Of Lenten Season, Of Summer, and Of Ihaw-Ihaw Sa Tag-Araw

A powerful sneeze has just exploded before I started scribbling this. And I felt like my lungs could also explode any moment. It’s painful to sneeze esp. if it’s a forced one. The urge to release is so sudden. 

I don’t have any plan to write about anything right now – I mean it’s 2AM. Who the hell would wake up at this holy hour? I should suppose to be in my sound sleep. But I was awakened by that powerful sneeze and incessant coughing. It's so disturbing that I can't even go back to sleep again. 

So, what I did was - I went to the kitchen, boiled the lemon grass. After boiling, I pour out into a mug and mixed it with a powdered ginger given to us by my sister-in-law last Friday. 

This cough has been bugging me for a few days already. It started last Friday night - I thought it won't developed into a full blown one -- but unfortunately it did. I started to feel uneasy inside my throat and I felt a slight fever already. Yet, I never attended to it and just whisked-away the idea that I'd be sick. 

Then comes Saturday - Sabado De Gloria that was. Feeling amused as it was our first.

Weeks before, I arranged for an Ihaw-Ihaw Party for some CFC friends in the grill area near the Badminton Court when Sabado-De-Gloria comes. (FYI - There are at least five areas inside the housing compound of National Guards Hospital where it was really set up for a grill or ihaw-ihaw session for the employees residing within its premises). Initially, we were expected more people to join us as we have also invited the SFC Ladies especially those who don't have their hospital duties. But none showed up, so I just thought that maybe all of them were on duty and some others were maybe on an "On Call" status. 

Summer here has a different entrance this year. A combination of wind with moderate sand storm has been frequenting us for several weeks already. While the heat was starting to have its presence felt. Normally, during the peak season of summer, the surrounding even with the intermittent presence of wind still blows a hot air. Unlike in the Philippines where the wind even at the summer season's peak won't give us a hot air. Here, it's different - very humid that perspiration is just a struggle at any normal day. 

Going back to the small party - the night before Saturday, I've prepared my own recipe of "Chicken Barbeque". Since I'm having trouble smelling because of my cough and cold, plus the dull taste bud I was not that confident if the taste of the Chicken Barbeque marinade was already in its savory state. 

Nonetheless, I just continued what I was doing. Finished mixing all the ingredients and viola - I'm done. I put the chicken in a plastic container and started pouring in the barbeque marinade. After a few mix - to even out all the chicken with the marinade, I sealed it with its cover and it went right through the chiller. They say - an overnight marinade would make it - taste perfect. But I don't know if it would work for what I have prepared considering my poor taste bud that night.  

Before I commune that night to my bed, I rang my kumpareng Randy reminding him of his fish assignment. He quickly replied. After a short convy, we bid each other good night which also means I can dive in to my bed. 

Saturday morning here we come. I woke up at around 9am, a bit late since I hit the sack last night around midnight already. So, I checked on my marinated barbeque - tooki it out from the chiller and did few mixes again. This time the uppermost part occupied the lower. I called out to my nanay to smell it and to tell me if it smells good. She said, it was good - I don't know if she's just flattering me - but then I believed her haha. The unbiased verdict would still come from the people later. The thought was giving me a qualm. 

I've been checking the clock from time to time, until it hit 3pm. So, I quickly prepared what we need to bring in to the grill station. Plates, spoons, pork, cups, - etc. We even cooked rice while preparing all those stuff. The agreed time was 4pm - that means we have to be there on that time. While busy thinking what other things to prepare I called up once again kumpareng Randy asking him it he's ready. He told me - he's up to go. He even enthused to fetch us up in the house. We could have opted to walk but due to some heavy stuff we decided to hitch in. 

Fast forward - we're now in the grill station preparing the grill area. We put charcoal in it then lit a piece of paper and there you go - waiting for the charcoal to produce the much needed heat in order for us to start grilling. With at least five minutes of waiting, we're ready to put our first menu. 

Tadaaa- it's my Barbeque Chicken recipe.

Looks tasteful isn't it? Oh, and we also had our grilled egg plants. 

The finish product - sabi ni kumpare - daig pa daw ang Mang Inasal sa lasa - haha!

Oh by the way, while we're doing the ihaw-ihaw, we engaged ourselves in a few camera moments. And here it goes.

You may notice that there were no photos of grilled fish. Well, I failed to take some. Kumpareng Randy and family friend Riyadhelle have also some photos. I just don't have them right now. As soon as it gets available I will update this post. And also, during the feasting time, we didn't even bother to take photos of us while devouring the foods. 

By the way, we got - Chicken Barbeque, Grilled Tuna, Grilled Tilapia, Grilled Talong, Vegetable Salad in Apple Cidar, Biko, Katuray Leaves Mixed with Bagoong. Ang sarap kumain that time! hahaha! 

Wait!, do you want to know what's the final verdict for my Chicken Barbeque recipe? I'll brag a bit - they all said - it tasted soooo good! Obviously, all the 10 pieces were easily gone. The ingredients for my chicken barbeque were: banana catsup, black powdered pepper, lemon, soy sauce and salt. As simple as that. But you know why it tasted so good - it's because of the overnight marinade - the mixture penetrated the chicken so perfectly. 

So, that's it. Even if we cannot freely and lavishly observe lenten season here - still we can create a few simple ways on how to discreetly observe one. And what's more fulfilling than doing it with your family and close friends. 

By the way, belated HAPPY EASTER to all of you!

#IhawIhawSaTagAraw
#FamilyBonding
#LentenObservance