i feel like it’s a pinteresty day.  not that it meant to be, but perhaps pinterest has found its way into my subconsciousness.  let’s face it: although pinterest can turn into a sinking hole of ideas you collect and never get to, in reality, pinterest has made our lives easier.  or at least, more creative.

anyway, one of the smart ideas i’ve found was the simplicity of growing green onions.  on your window sill.  in water.

these lovely photos are of the green onions after having sat on our sill for three days.  three days!  it feels like Easter.

so the best part, of course, is the ability to snip snip snap with scissors whenever we need them.  you will need to change out the water whenever it gets low or murky, though.  my parents decided to replant them outside though, because we get green onion bunches every so often from my uncle.. and it’s kinda nice putting a new batch of water-hungry plants in.

and of course, i just had to use a pretty cup.

Recipe later!!

xo

ooh green shoelaces!!  kindof-sortof-notreally!!
ok ok… it’s actually called “alokon.”  or alukon.  or alakon.

or himbabo.

or baég (but i’m not from pangasinan… i’m ilokano thank you very much.)

my whole life, i’ve tripped out everytime we’ve gotten a harvest of this interesting vegetable.  mostly because it’s weird looking, and it always adds texture – which is mostly why we filipinos do add it to our inabrao (soup)/vegetable meals anyway.

I know, right, it’s like octopus on a shoelace.
But eat up!  It has its share of vitamins (A, B, C) and minerals…. actually I’m not even a nutrition.  Honestly, all my life I’ve eaten these Filipino vegetables whose health values still puzzle me (though my ignorance hasn’t harmed me)… this can’t be any different. ;)

xo

currently listening to: a jazz mix.

SO.  i had only realized, after nearly a terribly long time [we're talking months], there has been no link on the bottom of my post for comments!  foolishness!!  whatever.  it’s a good thing i don’t base the quality of my life on the number of comments on weird little posts like pictures of our garden…..

the branches of the avocado tree weigh over like a canopy…

some delicate yellow flowers from our garden

and, a harvest of chico, also known as sapodilla.  likely from our neighbor’s garden.  true story: i used to eat these as a kid all the time, except one summer our neighbors had an overflowing harvest, and i ate until i got sick of it.  i don’t know the last time i’ve voluntarily eaten one.  if you’ve never tried chico, it is a very grainy fruit (think: very grainy pear), and a flavor almost similar to brown sugar or caramel.  i suppose you could say it’s like eating a fruit-fleshed version of turbinado sugar.

k that’s all….

xo

One of the things that I probably should add into the smorgasbord of random topics on this blog is, the garden.  My parents, but most especially my dad, are avid gardeners.  My dad is so much into gardening that it is rather synonymous with his persona – and the fact that he is a pastor makes his love for gardening rather metaphorical.  We grow a lot of vegetables that seem so absolutely “typical” to my Filipino diet, except I forget that they’re not common, seeing that I have no idea what their nutrition values are, nor their English names.

Anyway, mom started more recognizable plants this past season, like spinach and lettuce and herbs.  Here’s some photos from our outdoors:

We also have some Crown of Thorns growing… (fitting for this Passover/Good Friday/Easter season?)

And of course a very curious cat, Panda

More next time!!

xo