The convenience of quick and delicious meals

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Purefoods Heat and Eat line comes with its two flagship products, and Filipino family favourites, Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

Christmas meals and all the trimmings get to be a burden more than a celebration for the cook. I am sure you know the feeling as well. It’s Christmas day lunch, but rather than catching up with family, you’re cutting up the lettuce, preparing the salad dressing or chopping the ingredients for the Paella. Christmas Day should be relaxed and fun, for the cook as well as everyone else. I take pride in cooking meals for my family and guests but I learned to let go through the years. I pre-cook or cut ingredients of recipes ahead of time and freeze them thus reducing tasks in the immediate run-up to Christmas Day. I learned that having prepared meals in the freezer like pre-cooked food or even “Purefoods Heat and Eat” Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali, are convenient.  That’s the trick for a stress-free Christmas. Plan your meals ahead of time.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

I stocked on these Filipino favorites in preparation for sudden arrival of Christmas guests or simply because I don’t want to run out of food.  There are days when there are many chores to do at home that there is no more time to prepare meals.  Having fully cooked, ready to eat meals, that can be reheated either via Turbo or Pan Fry is very convenient. Not only should it be convenient, but the meals should taste delicious.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

I wanted to make sure both variants lived up to the taste of these Pinoy food classics so I cooked them ahead of time and followed the directions of the package.

  1. Just remove from the freezer.
  2. Then turbo broil or pan fry.

The preparation time is pretty fast at 10-20 minutes. I used the pan frying method for the Crispy Pata. It took a total of 20 minutes to attain the right crispiness of the skin.

Crispy Pata

The Crispy Pata is a popular Pinoy dish where a whole pork leg is simmered in spices until tender, refrigerated overnight to dry, and then deep-fried until the meat is moist and the skin golden and crisp. That’s a lot of preparation time but thankfully, one has the option of storing the “Purefoods Heat and Eat” Crispy Pata in the freezer.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

I was at first skeptical that the Crispy Pata would not meet my expectations but I was in for a pleasant surprise.

Promise,…the Crispy Pata was delicious. It   was crunchy on the outside and moist and succulent on the inside. Even my husband and daughter loved it. Remember, Crispy Pata can be served as a main course but it also goes well as an appetizer dipped in mustard or served as beer food or “pulutan”.  You can also serve Crispy Pata with Atchara or vinegar and soy sauce dip.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

Lechon Kawali

Lechon Kawali is a popular Pinoy dish prepared with the pork belly simmered until tender and then deep-fried until golden and crisp. But this Lechon Kawali has been prepared ahead of time so I love the convenience. Then again, will it live up to my expectation?

Purefoods Heat and Eat

Just like the Crispy Pata, the directions are straightforward. Just remove from the freezer then turbo broil or pan fry. Using the pan fry method, the Lechon Kawali was done in 15 minutes.

Purefoods Heat and Eat

Take a look at those little air bubbles in the skin. The skin had the right amount of saltiness and was extra crispy, while the juicy meat was so moist and tender. Every bite was flavorful. I am very satisfied with the taste of both Filipino family favorites. In as fast as 10 – 20 minutes  I  get to enjoy the family’s restaurant favorites at the convenience of my own home.  It is just a matter of removing the meat from the freezer and frying the already tender meat! I am also assured of crispiness along with scrumptious succulent meat on the inside. The “Purefoods Heat and Eat” will now be a mainstay in my freezer even after the holidays over. You never know when guests arrive.

 

The Purefoods Heat & Eat line, has two variants: Lechon Kawali with a serving size of 425g per bag good for 3-4 persons and Crispy Pata at 900g per bag for 5-6 persons. These are available in major supermarkets in GMA (Robinsons, Landmark, Puregold, Hi Top, and South Supermarket) and Monterey Meatshops in Luzon.

 

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A food tour at the farmers market with the US Ambassador Sung Kim

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“A food tour at the Farmers’ market in Cubao”?

“Resource person”?

My mind could not wrap itself to the idea of being a food tour guide. I was thinking, hmm…I rarely get invited  as a resource person when it comes to food. To think that I have a large and organic reach at my Pinoy Food Community on facebook.  I am usually invited as resource person for political commentaries, social media and digital parenting .  This was different.

Yes, food tour guide for the US embassy staff.

Oh no, I thought again. That means, I need to know the English translation for the Tagalog ingredients. Google is my savior.

Two days before the food tour, I received a call that the US embassy staff included the US Ambassador Sung Kim and Emma Nagy, the Deputy Press Attaché . How exciting , I thought.  I had wanted to meet the new ambassador two weeks ago when he addressed the YSEALI youth leaders but I couldn’t make it .

Sunday , the day at the Farmers’ market.  I arrived ahead of time to check out the market. It’s  been awhile since I last bought my ingredients in this wet market.  It is not as stinky as most public markets are  . Thank goodness .  I love the wide aisles, the variety of goods sold by the vendors and how organized each section was. The goods sold at the farmers’ market here are so much cheaper than the Sunday markets or at my local grocer.

What greets you by the entrance across the flower market are the fruit vendors.  You can source your  12 round fruits for New Year’s eve here. There is so much variety like the honeydew melons, watermelons, longgans, guava, orange varieties, grapes, apple varieties, chico, pears, and not so round fruits like papaya, pineapple, and mangoes.

A centralized weighing scale reassures me that I get the right weight for my purchases.

Shortly before 9:30 AM,the Deputy Press Attaché and  Ambassador Sung Kim arrived with his wife, two daughters and a friend. It’s great to see their enthusiasm.  The market is the best place to understand the culture of any country.

Everyone was eager to shop. First stop was the kakanin area where the suman, rice cakes, and leche flan were sold. The ambassador was convinced to buy the Leche flan when Emma told him that she also bought one.

I told the ambassador that leche flan is similar to the Crème brûlée . I explained that the ideal leche flan  has very little syneresis, that is, no weeping (or lots of holes in it!).

Then we  passed by the vegetable section. One of the daughters spotted the “sitaw” (string beans). She remembers eating adobong sitaw when she visited the Philippines. It happens to be the favorite veggie dish of my daughter.  The ambassador proudly announced that he plans to cook  adobong sitaw that night.

Mrs. Kim was amused at the fresh “suahe”(moderately sized shrimps) …so fresh that they literally jumped off the basin.  The ambassador shows off his purchase of a kilo of “Suahe”.

The next stop was the rice section. She wanted to buy Japanese rice ..The light, fluffy, and slightly sticky when cooked is ideal for rice toppings and even for Paella (if you like your rice to have some stickiness).

The we dropped by “Itlog ni Tikya” . The owner recognized the ambassador and wanted a photo op with him. She plans to put the photo in her facebook page. The ambassador bought the quail eggs. Great for side dishes. I usually add quail eggs on my sauteed veggies.

The last stop was the fruit stalls. I told the ambassador that we get a lot of fruit imports from China, and America.  I pointed him to the Sagada Oranges  which are in season from September-February . The best ones are picked fresh in December. What great timing! Sagada oranges cost 50 pesos per orange. These oranges are really sweet.

It was time to say our goodbyes . It was a pretty short food tour but I am glad I was able to talk to him about a universal theme : food.  Maybe we will meet again in a social media event.

What a productive day. I got to meet the friendly US ambassador and his family and I ended up shopping for my weekly menu. There are so  many reasons to love Farmers’ market in Cubao.   This mini food tour allowed me to rediscover the variety of produce at the Farmers’ market . I will buy the Curacha (red frog crab) from Zamboanga  and the ube (purple yam) so I could prepare Ube Halaya.

Till my next visit.

 

 

Seasons, Manila Pavilion Hotel’s new menu offerings

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sunset at waterfront hotel

As students in the late seventies, my ex-boyfriend and I went as far as Luneta Park  because we were broke. All we did was gaze at the sunset or walk by the romantic Manila bay.   Old Manila and its splendor reminds me of those good old days.  Now that my ex-boyfriend is my husband and earning a living, we revisit Manila for  those rare dates. Next on my list is Seasons, Manila Pavilion Hotel’s premier lifestyle restaurant especially since I sampled a few of their new menu offerings.

Romulo suite at Waterfront hotel

While waiting for the press launch to start , I toured some of the rooms in the hotel including the Romulo Suite. This was where I took a snapshot of the beautiful sunset. And how I love the color theme in each corner of the suite.

Romulo suite at the Waterfront Manila

Italian culinary master Giovanni Sias is Manila Pavilion Hotel new executive chef who prepared the new menu offering.  I am glad that these were just samplers that I could savor and enjoy.  The new festive selection of international ala carte dishes starts at Php280 nett. The ala carte dishes are better for me because I don’t want to eat too much. There are buffet breakfast selections for those that want to eat more, and are priced at Php600 nett.

MPH Executive Chef Giovanni Sias

Chef Giovanni  adds that “Meat lovers and seafood fanatics can please their palates with a variety of feisty treats from parma ham, tuna, salmon, prawns, red snapper, beef tender or rack of lamb, and have it cooked just the way they want it.”

Prosciutto with Cheese

Prosciutto (Parma Ham) rolled with goat cheese mousse, truffle scent apple mustard marmalade

If you are like me, I want it light on the stomach but heavy on flavor.  That is what the salad and appetizer selections is all about. Seasons also cater to the vegetarians and vegans. The all-time favorites like tuna carpaccio, eggplant napoleon, and prosciutto, or the freshest greens complemented with scrumptious hors d’ oeuvres and antipasti  are  part of their healthy fare.

Gnocchi with bacon

Home made potato gnocchi in cheese sauce and fried proscuitto

Tuna Carpaccio

Tuna Carpaccio with Zuccini salad, lemon and olive oil

Must-try signature dishes to whet diners’ palates are the Waterfront Caesar Salad, Waterfront beef burger, sautéed red snapper and prosciutto rolled with goat cheese mousse among others.

Sauteed Red Snapper

Sauteed Red Snapper with tomatoes and capers over buttered spaghetti

The dessert menu features panna cotta, tiramisu, fresh fruit platter, chocolate cake with vanilla chantilly, pistachio mousse berries campote and other traditional Filipino sweets and delicacies . The Panna Cotta with strawberry consomme was delightful with just the right amount of sweetness.

Panna Cotta

Panna Cotta with strawberry consomme

My favorite ala carte dishes are the Home made potato gnocchi in cheese sauce and fried proscuitto and the Prosciutto (Parma Ham) rolled with goat cheese mousse, truffle scent apple mustard marmalade. Can you tell that we love cheese? My husband and I will order these separately on our next date.

Seasons is located at the lobby of the Manila Pavilion Hotel and is open from 6:00 am to 10:30 am for breakfast, 11:30 am to 3:00 pm for lunch and serves dinner from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm daily.

 

For inquiries and reservations, please call Manila Pavilion Hotel at (02) 526 1212 extension 2345 or log on to www.waterfronthotels.com.ph and follow us through social media @WaterfrontMNL.

Take a break: yummy Jollibee KIT KAT Mix-ins

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Do you catch yourself yelling in your mind any of these questions?

“I’m so busy! I don’t even have time to eat.”

“I need more than 24 hours in the day.”

“I don’t have time for that.”

“I wish I had more time for myself.”

Well, if you do, then just say “I need a break”. Sometimes it is just not possible but you can always take a quick break. Creating more personal time tops the list of goals many of us hope to accomplish. It takes as little as 15-30 minutes a day of uninterrupted, relaxing “me” time.

Break times for young urban professionals and even stay at home moms are valuable because it gives a few minutes to unwind from the stress. Whether it’s going on a five-minute stroll , taking a snack, or keeping abreast with the latest news through twitter or facebook, one needs to find different ways to feel renewed.

One of the many ways for a much-deserved break is a yummy twist with the new Jollibee KIT KAT Mix-ins. Great news for KIT KAT lovers and fans of Jollibee vanilla soft serve ice cream. This is the latest delightful dessert from Jollibee and the perfect respite from the summer heat. The exquisite combination of creamy vanilla soft serve and KIT KAT’s crunchy chocolate goodness is such a scrumptious treat for only P38.

jollibee mixins

Take note that you need a “me” time and there is no need to feel guilty no matter how short or long it can take. Your little break gives you an opportunity to relax, refocus and recharge. And when you do that, you can go back to your responsibilities with greater focus, commitment and enjoyment.

selfie with kit kat jollibee mix ins

I did just that and bought the Jollibee KIT KAT Mix-ins at the Jollibee drive-thru at Tiendesitas. I was supposed to get down and chill inside Jollibee but the parking space were all occupied. Much to my surprise, the combination of vanilla soft serve ice cream and Kit kat bits were beyond my expectations. Those crunchy chocolate bits are just delicious.

kit kat jollibee mixins

So, make your breaks yummier , a bit more indulgent and fun with the crunchy chocolate goodness of the new Jollibee KIT KAT Mix-ins, now available at all Jollibee outlets nationwide.

For delivery, call Jollibee Express Delivery Service hotline at 8-7000 or log on to www.jollibeedelivery.com.

10 things I’m thankful for today: 10-10-10 at 10:10 AM

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A simple enough pleasure, surely, to have breakfast alone with one’s husband, but how seldom married people in the midst of life achieve it. – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

It is a blessed Sunday morning as I take breakfast with my husband. These days, I don’t read newspapers unless I want to collect that issue, Our netbooks are with us as we sip our coffee. This time around, I am taking warm calamansi-lemon drink to soothe my sore throat. It is an old folks home remedy that always works.

calamansi-juiceThe house seems quieter without my other daughter’s booming voice at home. (I will write about this more). Lauren is fast asleep so it is just Butch and me. I am just grateful about today. The quiet moments with my husband at breakfast. Gazing at the two Siamese kitties lounging nearby makes me smile. I think I will be bonding more with my pet cat Missy.

I believe that happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast even if it is just once a week on a Sunday.

Andy Rooney best explains this bit of happiness.

For most of life, nothing wonderful happens. If you don’t enjoy getting up and working and finishing your work and sitting down to a meal with family or friends, then the chances are you’re not going to be very happy. If someone bases his happiness or unhappiness on major events like a great new job, huge amounts of money, a flawlessly happy marriage or a trip to Paris, that person isn’t going to be happy much of the time. If, on the other hand, happiness depends on a good breakfast, flowers in the yard, a drink or a nap, then we are more likely to live with quite a bit of happiness.

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Happy Kainan Monday: Eating Together = Family Happiness

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happy-kainan-mondays

Don’t we just love family meals together? It’s the perfect time and place to reconnect and to show my girls that they are our priority. Sitting across the table is where and when I find out more about my children’s likes, dislikes, and daily life. Now that they are adults, it is the place where I discover their career plans or frustrations at work. It is actually the family conversations that are important — they are one of the few times parents can find out what their children are up to (and vice versa). As my daughters’ social lives get even busier, it becomes a challenge to get the family to sit down. During these special meals, I make it a point that I dish up something new on the dinner table.

Happy family meals together are long-time tradition that is timeless.

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Family conversation at the dinner table

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paulene-swiss-chocolatesI feel guilty whenever I am away from home. Even if the girls are all grown up, I am just so used to being a stay-at-home mom working at the comfort of my bedroom. As election day nears, I find myself out of the house more often than I ever had in my married life.

Food never fails to bring us together. Last friday, I brought in extra food from a Yehey interview with Erwin Genuino, a Makati mayoral candidate. I sent an SMS to everyone “I am on my way home. Bringing food from Sentro.” It was 9:00 PM and to my surprise, everyone was home on a friday night. Getting the family together for dinner can be difficult especially with adult kids with an active social life.
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Living with A Food Blogger

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If you’re a blogger, you probably have your own typical blogger Conversation within your family.

What if you have a food blogger in the family?

You know how it is. I post food photos in my Pinoy Food Photo Blog to complement my entry. Naturally, when my family eats out, I snap away at the food we order. So here was a typical scene when I first started my food blog in July 2006.

Husband: Don’t eat that yet. Your Mom hasn’t taken shots of that dish.

M: (irritated) Have you taken a shot of this? Can I eat now?

L: (pouting) Hurry. I’m hungry. I wish cameras are banned in restaurants.

I bet they got tired of waiting so…

This is my family two years after.

 

Lauren learned to take shots of her food (at Pepper Lunch) so she can eat it as soon as the dish arrives.

And M too!

If you can’t beat your mom the food blogger, join her. or else, starve.

What is a typical scene with your family or friends? especially non-blogging friends and family?

In other New Media Events

1. I love Ethan Allen furniture designs that a few of my furniture was heavily inspired by it.

ethan allen

Here is a video I took of the showroom,

2. HTC Touch Diamond in the Philippines Mid-July

Imagine having broadband-like Internet with HSDPA 7.2 mbps wireless connectivity right in the palm of your hands?

HTC touch Diamond

3. Join the Buhay Coke Contest and get a chance to win a Phillips LCD TV, an Apple iPhone, a Sony Cybershot 7.2 MP Digital Camera, and an iPod Nano .

coke contest

Feeling Good with Lipton Milk Tea

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It’s a glorious sunday morning. The empty nest will be back to a full house. M will soon fly in from a vacation in Singapore. Lauren is expected to be back from an overnight beach trip from Zambales. So it’s just me and my hubby. Butch and I enjoyed our quiet morning with a hearty breakfast just a few hours ago. For the first time, I ditched my usual caffeine fix from brewed coffee. I wanted something different.

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