How do you make the perfect fried chicken?

A friend (Lori) phoned me one time and asked me what cooking oil I used for my fried chicken. To be honest, i was caught off guard. I never had anyone ask me anything about cooking.

I never brag about my cooking. Rather I tell people that I have lack of skills and that my cooking is an acquired taste, which is so true. I do cook whenever I can or have to, but I’m a very inconsistent cook. I could never cook the same dish to taste the same, because I don’t follow recipe instructions and I substitute the ingredients a lot. I know, I should do better, but I haven’t really heard any complaints yet.

And I certainly don’t brag about my fried chicken, but I’ve learned a few tricks that work for a crispy, better looking fried chicken.

• Use high temperature cooking oil: peanut oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, etc.
• I never use flour and breadcrumbs for the batter or coating, because in my experience, every time I use flour or breadcrumbs, the outside coating becomes too dark (burnt) while the insides is still undercooked. I use cornstarch instead.
• For the seasoning, I always use a dash of powdered mustard, parsley, mince onion, garlic salt and pepper for flavor. I am still working on the right quantity for this combination for the best taste.
• I use the wire rack to drip off the excess oil from the fried chicken. Laying them down as is or on paper towels makes the fried chicken wet and saggy.
• Order from KFC or Popeye’s

How about you, how do you make the perfect fried chicken? I sure could use more tips.

Matthew, 4-years old

I was washing the dishes. My 4-year-old Matthew was supposedly eating at his playroom, when he came to me and showed me his bowl full of mac-and-cheese.

Matthew : It’s yucky, Mommy! It’s yucky mac-n-cheese.

Me ( Thinking, it can’t be bad. I just made it. ) : No, it’s not. Eat it. It’s good!

Matthew: I don’t want it. It’s yucky!

Me ( Picked up a spoonful from his bowl and ate it. Showed him that I’m chewing. ) : See, it’s good. It’s good mac-and-cheese.

Matthew : It’s yucky. I grabbed it from the floor.

Me ( About to puke) : Yes, it is … yucky!

I should have asked why.

When I checked the floor, it looked like he dropped his bowl and spilled his mac-and-cheese since there’s still a few bits of mac-and-cheese on the floor. But then, he put most of them back to his bowl to show me … the yucky mac-and-cheese.

This was the question that was given to Miss Philippines in the Miss Universe Pageant 2010 held last Monday in Last Vegas. It was speculated that this question cost her the crown.

I think Miss Philippines gave a bad answer. But then, I insist that it’s an unfair question in the first place.

How exactly do you answer that question? The first part of the question is not even a matter of opinion. It needs serious pondering and soul searching. I don’t think anyone can ever have an effective answer by pondering on a mistake, a negative subject, in their entire lives in a whopping 3-seconds, especially after an exciting, very positive moment – being called in as one of the Top-5, in front of up roaring crowd. However, if she have focus more on the second part of the question instead by answering it in general, she’d probably have a better answer.

So, how would YOU answer that question?

This is current events but maybe not too current anymore!

On Monday August 23, a disgruntled former senior inspector from the Manila Police District hijacked a tour bus carrying 25 tourists from Hong Kong in an attempt to get his job back. He said that he was summarily dismissed without the opportunity to properly defend himself, and that all he wanted was a fair hearing.

As a result of the ten-hour siege, the ensuing shootout, and a botched rescue attempt by Philippine national police watched by millions on live television news, eight of the hostages died and nine other people were injured. [Read more.]

I’m really a true Filipino by heart. I am so embarrassed and disheartened by an event like this, that puts the Philippines in bad light. I’m so sad with what happened, how tragic it ended.

The mistakes done by those who were supposed in-charge of the situation were overwhelmingly so obvious, and SO DUMB! It was a BIG show of arrogance, disorganization and ineffectiveness of the Philippine Government and Philippine National Police; and of how obscenely irresponsible and abusive the local media had become.

Not to mention, the event further exposed the underlying corruption in the Philippines and how slow the Philippine System is! Sigh! It’s so frustrating.

No matter how the government and the police justify themselves by saying they did all they could do, their actions will always be evaluated by the terrible outcome. And the media, there will never be any justification for their irresponsible sensationalized programming.

I can only hope that time will heal all wounds of the surviving victims especially and the loved-ones of those who died; And that the Philippines will rise up from this major, major embarrassment.

On a lighter note, later on the day of the hostage crisis, an upset for Miss Philippines in the Miss Universe 2010 Pageant in Las Vegas.

If not for the unfair question of “What is the biggest mistake that you’ve ever made in your life and what did you do to make it right?”, she could have stolen the Miss Universe Crown.

How exactly do you answer that question? The first part of the question is not even a matter of opinion. It needs serious pondering and soul searching. I don’t think anyone can ever have an effective answer by pondering on a mistake, a negative subject, in their entire lives in a whopping 3-seconds, especially after an exciting, very positive moment – being called in as one of the Top-5, in front of up roaring crowd. However, if she have focus more on the second part of the question instead by answering it in general, she’d probably have a better answer.

Congratulation to Miss Philippines, Venus Raj, for winning 4th Runner up Miss Universe 2010.

I’m a little bit nostalgic that Fall will start in a few weeks. Such a wonderful Summer we had.

We’ve gone to Delaware for hubby’s niece’s graduation party. Then we stayed home for quality family time. Then we went to Florida for quality time with my in-laws. While in Florida, we attended Hubby’s High School Reunion. Then we came back to Alabama and moved to another house, still rent-and-utilities free inside the military campus where hubby works. Not to mention Baby Mark’s Christening and Matthew’s 4th Birthday. Then the next thing we know, summer break is over!

I’m a little bit sad that some of our plans did not push through. We didn’t go to Disney World as we have previously planned. We’ve also missed a get-together with a friend before her deployment in the Middle East because of schedule conflicts. Sigh! But then there is always next time.

I am so happy with our move to a bigger house. I especially like the bigger space and Matthew’s playroom the most. This time whenever I clean the house, it actually stays clean for a longer time, since Matthew and his mess stays in the playroom and not everywhere else. Too bad hubby didn’t enjoy much of the house since by the time we were settling in, he had to be back to work.

The school campus now has a few cadets already. In a couple or more days, more cadets will be excited or not coming back to school. I can only hope that they will especially be good to hubby, and not give him extra stress this school year. But, I know, as hubby keeps telling me, in the reality of a military school, there is always at least one defiant cadet.

I’m looking forward to going back to our routine and a calm cool Fall!

Love? It’s a chemical reaction in the brain that induces bliss; highly addictive. – Penguins of Madagascar

My now 4-year old son, Matthew, like any kids, loves cartoons and he especially loves the Penguins of Madagascar. He really laughs while watching these penguins. Although, I think they are funny, I really don’t think much about them, until that line. I was laughing. How true is that?

Have you ever been asked for your ID to check on your age when buying alcoholic drinks?

We were paying for groceries at Walmart, then the cashier asked for my ID. I was puzzled as to why she needed my ID. I hurried to my wallet to get some ID because I didn’t want to hold up the long line.

Then I saw that the hold-up was the $2 white wine I was going to use for my steak. (It’s the only alcoholic stuff in our groceries.) I showed her my driver’s license. I tried to be as serious as she was, to be polite and not laugh.

Then she asked hubby who was standing nearby for his ID, too. It’s funny I thought I looked young enough to have to show my ID. I found out that all this hold up of asking our IDs was a case of no common sense.

Hubby didn’t hear her or just didn’t understand her, so I pointed at the white wine in our groceries. Then she asked him again. It’s unbelievable how serious she was at looking at hubby and saying, “I have to see your ID.” It’s ridiculous enough that she had to see mine.  It’s unbelievable that she NEEDED to see hubby’s as well, since she already seen mine and didn’t have problems with it.

Hubby didn’t show her anything. In a jokingly matter, he asked her as if thanking her for a compliment, “Do I really look that young to have to show my ID for that?“. Hubby and I were laughing, but she didn’t say anything after that, didn’t even crack a smile. It was just so awkward. At least she didn’t insist and let us move on. I’m guessing she realized how ridiculous she been for holding up the busy line by asking for our IDs.

I’m glad it was one of those better days. If it had been a bad day, we wouldn’t have laughed it off and would have been really irritated for wasting our time.

I don’t have problems with customer service people holding up the line, taking their time in doing what they need to do, like if they have to check IDs and all that. After all, they are just following standard operating procedures to not screw up and keep their jobs. But then, there should be rules about using a little bit of common sense.

* In the United States, you have to at least 21-years old to be able to buy any alcoholic drinks.

… of Baby Mark, that is!

For 8 days straight, I had been worried stressed that Baby Mark haven’t had bowel movement! Well actually I started getting really worried at Day-4. He doesn’t seem like he’s in pain or in any belly problems, but he strains big time to pass gas and it’s just so smelly.

At Day-7, I called his Pediatric Clinic and asked for a telephone consult. In which a nurse returned my call and assure me that the baby is fine. Sometimes when a baby experiences growth sprout they can go a whole week without any bowel movement. The nurse gave me a few tips on how to make him go.

First, she advise to give him a sitz bath for babies. I placed warm water with diluted baking soda in baby bath tub. I had him soak there for about 20 minutes. Supposedly, he will feel comfortable in the bath that he will start to do his thing, but after a few peeing and farting, still no pooping!

Then, for the second plan, I pretended to be taking his rectal temperature. This involves sticking a thermometer right to his butt! Of course, I shouldn’t go over half an inch way inside. I’ve read about this and it’s suppose to work. I tried this trick a few time but still, nothing happened.

All those time, Baby Mark was just looking and laughing at me like I’m crazy for trying to get him to poop! He didn’t cry at all, or didn’t get fussy. He just wouldn’t go!

So at Day-8, the nurse called for a follow-up on his condition. He’s still fine and no apparent signs that he is in distress. But none of the tricks helped him go. So, it’s time for Phase 2.

For phase 2, the nurse recommended an over the counter treatment for occasional constipation – glycerin suppositories. Hubby got the liquid kind with it’s own disposable applicator. The applicator is supposedly in kid’s size but it’s much larger than the tip of a thermometer and I’m suppose to stick the liquid glycerin to him using that applicator.

With much hesitation I followed the intructions so slowly and carefully. In just seconds, it worked wonderfully! … It’s like explosion. I was relieved. I don’t think I’ve ever been happy about baby’s poop before.

I second Jacki’s comment before – “Such a life we mothers have.” Sigh!

This is in response to a friend’s blog post, After Omphaloskepsis. I tried commenting but it became too long that I thought I’d just link it up in my blog.

To Stephen and all,

1 -

From the time I knew you, I never thought of you as an underdog! You just don’t reflect that, or maybe you are just not that – an underdog, a doormat, etc …

I perceive myself neither as an underdog, nor as a champion. I am anti-popular!

2 -

I don’t dream much of a paradise, but I do dream of winning the lottery!

Your dream of a paradise in a quiet beach, all by yourself, etc.- That’s easy! Just isolate yourself and you’ll have it.

My dream is harder. Although, I buy lottery tickets, I still have to beat the odds! If only that is something I can plan.

3 -

The truth is – nobody likes a 2nd-rate performance! Even if you are a genius or truly talented and the work you do is maybe above standard, and even if you get the approval and applause of your peers, if you didn’t put it all your best, you can never be truly happy with yourself no matter which path you have taken – whether you have pursued your dreams or whether you have placed your dreams aside and braved a real job.

Just like on anything else in life, the best way into putting all your best is to constantly choose to, to make a conscious decision to do so and act on it.

4 -

Although I do not blog everything in my life, it doesn’t mean I am less truthful about the things that I do blog about. But you are right! Writing about the ‘glass being half full’ makes me internalize it more and keeps my sanity in check, as what blogging has always been to me.

About the ‘glass being half empty’ – although, sometimes it makes a good blog post, most of the time I feel that it too shall pass and doesn’t need any more attention. I call that – staying at the bright side of life, optimism … and not lingering on the negatives.

5 -

And no, I don’t think I have ever meditated on my belly button or navel area before while I wasn’t pregnant. I’m sure meditating on a pregnant belly is another matter …

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa, Danielle and Rachel, Aunt Jessica, and to all the well wishers.

Blow the candle. When he woke up on his birthday, we greeted and hugged him "Happy Birthday". After which he looked around and asked "Where are my presents?"

Still Daddy's Boy!

The Birthday Cake. (I baked this 2-layers chocolate cake with too much frosting and lots of colorful candy and chocolate sprinkles. So proud of how this cake turned out!)