Last week’s trip to Mall of Asia led me to the Holy Grail of Tofu in SM Hypermarket. I spotted two large aquariums with funny little white blocks . Cold water runs through the aquarium like a fountain. It was a strange site for I’d only expect to see live fish in aquariums.

The sign above it says “Temperature Controlled / Fresh Tofu”. There were 3 sizes available small, medium and large. I bought 2 blocks of  tofu for Php 24.50 each.

As soon as I got home I was anxious as to how it would taste like.

I made some quick deep fried tofu with cornstarch, paprika, cayenne, salt & pepper. Once the white sponges hit the oil I was glad my apartment didn’t smell. Hurray, it really didn’t stink!

The best part was the taste. It has none of the tofu after taste. It was just clean to the palate. This is the kind of tofu that would make fantastic veggie burgers.

The only trouble is, I have to go all the way to SM Mall of Asia to get them. Not every SM Supermarket carries my beloved fresh tofu. Now my only question if it’s GMO free. Before this discovery I only buy a particular brand that is GMO-free. I am tofu snob.

After Office Hours

Lonely boy

Third Party

Friends lang kami

Pre’. I love you.

Arroyo admits she has breast implants.

MANILA – A spokesman of President Arroyo admitted Friday that Mrs. Arroyo had breast augmentation 20 years ago but denied reports that the implants were leaking.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde earlier downplayed rumors that Mrs. Arroyo had checked in at the Asian Hospital in Muntinlupa City to have her breast silicone implants removed and replaced.

“Kayong mga lalake, alam niyo naman tingnan kung ang babae nagpa-retoke. Res ipsa loquitur,” Remonde told male reporters using a legal term that means “the thing speaks for itself.”

He added: “Si Presidente ba mukha na iyong tipo ng babae na magpapaganun (Is the President the type of woman who would do that [breast augmentation])?”

The press secretary later changed his tune and admitted that Mrs. Arroyo did have breast augmentation 20 years ago but that the implants were not leaking.

Remonde said the President was declared in good health after biopsies were conducted on lumps found on her breast and groin.

“The result of the biopsy is negative. The President is in good health. You will see her moving around in the next few days. That’s the best proof of her health,” he said.

Arroyo, 62, checked in at a private hospital south of the capital Manila on Tuesday night after returning from two weeks of travel to Japan, Colombia, Brazil and Hong Kong. Palace officials said Mrs. Arroyo volunteered to quarantine herself after the trip despite relaxed Influenza A (H1N1) quarantine guidelines from the Department of Health.

Remonde said the President had undergone a medical check-up before her trip last month but “some test results needed follow-up,” including the biopsies.

In a text message to reporters, Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Lorelei Fajardo noted that the issue about the President’s purported medical procedures is “disrespectful, not only of the President, but of women’s health issues. As head of state, the President is fully aware that she must be transparent about her health and she is.”

Source: ABS-CBN News

What’s with the Press Secretary’s animosity for surgical enhancements? If Belo didn’t make an entire industry out of cosmetic surgery, Katrina Halili and Hayden Kho’s path would not have crossed. We wouldn’t be witnesses to Katrina’s amazing performance of George Michael’s Careless Whisper.

Why didn’t GMA go for a bigger size?  I would have gone for a full C cup.

Ok. That was 3 acronyms in one sentence. As usual, this blog is under the state of perpetual “maintenance on goin.”

Above is the commemorative US stamp honoring James Dean. Coincidence that it looks like one of the official images of Edward Cullen? Hmmmm…

The signature Ray-Ban wayfarers.

The hair.

I like him more when he was Cedric Diggory.

I wish they didn’t kill his character. Sana si Ron na lang.

I’m back from Coron, Palawan trip with friends. Will post pictures soon.  The photo above is Lake Kayangan, stitched in Photoshop. The camera I used is Canon IXUS 630 enclosed in DiCaPac.

Last Tuesday was Erika’s “room” warming party. After being friends for eight years, she is now my flat-mate. And no, we’re not lesbian  lovers. I was getting tired of the usual menu I prepare for get-togethers(grilled cheese sandwich, Charlie Chan copy cat Asian spaghetti, creamy fruit salad etc) I had to make a new one.

- Stewed Tomato Spaghetti
- Spicy Fried Chicken with Buttered Hot Sauce
- Chocolate Turon

A quick and easy dessert was needed, one that would fit into our room warming food budget. The chocolate turon was all I could remember that I saw from Heny Sison two years ago in her old baking/cooking show in IBC 13. What ever happened to that show? My brother and I love that show. Lazy Sundays back then meant drooling in front of the TV with all the sugar induced dessert she was making. Para syang fairy, *fairy dust* — “Ito na po ang ating finished product “ and a piece of either cake, cookies, brownies would appear from under the oven.

I Googled the recipe but stumbled upon this Pinoy version of the recipe from 80′s Breakfast. Credit is hers. It was rather brilliant to think of Pinoy flavored Chocnut and Flattops. However, when I reached the supermarket Flatops was out of stock. Wow, there is a shortage of Flattops in the Philippines? The Balikbayan’s are hoarding them! I used Curlytops instead as a substitute. You can pretty much use any chocolate you want. Do a kitchen test and experiment I think this would go well with Andes Chocolate Mint or any chocolate that has nougat, caramel for additional texture.

I modified the recipe a tiny bit and just added one ingredient that made the difference – cinnamon powder. The turon was instant hit at the party, many were asking for the recipe.

Ingredients:

Saging na Saba (Ripe Plantain)
Spring Roll Wrapper
Brown Sugar
Chocolate of your choice
Pandan leaves
Cinnamon powder

Use spring roll wrapper then cut banana’s lengthwise. Just add alternately the chocolates on one side. Put the sugar on the other side side. Use only one half lengthwise banana because one whole banana is a bit harder to wrap and cook. Plus we don’t want a fat turon, do we? Use only about half teaspoon sugar as chocolate is already sweet.

Then the one ingredient you don’t want to forget – dash turon with cinnamon powder. I love cinnamon so I put at least 1/4 teaspoon in each turon. Cinnamon makes the difference! I tried it before without cinnamon but preferred the version with it.

Wrap like you would wrap your lumpia, seal sides with a bit of water. Tie it with a pandan leave. This will make if fragrant. Deep fry in low heat. Sugar and chocolate have a tendency to get burnt easily so cook it with low heat. Cook both sides until golden brown.

Tadah! You can drizzle it with a bit of melted Belgian chocolate.

So, one of our friends, let’s call him “F” was apparently banned from the PFW shows from here on and then. According to sources F was seated in the first frow.  He was in Anna Wintour outfit complete with hair and a Balenciaga bag. During the curtain call at the end of the show wherein the all models make their final walk, F stood up  and followed the models as if he was part of the show but instead making the exit to the other stage he went straight out of the exit of SMX in a diva walk. It was a riot I heard. The audience was laughing. I bet it was hilarious but the organizers were not amused. Just hearing about it makes me wish I was there.

The thing is even if F was banned he could always disguise himself easily.

Music: Praan
Written by Garry Schyman
Singer: Palbasha Siddique.
Lyrics: Bengali poem Gitanjali (“Stream of Life”) from Rabindranath Tagore:

Bhulbona ar shohojete
Shei praan e mon uthbe mete
Mrittu majhe dhaka ache
je ontohin praan

Bojre tomar baje bashi
She ki shohoj gaan
Shei shurete jagbo ami

Shei jhor jeno shoi anonde
Chittobinar taare
Shotto-shundu dosh digonto
Nachao je jhonkare!

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day
runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.
It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth
in numberless blades of grass and
breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.
It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of
birth and of death, in ebb and in flow.
I feel my limbs are made glorious
by the touch of this world of life.
And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my
blood this moment.

Although, my heart still belongs to Ian Thorpe:

Look at those swift powerful kicks. Kakalurky. >_<

Unfortunately the Aussie opted to retire young. But here's me hoping he'll make a comeback. I think I might renew my membership in Richmonde so I could use the swimming pool again. Thanks to Phelps, swimming lessons enrollment in the US is an at all time high. Kids wanna be like Mike.