I still remember the address, 1641 Owawa St. right across the old Lumbini Pre School were I attended. This two story house held 9 rooms and 4 bathrooms housing about 3 families, I was one of them. I remember living upstairs; my room was right in the corner of the house. The dinning table was right in the view of the living room and I remember there was one big wooden fork and spoon hanging right over the kitchen along with the picture of the Last Supper hanging on the wall. The living room was rearranged so many times that I cant even remember the last way it looked but we had a big red couch that snaked through the living room that sat against the many windows we had. I still remember cleaning the big windows when I was little, climbing on the couch reaching for the highest part of the window. Often when my parents were not there I would wait for them on the couch watching TV. I would always get scared at night thinking there was someone on the other side of the window watching me.
In the afternoons, all us cousins who lived there would gather outside on my dad’s truck and discuss on what games to play. We would make up our own games such as “shark” or “cilli, cilli”. And on Sundays where everyone used to come to our part of the house and go to hula. Coming back we would always see our uncles, the neighbors, and friends drinking, smoking, and chatting with each other. when our cousins had to go home back to Waipahu we would sneak into the back of the car hoping our uncle wouldn’t notice while he secretly takes us to their house because we didn’t want the day to end. Eventually he spots us or hears us giggling in the back and asks us to get out while we grumpily say good bye.
I remember on boring days in the summer My cousin BJ and I would get so bored we just call the police for no good reason hoping to get a laugh out of it. I remember the police visiting our house twice in the same day asking my grandma if we called for them. We held most of our family holidays in that house, Christmas in our living room, Thanksgiving in the dinning room, new years and Halloween outside on the old green bench.
Ahh, the bench, that bench held many memories. I remember us kids carving words into the bench and eating oranges our grandma prepared for us on the bench. Although that bench wasn’t always green you know, one day the older version of the cousin painted it a light blue surprising all of us actually making it look new. I remember playing in the back of the house were there was a lot of my grandma’s plants and pieces of old cement looking rocks that housed beetles and other creatures under it. We would always play ball, I remember having to go to the neighbors house quietly trying to swipe the ball back whenever it went over the fence.
Then, some of my aunties and uncles that wanted to start their own family and becoming new parents felt like moving out. That’s when it all started. :[ My grandma found renters to rent all the empty rooms. The family didn’t feel like the renters belonged. We felt like we couldn’t do the same things anymore. We felt like the barged into our lives where we didn’t feel like they should have been. Then months after we had our renters, my grandma and grandpa had the urge to go back and live in the Philippines. And since my grandma and grandpa didn’t live there anymore we all started to slowly one at a time moving out of the house. We ended up selling our beloved old big house to a small little family. As I watched the family pack all our stuff to the trucks for moving I remembered sitting down on bench staring at the ground where I saw in the cement engraved me and my cousin’s name along with my dogs name. There and then I figured out I didn’t want to move all the way to Slat lake. I loved this house I held so memories that I didn’t want to leave behind. I felt that if I left the house new memories would be made by the new family that was living there and I didn’t want that. Our family practically built that house as family and lived in there as a family. I it took me a while to forget that house and get used to the new one.
And now, every time we go to Kalihi the first thing that comes to my head is that house Every time we pass by I always take a good look at it as if I wasn’t going to see it for a very long time.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Jounal #8 My Old home I onced lived in
trying new things arent always easy to get used to, but this house, this old traditional house in kalihi, held so many families, memories, love that it was so easy to get used to. Everything I needed was there i was never lonely because most of us cousins lived there. It was first my grandma's house and because it was such a huge house everyone lived in it. It had a green ruged bench right outside the door where at night our uncles their friends and our own neighbors would drink and hang out. Where in the afternoon it would be a hang out for us cousins. Its been so long since I've seen that house my memory of it will stay with me forver.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Final draft R&R
As I made my way to the kitchen, I spied a bowl full of red and yellowish washed mangoes sitting next to the sink. And I asked my mom "what are you making?” she replied in an exhausted voice "Help me bake mango cream cheese, again!"
Of course, I helped my mom because it’s always the right thing to do. Right then, my job was to peel and slice the mangoes into small sliced cubes. While cutting the mangoes, I accidentally made a huge mess. Every time I diced a mango a piece would always fall off the table and the juice would spray everywhere, on the table, on my shirt, and on my mom who worked next to me. She would often scold me to work neatly, but every time I try it always ends up with a huge mess in the kitchen.
We would cut enough mangoes that it would fill up a huge bowl the size of the sink. After filling the bowl we would add water, lemon juice and gelatin. Covering the bowl with saran wrap, we would stick it into the fridge and let it stay there for at least one night. This is why my mom plans to bake the pie at least one night before the party.
The next morning, my mom would hand me an empty butter bowl to mix the flour, butter, and sugar for the crust. This was the worst part for me because it would always take a long time for me to get it exactly the way my mom wanted it to be. My arm would ache mixing the crust until it was perfectly hard and clumpy. After this process, my mom would then give me a pan sprayed with pam. This step isn’t that boring as the mixing part. I would dump the crust I mixed into the pan and spread out evenly around the pan making sure there are no holes in the crust that I could see the bottom of the pan. I used my own special technique to spread the crust around. I use a rice scooper, a spoon, and/ or, I stick my hand in a Ziploc and begin spreading from there.
When done, I give my mom the crust filled pan to put into the 350 degrees heated oven where it bakes for 20- 25 minutes. As we prepare more and more pans of crust to bake, we stack each pan one on top of the other and wait for them to cool. While waiting, we prepare the cream cheese layer with one whole package of cream cheese mixed with sugar and cool whipped. My mom usually mixes this all with her blender made for baking using the bowl already provided with the blender to throw in all those ingredients. By the time this process is down the crust will already be cool.
My mom then takes a spoonful of her cream cheese and glides it evenly against the crust until it’s entirely covered. And with a thick layer of the mangoes, she pours an amount of it onto the cream cheese layer and makes sure it layers it until it almost touches the top of the pan.
Finally, the mango cream cheese is ready to be served. My mom usually saves two pans for us in case there is no extras after the party. For as long as I can remember my mom never does bake mango cream cheese out of the ordinary because it is a long process to complete and she doesn’t have the patience or the time to do it unless it’s for a special occasion.
Overall, her mango cream cheese pie contains three delicious layers. The mangos are juicy, sweet, and often jelly like. The cream cheese layer feels nice and cool especially when it runs through my finger its like touching a cloud or a soft marshmallow and the crust is tough, crunchy, and usually tastes like bakes cookie dough. The cream cheese and the crust are always my favorite part. I eat the mango first then save the cream cheese and crust after. Then after I scrap the cream cheese with my fork leaving the crust untouched. And finally I pick up the crust as if it was a pizza and stuff it in my mouth.
And even though my mom isn’t very good or the best in making us a complete meal, she does know on the other hand how to make a mean mango cream cheese pie, well at least to me. Some days, I just wish I could have a slice of her pie right now.
Of course, I helped my mom because it’s always the right thing to do. Right then, my job was to peel and slice the mangoes into small sliced cubes. While cutting the mangoes, I accidentally made a huge mess. Every time I diced a mango a piece would always fall off the table and the juice would spray everywhere, on the table, on my shirt, and on my mom who worked next to me. She would often scold me to work neatly, but every time I try it always ends up with a huge mess in the kitchen.
We would cut enough mangoes that it would fill up a huge bowl the size of the sink. After filling the bowl we would add water, lemon juice and gelatin. Covering the bowl with saran wrap, we would stick it into the fridge and let it stay there for at least one night. This is why my mom plans to bake the pie at least one night before the party.
The next morning, my mom would hand me an empty butter bowl to mix the flour, butter, and sugar for the crust. This was the worst part for me because it would always take a long time for me to get it exactly the way my mom wanted it to be. My arm would ache mixing the crust until it was perfectly hard and clumpy. After this process, my mom would then give me a pan sprayed with pam. This step isn’t that boring as the mixing part. I would dump the crust I mixed into the pan and spread out evenly around the pan making sure there are no holes in the crust that I could see the bottom of the pan. I used my own special technique to spread the crust around. I use a rice scooper, a spoon, and/ or, I stick my hand in a Ziploc and begin spreading from there.
When done, I give my mom the crust filled pan to put into the 350 degrees heated oven where it bakes for 20- 25 minutes. As we prepare more and more pans of crust to bake, we stack each pan one on top of the other and wait for them to cool. While waiting, we prepare the cream cheese layer with one whole package of cream cheese mixed with sugar and cool whipped. My mom usually mixes this all with her blender made for baking using the bowl already provided with the blender to throw in all those ingredients. By the time this process is down the crust will already be cool.
My mom then takes a spoonful of her cream cheese and glides it evenly against the crust until it’s entirely covered. And with a thick layer of the mangoes, she pours an amount of it onto the cream cheese layer and makes sure it layers it until it almost touches the top of the pan.
Finally, the mango cream cheese is ready to be served. My mom usually saves two pans for us in case there is no extras after the party. For as long as I can remember my mom never does bake mango cream cheese out of the ordinary because it is a long process to complete and she doesn’t have the patience or the time to do it unless it’s for a special occasion.
Overall, her mango cream cheese pie contains three delicious layers. The mangos are juicy, sweet, and often jelly like. The cream cheese layer feels nice and cool especially when it runs through my finger its like touching a cloud or a soft marshmallow and the crust is tough, crunchy, and usually tastes like bakes cookie dough. The cream cheese and the crust are always my favorite part. I eat the mango first then save the cream cheese and crust after. Then after I scrap the cream cheese with my fork leaving the crust untouched. And finally I pick up the crust as if it was a pizza and stuff it in my mouth.
And even though my mom isn’t very good or the best in making us a complete meal, she does know on the other hand how to make a mean mango cream cheese pie, well at least to me. Some days, I just wish I could have a slice of her pie right now.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Mango Cream Cheese Pie
As i made my way to the kitchen, i spied a bowl full of red and yellowish washed mangoes sitting next to the sink. And i asked my mom "what are you making?", she replied in an exhausted voice "Help me bake mango cream cheese, again!"
Of course, I helped my mom because its always the right thing to do. Right then, my job was to peel and cut the mangoes into small little sliced cubes. While cutting the mangoes, i accidentally made a huge mess. everytime i diced a mango a piece would always fall of the table and the juice would spray everywhere, on the table, on my shirt, and on my mom who worked next to me. She would often scold me to work neatly, but everytime i try it always ends up with a huge mess in the kitchen.
We would cut enough mangoes that it would fill up a huge bowl the size of the sink. AFter filling the bowl we would add water, lemon juice and gelatin. Covering the bowl with seran wrap, we would stick it into the fridge and let it stay there for at least one night. this is why my mom plans to bake the pie at least one night before the party.
the next morning, my mom would hand me an empty butter bowl to mix the flour, butter, sugar for the crust. This was the worst part for me because it would always take a long time for me to get it exactly the way my mom wanted it to be. My arm would ache mixing the crust until it was perfectly hard and clumpy. After this process, my mom would then give me a pan sprayed with pam. This step isnt that boring as the mixing. i would duimp the crust i mixed into the pan and spread out evenly around the pan making sure there is no holes in the crust that i could see the bottom of the pan. I use my own special technique to spread the crust around. I use a rice scooper, a spoon, and/ or, i stick my hand in a ziploc and begin spreading from there.
when done, i give my mom the crust filled pan to put into the 350 degrees heated oven where it bakes for 20- 25 minutes. As we prepare more and more pans of crust to bake, we stack each pan one on top of the other and wait for them to cool. While waiting, we prepare the cream cheese layer with one whole packaage of cream cheese mixed with sugar and cool whipped. My mom usually mixes this all with her blender made for baking using the bowl already provided with the blender to throw in all those ingredients. By the time this process is down the crust will already be cool.
My mom then takes a spoonful of her cream cheese and glides it evenly against the crust until its entirely covered. And with a thick layer of the mangoes, she pours an amount of it onto the cream cheese layer and makes sure it layers it until it almosts touches the top of the pan.
Finally, the mango cream cheese is ready to be served. My mom usually save two pans for us in case there is no extras after the party. for as long as i can remember my mom nevers does bake mango cream cheese out of the ordinary because it is a long process to complete and she doesnt have the patience or the time to do it uinless its for a special occasion.
Overall, even though my mom isnt very good or the best in making us a complete meal, she does know on the other hand how to make a mean mango cream cheese pie, well at least to me. Some days, i just wish i could have a slice of her pie right now.
Of course, I helped my mom because its always the right thing to do. Right then, my job was to peel and cut the mangoes into small little sliced cubes. While cutting the mangoes, i accidentally made a huge mess. everytime i diced a mango a piece would always fall of the table and the juice would spray everywhere, on the table, on my shirt, and on my mom who worked next to me. She would often scold me to work neatly, but everytime i try it always ends up with a huge mess in the kitchen.
We would cut enough mangoes that it would fill up a huge bowl the size of the sink. AFter filling the bowl we would add water, lemon juice and gelatin. Covering the bowl with seran wrap, we would stick it into the fridge and let it stay there for at least one night. this is why my mom plans to bake the pie at least one night before the party.
the next morning, my mom would hand me an empty butter bowl to mix the flour, butter, sugar for the crust. This was the worst part for me because it would always take a long time for me to get it exactly the way my mom wanted it to be. My arm would ache mixing the crust until it was perfectly hard and clumpy. After this process, my mom would then give me a pan sprayed with pam. This step isnt that boring as the mixing. i would duimp the crust i mixed into the pan and spread out evenly around the pan making sure there is no holes in the crust that i could see the bottom of the pan. I use my own special technique to spread the crust around. I use a rice scooper, a spoon, and/ or, i stick my hand in a ziploc and begin spreading from there.
when done, i give my mom the crust filled pan to put into the 350 degrees heated oven where it bakes for 20- 25 minutes. As we prepare more and more pans of crust to bake, we stack each pan one on top of the other and wait for them to cool. While waiting, we prepare the cream cheese layer with one whole packaage of cream cheese mixed with sugar and cool whipped. My mom usually mixes this all with her blender made for baking using the bowl already provided with the blender to throw in all those ingredients. By the time this process is down the crust will already be cool.
My mom then takes a spoonful of her cream cheese and glides it evenly against the crust until its entirely covered. And with a thick layer of the mangoes, she pours an amount of it onto the cream cheese layer and makes sure it layers it until it almosts touches the top of the pan.
Finally, the mango cream cheese is ready to be served. My mom usually save two pans for us in case there is no extras after the party. for as long as i can remember my mom nevers does bake mango cream cheese out of the ordinary because it is a long process to complete and she doesnt have the patience or the time to do it uinless its for a special occasion.
Overall, even though my mom isnt very good or the best in making us a complete meal, she does know on the other hand how to make a mean mango cream cheese pie, well at least to me. Some days, i just wish i could have a slice of her pie right now.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Journal #6
What are your special ingredients that you add to this dish?
"Tender, Love, & Care."
Do you enjoy preparing this dish? Why?
"Of course! Yes because I want to serve somethiing special. When I bake, I bake with love. I want to make sure it comes out perfectly shaped and appetizing."
What started you into making this dish?
"I wanted to make and try something different thn the ordinary pies."
How long have you been preparing this dish?
"Ever since we moved here and had the mango tree in the backyeard."
Whats your favorite part of the pie? Why?
"the top layer which is the mango, because its very refreshing and healthy."
Where did you geet the recipe from?
"I shared the recipe with my friend Linda."
What was the last memorable time you ate and made it?
"Last month, when we celebrated my sister' baby shower. She had requeasted me to bake it."
INGREDIENTS!
Crust:
2 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 block cold butter
Cheese Layer:
1 package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 carton whipped topping
Friut Laayer:
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 cup water
1 cup boiling water
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
4 cups firm, ripe mangoes, cubed
"Tender, Love, & Care."
Do you enjoy preparing this dish? Why?
"Of course! Yes because I want to serve somethiing special. When I bake, I bake with love. I want to make sure it comes out perfectly shaped and appetizing."
What started you into making this dish?
"I wanted to make and try something different thn the ordinary pies."
How long have you been preparing this dish?
"Ever since we moved here and had the mango tree in the backyeard."
Whats your favorite part of the pie? Why?
"the top layer which is the mango, because its very refreshing and healthy."
Where did you geet the recipe from?
"I shared the recipe with my friend Linda."
What was the last memorable time you ate and made it?
"Last month, when we celebrated my sister' baby shower. She had requeasted me to bake it."
INGREDIENTS!
Crust:
2 cup sifted flour
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 block cold butter
Cheese Layer:
1 package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 carton whipped topping
Friut Laayer:
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1 cup water
1 cup boiling water
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
4 cups firm, ripe mangoes, cubed
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