Measure out the oil and pour it in the skillet. Swirl the oil around the skillet until it coats the bottom. Turn the burner on to medium-high and place the skillet over it. Heat the oil until it begins to shimmer. Mince 2 US tbsp (30 ml) of garlic and add the garlic to the hot oil. Measure out 1/3 cup (43 g) of the taba ng talangka paste and add that, as well. Give the ingredients a good stir so the garlic is coated evenly with the crab paste. Stir the mixture occasionally as it heats up in the skillet. Wait for the mixture to start bubbling vigorously before moving to the next step. This should only take a few minutes. Soak 1 teaspoon of achiote powder (annatto powder) in 3 US tbsp (44 ml) of hot water. Strain the “juice” to remove any gritty bits of powder, then add the 3 US tbsp (44 ml) to the mixture in the skillet. You can use white, brown, or jasmine rice for this, depending on your tastes. Continue to cook the mixture over medium-high heat. Stir continuously until the rice is evenly coated with the taba ng talangka sauce. Once the rice is thoroughly coated in the sauce and heated through, turn off the burner. Divide the dish up on 2 or 3 plates and serve it right away. Taba ng Talangka rice is an excellent side dish for grilled seafood, pork, or chicken. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container and consume them within 3 days.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Heat up 1 US tbsp (15 ml) of extra-virgin olive oil in a medium skillet. Add the minced garlic and taba ng talangka to the skillet. Saute the garlic and taba ng talangka until the mixture bubbles. Add 3 US tbsp (44 ml) of achiote juice and cook for 30 seconds. Add 3 cups (360 g) of cooked rice and stir the ingredients thoroughly. Serve the rice dish immediately.


Smiling at a person shows that you are friendly, non-threatening, and interested in them. If the person smiles back at you, it is a good indication that they are thinking positively of you. Notice the difference between a “real” and a “fake” smile by noticing if the skin at the outer corners of their eyes creases when they smile. These creases indicate that the person is genuinely happy. If you do not see these creases, they may just be smiling to be polite. Their smile may also lack eye creases if they have suffered nerve damage or have had Botox treatments. Start by making an observation about something you both have in common or something you are both seeing or experiencing at that moment. Then reveal something about yourself related to that, and follow up immediately with a question about them.  If you are at a music concert, you could make an observation about the band, like, “The guitarist played a great solo during that last song. This is my first time seeing this band. Have you seen them perform before?” You could make a comment about the weather by saying, “The weather this afternoon is perfect. I’ve been waiting for it to warm up enough to go kayaking down the river. Have you ever kayaked the river?” If the person you’re trying to talk to is wearing an interesting accessory or piece of clothing, you could begin with an observation about it, such as, “That’s a very interesting necklace you have on. It reminds me of a hand-carved figurine I saw at a market in Marrakesh. Did you make it yourself?” Pickup lines may be funny to joke about with friends, but using them in earnest while trying to ask out a stranger can make you seem like you’re not smart or charming enough to think up something original on your own. Additionally, many pickup lines are insulting and belittling, and could make the person you approach feel objectified or just turn them off of you completely. Once you’ve begun a conversation and you’ve determined that this is a person you’d like to spend more time with, take a moment to introduce yourself and ask them to introduce themselves in return. You might say, “My name is Casey, by the way. What’s yours?” This is a great time to initiate physical contact. If the person’s body language is showing you that they are interested in and attracted to you, you may want to hold their hand longer than a typical handshake. Consider placing your other hand on top of theirs, so you are holding their hand in both of yours. Another very flirtatious option is to bring their hand to your lips and kiss it just above or below the knuckles. If the person is reluctant to give you their name or pulls their hand away quickly after a handshake, then the person may not be attracted to you and is just talking to you to be polite. Asking if the person is in a relationship will signal that you are romantically interested in them. If the person is already in a committed relationship, they will probably not be interested in going on a date with you. If they are not in a relationship but not interested in you, asking them about a significant other gives them the opportunity to say they are not interested in dating at this time.  You can ask directly if they have a significant other by saying, “So do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?” or “Are you seeing anyone right now?” You may also ask in a more passive way by saying, “Where is your boyfriend tonight?” or “That’s a nice watch. Did your girlfriend buy it for you?” This approach paves the way for you to ask them on a date. For example, if they are planning to go to a concert with friends on Friday night, you can ask them to go out with you on Saturday. You may use this approach instead of asking about a significant other directly. Asking them what they're doing over the weekend gives them the opportunity to mention a significant other if they have one by saying, “My girlfriend and I are going bowling on Saturday.”
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Smile. Use a three-part approach to opening a conversation. Avoid clichéd pickup lines. Introduce yourself. Offer your hand for a handshake as you introduce yourself. Determine whether or not the person is available and open to dating. Ask if they have any plans for that weekend.


Most stir-fries already call for ginger in their recipes, so replacing it with ginger paste is an easy alternative. Mix 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of the paste into a wok filled with vegetables. For more ginger flavor, marinate the meat in the paste as well. The zest of ginger will help remove the fishy aftertaste. Spread the paste on top of steamed fish or use it as a dipping sauce. Alternatively, you can serve the paste alone as a palate cleanser after the meal is finished. Add the paste into gingerbread mix in place of fresh ginger to spice up your cookies. Additionally, adding ginger paste to apple crisp or pie will make a spicy sweet dish you’re sure to enjoy. Mix in 3 tablespoons (44 ml) of the paste to the filling. Heat up 1 cup (240 mL) of water to a boil. Put in 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of ginger paste and stir. Strain the liquid into a mug with honey and lemon juice. Make cold tea by adding 1 tablespoon (15 ml) to a 1 qt (.95 L) pitcher of water and refrigerate overnight. Instead of using ginger beer, use soda water. Drop in a cube of ginger paste and fresh lime for a strong and fragrant flavor. For a more intense ginger flavor, use ginger ale instead of soda water.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Add ginger paste to your stir-fry vegetables. Spread the paste on steamed fish. Spice up desserts with ginger paste. Steep the paste in water to make ginger tea. Mix frozen ginger paste into a Moscow Mule.