Food and Bags Can Take Away My Blues *I’m Shallow!*


I felt blue and quite “drained” yesterday because my eldest DK was sick. A trip to our pediatrician (thank you for the intial intro to him, Vic!!) made things a little better for my petit boss. DK‘s a bit better now. *Big sigh of relief*
FLAMING PINE CHRISTMAS
Speaking of my pediatrician, I was floored to find out that his whole house burned down over the Christmas holiday!! Do you peeps know why? No, it was not the Christmas lights. It was because of his FRESH PINE Christmas tree, bought locally (this big chain supermarket brings in fresh pine trees every Christmas).
Most of the fresh Christmas trees being sold in San Francisco (at the time we were there) were Fir trees– I hardly saw any Pine. It’s because Pine was established as a high flammable tree, coupled with lights. My pediatrician was hurt and had burns and was unable to save his 2 other dogs *sooo sad 🙁 :(* But luckily, no one else got hurt. The fire was put off by the firemen eventually.  So here’s a lesson peeps (and this is one my pediatrician would like to advice everyone as well): DO NOT BUY FRESH PINE CHRISTMAS TREES (even if you don’t have plans of putting lights around it). These are more flammable than plastic ones!!!

WHERE THE WATCHES ARE…

While our good doctor was at the Emergency Room, he was able to phone *albeit painfully* his house help to go to his room to salvage the remains of his watch collection. The firemen were still in the house at that time when one of his helpers mentioned needing to go back up to the Doctor’s room to get his watches. At that point, the firemen said that they can’t allow her to go up, and said they’ll check it for her. She told the firemen where the watches were. Guess what, the firemen never turned over a single watch. The watches were GONE. And they were not burned. So guess where the watches are now? 🙁 One good guess, peeps!
What a sad Christmas it was for our pediatrician. He had to spend it in the hospital, with burns on his head and on his hands. And he lost his dogs and his other “investments” like the watches, his doctor’s bag with his equipment, etc ! But thank God he’s much better now. Life is  ultimately irreplaceable, unlike those other “material” things. But sigh, poor poor doggies 🙁 🙁

ALL ABOUT HAPPINESS
Anyway,  I’m just happy that he’s ok. He’s a very good pediatrician and a real nice guy! Now, going back to what I did today– while my DK slept during the day, I decided to make myself happy– no, I didn’t go online (although that could’ve made me happy too haha). I decided to prepare me something in the kitchen.

Yes, I am not a cook although I think I’d like to take Nigella Lawson’s place
(I like her because she has a nice, “crisp” British accent.. hehehe) as the domestic kitchen goddess (or wait, Giada De Laurentiis
is good too hahah) *muwahahaha… I already failed even before I attempted to pit myself against either of them- hello, looks alone would’ve already killed me come comparison time. Hahahaha* (photos taken from their websites)

Ok enough wannabe-ing for today. I just want to share this super easy, no- cook (well, technically almost no- cook) “summer” pasta with you guys.  For me, this is the best summer pasta because it is light, and refreshing to the palate.

Here are the ingredients, all of which I got from my local supermarket (at the Power Plant Mall, natch :D)

1 pack of just- ripe cherry tomatoes
1/2 pack of fresh basil leaves (take out the stems)
4-5 garlic cloves, minced
1 bottle of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
1/2 fresh lemon for squeezing
Salt and pepper to taste

Pasta used: Thin string pasta like angel hair  ( I used De Cecco Capellini)

For the mixture/ sauce:

Wash the tomatoes and slice in half each cherry tomato and de-seed. Set aside all seeds in one small cup. Strain the seeds and take the remaining tomato liquid and put into the bowl with the halved cherry tomatoes. Chop the washed fresh basil leaves into thin strips and mix into the bowl with cherry tomatoes. You can add more or take out basil leaves, depending on how strong you want the basil flavor. Drizzle the tomato-basil mixture with EVOO and mix in the minced garlic. Using a wooden spoon, mix all the ingredients together, adding salt and pepper (or if you have herb salt) to taste. I like my mixture salty, so you can imagine how much salt I use 🙂  If you want a little texture in this mixture, I suggest using rock sea salt with iodized salt. It gives the mixture a nice little crunch of saltiness in every other bite 🙂

For pasta:

Here’s a secret that gives pasta a lot more flavor (and you can opt not to do this): Use liquid chicken stock (don’t use a bouillon because the flavor is so much stronger) to boil the pasta (according to the boxed directions). If you don’t want to use chicken stock, just add enough salt to the water to give the pasta a little flavor.

After the pasta’s al dente, just scoop it off the water and put directly onto the plate. Pour over the tomato basil EVOO mixture, add more olive oil if you want the pasta coated with oil, and squeeze a little lemon juice out of the lemon around.

Then toss the pasta with mixture. A little more salt and pepper to taste, and voila, it’s ready to be served 🙂

If you have some toasted pine nuts, you can add them into this dish too 😀 Oh, and don’t forget to add some freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Or if you can find a nice block of aged Asiago cheese (I love the nuttiness of Asiago), go for it 😀

I admit this pasta is one that not many kids can appreciate (because of the apearance of basil. Basil= vegetables hahaha. Kids and veggies don’t always mix.  But hmm… then again kids love pesto), but I’m pretty sure this pasta is good for one who loves veggies or one who is on a diet 😀 *it’s not fattening! Well ok, if you want it carb free, then you can just forego the pasta and this’ll make a nice salad too!*

It’s funny how cooking has somewhat become my “thing” for 2010. Don’t worry, this baghag still has no plans of going into the food business (I didn’t say “never” because you should never say “never” :D)– at least there’s no chance I’d be behind kitchen doors hahaha. I can cook for la famille (and they can’t really complain or else… hahaha), but I can’t invite friends over to taste my cooking (I did that once– I made coconut milk and garlic crabs with vermicelli. The hardest thing I’ve ever done. Never again!!! Muwahahaha… at least not in the near future).
Now that I felt better after having cooked and having shared the recipe (if it’s bland, don’t blame me, just add more salt hehehehe) *and having eaten, meaning I’m now full and contented*, my thoughts veered away from food and back into bags.
THIS brand and style in particular. 🙁 *bawls*

MULBERRY - ALEXA SMALL SATCHEL

is still on my mind. *Screams* But it’s sold out. However, the Ink blue in oversized version is on pre- order and will be available come March.

MULBERRY - OVERSIZED ALEXA SATCHEL


MULBERRY – OVERSIZED ALEXA SATCHEL

*I just realized blue is my lucky color for 2010… hmmm*

S/S 10 NEW COLLECTIONS
Available at Luisaviaroma. (by the way, Yes, Luisaviaroma SHIPS to the PHILIPPINES!)    

Take note, I have been real obedient with my credit cards *oye my I paid my latest bill already hahaha*, and I haven’t made any major purchases for January *haha* I’m crazy to call myself “real obedient” when some people don’t even buy a bag for the whole year!* Yeah yeah, I’m too high maintenance yaddi yadda yadda.

Anyway, looks like I should work harder (or learn how to cook better) to make a living 😀 Cha Ching, cha ching!!!

Hope your day was better than mine! And Gawd, I hope my day’s a lot better tomorrow! *Crosses fingers*


P.S. Important Bag News Flash!!! I was able to check a “Hermes” gray 40cm birkin in what seemed to be pebbled clemence leather with gold hardware. Stamped M. That bag turned out to be a VERY GOOD FAKE. Here’s the scarier piece of news– the counterfeiters are getting extremely good. Even the interior lining seems to be chevre already (or leather that closely resembles chevre). Photos of the fake Hermes birkin are in our store phone (coz I forgot to bring my camera this afternoon since I took food photos at home and had left the camera on the dining table). Anyway, please please please be VERY careful when buying an “Hermes” birkin. I highly recommend that you go straight to Hermes in Greenbelt, or should you spend for one through an online transaction, go with reputable resellers like Portero.com

x
Mrs. T

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  1. Pasta looks wonderful and it looks like it’s easy to make. I might try it one of these days. Thanks for sharing the recipe. :))

    I’m liking the Alexa, but I want it in yellow. Such a long wait though. Long wait=not for me. Also, I realize I don’t have the moolah for it. Hehehe!

  2. True. Very very true. counterfeiters are getting BETTER at their “craft” I once saw a Birkin with an “M” stamp too. It seems that most counterfeits today have the “M” stamp. take note, the “M” is enclosed in a square box and has a code on the left. very very similar to an authentic. even the zipper pull has an “H” with a circle. (This was a 35 cm Clemence too. but the colour was a dark red AND a bleu jean both sharing the exact same code and stamp.

    very very scary indeed.

  3. i love that photo of the pasta, it looks like it came straight out of a cookbook 🙂 keep up with the recipes mrs t!

    i have and will never ever put electric lights in our house… our tree is made from plastic too. there have been too many fires during christmas season. there was also one in east greenhills last dec…

    as for the fake hermes, maybe you could do a post someday of how to spot a fake lv, chanel, gucci etc., and what signs to look out for. you’re already an expert on the subject 🙂 there are many resellers of pre-owned bags out there so we better be equipped with the necessary info before buying any bags from them 🙂

  4. @browneyedgirl: Lol cookbook photo– my dishes are nowhere near cookbook perfect LOL.But thank you for boosting my ego hehehehe!! xx

    As for fake bags, one day I’ll collate everything I have and share it. I have too many photos that need editing and I’m still sorting things out (it’s INSANE!!!!) And good on you for not putting lights on christmas trees!!

    @daphneosena: Thanks for that daph!! I do remember that post, and I actually never thought something like it would happen to someone I know. It’s really sad 🙁 I used to have a fresh pine Christmas tree too in SF in the 90s. didnt realize then it was already such a fire hazard!!

    @JDHoschka: Well, the basil is deconstructed, but traditional pesto sauce doesn’t have tomatoes 🙂 Hehehehehe *I have to make it SEEM like I invented this dish. I didn’t by the way. Hahahaah*

    @Nanayniisay: Hmmm in yellow it looks really yummy and so summer-perfect. I guess when it arrives in summer and is available, maybe you and i can rethink getting it LOL

    @MrsMartinez: As I’ve always said, the things you pay for in an authentic designer bag is in the DETAILS 🙂

    @Patricia: hehehe thanks 🙂 A girl friend of mine who would make the yummiest callos inspired me to cook. 🙂 I am hoping I can learn to make callos one day, but I think I’m sticking to pasta hahaha. I like things that can be made easily 😀 Hence no chance I’ll ever learn to bake 😀

    @Paz: thanks girl! 🙂 xx

  5. wow that pasta looks great and refreshing especially on a hot summer day!!

    try adding prociutto btw!!!

    bouno!!

    jap boi

  6. Yummy Yummy recipe!! Also I went to the website you suggested for jewelry and they had all my favorite jewelers that I wish I could afford!!!! I was drooling, too bad christmas has already passed!!

  7. I love the alexa bag too,but for a wrong reason..My name is Alexa too..Thats y i think i’ll be getting the baywater next month.I am with my big sis last week in ur shop @ Rockwell..The jewelries are gorgeous..love your blog..

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