Rice Up!
After almost seven years of usage, we had to throw out our old rice cooker when we discovered a leaking hole at its bottom. Letting it go was a bit bittersweet since it was our first one and has some sentimental value. When Kenny and I started dating, he bought it upon the suggestion of his Taiwanese co-worker after he told him that I was a Filipina. I was quite surprised and impressed by his effort to accommodate my cultural background. He also learned how to cook rice by using the 2:1 ratio (2 cups water to 1 cup rice). Although I don't regularly eat rice, the appliance was also useful in steaming vegetables and crab legs (his fave). When Kenny went out looking for a new cooker last week, he picked one that is multifunctional . It can steam and has settings for white rice as well as brown rice. Although I like the good old-fashioned white rice, I plan on eating brown rice from now on. I recently learned that it's healthier and more nutritious and I also remember that I liked it a lot when my grandma used to serve it back then when I was a kid. I've always preferred its fragrant aroma and full texture. I can't wait till I get to cook brown rice in our new cooker.
It wasn't until I came to the US that I found out that there are so many varieties of rice in existence 
and that there are a lot of methods or recipes of preparing it aside from the typical steamed or fried rice. In some American restaurants, wild rice pilaf (a steamed rice dish often with meat, shellfish, or vegetables in a seasoned broth) is commonly served. Jambalaya (traditionally made in one pot, with meats and vegetables, and is completed by adding rice) has also become a favorite of mine as it bears resemblance to another favorite, paella. Rice, being the staple food in the Philippines, is also considered a comfort food. Whenever we're sick, my mother would make us porridge (lugaw) or arroz caldo. On cold and rainy days, we usually snacked on a warm bowl of champorado . 
A lot of the favorite delicacies in the Philippines, such as Biko and Espasol, are also made of sticky rice or sweet rice.
Whenever in the Philippines, I somehow find myself eating my food and rice with bare hands. It might appear primitive or indicative of bad table manners to the western culture but there's just something very comforting and natural about it.
It might seem like I'm making much ado about something as pedestrian as rice but I've known of a lot of people who would not venture into a restaurant that don't serve any rice at all. Some would even claim that they get sick or weak when deprived of rice for a long time. One may become "americanized" or "westernized" in so many ways but eating rice seems to be the one habit that a Filipino will never break, no matter where they are in the world.
. No, folks. This post is not meant to announce some good news or to give you an update on the state of my reproductive system. I know that a few of my friends are curious or concerned about our not having any offspring yet especially since at my age, the biological clock must be ticking so deafeningly loud by now. One thing I can assure you is that there is nothing to worry about. As far as I know, there are no medical reasons why we're not hearing the pitter-patter of little feet yet. It is really a matter of choice for us. For now, we're content at how things are and are truly happy with our dogs. 
