Food for the Soul

Food is one of the essential needs of man in order to survive. It provides us with nourishment and keeps us energized throughout the day. If you're one of my friends in Instagram, you know that I'm a foodie! One of my joys is not only to eat, but also to devour gourmet food at its best. 

Unfortunately, not all people are blessed enough to eat three meals a day. Back in my hometown, it breaks my heart whenever I see people, especially little ones, digging through the disgusting mountain of trash just to find something to satisfy their tummies. Much to my surprise, not only third world countries suffer from starvation. You can also find a lot of people here in the US who can hardly provide food for their families and even for themselves. Life is just as hard and it knows no race.  

One good way of giving back glory and honor to God as Christians is to show compassion and love to those in need. When my friend in Singles for Christ told me about this volunteer work at the Atlanta Food Bank, I didn't think twice. We helped in sorting out surplus food donated by supermarkets specifically, meat like poultry, chicken, beef, etc. It's nice to know that they just don't get dumped in the trash and that organization like Soup Kitchen collects them and they make a nice meal out of them. For the record, we sorted out 9,354 pounds/ 6,354 meals! That means that we made 6,354 people full and happy.

It's such a rewarding and humbling experience to be able to help those who are in need. God has blessed me with so much and I believe that He put me in this position for a purpose. It is only through the grace of God that we can live not just for ourselves but for others as well. Our goal should be not just to abide in pursuing our own happiness and our own survival but instead to be a light and joy to the world.  Jesus is the perfect example of an unselfish and generous love. 

I'm also grateful that I have friends in the community with golden hearts. 

Thank you Jesus for changing our lives and the life of other people we may have touched. 

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. -John 6:35

xoxo,
Joselle 

Fridate at Atlanta Food Bank

Singles for Christ Georgia!

Foodie Journey: Ground Pork Alfredo Pasta

One of the things that my Lola and I share (other than beauty.lol) is our love for pasta! 

Last Sunday, I was asked to cook for dinner and bring it to the hospital where my Lola got confined. There was only ground pork available in our fridge and the first thing that I thought was to make one of my Lola's favorite food. She has lost her appetite this past few days so I thought this would help. 

Anyway, a soon-to-be momma friend of mine asked for this recipe so I'm posting it here in my blog.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. fettuccine noodles, cooked according to package instructions
• 1 lb. ground pork (beef, diced chicken or shrimp is also good)
• 4 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic
• 1 small can of mushrooms (fresh is always better if you like)
• 1 bottle (15 oz) Classico Creamy Alfredo Sauce (this is a lifesaver cos i don't need to make one from scratch. hehe)
• Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper 
• Optional: broccoli or parsley for garnish

Procedure:

1. Melt butter in a pan.
2. Add in garlic and cook till it turns golden brown.
3. Add in pork and stir till it browns. 
4. Add in mushrooms.
5. Pour in Alfredo Sauce.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.
7. Mix the sauce with the pasta. 
8. Sprinkle in Parmesan cheese on top and garnish with greens if desired.
9. Serve!

I swear it's one of the most effortless dish you can make if you feel like eating Italian food other than spaghetti. It's so good because of it's creamy texture and cheesy white sauce. Yummmm!

Recreate your own and hope this helps! Good luck!

xoxo,

Joselle

Spring is Here to Stay

It's spring time and I'm loving it! (That sounded like a fast food motto.lol)

I love spring, the warm weather, the breezy sunshine, the blooming flowers, and let's not forget, the spring fashion. Yay! That means I can wear my pastel colored and sheer clothes and floral perfume scents. I even love the sporadic rains to flush away the aggravating pollen. I don't know about you but I am embracing spring and everything in it. 

When I think of spring, I also think of life and new beginnings. Like how the buds bloom and turn to beautiful and mystical flowers. As I posted on my Instagram, my Lola was just discharged yesterday from the hospital. She's doing much  better now and like a flower, she just miraculously blossomed and was given new and extended life. 

As you may know, last month and in the beginning of this month, was kind of rough for me and my family. With my beloved grandfather passing followed by my dearest grandmother's hospitalization for over a week, it felt like a severe blizzard withering our household.

If I may use an analogy for our family, the way I see it is like this: Our grandparents both are the tree, our parents are the fruits, and we are the flowers. hehe (If I am a flower, I would like to be a cherry blossom.hahaha) Anyway, like a tree, they hold us all strongly and tightly together. Lola and Lolo did their very best to get us here in the United States, not only to have a good life, but to enjoy the true meaning of family. Helping one another through the bad, and being there for one another in sharing life's triumphant milestones. I am so blessed to be a part of this kind of family.

Back in the Philippines, my grandmother and the rest of her Jayo siblings lived in one compound in Tondo, Manila. My mother, my aunts and their cousins all grew up together and they were really close. I am delighted whenever they tell us how fun their childhood was. Then one day, a Jayo sibling decided she wanted to try her luck in America and off she went. After that, the rest of the Jayo siblings moved to America. First to New Jersey and after around a decade to Georgia. Now most of the Jayo clan is here in Georgia. That's how amazingly tightly knitted our family is.

So when my Lolo died, I believe my Lola got depressed so badly, thus affecting her health. Plus she's already 91 so that was kind of expected at that age. After Easter, we all noticed how weak my Lola had gone. She refused to eat because of her acid re-flux and heartburn. She just wanted to stay at home and sleep when she used to be so outgoing and effervescent before. She would occasionally remember her husband and she would cry for his unforeseen death. Even though I still have my husband, I felt for her because my husband is not with me as of this moment. Losing a husband is like losing a part of you.

When my Lola was confined in the hospital for 9 days, every single day, we were there. Everyday, relatives would visit her, even her friends that felt like a family to her especially our friends in CFC and in St. Benedict, the priests, the deacons, and the Legion of Mary. My Lola indeed touched a lot of lives and made a mark in every single one of them. Her face would light up when a familiar face shows up. When we leave her room, we would always end our day praying over her. I believe that helped her gain back her strength. And yesterday, she was able to go home finally.

Witnessing how our family gave utmost care to my grandmother was so inspiring. The love, concern, and care they showered upon my Lola was I believe what cured my grandmother best. I thought for a split second that God is already taking her from us but seemingly, not yet. Her life goes on and like spring, it is here to stay. Although it won't be as long as we'd like it to be but we are still grateful we could still enjoy her company for a bit more.  

xoxo,

Joselle