Photo Memories of Our Vacation in Spain and the Rock of Gibraltar

While searching for old photos from my files, I found the following article of our( (Macrine and I) one week vacation in Marbella, Spain including a one-day tour of the Rock of Gibraltar.  Pleasant Memories Indeed and Thank you Lord for another beautiful day here in Northern California. Sorry About Ian devastation in Florida and South Carolina this week.

Macrine very closed to a Tamed Barbary Monkey overlooking the Gibraltar Strait

While cleaning the garage, Dodie discovered some old photos from David E photo files and it included photos of our vacation in Spain and the Rock Of Gibraltar in 2000. I am posting it here. We stayed at the Four Seasons Resort in Marbella and had one day tour to the Alhambra Gardens in Granada and the City of Malaga. We also had a one day tour to the Rock of Gibraltar and had lunch in Tangiers, Morocco, North Africa. Ella and Ditas joined us in Marbella and also in Granada but not in Tangiers. 

Ella and Ditas joined us in Marbella after their tour in Morocco, Africa

 The Rock of Gibraltar showing the tour buses Parking Lot

 Ditas and I posing at the Reflecting Pool and Court Yard of the Alhambra Gardens, Granada

 

Lunch Break during our tour and a Photo of the Altar of the Catholic Church in downtown Marbella

Macrine and I had lunch at one of the restaurants in Tangiers, Morocco

For details visit: https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2015/08/3-places-outside-united-states-that.html

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/2015/08/2-places-outside-united-states-that.html

Note: Dodie and Ruth are now vacationing in Spain, the last couple of weeks.  

 

Typhoon Karding ( Nuro) Hits Northern Philippines Including Aurora Province

The other day Typhoon Karding ( Nuro) hits Northern Luzon including Aurora Province. In Aurora province's hard-hit Dingalan town, more than 6,000 houses were damaged and a newly built evacuation center housing more 200 displaced families was battered by the fierce wind and rain but no injuries were reported, officials said. Here's an excerpt from the local news dated September 26, 2022.

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoon Noru blew out of the northern Philippines on Monday, leaving six people dead, knocking down power in two entire provinces, trapping villagers in floods and forcing officials to suspend classes and government work in and around the capital.

The most powerful typhoon to hit the country this year slammed ashore in Burdeos town in Quezon province before nightfall on Sunday then weakened as it barreled overnight across the main Luzon region, where more than 52,000 people were moved to emergency shelters, some forcibly, officials said.

The above news prompted me to do some search on the provinces in the Philippines. 

During my elementary school days in the Philippines in the late 1940's. I believed there were only 50 provinces in the Philippines. Today there are 82* provinces divided into 17 regions.  The provinces are grouped into 17 regions based on geographical, cultural, and ethnological characteristics.

While surfing the Internet, I found the following video on Aurora Province which inspired me to post this article in my blogs. It is about 44 minutes but beautifully made documentary about one of the 82 provinces in the Philippines-my island of birth.

Macrine (RIP) was raised in Marinduque and I was born in the province of Iloilo. I finished my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City in 1955. We moved and immigrated to the US in 1960 and became US Citizens in 1972. 

Meanwhile enjoy this short video of Chateau Du Mer -our second home in Marinduque. 

Here's the list of the 82 provinces of the Philippines for your information: 

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_the_Philippines  

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of delicious lunch of coconut lobster and cucumber salad at Chateau Du Mer, Marinduque, 2013

Note: How many islands do the Philippines have in 2020? A. According to the latest data by the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, the Philippines has a total of 7641 islands.

 

Beef Oxtails from Safeway for My Kare-Kare

$33.45- Beef Oxtails (eight) at ($17.60/lb)

 

Last week I purchased 8 Oxtails from Safeway. It is not cheap, But I had a longing for kare-kare and I could only order from Doordash this dish on Fridays and Saturday for $27.99 for 2 oxtails. Cooking it myself will give me several pieces of oxtails for a few more dollars.

Here's my favorite recipe for oxtail Kare-Kare. The tripe is optional. I also used pork hock and pigs feet for this recipe. Here's the recipe for your reading pleasure.

The vegetables are cooked separately in the above recipe for better plating and perfect cooking.
 

There are other recipes that I follow at times as follows:

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my recent and may be the last of my purple okra harvest of the season.

Not as popular as the common green okra-but more nutritious and also grown as an ornamental plant in the garden!  

 

Are You a Cheese Lover?

The other day, I discovered that the star bread ( senorita) that I purchased paired excellently with the Romano Cheese in my fridge. This is my first time to have Romano Cheese paired with star bread since I am really not a cheese lover. This incident inspired me to write this blog about cheese in general. The reference below list the top 20 most popular cheeses in the World. The photo above list the types of Cheese available commercially. Are you a cheese lover?

Romano Cheese is often compared to Parmesan- a cheese I am familiar with besides Gouda and Edam. Gouda and Edam cheeses remind me of my childhood years when we a have Ball Cheese during Christmas time in the Philippines. Macrine's favorites are the Brie and Camembert.

The reference below discuss facts that you want to know about Romano cheese.

https://www.cellocheese.com/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-romano-cheese/

Here's a list of the top 20 popular cheese in the World

https://sodelicious.recipes/in-the-kitchen/how-to-use-the-most-popular-cheeses/ 

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my longest Okra this year-over 7" long and growing.

 

 

Durian Fruit-Smells Like Hell, But Taste Like Heaven

Durian-- Smells Like Hell But Taste Like Heaven

I was shopping on line via Doordash the other day. I learned that fresh frozen durian is available at 99 Ranch Market at fairly reasonable price($17.29) for the above package. I have not tasted the fresh fruit, but enjoyed the fresh frozen vacuum packed because the smell is not that overpowering. 

Durian is a tropical fruit and sometimes known as the King of Fruits. A lot of fans of the fruit describes it as a fruit that smells like hell but tastes like heaven. I agree! For complete description of the fruit see the information from Wikipedia at the bottom of this page.

The other item I purchased at 99 Ranch Market was Pia Cake($4.99)of mung bean and Durian imported from Vietnam. There are 4 cakes in the package. It is similar to the Filipino Hopia. I enjoyed this dessert with mango sorbet( photo below).

Here my other purchases from 99 Ranch Market-grocery store specializing on Asian Foods, Sea Foods and Groceries-

 

Here an article on the 7 Health Benefits of Durian   

1. Durian makes you happy

The yummy durian flesh is not the only reason for that smile on your face. This decadent fruit actually has happy chemicals to make you feel good.

Durian contains the amino acid tryptophan which gets converted to serotonin, a neurotransmitter that induces feelings of happiness and relaxation. So your mood naturally improves after eating durian.

2. Durian helps to regulate sleep

Surprise, surprise, the king of fruits can make you sleep better. Tryptophan (an essential amino acid) in durian is converted to melatonin, a hormone that controls your sleep cycle. The higher your melatonin levels, the easier it is to fall asleep. If you have trouble snoozing, swop your usual bedtime snack for durian – just one seed is enough! Remember to gurgle away the durian breath thoroughly after that.

3. Durian helps to control blood pressure

Durian is rich in potassium, an electrolyte that helps to maintain blood pressure levels. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can lead to several health complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney failure. According to latest stats from the Ministry of Health, almost one in four Singapore residents aged 30 to 69 has hypertension.

4. Durian is an excellent source of energy

Durian is great as a pre-workout snack. It’s high in carbohydrates, which gives a quick release of energy to keep you going strong during exercise.

Two medium seeds (54g) contain 89 calories, and give you almost the same amount of carbohydrates as a medium banana.

5. Durian improves bone health

Iron and copper are minerals that are essential for strong bones. And durian is rich in those minerals. A study by the National Centre For Biotechnology Information showed that having a higher iron intake helped to increase bone density, whereas higher calcium intake had a negligible effect on bones.

6. Durian can give you good skin

With 11.6mg of vitamin C per serving (two medium seeds), durian contains more vitamin C than most tropical fruits. Vitamin C has antioxidant properties to fight free radicals in your body, thus reducing the appearance of pigmentation and wrinkles.

Environmental factors like exposure to cigarette smoke and ultraviolet rays from the sun causes free radical damage to the skin.

7. Durian increases sex drive

Durian is known to be a libido-boosting food among Asians. In fact, there’s a well-known traditional Indonesian saying: When the durians fall, the sarong goes up.

Even if durian doesn’t improve your libido significantly, it contains many vitamins and minerals that are great for your overall well-being.

Reference:   https://www.herworld.com/life/wellness/7-surprising-benefits-eating-durian-king-fruits-health-blood-pressure-sleep-libido/ 

From Wikipedia: Durian is the edible fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus Durio. There are 30 recognised Durio species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit. Durio zibethinus, native to Borneo and Sumatra, is the only species available in the international market. It has over 300 named varieties in Thailand and 100 in Malaysia, as of 1987. Other species are sold in their local regions. Durians are commonly associated with Southeast Asian cuisine, especially in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Named in some regions as the "king of fruits", the durian is distinctive for its large size, strong odour, and thorn-covered rind. The fruit can grow as large as 30 centimetres (12 inches) long and 15 cm (6 in) in diameter, and it typically weighs 1 to 3 kilograms (2 to 7 pounds). Its shape ranges from oblong to round, the colour of its husk green to brown, and its flesh pale yellow to red, depending on the species.

An acquired taste, some people regard the durian as having a pleasantly sweet fragrance, whereas others find the aroma overpowering and unpleasant. The smell evokes reactions from deep appreciation to intense disgust, and has been described variously as rotten onions, turpentine, and raw sewage. The persistence of its odour, which may linger for several days, led certain hotels and public transportation services in Southeast Asia to ban the fruit. The nineteenth-century British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace described its flesh as "a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds". The flesh can be consumed at various stages of ripeness, and it is used to flavour a wide variety of savoury and sweet desserts in Southeast Asian cuisines. The seeds can also be eaten when cooked.

 

 

Cooking Okra Tempura-Pan Fried or Air Fryer?

 

The other day was my 5th Okra Harvest. I feel I should try cooking okra tempura. However, I can not decide whether to pan fry it or use my air fryer. Here are videos showing cooking by pan frying versus Air frying.

There are Pros and Cons between the two cooking methods. Air Frying is healthy but may not be as tasty or crispy as Pan Frying. Here's an article on Okra tempura Air Frying. https://platedcravings.com/air-fryer-okra/

How to make Air Fryer Okra

Start with washing and cutting the fresh Okra. Chop off the stems and ends, then cut into 1/2″ slices.

1. Combine all the breading ingredients with a fork and combine the egg and milk in a shallow bowl.
2. Toss okra into the egg mixture, then transfer in batches to the flour cornmeal mixture. Lightly shake off excess flour and transfer to Air Fryer Basket.
3. Spray with oil. We use light olive oil spray, avocado oil spray, or coconut oil spray.
4. Air fry for 10-12 minutes until golden, shaking the basket two times during cooking. Spray with more oil as needed so all the floury spots are covered.

Tips for making Air Fried Okra

• Traditional southern Okra recipes use a cornmeal-flour mixture but you can also only use flour if you don’t have cornmeal on hand.
• The cornmeal adds some more texture and flavor to the fried Okra
• Add extra seasoning to the breading mixture like cayenne pepper, paprika, or garlic powder for extra flavor or heat.
• Instead of egg and milk, you can also use 1/4 cup buttermilk.
• Use a high smoke point oil spray that is flavor neutral like avocado oil, light olive oil, or coconut oil.
• Shake the basket gently so the breading doesn’t fall off.
• Depending on your Air Fryer you might have to air fry in batches. The cooking time can also vary depending on the model you have.
• Fried Okra tastes best served right away with a sprinkle of salt

Can you air fry frozen breaded okra?

If you don’t have time to make fried okra from scratch, try making breaded frozen okra in your Air Fryer! Using an Air Fryer instead of pan-frying or deep-frying frozen breaded okra saves time and calories. Put the frozen okra in the Air Fryer Basket and air fry at 400 F for about 15 minutes until crispy, shaking the basket once or twice during cooking.

Air Fried Okra

Air Fryer Okra made with a cornmeal and flour breading is crispy, delicious, and air fried to perfection in only 15 minutes!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Calories: 144kcal

Author: Julia Foerster

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pound okra, caps and tips cut off and sliced (about 20)
• ▢ 1 egg
• ▢ 1/4 cup milk
• ▢ 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1/2 cup cornmeal
• ▢ 1/2 tsp salt
• ▢ 1/4 tsp pepper
• ▢ Oil spray

Instructions

• Preheat air fryer to 400 F (200 C).
• In a shallow bowl combine egg and milk.
• In another bowl combine flour, cornmeal, salt, and pepper.
• Toss okra into the egg mixture, then transfer in batches to flour mixture. Lightly shake off excess flour and transfer to Air Fryer Basket. Depending on your Air Fryer you might have to fry in batches.
• Spray okra with oil spray and air fry for 10-12 minutes until golden, shaking the basket two times during cooking. Spray with more oil as needed so all the floury spots are covered.
• Remove okra and sprinkle with salt to taste. Serve hot.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 144kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 303mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 597IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 1mg

 

I Survived a Catastropic Event Today-Thank You, Lord

 

Last Night with three Digit Temperatures and heat warning here in Northern California, My central air conditioning stopped giving me cool air.  Thanks to my 2 electric fans, I was able to maintain the house temperature to 85F. However, I was not able to sleep, so I started calling a couple of AC repair companies with emergency services starting at 1AM to 3AM. After a couple of tries, I was able to connect to the call center of Lees Aircon Services. I was able to make an appointment for 10AM this morning. By 11:00AM I have my air condition running just in time for this afternoon projected 115F. This event cost me a fortune but  Peace of Mind and a One year Maintenance Agreement membership. The technician installed a brand new compressor Saver Start Assist and a new dual Run Capacitor made in the US. The technician informed me that the old capacitor was made in China. Now I am enjoying a cool 78F inside, while it is blistering hot outside. I am very please with the prompt service from LeesAir.com     

While talking to the technician, I learned the Person ( female) who answered my Help Call early this morning is located in Armenia. A couple of years ago, When I call for Help on my TV, Internet and Phone, an agent from the Call Center either from the Philippines or India handled my call for Help. 

Last week when I have no Internet, TV and land line phone services, the person who answered my call was from Central America. I had no service for 24hrs and I realized how dependent I am to the Internet and Television. 

I am just wondering- Are Call Centers in the Philippines still active? I appreciate to hear from my FB friends in the Philippines.   

Meanwhile, the event last night made me hungry for Fish & Chips and crab cakes today.

What is considered an AC emergency?

What Is an AC Emergency? Several scenarios always equal an AC emergency. If your air conditioner stops working and weather advisories forecast daytime temperature at around 100°F and nighttime temperatures at or above 80°F, your AC requires emergency service

 

I Love My Red Burgundy Okra Plants and Its Flowers

I have 7 red burgundy okra plants as well as the One Common Green Okra this year. Do you know the Difference? 

 

The common green-podded okra varieties are the usual grown in summer gardens, but varieties with red pods are those that can deliver a dual role of an edible and an ornamental crop. Red, sometimes called magenta or purple okra, makes an unusual and fun addition to an ornamental garden.

Is red okra more nutritious?

It did not become popular because it was expensive. However, some farmers are growing it now as it is known to have more nutritional benefits than the green variety.” Red Okra, which is rich in anthocyanins and phenolics, can be grown in both summer and rainy seasons.

 

Only one Green Okra survived to Maturity in the Garden-but I have 7 Red Burgundy variety survived from the seedlings stage.

Okra is one of the few crops that thrive in high temperatures and this year with the hot, dry weather it is the star of my garden.

Okra is in the family Malvaceae (mallow family), the same family as the hibiscus. The blossoms of okra and hibiscus are similar, but okra has large yellow petals with dark purple throats and gives the added benefit of edible pods. The common green-podded okra varieties are the usual grown in summer gardens, but varieties with red pods are those that can deliver a dual role of an edible and an ornamental crop.

Burgundy okra has green leaves with burgundy stems, leaf ribs, and branches. The burgundy-colored 6″-8″ long pods turn green when cooked. Okra is used as the thickening agent in Cajun gumbo, but it also can be boiled, broiled, fried, roasted, steamed, canned, or pickled. Use dried pods in flower arrangements! Okra has attractive, edible flowers.

Okra – Burgundy – Abelmoschus esculentus

Soil & Water: Okra prefers moderately rich soil. Its low water requirements make it an easy plant to grow.

Planting & Growing: Okra is heat loving. Sow seeds outside in spring after all danger of frost has passed, when the soil temperature has reached 70F. It’s a good succession plant after early, spring-maturing crops. Expect good yields on this 4-6′ tall, bushy plant.  Makes a great trellis for pole beans and other vining plants.

Harvesting & Storage: Pick okra pods when they are 2″-3″ long for tenderness. They are best tasting when eaten the same day. Some people develop a contact dermatitis while handling okra; avoid the itchiness by wearing a long-sleeved shirt and gloves.

• Soil Temperature: 75-95F
• Planting Depth: 3/4″-1″
• Germination: 5-15 Days
• Height At Maturity: 4′-5′
• Days To Maturity: 49-65 Days
• Sun/Shade: Full Sun
• Spacing After Thinning: 12″

 

 

My Favorite Side Dishes, Enhancers and Wine for Dinner

From Left to Right: Chili/vinegar sauces, Ginisang Bagoong, Greek Peperoncini and Picante Sauce. The only brand I will used for the shrimp paste ( bagoong) is Barrio Fiesta. The Picante sauce I like is Medium spicy-not mild or Hot and the Peperoncini is a substitute for the Papaya Atchara(pickled green juliene papaya) that I do not have. The chili/vinegar sauce, I used for my Pasta and Empanada Dishes.  
 

The two bottles are Muscat Blanc and Gerwurztraminer Grape Juice from Navarro Vineyards. These two wines are excellent pairings for Fish or Seafood Dishes. 

If you are following my food blogs, you already know I am not a Meat and Potato person. I have an adventurous palate and will try any edible food commercially available. However, there is one Filipino food item ( sauce) that I dislike- Patis or Fish Sauce. In place of Patis, I used soy sauce, rice vinegar, shrimp paste or oyster sauce. The other side dishes and sauces that I enjoyed are shown in the above photo. 

 

This is my favorite side Dish-It is an excellent substitute for Papaya Atchara

Atchara is a pickle made from grated unripe papaya originating from the Philippines. This dish is often served as a side dish for fried or grilled foods such as pork barbecue.

How about you? What side dishes and sauces do you use? I know a few relatives who do not used side dishes and sauces for their dishes. But to me the side dishes enhanced the flavor and enjoyment of the main dishes.  Allow me to end this blog with following quotes:

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” “We all eat, and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.” “You don't need a silver fork to eat good food.” “After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relatives.”

Meanwhile, here's my latest purchase from Shef.com- A Side Dish That I really enjoy- mango salad.

Main ingredients: Chili, mangoes, carrots, red onions, red bell peppers, crispy onions, crispy prawns, cucumber, jicama, mirin, olive oil. 

 

Celebrating the Start of the "BER" Months with a Special Dumpling Lunch

Today, September 1, is the beginning of the "BER" months. The weather forecast for this week here in Northern California is a whole week of 3-Digit temperatures. In other words it is a Heat Wave-first in the history of California as the longest heat wave ever recorded. It is not good news specially for those whose jobs requires them to be outside. However, I am turning this negative news, by being positive and enjoy a special lunch of Pork, Scallop and Shrimp Dumplings with my Chili Sauce ( see photo above). 

I purchased the dumpling on line from 99 Ranch Market-a store that specialized on Asian Foods. With it I purchased my first Vietnamese Pia Cake of Mung bean and durian.

The Pia Cake is similar to the Pinoy Hopia- the durian make it taste great. I will have this for dessert along with my mango sorbet. I purchased other items from 99 Ranch Market including a Live Main Lobster. I had the Lobster dinner last night. Here are some photos:

Besides the Lobster and Pia Cake, I purchased Longanisa(Pinoy sweet sausage)
mango and tempura mix for my okra.

My Lobster Dinner with Sauteed Okra paired with Navarro Chardonnay

Here'a a photo of my cut okra ( 6th harvest)- ready to be sauteed in Bagoong ( Barrio Fiesta brand.
 
Finally, if you live in California, keep cool, stay inside and Hydrate. If you live in the Philippines, May I wish you an advanced Merry Christmas. September 1 is the start of the Christmas season in the Philippines.