Why So Silent?

I have not published anything since June because things have been very busy with my work, and my camera finally conked out.  I have been cooking though and hope to be back to blogging soon.  I miss it so much.

Things are still busy, so I am aiming to be back with my first post in several months by October.

Wee Nam Kee

I have been planning to try out Wee Nam Kee for such a long time, but never got the chance.  So happy that they opened a branch in the South.  So I finally had the chance to take the Little Ones out for lunch last month. 

The Little Boy absolutely loves soup, he is always the first one to take a spoonful of any soup.  This one was complimentary, but it was still very flavorful, he loved it a lot.

I had the barley drink which was very refreshing

Chili, thick soy sauce and ginger
condiments to use with the Hainesese chicken

I enjoyed this garlic kangkong dish very much 

This fried rice was so good that you can just have this
and you would be very happy

The house specialty, Hainanese chicken,
we decided to get the roast kind
so that the kids would eat it.  

The Little Girl is into eating pasta and noodles these days.
This was her order, she picked it from the menu, it was just okay,
 I found it kind of bland.  But it was easily fixed with some calmansi and toyo

Another request from the Little Girl was this yummy squid dish

I will definitely be taking the Little Ones back to Wee Nam Kee soon, in fact the Little Girl is planning our next meal, she took note of other dishes she would like to try on our next visit. 

Yummy Eats 2012

I would like to start by thanking the Yummy Magazine team for organizing another successful Yummy Eats.  We had such a great time at the event, our tummies were stuffed and we left with happy and satisfied smiles on our faces.

Once again my camera decided to go bonkers today, I think I need to really think about replacing it, so I apologize I have no pictures to share but I assure everything looked and tasted delicious.  Some of my favorites are:

Chicken Delish  - I know there are plenty of double-fried chicken outlets these days, but Chicken Delish is now one of my favorites.  I like that they offer different types of sauces or should I say glaze.  We chose to have the sweet-chili and pinoy barbecue sauces which were both very flavorful, and the chicken wings were super duper crunchy.

Chuck's Grub - This is probably the best tasting fish and chips I have ever had.  The battered covered dory is crunchy on the outside but remains moist inside.  The fish was so flavorful you really do not need the dip anymore.  

Eat My GF -I have been a fan of this since I discovered them in Alabang Town Center, was so happy they were at the event so that many more people can discover the joys of eating garlic fries and virgin chips.  A lot of people were lining up for the fries and chips even though the Eat My GF booth was located in the area of the venue where it was extremely warm because it was not air-conditioned. I assure you this is really worth the unbearable heat and the long lines.

Pepita's Lechon -  Guys and Girls its lechon de leche so it will always be a winner, but what made this extra special is it was stuffed with truffle rice, so yummy.

Crunchy Belly - This is a favorite of mine, so happy to see them at the event.  I love their thin crunchy bacon like deep-fried liempo bits.  I know it is quite high in fat and cholesterol but every time I take that first bite it makes me forget about all of that and I am just happy to enjoy this guilty pleasure.

There were plenty of sweet treats too, but since I don't have much of a sweet tooth I left the sampling to the Little Ones because they love sweets.   Here are some of their favorites:

Cukay's -  these are super cute mini cupcakes that the Little Ones gobbled up really fast

Kate Bakes Manila -  the owner Kate was there and offered the Little Ones several sweet treats that they were happy to take.  They liked everything and they made sure that I got Kate's calling card so that I can order if ever they have cravings for her sweet treats. 

The Little Ones also sampled and enjoyed all the ice cream concessionaires - Fog City Creamery, Mochiko, Pinkerton Ice Cream, and Pint Homemade Ice Cream.   

If you have not gone to Yummy Eats 2012 you still have time they will be at the Rockwell Tent in Makati up to 9PM tonight.  So head on over there is plenty of yummy food, fun activities and even giveaways.

Again my congratulations and thanks to the Yummy Team.  So looking forward to Yummy Eats 2013 :) 

10 Days Till Yummy Eats 2012

Since I was a child I would always count the days to leading up to birthdays and Christmas,  I have added another to the list I eagerly count the days until Yummy Eats 2012.  I was there for  Yummy Eats 2011 and it was such a great and fun event.  I am sure this year will even be better with 50 concessionaires with so many tummy filling savory and sweet treats.

So mark your calendars, on May 26th   head on over to Rockwell Tent for a day of Yummy Eats. 

Improved Tonkatsu

I have been very busy with work that I had to work through the weekend leaving me no time to cook nor blog.    My last and only post for this month was on the first day of April.  I missed being in the kitchen so much that I made sure that I managed my work load this week so that on the weekend I can spend some time cooking.  So glad and satisfied that I finally did :) 

I was planning on trying out a new recipe but there was a request from the family that I make an old favorite that I have not done in a while.  I decided to give in to the request and made everyone's favorite Tonkatsu.  So happy that I did,  because everyone kept complementing me about how delicious it was.   Seeing everyone's happy and satisfied faces made me remember how much you can touch people with your cooking.  I know I will never be an expert like a Chef but I will do my best to become a very good Cook, whose dishes hopefully will bring smiles to those I share them with. 

Since my last post about this dish I have made some changes to the preparation that have resulted in a better tasting and tender dish. I would like to share with you my improved recipe for Tonkatsu.  You will need the following:

4 pieces of butterfly cut pork

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup flour

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

vegetable oil for deep frying

meat tenderizer

1. The night before flatten the pork pieces.  Season with salt and pepper.  Then add some  meat tenderizer, I just eyeball it.  Place in the fridge overnight.  By seasoning the pork pieces overnight your meat will be more flavorful.

2. The next  day individually dredge the pork in flour, then dip in egg, then coat and pat with panko bread crumbs.

3. Place enough oil in a pan for deep frying.  Just make sure that you control the heat you do not want to oil to be too hot that it burns the bread crumbs quickly.  Deep-fry on both sides  until golden brown, then drain on paper towels.

4. Let it stand for about 5 minutes, then cut tonkatsu into pieces.   Serve with shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce.

Recipe for tonkatsu sauce:

1 cup ketchup

1/2 cup worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup mirin

1 tablespoon sugar

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl.  This will make about 3 cups of sauce, refrigerate the extra sauce, this will keep for about a week.

Not So Crazy About Magnum

For the last couple of weeks everyone seems to be going crazy about Magnum.  The craze was spread via social media, it seemed everyone needed to get a taste of this Belgian chocolate vanilla ice cream bar. Demand was so high that there was a supposed shortage with supermarket freezers being left empty for days.

To be perfectly honest I had to plans of giving in to the Magnum craze, however for several weeks the Little Girl would drop hints now and then about how she was wondering how Magmum would taste, that she heard this and this talking about how good the ice cream bar.  Each time I told her that if she would willingly do  her chores for a month I would reward her with this treat.  But tonight I gave in, at the dinner table my Mom also dropped a hint that she would love to taste this, and then somebody mentions that they just heard that the nearby  village grocery store just got a new delivery of Magnum.  So with hints coming from so many family members I decided shell out the money, though I must say it was begrudgingly . 

So how did everyone feel  about their first taste of Magnum?  They all fell head over heels in love with it. I kept hearing how   they loved the Belgian chocolate coating and just how smooth and creamy the vanilla ice cream was.  As for me I was not too crazy about it, found the chocolate coating and the ice cream way too sweet for my taste, but I have never been a sweets person.   But hey the important thing is the Little Ones enjoyed their first taste of Magnum, those precious smiles with lips smeared with vanilla ice and melted chocolate make worth its price.  

Taking his first bite

His face says it all, he loves anything sweet

Taking her fist lick

and another lick 

there's the precious smile after several licks and a bites

She likes to pretend her ice cream is lip coloring 

 

Messy but super satisfied sweet tooth

Five Yummy Years

I have been a fan of Yummy magazine since their first issues came out 5 years ago.  As I had shared in my previous Yummy post I shared how this magazine help me cope during a very difficult time in my life.  On their fifth year the team behind this magazine continues to inspire its readers with mouthwatering photos and easy to follow and do recipes.  Here are some of the pages in the March 2012 issues that I have bookmarked. 

Yummy Likes is a recent addition that has become a must read for me

I will be making this for the Little Ones soon

The sweet labuyo chili sauce will be for me

The Yummy pages are always visually appealing 

10 Ideas is one of my favorite things in Yummy, you get 10 food ideas in one page

I miss Divine's "Fresh for Last" however Kristine's "Making It" is also a  wonderful read.  I have always admire Kristine's writing, she was 

a batchmate of mine in highschool.  

I hope that Divine would return to Yummy

so that I could enjoy reading both  her's and Kristine's articles.

 

Happy 5th Birthday Yummy, looking forward to more delicious cooking and eating  years with you =) 

Adobo Rice

As promised here is a new food post, after a long absence.

I have not perfected my adobo cooking skills, however I proud to say I make very good adobo rice = )

When I was young, whenever my Lola Ying made adobo she would make this too. After she took out the cooked adobo from the pan she would stir-fry some day old rice in the same pan.  This way she would get every morsel of adobo from the pan, absolutely nothing is wasted.  The result was a wonderfully delicious rice dish a perfect match for her yummy pork adobo.  In fact I was more excited eating the adobo rice than the adobo itself. In Lola's version she did not have to add anything else except the rice, since her adobo was perfect.  In my version I need to add some minced garlic, salt and a little sugar to make it flavorful.  It does not taste like that of Lola's but I and the Little Ones like it very much.  

Now if only I could finally perfect my adobo dish, so that I can make Lola Ying truly proud. 

Thinking Of Having My Own Website

Lst year, about 6 months into blogging I got interested in How To Make A Website but never really got around to giving it much serious thought.  However this year one of the items on my list is to try to earn some extra money from blogging, so I am doing some more research on  making and maintaining my own webstie. 

I am still in the initial stages of my research and planning.  One thing I have learned and quite excited about is  that a blogger you owns a website has many advantages than keeping your blog hosted for free.  Basically owning your website gives you more flexibility with the look and content which translates to more opportunities to earn from blogging. 

Good thing that there is a ton of useful information out there on making your own website, all you really need to do is research.  You can also ask more experienced bloggers for their tips.  I have found the blogger community to be helpful and loves to share their knowledge, this is extremely beneficial for newbies like me.  

So wish me luck in my latest endeavor. 

The Lorax At IMAX SM Southmall

I am so looking forward to seeing this movie with the Little Ones. I am sure it will be a great cinema experience because we will be seeing it in IMAX SM Southmall where the characters really do come alive.

I am ready to enter a world from the imagination of Dr. Seuss and the creators of Despicable Me when Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax: An IMAX 3D Experience® opens at IMAX SM Southmall.  The film tells the story of the Lorax, a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope and features the vocal talents of an all-star cast that includes Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift and Betty White.  Tickets go on sale March 16 .

The IMAX release of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax has been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX 3D Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology.  The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.

About Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax

From the creators of Despicable Me and the imagination of Dr. Seuss comes the 3D-CG feature Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax, an adaptation of the classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope.  The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams.  To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.  

Danny DeVito lends his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms voices the enigmatic Once-ler.  Also bringing their talents to the film are global superstars Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic youth who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Audrey, the girl of Ted’s dreams.  Rob Riggle plays financial king O’Hare, and beloved actress Betty White portrays Ted’s wise Grammy Norma.  

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax is the third feature created by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, Hop).  www.theloraxmovie.com

IMAX SM Southmall is located at 3rd Level SM Southmall Alabang-Zapote Rd. in Las Piñas City.  For information on tickets and show times, please call 806.6782 or 806.6888 or visit the website at www.IMAX SM Southmall.com.

Making Money Thru Blogging

When I started this blog almost a year ago to help me with my recovery from my illness,  I did not know that you can make money by blogging.  It was only last month that I learned How To Make Money online.  


I was so excited to see that there are  so many avenues for you to make money from blogging.  I would like to share with you  the 2 easiest ways to earn:

1. You can monetize your blog by joining GoogleAdsense and other advertiser programs.  You just sign up with them for free and they run ads on your blog.  Apparently once your blog is popular enough you can charge ad space to direct advertisers, giving you a chance to set better rates. Note to self, make this one of my goals for this year.

2. You can write sponsored posts.  This is very simple they give you a topic to write about and you get paid for the post.  This is one exciting avenue that I want to explore more this year.

There are  plenty of other ways to earn from you blog, and even more ways to make money online.  All you really need is to do is a little research to see which avenues will work for you.  Even if you are not a full time blogger I encourage you to explore this opportunity, who doesn't want to earn some extra money, right?  I know I want to so that I can buy the ingredients for all the new recipes I want to try out.  Blogging is a simple, easy, and best of all fun  way to make some money.

Starting A Blog

The first year anniversary of this blog is coming up this month.  I can hardly believe it that its almost been a year since I decided to start blogging.  At that time I was recovering from an illness, I turned to cooking and eventually blogging to help me with my recovery. 

I had no idea how to start blogging I tried to look for information off the Internet but the information out there at the time was not very useful or easy to follow for a newbie like me.  If you are thinking of starting a blog you should check out this helpful link on how to start a blog.    It gives you step-by-step instructions on how to do it and offers some valuable tips.  If you have an existing blog, this is still a good read because who can enhance your blog.  They have the answers to your questions so check them out right now and start blogging. I am sure you will love blogging just as I do.  Happy blogging everyone.  

Salad With Bagwang

Bagwang is definitely one of my favorite discoveries in Soderno.  Here is another way I can enjoy these crispy thinly sliced bacon like liempo.  I  chop them up into bits and then add them to my salsa salad. Somehow by enjoying bagwang with the veggies it definitely still is delicious but less sinful   =) 

Deep-Fried Mini Cookies

One day so I made pancakes for merienda.  I had made too much pancake batter so I decided to do an experiment. I had some old creamed filled cookies just sitting in the cupboard.  So I dipped the cookies into the batter then deep-fried them.  This experiment was a hit with the Little Ones, they did not pay any attention to the pancakes, instead they were popping the cookies in their mouths one after the other.   Will definitely be making this again soon. 

Snow Globes Are Always Fun

Picture courtesy of my dear friend Picoy

After seeing Disney on Ice we headed over to SM Mall of Asia to see the giant snow globe.  I have to admit I too was quite excited because I have always been fascinated with snow globes.

The line to get in the globe was quite long, so I had the Little Ones roam and play around the area, while I waited in line.

Santa's couch, too bad we missed him 

Even with her eyes closed she still looks so precious

At this point the Little Boy was getting impatient and antsy so the Little Girl was trying to calm him down.  But once inside the snow globe, it was fun, fun, fun as evidenced by their wide grins in the  succeeding pictures. 

Afterwards the Little Boy saw the carousel and insisted that he ride it.  He has a fondness for this ride, whenever he sees a carousel he needs to get on it. 

He did not want to get off

Next time we go to MOA the giant Ferris wheel will be our destination.  The Little Ones keep on asking when that will be I told them soon. 

Kimpura: I So Missed You

Let me start by apologizing for the quality of the pictures, I did not have my camera so I used my low tech cellphone to take pictures.  I was not really prepared that day since I was accompanying my Dad to a doctor's appointment.  It was a nice surprise that he wanted to treat us to lunch at an old family favorite.  Kimpura was our go to restaurant in Makati the whole family has missed them since they closed a couple of years ago.  So I was very thankful and super excited that Dad wanted to have lunch here. 

Love the interiors, we were the first customer for lunch, but soon after
the lunch crowd came

They still serve the free appetizer of sweet-chili dilis
with vegetables.  But the serving have become so small
but gladly still good 

I don't eat sushi nor any maki except for California. 

I always used to order ebi tempura in the old Kimpura,
was expecting them to be huge like before, was a little disappointed that they are smaller now

My parents ordered the bento set meals.  I should have followed my Dad' urging and ordered one of those.  They shared with me pieces of their katsu and it was really delicious and tender just like how I remember them.  Overall I guess my expectations were really too high for this Kimpura reunion, but I am willing to go back and I am sure next time I will enjoy the food more.