Taste of the Marianas

May is CNMI Tourism Month...

It is also Mes' Manamko (Senior Citizen month)

Every Saturday in May, the local Visitor's Authority spearheads a food festival..

Good Food, Good Entertainment, GREAT PRICES..

My cousin Kalani, and her boyfriend Mark...

Anytime you have good food and beer, you get SMILES

See... I told you so..

Me and my hubby

Saturdays are for Baking..Part 2

When I started baking, I always used box. However, I have transitioned into making all my cakes, cookies, cupcakes, pies (even pie crusts), breads, etc from scratch. BUT, when I heard that a local wholesale company was selling cake mixes at 70% off (Near date expiration, like 60 days from now) I bought several cases. I knew that I would bake all of those in about two weeks time, so I went and bought them. I was pretty glad I did, because not only did I bring a ton of sweets to the many parties this weekend, I also gave every neighbor on the block a tray of goodies... and did not brake the bank!!!

My daughter, Kiki

My niece, Akari

The girls made the cookies, and I made the rest...
We had a great time...

I am a member of the foodie blog roll, and I saw one of the other members post an idea of swapping gifts for Christmas..... I think this would be fun! I usually have readers visit my blog every now and then from around the world!

Would any of you be interested in a Christmas Swap? If so, email me your name, and mailing address to: rayrian@aol.com

I will swap names and email them out to those that respond. The limit would be set at $30, higher if you like. This would make it easier for folks to exchange gifts from around the world!

I know for me, I would much prefer a gift for my kids, from around the world, small things like stocking stuffers, etc.

Deadline to respond to this would be Monday, November 24. Let's all spread the Christmas cheer!!

Friday Lunch....

Today's lunch was at Cappricciossa! I always love eating at Cappricciossa!
The service is always consistently good.

Lunch with my Mom,
Auntie Brenda and the Governor of the CNMI!

Auntie Brenda and Governor Fitial

This is one of the best pumpkin pie's on island!
Here is the critic side of this food blog: sometimes I get a pumpkin pie with fresh crust and sometimes the crust is a bit soggy. Either way, it is still yummy.

This is the dessert I mentioned in a previous blog, "Fritori'.

Meat sauce spaghetti. This is the special lunch, so it came with garlic bread. However, I prefer my usual order of seafood spaghetti!

Rosemary Chicken

Ceasar Salad

CHEESE....WOOOHOOO.....

From left to right: My darling mom "Ki" and my loving Auntie Brenda

From left to right: Uncle Bill and myself. We were trying to make silly faces!
I think Uncle Bill wins the prize on this one! LOL

From left to right: Myself, First Lady Josie Fitial, and Uncle Bill

Well, it turned out to be a really good lunch! I always love going to Cappricciossa, and this time the food was great, the company was even better and I got to eat two desserts in one sitting!!! (Fritori and pumpkin pie!)
woohoo.. I am a happy camper!

On a side note: Weight Watchers, here I come! LOL

November 02, 2008

November 2, is actually the day we remember all the "Souls", hence "ALL SOULS DAY".
We went to the cemetary at 0530am, (Yes, you read correctly 0530AM). There is supposed to be a rosary / responso. But not sure what happened, because there was not one. There were quite a few people at the cemetary (although not like in the thousands as the daytime). We then went to Mount Carmel Cathederal/Diocese for Sunday mass.

After mass, we went to breakfast, then I went home. I have so much house work to do, it is unbelievable. We were going to meet back at the cemetary at or around 3:30pm, and then I knew we were going to have potluck dinner immediately after.

I made some papaya coco. Coco means it is pickeled. So this is pickled young/unripe papaya!

I also made chicken teriyaki with some green beans.

Then we went to mass at the cemetary.

(My camera is not working properly anymore, so I did not take any photos)

After mass, we had potluck dinner at Uncle Bill / Aunt Brenda's place.

Chicken estufao / Katdun pika...

then my daughter walked right through the glass sliding door and bumped her head! OUCH!
Can of cold diet coke to the rescue...