Oct 18, 2015

Van's Kitchen: Shrimp and Artichoke Tagliatelle

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Just like blogging, I rediscovered another activity that I love doing: watching food and cooking shows!

I was able to wrestle my way into watching TV, and was so happy to have chanced upon this wonderful recipe from the show "The Kitchen." This simple pasta dish blends two of my favourite ingredients: shrimps and artichokes.

I have made something similar before, but I used chicken instead of shrimps. Now, I am very eager to  cook this, and I am quite sure I will love it. This would be perfect on a lazy Sunday lunch, paired with a glass of Pinot Grigio. :)

Here is the recipe from The Food Network:

Shrimp and Artichoke Tagliatelle


Ingredients:

Shrimp and Artichokes: 
10 jumbo shrimp (U12), peeled and cleaned, cut in half lengthwise
6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 artichokes, cleaned and chokes removed, cut into wedges
3 cloves garlic, sliced
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup chicken stock

Pasta: 
Salt
1 pound fresh tagliatelle
2/3 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
Freshly ground black pepper
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley

For the shrimp and artichokes:

  • Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. 
  • On a baking sheet, toss the shrimp with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the lemon juice and butter and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. 
  • Roast until just cooked through, about 5 minutes. 
  • In a medium saucepan, heat the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over medium heat. 
  • Add the artichokes and cook until seared and just browned, about 2 minutes. 
  • Add the garlic and cook until aromatic. 
  • Add the wine and cook until reduced slightly, 1 minute. 
  • Add the chicken stock and bring to a slow simmer. Cook until the artichokes are tender and the liquid is reduced by half. 
  • Season the mixture with salt and pepper.

For the pasta:

  • Meanwhile, bring a medium stockpot of salted water to a rolling boil. 
  • Boil the pasta until cooked, about 2 minutes (or according to package instructions). 
  • Remove the pasta from the water and toss directly into the artichoke pan along with 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. 
  • Cook and reduce the liquid, tossing the pasta, until the pasta is coated with the sauce. Remove from the heat and add the cheese and black pepper. 
  • Add the roasted shrimp and its juices, lemon zest, butter, lemon juice, parsley and salt to taste.
  • Toss the pasta until the butter has emulsified. 
  • Plate and serve. 

Oct 17, 2015

Healing and Forgiveness

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I attended my first healing mass, and I thank God that I was given the opportunity to do so.

The healing mass was supposed to be a venue for the Anointing of the Sick, but what I learned (or shall I say re-learned) was that this Holy Sacrament can be given to anyone who feels he has physical, moral, spiritual, emotional illnesses. Three lessons that I learned, as perfectly relayed by Monsignor:

1. Healing is related to Forgiveness.

Healing is related to forgiveness in a sense that we are healed when we are also forgiven. All our illnesses are directly or indirectly connected with our sins (or the sins of the world), and when we are forgiven, not only is our spiritual nature healed, but in some way, our physical selves feel a "lightening of being." I don't know how else I should describe it, but don't you feel light hearted when you know that your faults are forgiven?

2. Jesus heals and forgives because He has compassion.

Truly Jesus Christ embodies what it is to be a compassionate human being. When I reflected on these words, I realised that we too can forgive others, and help in healing people, by simply being compassionate towards them. Any deed that we do for our neighbours, translates to an act of love and compassion that brings about their own healing.

3. God always heals and forgives, but are we willing to be healed and to be forgiven?

There is no doubt that God is love, God is merciful, God is forgiving. However, the words of Monsignor made sense when he asked "how willing are we to be forgiven, to be healed?" Yes, we do ask for forgiveness, and most certainly there are those days when we asked to be healed from our illnesses. Yet, how open are we to God's healing love and compassion? Is our openness unconditional, or do we only open ourselves up to a point?

I have countless ailments inside of me: physical, emotional, and spiritual, and have always asked Jesus to save me, to forgive me, and to heal my soul for me to be at peace. Often times when things seem to be too much, I tend to lose hope and shut the door. Yet, time and time again, God puts me in places and gives me opportunities to remind me of Love, Life, and Happiness. I need to be more open to God's healing grace, and let His will be done. I need to remind myself as well that all the crosses I bear create opportunities for me to be a true Child of God.


Photo credits: Crossover Media

Oct 16, 2015

Quote for The Week: Wisdom and Courage

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Along with the feeling of uncertainty and lack of confidence, it is fear that keeps us from doing what we must do. How many times did we feel that we know nothing, that we do not know what we want to do in order to live fully and not just to merely exist? Then, once we are blessed to have a nugget of enlightenment, we often feel scared, not only of the possible outcomes, but of the amount of effort we need to exert in order to accomplish our goals.

We often pray for wisdom and courage in order for us to go on and do what is right for us and for others. Yes, prayer is much needed to have an inspired and intentional living, a life full of magic and bliss.

Oct 15, 2015

A New Beginning: The Magic of Bliss

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After almost two years of being "offline," I finally mustered the strength and will to decide that yes, I must go back to blogging. I have been thinking about this for some time already, but never had enough will to do so. However, yesterday was the turning point for me, as thoughts of life, love, fear, and hope streamed through my mind, asking myself "what do you want to do with your life?"

What do I really want? In my thirty plus years of living, I have always convinced myself that I knew what I wanted in life, where I should be now, and what my future will hold. However, experiences and situations kept on making me realize too that maybe I'm not 100% sure of what I really wanted. Am I crazy?

Then I discover the words of Diana Vreeland:

There's only one very good life and that's the life you know you want and you make it yourself.

These words provoked me, and all the more fuelled my desire to go back to my plan of living intentionally, of doing the things that I love and add value to life. One of those things that I love is blogging/writing.

So here we are.
It is a new beginning, because for one, I have changed my blog title (and domain). "My Lavender Fields" have always been the name of my blog, as it connoted a feeling of peace, of serenity, of joy, and of nature. Lavender is one of my favorite scents and herbs, and I have always dreamed of one day visiting Provence and to be surrounded by the beauty of scent of lavender. However, due to some technicalities, I lost my blog domain, and though my domain name was called "My Lavender Field," it was never the same. I was never the same. I tried to keep it, but I completely lost interest.

Many times have I attempted to go back to my little virtual space, even going so far as thinking of new blog titles, but I never succeeded.

That, is, until yesterday. I just suddenly thought of the words bliss (thanks to one of the workshops I attended) and magic (saw the cover of the book by Rhonda Byrne), and out them together. Voila! The title gave me new life (at least in blogging haha!), and I acted like a mad woman while trying to revamp my blog. I just love my new blog title.

My blog is still under construction, but I do have plans to simplify further and have a focused content. It will still be similar to what I have been doing before, but I guess now I need to put more structure to it (but still being dynamic). It is still a blog about my thoughts, ramblings, and musings on the joys of living, but hopefully it will become even more helpful to readers (I hope I would have them back!) out there.

The Magic of Bliss.

Yes, I do believe in magic, and bliss is what I long for.

Dec 31, 2013

Before 2013 Ends...

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"We are the ones who make our own lives good or bad through the workings of our own thoughts. In other words, life is what the inclinations of the mind make it.”

Dec 28, 2013

Christmas 2013

This Christmas is indeed a very special one... it is the first Christmas of my dearest little Enrique Miguel!

Although it's a bit sad that my bunny isn't home for the holidays, I still felt blesses because I have two beautiful children by my side.

This year was full of challenges, but at the end of the day, what matters most is that I have my husband, my kids, my family, my friends, and all other things I have. I am truly blessed. :)

Dec 22, 2013

2014: Year of the Horse

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I was born under the year of the Horse, according to Chinese Astrology. This coming 2014, it is the year of the Horse, although I know from past readings, Horses aren't that lucky when it is the year of the Horse (ironic).

And it seems it is the case for 2014... Here's my Chinese Fortune for 2014...

According to Chinese Fortune Calendar:

That is a sign of jinx in Chinese horoscope when a Horse meets another Horse from the yearly cycle. That tells us that the year of Horse won't be a good year for Horse people. The scene is that if a Horse is passing by a town with a local Horse tyrant in charge. If Horse people can keep quiet, then they will be safe and pass the town. If Horse people want to mess with or challenge the tyrant, then trouble will come to them during their journey.

That means Horse people will travel under somebody's territory. Horse people needs to play in low-profile during 2014. Their people friendship, love relationship, money management or job competition might encounter a certain limitation during the Horse year.

Career: There is a Military General Star coming toward Horse people in 2014. That's is a sign of power and leadership. When Horse meets Horse, that implies the competition. Since Horse people enter enemy's territory, the competition is underdog to Horse people. In order to gain the leadership, Horse people will face many challenges. Therefore, you will spend lots of time with your friends, supporters or competitors to solve issues regarding to the business. If you failed to handle that properly, you will lose your reputation, even power. As a result, you might blame on yourself. You have better be humble and patient first. To take action, you must waiting for good timing. Anyway, to build good people relationship will give your career development much easier.

Horse can run very fast and far away. However, without a guide on its back, Horse doesn't know where it should go. Therefore, to listen people's opinion is very important for Horse people in 2014.

Money: Horse people will deal a lots with money in 2014. You will involve or be in charge of money management, because of the Military General Star. People around you are watching the money in your hands. They will be trying anything they can to utilize your money resources you have. They will ask your out often. therefore, your social activities and social expenses will increase. To loan money to your friends is not a good idea in the Horse year. That might become a dispute in the agreement later on. Then you may lose the friendship. 2014 is also not a good year to invest money on uncertain business. Watch your money tightly, especially in the summer. Your money luck will be better when the weather is cooling down.

Love: The love relationship of Horse people is fair today. There is a Popularity Star appearing in 2014. That will help single Horse people to meet a opposite sex. However, you still have the competition out there and the development of relationship will be slow. If you are in school, then you should focus more on the study. Spending too much time on the new relationship won't give you better or faster result. If you are in love and you want to push closer relationship on your lover, then you might hurt yourself in the end. If you are married, you might have little quarrel. {Woohoooo!} So to put your focus on the career development or financial management is a better approach.

Health: Horse people should have stronger body and mind than the previous year. If they have slight illness, they should be able to recover quickly, as long as they have enough sleeping and rest. But Horse people in the Horse year usually don't have a long-lasting good mood, which could impact their health. So don't forget to do the annual physical examination. One Hurting Star arrives to Horse people in 2014. So they have better drive very carefully on the road and try to avoid dangerous sports.

2014 is a Wooden Horse year. Horse is Fire and Wood helps Fire to burn longer. There are too much Fire coming toward Horse people in 2014. It's quite possible that Horse people have too much Fire or too less Water in 2014. Too much Fire will cause problem in the cardiovascular system. Too less Water will cause problem in the urinary system.

*********************
From
GoToHoroscope.com

In 2014, all doors will be open for those born under the sign of Horses – as it is their time that has come! You will want everything and at the same time: personal happiness, career, pleasurable time spending. Do not worry in regards of the support of the celestial bodies, because the planet-protectors provide you with a reserve of energy that is enough to boil Baikal. Despite the abundance of opportunities, the horoscope advises people not to rush into each fleeting mirage on the horizon, and choose achievable goals and move towards them, turning aside from the path. Remember that in pursuit of success, it is easy to stumble and break a leg in both a literal and figurative senses. Be careful when doing extreme sports, and learn to slow down when you think a business venture is heading into the abyss. The universe does not promise Horses smooth roads and green lights the entire way. Be prepared for the fact that you have to overcome obstacles and ride through potholes, but the result is worth it. If you make the right decision and get to the finish line, you get a prize and a cup, a cash reward and admiration of the people around you.

The love relationships will depend entirely on you in the Year of the Green Horse, 2013. People, who believe in happy endings and struggle to find their Cinderella, will be sure to find her. It is just that the ending is different for each fairy tale – either you appreciate and love the chosen one, letting her feel like a queen, or lock the girl at home in the company of mops, floor cloths and pans. If you just want order in the house and hot meatballs for dinner, then consider hiring a maid, as even a fabulous Cinderella ran way from this life into the world. The favourite move of the Horse is jealousy, so married couples will inevitably fact showdown on the subject of side looks, short skirts, and cute assistants. Try not to drain your loved one with negative emotions like with mud, because unjust accusations bully and abuse your partner. Remember that cheating is possible even with a long dress, and with a terribly looking colleague (if you turn off the light and imagine Monica Bellucci).Even if you will be left as the only couple in the world, there will still be a snake that will spoil the perfection. Control your emotions and do not allow them to block your mind, because we cannot live in isolation from the outside world, one full of potential rivals and opponents.

In 2014, the family Horses will be overwhelmed by the desire to run ahead of the race, single-handedly determining the direction and the speed of movement. Even young foals will periodically buck against parental dictators defending their independence. One beneficial fact is that the people of this sign will fearlessly assume responsibility for the financial support of the family, so accusing them of neglecting their duties will be impossible. However, the horoscope advises to remember that your opinion may also prove faulty, so listen to advice of your close ones, so you will not lead your family into a swamp. The face that you are the leader of the herd does not make your household members into docile slaves, who will obediently follow the leader into a bright future, or even to the knacker’s yard. We are all real people with dreams, desires, and egos that need to be respected and taken into account.

This year, a Horse, hastily running through life, needs to stop, take a breath, and soberly assess its goals and achievements. Perhaps you are flying after a mirage, which moves away further with each one of your steps. Alternatively, you are running on full strength on a narrow path, which does not allow you to turn at full capacity and to develop the necessary full speed. Determine which direction is the most promising and adjust the original route. Perhaps, the Horse will decide to into a multidisciplinary field, or take a lucrative offer from a competing firm. Take those steps in 2014, it is right now that you are on a horse and can dictate your conditions to the employer. Of course when choosing a new place, accurately assess your strengths and abilities. If you do not have appropriate training and experience in the field of interest, then it is useless to overwhelm your resume and break through to the interviews with HR managers. Economists will not take a swan dance number at the theatre, and fashion designers will not go into assessing the solvency of customers in the bank.

Horses that have long dreamed of losing office oppressions, have to open their own business, gradually increasing the pace and momentum. At the initial stage, large capital investments will be needed, so make sure that at the right moment you find the savings allowing you to realize your dream. The horoscope advises entrepreneurs to manage using their own means, without getting into debt to either other people or the banks. Horses that are happy with the current place of work will get to move up the career ladder, which will of course reflect on their financial situation. The main thing to always remember is that to get the ripe apple you need to reach, and if the fruit falls into the mouth itself, then it is surely grubby and overripe. Diligent work and enthusiasm will help horses reach their goals, no matter how distant they may seem. In 2014, proper alertness and caution can help you make a fortune and wring hostile thoughts from the heads of your competitors! 

Radiant Orchid

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Pantone's 2014 Color of the year is called "Radiant Orchid" and I must say that I am hmmmmkay with it. I'm still very partial to this year's Emerald, it being my favourite colour (not to mention birthstone and all). But still, I think the colour is kinda cool. I should think that, because right now my walls are a pale version of Radiant orchid, and my sheets are a darker version of it. They say that this colour calms the nerves, so I used the pale colour on my walls. :)

My Wall (yellow light plus Instagram filter made it darker):

My Sheets


Check out Pantone's Mood Gallery: