Fishballs

Every afternoon after I send my daughter to school, the mommies sometimes stay or went to a mall to stroll and eat snacks. If ever we stay in school, we buy fishball. I always buy small cup that have 21 pieces (P15) and big cup that have 28 pieces (P20). Fish balls are a common food in southern China and overseas Chinese communities made from "fish paste". The most common type of Filipino fish balls are known as bola-bola. It is somewhat flat in shape and most often made from cuttlefish or pollock and served with a sweet and spicy sauce or with a thick, black, sweet and sour sauce. Fish balls in the Philippines are sold by street vendors pushing wooden deep-frying carts. The balls are served skewered, offered with three kinds of dipping sauces: spicy (white/orange coloured) – vinegar, water, diced onions and garlic; sweet (brown gravy coloured) – corn starch, banana ketchup, sugar and salt; and sweet/sour (amber or deeper orange coloured) – the sweet variety with lots of small hot chilis added. Dark sauces are rare, as these are soy sauce-based and soy sauce is expensive for street food.

It's A Beautiful Day

Good evening to all! How was you day? What did you eat for breakfast this morning?  Our breakfast is fish and egg. 

It is a great day today! As the chorus in a song in my daughter's school says "It's a beautiful day and the sun is up, it's a beautiful day you gotta believe it today, we can work and play it's a wonderful day...It's a beautiful day!" 

Had a great sleep with my kids last night. Taught them how to pray before they go to sleep. One of the prayers I thought them says: "Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to keep...Amen" 

Well, good night and God bless!

Christmas 2013 & New Year 2014

Happy New Year To All! Before I get to the happy story, will tell you the kinda sad party story. To those who did not know, my dad was confined at the hospital last December 6. At first, it only started with a dizziness. Then my mom said let's go to the hospital for check-up. When they arrived at the hospital, my dad had high blood pressure. The blood pressure did not go down so he was confined so that there will be series of tests. The next day, my mom called and said that he had mild stroke and he has problem swallowing. He had also pneumonia, so he needs to be transferred at the ICU. He was restrained because he wants to go down and go home, he also wants to pull the tubes that are attached to him like the NGT, dextrose and catheter. We stayed at the ICU for 2 weeks, then when the doctor said we can go home and continue treating him and feed him using the NGT. But my dad is hard-headed, he won't listen to us. He removed the NGT tube twice and we were giving him food through spoon-feed slowly because he might choke. But he was sick more, that's why he went back to the ICU December 26 because he already lacked oxygen. As of today, his lungs are congested and the phlegm have bacteria.

Well, that's life. But for me, the Christmas and New Year celebration will not stop especially for the kids. Before Christmas Eve, my brother, sister-in-law and their daughter celebrated with us after dinner. They brought mango charlotte cake, chicken teryaki and sparkling wine. December 25 was my daughter's birthday, RAINE. Every Christmas day, we celebrate at my cousin's place. All of us bring food (potluck lunch) and I brought birthday cake so that she can blow. My mother didn't come with us because she took care of my dad. After the potluck party we went to my in-law's place for sleepover.

For new year, I baked Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. It was my 1st attempt, for me it was kinda sweet but they said it was okay. Well, we all know that fireworks are banned in Davao. So, we only blew our torotots to welcome the year 2014. January 1 was the birthday of my nephew, we celebrated it at my aunt's place. As usual, it was a potluck dinner with relatives.

Lastly, just this Saturday we also had a post-Christmas Party with my mommy friends at school where our kids are classmates. Our friendship started last year when Mika started school. We had food, drinks, exchange gifts, videoke and games. Here's a game we played and it was really funny!

McDonald's drops Heinz Ketchup

I really love eating at McDonald's and I always order my favorite, Cheeseburger Meal with large fries and regular coke.

McDonalds said it was dropping ketchup king Heinz as a supplier, citing management changes at Heinz that put the company closer to rival Burger King. 

McDonald’s said it was ending a relationship of over 40 years as it axed Heinz from its supplier list. 

"As a result of recent management changes at Heinz, we have decided to transition our business to other suppliers over time," it said. 

In February US investment star Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway together with Brazil's 3G Capital took over Heinz in a $28 billion deal. 

That move brought Heinz closer to Burger King, which is controlled by 3G. 

The change would not be a large blow to Heinz. McDonald’s said it only used Heinz ketchup in two US markets, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh, as well as some foreign markets. 

McDonald’s said in a statement that it would work with Heinz "to ensure a smooth and orderly transition of the McDonald’s restaurant business." 

The company said they "are confident that there will be no impact to our business, our customers and our great tasting food at McDonald's."

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/mcdonalds-drops-heinz-ketchup-012722737.html

15 essential fruits to include in your diet

I really love fruits, especially mangoes, bananas, avocado, grapes, watermelon, etc. I do not eat guyabano, just don't like it. Fruits are indispensable. Its fiber, water, minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, antioxidants keep us well. 


1. Watermelon beats the scorching summer heat with 95% water and its electrolytes.

2. Cantaloupe/muskmelon is an excellent source of phytochemicals – vitamin A and C.

3. Kiwi fruit with vitamin C, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids from its numerous edible seeds have potential properties of a natural blood thinner.

4. Pomegranate an exotic fruit is an antidote for heart ailments due to its polyphenolic anti-oxidant compound - punicalagin. 

5. Citrus fruits are synonymous to vitamin C and vitality. Well you may be allured with vitamin C loaded orange juice but ascorbic acid on exposure to light and air gets oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid, highly unstable and further breaks down to 2,3-diketo-L-gulonic acid.

6. Star fruit, Bilimbi or Carambola with its high vitamin A, vitamin C and zinc content is used as a cure for acne and oily skin. 

7. Rope in raw Papaya as meat tenderizer, as it has a powerful digestive enzyme papain/papinase that breaks down tough meat fibres. 

8. Amla is a powerhouse of vitamin C, harbouring 20 times more that of an Orange. 

9. Our own berry of India – Zizyphus, commonly known as Ber or Jujuba is under-utilized.

10. Avocado, the only fruit with high fat content of 25% is high in mono-unsaturated fats.

11. Pineapple, an excellent source of vitamin C is a natural digestive aid and a meat tenderizer as it contains a proteolytic enzyme - bromelain. 

12. Guava, a powerhouse of vitamin C, protects us from cold and flu with 4 - 10 times more vitamin C than citrus fruits.

13. Apples contain quercetin an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.

14. Grapes have garnered attention due to its polyphenol - resveratrol that promotes longevity and several antioxidants shielding cardiovascular system. 

15. Tamarind pulp is commonly used in Asian cuisine and Worcestershire sauce due to its pleasing sour flavor. 


Read more: tinyurl.com/c5ka7jm

Olive Oil

Do you feel hungry all the time? Well, I love to eat aside from the meal that we have everyday. I am still craving like chocolates or chips and sodas too. There is a study, add some olive oil to your diet. Olive oil is already famed for being a heart-healthy part of the Mediterranean diet. But now a new study finds that it may have a surprising benefit. Unlike low-fat food products and other natural fats, olive oil helps to regulate the sensation of feeling full after eating, which could help keep your fingers off the nibbles between meals. Did you know that olive oil contains a wide variety of valuable antioxidants that are not found in other oils. Epidemiological studies suggest that olive oil has a protective effect against certain malignant tumours in the breast, prostate, endometrium and digestive tract.

First aid: 5 foods to fight the flu

I have allergic rhinitis, and also my brother. Some of my relatives have it to. I sneeze a lot, especially to dust, change of temperature, pollution and strong fragrance of cologne or spray. According to Wikipedia, allergic rhinitis is an allergic inflammation of the nasal airways. It occurs when an allergen, such as pollen, dust or animal dander (particles of shed skin and hair) is inhaled by an individual with a sensitized immune system. If my rhinitis starts and won't stop, sometimes I get sick like flu. Clinically, you can get rid of flu by taking medicines. Well, according to Yahoo there are 5 foods that fight Flu. There are plenty of immunity-boosting super foods to help ward off a nasty case of the sniffles--check out these five that are guaranteed to make you feel good.

1. Black Pepper
2. Cinnamon
3. Citrus Fruits
4. Low-fat Yogurt
5. Avocado


Read more:  http://ph.she.yahoo.com/blogs/healthy-living/5-foods-fight-flu-181500486.html

eating hotdogs

Just want to share this, a wake-up call to every parents.

HEBI

I really missed eating this one, that is why I bought 1 pack.  Before, it cost P10 per pack but now it's P18.

Top 10 sinfully unhealthy foods to eat

I always browse yahoo for new articles that are interesting especially about health.  I really love to eat but when it comes to veggies, I am a picker. I am more than a meat lover than veggies. Now we are not saying that these delicious yet unhealthy food be avoided completely. Instead, these scrumptious treats should be eaten in moderation and not feature too heavily in your diet. Below are the top Top 10 sinfully unhealthy foods to eat:

 1. Pork scratchings
 2. Fried desserts
 3. Cheesy fries
 4. Fizzy drinks
 5. Coloured alcopops
 6. Liquid meals
 7. Processed meats
 8. Chicken nuggets
 9. Doughnuts
 10. Canned soups

Buko Pandan

When we were at the mall yesterday, I saw Buko Pandan dessert.  Super yummy!

Granny Goose Kornets

I really love to eat chips. When I was in high school, one of my favorite was Kornets. But years went by, they did not show up in the grocery stands. Like I was happy when I saw it again, and I said OMG!!! Granny Goose Kornets, cheese flavor is my favorite This snack has been in the market for a long time and one of my favorite. The cone shaped chips are crisp and the natural corn flavor is good enough. The package says it was “sealed fresh in foil” and it’s true. The a little sweet buttery taste adds to its flavor and not too salty unlike before. Maybe they have improved their product already. Great for snacks and you will enjoy it.

Chloe's 6th Birthday

To those who followed my entries for the past 10 years, who remembered the name "CHLOE"? Well, before I gave birth to Mika, I am blogging more about my niece Chloe (year 2003). Yesterday, she just turned 6 years old. We were invited at their house for dinner with some of their relatives. Time flies so fast!

krispy kreme

I went to the bank this afternoon around 1:30 PM.  Guess what???  The line was very long, so I need to wait for my turn to be served by the teller.  When my turn came, the teller told me that the amount in words and in numbers are different.  OMG!!!  I said, what the heck!!!  I told my mom that there is an error on the check.  After the bank, I went to Krispy Kreme doughnuts and ordered for take-out.

Happy Birthday Berries

Every little girl have their dreams when it comes to special occasions. I am so excited whenever my birthday comes because I can celebrate it with my family and friends. It was really my dream that I could have a sweet birthday treat from my family aside from foods that we usually eat like lechon, spaghetti, fried chicken, mango float and many more. I want to be surprised not just with typical gifts, I want to taste something different and unique to eat that is mouthwatering to your lips. Mostly, I like chocolate and vanilla but I want to taste hand-picked happy birthday berries treat.

Cookie Recipes

Baking cookies is one of the fun things to do in the kitchen. I keep a file of various cookie recipes that will delight the discriminating taste of my family and friends. When I bake for the young children, I take out the cookie molds that come in different shapes to make every bite fun and interesting. It certainly brings joy to the little ones. Occasionally, I would add oats and/or fruits, and sprinkle some ground veggies for good health. As for the adults, I reduce the amount of butter and sugar for their sake, in case they indulge too much. Cookies are easy to prepare and are filling and, therefore, good to pack a few in my purse whenever I go on trips.