Native Desserts

I cooked two different Filipino treats the other day, saging con hielo and leche flan. I saw three pieces of over riped bananas of "saba" variety in my kitchen counter, so I cooked it for the afternoon snack. By the way, for those who don't know what is saging con hielo, it is a Filipino delicacy which can be served as snack. Saging is Tagalog for banana and con hielo is Spanish for "with ice", so literally, saging con hielo means banana with ice.


To make this special saging con hielo, I peeled the bananas and cooked in a small casserole with 1 cup of water, 2 spoons of brown sugar and half teaspoon of vanilla extracts. When it started boiling, I poured and mixed in a spoonful of tiny tapioca pearls, then covered it until cooked. This snack is served cold with a cup of crushed ice and 1/2 cup of condensed milk. Yummy!

Now, let's come to the leche flan, a famous Filipino dessert adapted from Spanish people, which is known as caramel custard in western countries. This is my first time to cook this sweet treat in my very own kitchen.. ever! I learned cooking this kind of stuff in my Food Trade subject in high school, but never attempted to make on my own. I thought, I need to come up with a recipe which will require whole eggs, not egg yolks alone, and less sugar or condensed milk.
Well, it's been a while and I just had my first try. I used 4 whole eggs, a small amount of sugar and condensed milk, evaporated milk, fresh milk and vanilla extract. The finish product was yummy enough for people who are strict with sugar intake. I am yet to improve this recipe, so the "how to" will be posted next time.



Happy New Year everyone!!!

Spend the Holidays at Legend Villas

Looking for a cheap reservation in the heart of the metro? Planning a trip to Manila but don't know where to stay? I suggest check the Legend Villas because it is the best place to go.

Legend Villas is a Fil-Hispanic-themed accommodation with a luxurious twist. This place is best for meetings, seminars and weddings too. Located along Pioneer Street in Mandaluyong, the hotel is only 3 minutes away from Boni MRT Station and 2 minutes away from Robinson's Forum.
Surrounded by flowers and small trees in a beautifully landscaped garden, the ambiance of this place is giving a homey feeling. I live nearby Legend Villas. In fact, this place is visible from our window, so I was amazed when I got the chance to visit the place. I never thought it was that nice.

Here's a photo of me taken in their Executive Suite where my mommy blogger friends and I partied like cowboys over a week ago. The room was decorated with wood carvings, native mats, antique-looking furniture, etc. The bed was huge and comfy. The washroom was clean and the bathroom with jacuzzi was awesome. Too bad I don't have more photos to show you 'cause we got really busy partying that day.
For inquiries and reservations, you may call 702-2700 to 04.

My Favorite Story

I love stories. Short stories. Of romance and humor and nuts! Nuts? Why nuts? Because this newest favorite story of mine isn't really the regular story we hear or read from books. This story is the Hazelnut Story by BreadTalk, a chocolate and cream cake in hazelnut flavor.

Two days before Christmas, I went to a BreadTalk shop in Glorietta to buy this cake. I believe, BreadTalk cakes are less sweeter than Red Ribbon and way better than Goldilocks, so hubby and I chose to get our Christmas cake from them. This Hazelnut Story cake costs exactly P600. Yes, the price is two times a regular call roll from others, but the taste is worth it. Really!

This cake is best eaten when chilled. Here's my slice with Santa on the side. Notice the layer after layer of chocolate chiffon and thick hazelnut cream. Are you salivating already? I guess you are, so imagine the taste. It is nutty. And creamy. And chocolatey! Not too sweet, thus friendly to the tonsils. Next time, I will be back to try the Merry Mango, Let It Snow and Silent Night. I hope they are still available, though.

Guadalupe Bliss on Fire

A day before Christmas and while everybody else is busy preparing for the Christmas Eve, a big fire is currently bringing down a building in Guadalupe Bliss which was said to have started around 2:30 PM.

Taken 3:37 PM
As we speak and as I can see from my bedroom window, lots of people are gathered along J.P. Rizal Extn., front of Pasig River, adjacent to Guadalupe Bliss. As far as I know, this array of low-rise condominiums was a project of Marcos. Now, firefighters are still trying to turn down the fire while more and more firetrucks are coming. I can just imagine how sad Christmas to those people who are affected with this incident. Please stop the fire. God please help them.

At 4:16 PM

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Kitang kita ko sa may bintana ang sunog. Napuno ng tao at mga firetruck ang kalsada. Kinikilabutan ako kasi palaki ng palaki ang apoy at nadadamay na ang mga katabing building. Madami pa din ang mga bumberong paparating. Maririnig ang walang humpay na sirena ng bumbero. Sana maapula na ang apoy. Kawawa naman silang walang matutuluyan sa Pasko. Sabi nga nila, di bali na ang manakawan. Wag lang daw masunugan!

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Boots for Kids

Sometime in December 2007, while hubby (then bf) and I were still dating, I saw a pair of very cute red boots from SM. I told him to buy it for our future daughter, but he didn't like the idea, so I went home feeling very bad. I don't know what do you call that.. just I guess, I knew I will later be pregnant with a girl the next year.

at Greenfield District..
Now back to the present. I bought my daughter her first pair of boots the first week of December. The pair of boots which is very similar to the ones that I saw 3 years ago. I am so happy because SM sells them for P399.75 only. I first picked a pair of purple boots, but changed my mind when I thought about our Christmas tradition of dressing in red.

very cute heart design..
Anyway, pairs of pink boots were available too. Aside from pink, there were black and brown ones also. They were all priced more or less P400. I just did not like the design of those pink boots that's why I gladly settled with the red ones. My daughter loves them so much. She will pair them with a lovely red dress this Christmas.
How about you? What kind of shoes did you buy for your kid this Christmas?

Bottle Gourd

I saw this vine of bottle gourd growing at my grandpa's backyard in the province. Locals call this vegetable kabagwang which is also known as upo in Tagalog. This vine produces a lot of fruits that during our one week stay there, I saw my grandpa harvested more than a couple of times because people come to the house and buy. Well, trade with fish sometimes.

I took three pieces of this fruit at home in our flight back to Manila last November 18. I gave one fruit for my uncle, one for a friend, then one left at home. I divided mine into two and cooked them separately. Remember my Ginisang Upo with Miswa the other week? That was the other half.

Celebrating 10 Years of Friendship at Hooters Pasay

I had a blast together with college friends at Hooters Pasay the first week of December. We normally meet every holiday season or before each year ends. Our friendship already turned 10 years and one of us was celebrating his birthday, so we decided to make it a little special by meeting in a fancy restaurant.
Edel, Ran, Lara and I. More than a couple of us were missing. Some of them were too busy to attend the gathering. You know, different priorities. Some we already lost contact. Hayyy.. I wonder if we could ever drag everybody in one setting, to be reunited and to have fun just like the old times.
To secure a place for less than 10 people, we called the restaurant 3 days prior our visit. We asked for a reservation and requested for a special something for the birthday celebrant. Hubby, BIL and his gf came with me too. The place was good and the food was great. We exchanged jokes and stories over a late dinner and they had some drinks. Just green mango smoothie for me. Then, the gift-giving came later and...

Came the birthday special moment. The Hooter girls took him from us, made him stand on a table and sung and danced upon. Waaahh.. it was so funny. They even did a train dance. Haha. I miss you guys already. Merry Christmas my dear friends!


HOOTERS PASAYBuilding D Unit 1-6, San Miguel by the Bay, Mall of AsiaPasay City, Metro Manila, PhilippinesTelephone No. (632) 492-1152, 292-9972

My Daughter and I Ruled in Fun Ranch

It was our first time at the Fun Ranch last Saturday. We were invited to participate to the ATD and Mommy Bloggers Party. The main location of the event was at the Big Red Barn (inside the theme park), a family-friendly restaurant that features a magic show on weekends.

Fun Ranch was kind enough to cater a number of kids from poor families. My daughter played, ate and posed for the camera with them. When the mascots Skye the blue horse, Red the dog and Sunny the duck came out, all the kids were happy and amazed. Although before that, they already enjoyed the games, the magic show and the food that Big Red Barn prepared. After the party, the kids took advantage of the unlimited rides. I got another appointment that day so my daughter and I only tried the carousel before leaving.

There are several rides to choose from at Fun Ranch namely, Fun Ranch Express, Bumper Car, Bumper Boat, Ferris Wheel, Pirate Ship, Swing Ride, Space Quest, and the Go! Aside from those. there is also what they call Leaps and Bounds, some kind of inflatable playground, and Family Fun Zone which offers Duckpin bowling and Mini Golf. I swear, we'll definitely go back to try them all.

Fun Ranch is not only a place to play, it is also ideal for partying. In fact, they have party packages for different occasions like birthday, graduation and the like. In fact, I've read several reviews of party and fun at this family entertainment complex from other blogs before. I told hubby to bring us there for our daughter to play once. The thing is, we didn't go until last weekend 'cause I thought the place is far or hard to find. Well, that happens if you are not really acquainted with Pasig. For those who aren't not familiar yet, Fun Ranch is located in Frontrera Verde Ortigas corner C5. It is beside the Ark Avilon Zoo and across Tiendesitas. Visit www.funranch.com.ph or call 7063029 or 7063031 for more information.

I Love These Polvoron!

I used to cook polvoron for myself, but later an aunt in the province opened a home business of candies and sweets like polvoron. Honestly, I tasted several kinds of polvoron in my life. Some are oily. Some are are too sweet. The rest are lacking enough milk. Of all the polvoron out there, homemade or commercial, I can say that these polvoron suit my taste well.

A fellow mommy blogger are making these yummy and unforgettable polvoron. I say I like it a lot because they contain enough milk, sugar and fat. Actually, they are available in four different flavors:

Crunch - polvoron with rice crispies

Cookies n' Cream - polvoron with that cookie flavor

Peanut butter - yummy nutty polvoron

Choco Dip - polvoron with chocolate on top

If you wish to order polvoron, just text or call my fellow mommy blogger Fedz at 09175012208. She can make customized packaging for you too, perfect to be given away to relative and friends this Christmas.

BABY CARE: Ainon Mosquito Patch

Mommies are naturally conscious about their child's health and safety. As much as possible, we want our kids to be away from sickness esp. these days that viruses like dengue spread easily. Good thing there are companies like Ainon who knows the need of mothers like us. Introducing the Ainon Mosquito Repellent Patch.


Unlike other mosquito repellents, the Ainon Mosquito Repellent Patch is made up of pure citronella and technology of high nanometer. It is natural and safe because it does not contain DEET. It is convenient to use and bring anywhere. It provides 72 hours of protection, giving you the peace of mind when traveling, outing and camping with your babies or kids. Just peel off the patch from its backing and attach on a clean and dry area of clothing or item.
I basically use mosquito repellent for my daughter everytime we travel or go to the province. It is always a part of my safety kit. They are available in cute designs, so my daughter also likes it. Attaching it to my daughter's clothing is very easy than using some sort of repellent lotion which can be greasy.
Wish to buy Ainon Mosquito Repellent Patch for your kid? They will be available in SM soon!

These Mommy Bloggers Party Like Cowboys

Last Saturday, for the first time in my blogging career, I attended a Christmas party for mommy bloggers that was held at the nearby Legend Villas. We agreed to come in cowboy outfits, so everyone wore checkered tops and some even wore cowboy hats and boots.

Some of the mommy bloggers who came to party: Yami, Jes (and her son), Nora, Me and Techa. I was supposed to come wearing my Forever 21 suede boots and a cowboy belt to match, but I changed my mind. I ended up wearing this outfit ensemble: checkered top from Herbench, Crissa jeans, Jazz brown flats from Robinson's, belt from Landmark, Guess watch and bag from Esprit Glorietta.
The prizes and giveaways from our sponsors: Ainon Baby, Unilab, Parentin.Tv, Walter Double Fiber Wheat Bread, Maya Fluffy n' Tasty, Soyami Soya Chips, bra extender and kiddie shoe bags from Proud Mama, Playtex Quick Straw, The Body Shop, GCs from Ipanema, Rider Sandals, Grendha courtesy of ELRO Commercial & Industrial Corporation, and Massage Package from Leirs. Also, included in our loot bags and some were rafled off were Johnson and Johnson's baby powder.
Pass that cowboy hat! This is just one of the games we played. After the games, while eating and blabbing on things, the rest of us enjoyed singing karaoke and taking photos.

Photos of me and Mommy Joy, our party host. Just before the exchanging of gifts, I won a package of Unilab goodies in the raffle draw and Ainon products in singing. So happy!
The biggest prize at the party is a gift from Ms. Kristine Bersola-Babao of Parentin.TV. In the photo are Mommy Joy, Bedalyn (the grand winner), Pehpot and Ms. Agnes of Ainon. That's all folks. See you in our Christmas party next year!

Dance for a Million

The Chooks-to-go Sayaw Fever is still on. If you are a group of 10 or less and can do amazing chicken moves, just visit chooks1million.com and know the mechanics on how to join.
Look at these kids, they made it to the show by merely mimicking the chicken dance. Young or old, it doesn't really matter for as long as you can impress the judges by doing your thing at the dance floor.
Don't just watch this group bringing home the grand prize. Come one guys! Gather yourselves with lots of confidence and be a part of this nationwide search for a new dance sensation.

Even my daughter tried to impress the judges here. She can't dance really well, so she justthought of showing her cute modeling pose for Chooks-to-go.

Ginisang Upo with Miswa

This is just a variation of the traditional Ginising Patola with Miswa, so I think you'll find this very easy to cook. Instead of patola, use upo as alternative, and instead of sotanghon or vermicelli, you can use miswa.


This dish can serve as a soup. Also, perfect to pair with anything fried like fish, meatballs, chicken legs, etc. I don't think I need to post the ingredients and procedure in cooking, so just post a question if you have one. Hihi.

Join the Active Fun Christmas Party

This invitation is open to all parents with kiddos who would love to have extra fun this Christmas. Active Fun at SM North EDSA is inviting you to join their year-end party with unlimited play, face painting, photo op with Santa, mascot and magic show, snacks, raffle, lootbags and more.



The dates are December 16 and 17, 2010. Just choose your preferred day to attend. Go to Active Fun and register now!

Flying with a Toddler

My daughter and I traveled back to the province last month using a local airline. We used to travel before but I paid only taxes, nothing for the airfare. She already turned 2 so, for the first time last month, I had to pay a full fare.

Serious mode at 5 o'clock in the morning in Manila Domestic Airport, waiting for airplane boarding.
When traveling with a kid, it is important to plan the trip ahead of time. If possible, buy the ticket during a promo period to save money. Also prepare the documents needed for the travel like birth certificate or passport. Before the day of the travel, make sure your child gets enough sleep and rest to avoid any discomfort the next day. On the travel day itself, dress your child appropriately. Provide a jacket if the weather is a little chilly. You must hand carry a bag full of must-haves like wet tissue, water or milk, etc.
Relaxed in her own seat. We had to take a photo as a remembrance.
To put your child at ease during the flight, bring a comfort item to hug. It could be your kid's favorite stuffed animal or pillow. If you have to travel for long hours, a blanket could be great idea too. Don't forget to fasten your child's seatbelt before tucking him/her in to sleep, though.

The plane has landed. She looked anxious to see the province.
Most toddlers can't sit for long hours, waiting for the travel to end and finally reach the destination. They won't be able to understand it when you say "Hang on, we're almost there". To avoid your child throwing tantrums while still on board, give him/her something to do. Say for example, a coloring book or a puzzle. Or else, give your child something to eat or drink. In my daughter's case, she carried her backpack with fresh milk, some jellies, peanuts and wet tissue. She also brought her favorite stuffed animal with her. And so far, that was our finest travel ever. She did not cry, shout, whatever. Instead, she was just reading the travel manual, watching the clouds, smiling at people and enjoying her light snacks.

Chooks-To-Go Sayaw Fever

This is an invitation for all Filipinos with a talent in dancing. Young old, male and female, everyone is invited to do the chicken dance. Chooks-to-go is here to gave out P1 Million cash for the chosen grand winner. You don't have to be a professional dancer, just make a team of 10 people or less then join for an audition in all major cities nationwide.



For the complete details of screening and contest mechanics, visit www.chooks1million.com. For Luzon contestanst, you may call Tel. 470-39-66 or text 09494995306 to inquire. Look for Jonathan or Jonas. For Visayas and Mindanao contestants, call Castro Creative Concepts at Tel. 233-57-58 or text 09179957703. Good luck guys! :)

Akihiro Sato: 1st Celebrity Sole Survivor

The first sole celebrity survivor winner is no other than Akihiro Macieira Sato a.k.a. AKI, the half Japanese, half Brazilian model. He played as a nice guy, also shown strength by winning a number of times both in reward and immunity challenges. He survived the tough life at a remote island in Thailand for 36 days, together with other celebrity castaways Solenn Heussaff and Ervic Vijandre.

Congratulations Aki!

Akihiro started modeling in Brazil and Thailand, but now residing in the Philippines for good. He began modeling for Penshoppe in 2008 and appeared on TV and ads a number of times already. Aki is said to be studying the Filipino language in the University of Philippines and is in a relationship with Maricar Soriano.

Playboy Store in Manila

I just found out that Landmark at Trinoma already put up a specific space for Playboy products in their store 3 months ago. It is located at the 3rd level where the intimate apparel section is. The Playboy products are neatly arranged in a number of shelves very near Victoria's Secret.

The stall is attended by a couple of sales ladies.
The Playboy section is easy to distinguish because it is almost all pink.

But actually, they have a lot of underwear in different colors like purple, blue, red, black, beige, etc. Prices range from P300 and up. Ideal gift items for kinky ladies eh? :)






*This is my 49th entry for the "I ♥ PINK" meme. To be a part of the pink fever, click the button shown at the sidebar.

Breakfast at Seattle's Best

I had breakfast at Seattle's Best in Greenbelt 3 Makati together with some bloggers last Monday, November 29, 2010. Never that I visited a coffee store before to sit down with a latte or something (the reason behind that?..tell ya later). Here's the photo story of my experience.


Waiting for my order, together with fellow mommy bloggers, Lace, Jenny and Bedalyn.
The wall, the shelf and a Seattle's Best red mug.
Plates of big breakfast for Lace and me and the SBC's holiday drink - Cookies and Mint Mocha. Love the sausages a lot. They tasted yummy. It went well with my hot chocolate (not in the picture). Thanks SBC for a wonderful breakfast!
For you coffee lovers, join SBC's Give and Receive Promo. GIVE because become a World Vision child advocate by completing those 18 stickers and RECEIVE a limited edition of 2010 SBC Holiday Giveaway Package exclusively designed items by three of SBC's 10 BEST Customers artist - Ivan Acuna and Jowee & Mon of Team Manila.


Promo period is from October 29, 2010 to January 15, 2010 with Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 5613, Series of 2010.