In the bud

Dear Mom,

Thanks for the Maggi Magic Sarap you sent me. Did you ever imagine that someday your unica hija will finally learn to cook? Well, she did! The result of being away from home for 6 years.

Growing up, no one ever really pushed me to work in the kitchen. In our house, men rule the kitchen, women are just good for washing dishes... and scrubbing pots. Dad and Kuya Vener are adventurous and innovators, Kuya Volts is ingenious and Kuya Vince is... well, let's just say he's a better cook than me. I was ashamed to tell anyone that I only learned to cook rice at the age of 12 (we didn't have a rice cooker then), and fried my first egg a little later after that.

I wish I had written to you all about my journey into the culinary world from the start - all cuts, burns and clothes stains included, so I can feel more proud of my achievement.

Hey, I got 2 new recipes to try - one for Gnocchi and the other is Pad Thai which I can't get enough of at the moment. It's a very tasty noodle dish with chicken and prawns. Arns is already making a list of the dishes he wants me to cook on our next vacation. Till then!

Love,
Roni