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Lemon Bars (circle for us)

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“I want some pie” … it has been weeks and I just ignored V’s request. Tonight I was craving for something with lemon. Lemon Squares!
This squares were my favorite when I was still pregnant with V. Ohh and you may have notice from the photos that what we did was more of a pie since we use a round pan (my square pan had rust in them that’s why).
Back home in the Philippines I didn’t use lemon to make this tarty treat instead I used calamansi which produce almost similar taste to lemon.
I got this recipe from JoyOfBaking but I added a little bit more sugar to the filling.
Lemon Squares
source: JoyOfBaking
Crust:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
1 cup all purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
Lemon Filling:
1 cup granulated white sugar
2 large eggs
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoons grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons all purpose flour

Garnish:
Confectioner’s sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place the oven rack in the center of the oven. Butter, or spray with a non stick vegetable spray, an 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) pan
Crust: In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until creamy and smooth. Add the flour and salt and beat until the dough just starts to come together. Press onto the bottom of your prepared pan and bake for about 18 – 20 minutes, or just until lightly brown around the edges. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool while you make the filling.
Lemon Filling: In your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the sugar and eggs until nice and smooth. Add the lemon juice and zest and stir to combine. Fold in the flour. Pour the filling over the shortbread crust and bake for about 17-20 minutes, or just until the filling has set. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.
Cut into squares and dust with powdered sugar. These are best eaten the day they are made but can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for a day or two.

Learning to cook once again.

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I’ve always loved cooking though I’m not an excellent cook I try my best to learn everyday by reading, watching videos, and series like MasterChef (currently we are learning from kids of Junior Masterchef Australia). If you haven’t seen one episode go and look for one for sure you’d be challenge to enjoy and learn cooking.

I started my kitchen adventure at a young age always task to first get the ingredients, then promoted to cutting, measuring and finally preparing a food all by myself.

My first big baking event was on my Lola Mering’s 80th birthday. With the help of my mom and sister we baked 5 dozen each of brownies and chocolate chip cookies both recipe’s I got from a Hershey’s cookbook which I borrowed from an officemate. It was a hit! All of the guests asks to bring some baked goodies home.

Years passed…I have a family of my own and now living far away from home. Cooking is now part of my daily routine. Everyday I try my best to prepare healthy yummy meals for my two boys.

Thankful for food blogs (you will see a list of blogs I visit on the right) I am slowly learning.
From this day onwards I will try my best to share our kitchen adventures.

Stay at Home Mom not an easy job after all.

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Deciding to quit my corporate job 2 years ago was an easy decision. I want to Vierte to grow up with his Dad around and I don’t want to continue having to worry about unanswered calls and messages. Friends would say that I will have sort of an easy life being out of the busy life of an 8hr job. I thought so too…but boy they were wrong! Days come and go and I would think that I have not accomplished much and definitely a few “me” time that would most often times lead to an hour or so of drama.

My housework starts at…
 530am – prepare breakfast and packed lunch
 630am – have lovely breakfast chat with C
 700am – clean up kitchen, C off to work
 800am – house cleaning (if V’s still asleep)
 900am – V have his breakfast
1000am – get back to cleaning while V watches his cartoons
1100am – V bath time, playtime with him, read books
1200pm – prepare lunch (V and I usually have left over meat and grilled veggies)
0100pm – clean kitchen, clean bathroom and bath time for me
0200pm – some tv time with V while surfing the net
0300pm – worksheet with V and nap time for him after
0400pm – start prepraring food for dinner
0500pm – cook dinner
0600pm – dinner time and C is back from work
0700pm – clean kitchen
0800pm – movie time / jog at the park
0900pm – movie time
1100pm – sleep time

that consists my daily life and soon it will change when V starts school. I am continously working on my time management skills and most of my “me time” happens inside the bathroom. And ohh btw surfing the net time happens in between housework like now I’m writing while giving V his breakfast.

Am I still happy with the decision I made 2yrs ago? YES I am! Housework may not give me a fix income but having to see my V grow up infront of me every second of the day is truly rewarding.

So being a stay at home mom is no easy job after all. I salute mom’s who can manage corporate and house work all together!

F is Football

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We love Decathlon at Mirdiff City Centre!

Kids get to play. Staff are really nice. Lots of choices and a spacious area.

Vierte has a ball collection (we would always leave a sports store with a ball or two) which started when we arrive here in Dubai.

And so we left decathlon with a bag of football goodies for V! and he insisted we go to the park and so he could wear his uniform.

The BIG LIST

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Earthquakes, floods, and other disasters can seriously disrupt normal life. Services may not be available, transportation may be cut off and roads may be blocked. In some cases, you may be forced to evacuate. Be ready to respond to any situation by assembling and maintaining a Disaster Supplies Kit.

Water
Plan on one gallon of water per person per day. Store water in plastic containers such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that will decompose or break, such as mason jars or glass bottles. Use water for health.

Because water is so important to human survival, it should never be withheld. Drink at least two quarts per day, as long as supplies last, and look for alternative sources.
Food
Store at least a three-day supply of no-perishable food. Choose foods that require no refrigeration, cooking, or preparation and are compact and lightweight. If food must be cooked, include a can of sterno.

Food suggestions:

  • Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
  • Canned juices, milk, soup (if powdered, store extra water)
  • Staples-sugar, salt, pepper
  • High energy foods-peanut butter, jelly, crackers, nuts, health food bars, trail mix.
  • Comfort stress foods-cookies, hard candy, sweetened cereals.
  • Vitamins

Container
Store the supplies in an easy-to-carry object such as a large, covered trash container, camping backpack, or a duffel bag.

First Aid Kits Have two first aid kits. Keep a complete first aid kit in your home and car.


Items to include:

  • Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
  • 2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)
  • 4-inch gauze pads
  • Hypoallergenic adhesive tape
  • Triangular bandages (3)
  • 2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)
  • 3-inch sterile roller bandages
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Needles
  • Moistened towelettes
  • Antiseptic
  • Thermometer
  • Tongue blades (2)
  • Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricant
  • Assorted sizes of safety pins
  • Cleansing agent-soap
  • Latex gloves (2 pair)
  • Sunscreen
  • Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
  • Anti-diarrhea medication
  • Antacid (for upset stomach)
  • Syrup of Ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center)
  • Laxative
  • Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)

Contact your local Red Cross chapter to obtain a basic first aid textbook.

Supplies and Tools
 Clothing and Bedding

  • Include at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.
  • Sturdy shoes or work boots
  • Rain gear
  • One blanket or sleeping bag per person
  • Hat and gloves
  • Thermal underwear
  • Sunglasses

Sanitation

  • Toilet paper, towelettes
  • Soap, liquid detergent
  • Feminine supplies
  • Personal items-shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, comb and brush, lip balm.
  • Small shovel, for digging and expedient latrine
  • Plastic garbage bag and ties
  • Plastic bucket with tight lid
  • Disinfectant
  • Household chlorine bleach

Special Items
Include items for household members with special needs, such as infants, elderly, or disabled individuals.

Babies
Formula
Diapers
Bottles
Powdered Milk
Medications

Elderly people
Heart and high blood pressure medication
Insulin
Prescription drugs
Denture needs

Favorite entertainment items
Coloring books and crayons
Games
Books

Important Documents
Keep these records in a waterproof container.

  • Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds.
  • Passports, social security cards, immunization records
  • Savings and checking account numbers
  • Credit card account numbers and companies
  • Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
  • Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

Storage Suggestions
Store the kit in a safe, convenient place known to all family members. If possible, it should be a cool, dry, dark location. Keep a smaller version of your Disaster Supplies Kit in the trunk of your car. Keep items, or groups of items, in water-proof and air tight plastic bags. Change the water supply every six months so it stays fresh. Rotate the food every six months. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about the proper procedure for storing prescription medications. Replace batteries often.

*reBlogged from DivineMLee

  

Preparing for KG

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Vierte will be attending KG class this September and slowly we are preparing him to be on his own.

Last month we bought him a toddler car seat and convinced him that Mom stays with Daddy on the front seat while he’s at the back. He’s ok with it as long as we have tv monitor on and water on the side.

Kumon maze and some worksheets. I’ve found several sites which allows me to print worksheets on tracing lines. Now he knows how to hold a pencil. We are doing 2 worksheets daily.

Today is a gift that’s why it’s called Present.

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This morning after doing some house chores a sad news from my sister Badet and cousin Ate Cristy greeted me online.

“Ate, si Uncle Jun patay na”
“Gail did you hear the news Uncle Jun left us na”

I didn’t know how to react. Just last week I saw and read some of his posts in facebook. Uncle Jun (Tarcs to his friends) has a gift in writing. In his blog you’d learn a lot from his entries.

My Papa stayed with Uncle Jun’s family and Papa became their Kuya. My first OJT was with him. I was with him during his stay at Makati Med for his first heart operation. We last saw each other when he went to Dubai for a business trip (sadly we didnt have any pictures taken) this is also the time that he told me of his plans to volunteer and made me promise not to spread this plan to the family. In one of his office he had a big poster of Judy Ann Santos which kept him amused. For the last month he posted old photos of the family remembering each event. I guess it was a sign of him saying goodbye and reminding us how important family is.

I know Uncle is happier now with his dad, lola Kaye, Auntie Grace, and Papa. I will forever miss you Uncle Jun.