Leche flan

Definition by Merriam Webster Dictionary Online

Pronunciation: \ˈflan, ˈfläⁿn\

Function: noun

Etymology: French, from Old French flaon, from late Latin fladon-, flado flat cake, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German flado flat cake

a: an open pie containing any of various sweet or savory fillings

b: custard baked with a caramel glaze

Leche flan

Ingredients:

egg yolk

caramelized sugar

evaporated milk

condensed milk

vanilla

Note: A molder and steamer are needed to cook this. Cooking time: 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness of your flan. To check if it is cook already, dip a wooden toothpick or fork. There should be no debris or cake clinging on the toothpick to determine if the flan is cook already.

This is the best leche flan I have ever tasted, not because I made it! The recipe was my mom’s which was handed from generation to generation. Ugly Betty has several episodes mentioning “the flan”. But in our hometown it is referred completely as “leche flan”. There is one episode wherein Amanda was ravishing plate after plate of the home made flan of Betty’s father, Ignacio. I do wonder, do all Mexicans like flans? As for now, I will not reveal the secret recipe but for the meantime, the main ingredients are listed above.

Teacher! Teacher!

“Teacher, teacher!”, a Korean student yelled at me.

All these grueling days of waiting for the nursing board exam results adds to my anxiety everyday. There were sudden turn of events that day. One day you feel so sad, then the next day felt like all your problems were answered. The following day after I felt so poor, I received calls from two different job offers.

The first ring was from a tutorial service I applied last summer. The lady on the other end of the phone asked in a Korean accent if I was free that afternoon and requested to come immediately because one of her tutors can not make it. At the spur of the moment, I said yes, leaving me 30 minutes to get ready to her office. As soon as I got there, she ushered me to one of the rooms. The transformation began and I was now the teacher to a 15 year old freshman high school. It was my first one on one formal tutor in a small room complete with white board, pen and other learning materials. Speaking in English is required throughout the lesson. After 2 hours of teaching, I held my first salary in my own bare hands. I get paid by the hour. It felt great teaching. I will look forward to it when I reach the age of 40s teaching in a nursing school. In the mean time, I need to keep this part time job while waiting for the result of my examination. I overheard from a woman this morning that only 30% of the nursing students passed the exam. I hope I will be included in those numbers. Another anxiety stressor. Two months to go.

Update (07/15): I am underpaid by Korean Management. I don’t think I would last long with this kind of management.

Say “NO!” to LPN programs

PNA vs institutionalizing practical nursing program
By Katherine Evangelista
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 20:14:00 06/18/2008

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Nurses Association (PNA) on Wednesday declared its opposition to the proposal of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to “ladderize” the nursing curriculum to institutionalize the practical nursing course Wednesday.

Read the full story:
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/new…ursing-program

If I could scream on my top of the lungs, saying no to LPN programs, I would, over and over until all Filipinos will realize. Heres why:

LPN Programs in the Philippines does not work like in the US. If you have completed your LPN education here then you are probably one of the victims of scam and false advertisement of LPN programs in PI. The people behind these LPN schools or programs will guarantee that you can work in the US or abroad after completion of the said program. They will entice you to enroll to their 6 to 12 months program or more at the same time gaining enough pesos in their pockets while you are hoping for your American dream. Fact is, there is no legal visa as a LPN in the US unless you are a green card holder or a US citizen. It’s a good thing that the PNA is opposing the CHEd to ladderize the said program. Moreover, there are not enough jobs for LPNs. It is not even recognize by the PRC; there is no local license to give out. Thus, ending up as nursing aide or nursing assistant.

Do not solely rely in our government, they are entirely aware of what is happening in the nursing profession although acting deaf and blind. They just let things happen for their own sake and not for the good of their countrymen. Let us not be fooled. If you know someone currently enrolled in these programs, let them read the news. Please spread the word.

Drugs Online

When I was a student, I had a hard time searching for good resources of drugs online. These will be useful for your studies and will serve as reference also. I have listed them down for easier access and will update it as soon as I found better ones. The following links are:

1) Davis’s Drug Guide
2) Mosby’s Drug Consult
3) Rx List
4) MIMS Philippines
5) Drug Reference Center

Hiding under my covers

For quite some time, I have been budgeting my money for my everyday expenses. And now I can claim that I am bankrupt, impecunious, penurious or you can simply say poor. Thinking that money runs our life made me abhors myself or the way I think. I never see this perspective neither do I care about it until now. It seems that I reach the end point of doing nothing without money. The moment you leave the door, you need some amount to pay for the gasoline, taxi or the jeepney. It will followed by different circumstances like getting thirsty, hungry, and so on that engages you to spend. I had save some money for the past previous months but has been used up due to family crisis. I just hate the fact that I would no longer go out to avoid spending the little amount left. I hate that I would tell lies in order not to go out with friends or even socialize because the mere thought would substantiate money. I hate that I have so many plans which includes money. I hate being financially dependent to my parents. I hate that my siblings were the one lending or donating to me when I should be. I hate wordpress for not allowing Google Adsense – maybe just for now. I hate the companies that I have applied to, not replying back sooner when I needed them the most. In the end, I hate being poor! Not until I could think of something to earn some money, you’ll find me hiding under my covers.

The Pearl

Pearl shined exquisitely still

Seeping through its tiniest pores

Showering glorious light

Growing adamantly at shore

Its mold bending indifferently

Imperfections can be defined

Scars carved and embedded

Anyone would wonder why

Several years has gone by

Continued to be pure and white

Exposing its finest quality

Strong, refined, and bright

Waiting to be washed away

Waiting for the right moment

Till it is all worth it

Till someone can claim it.

Leona Lewis’ Hair

Leona has been topping charts both in the UK and US. Her songs are great but I love her hair more. I applaud her hair stylist and make-up artist too. She always look good now that she is a sensation in the music industry. Do you know what is the color of her hair? Any idea? I want that hair color!

AllStudentNurses Medical Trivia

I am inviting everyone especially student nurses and health care professionals to join AllStudentNurses Medical Trivia, an online trivia that tests your science, medical and nursing foundation. It has 10 new sets of questions everyday with multiple choices. Ranking are done at the end of the day and scores are accumulated for a month. You need to register for a few minutes in order to join the trivia. It’s fun! You can also chat with other players too. Let’s see if you still have those knowledge stored.

Click this link: AllStudentNurses Medical Trivia

Birthday wish

Today marks the 24th year of my existence. For twenty four years, I have learned that wishes that I keep to myself were never granted. So I am telling the world, “my wish is to start my nursing career and be successful in the field of pediatric, medical-surgical or geriatric nursing in any country I end up to”. Not sure which of those 3 fields I would specialize in but definitely considering those 3. Although pediatric nursing has the biggest points so far. It has been a struggling journey in the field of nursing even up to now. I hope, as well as for those distracted with the current nursing situation in PI, not to give up hope. Real nurses at heart would suffice, I think. Let’s live up to our dreams.

PS. Happy Father’s Day to all the dad, daddy, papa, pops, tatay, (whatever you call your father) out there!

Cracking an Egg with One Hand

I wanted to do this for a very long time now. I finally decided to start doing this using one hand and not two hands. It will save copious amount of time especially breaking dozens of eggs when baking and adds to the feeling of being a chef. Check out the video and the steps (by WikiHow). Start practicing now!

Steps:

1. Pick up an egg and hold it with all fingers except pinky.
2. Crack it (one handed) on a flat surface, such as the counter or cutting board.
3. With your thumb and index finger still in the same place, press them a little on both sides of the crack in the egg and pull apart the egg.
4. Keep practicing with your dominant hand, then switch to your other hand.

Tips

• It may take you a little while to learn, so keep your patience.
• Sometimes looking away from the egg helps. This way you are not concentrating too hard and can develop your own “touch”.
• Avoid breaking eggs on the edge of a bowl or skillet, as this can drive shell fragments into the yolk or white.
• If you are having trouble at first, try turning the egg and continuing the crack further around the egg. This makes it easier to crack open.
• When you are first beginning, crack the eggs in a small bowl or container, rather than the final bowl you will put the eggs in. If you get some shell in the egg, you can pick it out more easily.