Pineapples Garden

It's El Niño here in the Philippines.

Infrequent watering of crops might not be enough.

The plants also need deeper soil for longer water retention.

Venice Grand Canal Mall

It's just a mall with water in the middle right?

Yes. And definitely is one of the picturesque malls in the Philippines.

To go there by commute, just ride a minibus passing-by Gate 3 - beside Market Market mall or Infront of Guadalupe mall / commercial center. Tell the driver / conductor you're going to Venice.

Affordable Pastries and Meals

Are you a croissant fan?

You can find one of the cheapest croissants in Uptown Mall at BGC.

Just look for The Baker's Selection stall at the mall's lower ground level. As of writing, three pieces is pegged at P62.00.

What more?

They serve rice meals and affordable viands too. :)

Gayuma (Enchantment) by Cenon Rivera

Cenon Rivera
(1922-1998, Hagonoy, Bulacan)

Gayuma (Enchantment)

1975
Oil on canvas

National Fine Arts Collection
National Museum of the Philippines

Mag-Ina (Mother and Child) by Cenon Rivera

Cenon Rivera

(1922-1998, Hagonoy, Bulacan)

Mag-Ina (Mother and Child)

1985

Oil on canvas

National Fine Arts Collection

National Museum of the Philippines

How to Find the Best Avocado

Avocado is a favorite food for many.

People eat the fruit for its yummy flavor or for its nutritional food benefits. I eat avocado for both reasons. :)

Simple Snack Recipe

I usually eat avocado together with sugar. Honey can substitute for sugar which can make it more healthful. Now, to make it creamy and more delicious just add two tablespoons of powdered milk for each regular-sized avocado.

For convenience some people use their favorite canned condensada milk. But still I find powdered milk more accessible since it is readily available in my house.

How I find the best avocado

There is no sure thing that the avocado you buy is free from damages or from caterpillars nesting inside. You may say, "Eew!" but this is the reality in the world of avocado buyers/lovers.

It's really disappointing when you buy avocado and find out that you cannot eat even a thing from it because of the damage it got from outside forces or because of caterpillars lurking inside the fruit that make holes in its flesh.

Buying unripe avocados. Those are the best ones, I'd say.

Here's why:
Any caterpillars in unripe avocados are not yet fully grown.
It is also near impossible for them to eat the hard flesh of the fruit.
Then ripen the avocados in the refrigerator to kill any caterpillar in it.
You'd guess caterpillars cannot live with the cold environment there.
Thus, preventing them from making more holes to your precious fruit.

When the fruit is ripe and is ready for scooping, you'll observe that you are to eat the maximum fruit flesh you can get from the avocado you've been waiting for.

Also, no additional chilling is needed.

If you're looking for advice on finding good avocados that are ready to eat, try Erica's.

Sili Ice Cream in Bicol

This one-of-a-kind chili ice cream is creamy and cold but is at the same hot. :)
Nevertheless, it's delicious!

Try it at Colonial Grill restaurant found in Legaspi City.