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.

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?

For someone like me, in the late term of pregnancy and preparing for the delivery day, what tips and advices can you give to have the most positive experience during labor and in welcoming a new born?

We went to see the doctor yesterday, which starts the weekly appointment until the D-day (delivery date). I am in my over-36 weeks in pregnancy and he told me that I haven’t dilated at all and still haven’t shown any signs of labor. Somehow I am too anxious already, because of feeling heavy, uncomfortable, legs cramps, feet hurting all the tme and the random contractions – it really hurts!

But then – should I go into labor today, I will panic and I’d feel terrified. The panic comes from basically not being totally prepared yet. I have my hospital bag somewhat packed already. However, I am still not sure I got everything I need. I’ve gone thru all the checklist I can find online and in books. I have sorted out the items that I may need and want but I still feel like I’m missing some things.

This is not my first time but it feels that way. I still need tips, advices …

What sort of manipulation do you do to your photos before posting or displaying them? Do you approve to photo manipulations?

My college graduation picture has some enhancements done to it. The photo studio did it. I had layers and pounds of makeup on, and yet the studio still felt the need to enhance the photo. At least, the photo ended up with me still looking like me only the fairer-flawless-skin-and-darker-shiner-hair version of me.

In this blog, our photos are guaranteed to be as close as it can be to the original, wrinkles, blemishes and all of that included. The photo-shopping manipulations I do doesn’t include altering how we look like. The photo-shopping manipulations I do are for the purpose limited to better display. [View my photos ... ]

College Graduation PortraitMe at 22-years old.

The photo manipulations I do before posting photos are:

• Stamping. I label and stamp my photos with my ‘Life’s a Charm! http://lifesacharm.net’ most of them anyway. My purpose for stamping them is to protect our photos. Although I don’t think anyone would be interested to copy them because they are mostly personal or family photos, and not landscape or professionally taken photos, I still feel the need to stamp them for the same reason – because they are personal and family photos. If there is anyone interested to copy them, hopefully the stamp will remind them to ask permission first.
• Light and Color Adjustments. Adjustments  on Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness and those sort of adjustments, like Red-eye removal – simply for better display.
• Cropping and Resizing. Not all of us are pro when it comes to handling cameras. So I crop or trim our photos to establish and re-establish the focus of the photo. I also resize them to smaller resolution and size so that it will be easier to load.
• Collaging. I do collaging but not to alter the photo, like putting Brad Pitt beside me, or something like that. The purpose is also for better display of multiple photos.

However, I have to admit that I am very selective of which photos to post. I mean if we don’t look nice or at least presentable in the photo, or if it’s showing us in a very bad light, with questionable gestures, or so, you will never see it, except if you will go through my hard drive.

But in the media, we often read about airbrushing to cover or remove celluloid or other imperfections in their models, or those kinds of manipulation to make the model look thinner or skinnier, or with longer legs, or so. I understand that their purpose for doing that is to sell a product, or an idea, so everything has to look nice and perfect. Plus, I’m sure those models-celebrity do want to look nice in photos. But I think it has gone overdone! That – I do not approve! Too much manipulation is delusional.

Hubby reads my blog from time to time. One time when I asked him what he did that day, he said he read my blog from the very first one I published to the current – that’s 3-years worth of entries. I don’t think he really minds about me blogging about him and our family. So far, he haven’t discouraged me about my blogging. So far, blogging has not been a big issue between us. He just don’t comment.

My sister follows my blog, and a few family and friends. Most of my friends blog, too. Friends and family who do not blog, I have to email them that I have published something that I know they would be interested in – like if I published my son’s photo, or after an occassion or celebration, etc. And I update my Facebook status about my blog. Only a few of leave comments, which is fine, ’cause most of the time we talk about what I blogged about.

Although, I know a few who would raise eyebrows about me disclosing our lives online, my blog hasn’t really become a big deal for those I blog about. And since I blog about my family and friends and they can read about it, the only problem there’s been is that I am so limited to venting or blogging about the more interesting controversial issues. That sometimes because I want to remain truthful, it’s just difficult to blog about topics that are interesting and controvercial with no consequences. But then, do I want to change anything about my blog, my style of blogging, or the people I blog about or those reading my blog? Not at all.

Do you feel your age? How old are you at heart?

I think I have asked this question before but …

Anyway, I will be 32 next week, but I feel like I’ve remained 25 at heart because the truth is I don’t feel that I’m a day over 25!

When I turned 28, I was still working. With a few officemates, Japanese and Americans, we had a small birthday celebration for all the March Celebrants. I told everybody that I was turning 25! Those who really didn’t know actually believed me, and I never corrected that.

Now, I’m wondering if I can still pass up as 25 years old.  Eekkk … Maybe not.

Me and Matthew (3), Photo taken on Dec 8, 2009

We have been sick and since I’m pregnant, I’m so careful about popping pills. Well, actually I have only taken 2 colds tablet so far and stopped at that. Also, with my sick 3-year old, it’s also hard to find him medicine that appropriate for his age, and that he will actually take. For myself, I relied on home remedies.

Power of Salt

Gurgling with wam water with dissolved salt relieves sore throat. The relief is not too instant but it did the work. It also cleared my nasal passage. This is definitely the home remedy that I am going to try with Matthew when he is older.

I should have thought about the power of salt, since while we were growing up, when we had cough and colds, my mother would take us the the beach and go for a soak/swim for 30 minutes a day. We didn’t actually had to drink or gurgle the salty water, but I think being surrounded by salty water helped. Our colds and cough took lesser time to linger.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Also, for the first time I tried, gurgling with warm water with apple cider vinegar. Supposedly, it heals strep throat in a day. But it was just too strong for me. My teeth just couldn’t handle the acid.

Vaporub

Rubbing vaporub on our chest, throat and back helps us clam down, relax and doze off. Actually, I grew up with vicks! It’s always on my mother’s medicine cabinet. We also use if for rashes, bug bites, and even gas pains.

I’ve also heard that rubbing vaporub on the feet, and then putting on socks also relieves coughing. I always do this on Matthew when he is coughing at night. I can’t really say that it made him stop coughing, ’cause sometimes he’s still couching even after I do this, but I continue to do so.

9 days to go and yes I am thinking about Valentines day!

At most, I’m thinking about the last valentines I’ve had. I think I need to browse through the photos of years past to verify if I’ve remembered correctly. I always mix up valentines day with my birthday.

My fondest valentine gift was a plant that hubby gave me. It thrived for years. If it wasn’t complicated to bring it here to the US from Japan, I would have brought it with us. I gave that plant along with my other plants to a friend, whom I know will take good care of it.

NOTE TO HUBBY: This is not a hint-hint that I specifically want something this coming valentines day. A kiss will do.

Is there any dish or food you won’t eat?

I have shared before that hubby don’t eat any dish that he knows and senses has ginger or pineapple on it. My 3-year old toddler, Matthew, is so picky with food that I really do have a problem feeding him something healthy!

I, on the otherhand, because I have a mild case of lactose intolerance, can’t have too much milk or ice cream. But I can’t think of any food I won’t eat based on taste. But, on regular days and moods, I don’t go crazy over desserts or anything sweet. I usually go for chips and salsa over cakes. What I would hesitate to eat too are those with thick sticky texture – those that when you eat it, it feels like it’s going to get stuck in the throat – any food like too much cool whip, whipped cream, cake frosting/icing, dumpling, etc.

I won’t dismiss any food or drinks topped with whipped cream but you won’t see scooping the whipped cream to eat it. You’d rather see me mixing it up thoroughly or scrapping it off if there’s a lot of it. And, whenever I see people eating whipped cream straight from a can, I feel like choking.

I admire those who blog regularly, those who seem to have a blogging pattern because they seem to be organized people. I am assuming of course that along with maintaining a blog, they have an actual life, family, career, whatever they are blogging about…

I do not have a blogging schedule. I am blogging more lately because I have a new laptop to use and a baby coming, so I have my pregnancy to blog about. The cold season also doesn’t really give me much to do but to stay indoors and blog. And it is also at this same time when there are so many holidays to blog about, the start and end of the year.

However, if listing and entering giveaways is considered blogging, then that is the most regular blogging pattern I follow, to list and enter giveaways everyday through my contest-giveaway site.