Family Sunday Snack

I was so in the mood last Sunday to cook merienda for the family.  I still have 500 gram pack of Fettucini noodles, spaghetti and pizza sauce and queso de bola from previous holiday season so I decided to buy ham slices, ground lean pork, quickmelt cheese and baguette from last Saturday's grocery shopping.


I started cooking at 3pm and ended at 4pm. The kids love the pizza baguette, each consumed around 3 to 4 baguette plus pasta. We were so full that afternoon and we forgot to eat dinner. The kids just had cereals with lots of milk in it an hour before bedtime.

sorry for the poor resolution, i just used my samsung mobile, hope it still looks yummy!

What is your Family's favorite Sunday merienda?

Gelato Ice Cream: My New Favorite

I have read in so many food blogs I visited about gelato ice cream, it's something I wanna try because of curiosity, however, such is not available in any malls here in Angeles City so I always ended up buying frozen yogurt.

One time, while walking in SM Clark, I saw a vacant stall with signage a gelato ice cream store will soon open, this brightened my face, finally I'll be able to try the famous gelato ice cream.

I have forgotten about it until last Saturday, when my friend Pao and I were at Robinsons Galleria. We went on a business seminar in Pasig from 8am to 12nn, afterwards, we decided to spend our free time in Galleria. We went straight to Starbucks for coffee and dessert. We walked around the mall and we saw Caramia that serves gelato ice cream and cake. We feasted our eyes in the different flavors of gelato ice cream and cake. I decided to try the pistachio flavor for 70 pesos in a small cup.

Gelato ice cream is believed to have less fat than the regular ice cream. Its silky and dense flavor is truly addicting. The flavor becomes stronger as it melts in your mouth.

This is now my new favorite. I'll head to SM Clark one of these days to check on the gelato ice cream stall I was talking about.

Deviled Eggs

My sister is working and residing in Qatar with her hubby and daughter Nicole. Eversince my sister started living in Qatar, she learned to cook different dishes and I encourage her to take a photo of the dish she cooked for the whole day or for any occassions. I also suggested to her to make an album in her Facebook intended for the photos of the dish/es she cooked and she gladly obliged. Everytime there is an added photo, she couldn't wait to tell me about it and excited to see my comment/s.

However, sometimes she runs out ideas of anything to cook for her family and housemates especially during special occassions such as Christmas. She's fond of bringing in appetizers for parties for potluck, the recent she did was deviled eggs. Her housemates were amazed with the said appetizer but little did they know it was super easy to make.

When not busy, I would search in the internet for new mouthwatering dishes for my sister that will surely become a hit to her family and housemates.

Our Sunday Lunch

This is what we had for lunch yesterday, steamed tilapia. The ingredients weren’t complete, we lack bell pepper and lemons, but still, mom and I pushed through with it. We wanted something healthy and different for Sunday lunch. So I thought of the steamed tilapia that my Sis, who is in Qatar, cooked for her hubby and housemates. Incidentally, my father prefers fish than meat because he's very health conscious. 

We also made steamed pusit(squid) stuffed with onions, tomatoes, kinchay, a little bit of salt and mayonnaise. I wasn’t able to take a photo of the steamed pusit because the family were too eager to attack them. Like a blockbuster movie, our steamed tilapia and pusit were a big hit in the family.

How about you, what was your Sunday lunch?

Pinaupong Manok

It's the last day of February and before we move on to the month of March, I'd like to share a recipe I learned from my brother -in-law several years ago, we call it Pinaupong Manok. This is always part of my menu every holiday season. The chicken is stuffed with butter, onion, garlic and lemon grass. The whole chicken (i prefer Magnolia chicken) is laid in soda (sprite or 7 up) and whole corn kernel. It takes 40-60 minutes for it to cook in low fire.

So easy to prepare yet so appetizing and yummy.

Want some Free Dessert?

After dining in a Korean resto Friday of lastweek, we decided to try the newly opened Tre' coffee shop located near our office. It took us a while to finally place our order because we got busy reading their menu posted on the wall right behind the counter, thinking at the same time if the taste of their frappe and coffee would parallel those of Starbucks.

The male staff in the counter asked us if it was our first time to visit the coffeeshop and we said yes. My friend Pao teased the guy if we can try one of their desserts for free for being first time customers. The male staff went inside to probably ask the manager on duty if our request is possible, he came back with a smile and informed us we should dine in to enjoy the free dessert.

The cinnamon caramel honey bread was served to us. It has a couple of sliced bread toasted with butter topped with cream and caramel syrup with lots of cinnamon powder spinkled on it...I so loved the aroma of cinnamon powder...it was indeed a SUGAR OVERLOAD night and HAPPINESS because it's seldom you get free dessert nowadays!

Macapuno or Egg tarts?

My sister knew somebody working in a posh bakeshop in Qatar who have mastered making egg tarts, similar to the famous egg tarts in Macau. I haven't been to Macau but my friends raved so much about the egg tarts. When I saw photos of egg tarts in my sister's album in Facebook, I asked her to request for a copy of the recipe and days after, she emailed me it to me. Unfortunately, the oven in my mom's house is out of order so it is impossible to execute the tart recipe.


Yesterday, I dropped by at SM before I head to work to buy bread I can eat at work (on my second break)and entered Pan de Manila store. I bought cheese pandesal and saw the Macapuno tarts, I suddenly remembered my sister and the egg tarts we've been talking about. There are actually 2 kinds of tarts being sold in Pan de Manila, the Egg and Macapuno tarts and the latter is the only one available at that time, so I grabbed it, priced at 62 pesos for 3 pieces. I ate the two after waking up from a long sleep and the one left was consumed by Acey. The taste was okay but it did not meet my expectations, nevertheless, I still wanna try their egg tarts.
 

Egg tart from a bakeshop in Qatar

 Macapuno Tart from Pan de Manila

Korean Dish: Healthy & Delicious!

I started to appreciate Korean Dish after dining in a Korean Resto a couple of times located inside New Well Being Spa & Hotel which is few meters away from our office. My officemates and I would go there for dinner when our palate would crave for veggies and something spicy

There are actually a lot of Korean Resto you can find in Clarkfield Pampanga. Koreans invaded our country and seems to enjoy their stay here. Anywhere you go, you will see them especially in malls. There is in fact a police station along Friendship hi-way dedicated for Koreans. Some of my officemates and friends enjoy a part time job by teaching Koreans to master the English language so they can easily communicate with non Korean speaking individuals

Ever wonder why Koreans have flawless skin? Have you noticed when watching Koreanovela, their actresses barely wear make up but still look fresh and radiant on cam? In my observation, it has something to do with the food they it. Their dish composed a little of meat but plenty of veggies. It is a common knowledge that vegetables are rich in fiber and helps to make you stay healthy. Also, they're fond of spicy food and whenever you eat something spicy, you tend to drink so much water, not to mention, they are tea drinkers of different kinds. So much intake of veggies and water helps eliminate regularly, in fact, everytime, I eat Korean dish, the effect is like doing cleansing diet the next day, I feel like all the toxins inside flushed out which made me feel clean and light. Because I like the effect, to eat in a Korean resto at least once a month is part of my new year's resolution

Below are pictures taken during our dinner date in a Korean Resto on different dates:

November 2010

December 2010

Korean Dishes we have tried so far:

gimbop sushi roll
Tukbokki rice cake
Dolsot Bibimbap...this is my favorite, a must try

samgeopsal grilled pork strips
different side dishes

With Personal Touch

Christmas is over but I just want to share I made choco banana cream pie that I gave away to friends and god parents of my kids last holiday season. I have the option to just order pastries or cupcakes from friends but I want to give something with personal touch. I also made a sticker “ Whip It!” by Sweet AiDiSan and pasted it on the cover of the cream pie. A big cup of Bannofie pie or Banana Cream Pie in Starbucks is outrageously priced at 135 pesos.

Have a Sweet Sunday BloggerFriends!!!

Kids love Snack Time

Sometimes I make an effort to make special snack or merienda for kids. Their current favorite is anything with cheese like pizza. My daughter Acey is always willing to help me prepare snacks for them and started to admire me for being able to copy simple recipes in the internet. It’s actually my indirect way of telling my daughter if there’s one thing you’ve been meaning to do, go for it. She wish for me to have a bigger oven that will enable me bake cakes and cookies and put up my own bakeshop eventually. Her wish is my prayer. I can not imagine spending another 10 years in a call center, which is why I’m saving up for an oven and enroll for a basic baking course to enhance my baking skills and while waiting for that to happen, I have mastered making no bake cheesecake and banana cream pie.

I made hotdog & cheese sandwich ala Jolly Hotdog two Saturdays ago and baguette pizza for today. Incidentally, my son’s classmate who happens to be a distant relative was here to enjoy the snack as well.

Our tummies are full and happy.

Have a great weekend!!!

Healthy Packed Lunch

I try my best to come up with a list of menu for a week for my kids baon in school. I try my best too, to avoid cooking canned goods or anything with preservatives such as tocino. I wake up as early as 4:30am to prepare my kids' breakfast and baon so might as well use the time cook dish rich in vitamins and nutrients.

Last Monday, I cooked Tofu in Oyster sauce I learned from Ms. Caren Yrastorza's blog. This is the main reason why I often visit food blogs. I compile easy to cook dishes that I think my kids would love to eat during their lunch break. I always remind my kids there is always time for everything, time to study, play and eat and it is important for them to take their break and savor the rice & viand I cooked for them with love to make them stay healthy and alert.

Here is a pic of the Tofu with Oyster Sauce:



Today, I cooked home made chicken nuggets. I marinated chicken breast cut into cubes in oyster sauce, garlic and salt & pepper and deep fried it this morning. Sadly, it slipped my mind of taking a photo of it, I was understandably too busy preparing my kids for school.

Early Dinner with Friends

We decided to have an early dinner in New York Supreme after work yesterday. The last meal we had was lunch at work at 12 noon and we got out of the office at 4pm. We intentionally emptied our tummy's to fill it in with yummy panizza and various pasta from New York Supreme. It was my third time actually in NYS and I will go back again and again. I fell in love with their delectable and affordable menu. Because we were so hungry, everytime the waiter will serve the dish, it's gone in a snap!

I really had a great time dining with my friends at work, savoring the food with a lot of laughter and friendly love...it was HEAVEN! In between meals and before we head back to our respective homes, we took a lot of photos in and outside NYS, I'll share the photos of the dish we had for now. More pics in my next blog. Enjoy viewing them.

Spaghetti Carbonara (rich and creamy)

Pasta Putannesa (rich in tomato sauce, i love the pesto bread that that goes with every pasta)

Chicken Pasta Parmigiana (my all time favorite)

Panizza ( we asked for 3 orders of this)

arugula and alfalfal (place on top of the panizza before rolling and eating it)

I call this rolled panizza ( this is actally my favorite photo)

group pic after eating...allan, arlene, minette, me, vic, jovy and bobot

Happy weekend dear fellow bloggers:)

ZAPATA's again

As promised, I'm making a post about the dinner I had with my college friends. My girlfriends are fond of Korean food, something I can eat also but can't trade with Italian and Mexican food. I went with them one time to have lunch in a Korean Resto around friendship, I enjoyed it but not as much I enjoy my favorite Italian & Mexican food.

I told Michelle how delicious and tempting the Mexican servings in Zapata's, Josielyn second the motion. Michelle who happened to be a food lover and "let me try all" person like me, got curious and really made sure to dine in Zapata's was part of her itinerary in going here last Saturday when she visited her OB Gyne for a repeat papsmear. Imagine she had to travel all the way from Bangued Abra just to try the quesadillas and fajitas from Zapata's.

The Enchiladas Norte is a new discovery. I ask the waitress what menu she can suggest, something she can consider one of their best sellers and quickly suggested the enchiladas norte. A strips of breast chicken fillet wrapped in a tortilla served with Mexi rice. It was "oh so good"...you bite it with closed eyes while you relish it! Perfect! I'm actually craving for it as I write this post...wheeew!

Of course, this post is not complete without pictures taken during our dinner in Zapata's. Enjoy viewing them.

Reception at Abe's Farm Resort

Last weekend was a hectic schedule for me. I got home from work Saturday morning at around 7:30am, took a power nap and woke up at 9:00 am. My friends at work and I decided to attend the christening of our department manager's baby girl Samantha Sage on that day. Our meeting place was at Marquee Mall and I decided to be there an hour before our meeting time (11am) so I could spend it looking for a dress I could wear on my brother-in-law's wedding which is going to be next week, but I ended up buying Vidal Sasoon hair straightener.

Collyn came at exactly 11am followed by Mark. We bought a gift for the baby girl and while waiting for it to be wrapped, we did a pictorial in the next room where some of Marquee's furnitures are on display. We then headed to the reception at Abe's Farm Magalang. It took us more than 30 minutes to reach the destination. Some visitors were done eating while others just started coming in.

me

Mark

Collyn

Even if I'm from Pampanga, I didn't know about Abe's Farm until I saw it on TV last March specifically in the show "Ang Pinaka" of QTV 11 where they featured different resorts around the Philippines. Abe's Farm is a private resort with only one big pool surrounded by different plants and trees. It's cottages are made of nipa hut. It has a resto that serves native food. I specially like the fern salad which reminded me of my late mother-in-law who used to prepare such with matching fried fish. The ube macapuno dessert is my ultimate favorite. The halaya ube does not contain ingredient to cheat the taste and it's authencity.

If you want to have peaceful vacation for any season or just a quiet time with your family or loved ones away from city noise, Abe's Farm is the perfect place to be.


We left the place almost 3pm. On the way home, I received a text from Josielyn telling me that our friend Michelle is coming for a doctor's appointment and she wanted to have dinner with us, wanna know here we ate?...well, that deserves another post. Stay tuned...LOL.

New York Supreme

It's food trip once again and this time its Italian.

New York Supreme is a newly opened restaurant in Angeles City located along the hi way. It serves pizza and pasta. I've been to this resto twice already. The first time was when I treated my friends for my birthday and the second time was last Friday with my friends at work. I fell in love with their Panizza accompanied with pesto sauce, alfalfa and arugula and Chicken Pasta Parmigiana, red sauced penne pasta topped with fried chicken breast fillet and creamy/cheesy sauce. Their red sauced pasta has Italian flavor rich in tomato sauce and tomato paste. Pinoys are fond of sweet style spaghetti and having to try real Italian Style pasta is a delight to my tastebud. What I like most about New York Supreme is their affordable pitcher of iced tea. My friends and I had 3 to 4 rounds of glass of iced tea.

Eds, Pao and me (Marj was the one who took this shot)

Pasta Putannesca

Panizza

pesto sauce for the panizza

alfalfa and arugula

Chicken Pasta Parmigiana

Lasagna

Our dinner in NYS gave us bloated but happy tummy.

Thank you Marj for the photos.

Zapata's Mexican Resto

There are so many great restaurants in Friendship, Angeles City that caters to international customers. A lot of Americans, Australians and other nationalities are married to Filipinas and residing in Friendship and some of them have established businesses in Clarkfield Pampanga. Truly, there's no place like Philippines.

C Italian is being visited by celebrities because of its famous and unparralled Panizza. The chef/owner guested in "Secrets of the Masters" of QTV 11. Rumpa and VMW is usually housed by retired Americans & Australians, they offer steaks and various American foods and the servings is usually good for two (meant for a foreign customer with big bellys...LOL).

My friends at work had the chance to dine in Zapata's 2 weeks ago or so. This mexican restaurant was featured in WMN website and the controversial actress and host Kris Aquino raved about their quesadillas. It was my first time to dine in Zapata's and the ambiance inside was great...big and tidy. It will instantly make you feel you're in Mexico.

Our appetizer was quesadillas. This is my favorite among the 3 dishes we ordered. I love the simple taste and you can hardly guess what type of cheese they use. We finished this dish in a snap!

Fajitas was served next. It consists of chicken stips, grilled peppers and mexi rice matched with salsa and sour cream. It's up to you how much rice & chicken you put in the tortilla.

Finally, we had tacos with soft shell. It was okay but the taste of the cheese was too mild for me. I love anything with cheese...mozarella, parmesan, cheddar etc.

I love their refreshing cold iced tea.

me and pao

toots & collyn

We left Zapata's with a smile on our face, this Mexican Resto deserves another visit.

PS: Thank you Collyn for letting me grab the photos from your blog.