The Evidence is Clear

Finally. I got it done.

I am referring to getting my mother’s household companions to take their health more seriously.

You see, they are in their late 40s and with hefty physique to match.   If they were to take care of my very physically active mother, I had to make certain my mother’s companions stayed healthy and kept up with her. But more than that, they need to do it for their very young children.

Initially, using a digital blood pressure monitor, I took their BP readings.  As expected, their BPs were on the high side.

London: On A Clear Day

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Heathrow Airport. Local time is 5:58 in the morning and the temperature is 3 degrees Celsius.

For your safety and comfort, we ask that you please remain seated with your seat beats fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about.”

My sister, J, and I had finally arrived in London.  A trip I prepared for since that fateful day in September when she invited me to join her.  It was a much appreciated gift to gain an insight, though briefly, on British culture.  And even more so, it was a God-sent opportunity to bond with my daughter who was in the UK on a scholarship grant.

It was easy moving out of the airport to our hotel.  An underground train or the tube, took us directly to a station that was a block away from our hotel.  Since it was too early to check in at our hotel, we left our bags with the concierge and decided to walk around the area.  Although the trees were bare and the cold was getting into our bones, the blue sky made up for it.  We counted ourselves very lucky since we were told that it had been raining in London for the previous days.

We passed a church and at first I thought it was a Catholic one—it turned out to be Anglican. I reminded myself that everything changed with King Henry the VIII. But it did not stop me from saying a silent prayer of gratitude for a safe trip.

With the cold just getting too much to handle, we entered a StarBucks coffee house for some warmth. A croissant and a cup of tea helped.

 

Luck was on our side as the British Museum was just across this coffee shop.  I marveled at the tall and massive columns.  And was agog at what laid inside.  Question: How did the British manage to bring such huge and heavy works of art from one end of the world to their country?  I am sure some of these countries would want to have them back.

Our eyelids were getting heavy and although it was still early afternoon, we thought it best to catch up on some much needed sleep.  Rest would be important specially when we had planned to pack our days with the sights, sounds, smells and taste of London.

xoxoxoxox

The English are generally known to be reserved in their manners, dress and speech.  They are famous for their politeness, self-discipline, and their love for tea. And tea it was for me for the duration of my stay. 

Of course, I also wanted to make sure that I was making proper tea.  Guided by  instructions printed on tea boxes and advises passed down from one stranger to the next, I now share with you steps on coming up with that perfect cuppa:

Warm  the teapot (4-cup capacity -- preferably of the best china) by pouring hot water into it.  After a minute or so, pour out the water. 

Add one teaspoon of loose tea leaves or 1 tea bag for every person served—plus 1 teaspoon of loose tea leaves or one tea bag for the pot.  (For the love of the Pot!) 

Now add freshly boiled water into the pot with the tea. Preferably spring not distilled water —one cup for every guest. And remember, chlorinated water will give off a smell to your tea that would agitate you or your guests.  

 Let the tea steep depending on the type used:

o                          About one minute for green tea.

o                                Three to six minutes for black tea.

o                                Six to eight minutes for Oolong teas

o                                Eight to twelve minutes for herbal teas.

o                                Note: if you like stronger tea, don't steep longer—add more tea, instead.

For those who want milk in their tea (but not in herbal teas, please), add it after the tea has been poured in the cups. They say it is best to use the least creamy type. This I confirmed with the complementary skim milk and tea packets provided by the hotel.

Pass around the sugar bowl for those who wish to cut the bitterness of their brew. George Orwell, a British tea purist, would be turning in his grave at the act of adding milk and sugar to tea. 

But in the end, tea is for the living and personal preferences should prevail.  So carry on and make yourself a cuppa tea the way you like it.

As I am home now, butter on hot pan de sal makes perfect sense

And that my dear friends, was my lovely first day in London.

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.