White Pasta

We copied the pasta night tradition from the movie Hancock. Instead of Wednesday though, we have it on Thursday. We alternate tomato sauce and white sauce.

This is one of the variations of white pasta. When I say variations, I meant the pasta that we use - spaghetti, spirals, penne, etc. They are gluten free - obviously from a packet. The sauces are store bought too. We are not fussy. The constants? Heaps and heaps of grated veggies - mushrooms, carrots, zucchinis, onions, garlic, capsicums, celery, spinach. Plus different spices. We use diced ham or bacon for meat. 

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New Recipe for Steak Dinner

I saw a recipe in Facebook - you know those time-lapse videos that just pop-up on your feed - for cooking steak. And I thought, it was easy (a part of it anyway) and we are due for a new recipe.

Wednesday night is steak night at home - may it be pork, beef or lamb chops (I categorise lamb chops as steak - don't argue).  This means easy night.  We sometimes have steam frozen veggies or with baked beans and eggs.  Easy peasy.

So the new recipe?  As I have said, I didn't use all of it.  The steak was supposedly baked but I can't be bothered for that.  I mainly copy the making of the juice - butter, garlic and rosemary (even the rosemary is dried not fresh - but we make do). I made the sauce/juice separately and bathed the steak when they were cooked.  Cook the steak as you like.  And ta da!  It actually turned out great.

I took time to search for the actual recipe and I think, this is it.

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It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

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Omega 3

Being Filipina, I eat almost any fish. I am not quite selective with how it is prepared – with bones or without bones. The only thing that I don’t like about it when it is in a soup – but there are fish soup that I like so really, it comes down to taste. But living with my husband who’s an Aussie through and through and maybe a bit spoiled, he will only eat fish prepared without bones. He said that he wants his food hassle free – he doesn’t want to pick. I’m really the complete opposite as I want mine with a bit of bone that I can pick around or with crispy bones. But, each to his own.

As the type of fish, we mainly preferred snapper. It has a mild flavour. But in Easter this year, I decided to re-introduce salmon to my family. Mcj always said that it is an acquired taste as salmon has strong flavours. I like it myself but I can’t serve food that is not liked by everybody at home. This time though, it was a hit. I cooked it very simply, shallow fried – skin crispy. Of course, well seasoned. I have an assistant who does all that.

So now, salmon is one of the fish meals in our weekly menu. I hope we don’t get tired of it. I was told, one slice is more than enough as it is filling. Now, I’m on the hunt for appropriate side dishes (aside from researching for guitar acoustic at guitarcenter.com). I was told, peas are good with it. But what else? Any idea?

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It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

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Heart Smart

Mcj was called to the GP's office unexpectedly last Sunday though he was scheduled for an appointment two weeks away.  Why, you ask.  The results of his blood/urine tests weren't good.  He had very high sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.  He had high risk of developing pancreatitis.  News that we are not happy about but are we not glad that he went to have those tests without prompting.  They were not planned at all.  He was at the doctor for a different reason and it's another story. 

We are taking this news in stride.  We fairly eat a healthy meal and I suppose, it wasn't enough.  Mcj had to give up sugar for his coffee, so he's using stevia.  We are on low carbs diet - less bread, less potatoes, no sweets and smaller portions.  Meat has to be heart smart.  Mcj is really being good with all of this.  I can say that I am being a police and control freak with implementing a very strict diet - but I am just being very supportive.  I think we all deserve a pat on the back for implementing dramatic changes with our lifestyle.  What do you think of a class ring at JoyJewelers.com?  I'd love one please.   

I'll be documenting our journey to our healthier meals and improved lifestyle.

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It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

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Zika Virus

So, I just heard about this virus last week from MCJ yet, it has been a pandemic in South America and the USA.  I have not seen it on the news yet.  Why, I am really curious.

So, I read about it this morning.  It is a disease being transmitted by mosquitoes that go around during the day.  It is a different species than those causing Dengue fever.  The first case was noted in the 1950’s somewhere in Africa.  In the past, it was noted to be occurring mostly in the area near the equator belt.  The name is an African term, if I remember it right, that means “overgrown”.  It could be that this disease originated in the forest.

This disease can be spread by humans sexually.  The first case was noted in the USA somewhere in Texas when a biologist, who’s been studying mosquitoes overseas had unprotected sex with his wife before he was diagnosed to be carrying the virus. His wife then showed signs and symptoms of the virus.  It seems that the symptoms are not that dire for an adult person but the virus can cross the placenta barrier and can cause harm on foetus.  Babies who are infected by this disease can have cephalic tendencies.  Mothers who have Zika virus can transmit it to their babies. 

Cases have been noted in Brazil recently and has been reported than one percent of babies born bear the sign of this disease. 

This is a very alarming news indeed.  Now onto some light stuff – what do you think of frailing?

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It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

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Weekend Lunch

Well, I admit that we have been naughty on the weekends.  We have Maccas for lunch or lunches.  It's just so easy to duck down to Maccas when you are tired from grocery shopping, putting them away and doing laundry.  Maccas is not even 5 minutes drive away.

But really, how hard can it be to buy something while grocery shopping?  Something that is a quick fix?  Well, not really.  Last weekend, I did a quick pasta with tuna sauce.  It's not somethign to rave about but edible and healthy.  Plus it's filling.  What more can you ask for?  It's not like I'm asking for a chameleon tank.

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It's All About What's In Down Under | Permanence in Change | I Am A Shoeaholic | A Juggling Act | Healthy Living | The Life of a Tatapilla | What's reel and real?

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Caged, Barn-Laid or Free Range

Yes, I am talking about eggs of course.  

Around lunch time in our kitchen at work (we call it Clear Cafe), my colleague talked about food (what else would you talk about when in the kitchen).  I can't even remember what particular topic we were discussing but it just led to eggs.  And I said that when I eat eggs I have to not think about the state of the chickens that laid them.  I was asked what type of eggs I am buying.  See, I have been buying caged eggs forever.  I have not really thought about the type.  I assumed the household from my MIL and I didn't do any analysis of groceries that we buy.  It's a routine and always on the list.  My bad.

I learned then that caged eggs were laid by chickens that are cooped-up in a very cramped condition.  A small coop and there are three of them.  I am not even sure if they can move.  All they do all day, I suppose is to lay eggs when they can.  Which is really sad.  

Growing up in the Philippines and even not in a farm, we only ever had eggs from free range chickens.  That was then. Now, my Nanay buys eggs from the market and I think they are caged eggs.  

So, with everything that I have learned so far, I started buying barn-laid eggs.  I suppose, they are better than caged.  We have friends who have chooks and theirs are in a coop.  Can't have free-ranged chooks as they get to the neighbours.

I am sure there are nutritional benefits in eating non-caged eggs but my focus really is the condition of the chickens that laid them.  And I suppose when these chickens are too old to lay eggs, wait, do they get to that stage?  I don't really know but I assume they do.  And when they are, they get slaughtered to be one of those chicken breasts that we buy at the shops.  Sad and tragic really. 

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Double-Egg Yolk

So while we are in the topic of eggs, I am always amazed when I get double egg-yolk in eggs.  I suppose it's no different from having twins in human.  They're just double embryo.  But to see those yolks in the pan is different.  It's amazing that the eggs are just as big as the single embryo.

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Protein Night

This is one of our menu when it's protein night at home.  Aside from it's easy to make, it's not my dish so I don't have to cook it. Happy me.

At least once a week, we either have rib-eye steak (the sort that you buy from the super market only, not the premium cut) or lamb chops.

This is a favourite at home by the way. 

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Lasagne

One of my family's favourite meal is lasagnia.  Well, I'm sure every likes it too.  What not to like, as Joey would say.  Meat, yum.  Cheese, yum.  More meat, yum!

But I actually have not tried making one yet.  I am not sure that I can do it as good as the Sara Lee that we bought.  I can cook but an average one.  Not my talent, I suppose.  We're happy with something from a box and I believe it's one of our favourites because of the taste.  Lol.

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