9 January 2025
It has been a bittersweet 2024 for me with lots of ups and downs. There were wins and losses. Overcoming each year and adding years to my life is a lifetime achievement. It wasn't an easy journey for me to get to where I am, and it's mostly challenges that shaped me into who I am today.
I never had an easy life, and sometimes I wish I could take a break from daily hustle. I always wish to choose the path that I want to. But this has been my fate; I have to accept it. I live not just for myself, but for others.
This month, I turned 36. I can't help but feel blessed that I've reached this far. I am in the midway in life, and I wish to live longer for my family and goals. At my age, I haven't reached my main goal yet. So, here I am trying to keep my pace and deal with daily obstacles to keep going. It's exhausting sometimes, but there's not much to complain about when seeing all efforts are worthwhile.
If there's one thing I want to achieve this year, it is to get the financial stability I've been yearning for since then. It wouldn't be easy; I anticipate that, but I'll keep going and keep saving, especially since I spent a lot in the previous years since my father's death.
A budget-friendly birthday celebration
Meanwhile, I am lucky to be born a day after New Year's Eve. That means there will still be a lot of leftovers that I could repurpose for my birthday. A character I loved the most about us Filipinos is being resourceful. We don't like wasting leftovers because every single food we have on our table means a lot to us.
The New Year's feast was just for a night, so there are always a lot of leftovers. When I checked our fridge on the 2nd day of the month, it was still full, and some were still untouched. I told my mom I would prepare for everything and repurpose the leftovers.
I started with our coffee jelly, which seemed to be untouched since there were many options on the table on New Year's Eve.
After slicing them into small dices, I added some milk, cream, and diced mangoes, then chilled for a while.
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Next was the cake. Our DIY New Year cake became a DIY birthday cake, lol. I made sure it wouldn't be left out anymore.
During our New Year preparation, our electric mixer gave up in the middle, so we failed to make meringue. That was the main reason why our cakes became DIY, lol. It was a problem to me again. So, instead of making meringue for the cake coatings, I used chilled cream because I intentionally want to add ice cream flavor to the cake.
I coated the cake with chilled cream and used my Toblerone chocolate to decorate it. Even the candle was coated with chocolate flakes.
After chilling the cake, the result wasn't bad at all. I got myself a two-layered cake from the leftovers. That saved a lot.
Next were the viands.
Some of the raw leftover chicken was minced and mixed with a few ingredients. We then wrapped and rolled the mixture into chicken spring rolls. This is one of my favorite Filipino viands.
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I cooked the remaining raw chicken and made Hong Kong-style sweet and sour fried chicken chunks using the ingredients on hand.
We still had spaghetti and Biko or black sticky rice cooked in coconut milk. I requested to have a grilled milkfish on my birthday, which was granted.
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After combining all repurposed leftovers, we got foods to savor and share with. It didn't really matter what I had in my birthday; what mattered most was that my family was around.
Some of my nieces joined me this time. They seldom visit our house, so I was happy to have them around.
Life may be tough for me at times, but seeing my family around somehow eases the burden I am feeling.
We don't really need a grand birthday celebrations, we just need to be resourceful and creative in the kitchen.
Thanks for your time.
Jane is a Filipina wanderer in a foreign land who finds comfort in nature and freedom in writing. She loves watching raw picturesque landscapes, listening to the symphony of nature, breathing in drops of sunshine, walking through scenic trails and cityscapes, tasting new culinary flavors, capturing pretty little things, venturing into hidden gems, and dancing with the flow of life.
Her new experiences, adventures, challenges, lessons, small successes, and joys are colorful paints that fill up her canvas of life. She hopes to see it beautifully painted while she can. Join her on her quest for self-discovery and wanderlust. If you like her content, don't hesitate to upvote, drop a comment, reblog, and follow for more wonderful adventures.
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That's absolutely impressive. @jane1289!👏 Your creativity and resourcefulness in the kitchen truly shine through. It's wonderful how you managed to create something delicious and unique from leftovers. Chilled cream with that ice cream flavor twist sounds fantastic, and the Toblerone chocolate decoration must have added a delightful touch. Not to mention, coating the candle with chocolate flakes is a brilliant idea! Thank you for sharing this inspiring culinary achievement—it's a testament to not only your ingenuity but also the value placed on every bit of food. 🥧✨
Happy Birthday, sis!!!
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Thank you. I don't need to sacrifice my wallet just to give me a party haha. I always like experimenting in the kitchen.
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Happy belated birthday, @jane1289. Don't stop going towards your dream. It will be fulfilled if you don't give up along the way.
What a beautiful celebration. The essential and what matters was there: love.
I'm 36 too and I feel exhausted too sometimes and I had your same goal find a stability financially and mentally mentally, by the way your law cost party looks super , simple and perfect ❤️
Thank you. It's always exhausting to live each day but we somehow manage to stay happy at the same time hehe
Happy birthday Madam!
I always admire you for having a strong character, your sacrifices for the sake of family.
I wish you will got what your heart desires the most.
Hopefully madam at lahat sna tyo makamit ang goals this year
Life sure doesn't have any guarantees alright.
My siblings and relatives are closer to me than ever now after dealing with the loss of Mom and my best friend over the last 18 months. Family are precious and bed rock. And Happy Birthday @jane1289 ❤️
Happy to know that sis. It's not easy to feel alone and lonely in your part for sure after your best friend and mom's passing. Keep people around you.
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Happy Birthday again :) Great use of the night before foods. DIY cakes look good, hmm maybe a start up business there, hehe. Enjoy the now with family, the other things will come your way. Take care!
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Thank you. Enjoy your new year too
All that food looks really delicious, and as you say, the most important thing is to be able to have your family together and enjoy with them this wonderful event called life, my best wishes friend @jane1289 for this new year, receive my hug,
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Happy birthday Jane! Lucky you're now able to be with your family on your birthday!
Yes, after 7 years I guess, hehe.
Belated Happy Birthday madam, and Happy New Year! Napaka resourceful naman ay, lalo na sa pagdating sa cake. Sana matupad lahat ng wish mo, lalo na yong financial stability. Biling nating lahat yan, so let's go get it. Fighting!
Kya nga madam. Nakatipid haha.
Sana nga madam, for all of us,
Wow. I love the cake and delicious meals on the table. This is so amazing and I celebrate your 36th birthday, Jane. I wish you the great year 2025 and I hope you achieve your goal of being financially stable. This is something I long for too. I will be 31 next Tuesday and I can't but feel grateful for life and where I am today. Happy belated birthday, Jane ❤️❤️
31? Wow. I thought you were 20+ hehe
Advance happy birthday, Princess. Let's wish for the best for all of us
Yea. All the best to us.
Wishing you a very happy birthday. What a perfect family photo, my best wishes to all. As for the meal, all I can say is epic....especially that cake!!!
Take care and so happy you had a wonderful day.
PS 36? never!
Yes, blessed at 36 hehe..
Thanks
So that means you were born on new year's day? No one is ever going to forget your birthday are they? Happy belated birthday Jane,and hope all your wishes come true this year
Nope, it was on the 2nd day, but foods were leftovers from new year's day 🤣
Good morning dear friend @jane1289 how are you?
Happy birthday, I wish with all my heart that this year 2025 you achieve the financial freedom you so desire
Thank you. Happy new year to you, btw
Belated Happy Birthday, sis! Life might be challenging at times but you have a lovely family who helps you get through :) What you did with the leftovers is so creative and resourceful :) I'm glad you enjoyed the celebration with your loved ones.💖
Thank you sis .
Sana lahat ng wishes natin matupad
Amen to that🙏 I believe, sis :)
Life can be tough to deal with but there are many factors that kept us going, like our family and the people depending on us.
I love the fine result of the cake. It’s beautiful. I’m salivating from here.😊
Happy Birthday in arrears! 🥰
Thank you. I love the cake too, I saved a lot there hehe
Happiest birthday, Jane! May your dreams come true! 💖
You look great for your age. That's such a nice celebration, to have your family around. Happy birthday and have a happy life ahead.
Thank you. I'm getting old already hehe
We all are so don't worry 🤭
When we are willing to do something with love and put it into practice, we can transform that something. Your birthday was special to you. The important thing is that you were with your loved ones sharing this special date. Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Jane, Definitely this is a Grand Birthday, I saw those Cake and treaties so Yummy 😋🤤
Belated Happy Birthday Jane 🎁🎉
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I love repurposing leftovers into new things, in fact that was our dinner last night, two viands and fried rice and hey presto a new Ed's special dish!
The food all looks sarap and I love the DIY cake.
7 years of catching up to do with family celebrations etc, so I hope you are enjoying yourself Jane and figuring out what you want to do next.
Many happy belated birthday wishes and just think Jane, in only 4 more years you can join us in Silver Bloggers!
Belated happy birthday sis🎁🎈. May God grant you your heart's desire.♥️
Thank you sis
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Belated happy birthday 🎂🎈
Happy Birthday, I hope you had a wonderful day. Cheers.
Belated happy birthday po. What a memorable day to celebrate it with your family.
Wow happy birthday to you buddy, may luck always be with you in this new year ❤️
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omo happy birthday!
Happy birthday🫶🏼🎂 we are same age 😊
Oh, I forgot about it. I just remembered that 2nd January was your birthday after seeing the post. I forgot to wish you.
Whatever, Late(alive not dead) Happy birthday😉.
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Belated Happy Birthday @jane1289
Happy birthday. I'm also 36, 2 kids, losyang na. Hahaha