My Very Own Angry Birds Cake

For those not in the know Angry Birds is an extremely popular game available on the iPhone (and other Apple “i” products plus other smart phones). As described on Wikipedia:

“In the game, players use a slingshot to launch birds at pigs stationed on or within various structures, with the intent of destroying all the pigs on the playfield. As players advance through the game, new birds appear, some with special abilities that can be activated by the player.”

It may not sound much but the game is highly addictive. It sure helps me while the time away as I wait for my bus, plane, train or any other sort of waiting I have to do. I guess it was an easy choice when I was asked me what cake I would like on my birthday.

I am not going to say a lot more except Thank You! (once again) to my lovely wife who laboured till the wee hours of the morning (no, not to give birth to our 5^th child) to produce this amazing cake. It’s made of two kinds of cake. The bigger layer is red velvet with white chocolate ganache. The mini cake on top is chocolate mud cake with dark chocolate ganache. I brought it to the office yesterday and was quickly gobbled up by my colleagues pigs, birds, rocks and all.

By the way, my dearest wife has her own blog now to showcase her cake designs. Do visit Cherry’s Cakes. And if you want her to create one for you please email me: enuguid@gmail.com.

Fish for Lent - Pritong Galunggong (Fried Yellow Tail Scads)

There is no better time to post about fish than during Lent. And there’s no better fish for Lent than the humble yellow tail scad.

Although widely available in Australia it is conspicuously absent from most restaurant menus. The yellow tail’s wide availability I suppose accounts for it being less “desirable.”

To the Filipino yellow tail scads or galunggong is more than just a fish. Although outwardly maligned it is in fact highly valued by Pinoys. Associated with the less affluent it apparently is the fish of choice if you have no money. In actual fact though, it is sometimes more expensive than other fish varieties.

Presidential elections have been won and lost on account of galunggong. Nothing speaks more to a Pinoy about the “real” state of the nation than this fish. No rhetoric direct from the President’s mouth can match what the price of galunggong tells the people. The Cosumer Price Index is nothing but an arbitrary number.

So, in the observance of Good Friday I decided to prepare a simple meal for the family. We shared fried yellow tail served with a side of fresh tomato salsa.

The recipe below couldn’t be simpler.

Fried Yellow Tail Scads

6 Yellow Tail scads gutted and cleaned

Some sea salt

1. Lightly salt each fish.

2. Heat up some oil.

3. Fry the fish to desired crispness.

4. Serve with some freshly cooked rice and a side of fresh tomato salsa.

Food Trip Philippines - Part 3 - Take-Away Pinoy Style

Palayok (Claypots)

Kalde-Kaldero

Lumpiang Shanghai

Sari-saring Ulam

Iba-ibang longanissa (sausages), tapa at tocino

Food Trip Philippines - Part 2 - My San Pablo

There’s only one other place in the world I call home.

Located a couple of hours south of Manila is the city of San Pablo. It is my mother’s hometown. It is where I grew up. It is where I met my future wife. It is my other home.

Otherwise know as “The City of Seven Lakes” it boasts seven lakes within its confines. These are Bunot, Calibato, Mohicap, Palakpakin, Pandin, Sampalok and Yambo lakes.

On a cloudless day the lakes are visible as your plane approaches NAIA. I also found out today that you also get a spectacular view of the lakes from Mt. Kalisungan and Tayak Hill.

Food Trip Philippines - Part 1

My apologies to those of you who are following this blog.

Being The Beancounter, I am, at the moment, going through my annual silly season (similar to Christmas sans the jolliness).

In the meantime please enjoy a selection of photos from my recent trip home. The next couple of posts would be similar in style as well.

Pork BBQ w/ Binalot na Kanin

Home made crispy pata

Black Gulaman

Calamansi at Sili

Crispy Tawilis