Of quiet meals and K dramas

Since the 2020 pandemic and lockdowns, I've acquired the habit of eating meals while watching K drama. I would do this usually at lunchtime, when husband and kids are either out or glued to their laptops. I brought along this happy regimen to our small unit in Pasig, where I would occasionally find myself alone and hungry at noontime. It's when I gather the food at my desk and tap on an episode of a K drama that I'm currently watching. 

I know. I'm living the life right now, thanks to my kind and understanding husband. 

In this photo is a plate of ginisang upo which I cooked myself and a small mound of rice from a free Jollibee meal that Gino got from work. Sharing my recipe below. 

My Ginisang Upo Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 upo (bottle gourd), peeled and chopped (see photo)
• 1 head of an onion, peeled and chopped
• 1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 medium tomato, chopped finely
• pork belly, boiled and sliced into small thin pieces
• fish sauce, salt and ground black pepper
• teaspoon of vegetable cooking oil 
• a cup of water
• Knorr liquid seasoning (optional)

Here's how:

1. Heat a wok or pan, add the cooking oil and the pork belly slices. Slightly brown the pork until enough fat is rendered. Push the fried meat to one side of the pan. Add the minced garlic and allow to brown for a bit, then add the onions. After about 30 seconds, add the tomatoes. Mix in the pork meat with the garlic, onions and tomatoes. Season with 2 tablespoons of fish sauce. Add water, cover the pan and let it simmer for a while. 
   
2. Once the broth is boiling, add in the chopped bottle gourd. Season with salt and black pepper. Lid on.
    
3. Bottle gourd cooks really quickly, especially on high heat. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes or less and then turn off the stove. Carry over cooking will finish it off. Add a few drops of liquid seasoning if you have it. Serve with warm rice. 

When the days are getting longer and the walks are getting shorter

I was fortunate to have spent the recent amihan season with lots of morning walks in my neck of the woods. On weekdays, I managed to do one to two hours of intermittent walking plus a number of "walking errands" spread throughout the day. I was very much willing to go out because the air was cool and the sun wasn't in a very oppressive state. I didn't need any app to count my steps; I knew I was making more than the minimum. 

But since the dry season has commenced, the days are now getting longer and my walks are getting shorter. I still try to get to Arcovia City shortly before 7:30 a.m. It's no good. The sun is scorching already, and it's just impossible to find the energy to walk under the full sun. So, I end up walking for a measly 15 minutes (30 - on a cloudy day) and heading back home after a small breakfast or a quick detour to the gulayan or the carinderia. I will just have to get used to this shortened routine for the next few months. It's easier to live with the season than to resist the natural course of things. 

I have taken many photos of Arcovia in the past 3 years. This is from the most recent batch, which is probably from last week or the week before Holy Week. (Okay, I checked Google Photos. The photo was taken March 27th.) It appears that I haven't taken any new photos since I got back to walking right after Easter Sunday. Why kaya?