Domestic and Culinary Life

My weekend was rustig (relaxed) because I didn’t do much. The Dutchman did as a matter of fact, most of the house chores except for cooking. He had always told me… and my relatives, his relatives, my friends, his friends, and yes, even acquaintances… that I, failed gratuitously in the housekeeping department. He will not even let me get near to the darn vacuum cleaner…

“J put that thing (vacuum cleaner) down! I don’t trust you with these things, you know nothing about cleaning”, scolds the Dutchman.

*Me pouting*

“Whatever you clean always has some traces left the next day!” he continues.

“Alright, alright… you take care of cleaning the whole flat then!” I muttered in resignation.

On second thought, I think I am such a bloody lucky woman. Ah, life!

What I need to do to make up for my domestic deficiency is to beseech his manly stomach. Amusingly though, the Dutchman thinks that food is just a matter of and for SURVIVAL. Don’t worry, I am currently evangelizing and sensitizing his faculties to take pleasure in the joys of culinary world, and all the assortment of healthy and palatable nourishments that I provide with zest on the table.

While I stayed at home bumming last Sunday, the Dutchman was mowing his parent’s yard, they are now in Italy for a few months on vacation, and their backyard badly need reinforcement, if not it will turn fast into a wild jungle.

The salad greens, Krullend Andijvie (Curly Endive) and Kropsla (Butterhead lettuce) from my father in law’s home greenhouse. Gardening is his hobby. He also has a separate garden, a few kilometers away from home, where he plants more vegetables, fruits, and flowers.

“For you...” he grinned as he handed me a plastic bag upon arriving home and stepping inside the foyer. Um, well, he laid it down on the floor. Ugh, Dutch-Men…

I took a peek. “Oh nice, salad greens!” I said in surprise.

“Took it from my father’s garden.” Dutchman added.

Mm, I am going to make them into yummy salads this week.

On another note, I have decided to make a weekly entry about food since it’s part of my life’s passion, not eating though, but the making and experimenting of delectable cuisine.

Ever since I was a teenager, ‘twas when I learned how to cook and bake, my family back in the Philippines had always preferred that I stand behind the kitchen’s cooking burner. I didn’t mind because I loved doing it. The home cooking performance didn’t last long though, at 22, I left home to seek a life for myself, so no more feeling chef nights!

Here’s a preview of the palatable chows I whipped up last week.


Sauteed Beef Tagliatelli
A different version from the usual pasta served with sauce and topped with cheese. Cooked with pure olive oil... spiced and cured up beef sauteed with brocolli, carrots, and herbs.


Radish Sun Dried Tomato Garden Salad
I got inspired by some of the creamy Dutch salads using radish in it, so I whipped this up. Take out the cream (or mayo) and replace it with healthy olive oil please!


Pork Asparagus
It is asparagus season and they are relatively cheap! Notice how small the grilled cured pork is? Well this is my plate not the Dutchmans =). Grilled is healthier, you take the fat out during the process.


Apple Bell Pepper Salad
I had enough of using salad greens, so I mixed up the tricolor bell peppers: yellow, green, and red with the rest of the apples. I say, CRUNCHY!


Tex-Mex Nachos
This so far is the unhealthiest I ever cooked last week, but as they say... from time to time, we just have to indulge. Ground beef cooked with Italian mix herbs, tomatoes, spring onions, chicory, and corn.


Ceasar Salad
This is still the Dutchmans favorite but I go easy on this because the creamy dressing, parmesan cheese, and boiled eggs are fattening. But it sure always is a nice variety to olive oil based salads.