Sweetrus

This is going to be my first time to blog about a recipe I personally made. After I tried the Calamansi Muffin in Boracay, which obviously I liked very much, I got too inspired to make a version of my own. I am sharing it here and please feel free to comment or share your baking secrets to better imrpove my muffins.

 

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 eggs 

1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup calamansi juice

lemon essence

Procedure:

1. Cream together butter and sugar. Add egg to the mixture.

2. Sift all the dry ingredients.

3. Add dry ingredients to the cream.

4. Add the calamansi juice and a few drops of lemon extracts. 

5. Mix well and pre-heat oven.

6. Fold in a cupcake pan and bake for 15 minutes. 

7. Allow to cool and there, they are ready to serve.

I am also in the process of trial-and-error in doing... 

Mom told me to not share the recipe as she is planning to make money out of it soon. 

So here goes a collage of my citrus pie.

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Tasted & Tested

The -ber months have just begun and so we also started looking for a venue, conceptualizing the theme, and the best part is, the food-tasting for our annual year-end Christmas party.

We had a hard time finding a function area where all our employees can be accommodated and would also give in to our needs and demands. As per my boss, we were handling this too late as most companies book a reservation during the first quarter of the year. I was initially surprised by that thought but only then when I realized why we always find it hard to look for a party venue. It shall be set and done as soon as we welcome the brand new year!

Luckily, New Horizon Hotel in Boni, Mandaluyong was still open for reservation on December 16, 2013. All weekends were already marked off and so we have no choice but to grab the deal. Besides, it is the only hotel that approves most of our demands.

Fast-forward, skipping the series of discussions and meetings, we got invited for a food-tasting session. We were informed that the food they will serve is good for 3 people -- Ms Criz, Ms Des, and myself. For this I thank my bosses for letting me be part of the committee. 

For appetizer, these were served:

                               Ham Croquette Balls

                             Chicken Liver Mousse

                           Shrimp & Vegetable Aspic

The soup was a bit salty, but their house bread and unsalted butter taste good.

                                  Spinach Veloute

Two salads were on our table as well. Both were sooo yummy that we left nothing but an empty plates.

                               Belgian Potato Salad

                                      Waldorf Salad

The main dishes consist of the following:

                                Irish Beef Casserole

                 Stewed Pork Loin with Tarragon Sauce

                                      Coq Au Vin

                         Fish Fillet Meuniere au Beure

                               Batonnet Vegetables

Our sweet tooth was managed by these yummy desserts:

                          Belgian Chocolate Mousse; 

                      Vanilla and Chocolate Log Cakes

                        Strawberry & Ube Log Cakes

All these were served at Picasso's Place, located also at New Horizon Hotel. The food were perfectly good though there were some that we requested the chef to adjust its flavor and sugar content a little. I'm sure our executives & employees will definitely enjoy the buffet stretch on our party. 

I would like to end this entry with me feasting on the sinfully delicious dessert. 

Advanced Merry Christmas and a Happy Tummy! 

***

Days Well-Spent

A couple of months ago, I, together with my mom and a few relatives, flew in to Puerto Princesa, Palawan. We booked our flight 9 months before the departure date which means we have enough time to save money to manage the expenses when we get there. 

Since I am very particular with the must-try, must-do, must-eat, must-etc., I conducted my own research through online blogs and personal experiences of my friends. And I finally came up to our 3-day itinerary. 

Below are the highlights of our 4days/3nights stay in Puerto Princesa.

Day 1

We arrived in the city around 2pm. We did not waste any time so with our bags and luggages at the van compartment, we headed to the City Tour. It was rainy during that day but the plan still pushed through. We first went to Plaza Cuartel. It is not an ordinary park but a historical one -- 143 American soldiers were burned alive by Japanese invaders. Only 11 prisoners have survived in that ill-fated event. Right in-front of Plaza Cuartel is a beautiful cathedral, known as Immaculate Concepcion Church. Since it was our first time there, we prayed inside and made a wish. I'm crossing my fingers that my wishes will be granted! The rain was pouring non-stop but our tourist guide continued to tour us around the city. House of Pasalubongs can be found along the way so we stopped for a few minutes to buy anik-anik. Our next stop was at Crocodile Farm. Well, I'm not really fascinated with crocodiles. Maybe I have fears because of what I mostly see on movies or heard on the news. The last stop was at Baker's Hill and there we bought breads and pastries, which believe or not, we downed during our tours. Then we were dropped to Go Hotels, our decent home for the next 3 days. This hotel wowed me and it's "not bad" for I felt like we were not in a budget hotel. Affordable accommodation without compromising quality and good service. The hotel is situated beside Robinsons Puerto Princesa and so we had the perks of dining out, do a little bit of grocery & mall shopping, and grab some drinks to cap off the night.

Day 2

We woke up early the following day to have breakfast and prepare for the Underground River Tour. The weather was better than yesterday but because of the ocean's big waves, the coast guards did not allow the boatmen to sail on. Instead, we headed to Honda Bay Tour. We were given a few minutes to change into a swimming attire for the tour. We travelled by land for less than an hour and there, we started the tour. We tried snorkeling and fish-feeding. That underwater experience was so amazing! Of course during that tour, we enjoyed the magnificent beach, cottony clouds, the fine sands, the paradise, and the time  of spending together -- chikahan, tawanan, and the boodle fight for lunch. It was late in the afternoon when we got back in the hotel. We freshen up and went out again to dine either in KaLui or Kinabuch. Our feet brought us to the latter. The food was just fine for me and kind of pricey I must say.

Day 3

I dreamt last night that Underground Tour will be cancelled yet again because of the bad weather. I can't accept that because it was the highlight of this trip. We were there because we wanted to see why it is part of the new 7 Wonders of Nature. Lucky me and sure because of our prayers, it was just a dream. The weather wasn't too good -- it was sunny and rainy for a weird reason but the coast guards allowed the tourists to go on a tour. Land travel from our hotel took us about 2 hours and in that terminal, we waited for a boat. From one boat we sailed over the sea and transfered to another boat. Sailed again and then we walked through the woods and finally saw the river and the cave. There was a queue but you won't notice that the time was passing by quickly because of the beautiful scenery. To cut the long story short, we were able to witness the beauty of the Underground River. It should never be missed! 

We had our late lunch at a nearby buffet house and went straight to our hotel. I thanked Mary Ann, our tourist guide, for a stress-free vacation. Her intelligence and wit made the whole experience educational and fun. I have her number if you need her service! 

Since it was our last night and we have no plans early in the morning, we explored Puerto Princesa at night. We found the lively bar called, Tiki Bar. Great place to chill, drink, party, and enjoy the live music of Manila Pop. Then we hit the sack.

Day 4

Nothing much happened this day. We woke up late since we went back to the hotel late. All I can remember, we packed our things and ate our lunch at Mang Inasal then we headed off to the airport. Argh, it was so hard to leave that place, especially we had days very well-spent.

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What's for Breakfast?

Having the type of family that we have, expect a monthly get-togethers, a non-stop kwentuhan at tawanan, and to top everything off, a bounty food. 

It is a rule of thumb that the celebrant, or if you're lucky you have a co-celebrant for the month, will be responsible for the food. In other words, ikaw ang taya! The best side of it, it's your call as to what to serve and how much you are willing to spend/share.

As for me and Jazel, my sister-in-law who is also a July celebrant, we made sure to celebrate our birthday with a twist. We chose a theme which we never yet have done, a home-version of breakfast buffet. 

To answer the interrogative title, just please take a look at the photo, plus a choice of orange juice, brewed coffee, a hot choco drink, a cold water, or all of the above.

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Our Cup of Tea

One Saturday afternoon, my friend, Melody and I decided to try the afternoon tea at ShangriLa Makati. We did it to stay away from the stereotypes of chitchatting (since we seldom see lately) over a coffee. Besides, that is one thing a Royalty does. Might as well we experience it!

As we enter the venue, we can already hear the beautiful harmony of the orchestra. They were serenading the guests with songs pleasing to the ears. 

We ordered two different sets -- each set includes a 3 tier of finger food & desserts and a choice of tea. Honestly, everything was great and delicious. They were just too many for us to down all the plates. Forgive us, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. I brought the leftovers at home though!

Overall, the experience was great. The price we paid for was almost the same if we hang out at a coffee shop. Mas sosyal pa! High tea is our cup of tea. We will surely come back or try another afternoon tea offered by other hotels!

SuperMom

This entry may have been a little late for Mother's Day, but I need no special day/time to express that my mom is loved and appreciated. 

My Mama is neither a world leader nor a well-known hero. But for me, she is a superhero. For that, I have the following items to say:

(1) I'm sorry for my imperfections and shortcomings.

(2) Thank you for everything and for your unconditional love.

(3) Keep safe and always take care of yourself, including your health.

(4) I love you. I am very fortunate to have you as my mom.

(5) You deserve that trophy you are holding, thus, you are my SuperMom.

Happy Belated Mother's Day to you Mama and to all the women who make our families, lives and homes complete!

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It’s the Journey, Not the Destination

It all started with a funny thought to literally do “temple run” in Angkor Wat. It was early January of this year when I, with my travel buddies, then decided to have an Easter Escapade in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Technically, we booked our flights months ago without expecting anything -- no specific itinerary, though I did a little research a week before our flight. I learned that Cambodia is very laidback and that it is very hot and humid in Siem Reap. Here below is how our journey had been.

The Flight Must Go On.
We got stressed/nervous right before our flight to Siem Reap. Everything was going too well until my attention was called because airport workers have found gun bullets in one of our check-in suitcases. True enough, they belong to Christian “Inay” Cabalza. They were not his. He just borrowed the luggage. He was asked to make a letter shortly during boarding and made it in the nick of time. Lesson learned: check your bags before entering the airport. Inay was able to fly with us.

Deplaning.
After more than 3 hours of travel time, we finally arrived in Siem Reap. The moment we deplaned, we felt that it was hot. Hotter than our very own Philippines! The airport was not remarkable, though I’ve seen a big statue of an elephant and pictures of the majestic Angkor Wat, which were displayed elsewhere. I found no Money Changer which I find very strange. Surprisingly (and conveniently), primary currency used in Cambodia is US Dollars. It is equally acceptable as their national currency, Cambodian Riel.

Pub Street.
Right after we secured our stuff in Angkor Riviera Hotel, our official home when we were in Siem Reap, we explored around the vicinity. First stop was the Pub Street. This is the busiest street in Siem Reap, especially at night. Locals and tourists were all there for night gimmick. It was a beer night for us, documented by lots of self-captured group photos. Second and last nights were also spent at this happy street.

Gad Around Siem Reap.
First morning in Siem Reap and so we started it by trying out the hotel’s Intercontinental breakfast buffet. The food was great! We then decided to go out, find a convenience store, mall perhaps, and shop a little. To our surprise, we found only one mall that sells not-our-type stuff. There were a few boutiques, mostly local ones, but also not our type. So we instead tried looking for a fastfood where we can have our lunch. Lucky to have found KFC! They serve food different from what we have here. Gravy has extra charge, OMG! We headed back to the hotel and scheduled for a boat ride to Tonle Sap River. There we found a floating market. To be honest, I didn’t like it very much. I’ve seen it in Thailand and I liked it way better!

Temple Tour.
The most exciting part of this trip was the temple tour. It was hot and we all got sweaty but it was fun! We do not want to feel temple-burnout so we opted to just go and see only three: Angkor Wat (UNESCO cultural heritage), Ta Prohm Temple (home of the giant roots, where Tomb Raider was shot), and Bayon Temple (temple of the smiling gods). I love its intricate carvings and how they looked so aged which shows rich history.

The People.
Khmer = Cambodian. It’s like Pinoy = Filipino. In general, Khmer are very friendly. They speak English well in Chinese accent but in softer tone. They were smiling most of the time and in my observation, they do not rush things. No one is in a hurry! If you ordered for something, they will do it at their own slow pace.

The Food.
As compared to Philippines, food in Cambodia is cheaper, whether in a hotel or in any streetside, without compromising the taste. I enjoyed eating all the food I tried, especially they were extra spicy. The highlight of the food we ate in Siem Reap was the Happy Pizza that after finishing a slice, you will feel happy because of the secret ingredient. Don’t judge us. If you know what I’m saying, it’s legal in Cambodia. Besides, it’s medicinal!

Haggle! Haggle!
Everything in Cambodia is unreasonably priced. So if you want a ride, haggle! You want a food/drink, haggle! You want to buy this and that, haggle! If there is a country where you must be good in haggling, Cambodia is the place to be. Khmer overpriced anything they sell/offer so it is important to bargain.

The Fly Back.
Though we enjoyed our stay in Siem Reap, this is our very first time to feel so excited about flying back to the Philippines. Usually, it was hard to leave the place we visit, but this time, we almost jump of excitement when we saw the plane that will bring us back to the country where we call home. I appreciate Philippines all the more after this recent trip. Truly, there’s no place like home! We gotta love our own!

I can't share everything that happened in Cambodia. Overall, our Easter escapade in Siem Reap was super fun. The bad parts were all part of the trip. The place may have not reach the level of our expectations and we say, that was a “humbling journey,” but who cares? All we need is to be with a happy group and each must have a clear mindset of charging everything to experience! So to my travel buddies, thanks for the memories and the experiences, and everything in between. I am looking forward to our 7th country to visit!

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Nothing Has Changed

I was fixing my stuff the other day and found my yearbook. I can’t help but browse its pages. I miss my friends, the stresses of a student, the good times, etc., my college life! Then I saw me. Wow, nothing much has changed! Except maybe physically – I look older now, but healthier!

Perhaps you might be interested to what was written on my page. I personally wrote it in year 2008 and thought of it is worth sharing now, after 5 years! So here it goes…

“I hate fake righteous people! I’d rather be with those dreadful group, as long as they are real, than to mingle with the wrong angel. I used to be everyone’s enemy but incidents made me realize not to. I guess I love learning things the hard way! I appreciate life to the fullest and what the world has to offer. These may be the reasons why I am at peace with myself, but not the world. Regardless of those things, I am forever grateful to God, for giving me loving parents and relatives, for sending me unfailingly supporting friends, granting me countless blessings, and for guiding me through every mile. After I graduate and pass the board exams, my diagnosis to myself is, HIGH RISK TO SUCCESS RELATED TO INNATE INTELLIGENCE, ATTITUDE and SKILLS with EXCEPTIONAL CHARM. (That’s the spirit!)”

I'm amazed that years may have passed, but I still have the same thoughts and feelings. Let's see in the next 5 years. Hopefully, I already reached that "success" I was referring to!

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Morning Fuel

I am a big fan of having breakfast after waking up in the morning. I used to skip it when I was younger, but by doing so, it just made me weak and frail and thereafter I was not able to do the tasks expected to be accomplished at the end of the day.

Breakfast is our morning fuel. It gives us the necessary energy that would sustain us throughout the day. Without it, our concentration and mood also get compromised.

That's why I supported the campaign initiated by McDonald's Philippines for having the country's very first National Breakfast Day. They gave away Egg McMuffins for the first 1,000 customers per branch. That would be close to 300,000 free McMuffins nationwide.

I am looking forward to having the same program in the future. This way, we could educate people the importance of having breakfast before a stressful day ahead. Hooray to all the people behind this drive!

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Walking Contradiction

In my 25 years of existence, there are things about myself that I cannot explain. These are stuff that though I know myself very well, I find it hard to define and justify. Below are some that I recall and sure I know, there are still more:

* I find the pleasure in feasting on lots of food, but I hate gaining weight.
* I'm at my happiest during paydays, but I wish I was earning by resting.
* I enjoy sleeping, rest & relaxation, but not the fact that much of my time was spent.
* I love working out but I almost curse my gym trainer.
* I like going to the beach, but I dislike getting tan.
* I enjoy a cold breeze, but not when the temperature extremely drops.
* I am an introvert person at home, but extrovert once outside.
* I love dressing up, but I am a homebody in nature.
* Fashion is my passion, but I don't like spending much for it.
* I like hearing stories and gossips, but I hate it when I am the subject.
* My life is very private, but I share my thoughts and feelings publicly through Twitter.
* I love travelling and going to places I've never been to, but not when I get lost.
* I'm not a fan of taking risks, but I was a "sure ball" risk-taker.
* I have been wanting to save money, but I want to shop, too.

Funny or weird I may seem, it could be nature versus nurture, but I'm proud of what I was, am and will become.

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