Food Friday

First, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who took the time off from their busy schedules and post their Food Friday links!

Wishing everyone a Blessed and Happy New Year! <3

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The Featured in Food Friday player for this week is....

Ms. Chelo who owns the blog Home and Bahay, with her blog post: Caldereta: A Kin to Beef Stew

Caldereta is one dish that I love eating, but haven't really tried cooking. After reading Ms. Chelo's delicious food post  (together with her yummy food shots) I told myself it's about time I give it a try! Whether you've tried it yourself, or not, why don't you check out her own version of caldereta...I think you might like her version, too!

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My food post for this week is something really easy (and quite common, lol): Bacon and Potatoes in Scrambled Eggs

Ingredients used:

• Eggs (two)
• Bacon (roughly four slices, chopped)
• Potatoes (two medium sized, diced)
• salt, pepper .
• milk (around a tablespoon)

What I did:

• Place bacon on hot pan (no need to add oil) and brown. Take the cooked bacon out of the pan and remove most of the oil, leaving just enough to fry the diced potatoes.
• In the meantime, beat the eggs together with the milk, salt and pepper.
• When the potatoes are done, pour in the egg mixture. Top with the bacon bits.
• Take out of the pan whenever you want; personally, I like mine 'fully cooked'. xD

Ate that together with an apple and some buttered toast, with my coffee. That was my lunch a couple of days ago. I am a breakfast person, meaning I love having breakfast any time of the day! LOL :P

Reminder: Please link back here (you may use the Food Friday buttons located on the right sidebar, or a simple text) if you're playing... and don't forget to visit other players as well and leave them some comment love! thank you.♥
*if you have problems with linking, do send me a message (or make a comment below) since I might be able to help...would hate to miss a food post from you! <3

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Future Trip

Hubby and I have always dreamed of going out of the country together as a family (usually it's only him who gets to go abroad, and that's because it's part of his job) on a leisure trip. However, we want our youngest to be a little bit older so that he'll get to enjoy (and remember) the trip, too. That's why I have been looking online for one of those disney packages; something that I hope both our sons will enjoy. It will be a few years from now, but I guess I am a bit too excited about it. lol.

Besides, I do like to be ready for whatever awaits us..specially since this is going to be outside the country! Hopefully, when our youngest turns five or six (that's around two to three years from now) we can finally schedule our trip...and that gives us ample time to save some more, too! :)

Food Friday (Merry Christmas!)

Note: Since most (if not all) of us might be busy during this week (hey, Christmas Day is going to be this coming Sunday!!!), I've decided to open Food Friday two days earlier than the usual day. It will end Monday, as usual, though. Next week linky will be up early, too (and that's because next Sunday is going to be New Year's Day!). ^_^

Merry Christmas, everyone! <3

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This week's Featured in Food Friday player is....

Ms. Jenn, who owns the blog Tara, Let's Eat with her post:
Recipe: Diced Chicken with Cashews

I believe that the first thing you should do if you want to stay and keep fit is to change your eating habits; not all at once, but to do it  in one manageable step at a time. Ms. Jenn has been doing that for the past few months and so far she's doing a very fine job! Her food posts reflects how she has been managing her food choices and how it's working for her. If you want to know more, or send some encouraging words her way, then do drop by her blog.

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My post for this week is Puto (Steamed Rice Cake). I wanted to do something that would involve my three-year old and this was just perfect!

Puto ... one of our fave snacks!

Ingredients used:

• a box of puto mix (i used the 200g box)
• muscovado sugar
• cheese, water

What we did:

• I let my youngest son help me with this...all we did was follow the simple instructions written on the box. Just a matter of mixing, measuring, and pouring (not necessarily in that order, lol)!
• Then steaming.
• Everything was done in less than an hour! :)

I wasn't sure if my sons and I would love the premix...but we did! It was a bit dense (maybe because my rice cakes were huge! lol), but we liked it! I wonder how it would taste if I used honey instead of muscovado sugar... ^_^
I know, next time maybe I should try making it from scratch...lol xD
Ms. Oggi does have a very promising puto recipe... :)

Reminder: Please link back here (you may use the Food Friday buttons located on the right sidebar, or a simple text) if you're playing... and don't forget to visit other players as well and leave them some comment love! thank you.♥

*if you have problems with linking, do send me a message (or make a comment below) since I might be able to help...would hate to miss a food post from you! <3

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Tasted Good!

Last weekend my family and I did some Christmas shopping, and while we were out we decided to eat at T.G.I. Friday's. My youngest and I had their Mushroom Chicken Mushroom (deep fried chicken topped with mushroom and mozzarella cheese, together with corn, rice, and whole button mushroom in crispy batter) while hubby and the eldest had their Filet Mignon (tenderloin chargrilled to your preference).

Honestly, it was one expensive lunch (specially for a Scrooge like me! :D ), but everything tasted real good.

For dessert we decided to go to Krispy Kreme and I picked their Double Chocolate Kruffin. It was delicious...but too sweet for me. I had to leave out the sweet stuff on the center. Ate the rest of the doughnut, though. LOL. xD

Had one satisfied tummy that day! :tup

post shared over at:
Weekend Eating by Jenn

I'm Guilty!

See Bigger

Yup, I do get my words in a jumble every once in a while. But most of the time when I'm not sure about the spelling (or it's use) I search about it online. Just to confirm and make sure I am using the right word(s). Still, if there's a misspelled word or misused word in this blog, then do pardon me. :)

Change is good...

...sometimes. :)

Do you take a sip every now and then?

Zoom In

Take a look at that infographic above...interesting, huh? Admittedly, when I was working away from home I used to drink with my friends and co-workers. Oh, we don't drink till we're dead to the world. We drink just because we like being together, sitting comfortably, eating yummy morsels and then chatting. Yup, even the male friends. We don't bash things around after we're done. lol. In fact, even if we were all single then we always stopped before we got tipsy. We all had to go home and work the next day.

Drinking is fine, as long as you know when to stop. Like everything else. :)

Food Friday

*Note: I would like to inform everyone that Food Friday will start early for two consecutive weeks (which will start next week):
:December 21 (Wednesday) until December 26 (Monday)
:December 28 (Wednesday) until January 02, 2012 (Monday).
Most, if not all, of us will probably be busy during those times and that's why I've decided to open the linky a little bit longer than the usual. ^_^

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This week's Featured in Food Friday player is ....

Ms. Girlie who blogs over at Mommy and Matt (and Daddy too) with her blog post:
Chicken fingers

Now that shot is really tempting, isn't it? Love it! Ms. Girlie's blog is a place where she posts  moments shared together with her family and photos of her son, Matt. Do visit her fsite and check what cute Matt has been up to lately.

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My post for this week is Steamed Milkfish with Dill and Pepper.

Ingredients used:

• milkfish belly
• dried dill, freshly ground pepper, salt,
• chili slices (green finger pepper), sliced garlic, water 
• a few drops of soy sauce and coconut vinegar
• sesame oil (optional)

Procedure:

• Heat up your steamer.
• Dump the milkfish (skin side down) and the other ingredients (except for the sesame oil) in a container suitable for steaming (I used an aluminum container).
• Once the water in the steamer is boiling merrily, place the milkfish inside.
• Wait for around 15mins, or until the fish meat has turned white and flakes off easily.
• Remove from steamer then drizzle a bit of sesame oil, if you like.
• Serve hot with steamed rice.

In my case, I sneaked in some slices of raw chili...I just love the heat as well as the added taste and aroma. :)

Reminder: Please link back here (you may use the Food Friday buttons located on the right sidebar) if you're playing... and don't forget to visit other players as well and leave them some comment love! thank you.♥

*if you have problems with linking, do send me a message (or make a comment below) since I might be able to help...would hate to miss a food post from you! <3

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Cat

... YOU!
...this cat's been staying outside our screen door for a couple of days now...i wonder who's watching whom! :vD

Dreaming Again

I love it when some details are highlighted, like those plastic switch plate covers! I know, most switch plate covers are plain white. In my house, anyway. But seeing something that's not usual (like ones that are lavishly decorated) really brings a smile to my face. A house furniture that's also uniquely designed warms my heart...but of course it has to be comfortable and functional, too. No sense in having a uniquely designed furniture that's of no use! lol.

I know, am dreaming again. But it's good to be airing out what your dreams are, every once in a while, right? <3

Breakfast (Last Saturday)

Mostly leftovers for breakfast... o_O

salted fish, tofu, fried rice, and tomatoes

post shared over at:
Weekend Eating by Jenn

Food Friday

*Note: I would like to inform everyone that Food Friday will start early for two consecutive weeks:
:December 21 (Wednesday) until December 26 (Monday)
:December 28 (Wednesday) until January 02, 2012 (Monday).
Most, if not all, of us will probably be busy during those times and that's why I've decided to open the linky a little bit longer than the usual. ^_^

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This week's Featured in Food Friday player is ....

Ms. Halie, who blogs over at Halie's Kitchen with her blog post:
Burger in Olive Oil and Butter Sauce

Now this was certainly an interesting take on how you can dress up your burger and pair it with rice, instead of the usual buns!  Olive oil and butter do go well together (in my honest opinion) and will certainly help enhance the meat's flavor...I haven't tried her recipe yet, but I just might! Want to know more? Then do go and check her blog out!

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Three of my favorites together in one dish: Tofu, Tomaotes, and Toge (Mung Bean Sprout)!

Ingredients used:

• tofu (marinated in soy sauce, spanish paprika, and pepper)
• tomatoes
• mung bean sprouts
• garlic, onion, salt, pepper, roasted sesame seeds
• sesame oil
• canola oil for frying and sauteeing

How it was prepared:

• Marinated the tofu overnight (soy sauce, spanish paprika, pepper), then fried the next day. Set aside to cool, then slice after it has cooled down.
• Slice the tomatoes. Clean/wash the mung bean sprouts. Set aside.
• Slice one medium onion. Crush and slice garlic. 
• Heat up pan and add around two tablespoons of oil; when hot enough, add the onions then the garlic. 
• Add the tomatoes next. After around two minutes, add in the mung bean sprouts. It will release a bit of liquid and by then you can add in the sliced fried tofu. Mix gently.
• Season with salt and pepper. If you want, you can add in more liquid.
• Drizzle a bit of sesame oil, then sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds on top.
• Serve.

Honestly, I wasn't sure if my sons would go for this...but they did! <3

Reminder: Please link back here (you may use the Food Friday buttons located on the right sidebar) if you're playing... and don't forget to visit other players as well and leave them some comment love! thank you.♥

*if you have problems with linking, do send me a message (or make a comment below) since I might be able to help...would hate to miss a food post from you! <3

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Yikes!!!

...yup.
... and we haven't started with our Christmas shopping yet!! o_O
not that we'll be buying much...lol.

Oatmeal

Had cinnamon oatmeal with apple slices yesterday. It's brown because I used muscovado sugar. :)

post shared over at:
Weekend Eating by Jenn

Food Friday

This week's Featured in Food Friday player is .....

Ms. Kate, who owns the blog A Slice of Kate, with her blog post:
Dora Birthday Cake: Fondant Chocolate Cake

Doesn't that look adorable? I just love the colors Ms. Kate used for her daughter's 2nd birthday cake...so festive! Take note, she mentioned that she didn't have proper baking tools when she made this...and still it came out perfect! Her blog is filled with food posts which she herself cooked, and reviews from restaurants where she has eaten. Do drop by her blog and send her some love!

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My post for this week is something that not everybody likes...the durian fruit. I know, it's one of those fruits that you can only hate, or love. Nothing in between. lol. First time I tasted it, it was 'different', but I liked it right away. Now, am loving it! <3

Durian Breakfast Muffins

I followed Jonny's Durian Breakfast Muffins Recipe, with a few modifications

Ingredients:
1/2 cup durian
1 cup flour
2 eggs
2/3 cup palm sugar (or brown sugar) - i used muscovado sugar, same amount
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract - i didn't add this (i forgot to buy some!)

some ingredients used: durian, eggs, flour, muscovado sugar, powdered coconut milk

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 325F (or 310F for convection ovens). (i used an oven toaster!)
• Remove any stringy portions of the durian flesh.
• Mix all ingredients in blender. (i mixed everything by hand, lol)
• Place mixture into muffin pan. (This recipe is for 5-6 large muffins.). (i placed mine in individual muffin cups and covered them with aluminum foil)
• Bake for 15 minutes. Let cool before removing muffins. Place muffins on rack to further dry their exteriors before eating. (my muffins came out nice and dry on the outside...guess it's because i used an oven toaster)

Tip: do not consume these with alcohol as consuming durian fruit with alcohol is dangerous. Durian is a 'heaty' food so serve together with a 'cooling' food such as banana or mangosteen.

Surprisingly, the durian smell (which some find offensive) wasn't that strong after the muffins were cooked (maybe less so if I added in the vanilla). I even stored the leftovers inside the freezer, but it only stayed there for around two days. My three-year old and I loved it. He wouldn't touch the durian pulp, but he devoured the durian muffins as soon as it was cool enough to eat. ^_^

Reminder: Please link back here (you may use the Food Friday buttons located on the right sidebar) if you're playing... and don't forget to visit other players as well and leave them some comment love! thank you.♥

*if you have problems with linking, do send me a message (or make a comment below) since I might be able to help...would hate to miss a food post from you! <3

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