Meatless Monday: Basil Tomato Soup with Garlic Bread

Last week, Bernard and I went Italian for Meatless Monday. I prepared basil tomato soup with garlic bread. It’s very simple, easy, and even cheap.

Let’s begin with the basil-tomato soup. First, you need

• tomato sauce
• basil
• bouillon cubes
• salt and pepper
• 2 cups water
• garlic
• onion

1. Saute the garlic and the onion.
2. Throw in the cube then add the water.
3. Pour the tomato sauce (I used the can) and sprinkle some basil. Let it simmer for around 15 minutes.
4. Add some salt and pepper (but I just added pepper since there’s already sodium in the tomato sauce).
5. Serve while hot. Top with some basil leaves for more flavor.

If you want to save money on basil, buy McCormick Basil, which is only 50 pesos and you can save more for other recipes.

Now for the garlic bread:

• mini baguette, sliced in 4 parts
• butter
• finely chopped garlic
• basil
• pepper

1. Slice the mini baguette into 4 parts. I bought mine for around 40 pesos in French Baker. To spend less, you can use hot dog buns.
2. In a separate bowl, combine some butter, garlic, basil, and pepper. Make sure they are mixed together properly.
3. Then spread your mixture on the bread.
4. Using an oven toaster, toast the breads for 15 minutes.

Madness!

This week has been a roller-coaster ride. Sometimes I feel good about myself, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I just want to bawl my eyes out, sometimes I simply want to jump around in glee. IT’S. THAT. MAD.

But I’m glad it’s already Sunday, which has become my favorite day of the week for the past few months. I’ll get to see my family, it’s usually very relaxed and quiet, and it seems the day is a bit longer.

Anyway, last Monday I started my virtual course in Coursera. BUT I had to un-enroll since my domesticated brain couldn’t handle calculus and linear algebra (did I get the term right?) yet. I’m such a weakling when it comes to math. So I took up another: A History of the World since 1300. It basically traces the growth of economies, domination, and relationships among societies throughout the centuries (since the development of rural villages). I’m almost done with the first week’s videos (there are 8), so by next week, I’m fully ready for the second section. Come September 30, I’ll have my first assignment! Yey! My only problem is I don’t have the recommended book since it’s quite expensive even if I buy it as an e-book.

I’m starting to write poetry again! I missed it so much. I lost my muse for a very long time, and until now I can’t figure out why. In fact, I’m so excited because it also gave me a ka-ching idea.

Yesterday I attended a Google Business Group meetup, and I am just in awe of how much work others have already done. They inspire me to level up or do something more too. That for me is an amazing “let’s bring it on” feeling.

In a while, I’ll be meeting up my family over dinner, hoping to hear more lovely news to give me a good head-start next week. Oh, and we’re leaving for Singapore by Friday. First international travel of our lives.

Before I bid a temporary adieu, let me leave you with this. December, please come a bit faster so I get to watch this and the first installment of the Hobbit:

 

 

 

Great Finds and Inspiration: Call Me Maybe Squat Challenge

I’m really not feeling well. My right inner cheek is still swollen, which normally happens because of bites. I have a very bad wisdom tooth that I should have removed a long time ago. Back then, I wasn’t sure yet if I wanted to. Now I’m leaning into that direction. I might once we get back from Singapore. As of the moment, I need to  make sure I don’t chew on my right.

Nevertheless, I’m not letting this quite-terrible pain from ruining my day entirely so I’ll begin with some inspiration. A long time ago, while I was looking for Call Me Maybe videos in YouTube (I was one of the millions who got so crazy over the song), I stumbled upon this:

She, by the way, is Cassey, a Pilates instructor who’s found such a very cool way for people to exercise by having fun while at it. She calls it Pop-pilates. Her website has tons (and I mean TONS) of fantastic information about food, workout, and anything related to fitness and health. She’s generous with her workout plans and recipes, and I especially love to try her blueberry muffin.

A few days before, she also launched her POP cardio workout for Oppa Gangnam Style. I haven’t tried this yet, but from the looks of it, it’s wickedly fun!

If you want to see what she’s been up to, you can visit her YouTube channel and subscribe.

 

Meatless Monday: Mini Veggie Pizza

This should not have been called Meatless Monday. For the past few weeks, I’ve been posting erratically! Forgive me. I’ve been busy, and I’ve been sick (which reminds me, I need to visit my dentist AGAIN stat).

Last week, I made mini veggie pizza, which is super-duper easy you can have one in less than 20 minutes. No kidding!

So what do you need?

• tomato sauce (I used Clara Ole’s tomato sauce with mushrooms)
• diced tomatoes
• chopped bell peppers
• 1 sliced bread, cut into two
• grated cheddar cheese
• ground black pepper (optional–I just love black pepper)

If you want to take it to the next level, you can include some herbs such as basil or a hint of oregano. You can also toss some onions or change cheddar to parmesan.

Instructions

1. Cut the bread into half. Remove the sides.
2. Spread tomato sauce on top of each.
3. Place your veggies.
4. Sprinkle with cheese.
5. Toast for around 10 to 15 minutes.

Easy, right? After I did everything, it looked something like this.

I think what you’ll love about it is the crunchiness of the bread and the veggies after they’re toasted, as well as the slight creaminess of the melted cheese.

Yesterday, I prepared tomato-basil soup with garlic bread. I’ll cover that next week.

Cebu Book Club Is Now Open to the Public!

For those who love to read, want to read, like to know what others are reading, ready to share what they’ve been reading, like books, are in love with prose and poems–for everyone!

Cebu Book Club is finally open to the public. Everybody is certainly welcome to join. You can e-mail cebubookclub@gmail.com or follow the community at Facebook and Twitter.