Lakan Diwa: 2013

Apetina Crostino

If you are running out of time to prepare your appetizers for the upcoming New Year’s Eve party, the comfort of grocery will definitely save you from worrying. A lot of ready-made spreads can be used to top your cute little toasted breads.

My final installment for tonight's canapé is Apetina Crostino using 100g Apetina's Feta cheese with herbs and spices in oil, put it on top of bruschetta or crostini and best serve with red wine. Enjoy!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Anyto Crostino

There's no rule in making your cocktail party's hors d'oeuvre. You can put anything adible that pleases your tastebuds. Of course, make sure it is pleasing to the eye.

My second Crostino topping was made from "anything-I-found-in-the-kitchen", so I named it Anyto Crostino.

In a small bowl, I put in 1 tbsp olive oil, diced tomatoes, capers, and sprinkle it with McCormick basil leaves. Pronto! I have made colorful and healthy topping for my Crostino.

Liver Spread - Quezo de Bola Crostino

As promised on my Crostini preview post, here is the first installment.

The ready-made "little toast" I used was from Bizu Patisserie & Bistro. I receieved a gift pack from them last Christmas and that includes these cute small slices of toasted bread in a plastic container. Perfect to make my new year canapés before it expires... the only missing is the topping.

For the topping, I recycled some of the leftover from our Christmas dishes. We have remaining liver spread in the fridge that was used in making our home-made menudo last Christmas and I don't want it to go to waste. So I spread it on top of my little toasted bread and topped it with slices of leftover Quezo de Bola.

My nieces helped me spread it on top and they loved it.

Crostini Preview | Easy Hors d'oeuvre for Your New Year's Eve Party

Hello Horsie!!!

If you are going to host a New Year’s Eve party whether for close friends, family members, neighborhood or simply because you like entertaining, a cocktail party with a buffet of hors d'oeuvre is one of the best ways to celebrate while waiting for a countdown to a brand new year. A buffet party with appetizing food sensational champagne, cocktails to die for and mouthwatering canapes are the magic of New Year's Eve party. Drinks need not be elaborate, a not too strong punch is an economical idea. But wines and champagne are required when you propose a toast and cheer for the new year. Italian wine gift baskets are best giveaway for your guests.

The food should be plentiful and can be simple. It should be restricted to items that can be eaten with a fork or the fingers. Savory pastries like mini-quiches are my favorite but hard to do and time consuming. Popular savory canapes are spring rolls, sausages, chicken fillets, tempura and of course, Crostini. Salmon, caviar , foie gras, and truffles are some of the most expensive ones while eclairs, cream puffs, and chocolates are sweet finger food enjoyed by many party goers.

If you want to serve your party guests with seriously impressive nibbles without giving yourself a nervous breakdown, wait for my upcoming blog posts. On my next three posts, I'll entertain you on how to make home-made, easy, and thrifty toppings for Crostini. One was made from our Christmas party leftover. Another from anything available in the kitchen and a ready made topping I found in the comfort of the grocery store.

So, relax and stay tuned. In the meantime, ready your glittery outfit and stiletto. To make your New Year's eve celebrations go off with a sartorial bang you need to wear something extra special unlike anything you'd wear any other night of the year. Elegance and glamour are the key words for your party look. Remember: You gotta look a million dollar!

Au Naturel | Honey-Lemon Fruit Salad

LISTEN!

Before you dig into the holiday dishes made of that sugary, fattening and artificial cream, keep in mind that the next season is summer. You gotta have a killer body by the next three months or you gotta regret and blame eating that unlimited, frozen and creamy fruit salad when summer comes.

Minimize your gluten, sugar and carbs intake tonight as much as you can. If you are panicking about cooking Christmas dinner or have no time to cook and prepare festive dinner for your family, you can order healthy food online.

Here's my healthy idea on how to make light and healthy fruit salad for tonight's noche buena and upcoming media noche. DO NOT use canned fruits if at all possible, you can use any fresh fruits that you have. This Au Naturel fruit salad is good for 2 - 3 servings. Below are some tips and tricks on how to make a polished fruit salad.

Ingredients:

1 persimmon

1 sugar pear

1 kiwi

1/4 kilo seedless grapes

Juice of ½ lemon

2 tbsp honey

Optional: fresh mint leaves or coriander leaves

Prepare the fruits:

Wash the fruits under cool running water and dry.

Peel the persimmons and cut into bite size.

Cut sugar pear in half lengthwise and remove the core before cutting it into slices. Its up to you if you want the persimmon and pear peeled.

Peel and cut the Kiwi. The best way to peel the Kiwi is to peel it round the middle instead of peeling it from top to bottom or you’ll end up with slices that look like 50p pieces.

Combine all fruits. Toss in lemon juice to stop any of the fruits from browning.

Arrange the fruits attractively on a large platter and drizzle the honey over them.

Cover the platter with foil and chill for 30 minutes before serving.

(0ptional) Add fresh mint leaves or coriander leaves to serve.

More Tips:

If you are going to use mango, here's a cutting tip: cut the two plump halves away from the stone, score a criss-cross pattern on the flesh of each half, turn the halves inside-out to separate the chunks, and slice away the flesh.

For Oranges, segment oranges rather than slicing. Using a small, serrated fruit knife, cut the top and bottom off, then cut from top to bottom, removing the peel and pith, keeping the shape as round as possible. Then remove each segment by gently slicing between the flesh and membrane.

MY 2013 SHOUT-OUT!!!

2013 has been a dramatic transformation.

This post is my SHOUT-OUT to all the people I've met along the way. People who helped building me up. People who believed of my worth and relevance. A SHOUT-OUT to the people who tore me down and shattered me apart, I have learned a lot this year.

THANK YOU!!! I have no regrets meeting y'all.

So, in the midst of all the rush, before the world turns to a brand new year, and before the internet crashes, allow me to greet all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY 2014 up ahead.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone!!!

Its Bizu Patisserie & Bistro “Nutcracker” Christmas Encore

Press Release: This means that this material is fully and directly from the company issuing the press release. This also means that this website is not the author of the statement being read. The Cuisineuer is simply providing the information for readers who may be interested.

Melchor Croquembouche makes for a grand holiday table centerpiece. A lovely tower of profiteroles filled with pastry cream dipped in white and dark chocolate. Choose between an 18-inch tall croquembouche with 130 cream puffs or a 12- inch tall croquembouche with 60 cream puffs.

This Christmas, celebrate the taste of joie de vivre only at Bizu!

Bizu Patisserie, once again, takes you on a journey to Tchaikovsky’s Land of the Sweets with its Christmas 2013 Collection overflowing with favorites and unique offerings sure to make everyone’s holidays truly enchanting. The season’s masterpiece is Bizu’s Grand Carousel. Reminiscent of Caroussel de la Tour Eiffel in Paris, it is filled with classic butter cookies, crisp tuile, luscious chocolate-covered pretzels and crunchy caramel popcorn. Wind it up and hear a captivating tune.

Bizu’s Chestnut Cake, a combination of chestnut cremeaux, moist speculoos cake and caramel glaze topped with chestnut cream.

Welcome back some Bizu favorites. Indulge in the sweetness of Rudolph, a Christmas chocolate ornament ball with crème caramel filling and a moist chocolate brownie base. Set the Christmas table with Noël Fruit Cake made of Valrhona chocolate, pecans and dark cherries. Try the Christmas Carrot and Walnut Cake topped with rich brown butter cream cheese.

Christmas in Bizu is, of course, not complete without its signature Macaron de Paris.

Macarons - these masterpieces are almond meringue shells filled with a luscious combination of buttercream. Order in boxes of 8, 14 and 28 or get the Macaron Pyramid, another show stopping centerpiece that holds 40 pieces. Just for the holidays, Bizu offers Speculoos, a lightly spiced ginger and cinnamon-flavored macaron. Something new are Bizu’s Chocolate Nut Butter Spreads, creamy and smooth combinations of chocolate and nut flavors with a hint of sweetness and a touch of saltiness. Try all four flavors: Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Butter, Macadamia and White Chocolate Butter, Almond Roca Butter and Pistachio White Chocolate Butter.

Cheese Tarts, another newcomer, is a perfect Christmas gift. This smooth and dense mascarpone cheesecake over flaky puff pastry is available per piece or in a lovely box of six.

The Pot de Crème is another addition to Bizu’s Christmas Collection. The soft French crème comes in four flavors: Madagascar Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Burnt Caramel and Sugar Free Gianduja Hazelnut. Bizu puts a distinct spin on the much loved popcorn with its Gourmet Popcorn. Enjoy the light and popping crunch of caramel popcorn in three flavors: Salted Caramel; Dark Chocolate, Almonds and Pretzel; and Pistachio, White Chocolate and Macaron. New Ensaymada flavors make a vow this season. The three new flavors of Queso de Bola and Chorizo, Italian Pistachio and White Chocolate and Cheese Roll join the traditional Dark Chocolate, Almond Praline and Classic Cheese.

Bizu is well known for its luxurious French Gâteau. Each one is a sight to behold and every bite is unforgettably delicious. Have a taste of Samba, Opera, Nirvana, Amour, Roca, sugarless and flourless Jolie, sugarless Naomi, Tiramisu, Strawberry Shortcake and Chiboust in Blueberry, Mango and Strawberry. Make the holidays more memorable with Bizu’s Savoury Holiday Traditions. Yuletide Pork Crown Roast is a festive circlet of juicy chops with a hearty stuffing of apples, chestnuts and sausages. Bizu's signature Ten-Hour Roast Beef Belly is so tender it melts in your mouth and comes with sidings of crunchy vegetables and creamy mushroom sauce. Whole Turkey Roast is all plump, juicy and golden brown and comes with a signature stuffing of apples, chestnut and sausages with a duet of gravy and cranberry sauce. A perfect addition to any Christmas dinner and party is the Baked Salmon Rockefeller, baked Norwegian salmon layered with creamy spinach and topped with parmesan mornay sauce. Complete the celebration with Chicken Liver Paté and Smoked Salmon and Caviar for the appetizers.

To order, email concierge@bizugroupe.com or call 845-0590 to 93. Visit Bizu Patisserie branches near you. Greenbelt 2 (757-2498), One Rockwell Tower, (478-7755 or 779-5044), Greenhills Promenade (724-2498 or 726-2496), Alabang Town Center (809-2498, 772-1917, or 772-1918), St. Luke’s Global City (823-6621) and Le Petit Bizu Robinsons Magnolia (467-0670).

Drop by the Bizu Christmas Carriage at the North Court of Power Plant Mall and Christmas stall at the Greenbelt 3 Park. Email conciergeteam@bizugroupe.com or check out www.bizuchristmas.com. Like us on facebook.com/ilovebizu and follow us on twitter.com/bizuph.

Lunch at Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort

We were surprised when we were told that ala cart menu was not available in Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort's main restaurant. The resort is far from the main road and other establishments so we dont have a choice but to avail their Php 499 lunch buffet. Here are the food that visitors of Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort could expect but I think they are changing their menu daily.

I started my lunch meal with cream of corn soup. There's nothing wrong with the taste, its the typical cream of corn soup. A little bit of everything followed in one plate; Grilled Baby Back Ribs with Mashed Potato, Marinated Grilled Chicken, Sliced Fish Fillet with Chili Sauce, and Mixed Vegetables.

I liked the sweet taste of Grilled Baby Back Ribs, I went back to the buffet table and had some more. A newly filled chafing dish with inviting pasta in red sauce captured my attention and I decided to try it. It was okay but nothing extraordinary, I partnered it with another serving of Sliced Fish Fillet.

Maja Blanca (coconut pudding) and Halaya (Purple Yam) were the desserts and both tasted real good.

Foodies might be disappointed with limited dishes at Php 499 but I commend the kitchen staff for giving their guests such a decent meal considering the resort's distance to civilazation

A specialty restaurant would be a plus factor to the resort as well as ala carte and extensive menu.

When People are the Tourist Attraction | Panginginas

Lets have a post breaker before I continue posting my Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort Review. Take a look, when people are the tourist attraction...

Rome got up from bed very early the following day. He was half awake, lurking for nothing by Laiya's sea shore stretching his arms and attempting to jog until something sweet touched his face that made his eyes closed - the first hint of morning light. It was such a dramatic shades of morning light creasing the horizon... it was breathtaking. The few spectacular moments of the early morning where the splendid change of colors as the sun rises while the glitters of the night slowly fading away was magical. He admired the different shades of blue, from dark until pale. Particularly that narrow, short lived horizontal band of blue green. Soon enough, the beach was slowly crowded with people. People picking up sea shells by the Laiya beach captured his attention. Suddenly he missed manginas.

"Panginginas" or "Manginas" is the term they used in Palawan, where Rome grew-up, for picking up sea shells by the Malampaya shore.

I searched some Filipino dictionaries online and checked if that is a Filipino word but the internet didn't give me possitive result. I assume, Panginginas is a Cuyonon word. I wonder what's the Tagalog or Filipino word for that.

ROOM REVIEW | Cabana 1-B, Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort

Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort

Laiya Ibabao, San Juan, Batangas, Philippines

Phone Number: (+63 2) 819 6050

Travelers who got money to spend and have an appetite to take a short break away from the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila would choose either Palawan or Boracay. If you are traveling along with your family or group of friends however, and air and sea travels are not in your option, consider Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort located in Laiya Ibabao, San Juan, Batangas. The resort is just 2 ½ hours land travel from the country's capital.

Rome, Ykaie, his cousins, and Peachy's parents in law arrived past 12 noon at Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort to stay overnight in celebration of Ykaie's birthday. On the contrary, it was a 4-hour drive from Caloocan City because Peachy opted to drive really nice and slow. After parking in the spacious parking lot, she approached the reception and luckily, the considerate Batangueño staff allowed the group to check-in 2 hours before the usual international standard check-in time of 2 PM. They were billeted at Cabana 1-B.

Fronting the resort’s beautiful swimming pool, Cabana 1-B at around $ 400 or Php 17, 000 per night has two air-conditioned bedroom, each has a bathroom with toilet and bath and can accommodate 7 adults and 3 kids. The keyhole lock was broken when they were there and cannot be locked from outside. Maintenance tried to fix it but they weren’t successful, the resolution was to lock it inside and exit through the back door. Rooms were clean except for the little dust that Rome found on the top of their closet. Mattresses and pillows were good but not that comfortably luxurious.

There are enough hand, bath and pool towels hanging on the towel bar and a lovely shower pouring generous amount of hot and cold water. Bath amenities includes dental care set (toothbrush and tooth paste) soap, shampoo, conditioner, and hair blower.

The Cabana has non air-conditioned kitchenette and living room with 2 electric fans. The kitchen with granite counter top has a small fridge with complimentary bottles of water in it, there's a small microwave oven and coffee and tea-making facilities for 4 person. Sadly, kitchen utensils are not available, the kitchen drawers are empty. The 32 inch LCD cable TV, not available in both rooms, is the center of the living room DVD Player is also available upon request.

PERSONAL Checklist:

		Comments

Internet Connectivity	None	WiFi available in the Lobby and Restaurant area
TV with cable channels	Yes	No TV in bedrooms.
Tea & coffee Facilities	Yes
Well-Stock Mini Bar	None
Bathroom Amenity	Yes
Safety Box	Yes
Telephone	Yes
Slippers	Yes
Work Desk	Yes
Security/Lock	Failed

The resort has a very pleasing swimming pool (Resort Review on my next post), the resort has fallen foul of focusing too much on its facilities and not enough on getting the basics right – great facilities matter little to guests if the bed's lumpy, bathroom’s empty and the breakfast ropey. (Restaurant Review will also be posted on my Food blog).

Pan de Donut | Pan de Manila Combines Two of Pinoys’ Well-loved Pastry Items – Pan de Sal and Doughnut

DONUT wait to try this!

Be the first to taste the delicious line of Pan de Donuts! Available exclusively at the newly opened Pan de Manila branch in Market! Market!, Taguig. Pan de Donut is a special creation by the leading pan de sal chain in the country, Pan de Manila.

Smoothened and softened pan de sal bread is used as the base bread filled with secret white cream and then glazed and topped with Pinoy favorite flavors such as Pili Nuts, Coconut Jam, Polvoron, Yema, Peanut Butter and more. Cocojammers, a coconut jam-glazed Pan de Donut topped with pili nuts is my utmost favorite. It brought the taste of the countryside at first bite and childhood memories in my last.

Pan de Donut is your healthier option to fried and sugar-heavy ring doughnuts in the market, it is baked (not fried!) to yummy perfection. And oh, these Pinoy Donuts are bromate-free and trans-fat free!

Apart from the joy of tasting a healthier pandesal-doughnut hybrid, Pan de Donut is affordable and beautifully presented in a colorful box with paintings from Laguna painter, Mr. Amador Baraquilla. Here is the price range;

Box of 2 pieces - Php 80.00

Box of 4 pieces - Php 140.00

Box of 6 pieces - Php 180.00

Box of 12 pieces - Php 320.00

Perfect as pasalubong or gift for this holiday season. Choose from delectable 18 flavors!

Name Topping

ChocoMonds White Choco Paste and Almonds

Polvoron Crumbles White or Premium Choco Paste and Polvoron

Snow Kisses White Choco Paste and Choco Chips

Chocolate Hills Premium Choco Paste and Rice Crispies

Chocnut Crumble Premium Choco Paste and Chocnut

Cookie Crema White or Premium Choco Paste and crashed Cookies and Cream

Chunky Crookies White or Premium Choco Paste and chunked Cookies and Cream

La Dulce Vita Dulce / Yema

Cocojammers Pan de Coco and Pili nuts

Nippy Nips Premium Choco and mini nips

Nutty crunch Peanut Butter Crunchy

Berrylicious Strawberry

Blueberry Bliss Whip Cream Blueberry

Piling Pili White Choco and Pili nuts

Marbles Whip Cream Choco Marble

Strawberry shortcake Whip Cream Strawberry

Uberlicious Whip Cream Ube

Pan de Manila now has 153 outlets, with presence in Manila, North and South Luzon and most recently in Cebu and Iloilo. For product updates, follow them on Facebook and Instagram: pandemanilaofficial.

RECIPE | Clara Olé's Manila Pesto

Pesto, Presto!

Green and red - serve the colors of the season to your family and love ones with Clara Olé's Manila Pesto at once. This recipe was adapted and modified fom original Clara Olé's Manila Pesto recipe using Tinapa instead of Tuyo and Penne instead of Angel hair pasta. I also added black olives in it. Exciting new, easy and mouth-watering dishes are available on their website www.claraole.com for you to try and feast on.

Here's what you need;

1 pack Clara Olé Cheesy Pesto, 180g
250g Penne Rigate pasta
2 tbsps Extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup Garlic, minced
1/4 cup black olives, sliced
1 cup Tinapa, flaked
1 tbsp Vinegar
3/4 cup Kesong puti, chopped
2/3 cup Fresh tomatoes, chopped

1) Cook Penne Rigate pasta according to package directions.
2) Saute garlic in olive oil.
3) Add in tinapa and cook for 2 minutes.
4) Add in vinegar and cook over low heat for about a minute.
5) Add kesong puti, black olives and tomatoes. Cook until heated through.
6) Stir in Clara Ole’ Cheesy pesto and toss in the cooked pasta.
7) Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Best if serve with baguette or toasted bread. Enjoy!

Clara Olé offers a wide array of food products such as Dips & Dressings, Tomato & Spaghetti Sauce, Marinades, and Syrups & Sugar-free Jams.

Find Clara Olé on Facebook and on instagram for updates. If you are a newbie cook who needs some tips and tricks in the kitchen, subscribe to Clara Olé's Youtube channel to watch step-by-step videos and learn cooking techniques from their uploaded episodes.

RECIPE | Patatas Riojana

Here's another recipe by Chef Fernando Aracama when he did his holiday cooking demo at The Maya Kitchen recently. Check out www.themayakitchen.com for more recipes to try and savor with your loved ones this holiday season.

Ingredients:

3 tbspOlive oil
1/3 cup chopped white onions
1 tbspchopped garlic
2 pcschorizo, sliced
1 tbsppaprika
2 pcsbay leaf
¼ cup white wine
600 grams potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
1.5 liters Flavorful chicken stock, bring to a simmer separately
1 tsp ground white pepper
to taste sea salt

Procedure:

1.In a pot, warm the olive oil and add the onions. Cook over medium heat until the onions are soft. Add the garlic and the chorizos. Render some of the fat from the chorizos.
2.Add the paprika and bay leaf. Cook for a few moments and then add the rest of the ingredients. Cover and cook until the potatoes are done.
3.Taste and adjust seasoning. Lightly mash the potatoes with a ladle. This will add texture to the soup.
4.Serve hot.

Serves four (4)

Foodiscovery | Honey Macapuno Bucayo

Who would have thought that even the Bucayo, a Philippine delicacy, evolve?

By the shore of Laiya beach in Batangas, I found this Batangeno vendor selling this Honey Macapuno Bucayo early in the morning. From the usual Bucayo that I knew, which is sugared coconut strips, this one is made from macapuno. They also added honey as sweetener and peanuts in it for a nutty taste. Packed in a box-type wrapper made from banana trunk, it brought authentic and vintage tickles in my palate.

This Philippine street food is perfect for dessert.

GLIMPSE | Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort in Laiya Ibabao, San Juan, Batangas

Rome's next destination revealed on this teaser post. Estrellas De Mendoza Playa Resort's bluer-than-blue-sky infinity swimming pool is its key attraction. The resort is located in Laiya Ibabao, San Juan, Batangas.

Recipe | Sweet, Not Spicy Chicken Vienna Sausage

In my bid to eat real healthy food starting next month, I have to consume all the processed food I have in my grocery box before this month ends. Yes, I'm fighting obesity! ..and slowly carving my six-packs abs, LOl

I've been eating fried Libby's Vienna Sausage for my breakfast for three straight days and I'm kinda bored so I cooked it sweet this time like the spicy hotdog sauce minus the chili because I'm not a fan of hot, spicy food. Please feel free to eliminate the tomato, I just added it because I dont want it to go to waste.

Ingredients:

240g Libby's Chicken Vienna Sausage

1 tbsp Muscovado sugar

1 medium onion, sliced into half moon

1 pc tomato, sliced

1 tbsp cooking oil or vegetable oil

Salt

pepper

1/4 cup water

Procedure

In a small saucepan, pour the vegetable oil and place on medium heat. When the oil is hot add onion and tomato. Sauté onion and tomato in oil until the tomato is starting to melt and onion has softened.

Add the Vienna Sausage and season with Muscovado sugar, salt and pepper. Add water, cover and let it simmer for 5-8 minutes.

Serve while its hot. This dish is very good with toast and eggs as part of breakfast or serve as snack.

Wild World | Into the Eagle's Eye

To go to a journey is not just about seeing stunning places, meeting new people, learning new ideas or fascinated about other people cultures. Moving to places, sometimes, are moments we come face to face with the wildlife of outdoors.

A domesticated White-bellied Sea Eagle, also known as the White-breasted Sea Eagle staring straight at Rome while he was taking photos of the Pagoda shocked him. He instinctively raised his camera as self-preservation and took pictures after the initial shock. He gazed at the bird and tried to read the bird's thoughts through its eyes. Its fierce look was fearsome, there's an intellectually sharp vision hidden and an alert watchfulness. The huge bird can't take Rome's gaze, it looked away. It was such an incredible and beautiful moment.

Turning Globe Reward Points into Figaro's Pasta Ala Carlo & Butterscotch Vanilla Latte

When its the middle of the month and I caught myself on a financial shortage because of excessive spending over the holiday sale everywhere, it's time to use all the freebies and coupons to sustain until the payday at least, LOL. At the time of personal financial crisis, I still can afford pasta and coffee from Figaro by turning in my Globe reward points into a gourmet meal. Who says that beggars don't have a choice?

Oil based Pasta Ala Carlo costs Php 209.00. It's a little bit spicy with Filipino sweetness and well balance with olives, capers, tuna, tomatoes, and cheese. It is the best Pasta of Figaro, I would say. Try this with Butterscotch Vanilla Latte at Php120.00 and you'll forget that you are in the edge of bankrupcy, hahaha. There's a VAT of Php 32.25 for both, my total meal at Figaro branch in Shangri-la Mall last week was Php 361.25.

How to check your Globe Reward Points: Text BAL to 4438
How to use your Globe Reward Points as cash: Text Buy (merchant's phone number) (amount) and send to 4438

Note: Globe's reward points cannot be used if you have a past due or remaining balance.

Rome Recipe | Paksiw na Bangus ( Milkfish Stewed in Vinegar )

When I craved Paksiw na Bangus last weekend, I thought of reinventing the classic Filipino dish by adding more color and flavor into it. Well, apart from the fact that the "paksiw" that I knew tasted the same for decades, I'd like to contribute to the Filipino dish evolution.

My taste buds are weird but this dish turned out good, really good that your kids will love it. I added carrots to substitute to the sweetness of onion and butter instead of oil. I don't like ginger in my paksiw so I put in more garlic to eliminate the "langsa" (fishy smell).

When you think Paksiw na Bangus is boring and unappealing, try this and you'll think again.

Ingredients:

1 kg Milkfish, cleaned and scaled, cut in about 5 slices

1 medium bitter melon (ampalaya), sliced

1 medium carrot, sliced

180ml (3/4 cup) Datu Puti Vinegar

1/2 cup water

3 large green chilies, halves

1 tbsp salt

2 head garlic, slightly pressed

1 teaspoon peppercorns

56 grams classic Magnolia Dari Creme

Preparation and Cooking Procedures:

1. Clean the Milkfish by removing the scales, fish's gall bladder and gills. Do not remove the intestines and liver. Using a scissor or knife, cut the fins and tails. Rinse and cut diagonally into 5 pieces. Pat dry.

2. In a casserole place the carrots, bitter melon, garlic, and chilies.

3. Arrange the sliced milk fish on top of the veggies add the butter and sprinkle with salt and peppercorn. Pour vinegar and water into the casserole, cover and bring to a boil for 5 to 8 minutes.

4. Stew gently for another 8 to ten minutes. Remove from heat and serve with garlic or fried rice. Enjoy!

Travel Tip #3 | When Searching for the Lowest Plane Tickets Online...

Perfectly Grilled Medium Well Pork Chop

We all know how simple it is to grill pork chops but every time I put pork chops under the grill, they turn out tough and stringy. So, on this post I'm going to share some tips and more suitable way on how to cook a perfectly grilled, medium well, pork chop.

Juicy and tender, thats what I liked about Austin's pork chop when we had a team-building at Villa Clara last summer. Using an estimated amount of the below ingredients, he marinated the pork chops overnight. Marinating it would help the meat become more tender and flavorful.

Pork Chops

Minched Garlic

Salt

Pepper

Soy Sauce

Kalamansi Juice (including zest)

Brown Sugar

The real deal though is not about the ingredients he used. Its all about the charcoal's temperature before laying the meat on the grill. The temperature on the surface level of charcoal should be even from 155-170ºF. Another important tip is to continously rotate the meat so it wont burn.

To check for doneness, it should have a hint of pink in the very middle of the meat. The surface should be dark brown with good charring on the top and bottom.

When People are the Tourist Attraction | Balance

This photo was taken when Rome went back to his hometown in Palawan.

Aling Inday is still an expert in balancing her bilao (circular basket) on her head, selling different kakanins all throughout Barangay New Guinlo from early in the morning until late afternoon. Nothing has changed over the years apart from her face that noticebly aged, the familiar taste of the kakanins brought back childhood memories to him.

Applause to this hard-working woman!