kilawing labanos w/ fried tofu

one of the reasons (i think) diets fail is because diets entail subjecting the mind and body to unbearable suffering through food deprivation.  ahm, it's sort of like punishing your mind and body.  and in some cases it borders on torture, self-torture.   yah, don't you just cherish the thought?  the thought of self-torture?  who in his right mind doesn't, eh?!  kamaan!

yah, and it's your mind and body, not just your body.  and it’s more of your mind than your body.  but, isn't dieting just for your body?, you might ask,  to lose weight and all, to take off all that flab and have a slimmer figure.   well, if that's all you think it is, better think again.  the hard-to-swallow-truth is: you are going on a diet because you have made up your mind!  but your body cries out, “eat!  eat!  eat!” and, boy-o-boy, do you love to eat!

ricky hatton takes a left hook to the jaw

it's like a left hook and a right uppercut.  one or both punches can knock you out!  and most of the time people give up - the fact that a person gives up makes it a matter of the mind, ahm, that is, unless you find your jaw on the receiving end of the glove of a certain manny “pacman” pacquiao, then it’s no longer a matter of the mind but, really, of the body, as ricky hatton *smack* found out, but that’s just about it; other than that, i think, a person’s giving up on a diet is much a matter of the mind than many failed dieters would admit.  and, ahm, refusing to admit it is a matter of the mind as well, which is more popularly known as “denial - most of the time people give up because they could no longer take the punishment, which was self-inflicted in the first place.

ricky hatton knocked-out by the left hook

others play a mentalist sleight-of-hand game by calling a diet a lifestyle change.  you may heave heard of the south beach lifestyle.  well, ahm, true, it is a lifestyle change - and a diet.  conventional wisdom says, “diets don’t work!” so go for a lifestyle change, which is nothing more or less than going on a diet, albeit, in a different size, shape and form, but no less, a diet.  i do not deceive or delude myself, as others happily do.  i am on a diet and a lifestyle change. 

the challenge in going on a successful diet and lifestyle change is in understanding its dynamics.  now for a better understanding of its dynamics, nah, joke...  but for the kilawing labanos...

you will need:

1 pc radish (approx 400-500 grams)

1 block tofu (approx 250-300 grams)

2 Tbsp oil (canola or olive)

2 Tbsp chopped ginger

3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed

1 medium size onion, sliced

2 red chili peppers, cut coarsely

1/4 - 1/3 c water

3 Tbsp vinegar

2 Tbsp sugar, washed or brown

fish sauce (for pinoys and non-vegans)

salt and pepper

the tofu:

1- slice the tofu into medium rectangular blocks

2- deep fry in hot oil until golden brown

3- drain and cool a while

4- slice fried tofu into smaller rectangular pieces

the radish:

1- peel the radish.

2- slice thinly along a diagonal axis.

the kilawin:

1- saute ginger, garlic, onion and chili peppers in oil.  WARNING: exposure to or inhalation of chili pepper fumes may cause mild to severe irritation of the eyes, nostrils or lungs.

2- add fish sauce (optional for vegans, mandatory for pinoys), radish and tofu and saute for a couple of minutes

3- add water, vinegar and sugar and boil for a couple of minutes

4- add salt and pepper to suit your taste

5- remove from heat and serve with an ice cold bottle of your favorite frothy beverage

so, ahm, how about that?!