Friday, December 29, 2017

Stress-Free Meals at Christmas #MetalMeatRakes

One of the many things that I miss celebrating  Christmas from my home country is the presence of my family.  We always come together and cook food that we all love to eat.  We  sing karaoke and catch up, I miss that so bad.  We used to do it too here when my father-in-law was still  around but now that he's gone, we  kind of drifted off and have our own.
I don't cook much because it is only the four of us so there's no sense of cooking so many food that we won't be able to consume.  In a way, it is a stress-free   way of celebration because I only have to prepare some of our favorite Filipino food.
This Christmas, this pair of metal meat rakes from Cavetools is a great tool in preparing our Christmas  breakfast and dinner.
I made my version of shepherd pie for brunch and shredding the beef was a lot easier with these pulled pork shredder rakes.
This is a heavy duty version of the meat handling claws that I also got from them a while back .  My favorite part of that  one  is the  handle, it's a lot easier to shred meat  than this  rakes.  However, this can handle really heavy meat so it has it's advantages as well.
This shepherd pie was so  good.  It was so cheesy that my son asked for another serving after he ate his first.
I made some  lumpia or eggrolls.  This is always a hit with the kids and hubby.  These are so good to dip in a sweet and spicy sauce or  you can make a sauce that you would like.
On Christmas  morn, I woke up at 3  o'clock and could not go back to sleep.  So after an hour of tossing and turning, I got up and  cook.
For dessert, I made  some sweet rice.  Almost all of the food I made  was Filipino dishes.  My family doesn't mind.  We eat more Filipino food than American food here at home.  Hubby got so accustomed with the Asian food when he was overseas  so it was never a  challenge  for me to  make dishes.
Some freshly baked  dinner rolls to go with the  rice noodles.
If you want to purchase a pair of this awesome meat rakes,  here's a coupon code to use for a 15% off  via Amazon, just enter MEATCLAW15 upon checkout.

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the complimentary product/s mentioned  for testing purposes and to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Sugary Treats During Falloween at St. Joe's

There were tons of  sweet treats during the Falloween celebration at St. Joseph School on October 31st.   Everyone had a blast especially the little ones.  They wore their  favorite costumes and  got lots of treats from the  tables that were set up by the parents.  If the candies were not enough, the  cookies and donuts  completed the sugar rush that everybody, young and adults, want.  Well, here are the selection of sweet  treats from the event.  Enjoy!
 

I hope that we will have this  again next school year.  This was another  event that the new school administration have implemented.  I think it is great to have this kind because  parents, grandparents, and friends come to school and  watch the students interact with everybody. 

Question:  If you were to pick  a sugary treat, which one would you choose among the choices  above?  Would you go for donuts or cookies?

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Breakfast at Denny's in #LasVegas

Our Vegas trip was fun.  Our hotel accommodation did not include a complimentary breakfast so we tried to find a place that we can all eat and not break the  bank and we found that Denny's  was the most fitting for what we like and it is within our budget.  
We ate at  IHOP one time also but we did not like their food and their price is more expensive than Denny's.  When we went to IHOP, I did not eat because I ate something from the hotel so I was surprised to see that the bill was  the same as what we pay at Denny's with  the four of us eating.  So we never came back to IHOP lol. 
I like  Denny's because their  employees were very friendly.  One time,  we can tell that our server was a Mom because she was very caring towards our kids.  My son  wrote her a note and  we gave her a little extra tip because we loved her service to us. 
The portion of their food is always  big and we couldn't ate it all so we would always put the left over in a box and feed the birds outside or  at the garage of the hotel where birds are hanging out. 
We love the food at Denny's, everything we tried there were delicious.
While my husband is a  potato, egg, and sausage kind of  breakfast lover, I always go for their salad.  I love the fact that they have  healthy options if you want to avoid the sugar.
My kids love their pancakes and eggs.  The reason why we tried eating at IHOP is because they are known to have  the best pancakes but it was disappointment because the  pancakes that my daughter received was under cooked in the middle.  It was burned on the outside but  wasn't fully cook inside. 
Whenever we go out and eat, the  first thing  that we looked into is their food but the service being rendered by servers are equally important too.  It impacts my decision whether or not to go back to that place.  
To the Denny's employees  at Las Vegas Boulevard, thank you very much for your  warm and great service.  

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Quality ingredients. Are they still important in cooking?

Life in a hurry forces us to adjust every aspect of our lives to a fast-paced race throughout the day. We need quick fixes for everything: transportation, tasks, food. We suffer from time deficiency. It shows in how and what we eat. Are quality ingredients important in cooking?

We don’t give much thought about the ingredients, while ordering at a fast-food restaurant. We want it here and now and move on. Still, we demand high quality and rich flavours from the dishes that we eat. By now we’re used to processed food. Even restaurants find salvation in products that are easier to stock and last longer. This little, dark secret becomes a reality for many restaurants these days. Luckily, there are places, which still believe that nothing can replace the rich flavour of fresh ingredients. 

In search of the best flavor

The healthy life style re-introduces us to the world of rich flavor. Processed food and artificial flavors are not healthy. It needs preservatives and chemicals to last. The products lose taste and the dishes have an average, flat taste. That’s why food with fresh ingredients has the upper hand. It’s easy to bring out from those products their best qualities. The dishes are a lot more nutritious and have a far better impact on improving health.

Local supply and seasonal dishes

Restaurants, like Salt Flakes London, know that food is an unforgettable experience. It can only be achieved with fresh and local ingredients. The dishes are visually more alluring on the plate. It’s easier to bring out the best qualities from the cuisine. It’s a real feast of tastes and quality.

The restaurant goers start to notice the beneficial impact of local food suppliers. The items don’t have far to travel from the local farm to the restaurant table. The seasonal menus re-introduce people to the best nutritional gems of local cuisine.

In a fast-paced world, we need to notice the need for a better-quality food. Restaurants, which pay attention to freshness and quality, will be victorious in the race for the best flavour.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Meat Handling Claws and a Recipe for Bihon or Rice Noodles

#TGIF! Thank God It's Friday, it's been a long week for us because my husband  worked  Monday.  He is  off on Mondays but he decided to work  this week because he wants to have some extra cash for the coming of Christmas season.  But anyway,  I was very busy today.  I spent my entire morning cleaning our home and after that I  prepared some food.  
 Before I give you the recipe for pancit or bihon or rice noodles, I would like to  thank Cavetools for this meat handling claws that made my cooking time a little quicker today.  These high quality meat shredding forks is awesome to have in the kitchen if you  love to cook because it makes it easier  to handle the meat and shred it.  I love that I don't have to wait for the meat to get cold before I can shred it.  This will be great for pulled pork, chicken, beef, brisket, turkey, hams, roasts.  I also love  that you can  handle it  with its barbecue handler paws design.  This would be a great  gift this Christmas for your Mom or wife or sister  who love to cook.  You can use the discount code  MEATCLAW15 for 15% off via amazon.
 Now for the recipe of this favorite Filipino food we called bihon. 

Ingredients Needed:

  • 1 pack of rice sticks or bihon
  • 1 lb chicken breast
  • 2 chopped shallots
  • 2 stalks of celery chopped
  • 2 small carrots, peeled and chopped
  • Chinese cabbage, sliced 
  • 1/2 cup of  soy sauce
  • boiled eggs
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/4 cup  coconut oil.
  • 1 chicken cube
  • 2 quarts of water
  • 1 lemon, sliced.

 Procedure:

  • Boil 2 quarts of water, add the  chicken cub,  and cook the chicken breast.   When the meat is cook, take it out the pan and  shred  it using the meat claws or you can use fork.  I used to shred  it by my hands and I sometimes get burned since I rushed especially if I don't have  enough time.  I don't like using fork because it takes longer for me to get it done but you can definitely use fork.  Don't throw  away the broth.


  • Cook the noodles in the chicken broth for 5 minutes.  The noodles will most likely absorb all of it and  the flavor of the chicken.  


  •  Boil the eggs and when it's done, dump the hot water and replace it with ice cold water.  This would make peeling off the shell easier.  Slice the eggs and  put it away to garnish the noodles later.

  • Heat the coconut oil in a pan and  saute the  shallots,  carrots, and celery for  3 minutes then add the Chinese cabbage.  Cook for another 2 minutes then add the veggie and meat mixture to the noodles on a separate  pan or wok and mix it up.  Add the soy sauce, salt, and pepper.  Cook for another 5 minutes and then serve while it is hot.  Garnish it with sliced eggs and squeeze some lemons on your plate.  Enjoy!

 Today was a busy day but a very special day for my son.  This is the first time he  ever invited a friend at our home.  My son and his best friend always play at their house but this is the first time he came to our home so I wanted  it to be special for both of them.  I made a snack platter with veggies and fruits and I also made some pigs in a blanket.  Then donuts for sweet treat at the end. 
 They definitely made use every minute of their time.  They played with their car collection after we  all ate then they went outside and ride  the green machine and the rocker board.  They also passed football and  watched  a movie.
Don't forget to grab a pair of the meat claws on Amazon or at Cave Tools website.  It's really a handy tool in the kitchen, I love it!

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the complimentary product/s mentioned  for testing purposes and to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Lentil

If it just me, I would cook lentil regularly.  I love  lentils  and I cook it  the way we cook  our mung beans.  My husband and kids love it when I  sautee sausages in it.  I always have a bag of lentils in my pantry because I crave for it  once in a while.  Lentils are not only delicious but they are healthy and affordable.

Here are some benefits of eating lentils according to the article that I read online. 
  • a  single cup of cooked lentils contains 16 grams of dietary fiber
  • cooked lentils provide 18 grams of protein per cup
  • each cup of cooked lentils has 358 micrograms of folate. 
  • a cup of lentils provides 87 percent of the iron men need daily and 38 percent of the amount a woman needs. 
I will have to  include the recipe of this  yummy lentil next time.

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Plenty of Greens from the Garden and a New #SaladSpinner

I  started my vegetable garden a little bit late this year so some of  my plants are just now starting to bear fruits.  However, my herb garden is doing so well and  it's thicker than ever.  I have plenty of mints, parsley, and  oregano.  The sweet potato I  planted is also doing great so I have been harvesting the  leaves.  It is really good on soup and a friend of mine love juicing it.  Having a garden is the best feeling.  When you  grow your own veggies, you can  confidently serve it to your family without  the fear of chemicals or pesticides.   We love fresh veggies any day.  I wish we could garden all year long.  I would love to have a green house someday, it would be nice!
One of the  many  tools and  gadgets that we have in the kitchen, salad spinner is the most used during the summer because we   eat a lot of salad.  Salad spinners makes it easier to  clean the greens and other fruits and veggies.  I love this salad spinner that Cavetools sent me to review.
I love that this salad spinner is not only for leafy greens but it is best to use in washing fruits, vegetables, berries, peppers, pasta  and a lot  more! It is dishwasher safe so  it is easy to clean.  It also has a vented lid so you can rinse it easily.  This can hold more than three quarts of veggies which is really nice.  I love the large salad serving  bowl.  You can wash your greens from the  serving bowl and quickly dry it off using the high velocity turning knob.
If you want to purchase one, please use the coupon code SALAD15 for 15% OFF the price via amazon.  

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the complimentary product/s mentioned  for testing purposes and to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Polvoron Recipe and New Kitchen Gadgets

Before I  give you the recipe to one of my favorite childhood snack, let me  show you the new  kitchen items that I received from Ozeri.  First is the double wall thermo glass .  I love these glasses, because they are    heat and shatter resistant so you can also use this for  hot coffee or tea.  The double wall design is created  to keep your hands cool with hot drinks and free of condensation with chilled beverages.  Now, most  regular glass  is not  microwave safe but this is an exception.  You can try it for yourself, I did and I was amazed. 
The milk frother is fun to have especially if you have kids like my son who loves milk and milkshake.  I had a set of this with pitcher  before and  my daughter uses it a lot to make her brother something special for his milk treat.  This is a petite gadget and  yet powerful.  It whips up foam in as little as 10 secs. If you love  cappuccinos, lattes, espressos, hot chocolates, shakes and frappes, this is ideal for it.  The set includes an egg beater to whisk eggs, soups, dressings, sauces and other non-solid food items, and a propeller-shaped attachment for mixing cocktails.
The last but not the least is the wok.  I have had their wok before and loved using it everyday when I cook but just like anything else, it gets worn out especially if you use it lot like I do in my kitchen.  I am glad that I have a new one.  
What I love about this wok is that it delivers unprecedented non-stick performance without releasing harmful fumes or toxins at high temperatures.  It is scratch resistant and I love that it is super easy to clean.  The depth of the wok is  a great advantage to me because I hate splatters all over the counter.
When I get new kitchen gadgets, it really inspires me to cook  my family's favorite dishes.
I always make sisig, a favorite Filipino dish.  Since my son can't handle spicy food, I always make sure to get him a separate dish before I add the  peppers.  Sisig is great to eat with rice.  You can check the link for the recipe.
Before I give you the  recipe for polvoron, here's a little info about this  yummy treat.  Polvoron  is  shortbread-type of  cookies made with a soft, crumbly mixture of toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar butter, and nuts or any other seeds that you like.  In the Philippines, they normally use peanuts because it is the  cheapest nuts you can buy but you can use just about any kind like almonds. 
You will need the following:

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 cups skimmed milk or powdered milk
  • 1 cup  sugar
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp  flax seeds
  • 1/2 cup  chopped and  toasted  almond.
Procedure
  1. In a big bowl, add the flour, skimmed milk,  and sugar.  Mix it well.  Mixing the  three ingredients will eliminate the issue of the  milk  forming into lumps when in the pan.
  2. In a  heated wok, toast the  chia and flax seeds.
  3. Add the flour mixture and start mixing it until it is toasted.
  4. Add the toasted  almonds.
  5. Pour in the butter and mix it well.
  6. Turn off the heat and transfer it to a bowl and let it cool.  

You can put it in a mold and wrap it for future consumption. I just put it in the jar because I don't have a wrapper. I love snacking on it with my coffee or tea.  To purchase any of these items, visit the links  below:



Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the product/s mentioned  to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

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This blog does not focus on food only but also include different kinds of spices that affects our lives. So hang in here and explore the world of fun with us. Please bear in mind that little bit of this and a little dash of that makes a Sumptuous Life!