Passion Fruit

It was my first time to taste or even see the Passion Fruit. It tastes well because of its smell or aroma but its sourness was just too much for me! They taste good as juice though.

Our cousin, Ate Novelyn, brought these from Isabela, our mother's hometown.

Here are just some of the health benefits of the Passion Fruit.

• It is a high source of Vitamin C, A, Potassium, Iron and dietary fiber.
• Its flower can help induce sleep, tantalize the senses and has a calming effect.
• The yellow passion fruit extracts can kill cancer cells!
• It can reduce symptoms of asthma.
• Treats nervous gastrointestinal disorders and menopausal problems.
• Used in treating nervous and easily excited kids (probably those with ADHD)

Sweet and Spicy Dilis Surprise

Pinoys love dried food and experimenting with them. The dried anchovies dish called "dilis" is an example.

This Sweet and Spicy Dilis is most commonly sold in any sari-sari store for Php 1.00 for small packs, Php 5.00 for bigger ones and around Php 30+ for the large packed dilis meant to be sold in pasalubong shops and grocery stores.

The Sweet and Spicy Dilis is a very distinct snack not only because of its sweet taste but mostly because of its orange color.

One day, Kuya Jun surprised us with a bowl of still hot sweet dilis and I was amused that it also came in orange. I told him it was such an effort from him really to add food color when food colorings do not even contribute to the taste. But he said he did not use one! So of course I inquired.

Rebisco's Hansel Premium Cheese Sandwich

So I recently discovered something from REBISCO (Republic Biscuit Corp). I learned that they created a new Hansel biscuit product that has a taste that's familiar to only a few Filipinos.

I now introduce to you, my latest discovery:

The New HANSEL PREMIUM CHEESE SANDWICH!


You got it! This snack tastes like Ritz Cheese Crackers from Nabisco, only Rebisco's biscuit breaks easily or is crumbly. But this is not the true test of a yummy treat!

If you are craving for a cheese biscuit, you can satisfy that with a box of Hansel Premium Cheese Sandwich for only Php 36.50. It smells and tastes heavenly and you'll be taking your every bite as if you are savoring your last piece of Combos Cheese Cracker.

The only thing that's really bothering me is how oily it is. I don't know if Hansel Mocha Sandwich also has the same oily cracker but hey, as long as it satisfies my taste buds, then that's the least of my worries!

Casa Naimas: A taste of Ilocos at the heart of QC

Coming from a family with Ilocano taste buds, I came to appreciate the unconventional way of preparing classic food items such as Langgonisa and Empanada.

Unlike the Longganisa from most parts of Luzon that Pinoys have grown accustomed to, the Ilocano Longganisa, is not sweet but looks basically the same as the traditional langgonisa, sans the color. Marinated with the well-known vinegars from Ilocos, the Iloko Longganisa is salty and garlicky and quite perfect for the palate of the grown up.

Meanwhile, the Ilocano Empanada is a treat that may not appeal to many but may grow on some if they have an open mind (and stomach) to appreciate what it offers.

KFC's Cheese Top Burger (New Product!)

Before going home from school, I treated myself to something new: KFC's New Cheese Top Burger.

Social Media is really a very important support to tri-media campaigns especially if advertisers want to reach people like me who elude TV, radio and news prints. I only came to know about the Cheese Top Burger because of a post from the KFC FB account that was shared multiple times, eventually reaching my Facebook dashboard (I'm not sure that's how they call it).

The image was really funny because it looked like Superman with his brief over his pants. After a few days expecting the sandwich to look like this, I was somewhat disappointed that it actually looked like this:

Our Attorney

Snacking is one activity that my husband always looks forward to.  Even the slightest bit of hunger pangs would get him storming to the fridge.  Back in the Philippines, we would keep snacks on stock in the room which would invite occasional visitors that we call mabait (rodents) that would sniff out any crumb that you are hiding in the room. Well actually it's not just crumbs that they are after, they would nibble their way in and eat the whole lot. By golly, you would think that they have human appetite and human teeth once their done with our chichirya.  Therefore, it was not hygienic for us to store snacks in the room because we don't want those unwanted guests roaming around.  It was just really eewwy and just the thought of them crawling while we were sleeping just gives me goosebumps.  So, snacks were banned from the room.  However, it was so tedious to go down to get snacks from the kitchen which was downstairs.  I found this plastic briefcase (it may be Orocan, I forgot what brand) that was lying around the house because nobody wants to use it and you'll see why.  This is what it looks like

http://itspersonalbyamy.blogspot.com/

well, more or less it looks like the one on the left (pink) but ours was colored mint green and without the glitters and I guess a little stouter.  So you can see now why nobody wants to use it.  It's actually for children and even they don't want to use it. LOL.  I found a perfect use for it though.  I filled it with snacks chichirya and shut it.  I observed rodent activity.  I did say that I thought they had human appetite and teeth right, so I wouldn't be surprised if they developed opposable thumbs.  Fortunately they haven't evolved yet to the point of being able to figure out how to open the container.  That night, when my husband asked for a snack, I got the briefcase and opened it in front of him.  We had a big laugh as he called it Attorney.  It is, after all, a brief case.  He would then say "Anong kaso meron si Attorney ngayon?" when he asks for snacks (What case is attorney working on now?).  A remark that would always make me giggle.

-- Lizette

First Day Food Trip

Kung ang High School ay may "First Day High", 
ang Grad School ay may "First Day Lamon".

(If High School has its "First Day High", Grad School has its "First Day Gorging")

My classmates Salve, Vanessa and I were not supposed to eat lunch that day because we were about to head to UP to crash Salve's graduation. She enrolled for the Filipino Sign Language Program in the University of the Philippines' College of Education for two weeks, which she attended 5 days in a row for 2 1/2 hours. Van and I expected that there would be food enough to be our lunch but since we walked (instead of riding a jeepney) from the Morato - Kamuning extension to the Timog-Morato Rotonda, we were understandably famished.

It was hard to think of where to eat at first but when we saw Lugaw Republic, I began to crave for Pares, so we checked out the food across the famous lugawan. The place was like a "food court" where there are different stalls that offer different menus.

At home we never really have beef meals because my mother hates the smell. So I immediately ordered the braised beef dish called "Pares".

Chowking’s Chow Pao (New Product!)

I'm never really on the road that much so I'm not in the know of any billboard that shows the new products of my favorite fast food chains.

I only discovered Chowking's Chow Pao for example when my friends were talking about it. These are filled Man Tao or Chinese Steamed Buns, sort of an interesting twist to the usual siopao.

Easily convinced of their deliciousness, I bought all 3 variants as merienda for myself, papa and mama.

 

The first question I had in mind when I saw those online menuboards / ads was if they really had the "Ck" stamp. I asked my friend who tried it and she said they had them. It looks nice actually.

Bread Pan Salad

One workday last month, Papa and I craved for a veggie salad so we went to the grocery to buy some ingredients. You see, our father is a retired government employee so he basically has all the time in the world to go to or bring us to places.

This is how our delectable vegetable salad looked like!

Try this very simple vegetable recipe at home! =)

Bread Pan Vegetable Salad Ingredients:

•  Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Pipino (cucumber)
• Carrots
• Bread Pan Toasted Bread
• Clara Ole Caesar Dressing

Preparation / Procedures:

1. Slice veggies
2. Mix
3. Pour dressing

VOILA!!!! Instant veggie snack!

---

Oishi Bread Pan Photo courtesy of http://philippinesnacks.wordpress.com

Hershey's Treats Choco Roll: The Verdict

Okay I almost forgot my Hershey's treats chocolate bar is sitting in the freezer for almost 3 days! Thank goodness nobody noticed it and ate it without my permission. Haha!

I got giddy when I opened it!! I can already see the bulges of rice crispies and wait... are those bits of chocolates within the chocolate?????

Edy's Slow Churned Ice Cream

My husband and I would often go toward tried and tested flavors and tried and tested brands. We don't want to buy something that we would regret later on. However, there are those days when we just want to try something new.

While browsing through items on the freezer aisle, this product spoke to me. Being perpetually on a diet but not really sticking to it, this appealed to me because it says 1/2 the fat, 1/3 fewer calories.

Camachile Cookies

When I was a kid, our family would go to a restaurant in Cubao called "Pancit ng Taga Malabon" and papa would treat us to a sumptuous pancit palabok after enjoying playtime at the Fiesta Carnival. Their staple appetizer was a plate of biscuit cookies called Camachile, which I enjoyed very much.

Hershey's Treats Choco Roll

I went to my favorite hangout again - the grocery - and noticed another variant of affordable chocolate snacks from Hershey's just like the Hershey's Treats Cookie Bar.

Lumpiang Shanghai

Lumpiang Shanghai is a Chinese-influenced Filipino delicacy. Also known as Spring Rolls, the Lumpiang Shanghai is also popular in Indonesia,Vietnam and the Netherlands where its name is spelled "loempia", an old Indonesian term that the Dutch eventually adopted and used to refer to "spring rolls". It was brought by the Chinese immigrants from the Chinese province of Fujian.


This recipe has become so popular among Filipinos that the number 1 fastfood chain in the country even included it in their value meals -- and you know I'm referring to Jollibee, right?

When my mother and I were in Savemore Market near Meycauayan tollgate (our favorite hangout just because it's near our house), I suddenly had a craving for lumpiang shangai so I asked my mom if we could have it for dinner. We bought the lumpiang shanghai ingredients that we thought we needed...

Cream Filled Biscuits

Cream filled biscuits are one of my favorite snacks because 1) they’re affordable; 2) they’re yummy and; 3) they satisfy your hunger instantly especially while you are on the road.

Hello Panda was my favorite brand because of the delicious Meiji chocolate inside (another favorite). But recently, I discovered other cream filled snacks, starting off with the Hello Kitty Strawberry Filled Biscuits that I purchased at 7-11.

Five brands are now in my vocabulary including Hello Panda and Hello Kitty. Read on and find out how each of the brands fared with my taste buds.

Soft Choco Bun

This recipe is a combination of all the bread recipes I've researched over the internet and then I've added cocoa to make it into a choco bun. I love it because it is not that sweet (balanced by the cocoa) and then adding a sweet butter cream topping on top just gives it that really nice combination.

 Why don't you try this Choco Bun recipe at home too and discover great things when you experiment in the kitchen!

Easy to make flan

Custard flan is very easy to make.  The instructions in the packaging are self explanatory.  But here is what I did:

Blueberries -- a nutritious snack

Blueberries are awesome fruits of great nutritional value. Even with their tiny size, they are packed with nutrients and minerals. In fact, Blueberries have been recognized as fruits with the highest antioxidant activity. Some notable benefits of Blueberries include memory improvement and healthy aging.  

I usually eat this while watching TV or as a snack on its own. I also combine a handful of blueberries with banana, strawberries and milk to create a refreshing smoothie, which is especially very refreshing in the summer months!!

I bet you didn't know these things about the Blueberries!

Lay's Limon flavored potato chips

Lay's have been one of my favorite brand of potato chips.  It has a variety of flavors to choose from that you can't get enough of it.  When I saw this flavor, I just had to try it.

Pichi Pichi: Filipino Snack Recipe

Last month, my Aunt visited us at home and while we were chatting over lunch (or merienda, i can't remember), she mentioned that she knew how to make Pichi pichi!

You see, Pichi-pichi is one of my favorite Filipino snacks because they're really delectable. A store here in Bulacan named "Tetok's" sells well-made Pichi pichi as well as palabok and barbecue. Because that store has really delicious pichi-pichi, their product became my standard.

When my Aunt taught us the Pichi-pichi Filipino recipe, I was pleasantly surprised how Tetok's product and my Aunt's pichi tasted the same! It was really a delightful experience watching her make one of my favorite Filipino desserts and tasting how good they are.

Let me share a few things about how my Aunt did it.

Hershey's Treats Cookie Bar

This week's chocolate fix: HERSHEY'S TREATS COOKIE BAR !

At an affordable price of Php 6.50, you can satisfy your craving for a Hershey's chocolate! But is it at par with the brand's quality of yummy treats?

Hello Kitty Filled Biscuits

I bought this bag of Hello Kitty Filled Biscuits at 7-11 because I thought it would be a good substitute to the Meiji Hello Panda biscuits I always purchased. Apparently, this product was licensed by Sanrio itself so I got even more curious. Can this snack actually keep up with Hello Kitty's fame and not disappoint the Hello Kitty fans out there?

Lengua de Gato from Good Shepherd (Baguio City)

Almost all the people I know have passed by Good Shepherd in Mines View, Baguio City before heading home to buy their pasalubongs for their loved ones in the city, or wherever they live. Good Shepherd is in fact a very popular place. From what I gather, the nuns in this convent are the ones making the treats and there is no doubt about it because the snacks are just heavenly!

This is one of my favorite purchases at Good Shepherd. There are a lot of different brands for the Lengua de Gato - long thin milk cookies that's become a popular pasalubong option - but I love Good Shepherd's lengua the best.  It is very creamy and not too sweet so it just tastes heavenly! I love how it just melts in your mouth and satisfy the sweet-tooth kid within you. 

Kopiko's Kopiccino: Instant Capuccino

I saw this instant Cappuccino sachet in the grocery and bought it right away. KOPIKO is a brand that coffee lovers love and with a new product like this, one will not hesistate to try it out.