Lemon Pudding

lemon pudding

(serves six)

I love the soft lemony custard on the bottom and sponge cake texture on top. Watch that it doesn't get too brown.

2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 tablespoons flour
7/8 cup sugar
1 1/3 cup lemon juice
3 eggs, separated
Grated rind of 1 lemon
1 cup milk
Heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350F. Beat the butter until soft, then gradually add the sugar, beating until it is all incorporated. Beat in the egg yolks one by one. Add the milk, flour, lemon juice, and rind, and beat to mix well, although the mixture will have a curdled look. Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks, then fold into the batter. Turn into a 1 1/2-quart baking dish and set it in a pan of hot water that comes halfway up the sides of the dish. Bake for 50-60 minutes. Let cool and serve either tepid or chilled, with a pitcher of heavy cream.

Wordless Wednesday

My friend Mira and her son M.

(Edited in CS4, turning a new photo into an old photo)

A Special Weekend

Today is my dear husband's birthday. How old? Well, old enough to stretch my patience some more. We went out yesterday for lunch at Chili's. My husband is very supportive of my photography hobby but he doesn't want me taking pictures in restaurants. So when he and my son went to the men's bathroom I snapped a picture of our table hastily, I didn't even had the chance to check how it came out. My husband and I had the Fajita Trio and my son ditched the kid's menu for a Crispy Chicken Crisper Tacos.

After our lunch we headed to Barnes and Noble which is located next to the restaurant. My son is into origami so we got him some kits and more books to read. How I wish they have some bean bag chairs but my son said he loves sitting on the floor.

The Quadrangle

It's very convenient to visit the Springfield Museums. When you have kids with you the last thing you want to do is drive or walk several blocks to see all the musuems. The Springfield Museums is composed of six museums and coming soon is the Museum of Springfield History. All these museums are located close to each other in The Quadrangle.

The Quadrangle

George Walter Vincent Art Musuem (left), Springfield City Library (right)

Pan-Fried Chicken

pan-fried chicken(serves four)

2 1/2-3-pound chicken, in 8 pieces

Milk

3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Oil for frying

Wash and dry the chicken pieces. Place them snugly together in one layer in a shallow dish. Pour on milk to cover, and soak 1 hour, turning once. Mix the flour, salt, and pepper on a piece of wax paper or in a paper bag. Remove chicken from the milk and roll it in the seasoned flour or shake vigorously in the paper bag. Pour oil into a large skillet to a depth of 1/2 inch. Heat until a small cube of bread browns in 60 seconds or a frying thermometer registers 365F. Put the dark meat into the pan first, adding the white meat 5 minutes later. Do not crowd the chicken; if necessary, cook in two batches. Fry about 20-30 minutes, turning often with a pair of tongs. Remove, drain on paper towel and serve warm.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm learning. First picture is a self portrait. Second picture is cute K.

Too Busy

I can't think of a word to describe how hectic my life is. I haven't failed to amaze myself how I've managed to do everything - family, work, and school. My social life is in the backseat, well, it's always been that way anyways but so much so now that I'm in school. I love being with my friends but whatever idle time I have (which happens very rarely) I spend it in catching up with my homework.

I was too caught up with a lot of things that I almost forgot it's our spring break this week. Thanks to my husband for reminding me that I don't have to go to school this coming Saturday and that means I don't have to wake up extra early.

I'd like to take this chance to thank Carlota for my blog's new look. She's been very patient with me and I love her easy instructions. Easy does it, right? I learned that she's also learning how to apply textures in photos so it makes two of us. I just really need the time to sit down and learn what I can and hopefully it will happen soon.

Stuffed

I met a friend today after my class. She picked me up in school and we went straight to a Chinese restaurant. It's been a while since the last we saw each other so it was very nice seeing her again. We talked about so many things but mostly about driving. She got her driver's license almost a year now and she's encouraging me to get my own. Maybe I will do it if I can overcome my fear of driving. We talked a lot we didn't notice we're already on our third plate. It definitely ruined my diet so I told her I'm not eating dinner at all today. After we had our desserts and paid the bill we hurriedly left the restaurant to avoid having a second plate of the dessert. I really need to use the stationary bike, the only fitness equipment we have at home. I feel so stuffed I needed some fresh air.

Chicken Carbonara

I first tried Chicken Carbonara during a party at Mira's house. I was helping her prepare the ingredients and in my mind I knew I wanted to try it myself. This recipe is easy to make and I've done this three times already.

chicken carbonara (6 main-course servings)
2 teaspoons olive oil4 ounces thinly sliced pancetta or bacon, chopped2 1/2 cups whipping cream1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese8 large egg yolks1/4 cup chopped fresh basil1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley2 teaspoons minced garlic4 cups coarsely shredded chicken (from 1 roasted chicken)salt1 pound spaghettifreshly ground black pepper1/2 cup toasted walnuts, chopped1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest

Heat the oil in a large, heavy frying pan over medium heat. Add the pancetta and saute until it is brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Cool until lukewarm. Whisk in the cream, cheese, yolks, basil, parsley, and garlic. Stir in the chicken.

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook, stirring often to prevent the pasta from sticking together, until tender but still firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain.

Add the spaghetti to the cream mixture and toss over medium-low heat until the chicken is heated through and the sauce coats the spaghetti thickly, about 4 minutes (do not boil). Season the pasta to taste with pepper.

Transfer the pasta to a large, wide serving bowl. Sprinkle with the walnuts and lemon zest, and serve.

Plan Your Summer Activities Now

We're pretty much booked this summer. My family enjoys going out on trips - near or far. We seize every opportunity that we can spend together as a family. There are lots of beautiful places to see and explore in Massachusetts. During my son's February vacation we went to Springfield and visited their museums. The first museum we visited was the Springfield Science Museum which has the following exhibits:

-Dinosaur Hall with a full-size replica of Tyrannosaurus rex
-R. E. Phelon African Hall with a huge African elephant, a giraffe, two lions, an ostrich, a rhino and many other animals. African Hall also offers a glimpse into the way of life of several traditional African cultures
-Solutia Live Animal Center with live fish, insects, reptiles and amphibians in realistic habitats
-Seymour Planetarium where you can take imaginary voyages to the farthest corners of the universe
-Astronomy Hall where you can touch rocks from outer space
-Native American Hall where you’ll see how New England Indians used to live

We'll probably visit this museum again when my cousin makes her stop here in Massachusetts next month. She'll visit South Carolina first and she's looking forward to enjoying her room at the Westgate Myrtle Beach and of course the sun and sand at Myrtle Beach.

Summer Trip

Have you already started planning your summer trip? As for me I'm torn between Las Vegas and New Jersey. I have to make my final decision soon so I can start planning everything such as places to see and where to stay. My husband has been to Las Vegas a few times before we got married and he has told me about how amazing the city is - the lights, sounds, attractions and not to mention shopping. I tried to check vegasvacationstore.com to see what they have to offer for Vegas vacations. They're offering 3 days/2 nights at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino for only $149/night. I'll definitely book this offer should we choose Las Vegas. My son prefers to see New Jersey because he wants to go on a safari at Six Flags and also see Miranda Cosgrove and Raven Symone in concert. Knowing how influential my son is in our family I can already tell where we're going this summer.

Wordless Wednesday

Mystic Seaport - Mystic, Connecticut

More Basketball Hall of Fame Pictures

Aside from being well-known for smoking a cigar when victory is coming, Red Auerbach is known in the world of professional sports for winning 938 games until his retirement. Auerbach was with the Celtics from 1950-2006. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.

As a Filipino, I'm proud of the fact that the Philippines is the home of the second oldest professional basketball league, the Philippine Basketball Association.

The Basketball Hall of Fame also displays trophies from various championships won by different teams.

I think the Basketball Hall of Fame is a mecca for all basketball fans. I'm glad that we visited the museum, it has made me appreciate basketball more in a deeper sense and I gained more knowledge about the sport.

Vinyl Is A Beautiful Thing

I can't wait for the day to come when we buy our own house. The housing market is favorable for home buyers but I don't want to make haste. I've been saving pictures of houses that I see online or in magazines so my husband can get the idea of the kind of house that I want. I just want a simple house but very functional. I want a huge kitchen, a big living room, and yes, a pvc fence. I want a huge kitchen because I want to be able to move freely when I'm cooking. I want a big living room because I want to have enough space for our guests especially during special gatherings. I know I want a pvc fence because it's more economical compared to wood. I've done a lot of research on this matter and I learned that a lot of homeowners have converted to pvc fence because it's low maintenance among other things. I did a free pvc fence installation quote at fencequotes.com and there are three suppliers in our area. I have plenty of time to think about this and hopefully we'll get our money's worth.

An UGG For Me

I have finally decided that I'll get myself a new pair of UGG Australia boots. I've been holding off because I was thinking that I could use the money more responsibly. Well, this winter I've been complaining a lot about my sneakers that have no good traction and if not for my good balance I think I've broken my hips already.

I used to shop at a different online shoe store until they stopped their free shipping. I spent a good amount of time today looking for a new online shoe store and I found footwearetc.com and I was so happy to know that they offer free shipping on US orders over $60. My instant favorite is the UGG Australia Women's Classic Tall - Chocolate Sheepskin and based on the customer reviews I'm sure I'm gonna love it.

The Greatest Basketball Player Of All Times

I'm fortunate to be working with a man who has witnessed everything in basketball. I trust his opinion in the sport so I asked him who does he think is the greatest basketball player of all times. His answer was Bill Russell, one of the best defensive players in the NBA history. I think Russell's basketball accomplishments say it all - 11 championships during his thirteenth-year career. Just think about it, Russell has more rings than his fingers can accommodate. In 1996, Russell was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. He played center for the Boston Celtics from 1956-1969. Russell is the first African-American coach in the NBA when Red Auerbach named him as his successor.

Determined to Lose Weight

I've never been so determined in losing weight than I am now. We're not talking about losing two or three pounds, we're talking about losing 43 pounds. I can't believe that's how much weight I've gained within five years. Some people have a hard time believing that I'm overweight (my head spins when I use the word 'obese') because of my small frame. I used to get my clothes from the children's department but it's not happening now.

I have decided to lose weight with the help of a weight loss pill. I just started taking them a week ago but I can already notice the result. I feel lighter but the sad part is I can't have any more coffee since it's one of the restrictions. I also increased my intake of water which is around 2,100ml/day. It's not easy losing weight as you can tell.

If you're thinking of taking a weight loss pill you can check out getdietsolutions.com. They feature only the best in the market and it's a big help for those who are still undecided what weight loss pills to use.

Tortelloni with Creamy Tomato Sauce

My love for Italian foods was acquired being married to an Italian. I have learned to cook family favorite Italian foods and most of them are easy. For today's edition of L's Kitchen, I'd like to share with you a recipe called tortelloni with creamy tomato sauce by Giada de Laurentiis.

tortelloni with creamy tomato sauce
(6 main-course servings)

salt
1 1/2 pounds fresh or frozen, thawed tortelloni or spinach ravioli
2 teaspoons extra-virgin oil
1 cup quick marinara sauce
1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh basil

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the tortelloni and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite, about 5 minutes. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking water, and toss the tortelloni with the oil in a large bowl to coat.

Meanwhile, bring the marinara sauce to a simmer in a medium , heavy saucepan over medium heat, whisking often. Whisk in the ricotta and enough reserved cooking water to thin the sauce to a desired consistency. Return the sauce to a simmer and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Spoon 3 tablespoons of sauce over the bottom of each of 6 bowls. Arrange the tortelloni over the sauce, then drizzle the remaining sauce over the tortelloni. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese, then basil, and serve.

Wordless Wednesday - The Flamingos