A rare visit

And... as simple as that, it's the start of the week again.

Yesterday, my brother visited me here in Batangas. I relocated here when I started working for a real estate developer last January. Can you believe it took him six months to visit me?

I didn't prepare much since there was no special occasion, but I decided to buy something for him and his wife to take home.

And this is what I found. Pako (Fiddlehead Fern) and talangka (crablets)

Photos edited in Canva

My brother loves Pako ensalada, so when I saw the Pako, I didn't hesitate to buy it. This vegetable is rarely found in Manila, so I made sure to grab some when I saw it for sale.

I bought four bundles for my brother and two for myself. Each bundle costs about $0.50. Do you have this vegetable in your country? I'm curious! I just checked its nutritional value and I'm glad I bought some for myself, as it’s packed with vitamins and minerals that are good for the heart, bones, and teeth.

I hadn’t intended to buy crablets, but the vendor selling the Pako also had crablets, so I ended up buying a pitcher for $3. I’m not sure how my sister-in-law will cook them or if they will still be alive by the time they reach our home in Pasay.

I'm just really happy that my brother visited me, which is why I went the extra mile to buy something special for them. I usually go home every weekend, but this weekend I decided to stay here. I’ve been getting tired of traveling every weekend, and the rain often keeps me from going out too. Just being honest—I'm a bit lazy to travel! The journey home takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on traffic.

When they got home, they prepared the Pako and crablets for dinner, and here is the final result:

The photo was taken by my sister in law.

As for my Pako, I just cooked it today. I simply blanched it, added cherry tomatoes, and drizzled some vinaigrette on top. I paired it with salmon cooked in a mixture of butter and olive oil, then sprinkled garlic and lemon over it.

Had a great day today, and hopefully it will be for the whole week. And I also wish every one of you to have a great and blessed week ahead.

And if you've come this far... I hope that I was able to entertain you and made you smile... and for that Thank you.