Hi there !
Renxkyoko Iglesias here.
It’s Christmas time, my most favorite time of the year. ( If you’re not a Christian, it’s alright, you can roll your eyes. ❤ )
But, before I talk about Christmas, let me show you what we had for Thanksgiving Day. Yeah, it’s foodie time.
Actually, there wasn’t much food, compared to last year’s. It seems we’re getting less and less food every year, but it’s okay, we do throw away so much , especially the turkey. That’s why we don’t do turkey anymore.
By the way, I cooked most of the food. Not bragging, though. Just sayin’.
Oh, wait, before I forget…. can someone please translate this? It’s Japanese. I want the exact translation, please. You’ll help me win an argument. 🙂 Thank you.
He he. I know it’s juvenile.
Anyway, the food.
Roast pork ( lechon),, with liver gravy, ham, kare-kare ( beef stew in peanut sauce,) there’s noodles ( pancit ala Malabon ) , fruit salad, potato salad, lumpia ( pork eggroll with sweet – sour sauce), and various cakes.
Kare-kare
Pancit a la malabon. Malabon is a place in the Philippines. I think this is Malabon’s specialty. I cooked that. Do you know what’s in there ? Shrimps, flaked smoked fish, pounded chicharrones ( pork cracklings ) Napa cabbage, and the juice of pounded shrimp heads.
This is Renxkyoko’s specialty……. Lumpia ( ground pork eggroll. ) I stayed up the whole night ( and morning ) rolling the darn things. I made a lot, for us, and for our Forensic class’s assistant teacher.
Huge pastry with Bavarian Cream filling, Double chocolate cake, cheesecake, and brownies. We baked the pastry. We bought the rest at Costco.
we call the above dish Ginatan. It’s made of sweet potato, cooking banana ( saba ), taro root, rice balls, and coconut milk. And sugar, of course.
So, that’s it, our Thanksgiving Day meal.
We already have a menu planned for our Christmas meal. I am definitely going to cook my other specialty….. Paella.
And I’m looking forward to a family Christmas tradition……….. the whole family going to Chrismas Eve Midnight Mass. Here in the US, it’s at 10 PM…… in the Philippines, it’s at 12 midnight. We used to have our Christmas meal right after the Mass, but we had discarded that. My mother said it was stressful. But we do open the gifts as soon as we arrive from the church. In the Philippines, the midnight meal is called Noche Buena. So, what ‘s a typical Filipino Noche Buena ? Bread , ( pan de sal, bite-sized French bread ) with Queso de Bola ( Edam Cheese ). Jamon ( ham , glazed with pineapple and sugar, ), castanas, ( chestnuts) noodles, ( at home, it’s baked macaroni ), leche flan, ube jam, ( purple yam ) and yes, fruit cake ! These are the icons of Filipino Noche Buena. I’m going to bake fruit cake, that’s for sure. And it isn’;t like the fruit cakes that are sold here in the US. They ‘re nasty. No wonder Americans make fun of them. My recipe is delicious. Lots of rhum in it !
I actually want to have a food blog . But, I don’t think it will happen. I don’t even have time to post here. Don’t be surprised why I’m interested in food. My mother had a successful catering business in the Philippines, and if we didn’t come here to the US, she would be holding a Dunkin’ Donut francise.
Oh. 550 words, already. Time to to say bye for now. Thank you for reading and PEACE !
Happy Holidays !
.
Am a Molecular Microbiology student, love to read books, and I play the violin. 
dreamsending
renxkyoko
renxkyoko's space 
Posted by Cassidy Frazee on December 15, 2014 at 11:25 am
Now I’m hungry. 😦
Posted by renxkyoko on December 15, 2014 at 1:28 pm
I can send you some fruit cake your way. How many do you want ? 🙂 ❤
Posted by Cassidy Frazee on December 15, 2014 at 1:33 pm
I could eat one. But I’d like the one dish you made with the shrimp and fish and eggs. That looked wonderful.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 15, 2014 at 4:06 pm
It tastes better than the pic, Cassie.Have you tried spaghetti with shrimps, either with red or white sauce. It’s kinda like that, but more exotic because of the smoked fish. And the orangy color is due to the shrimp juice. malabon is a fishing village. I didn’t put squid there.
Posted by Cassidy Frazee on December 15, 2014 at 4:11 pm
I love squid, too! I used to eat stuff like that whenever I’d go to China. But the disk sounds incredible.
Posted by Charles Yallowitz on December 15, 2014 at 11:38 am
Wow. That’s an impressive feast.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 15, 2014 at 4:10 pm
Thanks ! There were only 6 of us, so we had decided not to have so many dishes. It does look impressive in the pic. XD
Posted by Jueseppi B. on December 15, 2014 at 12:06 pm
Reblogged this on MrMilitantNegro™.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 15, 2014 at 4:11 pm
Thanks , Jueseppi ! ! A shot-out ! Yes !
Posted by Jueseppi B. on December 15, 2014 at 7:53 pm
What is that dish that has sliced hard boiled eggs on top?
Posted by renxkyoko on December 16, 2014 at 12:50 am
That’s noodles Filipinos call “pancit” . It’s Pancit a la Malabon, a fishing village near Manila ( the capital city ). The broth used is the pounded head of fresh shrimps…. the juice os squeezed out and strained, and added to the liquid. It gives the shrimp flavor. We also add flaked smoked fish ( sold at any Filipino store near you , already flaked), then the chicharron, which we can buy at any store here in the US. It tastes good , Jueseppi, that is, if you like shrimp flavored dishes.
Posted by andy1076 on December 15, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Excuse me while I stare and stare and stare and become incredibly hungry :O god that looks so good!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 15, 2014 at 4:23 pm
It doesn’t only look good. It tastes good. ⭐ Because I cooked it. ❤
Posted by andy1076 on December 15, 2014 at 4:38 pm
Where was my invite?? 😲
Posted by Norm 2.0 on December 15, 2014 at 1:18 pm
Wow what a feast! I’ll be right over 😀
Posted by renxkyoko on December 15, 2014 at 4:27 pm
We love to have guests. Alas. Everyone has his/her own family to go to.
Cheers, Norm 2.0 !
Posted by cindy knoke on December 15, 2014 at 1:30 pm
Oh serious yum & Merry Christmas!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 16, 2014 at 12:52 am
Merry Christmas to you, too, Cindy ! ! !
Posted by orples on December 15, 2014 at 3:41 pm
Yum! What time is dinner? You feast looks scrumptious, Ren.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 16, 2014 at 1:18 am
On Christmas day, it ‘s lunch time. I’ll post the pics and I invite you to look at them. XD
Posted by orples on December 16, 2014 at 3:54 am
I only wish you could e-mail me a dish, if this post is an example of what ‘lunch’ looks like.Yum. 🙂
Posted by Ste J on December 15, 2014 at 4:24 pm
What a delectable feast you laid on, I can’t wait for the Christmas feast photos.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 17, 2014 at 2:21 pm
You bet I’ll post them.
Hey, Ste J ! ! ! Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones ! ! ! Don’t be alone in the pub ! XD
Posted by Ste J on December 17, 2014 at 3:57 pm
And a very happy and merry Christmas to you too! I was not alone in the pub last night, your advice was good!
Posted by russellboyle on December 15, 2014 at 8:48 pm
A Thanksgiving feast! Compliments of the Season to you and your family, Ren.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 17, 2014 at 2:23 pm
And here to yours, Sir ! ! Happy Holidays ! !
Posted by imagesbytdashfield on December 15, 2014 at 11:11 pm
I used to inhale the lumpia my sister in law used to make and I tried my hand at it once – just once LOL. Now I want some!!!! That is some feast 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on December 17, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Really, you did ? It’s actually an easy recipe, but labor – intensive. Now you know how little we put in the wrapper…. and and I made 4 pounds of it ! !
Posted by imagesbytdashfield on December 17, 2014 at 3:15 pm
It’s the chopping and getting the inside goodness ready that takes all of the time. I’d rather just go – Hey! Lumpia! and start eating 🙂
Posted by Xena on December 16, 2014 at 3:59 am
There are no words to describe your holiday spread other than “WOW”!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 17, 2014 at 2:31 pm
You should have seen the other photos from years ago. This one is very modest. And there was just family, anyway. Just 6 of us. ( We ate left-overs for 3 days, lunch and dinner , ha ha )
Posted by Iñigo Boy on December 16, 2014 at 6:05 am
Oh yes, Filipino food!!!! You just made me very hungry. I miss Ginatan!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 17, 2014 at 2:35 pm
there’s a huge Filipino supermarket in our city. It has everything in it. We love ginatan. ( I made that , too. ⭐ )
Merry Christmas to you and your family ! ! !
Posted by johncoyote on December 16, 2014 at 8:41 am
A amazing assortment of food. It looked very tasty.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 17, 2014 at 3:17 pm
Thanks, johncoyote. Merry Christmas to you and yours ! Cheers !
Posted by johncoyote on December 17, 2014 at 3:47 pm
Merry Christmas back to you. Food is my last passion. Create good place and happy people.
Posted by Matthew Curry on December 16, 2014 at 1:40 pm
That looks delicious!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 17, 2014 at 3:20 pm
Yes., they do, I think . ( although some don’t look appetizing. XD )
Happy Holidays, Matthew Curry.
Posted by Matthew Curry on December 17, 2014 at 6:56 pm
Thanks! You too! 🙂
Posted by ledrakenoir on December 16, 2014 at 4:28 pm
Throughout november I saw many american turkeys
walking around with big signs “Eat more chicken”… 😀
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2014 at 1:20 pm
* ponders* A Turkey would be the best one to advertise any chicken product. XD Good one, ledrakenoir ! !
Posted by Fae's Twist & Tango on December 16, 2014 at 8:15 pm
Good to see you, Sweetheart. I wish you and yours the Happiest of the Holiday Season! xx Fae.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 16, 2014 at 9:42 pm
Ms. Fae ! Do you know Japanese ? If you do, can you please, please give me, at least the gist of the conversation ?
And the happiest Holiday season to and your loved ones !
Posted by Mitzie Mee on December 17, 2014 at 5:57 pm
If you don’t get an answer within the next couple of days, let me know, and I’ll ask my Japanese friend:):) I’ve tried kare-kare and pancit and I loved it. Especially kare-kare. Would love to have that for Christmas in Denmark or Dubai:)
Posted by renxkyoko on December 17, 2014 at 6:10 pm
Oh, please, please, i need the translation now ! 😦 I need to respond on the forum. It’s weird that people look at the same thing but give entirely opposite interpretation, believe it or not… one is a yes, the other is a no. Although my cousin ( the girl who’s with me on vacations and studying japanese,) says it means ” i ‘ve done IT with girls I don’t give a sh*t about. ” Well, don’t tell that to your friend… it might color her interpretation.
Posted by Mitzie Mee on December 22, 2014 at 6:18 pm
Don’t know if you’ve solved it, but my Japanese friend said the meaning was a bit vague. In the first pic it’s something like “This is my first time (to feel like this)” and then something like “I’ve never felt like this before”..?? Don’t know if it makes sense, to me it didn’t:)
Posted by renxkyoko on December 22, 2014 at 8:02 pm
Maybe that’s the reason why there are 2 interpretations. What’s important is the translation on the second panel, the one on the left, and maybe the one below it. But , I think , your friend’s interpretation correlates with the second one. Her translation of “This is the first time to feel like this, I’ve never felt like this before ” kind of goes with one interpretation of the second panel, which is ” This is the first time I’ve felt like this, * even though I’ve done IT ( sex ) already with girls .” ( whom he doesn’t care about ” . It does not go with the 2nd interpretation , which is, ” I don’t do it with girls I don’t care about.” And readers know the guy has said she’s the first girl he has cared about. So, yeah, that’s the sy. Anyway, that guy is breaking up with this girl because he has seen her getting kissed on the cheek by another guy, and readers are like, ” what a douchebag ! He had sex with so many girls , then his girlfriend gets kissed on the cheek and he breaks up with her ? ” XD
Posted by Mitzie Mee on December 22, 2014 at 9:05 pm
I asked specifically if it was about sex, and she said “NO!”..??:)
Posted by renxkyoko on December 22, 2014 at 9:36 pm
he he The word S*x was not used here… the word IT or That was used instead. It was about s*x, MitzeeMee. XD
These two went on vacation , to an onsen…. though they have been together , like 2 years, they’ve only kissed 3 x, ha ha ha…. then at the onsen, it was assumed they would do IT for the first time, but the guy kind of backed off. The girl got worried that she wasn;t that appealing enough, ha ha…. hence, this conversation.
So, anyway, the guy said, he was nervous, and the girl was like,” huh? nervuos?, before we got together, girls had been coming in and out of your apartment “.
So, the response of the guy was on that panel I wanted translated. Did he say ” This is the first time I’ve felt this , even though I’ve done IT with girls, whom I didn’t care about.” Or…. did he say ” This is the first time I’ve felt this, because I don’t do it with a girl I don’t care about .” But before this, he has already told his Gf she’s the first girl he’s cared about.
Then I think the 3rd panel is about him saying, whare have you been hearing about these things, about me, anyway./ ”
And he’s stupid because he said it himself when the girl saw another girl coming out of his apartment. He said, Well, boys have needs that need to be satisfied.
Posted by Mitzie Mee on December 22, 2014 at 9:39 pm
hahaha..maybe it was because I thought the two persons in the manga were two girls, and I asked if the two girls were having s**. She said they definitely weren’t:)
Posted by renxkyoko on December 22, 2014 at 9:54 pm
Ha ha ha manga boys look like girls, actually.
Most readers are in denial that the guy is a douchebag. So they are holding on to the second interpretation. They say the main guy is just pretending that he’s a stud, among his guy friends, but actually, it will be his first time doing That .
But my argument is, this guy is a player, and doesn’t deserve the girl’s love, who’s been extremely patient with and loving to him. I hate stories like this where the girl is a doormat. She should just dump his sorry ass. XD
Posted by loujenhaxmyor on December 17, 2014 at 9:50 pm
I’d really enjoy sitting at your dinner table. Have a wonderful holiday!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2014 at 1:18 pm
It’s an open house ! That’s a virtual invite ! Cheers ! !
Posted by D K Powell on December 17, 2014 at 10:05 pm
The food looks absolutely delicious! I sooo want to eat some 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2014 at 1:16 pm
Thanks ! ! And Happy Holidays to you and your family ! ! Cheers !
Posted by A. Blake on December 18, 2014 at 6:32 pm
oh my goodness…girl you can throw down! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2014 at 12:55 pm
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, too ! ! ❤
Posted by ~REBECCA DAWN~ on December 19, 2014 at 5:34 am
Oh my gulay, Ren! Why do you this to me! You always make me drool over your yummy food!!! So hungry now!!!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Oh, my gulay, Rebecca ! Ha ha ha get your Filipina friend to invite you over to their house. I’m sure they’ll have the same thing. Merry Christmas, Rebecca. Don’t be alone !
Posted by ~REBECCA DAWN~ on December 21, 2014 at 5:02 pm
Oh i will have to roll myself out the door if i do that! But with no regrets of course!!!
Merry christmas, Ren! 🙌
Posted by 25pesocupnoodles on December 19, 2014 at 9:55 pm
renx, babatiin na kita ng happy holiday. hello
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2014 at 12:51 pm
Merry Christmas, 25persocupnoodles ! ! Kwento ka sa Christmas treat mo dyan so Philippines ! I want to know what you’re having .
Posted by 25pesocupnoodles on December 24, 2014 at 4:26 am
sige aking susubukin. 🙂
Posted by Mitch on December 20, 2014 at 3:14 pm
This made me hungry. They all look delicious. And it’s so awesome that you cook and bake. 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2014 at 12:48 pm
My mother’s own recipes help a lot. They are detailed. Happy Holidays to you, Mitch. Cheers !
Posted by Mitch on December 21, 2014 at 1:21 pm
Happy Holidays too, Ren! 🙂
Posted by raemd95 on December 20, 2014 at 5:26 pm
Where do I sign up for the next feast! Having a seat at that table would be one heack of a treat!!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2014 at 12:46 pm
We always welcome guests. It’s an open house ! ❤
Posted by arlenearlene on December 21, 2014 at 11:21 am
Hi Ren! Merry Christmas. I am thinking of how your fruit cake tastes like. I love fruit cake especially the homemade ones from friends. What are you having for Noche Nuena? I’ve just made embutido and siomai, put them in the freezer then I’ll just reheat them on Christmas day.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 21, 2014 at 12:33 pm
It tastes like the fruitcake in the Philippines. Though my mother says her recipe tastes better because there are more stuff in there,. She says the ones they have back home scrimp on the ingredients, because they are expensive over there., esp. the nuts and dates which are aplenty here.
Yes, we’re going to start whatever we can make beforehand. OMG, yes, we’ll make embutido, too ! ! And beef stew, paella, lumpia, and some sort of noodles. I think we’ll have more for Christmas than what we had for Thanksgiving.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Ms. Arlene.
Posted by peakperspective on December 21, 2014 at 8:58 pm
Boy does that pastry look awesome, as does so much of the feast! I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas, Ren!
Posted by PlumTreeDreamer on December 22, 2014 at 3:21 am
Very delightful post! Thanks for following my blog. I hope it blesses you 🙂
Posted by Malcolm Greenhill on December 23, 2014 at 3:58 am
Did you say there was not much food, compared to last year? 🙂
Posted by renxkyoko on December 23, 2014 at 4:01 am
He he … Yes, about 3 dishes less, and not much desserts, either. 😉
Posted by RoSy on December 23, 2014 at 5:03 am
Food & family – A great combination!
LO on the fruitcake. But – if it has rum – it’s gotta’ be gooood!
Merry Christmas to you & your loved ones.
Posted by Scott Mitchell on December 23, 2014 at 10:11 pm
Incredible layout of food there! Wow
Posted by Maxima on December 24, 2014 at 8:43 am
My best wishes for a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! With love Maxima
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2014 at 6:10 pm
May 2015 be peaceful, prosperous, and productive, Maxima . Cheers and Joy ! ! ❤
Posted by Ste J on December 24, 2014 at 8:50 am
Have a wonderful Christmas Ren!
Posted by renxkyoko on December 24, 2014 at 8:54 am
A very merry Christmas to you and your loved ones, Ste J ! Cheers and Joy ! !
Posted by Mélanie on December 24, 2014 at 11:03 am
merry holidays, young lady! 🙂 thanx for your kind wishes dropped @ my playground… ❤ P.S. my parents(RIP) were both born on Dec 25th, so X-mas is just another day of the last month of the year to me.
Posted by renxkyoko on December 28, 2014 at 6:14 pm
I remember my sister saying she was n’t so lucky to have been born close to Christmas Day. She said she only got one gist… a b-day and Christmas presents combined. XD
Happy New Year, Melanie !
Posted by Seyi sandra on December 24, 2014 at 10:40 pm
I’m swallowing hard… glad tomorrow is Christmas! 🙂
Posted by ~REBECCA DAWN~ on December 25, 2014 at 9:41 am
Merry Christmas Ren!!! Have a wonderful day eating lots of food (jealous) and spending time with family!
Have a great new year!
Posted by Joshua Cobler on December 27, 2014 at 1:52 am
Wow! It looks so delicious! Especially the lumpia—it’s one of my favorite comfort foods! 🙂
Posted by farah on December 27, 2014 at 1:59 pm
Mery Christmas & Happy New Year Ren. Your food picture makes me hungry!
Posted by manningtreearchive on December 28, 2014 at 6:48 am
May Peace, Joy and good health be yours at this Christmas and all year through 2015
Posted by Cafe on January 9, 2015 at 5:44 pm
Happy New Year, beautiful! xoxo
Posted by renxkyoko on January 9, 2015 at 7:04 pm
Happy 2015, to you too, Gorgeous ! !
* Mutual Admiration Club * XD
Posted by Cafe on January 9, 2015 at 8:33 pm
Hehe 😛
Thanks!!!!
Posted by returntothe80s on January 17, 2015 at 9:10 pm
Everything looked awesome!! I just ate, and now I just got hungry again!
Posted by wholeproduction on April 4, 2015 at 6:36 am
All of this food is making me hungry 😀