Rebirth

I’m not a mall rat (somebody who spends ALL of his or her time or loiters in the mall), but I really find roaming and burning my soles around the mall therapeutic. Besides the free airconditioning on this hot summer season in the Philippines and observing other people do their own stuff, I also love hanging around bookstores in the mall. Sounds like your typical bookworm, but I don’t only read books for free (standing), I also like rummaging over books on sale. However, I only get to like and actually buy something 3% of the time. I must be hated around those bookstores.

Well today was special.

After doing my daily chores at home, I took a bath and headed to SM Cebu, the nearest mall from our place. The mall was, as usual, full, even on a lazy Monday afternoon. On my way to PB (that’s for Powerbooks), I saw a former colleague, said he’s just finished submitting his resume in one of the offices near the area. I wished him well and luck and continued walking. Unconsciously, I started counting all the pregnant women I saw. All throughout my short trip around the mall, I counted at least 10 of them.

My mind started reeling. Seeing my former colleague, I imagine all the other people in the same situation, looking for a decent job at this time of the recession. I felt overwhelmed with all these women, who just like me, are carrying this miraculous gift.

Suddenly I wanted to write again. Not about technical stuff or a specific niche, not for anybody else, but for myself, my baby and my family. I say ‘again’ because even as I write everyday, in over 4 years now, I have written only for other people, writing what they request for me to write, writing what I think other people will read, and writing about some products, doing technical writing.

I found a not-so-crowded area at the food court and started writing this – my first ‘real’ post.

It’s been a while.

Delicious and Healthy Quick Fixes: Meet Tokwa

There are ways to go around your usual fatty pork recipe, even quicker, more affordable and healthier!

Tokwa or tofu or bean curd is one of the most effective source of protein and iron without the free fat and calorie add-on in almost all meat especially pork. In short, it is the best meat alternative for the health-conscious as well as “shape”-conscious.

Tokwa is made from letting soybean settle until it becomes jelly-like. Soybean is the same row material used in making soy sauce. This curd is compacted into a solid form that is cut into cubes, which we see in supermarkets.

Because tokwa does not have a strong unique taste or smell, it can be a very good alternative to pork, beef or any meat in any dish. Challenge the adventurous side of you and use tokwa in afritada, menudo, curry or adobo.

I also love frying tokwa. Cut the tokwa lengthwise around half-inch thick. To make it taste, apply a pinch of salt before frying the cut pieces. An optional ingredient is ground pepper, which can be applied alongside the salt. That is before frying the pieces. Fried tokwa can be paired with butterred corn and carrot for one healthy meal.

If you know tokwa’t baboy, then you probably can imagine a “tokwa-only” recipe. Remove the pork and leave only tokwa and use the same sauce that you use in tokwa’t baboy. To prepare this, simply cut tokwa into lengthwise shapes and fry them without adding any salt or pepper. When tokwa turns brown, remove from heat and let dry on tissue paper. This will remove extra oil from the tokwa. Cut tokwa into small little squares. Now for the sauce, mix soy sauce, vinegar, water, sliced tomatoes, onions and chilli in a small bowl. Server hot!