Definitely a valuable piece of fine art, this oblique pen holder is the most special one in my calligraphy arsenal. Well, so far. My collection keeps on growing, it seems. It was quite challenging to hide my excitement when the package containing this finally arrived, all the way from Hanoi, Vietnam. There are two major…
Adobo in Carob and Plum Wine Sauce
To eat Adobo is a birthright. Perfecting the recipe is a different story. Traditionally prepared with pantry basics such as vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves and peppercorns, the magic of adobo derives from the excellent balance of its flavors, in the alchemy of the process. Simmering tames the acidity of the vinegar, which then combines…
Unsweetened Carob Chips
Unsweetened carob chips that are dairy-free and without the unhealthy palm oil and soy lecithin additives are hard to come by. The delicious, melt-in-your-mouth kind is also elusive. This is sad for those who are intolerant to cocoa and at the same time would like to enjoy healthy chocolate chip cookies. For me, the only way…
Trip to Nuevo Vallarta
Downtown Puerto Vallarta in Mexico is known globally for its winding cobblestone streets lined with bougainvillea. You’ve probably seen this Riviera Nayarit city in the 1964 film “The Night of the Iguana.” The launch of this film prompted an influx of crowd, mostly California’s elite, to this Pacific coast town in the ’60s and ’70s….
VIDEO: Discover Gridley
Quaint, charming and small business-friendly, Gridley is a city in Butte County in Northern California, United States. Zip code is 95948. DISCOVER GRIDLEY VIDEO TRANSCRIPTION “Today, I will introduce you to this quaint, charming, little town in Northern California, about 45 minutes north of Sacramento. The city’s name is Gridley, zip code 95948. I…
Road Trip: Oregon Coast
Missing Oregon, its insane gray weather, and all its greenery. I love everything about this Pacific Northwest state. Some weekends, I’d crave for those those days when Waldport and Newport were only an hour away from where we lived (in Corvallis). What I truly enjoyed doing, whenever time permitted, was going on a road trip…
Fluffy Pancake Recipe
How to make fluffy pancakes, according to John. For me, these are the best homemade fluffy pancakes. They are Japanese Soufflé Pancake inspired but we’re creatures of simple habits so we didn’t go the extra mile. No meringue mixture is beaten to form stiff peaks, then folded into the batter, which cooks directly in metal…
Low Carb Biscuit Recipe
Healthy, gluten-free and absolutely low carb, for me, this is the best homemade biscuit recipe! If you’re into flavorful biscuits, you’re going to love these. The best part? You will only need five ingredients! Some of my friends who are doing the ketogenic diet also enjoy these biscuits with almond flour fathead dough as bread…
VIDEO: Baan Suan Ka Fe
A rural delight, Baan Suan Ka Fe in Chiang Mai, Thailand is the true definition of a modern jungle cafe. Beautifully located in the foothills of Doi Pui on the way to Doi Kham (where the Royal Project gardens are) and with a mountain stream running through the middle part of the area, the cafe…
Homemade Egg Custard Pie Recipe
After a trip this morning to the supermarket, my husband mentioned that it’s been a long time since I made an egg custard pie. With “a long time,” he actually meant just six to seven days ago. So that says a lot about this dessert. It is his favorite. We would usually make this pie…