Chai and Cino

Had a glass of Iced Chai Latte earlier...well, where else but at the nearest McCafe, situated just a few minutes from our place. I was actually killing time then, it was lunchtime and it's Thursday...piano day for the little girl. I pick the kids earlier on Thursdays so as not to be late for the lesson. Today was also their last day at the after-school institution. I brought some baked sweets and candies there in the morning that they can all share for dessert after lunch. I was also doing errands...this and that almost made  my legs give up! So I sat at a corner and savored my Chai...yumm..but I can't help comparing it with the best Chai I had....some summers ago.

It was at a friend's house (she's from India), she herself prepared the (black) tea. In a small pot, she got some water and some stuff that I do not recognize at that time...possibly the usual cardamom, cinnamon and ginger (and some more). She then added milk and sugar...whew! It was not only the sweetness of the milk that brought out the flavors of the spices that got me hooked...it was the cleansing feeling after each sip. That's what lacked the one I had earlier...this made me full and sleepy.

---

---

I also found this in my phone archives. A chocolate chunk cookie and "Babycino," a small cup warm milk with cream...the server was so nice to put chocolate on it. She was smiling at the little boy behind me as I ordered...she may have thought it was for him but it's for the little girl hihi.

--

--

Read more...

Phones

I remember during the hype of nokia fones, almost everyone have prepaid cell phones. I think the trend hasn't  changed much and I actually find it more convenient than having a phone line. It does appear that packages offered by phone companies are cheaper but since I don't do a lot of calls, I'm better with prepaid. It would also help my  cause..."budgeting for this year." :D

Read more...

Apples on oatmeal

--

Growing up in a tropical country, I have known mangoes, pineapples, papayas amd soursops earlier than apples, strawberries and oranges. Imagine a row of trees heavy with fruits that some would fall off the ground....well, it's not so dreamy because it's a farm, but that' the kind of life I actually miss. Where I can own a garden and grow roses, tomatoes, forget me nots, basil, cucumber, and orchids. A view of pink, blue, red and vibrant green when I look at my kitchen window in the morning...perfect!

Coming back to reality now,I miss those fruits I enjoyed as a kid, where I am now they are considered exotic as were apples and peaches in my country. The other day, I tried to make this healthy breakfast, oatmeal with cinnamon apples...despite having allergies with the fruit that came about 2 years ago. My throat gets itchy when I eat them, same goes for my 2 older kids. We all have allergies with Steinobst, fruits that have big seeds in them, I think, like pear, peaches, apples, nectarines...and an odd case, kiwi. My daughter's lips turn red when she eats them...which looks good anyway. :D

So here's a recipe I adapted somewhere, which would yield servings for 3.

Ingredients

* 1 cup water
* 1/4 cup apple juice
* 1 apple, cored and chopped
* 2/3 cup oats
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 cup milk

Directions

1. Combine the water, apple juice, and apples in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, and stir in oats and cinnamon. Return to a boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer until thick, about 3 minutes. Spoon into serving bowls, and pour milk over the servings.

P.S. I did eat a few bites of apples and a few minutes later not only my throat was itchy but my eyes too. It was so good that I forgot about the allergies for a while haha....but I will surely remove the apples next time.... *sigh*

--

Happy RT! Join us by clicking the badge below.

Read more...

Gearing up for a 3rd Anniversary blowout!

I've been blogging since 2007 and thinking about it I never did had an anniversary blowout...lol. I would love to do that since I've joined other blogs' blowout and won from them too. The problem I'm sure to encounter would be shipping, I've experienced lots of times, those postcards I sent being lost...and those are just postcards...*sigh*. I guess then if ever I'd have to ship giveaways, they should be shipped via special forwarders. Also, I need to scout for the correct promotional items and appropriate prizes. Ok, let me do that and see what I come up in 7 months!

Read more...