Marinara Merriment

My assistant, Ira, is resigning.  As phase 1 of my ‘send-off program’ for her, I promised her I would make a special pasta dish for her—marinara pasta.  Marinara comes from the root word “mar”, meaning sea.  So, you guess it right, marinara pasta is seafood pasta.  

I did not want to stick by the book, I made my original recipe and integrated new ingredients to the usual marinara pasta served in Italian restaurants.  I’ll bet my pinky finger if you don’t love my variation of this pasta dish!

I will provide you with things to adapt from now on for your marinara pasta, with a brief history.  You have to bear with me, I’m a storyteller since birth.

Bye Sun Dried Tomatoes, Hello Pan-Fried Tomatoes!

Instead of sun-dried tomatoes, use pan-fried tomatoes.  Not only it is healthier (did you know that frying tomatoes releases more lycopene?), it also tastes great!   

Pan-fried tomatoes

Before, I didn’t know that tomatoes could be fried.  I only know that it is eaten raw.  Eversince I was in grade school, my mom had always told me to eat raw fresh tomatoes to make my skin smooth.  So, for an exaggerated estimate, I think I have eaten a hectare-filled of tomatoes since the first time my mom advised me to eat that red veggie-fruit thingy. 

My idea of fried tomatoes started with that movie, Fried Green Tomatoes.  But I did not get my first taste of fried tomatoes until I met the “lola” (granny) of Eris,, another good friend of mine for the longest time.    Eris’ lola (God bless her soul...) would fry whole tomatoes as side dish for “Tinapang Bangus” (smoked milk fish).  It was such a good dish combination, I love it everytime Eris brings Tinapang Bangus and fried tomatoes for lunch in the office.   

What triggered a tomato eureka? 

One day, I ran out of sun-dried tomatoes while cooking spaghettini, an “aha!” suddenly came to my mind.  The inspiration of the fried tomatoes of Eris’ lola!  But instead of frying whole tomatoes, I cut the tomatoes into quarters, dunk them in the hot oil and waited until they look beautifully fried in red-orange oil.   And the rest is history.

How to make pan-fried tomatoes? 

For every 500 grams pasta noodles, choose 8 medium size red-orange tomatoes, then slice into chunks.  If you want chunkier tomatoes, slice the tomatoes into quarters.  Pour 4 tablespoons vegetable  oil in the pan.  It is better to use traditional copper pan as it sears the tomato skin and gives that hickory-like flavor to the fried tomatoes.  This result is not obtained using non-stick or Teflon pan.  So grab that old reliable copper pan of your mom or grandma!   Fry the tomatoes over medium heat and wait until the tomato juices are released and the oil turns red-orange.  This is the point that the tomato meat looks pitted and almost separates from the skin.  Sprinkle some ground basil to the mixture.  Continue frying until the mixture look thick and redder.  Remove from heat, transfer tomatoes and oil to a bowl.  Set aside.

Surprise, surprise!  

Honey bacon caramelizing in the pan

Bacon in seafood pasta?  Am I kidding?  Nope!  So, when did that happen?  Well, it happened just now, when I decided to break the monotony of seafood.  Nothing is impossible when you decide that something is possible,  Pasta dish is no exception.  It's my way of making marinara pasta appeal to the meat lovers.  And also it's my way of giving the whims of the seafood lovers.








Tips for cooking pasta noodles

Good pasta sauce is useless if the noodles are rubbery or soggy.   So, remember my cardinal rules when cooking pasta noodles, believe me, they work!

Use large casserole, water level should fill about 80% of the casserole, add 1 tbsp salt and 2 tbsp cooking oil to the water and let it boil.

Add the pasta noodles when the water has boiled for 3-4 minutes.  Cook al dente, pasta noodle should be firm to the bite.  Bite a noodle every 2 minutes after the specified cooking time in the package had elapsed.  Pasta doesn’t cook exactly as the package says, you have to bite the noodles to test for firmness.

Do not wash your pasta under running tap water.  It will lose its taste and will make it difficult for the sauce to adhere to the noodles.  Instead, add tap water just enough to stop the cooking process.  Remove the pasta from the water.

Now, get ready for a marinara pasta feast!

Maffet's Meaty Marinara Pasta

500 g San Remo Spaghetti, cooked al dente

300 g frozen Seafood Mix (white squid, dark squid, squid ball, crabstick, crabmeat, scallops, shrimps) thawed; you may add mussels if you want but get the canned variety instead of fresh from the shell

220 g honey bacon, cut into bite size pieces

1 large head of garlic, peeled and minced

2 medium red onion, chopped

1 medium bowl of pan-fried tomatoes (prepared ahead)
15 pieces black olives, cut into rings

2  250 g pouch Hunt's Mushrooms Spaghetti Sauce

Olive oil, for sautéing

Extra Virgin Olive Oil, for garnishing

Ground basil

Porcini Mushrooms Mill

3 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp Pepper

1 ½ tsp Salt

Dash of Monosodium glutamate (optional)

100 g mild goat cheese, coarsely crumbled 

Tomatoes ready for frying, seafood mix, bacon, olive oil, ground basil, garlic and onions

Hunt's mushroom spaghetti sauce, porcini mushrooms mill and ground basil

The spaghetti noodles with friendly herbs and garnish

Mild goat cheese

In the same pan that fried the tomatoes, stir-fry the bacon slices until the fats melt and release their own oil. Wait until the sides of the bacon slices caramelize.  Take out the bacon from the pan.  Set aside.

Do not remove bacon oil from the pan.  Add 3 tablespoons olive oil in the pan and wait until hot.  Saute the garlic and onions at the same time until the onions look wilted and transparent.  Stir-fry the seafoods for 10 minutes or until the squid is tender.  Stir in the fried bacon slices and blend the flavor for 3 minutes.  The meat and seafood blend will now produce a very appetizing smell... Hmmm... 

Seafood and bacon blend

Pour in the pan-fried tomatoes and the red-orange oil.  Followed by the black olives.  Continue stir-frying.  Sprinkle porcini mushroom bits from the mill.  Rotate the mill 6 times to dispense just the right amount of porcini mushrooms.  Stir-fry everything.  Pour the Hunt's Mushrooms Spaghetti Sauce.  Sprinkle some ground basil.  Put the brown sugar.  Stir until everything is well blended.  Season mixture with salt, pepper and monosodium glutamate.  Garnish with 3 swirls of extra virgin olive oil.  Simmer for 2 minutes. Stir well then remove from heat.

Pour the meaty marinara sauce over cooked pasta noodles.  Top with coarsely crumbled mild goat cheese.

The meaty marinara pasta

An aerial view of the meaty marinara pasta :)

There's one thing I realized while cooking meaty marinara pasta-- it's difficult to be a chef and photographer at the same time!  I had to have good reflexes in slicing, cutting, tossing and stirring the food while finding the right angle for photos, without dropping my camera or staining it with pasta sauce.  But I did not mind.  I did not feel tired at all.  I was smiling and grinning all the time.  Because I wanted to feed my loved ones and friends with something really goood!  :)


My meaty marinara pasta was a hit at home for an almost midnight snack treat, good thing I was able to set aside 3 lunch boxes that I would bring to the office the next day.  We had it for lunch in our Global City office.  Ira says my meaty marinara pasta tastes good!.  My other 2 colleagues in Global City, Monet and Olive, also say so.  They had it for late snack, I hope I made them a little ‘happy’ and de-stressed before they went home.  

Probably the people who had a taste of my meaty marinara were saying, “Mmmmm”… translated as, “My! my! more meaty marinara!”. 

Here's more.....

and more....

:)

No Fuss About Fudge

I once saw Nigella Lawson on TV, she was making chocolate fudge for Christmas.  It looked simple, the way she put everything, it was just a toss-here-and-there of ingredients.  She used dark chocolate, condensed milk, a piece of butter and some nuts. 

White chocolate block

 I decided to make my own version of choco fudge this weekend—a non-occasion.    But I used white chocolate instead, it’s my favorite chocolate.  Though it has been said that white chocolate is not really chocolate, since it does not contain cocoa fats, which make up the chocolate as chocolate.  But they still call white chocolate as white chocolate.  I hope I made that clear.

No Fuss White Chocolate Fudge

500 g white chocolate, chopped

1 can condensed milk (pure cow’s milk is a better choice)

2 tbsp butter

100 g mix nuts, chop or crush the nuts (trail mix is more fun as it has multi-color choco bits and raisins too)

Put white chocolate in a ceramic bowl and microwave on high setting for 30 seconds.  Stir.  Repeat 2 more times, stirring after each interval.  Be careful not to burn the chocolate.   I suggest you switch the setting to medium-high on the 2^nd interval and then to medium on the 3^rd interval.  Don’t forget to stir in the condensed milk (pour gradually according to your taste, you need not consume the whole can) and butter before you proceed to the 3^rd interval.

Take out from the microwave and stir more until mixture is smooth.  Add the nuts.  When you see the multi-color choco bits melt, swirl for a designer effect.  Make sure you scatter the nuts, raisins and choco bits.  Pour the mixture on a prepared 8x8 inch greased baking pan, lined with non-stick baking sheet.  Make sure the baking sheet flaps over the pan.  It will make the choco fudge easier to lift out of the pan when it has set.  

The fudge has fully set

Let the mixture cool on room temperature for 30 minutes and then chill in the fridge (please not in the freezer!) for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until it’s firm.  When the fudge is firm, cut it into desired shapes, ideally into squares or sticks.  It’s up to you.  Store fudge in a canister or box and put in the fridge, if you do not plan to consume it on one sitting with your loved ones and friends.  You can take a piece of 'happiness' anytime when you crave for something sweet.

Fudge squares

Fudge sticks

The fudge slices look like Chinese characters, hopefully for good luck

There you have it, your weekend or anytime white chocolate fudge. The recipe is versatile, you can always substitute the white chocolate with your favorite milk chocolate or dark bitter chocolate, depending on your taste. Good luck!

Friendship and Health

Len and I have been friends for a long time, we’ve been through thick and thin.    She’s one of my best friends.  She’s one of the persons with whom I could lay my hair down after a hard day's work.  I mean, I’m comfortable around her-- I could be silly for a change,  I could laugh out loud without a care on my poise, and I could crack jokes without worrying if she laughs at it or not.  Most of all, Len knows my quirks.  She’s one of the few who know that I do not tote anything when we go out or dine—one of my quirks.  :)  So, all the paperbags and take-out packages-- my friends carry them.  My friends still tend to 'baby' me sometimes, though we have grown to more mature individuals through the years, probably it's a force of habit because of my fragile built.  :)      

True friends support each other’s endeavors.  Well, I support my friends, even if their mission is not as perfect as for the benefit of the entire human race.  :)  

A few months ago, we met up for dinner.

My friends and former colleagues in my previous bank, Len at my left

Len has a new endeavor.  She almost twisted my arm (that's idiomatically) so I would join her networking for a health product, but she failed to buy me in.  I just don’t have the flair for product networking. Some people are made for that, I’m just not one of them.  She explained to me the benefits of joining her (like earning eye-popping dollar commissions, $$$!!!) and of using the product.  I was agreeable with the benefits of the product, it could aid weight management and recuperation from diseases.  Although I did not join Len's network, to show my support, I promised her I would blog the products she’s endorsing.  So, here I am-- a good friend who keeps her words. :)

USANA Health Sciences, Nutritionals You Can Trust

By the acronym, anyone could guess the product brand is from USA.  US-made health products are reliable.  USANA researches, manufactures and distributes nutritional supplements which guard against poor eating habits, processed foods, uncertain food content and free-radicals.  The ultimate benefit of USANA products is optimal nutrition. 

The Essentials vitamin, mineral and anti-oxidants for adults contain Mega Anti-oxidant and Chelated Mineral

You can personalize your nutritional program, according to your lifestyle and health conditions.  In fact, world-class athletes, doctors and health professionals in many parts of the world have put their trust on USANA.products.  You may contact the USANA representatives or obtain further product information through their website, www.usana.com.

For a personalized assistance, you may get in touch with Len, whether you want to join her network (she says the pay is lucrative in US dollars on a weekly basis!) or you simply want to experience good health through USANA nutritional products.  Her contact details:  Ms. Len N. Co, Mobile No. +639176184123 or +639178790472.

USANA Nutritionals might just be the products that will address your health requirements. 

Coffee, For Here

I’m adventurous when it comes to food brands.  I am not scared of foreign or ‘strange’ brands.  For me, even if the language on the package is incomprehensible,  as long as they are retailed in the supermarkets, hypermarts, groceries and delis, then they are edible and worth trying.

Slim earth-friendly cup with cap

Recently, in one of my shelf browsings in the coffee section of Robinson’s Supermarket, I stumbled upon Jardin Café Mori.   I was first attracted to the stack of 4 earth-friendly slim cups included free in the package of 25 sticks contained in a box.  According to the box, there are 3 flavors of Café Mori—French Vanilla Cappuccino, Mocha Cappuccino and Caramel Cappuccino.  Only Mocha Cappuccino was available that time among the flavors.  The box also says that the product is made in Korea. At first glance, you wouldn’t think that it comes from Asia.  I even thought it came from Italy or Spain because of the name, Jardin.  The package somewhat has a European appeal.  The logo looks like a royal insignia-- a coat of arms flanked by two lions.

I was attracted even more when I opened the box and saw the eye candy color of the coffee sticks, it’s a blend of purple and fuchsia—Pursia ( a color name I coined out of necessity).   And there were also red-and-white long stirrers enclosed in the box.  The only thing lacking is the ridged sleeve to spare hands from heat.   But it doesn't matter.  Anyway, you can hold the bottom of the cup to avoid heat.

The box containing the "Pursia" coffee sticks

 

The value of the coffee is in the coffee.  When I poured water over the coffee powder, the sweet-creamy aroma filled my olfactory sense.  I was even more enticed by the "frothy foam that formed" (tongue twister) over the coffee when I stirred it. I covered my cup and voila!  One mocha cappuccino for Maffet!  Right on my office desk.  A great pick-me-up cum wake-me-up treat during the day sans the great price.  A box of 25 sticks costs only P250 or P10 per stick.

I gave some sticks to my colleague, Ira, and she too liked it.

Ira, looking awake and enjoying Cafe Mori, one sleepy afternoon in the office

Smurfs: Magnified

Smurfs are the well-loved blue elf-like creatures of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon series that reigned in the boob tube during the ‘80s up to the ‘90s. 

The Smurfs' happy disposition in their little mushroom village and their adventures in trying to flee away from the evil wizard, Gargamel, glued the viewers in front of their television sets, which were not yet the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or LED (Light Emitting Diodes) types on those decades of family entertainment.   Now, what will happen if those tiny blue creatures reach New York City by accident, or is it fate?  It is truly an exciting adventure that will set the viewers on their seats in fluctuating anticipation.  



Before I discuss about the NYC adventure of the Smurfs, perhaps you might be interested to know the demography and etymology of these little ones.

Firstly, what’s all the fuss about Smurfs?  Can you tell one when you see one?

How to Spot a Smurf

These little characters are three apples high, have blue skin and are dressed in white trousers and a cap. They are a happy, easy-going bunch.  The Smurfs also speak a very strange language. Some words and verbs are replaced by “Smurf”.  Instead of saying, “You messed with the wrong girl”, they would say, “You smurfed with the wrong girl”.  Just like what Smurfette said in the 3D movie version.

Smurfs, The Beginning

Peyo, the creator of the Smurfs

In 1947, Belgian cartoonist Pierre Culliford, a.k.a Peyo, created a comic called Johan et Pirlouit,  about a young boy and his boastful cheating yet faithful dwarf sidekick.  On October 23, 1958, in the ninth issue of the comic, the duo met tiny, blue-skinned creatures called "Les Schtroumpfs."

First appearance of the Smurfs in the comic Johan et Pirlouit, 1958 (Image via Lambiek.net)

These creatures, which later became the Smurfs, were such a hit that they got their own comic series.  The Smurfs became a worldwide hit after Hanna-Barbera featured them in an animated series in the 1980s.

Although their creator, Peyo, died on Christmas of 1992, the Smurfs have never been so popular. 

 

The Eternal Smurf

Smurfette, Papa Smurf, Baby Smurf and other Smurfs

These little people who resemble kids are actually 100 years old! Papa Smurf, with his white beard, is the oldest of all. In October 1958, when the story first appeared in "Le Journal de Spirou", he declared that he was 542.  Smurfs never get older.  So Baby Smurf will eternally be a baby.  As for Smurfette, no one asks how old she is.  Even Smurfs have etiquette, they know it's impolite to ask a lady about her age.

Papa Smurf

The oldest of the Smurfs and the wisest of them all.  With his Smurfly wisdom, Papa Smurf concocts potions and creates spells to save his fellow Smurfs from all dangers.  He was the one who smurfied Smurfette from being an ugly clay by-product into a beautiful bombshell. 

Smurfette dressed and posed a la Marilyn Monroe

Smurfette—the most famous Smurf character aside from Papa Smurf

The evil sorcerer, Gargamel, the arch-nemesis of the Smurfs, magically created from clay the first female Smurf, Smurfette, to cause jealousy and trouble among the all-male Smurfs. But his plan backfired: Smurfette turned out ugly, only when Papa Smurf took pity on her and did some plastic smurfery that she turned into a blond bombshell. Smurfette gave her loyalty to the Smurfs.  In the original comic, Smurfette left the Smurf village to restore peace and all-male status quo population. However, in the ‘80s worldwide hit cartoon TV series by Hanna-Barbera, she settled in the village and became a permanent character.

Recording artist, Katy Perry (Just Dance, Teenage Dream, Firework, etc.), provided the voice of Smurfette in the 3D movie.  She said she was excited to dub for Smurfette, since the lady Smurf fits her personality.

Vanity Smurf

Did you know that there is a gay Smurf?  With a flower in his bonnet and a mirror on his hand, Vanity is the Smurf that cares the most about his appearance. If he lives in the present day, he would be the "metrosexual" Smurf.  Delicate and sensitive, he spends his time talking fabrics with Smurfette and keeping his complexion fresh. And he wants to smell good all the time. 

Clumsy Smurf

Clumsy, the hero in the 3D movie version of the Smurfs, was not an original Smurf character.  He was not among the original list of Smurfs which includes Baby Smurf, Brainy, Cook Smurf, Farmer Smurf, Greedy, Grouchy, Handy, Harmony, Hefty, Jokey, Lazy Smurf, Papa Smurf, Poet Smurf, Smurfette.  Apparently, Clumsy’s character was created for the movie version, to be the savior of the whole of Smurfdom from being annihilated by the evil, Gargamel. 

Smurfs Music 

Music provided the next big step for the Smurfs when the Dutch singer Vader Abraham released the first Smurf single. It was a massive hit in Belgium and Holland, followed by the rest of the world.

Smurfs as Icons of Social Relevance

In a gruesome short film by United Nation Children’s Fund (Unicef), the Smurfs were used to raise money for the rehabilitation of former child soldiers in Burundi.  The Smurfs were shown as hapless victims of aerial bombardments!  

The short film opens with the Smurfs dancing hand-in-hand around a campfire while singing the Smurf song. Bluebirds peacefully fly over and fragile rabbits playfully run around their mushroom village.  Suddenly, fiery bombs from the sky shot and pierced the ground and begun the destruction of Smurf life and properties.  It was a merciless air raid! The deafening whistling bombs scared the little Smurfs who helplessly scampered away from the blinding blasts and explosions.  

The final scene shows a scorched and tattered Baby Smurf sobbing inconsolably, surrounded by lifeless Smurfs who were lying flat on their faces.

The final frame bears the message: "Don’t let war affect the lives of children."

Only people with iron hearts would not be moved by this Unicef advertisement.

 

Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation Send Smurfs to the Big Screen

Smurfs theater billboard

Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation bring a live-action animated Smurfs project to the big screen. According to Columbia co-president, Doug Belgrad, they were very excited to introduce a new generation to Papa Smurf, Smurfette and the other smurftastic Smurfs.  The new generation surely will love the little characters (who aren't growing up), whom their parents, aunts and uncles grew up with.

Smurfs:  Synopsis of the 3D Movie

Gargamel (played by veteran actor, Hank Azaria) found the hidden village of the Smurfs and inflicted destruction on their homes and tried to kill them all with his magical powers.  As they escaped, Clumsy erroneously led the bunch to a forbidden cave. They reached the deadend of a cliff and Gargamel was behind them.  They saw a shining portal in front of the cliff, scared as they are, the Smurfs had no choice but to jump into the portal, lest they fall into the hands of the evil wizard.  The other side of the portal led the Smurfs to the Central Park in NYC. They were amazed at the city structures, a lot different from their mushroom village.  

Smurfs emerged  in Central Park from the portal

Gargamel and his cat, Azrael, were able to follow them through the portal.  In a series of chase, the Smurfs were led to the product launching affair of Anjelou, a cosmetic company in which Patrick (Neil Patrick Harris of Doogie Howser M.D. and How I Met Your Mother), an advertising executive, works under his mean and demanding boss, Odile (Sofia Vergara of Papi Chulo and Modern Family).   

Patrick pressured by mean boss, Odile, to come up with advertising campaign in just 2 days!

Clumsy, escaping from Azrael, accidentally entered a box of Anjelou cosmetics.  The other Smurfs heard Clumsy's cry for help but before they could approach the box, the unknowing Patrick had picked it up.  The other Smurfs jumped over the roof of the taxi hailed by Patrick.  Patrick’s pregnant wife, Grace (Jayma Mays of Glee), first saw Clumsy in their comfort room, chased by their pet dog.  Meanwhile, the other bunch of Smurfs have managed to enter the couple's apartment and were  discovered by Patrick in the living room. Shrieks of surprises filled the apartment.  When everyone was composed, Patrick consented to Grace’s plea to let the little people stay with them. 

The Smurfs in the couple's apartment

Gargamel was hell bent in finding the Smurfs, he roamed around NYC until he found the Anjelou building.  He went in and spoiled the beauty demonstration of Odile but he transformed the hag mother of Odile into a young sexy vixen.  Odile tried to buy out Gargamel's secret of 'youth'.  She did not get it as Gargamel saw Patrick and ran after him, he knew he was the guy with the Smurfs.

Odile negotiating a deal with Gargamel

The Smurfs wanted to go back home and were determined to find a stargazer to tell them the direction.  Patrick helped out by searching for blue moon in the internet.  Out in the city in search of a stargazer, the Smurfs caused a stir in the toy store and Gargamel found them.  Series of chase ensued and the Smurfs were able to escape from Gargamel, with the help of Patrick and Grace.  In a night of rejoicing in the apartment, dancing Clumsy accidentally stepped over Patrick’s laptop and sent the wrong ad to the advertising agency.  The next day, Patrick was in dilemma when he saw a picture of a blue moon, instead of his product ad, appeared in the electronic billboards of NYC.  Odile told Patrick to fix it or else, he’d be fired.  Clumsy admitted his guilt and Patrick was furious with the whole Smurf bunch.  Grace pacified him and he was won over.  Patrick just explained to Odile the relevance of Blue Moon moments.  But he was not safe yet.

The Smurfs tried to look for the Book of Spells that will help them open the portal towards home.  They took a train ride in the Times Square station and went to Wong’s Bookstore, where they were discovered and trapped by Gargamel.  Papa Smurf was captured by Gargamel who planned to extract the old creature’s essence to make him the most powerful wizard in the world. Clumsy did not give up, he was determined to save Papa Smurf.  So, the Smurfs, together with Patrick and Grace, looked for Gargamel’s hideaway which they found in Central Park.  Patrick and the male Smurfs fought with Gargamel while Smurfette freed Papa Smurf who was set in the extraction laboratory.  Smurfette had to fight with Azrael in order to achieve her goal.  After difficulties, she was able to subdue the evil cat of Gargamel.  Papa Smurf and Smurfette joined the rest of the Smurfs in fighting Gargamel.  

Grouchy Smurf

At first, Gargamel triumphed over the Smurfs, but then Grouchy, aboard a toy plane, snatched the magic wand which fell in the air.  The wand slowly descended and a heart-throbbing anticipation silenced everyone.  Clumsy aimed to catch the wand.  Papa Smurf believed his vision that Gargamel will be victorious.  But Clumsy was determined to save the Smurfs, as if suspended in the air, he ran, jumped and fell to the ground but was able to obtain the wand away from Gargamel’s hands.  Clumsy gave the wand to Papa Smurf who broke it, hence breaking the powers of Gargamel who was thrown away into a pile of rubbish in Central Park. Papa Smurf apologized to Clumsy for not believing in him. 

Brainy smurf

Everything went alright, Brainy had opened the portal again through a spell from the Book of Spells while the fight was ongoing.  The Smurfs jumped one by one into the portal, not forgetting to thank Patrick and Grace. 

Patrick was not fired by Odile.  The blue moon appeared clearly in the sky when the portal was opened by Brainy.  The people at Anjelou thought it was part of the product campaign. So, the advertisement mistake turned around and was well-liked by the patrons of Anjelou products.  





The film credits showed photos of Grace who has given birth to a baby boy, he was named Blue.   

Positive Quotes from the Movie

I would like to share the positive thoughts that I was able to catch while watching the movie.

Odile to Patrick:  Nervous energy is good energy (at work).

Odile to Patrick:  The fear of failure is a fabulous motivator.

Grace  to Clumsy:  Nobody is just one thing.  You can be anything you want to be.

Patrick to Odile:  I wanted to give you what you want.  Instead, I gave you what I thought was right.  Blue moon.  Once in a blue moon.  It is only once that something wonderful or magical happens to you, if you hesitate to take it, you might miss it.  Don’t let those blue moon moments pass you by.

Papa Smurf to Patrick:  The best decisions are not done with this (points to the head), but with this (points to the heart), where it matters most. 

Papa Smurf to Clumsy:  I owe you an apology.  I’ve always believed in visions that I forgot to believe in your ability.

Smurfette to Azrael:  You smurfed with the wrong girl!

Just like with other good things, there are negative reviews about the Smurfs-- on TV, on print and in movies.  Let us not focus on the bad side of things.  For all we know, there is no bad side in the first place. Instead, let us reconcile with the child in us— innocent, humble, trusting, never cynical, cheerful and does not pollute the mind by misjudgments of other people.

Life should not be made complicated.  It could be as simple as the Smurf song.  Lala-lalalala-la-lala-la-la…

My Own Pieces of Renoir

My inclination to the arts started with doodles when I was a child.  When I was in grade school, one of my hobbies was making comic strips.  I’d create story plots and expressed them with drawings. Most of my drawings are people and places.  I used ballpoint pen and newsprint to make the ‘comics’.  My classmates, especially the boys, would rent my comics for a few cents during recess.  And they would look forward for the continuation of my comic series. Funny, I earned from the rental fees that my classmates paid me.  I was an accidental entrepreneur at a tender age! 

In later years, I kind of stopped writing fiction but my artistic left hand continued with its strokes.  First, I was into charcoal painting.  But then I craved for color in my works.  So I started using watercolors and pastels.  I later developed my comfort with soft pastels.  I found it easier to blend and the strength of color is not overwhelming.   Most of my subjects are people-- in their candid moments. My feminine and child subjects are a way of self-expression-- a depiction of my thoughts, feelings, moods and sentiments.  I usually elaborate the details of the facial expression and sentiment of my subject person.   And I surround them with nature—flowers, trees, sky, grass.  My affinity to nature also inspired me to try painting landscapes.

I have completed a few works when I stumbled upon certain paintings from Webshots, a Wallpaper website.  I noticed some similarities of said paintings with my works.    Like my own works, said paintings featured people—especially children, girls, women, and landscapes too. 

Young Girl in Blue Hat

Poor Little Rich Girl

The Umbrellas

Two Sisters in the Terrace

By the Seashore

Girl with Watering Can

Two Girls at the Piano

One coincidence, I made a charcoal painting as gift to my bestfriend who has a twin sister.  They both love playing the piano.  So I made a painting of two sisters, one is seated and playing the piano keys while the other one is standing beside, as if looking at the musical sheet.  I titled my painting, Twins at the Piano.  Then, I stumbled upon a similar painting entitled, Two Girls at the Piano.  The scene is very much the same with my own painting. 
 
I'm not sure if my bestfriend was able to keep the painting I gave her.  I don't have a copy of it, but I still remember the details.

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

I later discovered, that the painter of the works I liked in Webshots and that of the Two Girls at the Piano, is Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a French impressionist painter of the 1800’s.  His works are known for vibrant colors.  His style--instead of mixing colors, he used several brush strokes with different colors, and the eye of the viewer "mixes" the color. 


Renoir thought that "a painting should be a joyful thing, pretty and pleasant".  He lived that philosophy in his works.

It’s inspiring that my own works have semblance to the masterpieces of the great Renoir, at least to my eyes. :)  Though I never made reference to nor imitated his style, our works coincidentally both have bright colors and conveyed the same impressions and subjects.  Maybe some unknown cosmic force serendipitously blew the inspiration of Renoir to this side of Asia, and centuries later, breathed it to an ordinary girl with ordinary artistic talent, but with great appreciation of the arts.   Renoir died December 3, I was born December 2.  It was just a matter of time zone, that connected through centuries.  ;)))  Nuts?...It's a simple wishful thinking!....:)))

Girl Picking Flowers (My work)

Renoir's Femme-Cueillant-Des-Fleurs (Girl Gathering Flowers)

Young Girl by the Fence (My work)

Young Girl with a Parasol (by Renoir)

 

Banks of the Seine (by Renoir)

 

Little House on the Meadow (My work)

I don’t get to paint nowadays because of my corporate work.  But the creativity lives inside me and is quenched by looking at great masterpieces, like the beautiful works of the great Renoir.  

Renoir's The Ball at Moulin de la Galette, sold for more than USD70 Million in 1990