My Home Panaderia: Putok and Monay

I gave my cleaning lady some putok (Starbread) and monay the last time she visited. When she came today she asked me when was I going to bake again. She said she liked it very much! I'm always nervous about giving away my baked goods. I want it to be perfect before I share it to the world. I'm so glad she liked it.

I ended up making putok and monay because I forgot to add the butter in the first dough when I mixed the ingredients. I only added it just before I laid it to rest. I thought it would fail so I made a second batch which I turned into monay. Both turned out well and Sweetie said the putok was softer. I'm just happy both turned out edible haha.

Here's how I made it and Sweetie's reaction when he tried the bread -

The ingredients -

Yeast Mixture

1/2 cup warm milk
1/2 cup water
2 tsp instant yeast
1 Tbsp sugar

Dough

4 cups bread flour or APF
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk powder
2/3 cup white sugar
1 tsp salt
4 Tbsp salted butter

Egg Wash

1 egg
1 Tbsp milk


CB//103 #StuckAtHomeDay/133  #StayHome #BeKind

Fantastic Friday

Whew! It's been a long week! I don't know what's up with 2020, but days have been passing by so quickly. I always look forward to Fridays because it's the weekend again!

We were busy last weekend. We had our first house warming dinner with our immediate neighbors, Phil, Ralph, Myra and Grace. I cooked chicken adobo for them and partnered it with pancit canton and lumpia from Max's. The milk cheese cupcakes I baked was what we had for dessert. It was a fun evening filled with laughter. This happened on Friday night.

I pray this pandemic will be over soon. I super miss my Miggy and my Mommy!

Saturday was the first time we went to the mall in 4 months and Sunday was the first time I made leche flan. I guess I was too busy my heart went wonky and I had to take half a day off last Monday to let my heart stabilize. The rest of this week was busy and I conked out twice on the couch after work this week hehe.

So this weekend I'll get some more rest and hope to find time to finally visit the nearby park. We were supposed to do that tonight, but ermm I conked out on the couch again. I'm also looking forward to catching up with my sewing so I might skip baking this weekend. Ahh I'll try to also watch that movie that has Paolo Contis and Alessandra de Rossi in it. I heard it's good. Have you watched it?

My favorite day of the week is Friday night because it's the farthest time from Monday haha. What about you? What's your favorite day of the week?

CB//102 #StuckAtHomeDay/132 #WFH75 #StayHome #BeKind

Minus One! Yay!

I went to see my respiratory doctor today for my regular check-up. He's the doctor who saved my life two years ago when he diligently looked for what was wrong. Several GP doctors told me that I had asthma caused by too much acid in my tummy. I insisted on seeing a specialist and they grudgingly gave me a referral.

The promise of a new day.

The good doctor feared for the worst. I went through a gazillion tests. They got 16 test tubes of blood at one point from me and I went through several scans. I always joke that I'm probably glowing already from all the scans I've been through. The diagnosis wasn't what he feared I had, it was PE. I was lucky that I got well just by drinking meds. It took awhile and a lot of scary moments. My other doctors told me I am truly blessed because I survived. It took a year before another doctor found out what caused the PE.

My breathing was significantly impaired and I had to drink a lot of meds in the last two years. That's why I'm super bloated. I always believed that eventually I can do without maintenance meds. Today my doctor officially reduced my meds. It's minus one inhaler for me! Yay! I've been waiting for this day for a long time. I brought it up with my doctor three months ago and he wasn't convinced. I nagged him though and he said if I was better in my next check-up he'd remove it. It took him awhile to decide when I saw him today and I'm happy he agreed to remove one of my meds. Yaaaas!

I worked hard for this day and I'm going to work harder to remove more of my maintenance meds. I progressed to where I am because of exercise, meditation & prayer, and telling my body to heal. I still have a lot of healing to do and I hope my next appointment with my cardio will result in getting another medication removed. Heehee.

Happy day!

CB//101 #StuckAtHomeDay/131 #WFH74 #StayHome #BeKind

Do You Know Anyone Who had COVID19?

I've been reading the news and I'm surprised that there are people who still think that the coronavirus is a hoax. Whaaaattttt?!?!? With more than 13 million infected and almost 600 thousand deaths (source) I can't imagine how some people still think it's a hoax. I even see some vloggers in the US who still eat out like there's no pandemic happening.

I have family and friends who have been afflicted with this nasty, treacherous virus. I have relatives in the US who sadly passed away because of it. Believe me when I tell you, this virus does not end when you get well from it. It attacks your system and will affect the rest of your life. I had gone through several illnesses that have left my lungs severely scarred.

I suffer every single day even though I was afflicted by the virus and bacteria back in 2003 and 2008. I have accepted early on that this is my body now. I'm trying hard to make myself stronger through physiotherapy, but there are things that are beyond my control . There are days when my heart decides to run a marathon, leaving me fatigued even though I'm just at home and resting.

Staying home has it perks -- beautiful moon shows.

People like me are in grave danger of this virus and other viruses/bacteria. We can take as much precaution as we can, but we can't just stay home forever. I'm grateful that the country where I am today requires everyone to wear masks, social distance and they have other precautions in place. From the beginning the government had appealed to the citizens to follow the precautionary measures. They followed the restrictions as a community.

So yes, all of us are in danger with this virus. Please take precautions, wear a mask and go out only when it is essential. Stay safe everyone.


CB//100 #StuckAtHomeDay/130 #WFH73 #StayHome #BeKind

Just Keep Doing What You Love

I just finished watching the video "Inside the Hidden Life of Alodia" by Wil Dasovich. It was an interesting peek on her cosplay life and what brought her to where she is now. It was her parents who revealed that she just pursued her passion. People found her weird and she was bullied growing up. She went on to do what she loved doing.

Whenever I travel I don't go to the usual tourist places, I go to craft shops!

I could relate to her experience. I was weird growing up (still am) and I got bullied too because I was different. I just couldn't fit in (I still don't). I still have a hard time fitting in and I can't ever be just like everyone else. I also had to adjust a lot the way I live because of my medical conditions. I'm grateful that the people around me, my family, my friends, my colleagues, all understand that I can't be like them because of my physical limitations.

With my dear friend Juned, we went up Borubodur despite our physical limitations.
I miss you my friend. 

I never let my physical limitations limit what I can do. I have adjusted, but I always find ways to continue doing what I love. If it was up to my doctors I should probably be retired now and just doing non-stressful things. But I get up everyday and do what I do because it's what I love doing.

Love it. Do it. And thrive.

CB//99 #StuckAtHomeDay/129 #WFH72 #StayHome #BeKind

How to Be a Tita

This post is dedicated to all my friends who are budding Titas (aunties). I thought I'd make a list because I have friends who keep asking me about what to do at home. I think I have reached ultimate Tita level the last few months that I've been stuck at home. Accepting the Tita in me has also helped me cope better with the current situation we are all in.

Step 1: Assess Your Home, Make it the Best Place to Stay In

You just need the basics to survive staying home. I only acquire things when I really need it.

Step 2: Define Your Day-to-Day Needs and Know Where to Get Them Online

I rarely bought things online before the lockdown. The first thing I did was to look for online sources for my two households. I would order at least two weeks before I ran out of food since things are not always available. Don't hoard though, just buy what you need.

Step 3: Pay All Your Bills Online

I've been doing this for many years and I don't remember the last time I paid for a bill in person. And make sure you pay your bills on time. Set a regular banking day so you don't forget to pay all your bills.

Step 4: Define a Work Hard Stop

I made the mistake of working 12-14 hours per day in the first two months of the circuit breaker. I got sick and I burnt out. Since then I set a hard stop and follow that diligently. I also realized I'm a maker and need blocks of time to get work things done. I decline meetings during these block times.

Step 5: Cook Those Meals You Miss Eating

I set a target for myself to learn dishes I love ordering when we're outside. There are so many recipes online you can follow to cook your favorite food. I also set a baking target and I've been learning to bake my favorite Pinoy buns the last three months.

Step 6: Work on Your Memories: Make a Photobook!

I blog because I want to remember the things I experience. Early this year I backed up all the digital photos I have from my old CDs and external hard drives. I have so far made two photobooks -- my happy treasure photobook and 10-years of the DJs. If you don't like printing stuff you can make a blog or vlog. 

Step 7: Keep in Touch with Your Girlfriends Online

Me and my girlfriends check on each other every so often. Sometimes we also hangout using Google Meets or Messenger. I also do this with my Mom. With phase 2 in place I've started to invite a few friends at a time to my new home (a.k.a. housewarming in phases/make sure to follow restrictions!).

Step 8: Be a Plantita

Ahhh something that's really changed my life is when I started to plant. It started as an experiment, but when the plants started growing I had to learn how to care for them better. I've met new friends because of this and don't be shy to ask for help. (My gardening journey is here).

Step 9: Self-Care Routine and Meditate

Don't let yourself go just because you don't need to go out! Moisturize and take care of yourself, your nails, your eyebrows etc. Meditate!

Step 10: Netflix and Chill 

By now you should have finished watching Crash Landing on You! Time to move on to other entertaining series. Or just pop on your favorite music playlist and chill.

The key to being a Tita is to love yourself, know your priorities and don't forget to pray.


CB//98 #StuckAtHomeDay/128 #WFH71 #StayHome #BeKind

Surprise "Egg Project" for Sweetie

I normally do my kitchen experiments on Saturdays, but since we went out yesterday I was too tired to do anything when we got home. I've been meaning to try making leche flan for a few months now. I never tried because Miggy knows how to make it. It was Titay who taught him how to make many years ago so I didn't make an effort to learn.

One reason why I also hesitated making leche flan is it requires so many eggs! I got a huge tray of eggs a few weeks ago and needed to use it up by this weekend. So I thought it's the perfect time to make leche flan.

I told Sweetie this afternoon that I had an egg project and was going to spend most of my time in the kitchen. I didn't want to tell him in case my attempt failed. I toiled over it for almost two hours and it came out like a normal looking leche flan hehe.

So here's how Sweetie reacted to the special dessert I made for him --

Ingredients (good for 2 pans) 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 10 egg yolks 1 tsp vanilla 1 can evaporated milk (392 g) 1 can condensed milk (390 g) Melt sugar with water in a pan. Place in lyanera and let cool. Mix egg yolks vanilla and stir slowly then add the evaporated milk. Stir in condensed milk slowly. Strain until mixture is smooth. Pour mixture in 2 lyaneras and cover with foil. Steam in low heat for 30 minutes.

CB//97 #StuckAtHomeDay/127 #StayHome #BeKind