Wickedly Good

I wanted to go and see Wicked (the movie).  RD and MyGirl were more than willing to go watch it with me.  Last weekend,  MyGirl checked online and figured that ticket prices on Tuesday are half price.   So it was a date!  

MyGirl asked whether we should go for the reclining seats for an extra $3.  It didn't really matter to me because I was primarily interested in watching the movie. Watching in style was secondary.  In the end, the kids decided that experiencing a movie in reclining seats would be best when tickets are half-price.  Let's do it.  Go reclining seats!

Armed with the decision of the date and the reclining seat, MyGirl began finalising the ticket booking. She called over to her brother and asked if it was ok for them to split my ticket cost.  RD said, "Sure, no problem."   

When the transaction was completed, she said, "You can just Beem me, Kuya."   

"I can pay for my ticket," I offered.  This immediately triggered a duet of "No!" from the kids.  

Oh yeah!  Awesome kids!  Reclining seats!  Free ticket!  We're going to see Wicked!  

We followed the yellow brick road.

As an added note, I was really happy that we were able to see the movie and the fact that we watched on the seventeenth of December was particularly significant.  One year ago, on Sunday 17 Dec, MyGirl was in Melbourne, GI and RD were at home, but I was at the Emergency Room in Westmead with MacGyver. I honestly thought my number was up when I couldn’t move my arms and legs without focusing and thinking.  It was scary! 

I was fortunate enough to watch the Wicked musical with London Eye back in 2018 and I am extremely lucky to have watched the Wicked movie with the kids last Tuesday.  

Lost and Found Trinity Cross

I saw this crucifix by Z's computer at home when I visited in 2022.  It was my first encounter with a Trinity Cross.  I had never heard of a Trinity Cross before. The moment I saw this, I fell in love. 

It is so beautiful.  There is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 

She said she got it as a Thank You gift.  When I returned to Australia, the image of the Trinity Cross was still in my mind.  I wondered where I could find one for myself.  I think the first one I got was an ebay purchase.  Eventually, I discovered that the local Pauline Books and Media at the city sold these small crucifixes (40mm x 18mm) at the counter along with the other medals and religious articles.

When I got one, I wanted it to be with me as I went about my day.  One often forgets that there are three persons in one God. I wanted this cross to remind me not only of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross but also of the reality of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, and the constant presence of God. 

I found a way to attach the cross to my phone.  I figured that even if I go out wearing something without a pocket, I would most likely still bring my phone.  

And so it was, the cross attached to the phone was my constant companion.

Then yesterday, as I was coming back from the mall, I realised that the cross was missing.  It was raining, so I had an umbrella in one hand and grocery bags on the other.  I had gone to church in the morning then walked around the mall before picking up some grocery.  I considered retracing my steps but it was raining, I was carrying grocery, I was only a few minutes away from home.  I concluded that it was such a small cross and since I had gone to so many places, it would take a miracle for me to find it.

For me, it was not so much that I had lost the cross, but that the cross had fallen somewhere and someone might have stepped on it, kicked it, or thrown it away.  What dreadful thoughts!  Plus there was the guilt that I had not noticed that it was missing.  I remember that I considered putting my phone on my back pocket as I was leaving the house but decided to place it my bag because I had to hold on to the umbrella. In other words, I did not have my phone in my hand for most of the morning.  However, I realised that I would have pulled out my phone to complete the payment when I went to the grocery and did not notice the missing cross at that point.  (Sadness.)

This cross had been lost before.  My prayer to St. Anthony was heard at the time and I found the lost cross in my work bag.  Seems the link that attached to the cross had opened, providing a wide enough gap for the cross to slip out.  I replaced the link with one with several loops and re-attached it to my phone.

I was confident it was secure until I lost the cross yesterday.  

I prayed I would find it, but as I said earlier, my conclusion was that it would take a miracle to find it.

Then this morning, my prayers were answered and I experienced an honest to goodness miracle. We were about to go to mass.  The green car is in the shop so MyGirl was our designated driver.  MacGyver passed through the garage while RD and MyGirl went ahead through the front door to go to the car.  I was the last one out the door and as I was about to step out, I looked down to find the missing cross on the door mat.  It did not look like it had just fallen.  It look like it had been laid out carefully.

I was in awe.  

I had gone out yesterday afternoon and not seen the cross on the floor.  The kids had just walked out the door and did not notice it.  It was as if it magically appeared when it was my turn to go out.

Needless to say, I thanked St. Anthony for helping me find my Trinity Cross. 

I re-attached the cross to my phone one more time.  I hope I don't lose it again.  I imagine I am already on St. Anthony's repeat offenders list.

Thank you, St. Anthony.

THE CROSS IN MY POCKET 

I carry a cross in my pocket.
A simple reminder to me,
of the fact that I am a Christian,
no matter where I may be.

This little cross is not magic.
Nor is it a good luck charm.
It isn’t meant to protect me
from every physical harm.

It’s not for identification.
For all the world to see.
It’s simply an understanding
between my Saviour and me.

When I put my hand in my pocket
to bring out a coin or a key.
The cross is there to remind me
of the price he paid for me.

It reminds me, too, to be thankful
for my blessings day by day
and to strive to serve ‘him’ better
in all I do and say.

Prayer by Verna Mae Thomas

Pikachu Cake

It was on sale and I have to admit that I could not resist getting one. I got the Twirl Bundt Pan version.  

There are 3-cup, 6-cup and 12-cup recipes for the Bundt pans. The recipes do not disclose the diameter of the pan that would be needed for any of the recipes.  

According to the label, this magnificent pan measured 23.5 cm diameter by 8.7 cm high, but it did not indicate which recipes would work for the pan. Luckily, the internet taught me how to figure out how many cups the pan could hold.  It was actually quite simple.  I should have known that all I needed to do was to measure out how many cups of water would fit in the pan.  

After I discovered that my new pan could hold 6 cups, the next step was to find a recipe. What better place to find a good recipe for a Bundt pan but from the home of the Bundt pans itself?  

I tried out the recipe in the Nordic Ware website using a tad less sugar and the blueberry yogurt that was in the fridge. We brought the cake to our monthly Saturday potluck dinner.  We sliced up the cake and when someone asked for a slice, she called out, "Can I have a piece of the Pikachu cake."

"Huh?"

"The Pikachu cake."

We took one look at the cake and said, "Oh, yeah.  You are right.  It's a Pikachu cake."

(The original recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of sugar and plain yogurt.  It still works well if sugar is reduced to 1 cup and peach yogurt is used.

VANILLA POUND CAKE (6-cup Bundt pan)

INGREDIENTS

 1 ½ c flour

 ½ t salt

 ¼ t baking soda

 ½ c butter, softened

 1 c sugar

 4 eggs

 1 t vanilla extract

 ⅔ c plain yoghurt

  

 1 Preheat oven to 175°C/350° F..   Grease and flour the Bundt pan.

 2 In small bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.

 3 In another bowl, cream butter and sugar then add the eggs.  Add vanilla, yogurt and the flour mixture.  Blend until smooth.

 4 Pour batter into your prepared Bundt Pan.  Tap gently on the counter to release air bubbles.

 5 Bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centre of the cake comes out clean.

 6 Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack.

 7 (Optional) Dust with powdered sugar or top with a glaze.

All Paired Up

I was thinking about buying thin socks when I went to the mall this weekend and saw this box on sale.

Why anyone would wear unpaired socks is beyond me.  It destroys all sense of balance and harmony.  And yet here was a box of socks for sale where none of the socks made a pair.

Who would get this box knowing that they would never end up with matching socks?

I honestly thought I would be the LAST person in the world to buy this box until I found a second box.

Problem solved.  

Order has been restored to the world. 

I can rest easy now that each of the six socks has a matching pair. 

 

Gnome is Where the Heart Is

Gnomes are often found in the garden. They are associated with good luck, positive energy, bountiful harvest by providing guardianship over animals and families.  

I have this (not so) secret fondness for gnomes. I don't know when it started or what it is about them I love. All I know is that I find them so cute.

My kids already call me the crazy clock lady.  So I take pictures of interesting gnome merchandise instead of purchasing them so I don't end up being the nutty gnome mom.

We passed by a Christmas store while we were in Banff, Canada. Check out the price tag for the 6-piece gnome pageant. This is definitely a 'take picture' gnome, rather than 'take home' gnome.

I was tempted to buy this Christmas mat since the price tag was kinder to the budget but I reminded myself that I would not know where to put the mat and that I would probably have a hard time cleaning it when it got dirty.  I snapped a picture of it before leaving the store.  I'm glad I did because when I passed by the store the week after, they were all sold out.

I have a lot more gnome pictures on my phone but I still have to dig them up. These are the more recent ones.

Ensaymada for the Win

I was all set to make Japanese milk bread the other week because RD is home for the Christmas/New Year break. I had placed flour + yeast + sugar + salt into the mixer bowl and was about to add the egg when I realised that added all-purpose flour instead of bread flour.  Not wanting to risk coming up with a sub-standard loaf of milk bread due to the insufficient protein content of the flour, I decided to start over.  

I poured out the flour mixture into a tupperware, measured out a new set of dry ingredients, and proceeded to make the milk bread.  The milk bread turned out fine but the tupperware with the flour was left sitting on the counter for ages.  

I googled and flipped through bread recipes and figured I could probably use the flour mixture for ensaymada.  The decision was made last Saturday, when I asked the kids what they wanted me to bake.  I started with "What do you guys want, ensaymada or...." 

I did not even get to finish my question because both RD and MyGirl answered "Ensaymada!" without waiting for the other option. 

On Sunday, I started the dough in the afternoon before we went out for dinner.  I added other ingredients as I went along, not really following any single ensaymada recipe.  I punched down the dough and formed the ensaymada when we got home.  They were done before 10PM.

The recipe needs to tested several more times but I am documenting it before I forget what I did.  It made 16 pieces about 60 g each.

Ensaymada for the Win  

2 ½ c          all-purpose flour

1 to 1 ½ c   bread flour

¼ c              sugar

1 T              yeast

1 t               salt

2                 eggs

½ c              warm milk

¼ c              unsalted butter, softened (cut into cubes)

               

1.       Combine dry ingredients in a stand mixer bowl.

2.       Mix for a few minutes to combine.

3.       Add eggs and milk into the mixer.

4.       Beat about 5 minutes on low, scraping down sides as needed.

5.       Add butter a few cubes at a time.

6.       Beat on medium for 5 minutes.

7.       Increase speed and beat additional 15 to 20 minutes.

Add flour a few tablespoons at a time as needed.   Do not add too much flour. 

The dough should not be dry and not completely non-stick.

Do the window pane test (stretched dough does not tear) and aim for sticky-tacky dough (pressing  the dough will cause it to stick but it easily releases without leaving much dough on your hand/ finger).

8.       Let dough rise until double in size.

9.       Punch down dough.

10.    On a floured surface, divide into 16 pieces about 60 g each.

11.    Roll dough piece into a log and coil.  (Alternatively, form into a dough ball after folding dough over itself several times and rotating 90 degrees.)

12.    Place into greased moulds and let rise 30 minutes or until double in size.

13.    Bake in pre-heated oven at 350F for 12 – 15 minutes.

14.    Once out of the oven, remove from moulds and let cool on rack.

15.    If desired, serve with butter, sugar, and grated cheese.

Zoom In

When RD surprised us with a visit last July, I requested that they pose for this picture. The picture in the frame on the bookshelf is currently the wallpaper on my phone.  

JULY 2023

This is the bookshelf photo found in the white frame.  It was taken at our first rental when GI came over to celebrate his birthday.

SEPT 2018

The 2018 photo was taken to recreate the photo on the bookshelf at the time.  The bookshelf photo in the brown frame was taken at Cebu Avenue when they were still very young.  

This is one of my favourite pictures of the kids.