From My Kitchen and Beyond

Ratatouille

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:37:00 +0000

When I first saw the movie poster of Ratatouille, I always thought that it was just a "movie". As I went on with the show (and that was 6 years ago), I found so much inspiration in it. As a person who loves to cook, the movie Ratatouille brought me to become "a chef" in my own little ways around my humble kitchen. The dish Ratatouille has always been a target of mine. Finally, I was able to make my first. A no- bake version.

Please take note of my ingredients because the vegetables I used were the ones present in my chiller. Actually, you can use any vegetables. The original recipe is composed of round slices of eggplant, yellow and green zucchini, tomatoes, perfectly layered, baked then served with a special sauce.

As for my Ratatouille, though it didn't turn out quite beautiful and presentable like the traditional dish, I can say that I still enjoyed a good mixture of flavors and texture in my mouth.

Ingredients:

Round eggplant sliced thinly
Red tomatoes or red capsicum sliced thinly
Squash sliced thinly
* Yellow and green zucchini sliced thinly
5 cloved garlic (minced)
1 small can of Hunt's diced or crushed tomatoes
5 tbsp grated Parmesan Cheese
3 tbsp quick- melt cheese or grated Mozzarella
3 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp chopped sweet basil
salt and pepper

How To:

In a sauce pan, blanch vegetables until half-cooked, set aside.
In another pan, saute garlic in olive oil.
Add chopped herbs and canned tomatoes. Stir for a few seconds.
Add salt and pepper to taste.

In a baking dish or any microwavable container, pour about 1/2 cup of the tomato puree with herbs.
Layer vegetables
Top vegetables with the remaining tomato puree
Add Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top.
Cover and pop it in the microwave for 30 sec or a minute.

Serve it with rice, pita or how Anton Ego likes it--- plain Ratatouille.

Anton Ego: "In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the *new*. The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations. The new needs friends. Last night, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto, "Anyone can cook." But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist *can* come from *anywhere*. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau's, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau's soon, hungry for more." imdb Ratatouille (2007)

YABU On Mother's Day 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:38:00 +0000

We went on with our Mother's Day celebration early. My husband opted to treat me and our 2 little boys out for brunch instead of dinner. I didn't know that he had Yabu in mind. In Yabu, based on our experience once lunch time strikes, the waiting line is going to be endless. We were at the Sm Megamall branch as early as 10 in the morning. But since the mall just opened, I suggested we look around for other restaurants. After an hour of browsing through menus, I thought that Yabu is enough to celebrate. We were lucky to get a table. Even if it's outside the restaurant, we didn't mind because a few minutes after we were seated, the line started to build up.

It's Mother's Day!

The famous House of Katsu was a good choice for the day. It was my son's first time to experience Yabu. He enjoyed grinding the sesame seeds. He mixed his own sauce and drizzled his cabbage with his choice of dressing. Of course, my son loved the fact that he ate using chopsticks.

Our food circled on Tonkatsu Sets: Rosu 180g and Rosu 120g

Then we had an additional order of Seafood Katsu Set: Black Tiger Prawn, Scallop, Cream Dory, Oyster and Squid. It was indeed "my day" because we were served with more oysters. Usually, they serve this set with 1 for each kind. I got a seafood set just because of Yabu's giant oysters and they're fresh.

When it comes to good food, a refreshing drink must follow. It's Yabu's House Blend bottomless iced tea!

For my son, he had the Kid's Katsu Set Meal which includes: potato croquette, edamame, Japanese rice, cabbage and a bowl of fruit. My son loves it! It's a healthy set for kids.

After lunch, we went around the mall for awhile and no I didn't go shopping which I usually do on occasions like these. Well, I thought I'll save up for some kitchen essentials instead. I'm very happy for this simple and fun Mother's Day celebration. Seeing my love ones happy with what I do for them and with what they experience doing with me makes yours truly complete not just as a mother to my 2 boys, but also whole as a person. I love you guys! Your Moma is always here for you...

Mushroom and Cheese Croquettes

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 08 May 2013 01:42:00 +0000

So I was enjoying buffet dinner with my family over the weekend, and it just so happen that City Buffet's croquettes was the highlight of my meal. It was plain potato croquette but it was delicious and it matched the salsa sauce that came with it. I thought, as a week opener, beating the Monday blues, I decided to make my version. Mushroom and Cheese Croquettes.

Croquettes are easy to make and it can be stuffed with almost anything. Ground meat, vegetables, different cheeses, ham, bacon and a mix of any of these. It can also be served with any sauce but most of the time it is paired with salsa.

Since it's my first time to make it, I searched for an easy recipe. Please check the link: Croquette Recipe

Instead of Ham and Cheese, I replaced the ham part with minced mushrooms.

My sauce recipe:

1/2 cup Hunt's Tomato sauce
1/2 cup ready-made salsa
1/2 tsp cilantro
1/2 tsp chopped parsley
a dash of salt

How To:

Mix everything in a microwavable container and pop it inside the microwave for 15 to 30 seconds.
Also best served when chilled.

*Please take note that you can use any brand of tomato sauce and read- made salsa. I prefer Hunt's because their tomato sauce is thick and rich.

Afternoon Delight at Vanilla Cupcake Bakery

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:30:00 +0000

Labor Day was spent with a very good friend of mine. We drove all the way to Alabang to meet up with her and plan our summer getaway for this year. After lunch, we decided to look for a cozy place where we can have dessert and refreshments and continue our talk. It just so happen that the Vanilla Cupcake Bakery branch at the Alabang Town Center is already open, so we walked our way to one of the cutest dessert place I've been to.

Like any other Vanilla Cupcake Bakery branch the Alabang branch is also appealing. The Daphne chairs made it more stylish. Makes me want to buy for my dresser and few for my soon- to-be- new dining room and balcony.

I was set to get a taste of my favorite Luscious Salted Caramel. But unfortunately, they didn't have it on the day of our visit. There were less choices for the cupcakes as well.

The cheesecakes on the other hand, are overflowing.

Our dessert for the day went around with their best sellers: Red Velvet, Chocolate Malt, Banofee and Toffee. We also ordered some Strawberry Iced Tea and a Strawberry Smoothie. I'm not much of a cupcake person but I still do have my list of favorites.

1. Anything with rich chocolate is worth trying.

2. Red Velvet being one of the Vanilla Cupcake Bakery's best sellers, is also a must- try.

3. Banofee, though I've fallen in love with Banapple's banofee, Vanilla Cupcake's version is not as sweet which makes it a good choice for me as well in case I need my banofee fix.

The whole time we were at Vanilla Cupcake Bakery. We were just loving and enjoying our friendly talk. That would be from 2 until 5 in the afternoon. The ambiance was very homey. It felt like we're at the veranda in one of our houses enjoying our usual girl talk while having some cool refreshments and pastries.

While Rach and I spent the afternoon at the bakery, my husband and my son Frankie went around the town looking for toy shops. We're looking forward for another visit and hopefully with the rest of the girls--- and boys too.

Celebrating Mom and Ella's Birthday at Papa John's

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 02 May 2013 09:34:00 +0000

The recent week, I have been occupied searching for a nice restaurant where the whole family can celebrate my mom and my sister's birthday. Usually, we do the celebration at home. We cook luscious dishes, spent with a whole lot of endless bonding moments. Since my dad is out of the country and my other brother wasn't also available, my mom decided to treat the rest of the family some place else. At first she wanted buffet. Then, Banapple. Until she finally made up her mind to try Papa John's.

Papa John's as most of us know, is a famous pizza- pasta restaurant that originated in America. It's one of the fast- growing restaurants in the Philippines. For family gatherings and for group get- togethers, Papa John's is perfect.

One of the things I like about Papa John's is their cozy dining room. Even when the restaurant is full, there's room for movement. The tables are aligned properly and offers enough privacy.

My Pink Grapefruit Soda

I love Papa John's Sodas. On my second round I went with Green Apple.

Each went with an order of any pasta of their choice. Most of us got Seafood Carbonara.

Mediterranean Seafood Linguini

Diablo Burst

3 orders of each: Mozzarella Sticks and Battered Onion Rings

Papa John's Signature Pizza: All the Meats Pizza

Papa John's Signature Pizza: Super Papa's

Papa John's Specialty Pizza: Fisherman's Catch

We sure made our mom happy by simply going with her choice of restaurant. I know that Papa John's will fit our needs as a big family. We love the food, the ambiance and the friendly people at Papa John's.

Visit: www.papajohns.com.ph/ for more details

Try a Fun Fruit Parfait on Mother's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:48:00 +0000

Mother's Day is up ahead. Any ideas on how to celebrate it? Mother's Day has always been about honoring our moms. Most of the time, or let's say, most of us spend this day by having a grandiose celebration. There are other ways to make Mother's Day special and inexpensive. Why don't you try preparing something delicious, a dessert your mom have never tried before...

Here's a Special Mother's Day Feature: Kendra Thornton's great way to start a special day.

Kendra's story behind this delicious and refreshing dessert

As the days grow longer and the warm May breezes begin to blow, we know that Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Time with family is precious, and the second Sunday of May gives us the perfect opportunity to spend time with those who matter most. If you happen to be looking for a special recipe to share with your family this Mother’s Day, I have exactly what you need! It’s called the “Peach and Raspberry Parfait,” and my family simply wouldn’t have Mother’s Day without it.

I first discovered this delicacy at Disney’s Boardwalk Inn while vacationing in Orlando with my family. My travels have acquainted me with many interesting people and brought me many interesting experiences, but family matters most. This is why every Mother’s Day my family enjoys spending a little time together in the kitchen. In fact, this routine has become a Thornton family tradition, and recipes like the Peach and Raspberry Parfait help us make the memories we will treasure forever.

This simple parfait is a great way to start a special day. Inexpensive and full of nutritious fruit, it works great as a fun breakfast or as dessert after a Mother’s Day luncheon. Be sure to serve it with an extra helping of love.

Peach and Raspberry Parfait

Makes about four servings. Requires about five minutes prep time and 20 minutes total time.

Ingredients:

2 fresh peaches cut into 2 ½-inch pieces
1 ½ cups fresh raspberries
½ fresh lemon
2 tablespoons sugar
1 pint vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt (I use Edy’s Slow Churned Yogurt Blends to minimize caloric intake without sacrificing flavor.)

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, toss together peaches, raspberries and sugar. Be careful not to crush the fresh fruit.
Squeeze one-half lemon over the mixture.
Then grate and sprinkle some lemon zest into the fruit.
Toss once more, taking care again not to crush the fruit.
Set mixture aside to chill in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes.
Scoop vanilla ice cream or yogurt into dessert bowls or fancy cocktail glasses. Top with the fruit mixture. I like to give generous helpings of two scoops of both ice cream and fruit.

Whatever you plans are for this Mother’s Day, I hope they involve spending a lot of time with your family. Perhaps this recipe will help you make some happy memories together.

Kendra Thornton: Travel advocate, TV spokesperson, PR businesswoman, proud wife and mama of 3. I am a long time travel expert who has been packing my bags and traveling the world since I was 3 months old! I've found my utmost desire in life is right here in my own home. This last post was inspired by my previous trip to Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, ranked amongst some of the top Orlando hotels , for fabulous and decadent foods. I have mixed my excitement for travel by bringing the taste of authentic cuisine to my own home with some of these unique recipes. Enjoy!

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Not only it's going to make mom happy, but this fruit parfait is perfect for the hot weather we're having. Stay tuned for I will be making a Filipino version of Kendra's fruit parfait using our native fruits such as: mangoes, watermelon, banana, pineapple and papaya. It's refreshing!

Same Old, Same Old

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:41:00 +0000

Everything you see in this food blog is old when it comes to food presentation.

Same plates

Same utensils

Same pots and pans

Same cups and saucers

Though you keep on seeing the same plates over and over again, everything is still useful and valuable. I just thought that maybe my visitors might get bored. My husband and I are presently working on a project that greatly involves my love for cooking. As a matter of fact, I ditched some of my old kitchenware in order to make room for new ones.

Just like what my husband asked of me... patience my dear... because in no time, you are going to share food in new plates, cook in new pots and pans, serve dishes to friends in new platters, enhance your skills on the new hobby of yours in your new kitchen.

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Please bear, because in no time, I am going to be able to share food in new plates, cooked in new pots and pans, served in new platters, I might even introduce a new hobby of mine done in my new kitchen.

I might just surprise you one day :D

Rigatoni Alfredo

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:03:00 +0000

When it comes to white sauce, from a basic recipe, I was able to create my signature white sauce which I use not only in pasta dishes but in other viands as well. From the taste, texture, consistency... it all matters on what ingredients we prefer to use, including the brand. Everyone can create a basic white sauce. It's up to us to add that secret ingredient in order to make it as our own. It took me a long time since I was able to finally nail a satisfying white sauce.

It's my first time to use Rigatoni pasta. Rigatoni is a tube- like pasta. It's like macaroni and penne but a bit bigger. A few grams per serving will do, because it's heavy.

Ingredients:

200g Rigatoni (cooked)
2 red tomatoes cut into pieces
2 tbsp of sliced mushrooms
1 medium green bell pepper cut into pieces
5 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tbsp olive oil or 1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp thin slices of cheddar cheese or cheese of your choice
salt and pepper

For the ingredients and instructions on how to make a Basic Alfredo Sauce, please click on the link.

How To:

In a sauce pan, saute garlic in olive oil or butter until light brown.
Add chopped tomatoes and bell peppers and mushrooms, stir for a few seconds.
Add chopped parsley
Add prepared Alfredo sauce and stir for a few seconds.
Add cooked Rigatoni pasta, mix everything well.
Add salt and pepper to taste.

For the ingredients and instructions on how to make a Basic Alfredo Sauce, please click on the link.

Served with slices of cheese and fresh parsley on top. This dish is a regular vegetable dish. It's easy to prepare and perfect for the health conscious. Enjoy!

Cafe Balooga

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:54:00 +0000

I'm going to be honest, the name of the restaurant caught my attention. Balooga as a Filipino "street word", I think it's best to say that it does exist but with a far different meaning.

Cafe Balooga offers a mix of dishes like pastas and steaks. Refreshing drinks: fresh fruit juices, cold beer, hard drinks, coffee and tea.

It's pretty affordable too.

Price range from Php200-1,000+ (serving is good for sharing)

I discovered Cafe Balooga during our trip to Subic 3 weeks ago. We were at the Harbor Point Mall to look at some outlet shops. In line with those shops we were at, are 2 restaurants and one of them is Cafe Balooga. I checked their menu, looked interesting, but we weren't prepared at that time so we promised to go back.

And we did... just over the weekend. Yes, we're back in Subic! This time around, it was just me and my husband. We went on a "date trip". Part of our trip was to experience Cafe Balooga.

Cafe Balooga

Level 2, Store No. 2058

Harbor Point Mall

Subic Freeport Zone

For starters:

Fish and Chips Php230

Chips are real potatoes sliced thinly, mixed with pieces of crunchy fish fillet, served with tartar sauce.

Here's the nice part: Since most of their a la carte meal are good for sharing, my husband and I opted to go for their single- served dishes so we can try at least 3. You can have pasta of your choice that's served with beef, pork or chicken and it also comes with a glass of iced tea. Rice is also available to be paired with any: beef, pork or chicken viand, also served with iced tea.

Pasta Pomodoro with Grilled Pork Chop and a tall glass of Iced Tea Php180

Cafe Balooga's version of Pasta Pomodoro made it to my list of favorites. Being a pasta lover, the texture and quality of the pasta and it's sauce is of great deal to me. Cafe Balooga's Pasta Pomodoro was served with slices of green chili. I like to use chili as flavoring, but not really to eat it.

Cafe Balooga's Pasta Pomodoro was an exception. I just love the idea that they added chili in it. My pasta is spicy but just right. For the first time, I was able to enjoy eating chili. I savored the crunchiness of the chili and it's juicy flavor. Of course the spaghetti noodles was cooked perfectly.

Choice of Beef Stroganoff with Rice and a tall glass of Iced Tea Php180

The dining room is cool and cozy. Cafe Balooga is often visited by foreigners and local tourists. We went there to have lunch, we love how private the place is.

It doesn't end here, because this coming May, we are driving back to Subic and a visit to Cafe Balooga is a must! I can imagine Cafe Balooga by night, it sure is a good place to go to, have some cold beer and cool conversations with your partner and good friends.

A New Take On Doughnuts with J.Co Donuts

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:23:00 +0000

My Discovery:

I'm more of a home person, I keep in touch with the latest via online. One of the things I heard about J.Co was the long line their patrons brave just to get a dozen or even just a piece of their donut. When the Eastwood branch opened, I was in the vicinity with my family. Oh boy, talk about the longest of lines. I thought, maybe it's new that's why it's famous, same thing when Krispy Kreme and other imported brands first arrived here in the Philippines.

Other than reading posts and shout outs online, I learned J.Co through my husband and my mom. My husband who's constantly around Makati discovered it in one of his ventures. My mom, who goes to Alabang Town Center to spend time with her "amigas" (friends) accidentally discovered J.Co Alabang because they were in search of a new place where they can hangout have dessert, tea or coffee.

The Bad

Please take note that this is not a review for J.Co Donuts or for any company. This is purely based on my opinion and experience.

If there are good things said about the doughnuts of J.Co, when it comes to their over-all services and management, particularly at the Eastwood branch, sad to say, it's chaos. We went home disappointed during our recent visit.

One evening, we went to Eastwood to have dinner and before going home we decided to drop by J. Co Donuts for dessert. It wasn't full that night, it was a good evening to get some doughnuts.

After the girl from the counter placed the doughnuts I chose in the box, he showed me a number, which will be called later at the cashier. You know what's unbelievable? I waited for almost 20-30 minutes for my number to be called.

What happened to the box of doughnuts I saw they were preparing for me earlier?

Where did it all go?

What were they doing with the doughnuts that it took them 20- 30 minutes to finally hand it to me.

Not only that the doughnuts were served late, as we waited, my husband went to a different counter to get us some cold drinks. An Iced Cafe Latte, a Chocomint Frappe for our son and a Jcoccino Frappe for me. So we thought that the cold drinks will settle for the long wait... but to our surprise, we waited 20 minutes for our drinks. There weren't any lines at the beverage counter by the way... So finally, the barista called out my husband's name to claim our drinks, but when my husband reached the counter, the barista told my husband "ay sandali lang ha..." what the?! It took another 5 minutes. Again, what kept them from giving us our order on time.

The Eastwood branch was also a hot spot that night, like, literally hot. As if the air-conditioning isn't working. We were perspiring! I gotta say, it was much cooler waiting outside the store. There were other customers complaining as well.

Anyway, there will always be considerations made. The Eastwood branch is J.Co's latest addition to it's growing business here in the Philippines. Hopefully, soon, they will improve even more.

The Good:
On the lighter side, I must share that J.Co Donuts are good.

Knowing my mom, being choosy and particular with the food she eats whom in a way, I consider a "food critic", her opinion greatly matters. In one of our family dinners, she brought home a box of J.Co Donuts for dessert. That was the first time I tasted J.Co. So I asked her, "mahaba ba ang pila?' (was the line long?) "masarap ba naman?" (is it that good?)

Her answer was: Malinamnam. (It's good, rich and tasty.) It's my first time to hear someone describe a doughnut as "malinamnam". With the box my mom took home, I got small slices from all the flavors. Slowly chewing it, tasting the bread, gauging the richness, sweetness, flavor and texture.

Assorted doughnuts are not really for me. Original Glazed/ Honey Dipped/ Sugar- Raised/ Chocolate Dipped... I'm more into the plain ones and I don't mind buying from any doughnut shop as long as I get my doughnut fix. Especially if you have kids around, it won't really matter where you buy it :D

As we can all see, it's just doughnut, it's the "malinamnam" part that made it more interesting for me.

My Choices:

J.Co's line of flavoured donuts is now in my list. It met my preference when it comes to flavoured doughnuts. They are indeed "malinamnam". J. Co doughnuts are not as sweet too. Instead of the sweetness, the taste concentrates on the flavors which sinks in the doughnut bread itself. I like it because if it's not too sweet, then it's going to be healthier for the kids. You know, kids+ too much sugar = not really good.

We all have our favorites. So far, any of these doughnuts should be included in our box.

Creme La Fame: Love the filling and the coating. Again, it's not sweet but it's tasty and rich.

Coco Loco: As always, my son's favorite--- and mine too. Rich dark chocolate filling.

Mr. Green Tea: The crushed almonds coating the glaze made it delightful.

Green Tease: This, I prefer to be eaten cold. It makes the green tea glaze taste a little like chocolate.

Blueberry More: And who doesn't like blueberry. This has got to be the richest blueberry flavoured pastry I have tasted so far. It's jelly like coating holds not to make it sloppy to eat.

Alcapone: Alcapone is said to be J.Co's bestseller. For me, it was just plain. The almonds may have nailed it to add texture, but the taste... there's nothing to it. Well, we all have our own preferences. My mom loves it.

I like my J.Co donuts cold. The coating doesn't harden and it doesn't crack leaving bits and pieces everywhere. Even if refrigerated, the dough itself is still soft and chewy. Blueberry More in particular is very refreshing to eat when cold.

Aside from doughnuts, J.Co is also famous for their coffee, teas and cold beverages. I'm not a heavy coffee drinker. So far, I have my eyes fixed on their house specialty: Jcoccino Frappe. On my next visit, I'll try something else.

There may be some bad calls in this post. But I guarantee, that every J.Co Donuts & Coffee visit is worth it. With their new take on doughnuts, hopefully, J. Co will continue to prosper here in our country.

eMeals Works!

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:15:00 +0000

As a stay at home mom, I still do have struggles when it comes to preparing food for my family on a daily basis. As much as possible, I try not to serve something boring or anything that's been served over and over again. Part of my job is to make sure that my family eats healthy food, with great variation and something that will make them happy both inside and out. Here's a great option for the busy moms. Spending most of your time at work? and individuals out there. eMeals does not only make our weekly menu planning easy, but it can also be a great way when you're preparing for parties or gatherings of all sorts.

photo

Pick a plan.
Get recipes.
Shop and save money for the ingredients.
Relax and enjoy! try it out now .

Here's an emeals review by Fat Fighting Mom. It's a healthy alternative than take- out food. When I studied menu planning in college, a meal is always well-balanced. As for Fat Fighting Mom "There were far less carbs in the meals with a lot more fresh veggies and fruit!"--- which I find really healthy. With eMeals, us moms will discover new, healthy dishes to serve our family. It will make family time more exciting. Our kids will look forward to something different everyday that will also bring excitement in them. At the same time, with proper menu planning the whole family will not miss meals in a day or they will not go overboard when it comes to eating as well.

I will surely tell my family and friends in America about eMeals.

On The Look for a Greek Restaurant

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:28:00 +0000

As part of my food adventure, I reward myself with various cuisines. When and if I travel, sightseeing will come in as second best. Because no. 1 in my list is food tasting. I've tried authentic dishes even within the busy streets of Manila. It's a thriving city with lots of restaurants that offers authenticity. One of my goals this year is to be able to dine in a Greek Restaurant . I was just talking to my husband about it the other day. In relation with my husband's work, most of the time, his company sends people to New York City to do some training in their main office. Part of the travel was also to tour the city and go on a food adventure.

One of the restaurants that caught our attention was Niko's Greek Taverna. Located at the heart of New York City, it offers a wide range of authentic Greek dishes. Click Here .

So I told my husband to try it once he goes on a business trip to New York and even recommend it to his people who will be flying there soon.

Greek cuisine is a Mediterranean cuisine. Mezés, meaning, a selection of small dishes paired with wine. Mezés is very common in their menu. Hummus (which is my favorite) is often also included.

Visit nikostaverna.com for more info.

Lunch Date at ARYA

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:15:00 +0000

My husband and I took some time off and had our kids stay with their grandparents over last weekend. In a way, such occasion when we get to have some time for ourselves regarding how, where and when is already considered grand. School is out, so I get to have a vacation too. Friday night, my husband asked me if he can take me out on a date. Being asked by my other half is one of the things I cherish because not all guys do that, especially when you're married. Aside from his surprises, it's one husband's sweet gestures that he kept even if we're married already. He didn't change a bit. Well, you don't really change to a different person when you get married. Ideally and based on my experience being married for almost 10 years, yes we grow old physically, but the emotions, the mind and heart becomes sweeter and happier.

One of the things I share the most with my husband is food. We have the same taste. We love going on food adventures, we just try everything.

There's this list of favorites that we have and we just rotate each item in the list so that there's something to look forward to. Persian is on top lately. Over lunch, we agreed to go to ARYA at the Promenade in Greenhills. Arya Persian Restaurant is the home of authentic Persian cuisine and is one of the most progressive Persian Restaurants in the country.--- http://www.aryapersianrestaurant.com

For starters, we had Hummus and 4 orders of Pita bread. I'm so addicted to Hummus. My Persian dining is going to be incomplete without Hummus.

For our main meal we had Arya's Bareh Koobideh served with grilled tomatoes, choice of pita bread or add Php20 for Basmati rice. Quite a serving too... I can practically share it with another head, but I finished everything with Arya's house blend iced tea on the side. Even while eating, we were still talking about food... It keeps on coming. Ideas, experiences and other fun moments of our food tasting. But take note, we don't do this every week. We at least go out once or twice a month or every other month, the rest of the days are spent in the house with home-cooked meals.

Our afternoon continued with a good movie... Oz The Great & Powerful... Love it!

Which we paired with 2 large, cold orders of Happy Lemon's Cocoa with Cheese and Rock Salt. Rejuvenating! and we haven't done some retail therapy yet :)

Busy But Still Cookin'

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:11:00 +0000

My week before Holy Week has been very busy and tiring. I wasn't expecting it to be so exhausting considering that school is over... One of the things that made my day so sluggish was the weather. It has been ridiculously humid. Yeah, I know summer is here. But I'm expecting our days to be hot but in some way, still refreshing.

Anyway, preparing and making plans for our first summer getaway is one of the things that's keeping me busy too. I've been looking for resorts near manila that are nice, family-friendly and peaceful. As of now, most resorts are already fully-booked. I'm hoping that my husband has already made arrangements since he is not bothered by the fact that I can't find a single location for our vacation. Another is the renewal of our passports. It's easier now, praise Jesus! This time, I'm preparing documents for 4 individuals--- growing family :) and a possible travel?

One of my growing interest is baking/ making pastries.

I'm taking this new hobby slowly. I have important plans for it in the near future, so I want each pastry to come out perfectly. I re-invent a basic recipe to something new and delightful and to be able to make my own mark in the industry.

With all the work that's needed to be done beyond my kitchen, I still make time to prepare a few meals worth sharing. Happy and loving it!

Please bear for I'll be posting them soon.

Shomal By Hossein

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 10:52:00 +0000

Persian food is one of my family's favorites. We've been in and out of several restaurants through the years of our food adventure and so far, among the Persian restaurants we've tried, Shomal takes the #1 spot in our list.

Located at the 4/F Trinoma Mall, North Ave,Shomal by Hossein will entice you with their wonderful Persian- Arabian dining experience. With the luxurious set- up of the dining area, fine curtains, delicate patterns and attractive shades that will make one's moment unforgettable. We were seated at the couch area. To maintain privacy for each table, there are curtains that served as dividers. It made our whole dining experience more authentic.

Instead of ordering individual plates and dishes, we decided to go for Shomal's Persian Kebab Platter Specialties particularly the Mega Kebab 1 (Php1,200+)

2 sticks beef kubideh

2 sticks beef shish kebab

2 sticks chicken kebab

4 large grilled tomatoes

A large platter of mixed saffron rice and biryani rice

This platter is good for sharing (4 heads)

For our appetizer, we decided to go for a share order of Hummus/ Houmous (Php200+) that was serve with pita bread.It has always been fun eating Hummus. I love it as a dip too. All in all, we ordered 4 more large pita bread because Shomal's hummus was so good and the size of the plate was pretty big, we took our left- overs home.

For me, the highlight among the dishes served was the rice. Of course it's Rice from India. I love the texture. For those who are interested, Shomal is selling this rice for 150php per kilo. I'm coming back to taste a new set of food and to purchase some of that good rice.

Yes! A Header!

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:39:00 +0000

Finally! It's been 4 years... and now, a header for my food blog. Well, it's not as good as the ones made by the pros but, since I made it, it's special. I've been meaning to spend on the over- all layout, but thinking about the price and my urge to experiment all the time, spending on such is going to be a total waste.

The photos were randomly picked from my files through the years. 2 are shots from a restaurant. An Instagram image of my breakfast, pasta which is my favorite, a dessert and the rest are dishes prepared and cooked by yours truly. I didn't bother to edit the images individually because I want you to see the dates when they were taken. I thought it will look messy, but thank goodness, it turned out okay.

Red as an accent because this shade is attractive, it brings color to everything dull. Same as with food, it makes the reader imagine how delicious everything is in this food blog. It also makes my site look simple yet vibrant to the eyes of the viewer.

I was able to come with this header with the help of my Apple photo apps. So thanks to those apps. I never thought that those things will give the answer for a header. It's simple as mixing and matching things and putting apps together. Love it!

If you notice any glitch, please bear, it was made using an iPod 5th gen. Imagine my big fingers tapping and sliding on a small screen :D But I did eventually moved it to my iPad.

Great Deals For Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 04:35:00 +0000

Since September 2012, relatives from Georgia's been visiting us. It was quite a year because we don't get to go abroad and yet, we always blessed with visits from our relatives in America. The visits didn't end in 2012 though, because as early as January of the new year, a close auntie of my husband paid us a visit as well. As early as December 2012, we were already talking about our aunt's visit, making plans with our other relatives here in the Philippines as well.

We thought of several places that has restaurant discounts and dining deals. When it comes to dining deals, these are restaurants that offers packages. From a single order to family size meals. Yes it is cost savings, because you get to choose meals that's according to ones budget. And so, we were able to treat our aunt to a perfect place with nice view and cool ambiance. These restaurant deals will sure come in handy, especially for people like my family who likes to treat guests.

photo source

For this month, we're set again to meet another relative who'll be visiting us from Georgia. As of now, we are still looking for a great place that offers a wide selection and that has an extraordinary take.

Once we get to visit Georgia ourselves, my family and I will make sure to go on a food adventure.

Will I Go For A Dishwasher?

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 01:42:00 +0000

We have been renting a condo most of our 8 years being married and I fell in love with it. For some, they don't find condo living healthy at all. But with proper spacing, condo living can actually make you feel like you're in a real house. It offers the same atmosphere. Especially, that most developers now includes a family- friendly environment surrounding the community.

Among the things I have been pondering on for my new kitchen is a dishwasher. In our location, a dishwasher is not as common compared to other countries. A friend advised us that since it is going to be a brand new place and we will be getting our unit bare, might as well maximize the space and bring in all the kitchen essentials that can fit, including a dishwasher. So my husband and I went and searched for dishwasher reviews. We like the brand GE. Most of our kitchen appliance are from GE. Our recent by from the brand is a stainless steel microwave oven and we are loving it.

I plan to get something that has all that I need. A dishwasher that's durable, it has an advance wash system, it dries, sanitizes and that has a built- in Piranha Hard Food Disposer with removable filter. It is my first time to go through a list of dishwashers and the specifications for each blows me away.

Tapa o Tapsilog

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 08:25:00 +0000

It's Valentines Day and for breakfast, I cooked my husband's favorite Filipino Breakfast of Tapsilog. TAPSILOG: Tapa (cured beef), Sinangag (fried rice) and Itlog (fried egg)

Tapa or cured beef is a famous Filipino viand that's often served for breakfast. But for some, it can also be an all-day dish.

Servings: 3-4

Ingredients: Basic Tapa

1/2 K beef (breakfast steak) (sliced into thin pieces)
1 1/2 cup soy sauce
1 whole garlic (minced)
1/4 cup vinegar or 1/4 cup calamansi juice
1/2 tsp granulated pepper
1 tbsp sugar or none
1 1/2 cup water

How To:

In a bowl or a large Ziploc, mix all ingredients and marinate the beef for at least an hour or 2.
In a pan, boil prepared beef in 1 1/2cup water .
Once water is reduced, in low heat, continuously stir beef in it's own oil. * once water evaporates, the beef will secrete it's own oil. Or add cooking oil if necessary.
Serve if desired texture is reached.

There are various ways when it comes to the preparation, cooking and serving of tapa.

1. Aside from beef strips, the meat can also be marinated and cook steak- style (whole meat).

2. It is very common for some to add "salitre" or saltpeter. It is a preservative.

3. Sugar is optional.

4. It can be served with your usual sunny side up egg or slices of salted egg and tomatoes.

Actually, which ever way you choose, when it comes to this dish, definitely, your tapa is going to be delicious.

Something New and Easy

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:07:00 +0000

Have you ever been caught in a state of mind when you wished that there's a website that can give answers to almost anything? I "did". I cook a lot, but I still search online for other sources, especially when it comes to new, easy recipes and exotic dishes to prepare.

Right now, since I'm preparing for our new home, I'm looking at good reviews on kitchenware and recipes that I can try. I found a lot at wikitalks. I never thought that I'll be able to find a place online where I can get tips on almost everything. For cooking, family needs, household and even things that I can produce for business.

Here's one interesting food find: A cheese casserole that is easy to make. A dish that can be served for breakfast. Actually it can be eaten anytime of the day.

It would be nice to try this newly found cheese recipe, it will make our typical Filipino meal extra- special. Not only that, I can also serve it to our guests.
A new home, a new kitchen and a new dish... that's going to be awesome... I can't wait!

Farinas Ilocos Empanada

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:05:00 +0000

It just keeps getting better. That's why I love QC! Everything is here, it's a good location for food business owners to put up their restaurants. Just recently, Farinas Ilocos Empanada graced us with branches very near to our place:

1. Kalayaan Avenue QC.

2. White Plains QC.

But before anything else, I would like to share that my husband and I developed this 3am ritual everytime he would come home from work late. He would often buy goodies from food stops along White Plains- Katipunan Avenue since it's along the way going home. Early last month, my husband surprised me with a new delicious treat. We've tried several restaurants that offers Ilocano delicacy, most of the food we tried were okay, but it wasn't as good as what we have tasted from Farinas.

Our first food trip from Farinas was their Bagnet meal. It's Bagnet served with hot rice, salted egg, tomatoes and best eaten with Farinas' special bagoong and Ilocos vinegar. In one of the parties we attended over the recent holidays, we brought Bagnet from Farinas, everyone liked it.

Today, we went to a different store location, Kalayaan Avenue. It just so happen that we were having our car fixed. The manager of the auto shop told us that they will be going on their lunch break. So we thought that we should also go for lunch. At first, I was totally clueless where my husband and I can go for lunch. Apparently, my husband was ahead of me. He knew that there was a nearby Farinas. It was so close to where we were, we just crossed the street.

The Kalayaan branch was roomy. I noticed that it is also equipped with a CCTV camera. For a change, I ordered Longganisa meal (90php) which is Ilocos longganisa served with hot rice, salted egg and tomatoes.

To match my food and to be able to get hold of the Ilocos dining experience, I added an order of Farinas' Special Empanada (50php). As always, best eaten with Sukang Iloko.

The Special Empanada filling is composed of egg, longganisa and green papaya. The Special empanada is close to the traditional Ilocano empanada which is green papaya, mongo, egg and longganisa. It is packed in rice flour, then fried. It is orange in color. Best eaten with sukang Iloko.

A simple afternoon of errands was made way extraordinary because of an accidental discovery.

Thank you Farinas for bringing the heart of Ilocos near our home and for spreading the love among Ilocano food enthusiasts here in Manila!

http://www.farinasilocosempanada.com/

Stir- Fried Ho Fun Noodles

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:14:00 +0000

I've always wondered where and how to cook Ho Fan or Ho Fan noodles. Ho Fan has a fettuccine- like noodles. Texture is similar to vermicelli. It is white, others are transparent. In restaurants, usually Cantonese, it is often served in a platter drizzled with sesame oil, roasted sesame seeds mixed with in a secret sauce. In the condo where we used to live, our neighbor gave us Ho Fan as a welcome present. Our neighbor told us that her son cooked it and it's like pancit mixed with a different kind of sauce. I take that the sauce is the secret behind the delicious dish she gave us.

So I tried cooking my own stir- fried ho fan. I created my own sauce and a set of dry ingredients that I thought will fit perfectly. Actually, I based this recipe on the Ho Fan our neighbor prepared for us.

Please take note that I will only share the basic on preparing the sauce. Finally, I was able to concoct my own and of course it will always be my key ingredient.

Servings: 3-4

Ingredients:

300g Ho Fan Noodles (soaked in hot water, drained)
2 chicken breast fillet (chopped)
10 pcs. Squid Balls (chopped)
4 tbsp. Oyster Sauce
1 tsp. chili
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp. cooking oil
5 cloves garlic (minced)
1 medium onion (diced)
2 tbsp. chopped spring onions
1 cup mung bean sprouts (I prefer short sprouts)
1 small carrot (chopped into thin strips)
1 small Pechay Baguio ( chopped into thin strips) *or any green vegetable of your choice
1/2 cup roasted nuts (optional)

*Other add-ons: Tofu, Shitake, beef, pork, tuna, shrimps or mixed seafood and bell pepper.

How To:

In a sauce pan, saute garlic and onion for a few seconds.
Add chicken and squid balls and stir until chicken is cooked.
Add carrots, mung bean sprouts and nuts. Stir until vegetables are half-cooked.
Add Oyster Sauce and chili. Mix everything well.
Add green vegetable strips, spring onions and sesame oil.
Mix everything evenly.
Add soaked Ho Fan noodles and mix evenly.

* To soften the Ho Fan Noodles soak it in hot water, drain, then mix it immediately with the prepared sauce..

Crazy For Moshi Manju

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:01:00 +0000

Have you ever tried this Korean Cake? It's my favorite stop everytime I'm in Sm Megamall. I always brave the long line just to be able to take home a big box.

The smell of the freshly baked mini cakes will lure you as you walk the basement level of Sm Megamall Bldg. B.

Moshi Manju comes in:

24 pcs. (big box) 92php,
15 pcs. (small box) 60php,
8 pcs. 35php.
4 pcs.18php

It's filled with different flavors like choco fudge, custard, mocha and my favorite, pastillas de leche.

Last Saturday, I was at Sm Megamall but I wasn't able to buy my Moshi Manju because of the shooting incident. The following day, my husband and I went to Sm North Edsa to check some stuff and went to the old building coming from The Block. As we were walking, I smelled something familiar, recognized it immediately and there I saw a stall of Moshi Manju right in front of me. I was so happy.

My big box of Moshi Manju made me recover a little after what I experienced with the Sm Megamall robbery. You know what's so nice with Moshi Manju SM North? there was no line, well I thought, maybe I'll be given a cold batch. But as always, Moshi Manju cakes are freshly baked, so yes, I got a hot bunch. When my mom visited, she really liked it and we both finished the big box I bought. Next time, I'm going for 2 big boxes ;)

The Nail Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:50:00 +0000

One of the things that I don't often get as a stay at home mom is some time to pamper my nails. I do get nail care, but I've lowered my visits to the salon simply because I can't find any spare time that easily. If I can't find time to have my nails done by the expert, it doesn't mean that I'm totally neglecting them. There are ways to keep your fingernails and toenails healthy with simple techniques you can apply at home. At the same time, for those who are into gel nails, solar nails and even fake nails. Such nails like solar or fake nails has made it as a trend. Girls like them because you can customize it according to how you want your nails to look. Please read here for the proper care, application and removal, benefits and history of fake nails. If you're into gel nails and you're clueless on how to remove it without going to the salon, you can find more info here .

Home applications are way cheaper and it doesn't eat time as much as the moment spent in a salon. I have always wondered what solar nails are. Solar nails are emerging as an amazing and popular form of artificial nails. If you have already used or seen acrylic nails, you will realize that they offer a similar solution. However, if you are looking for better results then you may want to try a new variety that boasts of both, beauty and strength. In their intrinsic form, these nails have the look of a customary French manicure; light pink bases with white ends. Not only do they look smooth, they also feel sturdy. As their name suggests, they are resistant against sun rays and do not get tarnished easily. Once you start using them, you can say good-bye to chipped, discolored nails! If I get a chance to have my nails done, I want to go solar for my nails.

Let's take sneak a peek at this site on what solar nails are and how can it glam us up with the unique designs and strength that can hold a nice set of fingernails. Anytime an occasion calls in, we're ready.

Gambas Al Ajillo

noreply@blogger.com (Enchie) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:16:00 +0000

Anything with shrimps makes an unknown dish or the farthest delicacy my favorite. One of the most delicious shrimp recipe I've tried was Gambas Al Ajillo. I like ordering it to match my cold beer, but I never really tried to cook it until yesterday. My dad delivered some shrimps, I divided them for 2 purposes: Shrimp Sinigang and finally, Gambas Al Ajillo.

Please take note that what I'm about to share is not the traditional recipe for Gambas Al Ajillo. It's my version, an easier take on this particular dish .

Al Ajillo means: Seasoned with garlic (Spanish- English Translation)

Servings: 2
Ingredients:

10 pieces shrimps or prawns (peeled and deveined)
1 whole garlic (minced)
1/2 tsp of minced ginger
1/2 tsp of chili- garlic sauce
1 tsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter

How To:

In a pan, heat olive oil in low fire.
Add butter and garlic and stir until garlic light brown.
Add ginger and chili-garlic sauce.
Stir until everything is mixed evenly.
Plate once shrimps are all cooked.

Tip: To avoid burning the butter, add a little oil.

Enjoy!