Beschuit

I thought winter is over because last week I have a chance already to go on bicycle... But last night it had snowed again.... Snow is really nice for the first few weeks but actually it's not really so easy when there's snow... Like today, I didn't noticed yesterday that we don't have bread anymore. So I can't just go out with bicycle and buy bread.... Anyway, every Sunday normally stores are closed here and every monday their openning time is 1:00 in the afternoon.... So it doesn't matter too. So instead of bread we ate beschuit for breakfast...

In Manila, bescuit is like a toasted bread that we normally eat on snack time but here yes, it's really for breakfast... It's light for me to eat beschuit for breakfast but it's okay than not to eat breakfast at all... I like it with strawberry jam but my daughter likes it just plain :)

Filipijnse Lerares en Klasgenoten (Filipina Teacher and Classmates)

Last Wednesday, my Filipijnse Leraares en Klasgenoten (Filipina Teacher and Classmates) came to our house for a visit... In the photo you'll see me, Rhoda (my classmate), Ate Josie (assistant teacher), Ivy (my classmate) and Inday... It may seem funny to see Filipina studying dutch language but for me I'm proud in school, that at the same time, it's possible that a Filipina like Ate Josie could also be a teacher of dutch language...

Today, we did have a nice day... Ivy brought Binagnit (especially made by her with coconut milk) in Manila this taste like Ginataang Monggo... Then we ate Macaroni cooked by my sister-in-law Marjan... And because I'm so busy and don't have time to cook... I just prepared fruit salad... easy and delicious! lekker!

Mabuhay!

Filipinos Biscuit

During my vacation here in Holland in 2006, I've noticed already this "Filipinos" biscuit here in Albert Heijn (Supermarket) . I felt proud then because I thought it's a "Philippine Made product", but it's not because it's made in Portugal...

This time, I saw it again in Xenos store and of course I bought it... I thought nice and lekker biscuit for my blog. Still i'm interested to know "Why named Filipinos?" So I tried to search in the internet. Then I got interesting information in Wikipedia... Filipinos biscuit was really named from Filipino people itself.

Filipinos is the brand name for a series of biscuit snacks made by Kraft Foods. In Spain and Portugal they are produced and sold under the Artiach brand name. Under license to United Biscuits, in the Netherlands they are sold and produced locally under the Verkade brand. In 1999 the Philippine government filed a diplomatic protest with Spanish government and others for the using the name "Filipinos" for a biscuit ... Read more in Wikipedia.

By the way, there's even Filipino official website.... Oh! before I forget about the taste, "Filipinos" biscuit is delicious for me, especially it's chocolate coated, masarap!

Gourmetten

This evening, we ate dinner in the way of Gourmetten simply using steengrill or what they called here gourmet grill (indoor grill) with baking butter to cook different kinds of meat... Anyway, gourmetten is the idea of Marjan (Ron's sister) and Greg (Marjan's boyfriend). They provide and also prepared all the food like meat, bread, sauce and gourmet grill... Thank you ha!
So i made for the first time Aardbeienkwarktaart (Strawberry fromage frais cake), my husband teached me of course how to make it, then he made Banaan kwarktaart (Banana fromage frais cake) with chocolate on top for our dessert... eet smakelijk!

Aardbeienkwarktaart (Strawberry Fromage frais Cake)

Last week, my husband tried to make a Kwarktaart (Fromage frais cake). It's a bit thick with kwark but for sure it's delicious and a success.
Today, Ron made just another flavor Aardbeienkwarktaart (Strawberry Fromage frais Cake)... Delicious! I've watched him while making the cake. I think it's easy to make, so for sure next time, I will try to make kwarktaart, known in Manila as Refrigerated cake....

Sinigang na baboy

After 8 months here in Hollland, for the first time, I've got chance to eat my favorite ulam (viand) "Sinigang na baboy".. hmmmm, lekker! Last Sunday, we've attended a birthday celebration of Andre, dutch husband of Precy, you can see them in 2nd photo with their son Angelo who's a bit shy when I take this photo... Then on 3rd photo, you see me with other Filipina friends I met here in Holland (Diana, me, Precy, Angelita, Hadj and Mely).

"Sinigang na baboy", is a filipino dish, some kind of pork soup with tamarind flavor, so for me the sourer it is the more I like it... I'm really happy that Precy cooked the sinigang.. Sarap!

Koffietijd (Coffee time)

Every Saturday after the Holy Mass at the Sint-Jozefkathedraal in Groningen, which is in English mass, there's always a chance for the mass-goers to meet each other. In most Saturdays there's a koffietijd (coffee time) after holy mass.

With those coffee times, I've met some filipinos, two of them are Charlie and Gina. They've been here for a year to study with the Scholarship. They will return to Philippines next week after their graduation..

In the 1st photo you'll see Charlie, Ron, me, Mireille and Gina. Then in the 2nd photo you'll see, I also met Kamila from Poland and her boyfriend Francois from South Africa. Also there is the old man who is a church assistant in Sint-Jozefkathedraal.

Again Congratulations to Charlie and Gina.... and God bless both of you.

Mobiele Snackwagen (Mobile Snack Car)

Today was such an easy day... We bought DINNER at the Mobiele Snackwagen (Mobile Snack Car) but in Manila known as "Rolling Store".

The Mobiele Snackwagen would normally arrive here in our place every friday, saturday & sunday at around 8:00pm... This evening, Ron ordered Hamburger, Patat (French fries) and Fricandel (similar to hotdog) for his dinner... For me patat and fricandel were more than enough so I always share it with my daughter who likes fricandel so much....

Yes, yes, i know it's not really so healthy at all... that's why I make sure, that we would NOT have those Vette Hap (Fatty Bite) or fatty foods every saturday for dinner... so at least maybe just once a month... good?

Dessert

I remember in Manila, when we say dessert (sweet course at the end of the meal) we always mean fresh fruits or some filipino desserts like leche plan, fruit salad, ice cream, gelatin dessert, cake etc.

But here in Holland, we usually eat fruits on snacks time. And the dessert usually would be Yugort with whipped cream.... of course with different flavors to choose from... lekker!

Calve Saus (Sauce)

Still about the BBQ Party we've attended, I've noticed there are 12 flavors to choose from Calve products, if you click this link: Calve, you'll see all the flavors... amazing products!

Pannenkoek (Pancake) for Dinner

Have you tried to eat pannenkoek (pancake) for dinner?

In Manila i eat pancakes only for breakfast in "Jollibee" especially (Breakfast Joys Pancakes from Jollibee as shown in photo) or when my mother will cook pancakes for us on afternoon snacks...

But here in Holland, we eat pancakes for dinner. Ron is good in cooking pancakes, he cooks almost in the same way, how the PANCAKES were cooked and shown in You Tube.

At first, i thought i won't feel full, because my impression with pancake is just light meal... Anyway, Ron can cooked it with combination of ham and also cheese, so it's not really light. But for me I still prefer just plain pancake with syrup... I'm actually a pancake lover :)

Slagroom Taart (whipped cream cake)

Mireille, our daughter turn's 1 year & 6 months today... and because we are not with Ron when she turns 1 year old (we are still in Manila then), i told Ron that it would be nice to celebrate it today with special Slagroom Taart (whipped cream cake), lekker!

"eet smakelijk"

I know there's rice shortage in Manila, ahhh i feel for you...
Our menu for today, bread (croissants) and coffee for lunch.
Then avondeten or what i call Dutch Dinner, potatoes with any meat, any vegetable (like brocolli) and appelmoes (apple mousse)... by the way, my husband cooked the dutch dinner in the photo. I still have to learn how to prepare it, especially the meat. Normally, I still cook filipino food pa rin for dinner, kanin at ulam syempre...
There's an etiquette here, before starting to eat your meal, wish your companion(s) enjoy your meal by uttering "eet smakelijk!"

Koffie (Coffee)

1st thing in the morning drinking coffee is always "lekker" (delicious)... for me, this is the way i prepare my coffee, 1st i-ready ang coffee pad, coffeemilk, sugar (in blocks) at syempre coffee maker.... then ilagay ang coffee pad sa coffeemaker.... then push the button lang may coffee ka na... :)

Since i came here, minimum of 5 cups of coffee ini-inom ko everyday... isa pag gising, then after maubos, timpla ulit, then mga 10 am, kape ulit, sa lunch dahil usual bread kape ulit, sa hapon kape ulit, sa gabi after dinner while watching tv kape ulit, hindi pa counted jan kapag ng grocery kami meron din free coffee, tapos if bigla kami dumaan sa house ng friend kape ulit.

Well, part talaga ng dutch culture ang coffee, as in minsan di mo pa ubos coffee mo sa cup mg-o-offer ulit sila to make a new coffee for you... MAPAPAKAPE KA TALAGA :)