Exceptional Indulgences

Ah, the end of the year! People are running around buying gifts, decorating their homes, travelling and sending best wishes. Little children are on their best behavior, whispering sweet wishes to Santa and if you live in the city, doormen and supers of your building are extra, extra nice.
Me? I’m indulging. Sweets everywhere! A gift for grandma=a gift for me! Jose has a company party so I have an extra 3 hours to myself on the weekend! Eating out, ordering in, dinner parties- wine, wine and more wine! It doesn’t stop but I LOVE it. The only problem is that back in October, I decided to become a vegetarian (more on that later). Up until Thanksgiving, I did really well (except for the time I snuck in a single croqueta de pollo). I had planned on eating turkey with Jose and Diego and gave myself a pass. Not much of a vegetarian you say? Not really, I’m still eating seafood. So no chicken or red meat for 2 months except those 2 little things that crossed my way. I even made it to Chicago for four days without eating meat!!! I thought I was doing well but then Jose’s birthday rolled around and he really wanted to have steak (we didn’t) and now Christmas in Chicago is coming and I am already giving up before I even try to not give in and eat meat!
This time of year people talk a lot about forgiveness, peace, love and compassion but what about these things for us, personally? I’m not going to beat myself up during the holidays for eating meat. I love meat. I have a few reasons why I’m giving up meat. A couple of these reasons: animal cruelty and pollution. I have come to the conclusion in the last two and half months that I am not going to single handedly stop factory farms or clean the air, but I will try to be intelligent and well read when people ask me why I decided to become a vegetarian. I’m getting there. S L O W L Y. Not much of a vegetarian you say? It’s okay. “Tis the Season” to forgive me! So, I’m not beating myself up and I also don’t want to turn away that delicious carne de puerco en salsita verde or the gorditas de chorizo that my mother-in-law will be making. I’m indulging only in situations like this. I will continue to focus on my goals as a future vegetarian and be at peace…with myself.
Xoxo,
Betty
Update: I wrote this yesterday and today I had some time to continue reading “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer. It was an awakening reminder and confirmation on my decision to become a vegetarian. I won’t be at peace with myself if I make exceptions or can justify every time I eat meat. Holidays or not, I’m going to really, really try. I’ll just have more wine and chocolate! :-) I'll keep you posted.

A Little Visit

Dear Ms. Rachel,
We hope you had a wonderful flight. Below is the itinerary for your stay at Hotel Galvan-Singapore. Your complete comfort and relaxation is our utmost priority. We cannot express enough how delighted we are that you have chosen our hotel for your holiday in paradise.
Your holiday starts off with a trip to Spa Botanica in Sentosa Beach via Taxi. You have a lovely Balinese Massage scheduled for Sunday, June 14th at 11:15am for the duration of 60 minutes. Your gorgeous friend Betty will be accompanying you and will receive a Swedish massage for the duration of 60 minutes (in the adjacent room per your request). A trip on the famous Cable Cars to view the skyline of Singapore is also scheduled after a grand lunch in Vivo City.
On Tuesday, June 16th at 10:00 am you will be headed to Great World City and visit the lovely Jantzen Salon to meet Singaporean Jenny who is an experienced "gaijin" hair technician. She will consult you before starting your color and cut and make sure that you entertain yourself with the weekly "glossies" while she primps and pampers you.
You have a delicious dinner scheduled on Saturday night at Amici Italian Restaurant in Holland Village. Due to unforeseen and last minute birthday celebration for our dear friend, Roisin, we needed to postpone the famous Chili Crab night at the Palm Beach restaurant for Tuesday night. We hope this change in schedule does not inconvenience you dear guest. You will have a splendid time with our fabulous Irish, English, and Australian friends (plus you will have rocking hair for the chili crabs on Tuesday night).
Please do not hesitate to request changes to the itinerary. We are more than pleased to honor all that your heart pleases. Time has been allotted for plenty of sun, swims and shopping!
We hope you enjoy your stay.
Sincerely,
Betty Velasco-Galvan
President and CFO of Hotel Galvan-Singapore
P.s Your usual Sunshine Whole Grain Raisin Bread and Philadelphia Cream Cheese have been ordered.
Our chef is also working very hard to obtain the Original Chex Mix (always in high demand here in Singapore along with the Honey Nut Cheerios).

Momoko the Peach

Our good friends Mike and Momo came to visit this weekend from Japan. It was a great treat for the end of my stressful and painful week. They walked in after a few days in Australia while my friend Kylie was packing up her bag of goodies after my treatment. Friends from Japan really know how to cheer you up!! From their suitcases came yummy and spicy wasabi flavored peanuts and little moon shaped crackers that go SO well with a Sapporo beer! Jose will be really excited to dig into those. Momo also brought Japanese green tea and from Australia, a stuffed boxing Kangaroo for Diego and Macadamia and Mango biscuits (ahem...cookies). We had a quick tea and they headed off for an exciting 4 days in Singapore. I couldn't move so they promised we could at least eat together.
We made a really nice pasta dinner on Wednesday. My friend Tiz gave me this simple but awesome bright cherry tomato, fresh mozzarella and basil pasta recipe. We had the penne with a red-grape, manchego cheese, pistachio and dried cranberry salad. Everything was so fresh and so crisp! We paired it all up with some nice Chilean wine and my neighbor's chocolate cake topped the dinner off for dessert.

On Friday, I was still not doing great and my refrigerator was not stocked for guests so I opened the freezer, took the grill out and just marinated skirt steak with lime and adobo, sauteed prawns with garlic, salt and pepper, chopped up the spicy Spanish chorizo, grilled peppers as well and fed everyone tomato sopita that I made for Diego. Luckily he chose the stars and not the ABC pasta. Everything was simple. The grill is great for quick dinners and nothing is bad with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. We can taste the real flavors of all our yummy ingredients.

Before their late flight back to Japan on Saturday, I finally left the house! We went to Clarke Quay, enjoyed a nice and slow walk by the river and ate at one of my favorite restaurants in Singapore...Iguana's. Mexican! You guessed it! A bit Tex-Mex but I'll take it!! Momo had layered chipotle enchiladas, Mike the crispy but not greasy chimichanga and Diego and I had chicken fajitas. Nothing like Lalo's in Chicago but we can't be too picky...this is Asia after all!!

Now I'm just cooking basics for Diego and eating sandwiches!! I must call the Mexican grocer and stock up before Jose arrives on Saturday!

xoxo,

Betty

P.s Momo helped me with my homework. She was such a gorgeous and patient model!