of a relevant topic on their posts. Lastly, I introduce my blog to other people every time I have a chance to do so.

Best Blogger Award 2009

This is not my first time to receive a blogging award. Just a few days back, I also got a Smart Blogger Award. With two awards in a row, I am feeling flattered already, a little shy, indifferent, bizarre, yet ecstatic! Ahh.. whatever! But thank you so much Chie of Chuchie's Hideaway. This award is very much appreciated.

I know for sure that I am not the best among the best in the blogosphere. There are loads of people out there who are really good in this craft. They earn a living from blogging, travel the world, send kids to school, etc. etc.

Me? I don't write very well. My ideas don't make sense all the time. And maybe that's why I don't earn a lot. I can't handle the job in getting enough traffic. Even I'm really bad about making layouts. But I don't care! There is no pressure in earning money from this nor no pushing to be very famous. This is just for fun!

And so the fun continues and extended to the following people:

• Sam of Nerd is a Compliment
• Shabem of Embrace Simplicity
• Rors of On my Left Hand Corner

Prawns in Tamarind Soup

This is what locals call Sinigang na Hipon. I was not a big fan of this dish because it has that stench of seafood when eaten. However, my sis-in-law, who has been staying with us for a while now, likes this dish very much. To please her, I went to the grocery, bought the ingredients, went home, and cooked my version of it. Actually, I was able to come up with a good way to make the seafood smell and taste fabulously yummy. Try this recipe to find out.


Ingredients:
- 500 grams large prawns
- 1 small-sized onions, chopped
- 2 medium-sized organic tomatoes, chopped
- 1 large-sized gabi, peeled & chopped
- 1 bundle kangkong tops
- 1 bundle sitaw, cut bite-size pieces
- 4 pcs okra, cut into two
- 1 tbsp tamarind powder, dissolved in 2 cups of water
- salt to taste
- 2 tsp vegetable oil

Cooking Procedure:
In a pot, heat the oil to sauté onion and tomatoes. This process will bring up the yummy flavor and aroma of seafood.
Stir in the prawns until it changes color. Pour in tamarind water, then bring to boil. Add in the gabi (taro roots in some culture). Cook for 3 minutes. Add in okra (lady finger) and sitaw (string beans). When the vegetables are almost cooked, stir in kangkong (swamp cabbage). Season with salt. Simmer for some more minutes until cooked.


* This recipe is good for 6 people.
** Also try my version of Adobong Sitaw, which is another Pinoy dish.

Bag Tag

When there is a wallet tag, there should be a bag tag, too!

The rules:
- Post a picture of whatever bag you are carrying as of late. No, you can't go into your closet and pull out your favorite purse! We want to know what you carried today or the last time you left the house.
- List how much it cost. And this is not to judge. This is for entertainment purposes only. So spill it. And if there is a story to go along with how you obtained it, we’d love to hear it.
- Tag some chicks. And link back to this post so people know why the heck you’re showing everyone your bag.


The Bag:
I don't have a Hermes Birkin Bag which is worth a million, or millions, for that matter, like Rufa Mae Quinto, Gretchen Barreto, and Sharon Cuneta. But I have something that I love very much because it is the most expensive yet among my collections.
I made a wish list the October of last year and among the list was an offwhite Guess purse. Unfortunately, when we went to a boutique in Glorietta-Makati last December, the said item was no longer available. And so I ended having this brown Esprit leather purse which Bebeğim bought for exactly P2,498 (still have the receipt..haha).



The contents:
My purse is tiny, but sure, it can carry a lot of things that I need. First, I have here my silver wallet which contains all my IDs, cards, and cash. I also have a brown umbrella to protect myself from the summer sun. I have my kikay kit that contains some make-up, lip gloss, lipstick, foundation, etc. I also have a bunch of keys and a billing statement to be paid before the 20th of this month. Then, I have some facial tissue, mint candy for a quick fresh breath, and a black hair clamp to help me tidy my hair whenever I get uneasy with it. Lastly, I always make sure to carry some source of fragrance with me so I have here my Versace Bright Crystals perfume which is almost empty. This was given to me as a birthday gift by one of my Korean students.

My cellphone is not included in the picture because I am using its camera to take my photos :) Yeah, somebody out there should be buying my dream cybershot camera soon.

---

A special thanks to Chie of Chuchie's Hideaway for allowing me to repost this tag. You're such a sweetheart Chie! Thanks again. I enjoyed this tag very much.

---

I'm passing this tag to the rest of the girls in the blogosphere namely:

• Sam of Nerd is a Compliment
• Sweet Seoul of My Lapland
• Rors of On my Left Hand Corner
• Shy Kulasa of Shie's Asylum
• Czel of Vanity Child
• Michelle of Hits and Mrs
• Lace of Style and Relax
• Moccalyn of Life Spices
• Soapaholic of Confessions of a Soapaholic
• Larla Anne of Larla's World
• Jhaney of My So Called Life

Smart Blogger Award

I am very happy today 'cause I received an award for the first time! So I am giving my gratitude and deep appreciation to Sweet Seoul of My Lapland. Thank you so so much dear sis for giving me this Smart Blogger Award. You know, this is an honor. But I'm afraid that I cannot keep this. I need to share it! The following people deserves the same award, too.

• Sam of Nerd is a Compliment
• Rors of On my Left Hand Corner
• Shabem of Embrace Simplicity
• Czel of Vanity Child
• Michelle of Hits and Mrs
• Lace of Style and Relax
• Chie of Chuchie's Hideaway
• Moccalyn of Life Spices
• Shy Kulasa of Shie's Asylum

Sweet and Sour Tanigue

During the Lenten Season, I mostly cooked fish recipes though I don't consider myself a Catholic. It was more like a choice because all sorts of meat are still available in the market even during the Holy Week. I just considered following the tradition for the sake of my sister-in-law who is a Catholic. Pork is not welcome in our household, anyway.

I got three slices of tanigue in a Walter Mart-Makati last week with the thought of cooking fish afritada. Upon taking it out of the freezer to defrost, I changed my mind and start digging the fridge for some ginger. I decided to cook something that my sis-in-law can enjoy and something that bebeğim haven't tasted yet. Here it is-- the escabeche of Pinoys.

Ingredients:
- 500 grams tanigue slices
- 1 medium carrot, julienned
- 1 green bell pepper, julienned
- 1 red bell pepper, julienned
- small pc of ginger, julienned
- 1 small onion, minced
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp flour
- 2 tbsp sweet & sour banana ketchup
- 1/4 cup water
- vegetable oil for frying and sautéing

Cooking procedure:
Clean the fish. Cut them into cubes. Sprinkle with salt. Fry in a pan until brown. Drain excess oil in a kitchen towel. Set aside. In the same frying pan, sauté garlic, onion, and ginger. Stir in carrot and bell peppers. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, vinegar, water, and ketchup. Pour the mixture into the vegetables. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add flour to thicken the sauce when it boils. Add the fish. Simmer for 5 minutes until done.

* This recipe is good for 6 people.

Musakka

Turkish musakka is mostly composed of vegetables while the Greek version comes with white sauce and cheese. I thought it would be great to have a marriage of two cuisines, so this is like a combination of both.
This recipe requires no amount of oil in cooking most of the main ingredients, which, I think, is very good for health-conscious people. I also used very little amount of meat, but lots of eggplants. For vegetarians, it is best to substitute the ground beef with vegemeat or gluten.
Before posting it here, I had to put this recipe under a test. I took effort in cooking the dish two times and had it tasted by four different people. At first, this was like a vegetable lasagna for me. After my second try, I felt very much like Tonia Buxton boasting a plate of sumptuous snack. This salivating Mediterranean dish is also a very good appetizer. Hope, you guys, will like it!

You will need:
- 4 large eggplants
- 2 large potatoes
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 4 medium tomatoes, chopped finely
- 100 grams ground beef
- 2 tbsp tomato sauce
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- dried basil leaves, diced
- 1 stick of butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup grated regular cheese
- 1 cup grated quickmelt cheese

Preparing the vegetables:
Peel the eggplants. Slice them about 1/3-inch thick. Dehydrate in a non-stick pan until cooked. Set aside.
Peel the potatoes. Slice them about 1/3-inch thick. Hard boil them in a pot. Set aside.

Cooking the meat sauce:
In a hot sauce pan, stir in ground beef and onion until a little brown. Add tomato sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Continue stirring until cooked. Set aside.

Making the Béchamel Sauce:
Melt butter in a saucepan over low fire. Add flour to make a roux. Mix well to avoiding burning. Add milk, dried basil leaves, add grated cheese. Cook for 5 minutes while stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Remove from heat when the sauce thickens.

The final procedure:
Grease a rectangular baking dish with vegetable oil. Layer some slices of eggplant, followed by some potatoes. Cover with meat sauce, followed by white sauce or the béchamel sauce. Repeat the same process with the remaining ingredients, just make sure the top is flat. Finally, top with grated quickmelt cheese. Cover the dish with foil. Bake in the oven at 180°C/350°F for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve with yogurt.


*This recipe is good for 6 people.

Milk Facts from the Milk Expert

Just learned some facts about milk and I think it's a bright idea to share them here. I got it from a flyer inserted in a pack of Nestlé Fresh Milk two weeks ago.
I use fresh milk in making yogurt to compliment dolmas. Fresh milk is a must in my grocery every weekend, and for me, it is very important to get the one of the best quality. I prefer fresh milk to powder milk or chocolate drink. Coffee and tea do not belong in my list of beverages. I usually drink milk in the morning for breakfast. If there's no milk in the fridge, I just gulp some water after a couple of pandesal or two slices of bread. Anyway, here's a tip from the milk expert and some funny jokes, too!

Milk in cartons-- are they all the same?
Reconstituted or Recombined Milk is noy fresh milk. It's liquid milk that is evaporated into milk powder, then water is added to bring it back to its liquid form before packing into a tetra.

UDDERLY FUNNY
1. Where do cows take their mik?
In the calf-eteria

2. What do cows like watching?
Moo-vies

3. What do cows listen to?
Moo-sic

4. What do cows put on their hair?
Moo-se

5. How does a cow say thank you?
Moo-chas gracias

6. What do you call a cow that sits all day and watches TV?
A cow-ch potato

Fried Cheese Sticks

This is not your ordinary cheese sticks because this is of Pinoy style. Yeah, looks can be deceiving. To your eyes, they are like Chinese spring rolls, but once you start munching them, they will remind you of an Italian favorite-- pizza!

Like onion rings, these fried cheese sticks are great as snack or appetizer. Very easy to prepare and requires just a few ingredients.

You will need:
- 20 pcs spring roll (lumpia) wrappers, wraps separated
- 150 grams of your favorite cheese, cut into sticks, 1/3-inch thick
- 1 red bell pepper, cut into sticks, 1/3-inch thick
- 1 cup of water
- vegetable oil for frying

Here's how:
Using a wrapper, roll up a pair of cheese and bell pepper sticks, fold the edge, and seal with water. Repeat the same process to the remaining ingredients.

Heat up the oil in a deep-fryer. Fry the cheese sticks until brown. Remove excess oil with a kitchen towel. Serve.

How to Make Onion Rings the Burger King Style

Though they can be eaten alone as a snack, still the best way to eat onion rings is with burgers or sandwiches. Some fast food restaurants like Burger King sell really yummy onion rings and my family love to enjoy them. To take the same pleasure at home, I decided to cook them myself, so I got two big white onions from the grocery last Tuesday. They were fresh enough for this very simple onion ring recipe.

Ingredients:
- 2 big white onions, cut into 1/4-inch thick, rings separated
- 1 cup of flour, sifted
- 1 cup of breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 cup of milk
- vegetable oil for deep-frying
- salt to taste

Here's how:
Start heating the oil in a deep-fryer. Whisk the combined egg and milk. Dip the onion rings into it. Coat the wet rings with flour. Dip them back into the egg and milk mixture. Coat them with bread crumbs then fry for a couple of minutes. When the rings are already golden brown, remove and drain excess oil through the use of kitchen towels. Repeat the same process with the remaining rings. Seasoning with salt and serve.

After making onion rings, you might want to try another fast food favorite, my holiday chicken roast.

Wallet Tag

I am doing this for the first time in my entire blogging career. This is something inspired by a fellow in the blogosphere who loves tagging so much.

The mechanics of this tag are the ff:
1-) take pictures of your wallet and its content
2-) talk about how you got your wallet and how much you paid for it
3-) enumerate the contents and tell a few things about them
4-) pass this tag to the rest of your friends

Here's my silver Sophie Martin wallet.





I got this from an old officemate who is a dealer of Sophie Martin products last year. I don't remember the exact date, but I remember paying her more or less P650 for it.

The contents of my wallet are the following:

• Makati Univ. ID Card - This was my college ID. Still keeping it as a remembrance.


• Hong Kong Public Library Card - Still keeping it huh?! I worked as a tutor in HK and got this from Causeway Bay Library where I used to borrow books for my students.


• HK ID Card - One can't work in HK without it :)


• M.L. Academy Teacher Card - Yeah. Been teaching in a small academy in Global Taguig.


• MRT Store Value Card - I use this for long trips like going to Trinoma.


• SM Advantage Card - Points.. points.. points!


• Mercury Drug Suki Card


• Pizza Hut Palm Card - Makes me enjoy another pizza for FREE everytime I buy one!


• Timezone Power Card


• HSBC Master Card


• Tong Yang Bank ATM Card


• HSBC Debit Card


• Citibank Master Card


• SSS and Philhealth Insurance Card - Two gov't cards I used in availing maternity benefits.


• Ibay's Silver Shop Privilege Card - Gotta visit my number one silver store soon.


• Slimmer's World Free Diamond Ultrapeel Card - Got this from Cosmopolitan Phils. 10th Anniv Party in Rockwell Tent way back 2007. It's been years and still keepin it. Haha. Blame it on my laziness 'cause I was not able to use it.


• Wallet pictures of me and bebeğim - Old pictures actually. They were taken almost 3 years ago while we were still dating.


• 1 X 1 and passport size IDs - I use them when applying for cable internet, credit card, bank account, passport renewal, etc.


• NBI Clearance - The proof that I don't bite people. Joke! I need a renewal, though.


• Calling card from Dra. Rose Gatmaytan of CaraDERMe - I need to revisit her clinic soon.


• Some P4000++ cash - Gotta stretch it and use card for the meantime. Yay!


• $2 cash - Got this from bebeğim, his excess allowance from a business trip to Korea.

That's all. Hopefully, these guys will like my post and would repost the same tag as I pass it to them:

Sam of Nerd is a Compliment
Chie of Chuchie's Hideaway
Czel of Vanity Child
Michelle of Hits and Mrs
Rors of On my Left Hand Corner

Enjoy!

Garbanzos with Ground Beef in Tomato Sauce

This is not my ordinary beef recipe nor vegetable recipe in tomato sauce. This is not just a bean recipe either, but this is just another Mediterranean dish that I learned through watching too much TV. Turkish people actually call this Kıymalı Nohut. I just had to personalize this recipe by substituting a specific spice with paprika and bay leaves then adding something green to it like celery.

Anyway, I cooked this dish as requested. Just been procrastinating a lot that I did not pay attention right away until I noticed the pack of dried garbanzos, that we got from a local Pakistani shop like two months ago, already aging. So now, for the first time, I pushed myself in cooking it and posting my recipe here.

Ingredients:
- 2 cans of cooked garbanzos*
- 150 grams ground lean beef** (1 cup of sliced gluten for vegetarians)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 6 medium tomatoes, crushed finely
- 3 stems of celery, sliced
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 pcs bay leaves
- 1 cup water

Here's how:
Sauté the onion in a pan until brown followed by ground beef, tomatoes, and celery. Add in the cooked garbanzos, water, tomato sauce, and bay leaves then season with salt, paprika, and black pepper. Continue cooking on medium heat for 10 minutes. When the sauce gets thick, remove from heat then serve with slices of bread.

* Also called chickpeas. If you don't have in cans available, just soak your dried ones overnight then boil it the next day.
** If your beef is not lean, you don't need oil to sauté it.