The Home of the Heart

My husband and I has been living in the same subdivision for the last twenty years. When we first moved into the neighborhood, there was not much neighbors to be neighborly with. There were only 8 houses stretched out along our 1-kilometer long street. My immediate neighbor was 5 lots away on either side.

Twenty years ago, there was only 1 phone inside the subdivision. It was in a house at the corner of the next street. As our area was relatively quiet, we could hear that phone ring when a call was coming in. Oh, how green with envy I was for the next five years. Celphones were not heard of then-- those were the primitive days.

A long and narrow dirt road lead to the entrance of our subdivision; going out for groceries or medicines was a great inconvenience; there were no fastfood outlets willing to deliver to our area; and, there were but 5 for-hire tricycles (motorcycle with a sidecar) serving our subdivision for certain hours of the day only. Water was pumped up and distributed through the subdivision's tired and old water system. The water contained interesting foreign objects.

But what little there was in terms of urban convenience was made up for by 30-year old acacia trees lining up the streets; views of rice fields on each side of a river; the sound of my children's and their friends laughter as they race through the streets in their bikes; clear night skies blanketed with a million stars.

Friendship with the neighbors were forged initially through the children. It is the natural progress of things. First the kids learn to play in the enclosed gardens. Then they move onto the streets and finally into each others homes. Soon birthday parties were not complete without including our neighbors in the invitation list.

What I lacked in terms of family relations, was made up by the warmth and cordial relationships developed with my neighbors. A cup of sugar, an egg and a bowl of cooked rice would be requested over the fences. A cry for help was never ignored and thankfully emergencies have so far never ended tragically.

Twenty year after, we have a phone plus several celphone lines. A few years ago, we finally got connected to a reliable water provider. The flow of water is strong and clean. Our present access into the subdivision is now a well-lit, wide concrete-paved road. We have a mall, a gas station and a McDonald's Restaurant a mere 20-minute walk away. Where once was a horse stable, now is a taxi company operating so close to the subdivision that travelling to the airport at 5 in the morning is no longer a pain.

Gone though are the rice fields. In its place is a large squatter colony whose size continues to grow each year. And what once was a river is now a thin excuse of its former self. But we do still have the trees and the occasional quiet starlit nights. The neighborhood has considerably filled up and new relationships are getting harder and harder to form. (Is this the price to pay for progress/urbanization?)

Many of the neighborhood children have left their homes to work, to migrate, to marry. Although they may have outgrown street games and slumber parties, they still keep in touch: thru celphones; at chance meetings in coffeeshops; and, Facebook.

My children too have moved on but my neighbors and closest friends, thankfully, remain. It is comforting to know that should a serious need arise in the middle of the night, we need not think twice about waking each other up.

As my daughter once aptly put it in a submitted neighborhood newsletter write-up so many years ago: "You can get a person out of our neighborhood, but you wouldn't be able to get the neighborhood out of the person."

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How do you start relationships with your neighbor? By taking the initiative! And nothing gets things started better than a homey gift-- a potted plant or a bunch of garden flowers; a delicious bowl of soup or a plate of home-baked cookies. Timing is important and if you are observant of their comings and goings (read: nosey ..he..he) you would more or less know the best time to drop in with gift in hand. But if you are shy and fear rejection, you could simply ring their doorbell, hand over the goodies and wish them a good day. Do not be discouraged if nothing happens right away. Good relationships take time and need nurturing. A smile, a wave of the hand, a greeting over the fences can do wonders to hasten things a bit.

To get you started, try out this neighbor-pleasing recipe:

Clementine's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
(I found this written behind a bag of choco chips-- the brand escapes me right now. Why they call it after Clementine is probably an interesting story--if I decide to make one up).

You will need to cream the following together:
1 1/4 c margarine or butter
3/4 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
1 t vanilla
Then add to it, these ingredients that have been stirred together:
1 1/2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
3 c Ouaker Oats (Quick or Old Fashioned, uncooked!)
Fold in the following:
2 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c chopped nuts
(you can add raisins as well but just cut back on either the chips or the nuts)

Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in a 375*F oven for 8 to 9 minutes for a chewy cookie, 10- 11 minutes for a crisp cookie.

Cook for 1 minute on cookie sheet; remove to wire cooling racks. Store in tightly covered containers.

A Tea Party

I took from the drawers
Cups and saucers.

Tea and coffee
All ready by three.

I skip, I hop
I can’t be stopped.

My guests are here,
Now pass those cupcakes, dear.

It seems that I have always had a fondness for parties. When I was little, I would be in awe as I quietly observed the grown-ups at parties at my fraternal grandmother’s house. My grandmother took her parties seriously. She ensured that the invited guests would be comfortable with each other; the food superbly matching the occasion, and little details, like flowers and music, were in place. The perfect eventologist!

Although parties at my parent’s house were not as big a production as that of my grandmother’s, my mother put into practice what she learned from the parties organized by my grandmother. And we did have quite a lot of parties at home albeit at a smaller scale. And unlike my grandmother, who would normally have her parties catered, my mother would cook all the main courses, including desserts, that would be served—sometimes feeding as many as 50 guests. It’s amazing how she still had the energy during the party to chat and laugh with the guests—fresh as if she came from a spa.

But the parties that I loved best were the small, intimate gatherings at home or at friends’ homes. These were the ones with no more than ten friends or relatives casually dressed and relaxing with a cup of coffee, tea or a cool drink. To keep the conversation flowing, there were usually a plate of homemade cookies or cupcakes, deity sandwiches and some sliced fruits for the grown-ups. The kids would have their own treat with ice cream thrown in for good measure. The talk would take a leisurely route— first off would usually be family updates; then to the latest office rumors, followed by the new fashion trends and the movie star of the hour. The talk trails off with other light subjects like hobbies and recipes. Nothing serious nor threatening. Somehow the hours just slowly matched along and then with a startle, someone notices the time. Good-byes are the longest when happy times were spent together with those whose company we enjoy having.

I sometimes wished that life could be just one tea party after another. But then I think about all the pounds I would put on from all the eating and sitting around. So I content myself with the occasional invite and busy myself with the planning, the calling, the cooking and the bringing out of my good cups and saucers.

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I recently found the occasion to hold a tea party in my garden. To be truthful, there were three occasions!! All three gatherings were a breeze to have: a casual set-up with some garden flowers in small vases, scented candles to ward off wondering bugs and an uncomplicated menu. At all three gatherings, my guests immediately felt at home and pampered all because they were comfortable with each other and they noticed that I had the best plates, glasses and cutlery set out for their use. No paper plates nor plastic spoons, please.



Now if you are thinking of having a tea party soon, let me share a great idea: serve a chocolate pudding pie in tiny tea cups. Not only will you impress your guests but there will be less washing ups later.

Chocolate Pudding Pie

1. Have ready three egg yolks that have been slightly beaten. Set aside.

2. Mix ½ cup cornstarch with ½ cup water. Set aside.

3. Place some water on the lower portion of your double boiler. Set on the stove and bring heat to medium.

4. On the top pan of a double boiler, mix 1 can condensed milk with ½ c cocoa powder.



5. As the mixture heats up, stir in 1 ¼ cup of hot water.

6. To ensure that your pudding doesn’t get lumpy, add a tablespoon or two of the chocolate mixture to your egg yolks and stir.

7. Slowing add the egg yolk mixture to the content on your double boiler.

8. Stir gently and continuously.

9. Add the water-cornstarch mixture to the chocolate pudding and stir.

10. The mixture will come to a pudding consistency and you can add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and 1 tablespoon of butter to give it a shine.



11. While hot, spoon the pudding into teacups whose bottoms have been lined with graham cracker crust.




12. Cool and refrigerate.

13. Before serving add a dollop of chilled cream on top of each teacup.

Note: This can be done a day or two before the party and kept in your fridge.

Graham Cracker Crust

Mix together 1 1/4 cup crushed graham crackers and 1/3 cup melted butter. Divide into 12 portions of about a tablespoon for each teacup. Press each portion into the bottom of each tea cup. For presentation purposes, it is best to use tiny tea cups.

The Dirt about Composting

With plenty of time on my hands, I find myself spending more time in my little garden. At least an hour or two in the morning and another hour in the afternoon when the sun is less cruel. There is something that draw me to getting down and dirty with nature. It has an uplifting and cleansing effect-- if you know what I mean. I welcome the perspiration that drips off my brow when the tugging at weeds becomes a challenge. Then there are no words to describe the beauty of seeing tiny flowers peeking out of a cluster of pepper foliage heavy with red and green fruits. And the thrills I get when confronted with a wiggly earthworm or a startled frog-- yikks!

My son says that my sojourn into the world of gardening is a sure sign of aging. But I beg to disagree--somewhat. You see with every new shoot the pops out of the ground and with every butterfly that wings itself through the flowers, I feel recharged! Isn't that strange? You have to grow older to appreciate what it is to be young and new and full of wonder.

Do you want to give it a try? You do not need a large plot of land to start your garden. You can go slow and maybe buy an easy-to-care-for plant at your local nursery as a starter. When you are comfortable about the idea about getting soil between your fingernails (actually, there's no rule that says you can't wear gloves), then you can move on to bigger things.

One of these "bigger" endeavors could be composting. The garbage crisis has made many of us sit up and seriously think about our environment. Our landfills are quickly turning into mountains; the air is fouling up; and, there is no end to the diseases that plague us. How does composting come into the picture? Well, "compost returns organic matter to the soil in a usable form. Organic matter in the soil improves plant growth by: stimulating the growth of beneficial microorganisms, loosening heavy clay soils to allow better root penetration; improving the capacity to hold water and nutrients particularly in sandy soils; and adding essential nutrients to any soil. Improving your soil is the first step toward improving plant health. Healthy plants help clean air, conserve soil, and beautify landscapes."

I do not want to impose on you or want to bore you with the technicalities of composting. That would be too presumptuous of me. Instead, I hope that the seed I have planted will bear fruit in your interest to cultivate a green thumb and help the environment as well.

Now, what follows is a different sort of recipe--

Food for the Garden: A garden version of "Food for the Gods"

Ingredients:
two large containers-- 1 empty and 1 filled with soil
kitchen vegetable scraps
some water
a ladle

• Line the bottom of your empty container with 1-inch of soil. Layer your kitchen scrap right on top of the soil. Brown (leaves, shredded paper) and green (grass clippings, vegetable scraps, etc.) and white (eggshells). No meats or grease, please. You don't want to invite mickey mouse.



• Cover with a 1-inch layer of soil.



• Continue your layering.



Finish off with a nice topping of soil.



• Moisten by sprinkling top with water.



• Keep the contents moist but not wet. Cover and set aside.



• Take on another large pot and repeat the process.

• To keep the bacteria active, turn or aerate the contents in your pot from time to time.

• To quicken the "cooking" process, you may add a little nitrogen-- plant fertilizer, coffee grounds, even urine if you dare ( yuck! but it works)

• The compost is ready for use in the garden once it is dark brown, crumbly and earthy-smelling-- about three week to a month.

If you don't have the time to do the above process, do your decomposing the easy way by burying organic material right in the garden or potted plants. During the weekend, collect your kitchen scraps in a covered container, and then take it with you on your stroll through your garden. (Pretend that you're the Easter Bunny with a basket of eggs.) Tuck cut-up mango peels, wilted lettuce leaves, and other scraps in small dug-up holes near your plants and cover with a few inches of soil. If you have weeds and clippings to compost, lay them under shrubs and cover with garden soil. Let worms and microorganisms do the dirty work -- the decomposing, conditioning of soil, and distributing of nutrients -- while you hardly lift a finger.

The Truth of the Matter

What makes the heart skip a-beat, eyelashes a-flatter, and steps a-lighter...... Is it....
a) a bonus in your payslip?
b) hunger?
c) the Bird Flu?

Could it be love?

I would like to share with you an incident some 10 years ago that somehow helped me focus on what love really is. One day my daughter noticed my son intently whispering sweet nothings on the phone. She brings this phenomena to my husband's attention and ask, "Daddy, what is love?"

My husband ever the teacher wanting to have his student grasp the lesson in one easy step began with, "Well, what your kuya is experiencing right now is a lot of excitement and the feeling of lightness. That is not love. Because love is boring. Now go ask your mom why..."

As I was there at the time of enlightenment, I did not know whether I should be elated because my husband considered that what we have was love or I should be depressed because my husband considered our "love" boring.

Well, not one to let it go without clarification, I asked, "What do you mean by boring?"

Well, love indeed is boring, explained my husband, because it is as constant as night follows day; it is as comfortable as warm bedroom slippers; and it is dependable as paid-up insurance.

Okey, okey, I conceded that my husband had a point and well, also pulled a fast one on me too. But love is trust and so I will once more put on something red because Love-is-thine day is just around the corner.

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Don't have a red outfit but would like to mark a special date? Why not try out baking some chocolate cupcakes that is sure to fire up those old fashion feelings.



Old Fashion Chocolate Cupcakes

2 cups all purpose flour
2 t baking soda
½ t salt
¾ c cocoa

½ c butter
3 eggs
2 cups brown sugar

½ c milk
1 T vinegar
1 t vanilla
1 cup hot water

Set oven to 350 degrees. Drop cupcake liners into 2 12-cupcake pan.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, salt and cocoa. Set aside.

Cream butter until light yellow in color. Then alternately add sugar and eggs. Begin with the sugar and end with the sugar. ( divide the sugar into 4 so you add ½ c sugar then an egg, and so on and so forth)

Mix in the vinegar to the milk. Alternately add the flour mixture and the milk mixture to the batter—in four . Begin with the flour and end with the flour. (divide the flour mixture into 4 so you add about ½ c flour then 1/3 portion milk, then flour and so on and so forth).

Once well blended, add vanilla and the hot water. Stir until mixture is of smooth consistency.

Pour into rectangular pan or cupcake pan and put into the oven. Bake for 30-40 minutes for the rectangular pan or until toothpick comes up clean when inserted in the middle of cake. For cupcakes, it will take only 20-25 minutes to bake.

When done, cool on rack. You may ice this with your favorite frosting. For the cupcakes, I like to frost them with Fluffy White Frosting. Then sprinkle some colored candy bits to give them a happy and festive look.

Fluffy White Frosting
2 egg whites
¾ cup sugar
1/3 c light corn syrup
2 T water
¼ t salt
¼ t cream of tartar
1 t vanilla

Combine first 6 ingredients in top of double boiler. Cook over rapidly boiling water, beating with mixer until mixture stands in peaks. Remove from heat. Add vanilla. Continue beating until think enough to spread.

Painting Rainbows

I always marvel at the way some people manage to smile and keep a pleasant disposition inspite of the daily challenges they encounter. They are the ones whose smiles extend to the twinkle in their eyes. Their greetings always run true. Their interest in you always genuine. Surely they are gifted!

As babies, I imagined them being fed honey by their smiling moms while they soaked up the warm rays of the morning sun. Their fathers must have taken them to Walt Disney movies every single Saturday while they were growing up. Tragedy never visited their homes nor hearts. Could this be it?

So in my quest to find the answer, I went ahead and asked these gifted persons the reason for their "good naturedness". I found out that some grew up in happy homes and some in sad homes. I found out that some were loved dearly by their mothers and fathers and some were orphans or never knew a kind word from their parents. All have not been spared from moments of despair and loneliness. All have at one time or another had their share of sadness-- in varying degrees. Simply put, their lives have been less than perfect.

But there is one thing that sets them apart from most of us.

Attitude. "The paintbrush of the mind" as one author calls it. These happy people have willed themselves to be what they want to be; to feel what they want to feel; to say what they want to say. They chose to paint rainbows, sunny days at the beach or cartoon characters. They chose not to put their "paintbrush" in the hands of an angry customer or a nasty sales person. They chose not to hand over their "paintbrush" to their doctors, their bosses, their significant partners or their friends or even the weather. They chose to be pleasant and thus, they harvest the gains. No hyperacidity, no hyperventilation. As their personalities glow, so do their skin. And as their popularity grow, so do their number of friends they keep.

And most importantly, I found that these people have chosen to put their lives in the hands of God. They trust that God in His infinite wisdom will always paint the loveliest rainbows for them. Indeed, they have every reason to be happy.

Who's painting your mind today?



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Want to paint rainbow days for your kids or favorite gangmates? I tried this recipe two weeks ago and got four thumbs up from my kids. I now have their unconditional loyalty.

Quick and Easy Alfredo Sauce (adopted from Dawn Carter's submitted recipe on Allrecipes)

1/2 cup butter
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
2 teaspoons garlic powder or 1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 cups milk
6 ounces grated Parmesan cheese (about 3/4 c)
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 (500 grms) pack spaghetti or fettuccine noodle (follow cooking directions on package)

Directions

Melt butter in a medium, non-stick saucepan over medium heat. Add cream cheese and garlic powder, stirring with wire whisk until smooth. Add milk, a little at a time, whisking to smooth out lumps. Stir in Parmesan and pepper. Remove from heat when sauce reaches desired consistency. Sauce will thicken rapidly, thin with milk if cooked too long. Toss with hot pasta to serve.

Notes:
1. Bring cream cheese to room temperature and cut into cubes so that it will combine with the melted butter quicker.
2. You may use fresh garlic and add other spices like nutmeg or herbs like basil.
3. You could cut the fat content by using reduced fat milk products.
4. You can use the pre-grated Parmesan cheese -cheaper.
5. You can add steamed flowerets of broccoli, cauliflower and diced carrots to add color.
6. For kid-friendly dish, add bacon bits or diced ham.
7. Left over sauce may be stored in the fridge for at least a week.
8. Do not pour all of the sauce onto the pasta. Do it a portion at a time so that you can stop at the point you think that the sauce has coated all of the noodles evening. Remember this is a very rich sauce.
9. If you feel that the creamed noodles look dry, add a little of the hot liquid used to cook the noodles in. Adjust seasoning.