Parrot on a PorchA Journey Toward the Little Mansion Dream

The recipe books above are my recent additions to my ever growing collection of cookbooks. The recent fascination about collecting such has got to do with the Big Move since, as I’ve shared long before, that I’m not a good cook. We will be on our own soon (meaning no MIL or a house maid to cook for us) so there’s no other better way to prepare myself for this challenge than to collect and compile recipes from all resources I could get hold.

It is also in this light why I put up a food blog a few months ago so I’ll have an online venue for my kitchen chronicles – all those adventures and even the misadventures I’ll be faced. For now, I have linked in there a few Quick easy dinner recipes which will be my very first undertaking in my pursuit to become the Queen of the Kitchen. Most of these recipes include the common native dishes that my boys’ palates totally adore like Sinigang, Paksiw and Sinampalukan for the little boy and Nilaga for the big boss. (Take note how their taste buds differ). I have also already compiled a few pasta dishes (for me) like variants of spaghetti and a carbonara recipe which has become a holiday staple for us.

I’ve always been wishing to attend culinary schooling to improve and further my newbie cooking skills but unfortunately, I don’t have that much money to splurge for such formal cooking studies. I heard that a year’s tuition in ICA’s about Php 300,000. I can’t afford that much so I’ll just wait and rely on free cooking demos sponsored by big time brands like Nestle and Del Monte, if ever there will be. I have also signed up to their cooking clubs where they send out newsletters, freebies and free recipes via mail. So if in case cooking demos won’t be available, I’ll just explore in my own turf and stage my own cooking demo.

How would you want to have this space-saving and functional ironing board in your pad?

It functions as a mirror when the board’s upright then as an ironing board (fondly coined as “kabayo” locally) with a lamp on the side when the board is opened.

Designed by Nils Wodzak, this Mirror Ironing Board Closet is manufactured by Konzept Design from Germany. The price ranges from €200 to €300 (about Php 12500-19000).

Along with our house hunt, I am also taking baby steps towards realizing that dream house by searching for home ideas like interiors, furniture and other home inspirations through interior design and architecture blogs and sites on the web. For example, take a look at these kitchen design concepts. Aren’t they impressive?

Okay, I have a confession to make.

I like cooking.

BUT I like and find joy MORE in eating than cooking. LOL.

I guess this is a drawback if you grew up with a household help. Added to that, we grew up without a mom by our side – there’s no one to teach us home economics. My siblings and I aren’t that quite accustomed with kitchen utensils. Likewise here in my in-laws’ house, we’ve got someone who does the cooking.

Of course, somehow, I know the basics of cooking like how to fry and how to cook rice the traditional way (the term “gatang” and measuring through the lines in the fingers and all). I also know some basic cooking terms –thanks to our Cooking class way back High School years. But ask if I know how to cook the common Pinoy viands like adobo, sinigang, nilaga..niyahaha! I’m shamefaced. I really love to learn how to do it but sometimes too much online works and babysitting tasks get in the way before lunch time that I barely have time to do it. Further, I have tried several recipes before (weeks after getting married), with my fave cookbooks as my guide, that I even blogged about my own cooked meals. So don’t think that I am that totally idiotic about cooking. There’s my Pineapple Meatloaf, Chili Wings, Hot Burgers, Leftover Fried Rice, Pork Pina Humba (the husband’s favorite), Coleslaw, Pina Bistek and Breaded Pork Chops.

Here’s even my own Carbonara that I cooked for our Christmas eve last December. This is the only recipe that I know by heart. Naks!

On a brighter note, I just have started my own food blog entitled, Cook and Brew so hopefully, it will prompt me to get into some cooking groove.

AND, I promised and I don’t have a choice either, that come the time when we’ll be on our own, there’s no one to cook but me.