Homespun and Fun
Zita loves to ride her bike to the Black Forest in...
Homespun and Fun now sports a new logo! The wre...
Chito was picking mature leaves off his lemon tree...
It can be unnerving when birds and squirrels take ...
Jade plant is a succulent that's regarded as lucky...
Tejie and daughter, Meagan, planned for a Japanese...
Jopin soaks in the early morning stillness in her ...
Dragon fruit belongs to the cactus family, and fit...
Tejie and daughter, Meagan, planned for a Japanese food weekend at home. So they shopped together for tonkatsu and ramen ingredients. Tonkatsu takes pork chop to a new high because of its crispy goodness. The key is to use "panko" or Japanese bread crumbs. Make some at home by shredding the white portion of "pan Americano" with which to coat the cutlets. The spicy, fruity sauce helps make this dish a fave of many, most of all Tejie.
pork loin, cut into 1/2 inch thick
flour for coating
2 eggs
vegetable oil
cabbage
Japanese sesame salad dressing
Season the pork with salt and pepper and let it stand for an hour. Generously coat with flour. Dip in beaten eggs and roll twice in Japanese bread crumbs. Deep fry in medium heat till golden brown. Drain oil, place on paper towel to absorb the oil. Chop meat and plate with vegetables and tonkatsu sauce.
Side cabbage salad
Cut cabbage into thin strips. Blanche in boiling water then on to ice cold water to keep the cabbage crisp. Top with Japanese sesame salad dressing.
Notes: Make your own salad dressing for the cabbage using 2 parts worcestershire sauce, 1 part ketchup, and 1 part honey.
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Jopin soaks in the early morning stillness in her garden. It's her fave spot for some “me” time with her first cup of coffee. This is her way of living the art of “sweet idleness,” until morning duty in the kitchen calls. Her garden is 30 years old. The well-manicured lawn is hedged by perennials. Golden duranta, welcome plants, cofia, bonsai, forget me nots, foxtail, and more are neatly trimmed. The look is clean and harmonious. She has a birdhouse that's spruced up with fairy lights for the holidays. A 90-year old star apple tree was planted by her late mother-in-law in her backyard. It stands out in an island bed fringed by topiary bushes. The tree bears the sweetest fruits to this day. She keeps close watch on araucaria, an evergreen coniferous tree.
The garden is the safest place to be these days - outdoors, yet in the comforts of home. Jopin finds it therapeutic to plant and watch her garden grow. It's her companion that affords her a lovely view, rich harvests, and quiet bliss.
Dragon fruit belongs to the cactus family, and fittingly looks as wild as this magical beast in folklore. It's vibrantly reddish-pink and scaly on the outside, with a pulp that may either be deep red-purple, white, or yellow and speckled with black seeds. But looks can be deceiving. It's flavor is refreshingly delicate - a cross between a kiwi and a pear. This heart-healthy fruit is packed with healthful benefits - vitamin C, potassium, iron, fiber, and antioxidants. That's why it's so popular.
Myra grows them in her garden in Tagaytay. She suggests to set them by a wall or post for support. Plant cuttings into the ground and water every 3 days. You'll know roots have grown when a shoot appears on the branches. From there, it needs little care, as in any cactus plant. It can start flowering in 18 months, and will bear fruit for years. She's harvesting soon, and looking forward to enjoying them fresh, in a salad, or in a fruit bowl, drizzled with honey.
The heat index jolts in this climate crisis with intense heat beyond the actual temperature. This is the "feels like" temp perceived by the body. It factors in air temp and humidity. When it's humid, sweat evaporates slowly, making us feel hotter. When the air is dry, the body cools quickly.
With the index exceeding 50 degrees, we yearn for more livable, green spaces. Makati City takes the lead with its green initiatives- parks, notably Greenbelt with lush vegetation, trees in Ayala Triangle, and the use of electric vehicles. Elsewhere, green design planning for climate proofing should ease the harmful effects with tree lined, walkable streetscapes, pocket gardens, patios, even potscapes, vertical planting, green facades, making smart use of limited space in the sprawl. Let us plant trees and shrubs now to temper the heat, to provide shade, green our surroundings, heal the spirit to keep safe and stay well.
Photo Credit: Zita Manalac
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Joy Manalac is a writer with an extensive background in Marketing Services and Communications. She studied Communication Arts at St. Paul College Manila.
She wrote the corporate stories in “Simply Delicious,” the 50th anniversary cookbook of Liberty Commodities Corp. In 2016, this bagged 1st prize in the “Gintong Aklat Awards ” and 3rd prize in “The International Gourmand Awards," likened to the "Oscars" for the food industry.
She likes to write short and crisp lines, taking to heart her late Dad’s advice to write simply. What she loves most about writing is the cadence. As a tip, she suggests for writers to find their rhythm. There is melody in the play of words and phrases – the pace, lilt, and sway that lend music and grace.
Joy loves to tinker in her garden that needs a lot of tending. She enjoys the company of school chums who are keen about plants, coffee, and cakes. She takes inspiration from two spirited sisters, Monica and Zita . She can cook with a cookbook on hand and can craft with just enough nudge from Zita.