What’s with the cake? Oh well that’s purple yam cake for my best friend T‘s hubby E last 20th of September, just 2 days short to my 1st month anniversary in NZ. The timing is just as good I guess and the slices of kiwi fruit on top of the cake apt as my sweet post to announce that from today onwards I will be blogging from the land of the Kiwis! Yup, vacation is over but will stay here for good. Happy blogging!
I am not a professional cook. My only claim to having a culinary background is a short stint as my dad’s teen ‘sous chef’ in his carinderia ages ago. Dad ran small eateries since I was a young kid - serving standard ‘turo-turo’ food ranging from the likes of menudo, adobo, pritong isda, dinuguan, binagoongan, bopis, munggo, pinakbet and giniling to merienda fares like goto, ginataan, pancit bihon, halu-halo and saging con yelo.
My father, a farmer in his hometown before working his way to becoming an accountant, definitely influenced my cooking in a lot of ways than I thought. My siblings and I were raised in a backyard full of fruit trees and vegetable garden. We spent weekends and the summer breaks running around with ducks, chickens, goats and pigs. I had wonderful memories of gathering eggs, butchering chickens, selling vegetables and the sweet aroma of preserved fruits. But my love for art led me to a degree in Architecture. Just few months after getting my license, I went abroad and lived independently at age 23. Definitely no maid, no cook, and a totally different food culture. Along the way I met lots of friends and spent what seemed a lifetime learning new tricks and recipes.
Now living in Auckland, I am a work-from-home mum who juggles time between work, fun and family - in pursuit of work-life balance. No matter how busy I am, I love the idea of cooking for my family. My blog chronicles home cooking greatly influenced by life outside my home country from Southeast Asia to Beijing and Auckland. And most of the time, being busy also means easy (sometimes quick), affordable meals.
My father, a farmer in his hometown before working his way to becoming an accountant, definitely influenced my cooking in a lot of ways than I thought. My siblings and I were raised in a backyard full of fruit trees and vegetable garden. We spent weekends and the summer breaks running around with ducks, chickens, goats and pigs. I had wonderful memories of gathering eggs, butchering chickens, selling vegetables and the sweet aroma of preserved fruits. But my love for art led me to a degree in Architecture. Just few months after getting my license, I went abroad and lived independently at age 23. Definitely no maid, no cook, and a totally different food culture. Along the way I met lots of friends and spent what seemed a lifetime learning new tricks and recipes.
Now living in Auckland, I am a work-from-home mum who juggles time between work, fun and family - in pursuit of work-life balance. No matter how busy I am, I love the idea of cooking for my family. My blog chronicles home cooking greatly influenced by life outside my home country from Southeast Asia to Beijing and Auckland. And most of the time, being busy also means easy (sometimes quick), affordable meals.
i knew it! heheheee . . . anyway, i wish you all the best there! congratulations on your new job, too!
thanks, mang mike!
Ang ganda naman ng cake. I missed your post, been busy kasi with the kids
anyway good luck sa bago mong home 
Really? Wow!!! I heard it’s super beautiful there and a great place to raise kids. I’m happy for you!
Hi Anne! I miss your posts too. Been really busy lately to surf…
Hello Toni! Salamat! Yeah it’s a very beautiful country and we do think it’s a good place to raise our boy.
hi Iska! Welcome to the land of the long white clouds. It’s been a while since I last checked your site and now you’re here in NZ???? wow! I hope you’re enjoying your stay here. I’m in Manukau Road, not too far from your place.
sorry… I mean… not too far from where you work.
Hi Kiwipinay! Thanks for the welcome! Yep I am enjoying and maybe we can meet up sometime
hi! I like your blog! So you are now living in NZ? I’m praying to get there soon too! I am a practicing accountant but now a nurse (second course). I would like to get in touch with you when I get to NZ. I am married with four kids. I will hope to settle in Wellington.
SweetBlessings!
hello,
di ako magaling magluto pero hilig ko magluto. sa singapore kami ng wife ko with our son zach. ako ang cook kaya hilig ko mag surf sa internet. nag kataon na may recipe ka for pasta with tuna sauce kaya tinignan ko na din iba mo recipe. siguro try ko this week yung sinangag na salmon.
san pala kayo sa nz? may relatives din kasi ako jan, siguro 1 year pa lang sila jan.
Hi P31! Wish you the best on your dream of getting to NZ!
Hello Victor! Dito po kami sa Auckland… goodluck sa sinaing na salmon mo nga pala…
hi can i have your recipe for the purple yam cake please