Saturday, October 27, 2007

Autumn Party

October 27, 2007,

Today, October 27, I took the kids to a block party at Alfred Bajet's house here in San Diego. The party idea started as a Block Party where Alfred's band and a neighbor's would play Music for all to see. Well, after a week of Wildfires here in San Diego California,
the party morphed into a "Thank God our houses are not burned and we're not crispy pata" kind of a party.

Its sort of a follow up party after the Saint Louis University Reunion from the previous weekend. My friend Lalaine Velasco as well as other Louisians such as Robert Tadeo,(fellow SLU Boys High Alumni) attended the Party as well. It was nice to take time and talk to them as oppsoed to the Reunion where there was so many distractions and things going on. In today's event, I just took my time to talk to them and get to know them better.

Here's a video of the group Third World playing their music:



Click on the picture below to see more pictures:



Since it was a Potluck event, I marinated Thai Chicken well in advance and grilled it during the party. Lalaine brought fried Wontons with sweet and sour dipping sauce. I have to get her recipe and try making it myself because they are delicious and my kids liked it.

For side dish I originally thought of Potato Salad but decided to make Vegetable and Fruit Salad with Ceasar's Salad dressing upon the prodding of my friend Lyn Mendoza. Pictures and recipes are provided below.

I got the Thai Chicken idea from the book Weber's Real Grilling by Jamie Purviance ISBN: 0-376-02046-6, and the Vegetable and Fruit Salad from my friend Lyn Mendoza and also from Connie Veneracion's PinoyCook.net website. I also got the Ceasar's Salad Dressing idea from the same website.

I always prepare Thai Chicken at home and my kids like it. It takes 12 hours to marinate the Chicken and another 40 minutes to grille it so it requires lots of preparation time. I 'kicked the recipe a notch' (as Emerill Lagasse always say) by adding Malaysian Chili Paste (Sambal Oelek) for added spiciness.

Here are pictures while the Chicken's being prepared and the final product.

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Here are the Recipes:

Bangkok Barbecued Chicken

Marinade:
4 large Garlic Cloves
1 large shallots
1 one-inch piece of fresh ginger, roughly chopped
1 medium jalapeño chile pepper, stem and seeds removed and roughly chopped
1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 table spoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 whole chicken, 4 to 5 pounds

1. To make the marinade: In a food processor with motor running, drop the grlic, shallots, ginger, and jalapeño through the feed tube and process until they are finely minced. Add the basil until they are finely chopped. Add the remaining marinade ingredients until they are well combined.

2. Cut the Chicken into 6 peices: 2 breast peices, 2 legs with thighs,
and 2 wings. Cut 3 to 4 slashes,about 1/2 inch deep, into the meatier side of the breast and leg thigh pieces. Place the chicken in a large resealable bag, and pour in the marinade. Press the air out of he bag and seal tightly. Turn the bag to distribute the marinade, place the bag in a bowl, and refrigerate for 4 to 6 hours, or as long as 12 hours, turning the bag occasionally.

3. Remove the chicken pieces from the bag and discard the marinade. Grille, skin side down, over Indirect Medium heat until fully cooked. The breast and wing pieces will take about 30 minutes. The leg-thigh pieces will take about 40 minutes.
During the last 10 minutes of grilling time, move the chicken over Direct Medium heat until well browned all over, turning once. Serve warm.


Vegetable and Fruit Salad:

Click link to view the recipe for Vegetable and Fruit Salad

Caesar Salad Dressing:

Click link to view the recipe for Caesar Salad Dressing

Saint Louis University Alumni Reunion 2007

October 20, 2007

Manang Christine, Kuya Chito and myself went to Las Vegas this weekend to be part of the Saint Louis University Alumni Reunion for 2007 at Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas Nevada USA. Manong Dan and Ate Myrna were present in the event as well.

My classmate Alfred Bajet and his wife Aida all attended the Night Dinner and Dance
Ball event.

Its nice to see several High School and College acquaintances after so many years. It was also nice to hear Bishop Cenzon (Bishop of the Dicoese of Baguio City-Benguet), and Mayor Bautista (current mayor of the City of Baguio) address the SLU alumnus.

The pictures were taken from the camera of my classmate Alfred Bajet.
Thanks Alfred for sharing these pictures.

Click on the photo below to see more of our reunion pictures:



Hope you enjoy the pictures.

-Julius

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Miramar Air Show 2007

October 13, 2007

I brought Justin, Trevor and Kristen, and our neighbors Joshua and
Ayson to a whole day of viewing the Miramar Air Show here in
San Diego, California.

What's different this year, the US Air Force Thunderbirds were the highlight of the
show instead of the US Navy Blue Angels. I must say the Thunderbirds have different aerial stunts than does the Blue Angles.

Nevertheless it is spectacular to view
them at the comfort of camping chairs set amidst a flight deck while munching
on potato chip snacks.

The kids had fun as well. It is comforting to a parent to hear their thank yous
for the fun they had all day.

Here are some of our Air Show pictures. Click on the image to view our online photo album. I hope you enjoy.



-Julius
(Sinlao)