At Home With MrsC

Raising a family, making a home.

MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan

Reading List

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Yesterday someone asked me if I read I lot. I said that, yes, I try to read as much as I can. She replied, “I can tell.”

That, my friends, is my idea of an amazing compliment.

I must admit, though, that lately I haven’t been reading as often as I know I should be. I blame it on my newly developed habit of TV show binge-watching. Truth is, becomes extra challenging for me to keep up with my writing when I slow down on reading, and of course this is never a good thing when you write for a living.

 

He asked his ninang @marrri__ for a book for Christmas. Little bookworm makes mommy bookworm proud! ? #Christmas2015 #littlemrc

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

A few nights ago, I picked up where I left off on the last Secret Book Club BOM I started, Tender at the Bone. This was last September’s book assignment. I actually have a lot of catching up to do, because I only got to read one book from last year’s BOM list. I also skipped a few of the recommended books from the year before. That’s okay, though. I’m happy to be entering into my birth month with a list of books waiting to be read.

In the interest of keeping track of my reading progress, I thought I’d share our reading lists from the past two years here. I love how the different members of our little reading community recommend different kinds of books. It’s always fun finding new authors and series to fall in love with.


 

SBC Reading List

  • Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith / JK Rowling 
  • Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco – I’ve tried and failed many times to read this one. 🙁
  • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 
  • The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan 
  • Losing It by Cora Carmack
  • Arabian Nights by Sir Richard Burton
  • Belong To Me by Marisa delos Santos
  • This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
  • The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  • Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira – I loved this one! So depressing. Lol!
  • Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover 
  • Fortunately The Milk by Neil Gaiman 
  • Paper Towns by John Green
  • Still Alice by Lisa Genova – This book made me cry!!!
  • Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones
  • Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami – I read this years ago, but it’s on my re-read list!
  • Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
  • Lily of the Nile by Stephanie Dray
  • One Summer by David Baldacci
  • Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
  • We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
  • On Dublin Street by Samantha Young – This was super funny!
  • Tender at the Bone by Ruth Reichl
  • The Residence by Kate Anderson Brower
  • Elegance of a Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery 

I’ll cross titles off of this list as I finish reading, and I’ll update it at the end of the year, too, to include the 2016 list. Read along with me if you’d like to, then let me know if you enjoyed any of the books on this list, okay?

I also found these links (discovered through my book club, too!) bookmarked on my computer. More books to read! 

As you can see, I am slightly obsessed with book lists.

What’s on your 2016 reading list?

Chickenpox, House Arrest, and a New Meal Plan

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I didn’t get to make a meal plan for last week. Life, basically, got in the way. Then, just when things were starting to ease up, my son came home from school with chicken pox.

Ah, the life of a mom in all its crazy glory.

So now, we are on house arrest, for fear of spreading germs. Today is day five, and MrC and I have agreed to only go out whenever absolutely necessary. So far, it’s been for quick runs to the market, grocery store and drug store.

We’ve each watched a good amount of TV and done some reading. The kiddo has spent more than his usual allowable time on his phone and playing games online. The truth is,  we are now officially bored. Lol. 

On the upside, it has also been a productive 5 days so far. We finally took down the Christmas tree. I did some baking so that we have yummy snacks to munch on. MrC cleaned out our living room and the storage area.

 

Plus, of course, we’ve gotten to spend time with our speckled child, who has been in need of distractions to keep him from scratching. We’ve seen a few movies, played board games and video games, talked, and hung out. Truth is, it feels like Christmas break all over again, minus the quezo de bola.

The last few days of January has been a time for recovering, resting and recharging for this family. That, and restocking the fridge. So without further ado, here’s what came out of my (messy) kitchen last week. Notice how things got significantly better mid-week, post-chicken pox discovery.

And, in case you missed it, I’m also sharing the previous week’s meal plan, which I posted on IG. Add me there @mrspcuyugan!

mrspcuyugan
Here’s Meal Plan #4

 

I also made some changes to my blog design today. It’s nothing major, since this is all that I can manage on my own. I tried to super tweak before, which ended up killing my blog, and I promised never to do that again.

I love this new layout because it’s so clean and the post photos are larger than the ones in my previous one. I plan on having the whole site redone towards the end of this year, though, to make it look more “me.” Do you guys have any amazing designers to recommend for this? I have a few in mind, but I always like to make sure that I have options.

mrspcuyugan
Could you guys do me a favor and say a little prayer for this guy’s healing?

 

Tomorrow, just like today, the kid and I will be together at home, figuring out what to do with ourselves. MrC is going back to work, so at least he gets a change of pace. Then again, I’m glad I get to be on chickenpox watch. I’m happy I get to take care of the kiddo myself. This is precisely why I quit my day job.

Kiwa Korean Grill Dining

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Confession: It’s been two weeks since I had this amazing Yang Nyeom Gal Bi at Kiwa, and I’m still not over it. As in, I think about it, I want to have it, I wish I had more while I was there. 

Kiwa Solaire
Please, sir, I want some more. Lol. [Photo from Kiwa Korean Grill Dining]

 

Kiwa Korean Grill Dining is the only fine dining Korean barbecue restaurant in South East Asia. The restaurant is located in Solaire, and has the most amazing view of Manila Bay. I swear, it’s so pretty there, and when the afternoon light starts pouring in from its huge windows, it’s almost magical. I can just imagine what it would look like at sunset – So romantic! Perfect for date night. (Ahem, MrC. Please take note.)

Kiwa Solaire
Appetizers with a view! This space cadet forgot to write down what this was, but one was a porridge, and the other a cold soup. They’re really good together.

 

Side-note: I’ve been trying to accurately describe what I want the small patio area at the back of our house to look like, but no one’s been able to get me. Then, I walked into Kiwa and saw exactly what I was trying to describe! Isn’t it so nice? It’s so homey and comfortable. Everything’s imported from Korea, though, so good luck to me being able to replicate this! Lol.

Oh, and case you were wondering, Kiwa means traditional Korean roof tile.

Kiwa Solaire
The restaurant interiors were designed by a Korean firm. The look is both traditional and chic at the same time.

 

I have to tell you, I was never really fond of Korean food. There was just something about the taste profile that didn’t appeal much to me. After Kiwa, my perspective has changed. Everything there tastes so clean and fresh, so unlike the greasy, all-spice-no-flavor Korean food I’ve tried before. I suppose I’ve been going to all the wrong places? Lol.

The thing with the Kiwa menu is that they really made an effort to keep the recipes authentic. Chef Gi Won Park and his team didn’t make any alterations to make the food more Pinoy-friendly. I’d like to think that this is what made a difference. This, plus the fact that they only use the freshest, most premium ingredients. 

Kiwa Solaire
The food at Kiwa does not hide behind overly strong spices. Take this white kimchi, for instance – No spice, all fresh flavor.

 

Another super mega plus for Kiwa is the fact that you leave the place without smelling like smoke. They have a state-of-the-art exhaust system underneath the restaurant, so all the smoke goes down there. None of it reaches your clothes or hair. Like I said, this place is great for date night! You can snuggle after without the constant olfactory reminder of what you just ate. Though, trust me, your taste buds won’t soon forget.

I mean, seriously. Words cannot even begin to describe the meal we had. Feast your eyes on this.

Kiwa Solaire
Tomato-Yangsangchu Salad – Seasoned seafood in a whole tomato salad
Kiwa Solaire
Haemul-Pajeon – Pancake with seafood, spring onion and assorted vegetables
Kiwa Solaire
Japchae – Pan fried glass noodles with beef & assorted vegetables

 

The appetizers alone were so filling already. Serving sizes here are very generous, and good enough for three to four people to share. There were four of us at our table, and we really ate our hearts out.

Kiwa Solaire
Baebaek-Kimchi – Rolled White Kimchi inside a Korean pear with seasoned water. I LOVED THIS SIDE DISH!!! Yes, all caps.
Kiwa Solaire
Gobachi – Platter of scallop sashimi, steamed shrimp, salmon sashimi, steamed octopus and marinated tomato. This was one of my faves, too. Those scallops… OMG. [Photo from Kiwa Korean Grill Dining]
Kiwa Solaire
Grilled Samgyeopsal – Seasoned pork belly. You can eat this wrapped in greens with your favorite sauce, but in all honesty, I had it with rice. Same goes for the beef.

 

No matter how filling a meal can be, I make sure to always leave room for dessert. Dessert is a priority in my world! I’m glad I did because the sweet treats at the end of our Kiwa Korean journey were so worth it.

Kiwa Solaire
Cold plum tea. Really yummy, tastes almost like a cosmopolitan, sans alcohol. It’s supposed to be good for digestion, too.

 

For a full-course meal at Kiwa, be prepared to spend around PHP 3,000. Rice sets go for PHP 800 and up. The place is totally family-friendly, so if you happen to be staycationing at Solaire, go downstairs and eat at Kiwa. You will not regret it! 

Kiwa Korean Grill Dining is located at Solaire Resort & Casino, 1 Aseana Avenue, Parañaque City.
Contact number: 888-8888.
Website: www.kiwa.com.ph
Facebook: Kiwa Korean Grill
Twitter/Instagram: @kiwakoreangrill

Recipe: Baked Fish in White Wine Butter Sauce

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Another week, another meal plan!

This week is going to be a busy one for me, and so I’ve chosen meals that are easier to prepare (as in, can be made or marinated ahead,) especially where baon is concerned.

I also have a lot of leftovers sitting in the refrigerator and freezer, and I really have to make sure to use these up before my next grocery trip. At the moment, I have no room to put in anything new. Time to get creative with recycling, and mixing and matching. Sigh. Small fridge woes.

mrspcuyugan
2016 Meal Plan #2

 

If you’ll notice, Saturday is “assorted leftovers for lunch day” again, just like last week. I often find myself with small containers of random things, like a piece of fried chicken, 3 slices of tapa, tiny portions of corned beef, etc. and this is my way of making sure none of them go to waste. We sometimes call this our weekly Tupperware buffet.

Speaking of last week, I made a really nice, super easy baked fish dish for a potluck dinner party with the family over the weekend. Here’s the recipe for that, in case you guys wanna try making it at home, too. 

Baked Fish in White Wine Butter Sauce
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Ingredients
  1. One pack of fish fillets (You may use sole, dory, pangasius or tilapia)
  2. Salt
  3. Pepper
  4. Parsley or thyme
  5. Paprika
  6. Olive oil
  7. 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  8. Half a head of garlic, minced
  9. 1/4 cup White wine
  10. The juice of half a lemon
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375F.
  2. Season fish fillets with salt, pepper, parsley or thyme, and paprika. Arrange in a baking dish and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil.
  3. In a small sauce pan, melt butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook until it is as toasted as you desire. Add white wine and lemon juice. Allow to simmer then remove sauce from the heat.
  4. Spoon sauce over the fish fillets. Bake, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until flakey. Serve hot.
Notes
  1. The sauce may be made in the microwave by simply placing all the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl and nuking it on high for a minute or two.
  2. If you don't have an oven, this dish may be prepared on the stove. Make the sauce in a deep-ish pan, then once cooked, arrange the seasoned fish fillets over the sauce. Cook, covered, over very low heat.
Adapted from from a Pinterest pin that I can no longer find
Adapted from from a Pinterest pin that I can no longer find
At Home With MrsC https://blissbysam.com/

 

So, on to this crazy week, then. Wish me luck! And while you’re at it, maybe you could share what meals you prepare for your families on hectic days and weeks. I’d love to have more ideas for my future meal plans.

Have an amazing week, everyone! 🙂

What’s cooking this week (January 4-10, 2016)

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Fact: Meal planning helps me be more efficient when it comes to our household budget and minimizing food waste. It’s something that I enjoy doing, too.

mrspcuyugan
First meal plan of the year! I will start sticking my hand-written menu plans on our fridge for easy reference.

 

Since we moved houses six months ago, I’ve attempted to do this regularly, and this year I plan on really sharing our meal plans with you guys. I say really because I know I’ve said several times that I’d do this, but I’ve constantly failed to, so, yes, really this time.

For this first week of January, I started off with a near-empty fridge and freezer because I made sure to use up as much of our holiday leftovers as I could before the new year. My grocery shopping was done with soup on my mind because MrC hasn’t been feeling well, and any kind of soup always helps him feel better. 

mrspcuyugan
For your cooking inspiration, here’s a clearer version of my first meal plan for 2016.

 

And here are some of the recipes I’ll be using this week:

In the interest of saving less, which is also one of my goals for 2016, I really hope to stick to my set meal plans. The truth is, though, that we deviated already today. Lol. The kid and I had ice cream and fried siomai at Mini Stop for our PM snack, and then we had dinner at Sinigang by Orange Whisk!

Lol. Oh well. We’ll do better tomorrow.

mrspcuyugan
Tinola fail – I forgot to buy sili leaves, so I ended up putting cabbage in my tinola today instead. Diba mukhang brains? Haha, too much The Walking Dead!

 

What’s cooking in your homes this week? Do you plan your meals ahead, too?

Goal setting at the start of a new year

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Hey, hey, hey! Happy New Year, everyone! 

 

At home, in bed, and ready to welcome the new year together! Happy new year, everyone!

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

Yesterday, I told MrC that it would be my last lazy day. As it turns out, yesterday was my last lazy day for 2015, and today was the first for 2016. Lol. Aren’t I just the total opposite of all of those “New year, new me” posts that are all over social media today? I have no regrets, though. I enjoyed the first day of this new year.

One thing that I did do was a quick self-check on my 2015 resolutions. I think I did okay (not perfect, but okay) as far as those are concerned. Yay for that. So, in the spirit of starting the year strong, I thought I’d lay out a few goals for myself for 2016. 

I don’t have all of it figured out just yet, but I do know that this year I would at least like to…

Finish unpacking our things

Our photo frames are still wrapped in newspaper, glasses and small appliances are still in boxes, and random little things are all jumbled up together inside plastic bins. 6 months in, and we aren’t anywhere close to being done with setting up the house. Now that we’re nicely settled in I think that finding a place for everything will be easier, which means that we can finally finish unpacking! Little by little, I know we can get this done over the next few months.

Decorate

Our home is filled with pieces handed down by various family members. It was such a relief to not have to buy much in the beginning, especially since we were unsure of just how much we would be spending on utilities, food, and other day to day things. This year, I hope to add little things that will help make our house more homey, and more reflective of our personalities. I know I want to start by getting curtains that match, and throw pillows for our couch. I also want to put up more family photos!

 

mrspcuyugan
Cookies and milk we left out for Santa, and one of the few family photos we have on display at home.

 

Attempt to clean regularly

Those who know me well know that I hate cleaning. I hate it. I will tolerate dirt and disorder if it means that I don’t have to clean. I know, it’s so gross, which is why I promise to make more of an effort to clean in 2016. Slowly but surely, one dust bunny at a time.

Purge

When we first moved out of our one bedroom in my mom’s house to a home of our own, it felt like we had so much space. It still feels like we have so much space, but now it also feels like we have too much stuff. It isn’t crowded or anything, but I just feel that there are so many things here that aren’t being used. It’s time to sell, discard and donate. Bonus: It’s easier to clean when there are less things to clean. That’s my motivation.

Spend less

Life changes when you have bills to pay. While we have learned to be smarter with the way we spend our money, MrC and I both agree that we can still save a lot on certain things like eating out (which we still do way too often,) and shopping.

 

Crochet by MrsC
I’m excited to start experimenting on new coaster designs for Crochet by MrsC!

 

Make more

Being able to make things myself makes me happy. There’s just a certain sense of satisfaction that comes with it, that I absolutely love. This year I hope to make more things myself at home – More of the food that we love, including restaurant favorites, baked goodies and sweet treats, crocheted stuff for the home, and the list goes on.

Use my time (and energy) more efficiently

This has always been a problem for me, and each year I try to do better. Here I go again.

Stop being so last-minute with things

I’m such a procrastinator. I know it, and I don’t deny it. To a certain extent, I think I enjoy the pressure that comes with a looming deadline. It has to stop. Any tips on how I can quit being so last-minute?

 

mrspcuyugan
Last-minute Christmas gifts, wrapped last-minute using recycled brown paper bags and yarn.

 

Blog more consistently, and more meaningfully

For most of 2015, I didn’t know what I wanted to write about, and I didn’t want to write about the things that I actually had to write about. I was tired and brain-drained, and a previous job had sucked the joy out of writing for me. It’s so sad. This year I hope to rekindle my love affair with words and share more stories with you guys. Hopefully you still want to read them!

Keep a journal

This one’s for me. My friends tell me all the time that journaling is good for the soul. It’s something I haven’t done since I was a teenager, and I’m excited to open up a new notebook and start writing. It will be awesome to have a place to keep my random thoughts, secrets, and dreams. Actually, I think I will go do that now!

Have you guys figured out what you want to accomplish in 2016?