.pork chops.

My next cooking exploration: pork chops in cream of mushroom sauce. It's Sunday, so I figured I should cook something instead of ordering in (especially since we did that last night). So, I decided to try something new and different. Its kind of a combined recipe that I tried and put together in the hopes of tasting good. yikes!

So, lets start.

Ingredients:
- 4 bone-in pork chops, 1/2-inch thick
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (but I like to use Pam spray)
- 1 can of cream of mushroom soup
- 1/2 cup milk
- salt & pepper



Instructions:
- Start by heating up the oil/Pam spray on medium to high heat.
- Season the pork chops with salt and pepper while the oil is being heated.
- Rub in the salt and pepper with your hands, so it is seasoned thoroughly
- Add the pork chop
- Cook until the chops are brown on both sides
- Remove the pork chops from the pan and set them aside


- Add the soup and milk to the pan
- Stir and heat to a boil
- When it boils, put the pork chops back in the pan and reduce the heat to low
- Cover and cook for 5-10 minutes or until the chops are fully cooked through

And TADA! Pork chops in cream of mushroom sauce. Now you can eat with rice or noodles. I prefer rice. It was actually very good. And that's not just coming from me, but the hubby also said it... I swear. Enjoy!

.id4.

I came out of the PATH train and went to the parking lot for my car and saw this! This completely freaked me out. It looked like the end of the world was approaching. It reminded me of that Will Smith movie, Independence Day and how the aliens were going to invade earth. I just had to take a picture of it because you don't normally see the sky like this. That's all.

.nilagang baka.

I am going to try to make nilagang baka or beef nilaga (boiled beef) today. I think it is the most simplest Filipino dish to ever make, but I have never tried making it in my life. I've made a bunch of other Filipino dishes (that are much more complex) but yet have not attempted to make this one. I think it's just one of those things where something is so easy, but so intimidating at the same time. This dish reminds me so much of my childhood that I don't want to ruin the memory of it by making something sub par. But I'll get over it and give it a whirl. Now, lets just hope it comes out just how I remembered it...time to venture into the world of making Nilaga. Ha!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Okay, so my intention was to take a picture throughout each step of the way. But of course, as soon as I got home, I was excited to get started and completely forgot. By the time I remembered to take a picture, I had already sauteed the garlic and onions. And had already added the beef, seasoning, and water. So, it looked like this... so far.

I also already cut up all the potatoes and bok choy. So it's all in a bowl like this below. It would've been better if I remembered to take a picture as I cut each ingredient up... But oh well. Hey, like I said, this is my first blog and I'm not really used to the whole process as of yet. But I'm slowly learning.

I've been simmering the nilaga now for about an hour and I'm just getting really impatient. But I definitely don't want to under cook it cause then the meat will be very tough and I know I'm not going to want to eat it. So, I guess I'll have to wait :/

An hour and half (or so) later, the meat is nice and tender. I added more salt and pepper and a little bit more fish sauce. Now its time to add my potatoes . I have to let the potatoes cook through. As soon as it is tender, I am adding the bok choy. I have to let the bok choy cook through, but not too long, so it doesn't get soggy. You definitely don't want to eat soggy bok choy. (But the again the meal is pretty soupy, so you can't really prevent it from getting soggy. But at least not super soggy.)


Few minutes later and now the Nilaga is ready to eat! I'm very excited to try my first ever Beef Nilaga. I hope it's just as good as I remember it from my childhood.

I make a nice plate of nilaga with rice and I am good to go! It tastes just like home.
I am very excited that I was able to replicate my family's beef nilaga. It definitely is one of the most easiest meals to make. And I'm glad I finally made it. Hope the hubby likes it :)






Now, what will I make next?

.my golden ticket.

I was watching the movie, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory last night and realized that I want a golden ticket too! That one little ticket brought Charlie to this whole new place that any kid (or adult- me!) would love to go to. Anything and everything can happen in Willy Wonka's factory. I thought that was so cool. BTW - I've seen this movie a million times, so its definitely not something new to me. :)

I just really liked all the different inventions that they had and everything was new and unique. Who wouldn't want a hen that lays a golden egg? Or a fizzy drink that makes you fly? C'mon now! That's awesome.

But I guess that really can't happen in the real world. Boooo to the real world. We all have our own versions of our golden ticket that may bring us to our own special world. I guess my golden tickets are my MTA and PATH cards. Those cards bring me to my own version of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory. The factory of life. Haha. That just sounds so profound (well, not really).


When I took a picture of this the other day, I knew I wanted to blog about it. And how we use these cards on a regular to get to and from work, home, school, events, and etc. But then I saw Willy Wonka on last night and it clicked. These really are my golden tickets.

.happy 10th anniversary dora.

We recently celebrated Dora the Explorer's 10th anniversary with a big party at the Central Park Boathouse. What an amazing experience! I'm not just talking about the party, but also the 8 years that I have worked with the company. I have been blessed to have this opportunity to work with an incredible production team. It may seem I am just gloating about my job, but in all seriousness, I sincerely love my job and look forward to going every morning. It may sound cheesy, but it is surprisingly the truth. Here's to another 10 years!

.a whole new world.

To be honest, I began to think about starting a blog on my way home from work yesterday. As I walked through the streets of Times Square, I actually looked up. I never ever stop to look at the buildings and see what the big deal is. Why are tourists always stopping in the middle of the street and sidewalk to look up and take pictures? They are just lights and buildings! But yesterday, I did it, just like a tourist and realized that I am surrounded by so many beautiful things. Things such as buildings, cars, lights, vendors, people, and culture from all over the world. For the past 8 years I have been taking all of this for granted. I can't believe how oblivious I have been to this world. It is time to open my eyes and appreciate all the good things around me!

Only in NY will you ever see to big monster trucks right in the middle of Times Square.

.the birth of my blog.

I decided to start a blog just so I can share my thoughts, ideas, and day to day life. I started to think of a way to start this blog. How should I introduce it? What should I put out there for people to read? Should I recap my 30 years of life or start with the beginning of my married life? Or should I just start right here? The answer that I came up with is to start right here. In my present time. I guess my family, friends, the internet world, and myself included will learn about me and my animated life by just reading my daily/weekly/monthly/yearly entries. I guess that is the best way to go about this. I'll just write, write, and write until I run out of things to write about.
Since I've never blogged before, it seems as though I have a lot to learn. I have no clue how to make my page look "pretty." So, it will take me some time to get the hang of it. Wish me luck!