Cook and Brew.

The husband took me and the little one the weekend before Valentines to Yakimix in Tomas Morato for a pre-celebration of the day of hearts.  Valentine’s was a Monday and since he’s not sure if he could go home early from work on that day he decided that we celebrate it early. Besides, Green Machine’s coding sched is on a Monday too.  So even if he goes home early, we wouldn’t be able to drive it out because it’s still within the coding time frame.  

Anyway, it was yet again another pig out Saturday as I chowed on my buffet staples: tempura, lechon kawali, california maki, salad, yang chow fried rice, cakes, barbecue.  I was so full that night that I felt my tummy would explode.  Thank you for a very filling pre-valentine’s dinner, Dad!

Wrinkles come with old age.  Aging is inevitable but with the usage of the best anti wrinkle cream plus eating wrinkle-fighting foods and living a healthy lifestyle, a youthful look can be easily achieved and maintained.

Foods rich in antioxidants help fight elasticity and firmness in aging skin.

Here are examples of food that are rich in antioxidants:

1. Tomatoes

2. Red Peppers

3. Beets

4. Carrots

5. Kale

6. Blueberries

7. Salmon

Whenever I plan our weekly menu, I always make it a point to include at least two vegetable meals in it.  Aside from the fact that veggies are a lot cheaper compared to meat therefore it’s economical, I want to nourish my family with the healthiest foods and absolutely no food is healthier than vegetables.  I grew up in a pure Ilocano household so I’m quite accustomed to eating pinakbet, dinengdeng and other all-veggie soup meals. 

Here’s how Pinakbet or Pakbet is usually cooked:

(image source: http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2006/07/pinakbet.html)

Ingredients:

• 1/4 kilo pork with fat, cut into small pieces

• 2 Ampalaya (bitter melons) sliced to bite size pieces

• 2 eggplants, sliced to bite size pieces

• 5 pieces of okra, cut in two

• 1 head garlic, minced

• 2 onions, diced

• 5 tomatoes, sliced

• 1 tablespoon of ginger, crushed and sliced

• 4 tablespoons bagoong isda or bagoong alamang (bagoong isda is tastier though)

• 3 tablespoons of oil

• 1 1/2 cup water

• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

• In a cooking pan, heat oil and fry the pork until brown, remove the pork from the pan and set aside.

• On the same pan, saute garlic, onion, ginger and tomatoes.

• In a casserole, boil water and add bagoong.

• Add the pork in the casserole and mix in the sautéed garlic, onion, ginger and tomatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.

• Add in all the vegetables and cook until the vegetables are done, be careful not to overcook.

• Salt and pepper to taste.

• Serve hot with plain rice.

Resource: http://www.filipinofoodrecipes.net/pakbet.htm

My abroad-based sister and her family will be coming home for vacation this June.  My niece is turning 2 by then and will be having a party here to celebrate her birthday.  Since they are living overseas and therefore aren’t aware of the ongoing party trends and do not know much about local party suppliers, she sought my help and asked if a Butterfly themed party would be a good idea.  Knowing that my niece loves butterflies, then it’d be definitely great.  Besides, there are lots of ideas and materials that are widely available locally for this theme.  A summer theme would also be great since I think their second option is a swimming party but it would be rainy season by then so a birthday cake adorned with beach balls, tanning lotions, sunglasses and chilled fruit shakes would be a little bit off.

Looks like we’re 90% ready for our beach adventure next month.  Flight and hotel accommodations are booked and since pigging out is part of any trip, I’m checking out now Boracay restaurant reviews online so we can come up ready and we’d know where to head to when our tummy grumbles.  So far, here are the restos that are very well raved by the islands’ recent visitors as per My Boracay Guide on Facebook.

1. Cafe Del Sol – the place for great coffee and tastiest desserts

Location: D’Mall, Station 2

2. Hamma – Japanese dining at its finest

Location: D’Mall, Station 2

3.Cyma – home of authentic Greek dishes

Location: D’mall

4. Bite Club Grilled Burgers – a haven for the burger lovers

Location: Station 2 – D’Mall

So that’s it! I just have to fill in our luggage with our swimsuits and indoor tanning lotions and we’re almost ready to go.  Oopps, I just remembered, I haven’t printed out our e-tickets for the flight.