27 November 2008 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA                                        

 

Happy Thanksgivings!!!

It's has been a tough and troubled times for each one of us here in the United States much more in the rest of the world but despite all these crises we are facing, we should really be thankful for few if not more blessings in our life.

Here are a few things, among many, for which I am very grateful for:

I am forever grateful to my wonderful 9 year marriage with DH Tony who for ever and a day loves, respects and trusts me unconditionally and that he has brought so much happiness and contentment in my life;

I am grateful for our health condition and job, which are more precious than any material things and for our quest to get fit and healthy although it's a life long struggle and abject frustration for us sometimes yet it keeps us going and makes life worth living;

I am forever grateful to my mother-in-law, Edith who, as always provides love and support in so many ways she can and also my true friends who are my sounding board and give support in good times and bad.

To all folks out there, I wish much happiness to you and your family this Thanksgiving Day and throughout the upcoming holiday season.

Here are two quick and easy healthy recipes that I have tried lately:

Cheddar Mini-Quiche
Makes 4 to 5 Dozen. Five minutes to prepare and 25 or 30 to bake.

3 Eggs
1 cup of Bacos bits
1 lb. small curd cottage cheese
3 Tbsp low  fat sour cream or sour 1/2 and 1/2
4 Tbsps. I can't believe it's butter
4 oz. sharp Cheddar, (pre-shredded in a bag)
½ Cup Bisquick
¼ tsp. salt
Black pepper to taste
 

In large bowl combine all ingredients and blend just until mixed. Spray miniature muffin tins with vegetable spray or use non-stick tins. Fill each cup almost full.
 
Bake in preheated 375° oven 25 to 30 minutes.
 

Serving Size – 1 
WW Points Value Per Serving – 1

Healthy Egg rolls
The recipe makes 25 egg rolls.

16 oz Original Turkey Sausage (Louis Rich by Kraft)
1 cup Meatless Soy Crumbles (Morning Star)
1 cup Raisins
5 oz Fresh Shrimp

1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
½ Tbsp Black Pepper
½ Tbsp red Pepper Flakes
½ Tbsp Chili Powder
½ Tbsp Granulated Sugar
½ Tbsp Garlic Salt

25 Frozen Spring Roll Wrappers

Serving Size – 1 egg roll
WW Points Value Per Serving – 2

Chop up shrimps and raisins into small bits and pieces and use the large bowl to combine all ingredients and blend all ingredients into turkey sausage. Defrost spring roll wrapper as you combine all other ingredients.

Smear approximately 3/4 tbsp of the mixture onto one corner of egg roll wrapper and roll it.  Use egg white to seal the roll. Paint outside of wrapper with canola or olive oil and bake on cookie sheet in 375° oven for 20 minutes.  Turn egg roll and bake for another 20 minutes.  Switch oven to Broil and brown the egg roll for 45 seconds each side.

Let it cool and enjoy.
 

 

    11 November 2008 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA                                        

 

Honoring Those Who Served Bravely
 

Today is Veteran's Day.  It is an American national holiday honoring military veterans and all those who served bravely. I have nothing but great respect and admiration for all the bravest men and women in uniform who served to defend the freedom and democracy of this country.

Of course, I have to give my salute to my very own American family for their patriotism and noble military service to the United States of America:

My father-in-law, Kenneth (deceased) was a LIFER in the US Navy and took part in the Vietnam War twice. He retired as a disabled veteran.

My mother-in-law, Edith also served in the US Army. She’s a pioneer that paved the way for the women in today's military. Her husband's  military assignment brought her to Vietnam, Taiwan and Australia.  In fact, her eldest son, Kuya Allen was born in Taiwan and her youngest son, Tony was born in Maryland, USA but started school in Australia.

My brother-in-law, Kuya Allen followed his father's footstep to serve in the US Navy while my DH Tony followed his mom to serve in the US Army.

Fourth Platoon 557th MP Company, Camp Ames in Korea, 1986
Can you identify my DH Tony in the picture?

My mother-in-law’s very own father, Grandpa Peter (deceased) was in the US Army in World War 1, gassed but survived.

My mother-in-law’s only brother, Uncle Lynn, was a LIFER in the Marines.

My mother-in-law’s only sister, Aunt Judy served in the US Air Force.

In my husband’s father's side: Several great uncles (deceased) served in the Army, Navy and Merchant Marine in World War II and also a number of his uncles were in the Army; one was wounded in the Vietnam War.

Thank you very much for all your great service to the country! Your distinguished heroism, admirable and noble deeds are what made this country safe and the most powerful country on earth.

You are all  true hero to all of us.

God Bless America!!!

 

    1 November 2008 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA                                        

 

The Power of Real Friendship

Isn’t it absurd that society regard unmarried women like there is something wrong them or that a woman’s life without a man is unhappy and incomplete? There are many good looking; independent and intelligent single women out there who are very content and happy for being single. And I personally know many women who they thought married the right one but few years into the marriage their lives turned up-side-down like a roller coaster disaster. Simply put, marriage doesn’t always equate to women’s happiness and completeness.

To all single women out there:  You need to watch this movie entitled “Mr. Wrong”.  I can tell you that you’d rather stay single for the rest of your life than being married to the man who is so crazy in love with you.  I would be willing to beat if there is a woman out there who rather be married and dreadfully wake up in the middle of the night thinking hard of the many ways and means how and when she can get out from the miserable relationship as fast as she can.

Anyway, the point I am trying to say is that, I think a woman’s life is not complete without a set of genuine, honest and trusted girlfriends.   Isn't that true that when women want to just grouse, giggle or groan,  they instinctively turn to their girlfriends? Yes, I instinctively turn to my trusted girlfriends for all the things DH wouldn’t particularly like to do together with me like commiserate over petty issues, watch chick flick movies, go window shopping or I'd gladly turn to my girlfriend whom I can freely engage in marathon chat fests for hours.  This doesn’t mean that our husbands are useless– but I suppose men just aren't riveted by the same degree of detail we women feel and like to talk on a regular basis.   Another reason is men tend to deal with problems differently than women. Whereas women often get relief simply from talking and hanging on to the issue for a while whereas men seem compelled to find a solution as quickly as possible, and then move on. I noticed that most, if not all men don't want to talk/share much about their inner or personal emotions or issue as much as we, women do.

Thank goodness I am lucky to have found a genuine friendship with Ate G. She’s like a dreamed big sister I never had in life and her friendship is a true blessing to me.  She is also my headshrinker;  my sounding board when I am downhearted with just about anything and everything and the thing about it is, it’s free of charge :-)

Last September 15-19, 2008 I was very honored by Ate G’s visit and I owe Kuya D, her husband, for being one of the most generous and understanding husbands in the world.  Ate G's recount of the trip can be read here.

I can truly say that Ate G and I had such a great time time catching up, swapping recipes and cooking, going to the movie theater and explore different places in Jacksonville Beach, Jacksonville Landing Downtown and St Augustine City. Just the perfect kind of friend I want to hang out with for the rest of my life.  Why? Because we both are childless and the typical Virgo who married to the most understanding and feeing men ;-)

         
           Jacksonville Beach                       St. Augustine City              Jacksonville Landing Downtown

If you recalled, I already blog about her in detail here when I visited GilDavid Manor in Ohio beginning of the year.

Ate G and Geri are the only two women who didn’t give up their friendships with me no matter how passionately we disagreed on politics and other issues in life.   I re-echo Geri’s sentiments that our friendship goes deeper than politics.

I miss you, Ate G!!!