Bebeng's Bonggang Bicol Express

Whenever I post food photos in my fan page, I've always been asked about its recipe. I admit about not being good in recipe-writing but I have attempted to write one, which you could see here and I will bravely do it again. I will be writing about Bebeng's Bonggang Bicol Express! It is not as photographic as what this blogger posted here, but I will do my best in sharing with you on how I did it. But before we proceed, let me remind you that I am a non-standardized cook. I cook based on my guts, really. As I am poor in Math, measurements will always be "approximately". I believe that cooking is not a skill, it's a talent. Yes, for those wives who can't cook for their husbands, sulk in sorrow, dear; because cooking wives are hot! Chos. I only said that 'cause I know that my husband loves me a little bit more because I CAN cook. For those who can't, there is still time to learn. Remember, you will do it for the one you love. So cook from the heart. Trust me, even if it's burned or bitter, it will weirdly taste good for him. Alright, enough with the chika, here's the recipe, mga mars -

My Love for Cooking + Pork Stir-Fry Recipe

I am an above-average cook. So fab moms who can't, forgive me for bragging a bit. Your kids will still love you if you choose delivery or take-outs. But this is my take.

Cooking kalderetang kambing at my husband's camp

A way to a hungry man's heart is definitely through his rumbling stomach. I'm one of the gifted wives who has kitchen skills. Modesty aside, I can definitely cook & it tastes good, actually. But I do have days when what I prepared didn't even look like food. Cuisine-wise, I'm still in the beginner's level. Conceptualizing on what to prepare for the family is one big task, considering that my husband comes home only on special occasions and that my daughter is a little picky-eater. So reading a magazine's food section helps me a lot. It has tips on how to prepare food for kids; should be healthy and visually-enticing at the same time; like what I have written in my previous post about the Sotanghon Bunny. It also has sample dining table setting or proper food plating, that I try all my best to copy. You know, the feeling of being an "expert". The reason why I love watching Top Chef and other cooking-related TV shows.

Bebeng Cooks

My Little Kitchen Helper: Mixing the Buko Salad with Exaggerated Cream

I started cooking when I was in fifth grade. My mom was at the office and I needed to cook for me and my younger brother. Since I was rushing to go back to school for the school paper meeting, I scoured our fridge to check on what's available and I saw togue (mongo sprouts). I sauteed it. It has almost-burnt garlic, almost-raw onion and a sugary taste. You can't blame me, I didn't know how to use condiments then. But from that experience, I knew that cooking will always be a part of my life. Okay, no more nostalgic stories. Let me share with you the product of my recent post. Note: We are not members of the Catholic Church, thus the existence of pork.

Behind the Blog's Name

BEBENGISM is a straight-in-your-face imitation of MELANISM. No, not the dark pigmentation of the skin that is the opposite of albinism, but coined because of Miss International 1979 Melanie Marquez's quotable quotes. Ten of the most memorable melanisms can be read here. As a stay-at-home mom then, Facebook was my only social life. Status updates were my micro-blogs. Whenever it's something quirky (or so I thought), I put the word bebengism prior the post. For example, "Bebengism: Breakfast cereals can be eaten any time of the day." But if my memory serves me right, I have only posted three updates containing the word. Well, it doesn't stop me from using (and abusing!) it, bebengism now holds a special place in my FB Photo Albums. The album mostly consists of photos of food I have prepared over the months as a SAHM and some random things my frustrated photographer's eyes had seen.

Our Newly-Renovated Room

This room had cost us my husband's midyear bonus. To date, the room's a bit messy, full of my daughter's toys and its two pin lights aren't working anymore. But we barely care about it 'cause it serves as our home for almost a year now. It witnessed my little giggly girl's shrieks when I tickle her, my bouts of emotional arguments with my "virtual" husband and the solace of being alone, reading (and re-reading) all my magazines and books.