69 days of Summer - 2012

Alright... here I am, back in the world called "blogging"... I know, I know,... I just have this on again off again relationship with my page.:-( Its kinda frustrating to know sometimes that I cant seem to move past the "beginners stage".... I admit I don't put all the time and effort to really find my way around. But now, I am starting again and I promise myself  that all I have to do is just document whatever happens on my day to day life.....

And it is perfect since summer vacation had already started for the kids!!! And for this year, I tag along a companion.......

On top of this... I still rely on my favorite blog sites that shows where and what to do within the Orange County area without breaking the bank... After all, we try to be savvy yet frugal in our spending habits.... In that way... we enjoy life to the best of everything knowing that we don't have to work hard again for the money we use... In other words... we always have a budget and a plan for our trips!!!! :-)

Click here to check out my favorite family site.....

For more blog sites..please check the following:

 http://www.just-spotted.com/
 http://rocketeermom.com/ ( for those living in Corona, I.E., Riverside etc)
http://iheartoldtowneorange.com/

There you go folks!!!!.. I just rely on those four for local "get aways..deals...and adventure"..

By the way,.. you can also check your local City Magazine. They are usually found in the libraries...:-)

Well?? Enjoy and have a happy summer vacation everyone!!

Blueberry Soy Yogurt Muffins

They say "curiosity killed the cat".. Not so much I believe :-)...
I walked into Sprouts one day and while checking out the dairy aisle, I came across Soy Yogurt..I like trying new things and so I decided to get it with the thought of pairing it with some fruits or adding it on to my smoothies.I was so excited when I got home and boy was I disappointed!! Soy didnt seem appealing to my taste buds at all. I mean, I love soy milk and some soy bean stuff but this??? eeewww!!!.. Sorry to say that but then I thought of making something good out of it instead. Next step was me browsing for some recipes....

I hope you will like this version of my blueberry muffin... It tastes so good that you can have it for your breakfast with coffee..

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups wheat flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt ( I always just add a pinch every time it calls for salt)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup plain soy yogurt
2/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups fresh (or frozen) blueberries

Preheat oven to 375 deg. Spray your muffin tray with non-stick spray. (I used my cupcake tray so I used some cupcake liners instead)

In a medium bowl, mix together egg, soy yogurt,oil and vanilla.
In a large bowl , mix the flour,sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together. Fold in the blueberries.Then fold in the wet ingredients and stir until just combined. ( Do not over mix the batter)

Fill each muffin cup and place in the center of your oven. Bake about 30 minutes until golden or when skewer or toothpick inserted comes out clean and dry. Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes. Makes 1 dozen. 

Eating twice as much minus the guilt!!!! :-)

Spring Break Fever

Hello everyone, its been only 4 days of no school and it seems like I'm running out of things to do when it comes to entertaining the kiddos. Not that I'm feeling hopeless but when things like this comes along, I always know where to check events that are sometimes free or almost free... Who else but my favorite daytrippingmom ???? If you want to know more about where she or they are going to take you and me,... please follow on and click HERE :


A few of my favorite places includes... but are not limited to... (wink ;-)

Dollar Movie Theaters - it actually cost you a little bit more on some days of the week but for the most part, $1.00 every Tuesdays.. please check listings

Griffith Park Observatory - free admission and its really good to go visit the place during spring or summer when the sun does not set till a little after 7:00pm

OC Zoo - Get your picnic bags  and mats ready then head on to the zoo....

There are more places in the list that we have not check out and we sure are going to include that in our "Spring- into- Summer Bucket of Fun ".. :-) Also below are some places that my family and I have recently checked while doing our hiking trek...

Peters Canyon Park

Santiago Creek Bike Trail

Crystal Cove State Park - we have actually been to the beach area but we are thinking of checking the hiking trail in our next visit....

 I hope this can help you plan for you or your family's journey too. Happy Spring Break Vacation!!!!!

My version of a healthy Pad Thai

I made this version a week ago but only got the chance to actually sit here and do some posting from my end. Like what I said yesterday, organizing and cleaning can keep you busy in a much rather non exciting type of way..:-)

I saw this recipe from our local Sunday papers a long time ago and knew instantly that I am going to get a taste of it. In fact, this is my first time to make Pad Thai and I actually tweak a few ingredients based on what I have available.. It still tasted oh-so-healthy and looking forward to make another batch soon..

Shrimp and Tofu Pad Thai  ----

1/2 c. Tamarind Juice ( I use the filipino sinigang mix... think about creativity huh??? )
2 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp rice wine vinegar
8 ounces rice noodles (linguine size)
1-2 tbsp peanut oil
1 pound deveined medium shrimp
2 tsp chopped garlic
1 egg , beaten
6 ounces firm tofu, cut into 1 or 2 inches cubes
8 green onions, trimmed and halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1 inch pcs
1 c shredded napa cabbage ( I used regular cabbage)
1 c bean sprouts, plus more for garnish
red pepper flakes to taste
1 tbsp chopped peanuts
Lime wedges and Thai basil or cilantro for garnish ( I used cilantro and lemon)

***
- Place tamarind juice,fish sauce,vinegar,and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring until sugar dissolves.

- Cook noodles according to package directions then set aside.

This is the kind of noodles I used.. Bought it at Sprouts.

- Place a wok or big pan over high heat. Once hot, add oil and saute shrimp one minute or until pink.Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.Add egg and stir until scarmbled.

- Add tamarind mixture, tofu,green onions, cabbage, sprouts, pepper flakes ( if you want some kind of heat in your food) and drained noodles. Stir until they are warmed throughout. Sprinkle with peanuts and serve with garnishes...

There goes my Pad Thai.....

Enjoy your meal!!!!! :-)

What kept me busy over the last week

We often say or hear the phrase " time flies fast ", and sure enough, it really does fly fast.. I never even thought that its  already been a week since I last posted something in here. So many organization and cleaning and more cooking happened after that last time..;-) Sorry about that..

To start off, my hands got busy again but this time, its not in the kitchen but in organizing and tossing or donating some stuff that I've or we've never used for years...I started off a bit from our closet and was able to come up with (2) trash bags of clothes... ( there's actually a few more that I'm still a bit  hesitant to let go...give me a few more time ,..wink! ) then came all these old school papers from our kids and old mails or copies that used to be important then.. Sorting out papers just killed my time....

See what I mean???? And that's not even half of it.... I still have my own personal stuff plus my piles of nursing reviewers...:-(... That will be for another time, I must say... On the good side of it, We were able to find things that we thought was gone a long time ago.... " Seek and you shall find" !!!!! :-)

Tomorrow , I should post my take on a healthy version of Pad Thai..... Till tomorrow.....

Eggless (Vegan) Mango Cake

I finally made something this week!!! Part of my curiosity and diversity is to try new things... Initially, I bought some mangoes in a can last week thinking that I am going to make Mango Mousse Cake... After browsing for some added extras, I came across a vegan type and slowly my focus shifted into checking it out...It did not turn out bad but you can guess from the first bite.... It is vegan!!! :-)

Here's the recipe with my own versions.....and as adapted from one of my favorite blog... The Chef In You...

Eggless (vegan) Mango Cake

1 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 tsp cinnamon powder ( instead of cardamom, since I don't have any )
1 1/2 cups mango puree ( I used canned mangoes and pureed it in the food processor)
1/3 cup canola oil ( you can reduced 1-2 tbsp if you want to add mango puree instead )
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Sift and mix flour,baking powder and salt. Add cinnamon powder and give a quick mix till blended.

In another bowl, add the rest of the ingredients and whisk well until smooth. (make sure your pureed mangoes are into a smooth consistency.) Slowly add flour a little at a time while giving it a gentle mix. Make sure you don't over beat the batter.

Pour into a well grease baking pan and smooth the top. (  I used a round cake pan )

Bake in preheated 350 F oven for 30-40 mintues or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
Some oven gets hot fast so make your own judgement..

Let it cool before serving. ( you will noticed the cake leaving the sides of the pan once its cool.)

Try it with an afternoon tea...:-)

Positive Thoughts Create Positive Results!

In this crazy world we are living, I have come to deal with my everyday stressors through meditation and prayers. Being quiet whenever I get the chance  helps me connect to my inner self, where I could fully rewind all my thoughts and actions. A chance to talk to God and share all my success and disappointments. And a chance to simply enjoy the life that's been laid out in front of me. I'm always a believer of faith. Religion is such a profound topic that I don't even want to argue with it but for as long as your faith is there, and no matter which road you take, as long as you know you connect with God, then that is true spirituality. I have proven this to myself and in the course of my journey over the years.

Experience can also be the best teacher. And I have always love learning from life. My life and other people's life. I have opened my perspective to things which allows me to make mistakes and grow. I am not afraid of falling and failing because I know that at some point in my life, I tried my best. I always find the chance to celebrate even the smallest of things and for me, there are so many reasons to celebrate life. I value every person I meet and I treasure every memories I've created with them. I like to learn and even more enthusiastic to learn from the best! I apply things according to what my needs are so basically they change from time to time. I have a lot of hopes and dreams and I am not afraid to chase after them. I am slowly learning to either say "yes" or " no" and no more in between. :-) ( that's tough for me!!!!) I have also learned to appreciate the word "no" in exchange for some quality time with myself or my family.... Most of all, I realized that I could never be in so many things ,in such little time, and in such vast areas of my life.

The discovery of Sahaja Yoga ( as explained in my older blog) has really helped me discover a lot of things. At this point , I am not as active with my meditation as I was before but knowing the real meaning of my inner self helps me stay in the present moment. It is only through being in the " here and now" that I can truly and deeply appreciate things. Why worry about the past when you can not undone what has been done?? And why worry about the future when all you ever have are thoughts that might or might not happen?? I have learned and still learning how to master the Law of Attraction . As another human being, I am still prone to my own weaknesses and strength . But like I said, with my Faith and Open minded attitude, I embrace life one day at a time. I follow and adapt  "certain rules of thumb" from powerful and successful individuals for things that I feel is essential for mine and my family's life . After all, these people have already proven themselves so why experiment of any other way??? They have already mapped out the road to a whole new way of living... All I ever have to do is follow through it....

This is how Oprah likes to say it : WHEN YOU KNOW BETTER, YOU DO BETTER!!!!!

Pls take the time to watch this video. It helps.....

How to Create Perfect Circumstances in Your Life EVERYDAY (Abraham Hicks)