My Most Welcome and Prized Purchased for the Month

My newly purchased and transplanted Calamamsi Tree, already bearing fruits and blooms in my patio.  This is one of my most welcomed and prized purchase for this month. 

The other day, Ditas and I went to Sloat Garden Center in Pleasant Hill( see attached photo above) to purchase Calamansi or Calamondin tree. 

I have always wanted this citrus tree because it reminds me of my childhood and teenage years in the Philippines. Here's what is the internet for your information if you are not familiar with this small citrus tree.  

Calamansi (Citrus × microcarpa) is the iconic, tiny green-and-orange citrus fruit deeply embedded in Philippine daily life and cuisine. Tasting like a sharp, floral cross between a lime, a mandarin, and a lemon, it serves as the ultimate sour seasoning, beverage base, and culinary staple across the islands. 

Culinary Uses

A Beautiful Addition to My Patio Plants here at THD

Squeezed fresh over savory dishes like pancit and grilled meats to cut through rich, salty flavors.

Mixed with soy sauce or fish sauce to create ubiquitous dipping sauces.
Stirred with water and sugar to make a refreshing, lemonade-like iced juice.
Used as a natural meat tenderizer or incorporated into jams, marmalades, and desserts

Watch this short video to learn about the history and cultural significance of calamansi in Filipino culture:

5m

What Exactly Is Calamansi? The Tiny but Mighty Citrus at ...

YouTube · History of Simple Things

Cultivation and Health

Grown on small evergreen trees that bear fruit multiple times throughout the year.
Widely planted in home backyards and containers throughout the Philippines.
Packed with vitamin C, making it a popular home remedy for sore throats and a general immunity booster. 
For complete Details visit:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamansi
Finally, Here are recommended Small Trees for Pots that would thrive well in your patio here in Walnut Creek/ 
In Walnut Creek’s hot summer and mild Mediterranean climate, genetic dwarf peaches (like 'Bonanza' or 'Pix Zee'), dwarf citrus (like Meyer lemon), and compact fig varieties (like 'Petite Negra') thrive outdoors in large 15- to 20-gallon pots. 
Recommended Small Fruit Trees for Pots
Genetic Dwarf Peaches: Varieties like 'Bonanza' or 'Pix Zee' stay naturally under 4 to 5 feet tall, require no heavy dwarfing rootstocks, and produce full-sized, sweet peaches in the summer sun.
Dwarf Citrus (Meyer Lemon or Calamondin Orange): Wonderfully adapted to the East Bay, they provide glossy evergreen leaves, fragrant blossoms, and fresh fruit right on your patio.
Dwarf Fig ('Petite Negra' or 'Chicago Hardy'): Figs actually prefer having their roots slightly confined in containers, love the heat, and fruit heavily without needing cross-pollination. 
Dwarf Pomegranate ('Nana' or 'State Fair'): Exceptionally compact, highly ornamental, and handles the local heat waves with ease while yielding snackable fruit.
Container Care Tips for Walnut Creek
Pot Size: Use a large container (at least 15 to 20 gallons) with excellent drainage holes.
Sunlight: Place the pot where it gets at least 6 to 8 hours of direct outdoor sun daily, though containers may appreciate brief afternoon shade during extreme July/August heat spikes.
Watering: Potted trees dry out much faster than ground plantings; check the soil daily in summer and water deeply when the top inch feels dry. 
Local Sourcing: You can check availability or pick up specialized container fruit trees nearby at regional nurseries like Orchard Nursery in Lafayette or Sloat Garden Center in Pleasant Hill.

Imitation of the Philippines Nido Soup ( Bird's Nest)

Last Night and at yesterday lunch, Newton's restaurant served an egg drop soup which reminded me of the real Nido Soup of the Philippines- One of the Most expensive soup in the world. In my previous posting, I wrote why it is expensive. This  posting, I am posting the recipe of an imitation Nido soup that my relatives in the Philippines served during special occasions. 

In the meantime, here's a photo of the Newton's soup, I had for lunch the other day, which inspired me to write this. The taste of the soup is very similar to the Nido soup, I have tasted in the Philippines several years ago.    

YOU CAN ADD VERMICELLI NODDLES TO THIS, AND IT WILL MIMIC THE TEXTURE and gelatinous taste OF THE REAL NIDO  SOUP.  

An imitation of the Philippine Nido Soup (mock bird's nest soup) substitutes expensive swiftlet saliva nests with sotanghon (mung bean vermicelli) and egg whites to mimic the signature gelatinous and stringy texture in a rich chicken broth. 

Key Ingredients

50g sotanghon (mung bean vermicelli), soaked and finely snipped into short strands
4 cups rich chicken stock
1 cup shredded cooked chicken meat
1/2 cup finely diced cooked ham or crab meat
1/2 cup canned whole kernel corn (optional)
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 tbsp water (slurry)
Salt, pepper, and chopped green onions for seasoning

Step-by-Step Instructions

Soak and Chop: Soak the mung bean noodles in warm water until soft, then cut them into short, thin strands to resemble the texture of a bird's nest. 
Simmer the Base: Bring the chicken stock to a boil in a pot. Add the shredded chicken, ham, and corn. Simmer for about 5 minutes. 
Add the "Nest": Stir in the prepared vermicelli noodles. Cook for another 3 to 5 minutes until translucent and tender.
Thicken: Pour in the cornstarch slurry while stirring continuously until the soup achieves a light, smooth consistency. 
Create Ribbons: Lower the heat. Slowly drizzle in the lightly beaten egg whites while gently stirring in one direction to form delicate silky egg ribbons. 
Serve: Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with chopped green onions before serving hot.

AI Overview: Meanwhile, here are other luxurious Soups: 

The world's most expensive soups feature ultra-luxury ingredients like edible gold leaf, rare bird saliva nests, shark fin, and high-grade Wagyu beef, with prices ranging from roughly $100 to over $5,000 per bowl depending on the establishment and customization. 

Luxury Soups and Estimated Costs

Buddha Jumps Over the Wall Soup (Kai Mayfair, London): Up to $5,000 per bowl (requires 5 days notice and contains shark fin, abalone, flower mushroom, sea cucumber, and gold leaf).
Cordyceps and Dianhong Snail Soup: ~$700 per bowl, heavily driven by medicinal Cordyceps mushrooms priced at thousands per kilogram. [1]
Norwood Chinese Restaurant Shark Fin Soup (Australia): ~$450 AUD (~$300 USD) featuring imported scallops, abalone, and shark fin.
Niu Ba Ba Beef Noodle Soup (Taiwan): ~$320+ per bowl, made using a blend of premium cuts from Japan, the US, Australia, and Brazil simmered for days. 
Luxury Mushroom and White Truffle Velouté: ~$230 per serving when utilizing rare wild mushrooms and seasonal truffle shavings.
Traditional Bird's Nest Soup: $100 to $300+ per bowl, crafted from cleaned swiftlet saliva nests rich in gelatinous texture and high-end broths.
High-End Seafood and Caviar Bisque: ~$190 per serving, elevated with sturgeon caviar or edible gold elements.
French Blue Lobster Bisque: ~$100+ per serving, using multiple rare blue lobsters per bowl to maximize flavor concentration. 
Abalone and Sea Cucumber Consommé: ~$100–$150 per bowl in high-end traditional banquet settings across East Asia.
Imperial Ginseng and Silkie Chicken Soup: ~$100 per bowl, valued for traditional herbal health properties and rare aged ginseng roots.
Finally, here are the Most Expensive Dishes: 



Lastly, here are the top Five News of Today: 
The top five major news stories today include the passing of Norway's King Harald V at age 89, ongoing rescue and recovery efforts following a massive catastrophic flood and landslide along the Nepal-Tibet border, the United States marking six months of war with Iran as mediators focus on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a federal judge blocking the Trump administration's mail-in ballot order, and the formation of Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell in the Pacific Ocean.
Global and National Updates
Norway's Monarchy: King Harald V has passed away at the age of 89, and his son has officially assumed the throne.
Nepal-Tibet Floods: Rescue operations continue after a massive glacier collapse and landslide triggered devastating flash floods along the border region, leaving hundreds dead and many still missing.
Conflict with Iran: The U.S. marks six months since the onset of the war with Iran, with international mediators currently prioritizing diplomatic efforts to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz. 
Legal and Political Rulings: A federal judge has issued an order blocking the Trump administration's recent directive concerning mail-in ballots.
Severe Weather: Tropical storms Karina and Lowell have officially formed in the Pacific Ocean as weather systems remain active.