Recipe: Rose Bandung (Other Beverages)

Category:		Beverages
Style:		Other
Special Consideration:		Quick and Easy
Servings:		1 batch

Description:
Bandung is the name of a drink popular in Malaysia and Singapore consisting of milk flavored with rose cordial, giving a pink color.

Ingredients:

3 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups water
1 egg white
1/2 eggshells, slgihtly crushed (yes, the shell. Make sure you wash the shell first)
cochineal food coloring
rose essence
evaporated milk
crushed ice (cubed if preferred.)

Directions:
- Put the sugar and water in a pan and bring to boil.
- After the sugar has dissolved, add egg white and shell (to clarify syrup).
- Simmer for half an hour for the syrup to thicken.
- Strain.
- Cool.
- Add a few drops of the food colouring and essence to taste.
- Dilute 1 part of syrup to 5 parts water (or less if to your liking).
- Make sure it is slightly sweeter than your preference because you are going to add evaporated milk.
- Add evaporated milk to taste. Approximately 2 tbsps for a glass.
- Add crushed/cubed ice.
- Enjoy.

or alternatively you can do my shortcut way..

I bought rose syrup and just added it to liquid on a ratio of 1 part rose syrup 4 parts water/liquid (could be cold water or cold milk or you can add ice cubes later).

For the liquid part aside from the water, I either use cows milk from tetra packs if I don't have evaporated milk, or I sometimes use powdered goat's milk to give it a different creamy taste. The carabao (or water buffalo's milk) is still something I have to acquire since its not always freshly available as to where I live in.

- Feb 1, '09 3:32 AM

ALTANGHAP @ Via Mare

December 5, 2008
Makati City, Philippines
5:30 pm


I was so busy, that as is my wont during Fridays, I forgot to eat lunch.

Yes Virginia, it does happen to me..more often than you might think. My stomach is empty but I pay it no mind in the thrill of answering emails and talking on the phone. Truly.

So...stomach grumbling and feeling dizzy... and remembering I had to pick up a gift for a christening tomorrow wherein I would also be a ninang/godmother to a hapless and innocent child (who will have no clue what kind of ninang she is going to be saddled with , she can blame her dad for that), I dashed madly out of my home and ran to GB1 (Greenbelt 1).

Lo and behold, I passed by National Bookstore, and Via Mare.

Didn't I say I would check out also if it was "lugaw" or "congee" that I had eaten and talked about in my post "Hankering for Congee" (http://cuh888.multiply.com/journal/item/62/Hankering_for_Congee).

So checked it, got bamboozled into checking out more of their menu..and under Altanghap, finally selected spicy tuyo flakes and a glass of cold, cold sago.

The only complaint I have relates to the rice in this dish. It was puffy, somewhat wet and certainly not the kind of fried rice I liked - which leans to fried and somewhat dried out rice - all the the better to pour sikwate (thick, rich, hot chocolate) in, my dear!

Its called "Altanghap" because its ALmusal (Breakfast) - TANGhali (Lunch) - HAPunan (Dinner) due to the fact that the meals under this heading can be served any time.

Enjoy!

- Dec 5, '08 11:43 PM

A Funny Fine Flight

November 14, 2008
Up-in-the-air

I fly PAL, but its usually economy and I sometimes I wish I could afford to go business class especially on long-haul flights such as those from the Philippines to the US of A.

Great was my surprise when things turned out very well for this particular flight of mine.

One of my best buds from college works as a pilot for PAL, unfortunately he doesn't do the US trips though but those in Asia. He did text me that while he would not be handling the flight (hmmmph, he could have taken the one I was on to Japan though...grrrr) he would be wishing me well. Let's call this buddy of mine as Mr. N.

I had just sat down and ruefully thought that I should really try to either check in early or reserve through the phone for an early check-in so I could have one of the exit seats and have more leg room. Long legs wasn't that great on long flights!

I was nonplussed when a pretty stewardess with a warm smile asked me if I was Cat Herrera and if Mr. R was my cousin. I had met Mr. R but had no idea why he would be claiming me as his cousin.  So I just dazedly said the complete name of Mr. R and remarked that I knew he wasn't on this flight.

Lo and behold, the stewardess remarked to another steward passing by that I was Mr. R's cousin!  As I was about to open my mouth to say we were really not cousins (btw, Mr. R is actually Mr. N's cousin and I daresay if I had married into Mr. N's clan, I would be probably Mr. R's cousin hehehe...) I got pushed towards an empty 3-seats. I couldn't believe my good fortune! This is a first time for me and a far cry from how I was situated on my flight to Sanfo in 2007!

Wow, I could finally curl and sleep at last. I was so thankful for that, that it was enough for me if nothing else happened and I thanked her profusely if quietly. And I didn't correct her anymore about Mr. R being my cousin *grin*

My next favorite part of flights arrived - they served meals. I got extra attention from the steward earlier who asked if I was okay. I asked for more water. I got a whole  big bottle, and a wink and a "sssshhh!" ....Hmmm...strange but satisfying as I love to drink water during trips like this.

I finally curled up with one of my heavy tomes when the stewardess earlier dropped by and passed me a tray which was full of cheeses and fruits and crackers and what have you. Hmm..probably from business class, eh? I gave her a big smile and said thank you so much, I will really enjoy this..and promptly went to munching on it while all the others around me slept.

Before the next meal though, another stewardess passed by. She was older and though quite hospitable, I had noticed her earlier in the business class section and she looked quite strict. I got a shock of my life when she suddenly stopped by and asked if I was Cat Herrera. What the? Was this more of Mr. R's doing?

Well, I wanted to hear what it was all about before I could say yes, but then she said she was looking for me row to row (since I had apparently transferred seats). Breathing more easily I hesitantly admitted my identity.

So now the steward from earlier and this older stewardess were bunked by my seat. And while I blinked rapidly, the latter was smiling naughtily and said she was asked to pass on a message from the pilot, who got contacted by an air traffic controller who said to greet me.

When she asked if I knew who the guy was, I said I had a friend who was an ATC (I was still thinking of Che, its impossible it would be Loo, her also wacky half,  who would be handling this flight). I didn't voice out my surprise when she grinned and remarked in such a way that meant she thought I had a secret admirer.  EH??

I thought - well, maybe Che asked one of her male co-workers to do the greeting, that is why they said a guy was greeting me. I smiled and didn't elaborate anymore but made a mental note to thank Che and tell her to thank her co-worker.

Before we disembarked, a couple of more things happened.

I got a bag full of chocolate cake slices in a Duty Free bag from the stewardess earlier (this was a blessing as I had to be up really early to walk to the office in Cinci and didn't have time to get breakfast). I had also talked to the steward who gave me tips on where to go in Sanfo and other places.

Lastly, when I stepped out of the plane into the tube...the older stewardess grinned at me again and remarked on the ATC who was my friend, making it more obvious she really thought I had either an admirer or was dating an ATC. EH???

Before I came back to the Philippines, I continued my PM with Che. I thanked her and told her the tale, and all the while I thought she had asked a co-worker to do the greeting. We laughed heartily over it when she said it was her wacky self who talked to the pilot. She was mistaken for a guy! Tsk--tsk..she really needs to work on her bedroom voice then *wink*

And here I am now, trying to ask Mr. N to give me the number of his cousin Mr. R (who I met before, along with his wife in the birthday party of one of Mr. N's daughters) so I could tell him thank you and to tell the three stewards on that flight that they made me happy I had flown PAL that day. I had noted down their names...but my buddy is not responding..so I'm writing this blog instead. *yawn*

Yup, that was one of my memorable long-haul flights to grin over.

- Dec 5, '08 12:19 AM

A flurry of snow in Cinci

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

I did mention to some friends that upon my arrival in Cincinnati, Ohio my manager thoughtfully presented me with borrowed stuff from his wife - coat, gloves, scarves, hats...enough that I could make a fashion statement every day of my stay here.

One thing which amused me though was the mask-like thing he also had me borrow..this time it was his hat/mask - it could cover the ears, and at the same time, protect the mouth area as it had some anti-bacterial cloth one could pull up to cover one's mouth and nose. His daughters gave it to him when he had to dig through goodness knows how much of snow in this year's blizzard.

The drawback? It reminds me of a robber about to hijack a convenience store :-)

I don't have pictures of myself wearing the other stuff, but earlier this afternoon, I did go walking around Cinci in the cold and snow as I wanted to take pictures of the buildings I had seen. Unfortunately, it was a bit difficult to maneuver and juggle my camera and bags due to the gloves I had on. 

I was particularly thankful though that I had chosen my manager's hat to use today as snow suddenly came down, then a gust of wind every now and then completed the afternoon's weather offering.

As a mad thought, I took out my cell and took quick pics of myself, covered face and all...don't I look warm and toasty?

Last picture here was taken where I usually get my bagels and  milk for breakfast...at least last year that is what I did (I survived on this diet) - umandar yung pagka-thrifty ko and I used the balance of the money for food, buying something else....like...books...I want to go to Newport on the Levy all in a sudden din...tsk!

The temperature ranges (in Fahrenheit now) I experienced were approximately from 23 to 38 degrees. Brrrrrrr. 

No wonder most people seems to be obsessed about weather here...it can make life pretty difficult - you just don't worry about food, but about the cold which could freeze you to death. At least I can now say I've experienced fall/autumn and winter-like weather...wheeeee!

-          Nov 21, '08 10:22 AM

Rant: Laying a big, fat egg..with melamine

30^th of October 2008

Makati City, Philippines

Mood: droopy-eyed tiredness

This is a rant. A short one though.

I am tired, irritated and wish I could just go on a slow boat to Hawaii. No kidding. It has been a long month and I am sort of losing steam already. It is not going to get better by November and in the midst of this I am treated to unsettling news.

I can’t remember when I first heard about eggs with melamine - probably it was last week. It has been a blur. *yawn* Can’t even go to a lovely party tonight. Darn.

What is this world getting into? WTH?

Did the chickens drink melamine-tainted milk?

Did the feed they were given originate from some animal or plant which had melamine poured over it?

Did the chickens reside near the milk or an industrial factory producing plastic with melamine? Were the eggs injected with melamine?

I just don’t get it. I’m just really dense today, probably.

Before I thought they’d blame the cows for the melamine-taint on the milk. Tcch! Blame the humans, who else would be good at altering the environment?

Next thing you know its steaks with melamine, softdrinks with melamine, melamine-flu?…

My gulay! Everything will be tainted with melamine except the leather and plastic it was supposed to reside in.

Darn again.

- Oct 30, '08 7:08 PM

Just When U Do Not Want It, U Get It. Got it?

11 pm Makati City, Philippines
Mood: Ornery and ready to fight a burglar with a rolling pin just to de-stress!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hell and damnation..Fire and Brimstone, Roses and Prickly Thorns.
I am torn between elation and despair.!!

Ok, so its partially my fault....ok, its all my fault. So what? Doesn't solve the dilemna.

But still.... *wails* I thought a trip to the US won't push thru because of cost-cutting from our company and some other stuff. I was thinking our team meeting also would not push through..so when my boss said last August that I was to cross my fingers so that if ever, F2F meeting or not, I could still go to the US this November 2008 for some other matters, I certainly didn't cross my fingers...I wanted the trip to be next year...next year!
...Lady Fate and Lady Destiny, do you hear me?? Listen to me!

Why? don't ask..I won't tell, suffice to say I feel I am not ready...double drat and triple drat!
I have less than a month to prepare for something which usually takes 4 months! I wasn't interested in pursuing it anymore, I thought I could try other interests, and basically I thought even if I got the chance, in the long run in my current company its not as if it translates to big bucks. Why oh why did I get a call which would send other people into a swoon..of happiness but weirdly makes me want to drown myself in a bucket of brandy?

In my case, although I try to think positively, it only means I will now have 2 hours of sleep everyday if ever I hope catch up to compensate for my lack of preparedness and time...and there are so many other things I have to do too...*sobs* and its not even sure...and I have to do it all by myself...*sigh*
Can somebody find me my twin? clone me perhaps? provide me with another brain? and extra hands too while you are at it....

Sorry, I just needed to vent...

I don't feel like writing this down in my diary because I am growling and I am hungry and I feel like writing it down straight here with my fingers flying over the keyboard will lessen the stress. So there...call me an ungrateful child/spoiled woman/impetuous person..but by writing it here, I'm half-hoping something else will come up and maudlot yung trip (I'm a believer in that kind of thing).

Let me eat dinner and sleep on it. Maybe tomorrow things will look better even if it means a deduction of 24 hours again on my time to prepare.

After all, tomorrow is another day. And no I will not ever speak of it again. I just need to concentrate on how to get it done. So there.

- Oct 9, '08 11:00 PM

Instead of...

October 4, 2008
Makati and Ortigas, Philippines
Mood: dreamy

Baptism. Who? "My spanking brand new baby daughter" - according to Albert, one of my ex-software devs.  When? Saturday. Where? Batangas.  Ayayay!  A bit too far for me.

Instead, I went to the Open House of the Nihonggo Center.  Instead of our Saturday class, this was the event that we would be attending.



Arrived late after lunch. Didn't know a soul. Looked fun though. The kids certainly do know a good thing when they see one. I also queued up for the glitter tattoo even though I was the only "adult" one. I'd have gotten a seahorse one too if I wasn't in a hurry. The good luck character will just have to do instead of having two.

Missed the tea ceremony, origami sessions, amongst other things...

Instead of getting to watch those I was interested in, I stood witness to their sumo demonstration. Hmmm...I wonder if female sumo wrestlers would ever happen in my time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the past week, we have not been having the best weather. I was set to go to Ortigas for some educational-related stuff, as well as a chika-thon slash food trip schedule with my "tokayo'/namesake/classmate Catherine who I have not seen in a long time that October 1, which was also a holiday.

Instead, I had to reschedule for an October 4 slot in the afternoon

Earlier before I left my quarters, Marie (Ellaftiz) texted if I would like to join her when she would watch the 4:30 movie from the current Spanish film festival showing at Greenbelt. Regretfully, I instead texted back that I had to take a rain-check because I was going to Ortigas after my visit to the open house at Pasay Road (see event post earlier).

I had little time left to spare after leaving the Open House affair, but I was hungry.



I felt lazy just thinking about going back home to cook and eat lunch. Instead, I stopped by Ole Spaghetti House in Glorietta.

I ordered the parma ham/walnut/cheese sandwich. The waiter came back after I was dreamily anticipating sinking my fangs into the sandwich. It was out of stock.

So instead I settled for tuna sandwich Italian-style. That and a rootbeer, and I felt half-human again :-)

I wanted to avoid irritating, boorish, and money-lusting taxi drivers.

Instead of that particular mode of transportation I took the MRT train, and arrived just in time to walk to the the corner of SMPC and Shangrila EDSA and to be soaked to the bone by the cold rain dumped by the dark, forbidding skies. I did not have a raincoat.

I had instead brought my umbrella, which wasn't really of much use under the circumstances. The wind was causing havoc with it and had ferociously lashed the water against my legs up to my shoulders. I swear the only part of me which was dryer than the rest of my body  was the inside of my nostrils. *Sniffles and flares nostrils like a horse*

I straggled into the building and dripped water on the pristine floor. I took occupancy of the comfort room, and wrung out a basin of water from my pants, t-shirt, socks, hanky and hair (my undergarments were the type to dry out quickly). Luckily the air-conditioner was out, so I settled down for some brain-usage time and slowly dried out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was told that two of my fellow AVPs at a previous company would be meeting me for dinner that night at the Fort or Serendra. I instead harrumphed and said I would believe it when it had already happened ...since I knew that one of the ladies concerned has a tendency to plan but not push through. I was hopeful but skeptical.

I ended up instead planning to have dinner before going home as my friend was dieting. I walked to Shangrila Mall with him and just when we were to go our separate ways, someone called my name.

It was Marie! Of all places and of all times! Just when I was super hungry too. So that means that instead of meeting in Makati, we still did end up meeting today.

Instead of going for the other restaurants at the higher level, we ate at Secret Recipes restaurant at the aforementioned mall.

 


Intriguing name.  Instead of cheesecake (they were supposed to have rave reviews for their cheesecake), I got tiramisu. Instead of their stew, I ordered fish and chips. Since Marie had to stay away from sugar, I slurped her ice tea instead of ordering any drinks for myself.

We were looking at each other ruefully - instead of being happy that we got to try out the place, we thought of not coming back in the future. Ever. As in. Never.
Why? Now that would be telling, so instead, I will be keeping it a secret (in keeping with the restaurant's name).

Instead of hanging out, having a beer, or coffee or some other dessert, I thought maybe we could watch a movie tomorrow from the filmfest because we both were unable to watch it today. So I caught the last train back to Ayala and Marie went on her way too.

I came home and multiplied. I found out from Marie's given links that there was still a 12 midnight showing of one more film.

I went to sleep instead.
I think it was for the best as another day was almost beginning too.

So, instead, I will ask you -

were your "instead" days as ordinary but wacky, wet and fun too?

- Oct 6, '08 12:53 AM