My own "Pinoy" granola. After Yolanda I see the stars

It was 6pm yesterday night when I left the hospital with baby Juanan. It is peak hour in Makati so bad traffic. While I was absorbed in my own thoughts, looking at the advertisement of Krispy Kream doughnut, "HOPE, be strong Philippines" of course, the "o" was the doughnut, I had this conversation with my driver Frank:

- Ma'am, my uncle talked to me last night from Tacloban- Frank said

- Wow, that's good news! your relatives are alive!- I replied excited for him and his family

- Yes, but my uncle said that it would have been less painful if also the survivors had died by the typhoon because they are suffering a slow death by hunger. They are angry and hungry. And also the smell of the stacked water, dead bodies, and the rubbish (plus a lack of toilets...) it is unbearable.- he said with a broken voice.

- I am sorry Frank, for you and for all of them- I said trying to find the appropriated words.

- Yes, it is bad, thank you ma'am. My nephew of 5 years old told me over the phone: "Tito Frank, when I go to bed I can see the stars, and when I wake up, I STILL see the starts! I don't know what happened to the roof! I am so cold tito Frank, could you buy me a jumper?"

I arrived home, tired and hungry, and I appreciated once again how lucky we were of having such a comfort life, with a big roof and a warm dinner on the table.

Nick left this morning to Cebu and then tomorrow to Tacloban to see in person the  catastrophe and to help with the Australian donations (tents, for example). He will tell me the real story when he gets back and I am sure he will be very touched by what he will see.

So after that conversation I had with my driver, I woke up this morning thinking about the filipinos and their strength, about the 7.000 islands that are called Philippines, and about the local ingredients I could use more in my cooking, not only because they are more fresh and cheaper than the imported, but also because it is a way to support the Filipino produce.  

Sometimes I persist with the same dish trying different recipes because I want to make it right. When I fail, I wonder which mistake I made so I can try it again. After many unsuccessful attempts of making a nice granola that is not too sweet, heavy or greasy using a variety of recipes from the "healthy chef" that Jane makes beautifully; from Gordon Ramsay; from Donna Hay; from the magazine of Bon Apetite of 2011...I decided to follow my instinct to make my own recipe using the two healthy ingredients we have in Philippines: pili nuts and extra virgin coconut oil.

I hope you try this recipe for granola and you like it. If you don't, you can always blame my recipe! or make your own one...

My own Pinoy granola recipe

• 2 cups of rolled oats
• 1/2 cup of Maple syrup (or 1/4 maple syrup and 1/4 honey)
• 1/4 cup of virgin coconut oil cold processed. Substitute for any of these: sunflower oil, walnut or macadamia oil or grapeseed oil
• 1/2 cup of pili nuts, if you can get them
• 1 cup of mixed nuts such as pepitas, chopped almonds or sunflower seeds
• 1/2 organic apricots (they look black). Otherwise, the non-organic one are fine.
• 1/2 mini dried sultanas
• 1 teaspoon of chia seeds 
• orange peel in stripes of 3 oranges

1. Preheat oven 140C
2. Spread the oats on a shallow non-stick baking tray. Make sure that they are spread in a thin layer so they cook evenly. Place the tray in the middle low rack. Cook them for 15 minutes, stirring often, until they have some light brown colour and aroma.
3. Remove the tray from the oven. Let it cool for 5 minutes. Transfer the oats into a big bowl. Meanwhile, blend the maple syrup with the oil. Pour it over the oats and coat all of them. Spread the oats on the tray and put it back again for another 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.
4. Add the nuts to the tray and cook for 10 minutes longer.
5. Set it aside, let it cool. Add the apricots, sultanas, chia seeds and the orange peel. Mix it through.When it is cool, break a bit the granola with your fingers and keep it in a seal glass jar. 

Note:

• The virgin coconut oil is 92% saturated fat but mostly Medium Chain Triglycerides which are good for you (apparently it has over 200 known medical uses). It is better if you buy the Cold Processed and A No Heat process. The Philippine Virgin Coconut oil is made from fresh and mature coconuts. Otherwise, the "fake" oil is made from copra (so avoid buying it).
• Pili nuts are a rich source of heart healthy  omegas and contain 8 essential amino acids, magnesium, and Vitamin E, more than any nut.
• I also support the small local producers when I buy strawberries from Bagio; eggs and chicken from a Laguna farm ( one day I will have my own chickens like my sisters in-law Jane and Hol ); I order fresh milk, soya flan and yogurt from Batangas; my driver brings me bananas whenever he can also from Batangas; fish and vegetables from Baclaran market; meat from a tiny shop underneath the studio where I do yoga...Try to buy local if it is possible, you will make a difference to them ( and to you ).

PS: Like everybody here and around the world, my family is helping the people who are struggling after the typhoon. Frank has sent a box of second hand blankets, warm clothes and some of Aurelia and Gab's toys. He will go next week to build a new roof for his nephew.

"Super Bircher" muesli before the school bus

I didn't sleep well last night. Don't worry, this is not another whining post. You probably had enough with the last one. Perhaps I owe you an apology for all that complaining. Sorry, I know I shouldn't giving the fact I have home help and many people don't (that's me in Canberra soon!), but I felt much better when I finished writing the post.

This time there is no one to blame except the difficult circumstances of having my mother in the hospital. I couldn't close my eyes in peace until I got a text from my sister with a good outcome from the surgery. Praise the Lord and my friends, the nuns of the daycare center in Paranaque. 

I am looking forward to this Christmas in Spain. Time is precious, I agree, but being present with the people you love is even more, at least in my case. I will count the number of days I am going to spend with my mother and siblings: 13. Better than nothing! By the time I recover from the jet-lag, I come back to Manila with Aurelia and baby Juanan. 

Anyway, today is about what happens when Aurelia takes the bus in the mornings. We don't take it for granted, for us it is a big event. The traffic is really bad in Manila, so Nick and I decided it was better if Aurelia had a ride in the bus to school, just in the mornings. Otherwise, Nick would be late at the embassy. Just to let you know, if  you live in Manila, logistic with the car is essential. If you don't plan ahead your day and calculate the time to do your errands, there is a big chance your car will be stuck in traffic, you will get late everywhere and on and on…

It is nearly 7am when the green school shuttle arrives at our white metal gate. Our house is the last one in the route and for this reason, we feel less guilty sending her in the bus. Aurelia is lucky, she doesn't have to spend another 30 minutes waiting in her seat for other kids to be collected…she could sleep, I guess, but I know my daughter and she won't. Like her mother, once she is up, doesn't matter how tired she is, she WON'T go back to bed until 8pm. 

The excitement of Gabriel is to be filmed. I cannot tell you in words but you can have the picture in your mind: he jumps and shouts loudly "the busssssss!!!!!!!!"; says hi to the bus driver and to the bus-mother; says 15 times "bye Auugreria"; and waves until his little hand is exhausted.

When the bus turns left at the end of our street and disappears from his view, Gab looks at Nick and says: "bye dada!". When Nick leaves, Gab grabs his red Racing Car bag and looks at me and says: me!

The day has started in our family. 

Healthy breakfast...

...before the school bus

• 250ml vanilla yoghurt 
• 1/2 cup apple juice, not from concentrated
• 200g rolled oats
• 1 tbsp wheat germ
• 1 tbsp of black chia
• 1/2 grated apple, a few blueberries or chopped bananas
• some chopped nuts to garnish

1. Whisk together the yoghurt and apple juice in a bowl until combined and stir in the oats. Leave it in the fridge overnight.
2. Next morning, add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl (if it is too dried, add a bit of milk to loose it).

Notes: 

• Muesli is a Swish breakfast dish like a cross between porridge and regular muesli in which oats are softened, no cooked. It was devised by the health food advocate Dr. Bircher-Benner.
• It is a fresh alternative to the hot porridge, especially for those who live in the Tropics!
• Nuts are rich in protein, unsaturated fats (the good ones), calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium and vitamin E and B.
• Wheat germ is the heart of the wheat kernel and so is rich in all of the good things that wheat needs to grow. It's inexpensive and very nutritional (iron, phosphorus, vitamin E and B). Keep it in the fridge.
• Blueberries are rich in some minerals and vitamins A, C, E and B and folate. It is true fresh blueberries are expensive and are seasonal, but you can always buy them frozen (but remember they will have liquid)
• Oats or avena are great for children not only for the nutritional level, but also for keeping the sugar level under control (so your child won't be hungry for a couple of hours).

Easy French brioche toast. Uncommon sense.

It is 5am and I am in the kitchen preparing French toast for breakfast, using the brioche bread I made yesterday afternoon. It is actually for the kids, and perhaps Nick. I cannot digest this type of meal early in the morning, but I am happy to enjoy it for merienda though. For now, I need a strong cup of coffee and some toast with olive oil.

I know you must think I am nuts. I won't argue with you because I also think it is crazy to start the day so early. With the arrival of a new baby in the family experts advise you to spend time during the day with his siblings so the transition is easy, especially if his brother is under two (Aurelia is old enough to understand the new situation)....but, I am sure the experts meant quality of time with them. Some days I forget the word "quality" and I remember only "time".

Next to me, Nick was snoring, with the pillow over his head and with earplugs. I could have woken him up, as I always do, when I heard Gab crying at 4.20 so he could give him his bottle. But I didn't because that professional advise was stuck in my head and I felt a bit guilty if I rolled over back to sleep after all night up with the baby.

So today I am exhausted and it is my own fault. I need to change the way I do things. It isn't enough to write this blog and go for a run. It is about common sense, not only quality of time. Who is first, the chicken or the egg? Instead of playing with Gab this morning, I put him in front of the computer to watch Peppa Pig so I could have some coffee and wake up....

"At least it he is learning Spanish"I thought 

French brioche toast

The recipe of my homemade brioche bread will be posted soon, when I am not too tired!

• 3 free-range eggs
• 1/2 cup fresh whole milk
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 4 thick slices of a day-old brioche
• A bit of butter, for frying
• Maple syrup

1. In the blender, mix all the ingredients. 
2. Dip the bread into the egg mixture until saturated on either side.
3. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the knob of butter and cook the eggy bread until crispy. Repeat on the other side.
4. Serve warm with maple syrup (the real one!) and fresh strawberries

Buen provecho!

Note: 

• Wash the strawberries first and then cut the green tops. If you cut the tops first, the strawberries will absorb moisture. 
• Pure maple syrup is a natural sweetener, drawn from the maple tree and due to minimal processing, it retains many of its natural vitamins and minerals. Expensive but is worth the expense and healthier for your kids