By: Myra Santiago
Make this one for breakfast to impress someone special (your mom!). Just remember to be patient when slow-cooking the egg.
Serves 1 Prep Time 1 minute Total Cooking Time 6 minutes
2 tablespoons butter
2 thick bread slices, with holes cut in the center
1/2 cup fresh milk
2 eggs
1 Place a small juice glass in the center of a slice of bread and cut around it, creating a hole in the middle. Dip the bread slices in a bowl of milk, allowing it to moisten most of the slice without getting it soggy. Handle carefully to prevent the bread from breaking apart.
2 Heat to medium a Teflon-coated skillet and gently melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Place a slice of bread in the pan and fry until golden brown. Turn the slice over and crack an egg into the empty center. Bring the heat down to low and allow the egg to cook slowly until the whites have set.
3 Serve quickly with a side of crispy bacon strips or slices of ham and cheese.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Burgers with Bacon Bits and Blue Cheese with Blue Mashed Potatoes
Rachael Ray's Official Website :: Burgers with Bacon Bits and Blue Cheese with Blue Mashed Potatoes
Burgers with Bacon Bits and Blue Cheese with Blue Mashed Potatoes
Serves 4
Blue mashers and blue cheese add pizzazz and flavor to Rach's latest bacon burger!
6 medium blue potatoes, peeled and quartered
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup cream
1/4 cup chives, finely chopped
2 egg yolks
8 slices bacon, chopped
2 pounds ground sirloin
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced or grated
1/4 cup grated onion, with juice
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, thinly sliced
3/4 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup Stilton or other piquant blue cheese, crumbled
4 cups watercress leaves, loosely packed
4 rolls, split, lightly toasted and buttered
Balsamic drizzle, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Pre-heat the broiler.
Place the potatoes in a saucepot, cover with water and bring to boil. Add some salt and cook until tender. Drain the potatoes and return them to the hot pot. Add the cream, salt and pepper and chives and mash. Scoop the potatoes into a cake frosting piping bag or large zip-top sealable plastic bag with a star tip, if you have one (you can also cut off the corner of the plastic bag), and pipe them into little mounds on a baking sheet. Place under the broiler until golden brown on top, about 2 minutes.
Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Remove the bacon bits and reserve on a paper towel-lined plate. Remove all but a tablespoon of the bacon fat from the skillet.
In a large bowl, combine the meat with reserved bacon bits, Worcestershire, garlic, grated onion (grate it over the bowl so the juices fall into the meat), parsley, salt and lots of black pepper. Score the meat into four portions, then form patties out of each portion, making them thinner in the middle. Drizzle the patties with EVOO, then add them to the hot skillet and cook for 10 minutes for rare to medium-rare and up to 16 minutes for medium-well burgers, turning once. Top the burgers in the last minute of cook time with the Stilton cheese and tent with foil to melt.
While the burgers cook, heat a small skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Add the onion, sauté for 8-10 minutes, then add the mushrooms and sauté 8-10 minutes more. If the pan gets dry, add a drizzle of EVOO. Season the cooked onions and mushrooms with salt and pepper.
To serve, pile some watercress on the bun bottoms and top with a burger patty. Pile some of the onions and mushrooms on top and replace the bun caps. Serve the mashed blue potatoes alongside.
by rachael ray
Burgers with Bacon Bits and Blue Cheese with Blue Mashed Potatoes
Serves 4
Blue mashers and blue cheese add pizzazz and flavor to Rach's latest bacon burger!
6 medium blue potatoes, peeled and quartered
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup cream
1/4 cup chives, finely chopped
2 egg yolks
8 slices bacon, chopped
2 pounds ground sirloin
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced or grated
1/4 cup grated onion, with juice
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, thinly sliced
3/4 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup Stilton or other piquant blue cheese, crumbled
4 cups watercress leaves, loosely packed
4 rolls, split, lightly toasted and buttered
Balsamic drizzle, for garnish (optional)
Preparation
Pre-heat the broiler.
Place the potatoes in a saucepot, cover with water and bring to boil. Add some salt and cook until tender. Drain the potatoes and return them to the hot pot. Add the cream, salt and pepper and chives and mash. Scoop the potatoes into a cake frosting piping bag or large zip-top sealable plastic bag with a star tip, if you have one (you can also cut off the corner of the plastic bag), and pipe them into little mounds on a baking sheet. Place under the broiler until golden brown on top, about 2 minutes.
Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Remove the bacon bits and reserve on a paper towel-lined plate. Remove all but a tablespoon of the bacon fat from the skillet.
In a large bowl, combine the meat with reserved bacon bits, Worcestershire, garlic, grated onion (grate it over the bowl so the juices fall into the meat), parsley, salt and lots of black pepper. Score the meat into four portions, then form patties out of each portion, making them thinner in the middle. Drizzle the patties with EVOO, then add them to the hot skillet and cook for 10 minutes for rare to medium-rare and up to 16 minutes for medium-well burgers, turning once. Top the burgers in the last minute of cook time with the Stilton cheese and tent with foil to melt.
While the burgers cook, heat a small skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Add the onion, sauté for 8-10 minutes, then add the mushrooms and sauté 8-10 minutes more. If the pan gets dry, add a drizzle of EVOO. Season the cooked onions and mushrooms with salt and pepper.
To serve, pile some watercress on the bun bottoms and top with a burger patty. Pile some of the onions and mushrooms on top and replace the bun caps. Serve the mashed blue potatoes alongside.
by rachael ray
Banana Shake Trio
Banana Shake Trio | Recipe | Yummy.ph - the Philippine online recipe database
Fruit plus ice cream makes these yellow milkshakes slurp-worthy.
Totally Banana
1 whole yellow banana, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup milk
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
crushed ice
Place banana, milk, ice cream, and crushed ice in a blender and blend together (on pulse mode to retain the body and so it won’t come out soupy). Serve right away.
Berry Banana Split
1 whole yellow banana, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
1/2 cup milk
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
chocolate syrup
crushed ice
pineapple chunks
whipped cream
maraschino cherries
Smear the sides of the glass with chocolate syrup, then place in the freezer while making the milkshake. In a blender, pulse together banana, strawberries, milk, ice cream, and ice until blended. Pour mixture in chilled glasses then top with whipped cream, pineapple chunks, and a cherry.
Nutty Banana
1 yellow banana, peeled and sliced
1/2 scoop chocolate ice cream
1 teaspoon amaretto liquor
crushed ice
whipped cream
chocolate syrup
almonds, crushed
banana slices, for garnishing
Place banana, chocolate ice cream, liquor, and crushed ice in a blender. Pulse together. Pour mixture into tall glasses. Finish with whipped cream. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with crushed almonds and banana slices.
Photography by Ocs Alvarez │ Styling by Pixie Sevilla-Santos
by yummy
Fruit plus ice cream makes these yellow milkshakes slurp-worthy.
Totally Banana
1 whole yellow banana, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup milk
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
crushed ice
Place banana, milk, ice cream, and crushed ice in a blender and blend together (on pulse mode to retain the body and so it won’t come out soupy). Serve right away.
Berry Banana Split
1 whole yellow banana, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup strawberries, washed, hulled and sliced
1/2 cup milk
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
chocolate syrup
crushed ice
pineapple chunks
whipped cream
maraschino cherries
Smear the sides of the glass with chocolate syrup, then place in the freezer while making the milkshake. In a blender, pulse together banana, strawberries, milk, ice cream, and ice until blended. Pour mixture in chilled glasses then top with whipped cream, pineapple chunks, and a cherry.
Nutty Banana
1 yellow banana, peeled and sliced
1/2 scoop chocolate ice cream
1 teaspoon amaretto liquor
crushed ice
whipped cream
chocolate syrup
almonds, crushed
banana slices, for garnishing
Place banana, chocolate ice cream, liquor, and crushed ice in a blender. Pulse together. Pour mixture into tall glasses. Finish with whipped cream. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with crushed almonds and banana slices.
Photography by Ocs Alvarez │ Styling by Pixie Sevilla-Santos
by yummy
Banana Split A La Pixie
Everything But The Kitchen Sink Banana Split in an ice cream parlor in California was my first taste of banana split and it’s been my favorite ever since. Here’s my own recipe for sauces—which you can drizzle over your over-the-top banana split.
Yield 2 Prep Time 10 minutes
2 large Cavendish or lacatan bananas, peeled, split lengthwise
ice cream, in different flavors
an assortment of toppings
hot fudge sauce or caramel sauce
1 Take out two oblong dishes. On each, place two banana slices to line the dish.
2 Place three scoops of ice cream in the middle of each dish. Add toppings.
3 Drizzle with homemade hot fudge and/or homemade caramel sauce.
4 Make the Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce: In a double boiler, combine 230 grams bittersweet chocolate (chopped), 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup corn syrup, and 1 tablespoon vanilla and melt, stirring continuously.
5 Make the Homemade Caramel Sauce: Put 9 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a heavy pot. Stir just to moisten sugar.
6 Brush sides of the pot with a wet pastry brush to make sure there’s no sugar sticking.
7 Place pot on heat, but do not stir. Let mixture boil until golden brown in color.
8 Immediately remove from heat. Slowly stir in 5 tablespoons all-purpose cream (room temperature).
by http://www.yummy.ph/recipe/banana-split-a-la-pixie
Why Babies Do the Oddest Things: Grasp, Fight Sleep and Tripod
Your little bundle of joy may be the light and love of your life but he will also be the source of baffling, bewildering behavior. Here’s a chance to see things from a baby’s perspective and answer some questions about why babies do the oddest things.
Why do some babies grab onto things so tightly?
A baby’s grasping reflex is one of the first she’s born with and she will damn well use it – it’s strong enough to support her weight (something some parents may no longer be capable of). Research suggests that this grasping reflex action comes from primates, an idea that’s easy to believe if you’ve ever watched Tarzan swinging from vine to vine with his chimp chum, Cheeta. Another study showed that when infants hold onto their mothers, their heartbeats slow down, suggesting that they feel calm and secure while hanging on to Mommy.
Why do some babies fight sleep? Why do babies wake up in the most inopportune times?
The newness of existence in all its glory is the reason your newborn will fight sleep with the ferocity of a Tasmanian devil. Sleep is boring and overrated, thinks your child. Separation anxiety from their parents also keeps a baby crying. And as they haven’t figured out the concept of Night and Day yet, kids will sleep whenever they feel like it.
One key factor is hunger. As a baby’s stomach is roughly the size of a peanut, it can hold just enough milk to keep it satisfied for 3-4 hours. So be prepared for lots of sleepless nights, but take heart: you can begin to teach your baby as early as now that daytime is for staying awake and nighttime is Mommy’s quality snooze time. Check out some baby sleep training techniques.
Why do some babies tripod before they sit up straight?
We may take actions like sitting for granted but try doing so if all your limbs had the consistency of overcooked champorado. Now add that to the fact that you’re doing this for the very first time. That’s how your baby starts out. As he grows, he gets stronger and more coordinated but this happens in stages—stages your baby works out a day at a time for several months. He starts with his head then he begins to work out his upper body doing the equivalent of little baby push-ups and cat stretches. Tripoding (plopped on his rump with his arms straight out in front of him, his hands flat on the floor like a sitting doggie) is a way for a baby to sit up unaided before he has the balance to stay sitting without support.
It’s no wonder that babies do the oddest things. They’re learning everything for the first time and they’re adjusting to nature programming as well.
Photo from sxc.hu
byhttp://www.smartparenting.com.ph/baby/behavior/Why-Babies-Do-the-Oddest-Things--Grasp--Fight-Sleep-and-Tripod
Setting up Bonding Activities Between Your Toddler and Your Newborn
Now that your firstborn is now an Ate (or a Kuya), it is important to foster a loving and close relationship with her new younger sibling. Adjusting to her new role may be effortless or a bit more challenging, depending on your toddler’s mood and readiness. Sibling rivalry and jealousy is fairly common and very natural. However, you can help your firstborn ease into her new role by setting up some bonding activities between your children.
1. Reading a bedtime story
Remember that your toddler loves to mimic your every move. Read her a bedtime story and in return, let her read to her new sibling. Even if she can’t read yet, she can flip through the pages and explain what’s happening in the pictures.
2. Helping with bath time
You can give Ate a washcloth and ask her if she wants to wash the baby’s toes or tummy. You can also ask her to get the baby’s towel once the baby’s all clean. By giving her these roles, she feels important and proud to be an Ate.
3. Looking through (ate’s) baby albums
This is a great bonding activity because it allows your toddler to understand that she was also once a baby who got that special attention from mom and dad. And now it’s time for Ate to give that special attention to her new sibling.
Also, this is not only entertaining for your children but also for you! Take a trip down memory lane and look how big your firstborn has grown.
4. Ate the Entertainer
When the baby is crying or upset, instead of shooing away Ate, have her sing or dance for her younger sibling.
5. Baby massage
Carefully guide your toddler’s hands to gently caress your baby’s hands, feet, legs, and torso. Once Ate has gotten the hang of it, she can do the baby massage by herself, supervised of course.
Teach Ate how to be gentle with her younger sister. It can be difficult at times but just be patient and she will eventually learn. Also expect that your toddler might accidentally hurt her younger sibling eventually. Resist the urge to immediately swoop in and take the baby away from her Ate. Let your toddler try to be the Big Ate and resolve the situation on her own. This also allows her to see herself as a loving and caring older sister rather than a troublemaker.
It is natural to be over-protective of your newborn; your toddler has never seemed so dangerous and threatening when she is around your baby. The worst thing you can do is to alienate your toddler by being too protective. Allow them to bond and out of this will blossom one of the strongest and most beautiful relationships.
by http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/baby/activities/Setting-up-Bonding-Activities-Between-Your-Toddler-and-Your-Newborn
22 Milestone Markers of your 2-3- Month-old Baby
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
May sleep through the night
Holds objects for a few seconds
May bring hands together
Body tone improves
Starts holding chest and head up a short time while lying on tummy, eventually leans on elbows while on stomach
Facial expressions varies
Vocalization increases
Taste buds begin to develop
Follows slowly moving object with both eyes and head from one side of body to the other
COGNITIVE AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT
Sucks at the sight of breast
Squirms in anticipation when sees breast or bottle
Explores own face with hand
Stops sucking to listen
Turns head to find source of sound
Gazes at hands
Can distinguish speech from other sounds
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Smiles easily and spontaneously
May laugh or chuckle
Calms down with mother’s voice or soft music
Begins to enjoy taking a bath
Cries less as she learns to gurgle and coo
Starts recognizing and differentiating among family members
Photo from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mackro/ / CC BY-SA 2.0
Boost your baby's development! (11-12 months)
Here’s a guide on how to interact with your baby based on his developmental milestones.
The Twelfth Month
Baby’s first birthday is coming up and there is so much to celebrate—first steps, first words, and increased control over her actions. She will show that she is a “big girl” by imitating some of the things you do like talking on the phone or pushing her stroller. However, as baby insists on doing things on her own, expect frustration when she is not able to do certain things. Keep your cool and observe first if she can work things out eventually. If not, figure out what is frustrating her; is she tired, is it too difficult, has she tried many times to no avail? Step in and help out if this is the case. More importantly, because it is now very clear to her that she is a separate being, give her the love and attention that she needs to reassure her that you will always be there. Here is what you can typically expect during the twelfth month:
How to interact with your 12-month old:
• First words will not be very clear and may sound like the same word for different things. If you hear baby say a word often enough and it sounds like she means a particular object or picture, show this to her and get her to repeat the word.
• When baby “talks” with you, do talk back. Not with baby talk but with real words. She’s probably telling you something about what she is doing or commenting on where you are. Tell her that, “Yes, it is a windy day and the leaves dancing”, or that “You really seem to be enjoying the game that you’re playing”. Be sure that you use simple words that will be easy for baby to understand especially when giving directions.
• Since baby loves to imitate Mom and Dad, get her to copy what you are doing such as putting the spoon in your mouth, reading a book right side up and from left to right, or packing toys away. SOURCES:
Curtis, G. B. & Schuler, J. (2000). Your Baby’s First Year Week by Week. Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing.
First 5 Commission of San Diego. (2008). How Kids Develop. Retrieved from http://www.howkidsdevelop.com/developSkills.html
Orenstein, J. (2000). 365 Tips for Baby’s First Year. Holbrook, MA: Adams Media Corporation.
Powell, J. and Smith, C.A. (1994). The 1st year. In Developmental milestones: A guide for parents. Manhattan, KS: Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service. Retrieved from http://www.nichcy.org/Disabilities/Milestones/Pages/Default.aspx
BY http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/baby/development-child-care/boost-your-babys-development-1112-months
Hot Prawn Salad with Fresh Fruits
Weight conscious? Look no further with this light and guilt-free Hot Prawn Salad with Fresh Fruits.
Ingredients:
500g prawns
2 tsp custard powder
1 tsp inger, grated
1/4 cup Carnation Evap
Cornstarch
1 can cocktail fruits
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp Carnation Condensada
Oil for frying
Spring onions (for garnish)
Procedure:
1. Marinate the prawns in custard powder, grated ginger and Carnation Evap for 30 minutes to an hour.
2. Dust prawns with cornstarch and deep fry.
3. Mix mayonnaise with Carnation Condensada.
4. Toss in prawns and fruit cocktails into the mayonnaise.
5. Garnish with spring onions.
RECIPE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF MY FAVORITE RECIPES
Fruity Sweet and Sour Pork Tocinong Concepcion
Start your day right with a sweet and sour tocino treat!
Ingredients:
300g pork tocino
1 cup cornstarch
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 white onion
1 green bell pepper
1 celery stalk
1 can fruit cocktail
1/3 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cup tomato catsup
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 cup water
AJI GINISA ORIGINAL
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Directions:
1. Place tocino cubes in a bowl, and coat with cornstarch.
2. Heat oil in a large, heavy saucepan.
3. Deep fry in the heated oil until evenly browned. Drain on paper towels.
4. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the celery, green bell pepper and onion, and cook until tender.
5. Mix 1 cup water, catsup, and 1/2 tsp soy sauce. Season with AJI GINISA ORIGINAL and sugar, add in fruit cocktail.
6. Return to a boil, and stir in the cooked pork tocino. Mix in 2 tbsps cornstarch and 1/4 cup water to thicken. Cook until well blended.
RECIPE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF QUICKFIRE
How to Be Happier: Ten Tips for Being a More Light-Hearted Parent.
by Gretchen Rubin, on Tue Sep 21, 2010 8:37am PDT
One of my Twelve Commandments is “Lighten up,” and I have a lot of resolutions aimed at trying to be a more light-hearted parent: less nagging, more laughing. We all want a peaceful, cheerful, even joyous, atmosphere at home — but we can’t nag and yell our way to get there. Here are some strategies that help me:
1. At least once a day, make each child helpless with laughter.
2. Sing in the morning. It’s hard both to sing and to maintain a grouchy mood, and it sets a happy tone for everyone—particularly in my case, because I’m tone deaf and my audience finds my singing a source of great hilarity.
3. Get enough sleep yourself. It’s so tempting to stay up late, to enjoy the peace and quiet. But morning comes fast. Along the same lines…
4. Wake up before your kids. We were so rushed in the morning that I started getting up half an hour earlier than my children. That means I can get myself organized, check my email, post to Slate, and get my bag packed before they get up. It’s tough to wake up earlier, but it has made a huge difference in the quality of our mornings.
5. I’ve been researching the hedonic treadmill: people quickly adapt to new pleasures or luxuries, so it takes a new pleasure to give them a jolt of gratification. As a result, I’ve cut back on treats and impulse buys for my kids. The ice-cream sandwich or the Polly Pockets set won’t be an exciting treat if it isn’t rare.
6. Most messages to kids are negative: “stop,” “don’t,” “no.” So I try to cast my answers as “yes.” “Yes, we’ll go as soon as you’ve finished eating,” not “We’re not leaving until you’ve finished eating.” It’s not easy to remember to do this, but I’m trying.
7. Look for little ways to celebrate. I haven’t been doing holiday breakfasts long, but they’re a huge source of happiness. They’re quick, fun, and everyone gets a big kick out of them.
8. Repetition works. A friend told me he was yelling at his kids too much, so he distilled all rules of behavior into four key phrases: “keep your hands to yourself”; “answer the first time you’re asked”; “ask first”; and “stay with us” (his kids tended to bolt). You can also use the school mantras: “Sit square in your chair;” “accidents will happen,” “you get what you get, and you don’t get upset” (i.e., when cupcakes are handed out, you don’t keep trying to switch).
9. Say “no” only when it really matters. Wear a bright red shirt with bright orange shorts? Sure. Put water in the toy tea set? Okay. Sleep with your head at the foot of the bed? Fine. Samuel Johnson said, “All severity that does not tend to increase good, or prevent evil, is idle.”
10. When I find myself thinking, “Yippee, soon we won’t have to deal with a stroller,” I remind myself how fleeting this is. All too soon the age of Cheerios and the Tooth Fairy will be over. The days are long, but the years are short.
Have you found any good strategies to cut back on the shouting and to add moments of laughing, singing, and saying “yes”?
*
I like stopping by White Hot Truth -- "because self-realization rocks." Lots of thought-provoking material there.
*
One of my Twelve Commandments is “Lighten up,” and I have a lot of resolutions aimed at trying to be a more light-hearted parent: less nagging, more laughing. We all want a peaceful, cheerful, even joyous, atmosphere at home — but we can’t nag and yell our way to get there. Here are some strategies that help me:
1. At least once a day, make each child helpless with laughter.
2. Sing in the morning. It’s hard both to sing and to maintain a grouchy mood, and it sets a happy tone for everyone—particularly in my case, because I’m tone deaf and my audience finds my singing a source of great hilarity.
3. Get enough sleep yourself. It’s so tempting to stay up late, to enjoy the peace and quiet. But morning comes fast. Along the same lines…
4. Wake up before your kids. We were so rushed in the morning that I started getting up half an hour earlier than my children. That means I can get myself organized, check my email, post to Slate, and get my bag packed before they get up. It’s tough to wake up earlier, but it has made a huge difference in the quality of our mornings.
5. I’ve been researching the hedonic treadmill: people quickly adapt to new pleasures or luxuries, so it takes a new pleasure to give them a jolt of gratification. As a result, I’ve cut back on treats and impulse buys for my kids. The ice-cream sandwich or the Polly Pockets set won’t be an exciting treat if it isn’t rare.
6. Most messages to kids are negative: “stop,” “don’t,” “no.” So I try to cast my answers as “yes.” “Yes, we’ll go as soon as you’ve finished eating,” not “We’re not leaving until you’ve finished eating.” It’s not easy to remember to do this, but I’m trying.
7. Look for little ways to celebrate. I haven’t been doing holiday breakfasts long, but they’re a huge source of happiness. They’re quick, fun, and everyone gets a big kick out of them.
8. Repetition works. A friend told me he was yelling at his kids too much, so he distilled all rules of behavior into four key phrases: “keep your hands to yourself”; “answer the first time you’re asked”; “ask first”; and “stay with us” (his kids tended to bolt). You can also use the school mantras: “Sit square in your chair;” “accidents will happen,” “you get what you get, and you don’t get upset” (i.e., when cupcakes are handed out, you don’t keep trying to switch).
9. Say “no” only when it really matters. Wear a bright red shirt with bright orange shorts? Sure. Put water in the toy tea set? Okay. Sleep with your head at the foot of the bed? Fine. Samuel Johnson said, “All severity that does not tend to increase good, or prevent evil, is idle.”
10. When I find myself thinking, “Yippee, soon we won’t have to deal with a stroller,” I remind myself how fleeting this is. All too soon the age of Cheerios and the Tooth Fairy will be over. The days are long, but the years are short.
Have you found any good strategies to cut back on the shouting and to add moments of laughing, singing, and saying “yes”?
*
I like stopping by White Hot Truth -- "because self-realization rocks." Lots of thought-provoking material there.
*
The 10 Secrets of One Unflappable Working Mother
by Real Simple Magazine, on Mon Sep 27, 2010 12:35pm PDT
Chances are, work-life balance is your most elusive goal. But it’s not impossible.
by Michelle Slatalla
Last Thursday, as I walked into the house after a business meeting followed by a 30-mile round-trip car pool, I smelled something delicious wafting from the Crock-Pot. On my way to the kitchen, I looked in the mirror, gave a thumbs-up to my dependable black pants, and thought, There now, being a working mother isn’t so hard. That day, like most, involved a lot of working and a lot of mothering, often at the same time. Ever since giving birth to my first daughter, 20 years ago, I have intentionally blurred the lines between work and home. That’s just what the experts tell you not to do. But I credit the overlap with helping me stay reasonably calm. Here are my tried-and-true ways to keep domestic (and professional) chaos at bay.
Related: What I Wish Parents Knew
1. Do work at home; do home at work. You need to accomplish a certain number of things during a 24-hour period. Where you complete those tasks is beside the point; you just need to check them off the list in order to free up time for the things you want to do. Pedicures come to mind. And reading. So go ahead: Pay your bills at the office during your lunch hour, and check your work e-mail at home while you’re waiting for the kids to show up at the dinner table.
2. Juggle strategically. Sure, try to accomplish A and B and C simultaneously, but don’t do it all by yourself. Instead, get A to accomplish B, so you can take credit for C. For instance, I like to sit at the kitchen table and work on a laptop next to a child of mine doing algebra. While A does worksheets (and I write my newspaper column), she is being mothered by me. Also, I can change gears fast to Google the “quadratic equation” if A gets stuck. Child aces her math class, and I meet my deadline. Score two points for the working mom.
3. Make your home office a command center. Those pesky experts say that to get any work done at home, you have to be cordoned off in a room far away from anyone who can nag you. This makes me wonder how many experts have children. Instead, figure out which location in the center of your house provides some privacy, while reminding everyone you are a presence to be reckoned with. From this spot, you should be able to stir a pot of simmering soup or assist with a history project that involves the use of glitter (by nixing the glitter).
Related: How to Handle Changes in Your Child's Behavior
4. Ignore the latest parental fear-mongering literature. I don’t want to catch you reading anything with a title like Either I Should Be Drinking More or Less Chardonnay Out of Sippy Cups at Work and Home. Instead, stick to the classics that remind us, with great wit, what we like about this business of being an adult with a complex life. For example, Shirley Jackson’s Raising Demons will help you decide whether it’s more fulfilling to spend the weekend doing housework or playing cards with the neighbors. (Hint: Think mixed nuts and drinks over a few rounds of bridge.)
5. Getting out the door in the morning (without anyone in tears) is the only thing you have to achieve before 8:30 a.m. Stop trying to organize everything. Your only goals are to leave the house looking good and without your first-grader sobbing because she hates getting dressed in the morning. If that means you put her to bed in her school clothes to avoid a 7 a.m. tantrum, I think you’re a genius.
Related: 5 Ways to Save Time in the Morning
6. Arm yourself with secret weapons. Mine include a ream of copy paper (hide it in your underwear drawer so no one can cut it up into snowflakes), an instant thermometer, and emergency high heels (keep a pair stashed in the car).
7. Go with your gut, and don't second-guess it later. If you’ve spent days preparing for a meeting that starts in an hour and the school nurse calls to report a painful, though not hospital-worthy, monkey-bar injury, there’s no one right thing to do. On any given day, your instinct might be to skip the meeting. Or suggest that the nurse apply an ice pack and send Shorty back to class. Make a snap decision and then―this is key―don’t question it later. Let it go. Really. I mean it.
8. Leave your kids (and the stories about them) at home. While I’m sure your coworkers love hearing about Sophie’s ballet recital or poison ivy, you can keep them begging for more by limiting updates on family life to one per week (unless your kid gets a perfect score on his SAT, in which case, keep the good news to yourself forever). Remember―bragging about your kids is what family parties are for.
Related: 10 Business Strategies to Organize Your Family Life
9. Don't obsess over things no one will remember in five years. Come 2015, no one, not even you, will still be angry that the PTA insisted on scheduling meetings during the workday. Or that your child was the last holdout against potty-training at preschool. I learned this from a nursery-school director named Susie Meisler. She used to peel screaming 3-year-olds off their parents, carry them into her office, and call over her shoulder to the fretting parents, “Get a cup of coffee. Everything will be fine.” And Susie was right.
10. Stop thinking of yourself as split into separate but equal roles: mother, worker, me. Listen to philosopher John Locke, who said that a person recognizes himself as the same being throughout his life, in different times and places. You are one person, indivisible, who just happens to wear many hats. And while I get that the weight of all those hats can wear you down, at least be happy you’ve got something important to do.
Chances are, work-life balance is your most elusive goal. But it’s not impossible.
by Michelle Slatalla
Last Thursday, as I walked into the house after a business meeting followed by a 30-mile round-trip car pool, I smelled something delicious wafting from the Crock-Pot. On my way to the kitchen, I looked in the mirror, gave a thumbs-up to my dependable black pants, and thought, There now, being a working mother isn’t so hard. That day, like most, involved a lot of working and a lot of mothering, often at the same time. Ever since giving birth to my first daughter, 20 years ago, I have intentionally blurred the lines between work and home. That’s just what the experts tell you not to do. But I credit the overlap with helping me stay reasonably calm. Here are my tried-and-true ways to keep domestic (and professional) chaos at bay.
Related: What I Wish Parents Knew
1. Do work at home; do home at work. You need to accomplish a certain number of things during a 24-hour period. Where you complete those tasks is beside the point; you just need to check them off the list in order to free up time for the things you want to do. Pedicures come to mind. And reading. So go ahead: Pay your bills at the office during your lunch hour, and check your work e-mail at home while you’re waiting for the kids to show up at the dinner table.
2. Juggle strategically. Sure, try to accomplish A and B and C simultaneously, but don’t do it all by yourself. Instead, get A to accomplish B, so you can take credit for C. For instance, I like to sit at the kitchen table and work on a laptop next to a child of mine doing algebra. While A does worksheets (and I write my newspaper column), she is being mothered by me. Also, I can change gears fast to Google the “quadratic equation” if A gets stuck. Child aces her math class, and I meet my deadline. Score two points for the working mom.
3. Make your home office a command center. Those pesky experts say that to get any work done at home, you have to be cordoned off in a room far away from anyone who can nag you. This makes me wonder how many experts have children. Instead, figure out which location in the center of your house provides some privacy, while reminding everyone you are a presence to be reckoned with. From this spot, you should be able to stir a pot of simmering soup or assist with a history project that involves the use of glitter (by nixing the glitter).
Related: How to Handle Changes in Your Child's Behavior
4. Ignore the latest parental fear-mongering literature. I don’t want to catch you reading anything with a title like Either I Should Be Drinking More or Less Chardonnay Out of Sippy Cups at Work and Home. Instead, stick to the classics that remind us, with great wit, what we like about this business of being an adult with a complex life. For example, Shirley Jackson’s Raising Demons will help you decide whether it’s more fulfilling to spend the weekend doing housework or playing cards with the neighbors. (Hint: Think mixed nuts and drinks over a few rounds of bridge.)
5. Getting out the door in the morning (without anyone in tears) is the only thing you have to achieve before 8:30 a.m. Stop trying to organize everything. Your only goals are to leave the house looking good and without your first-grader sobbing because she hates getting dressed in the morning. If that means you put her to bed in her school clothes to avoid a 7 a.m. tantrum, I think you’re a genius.
Related: 5 Ways to Save Time in the Morning
6. Arm yourself with secret weapons. Mine include a ream of copy paper (hide it in your underwear drawer so no one can cut it up into snowflakes), an instant thermometer, and emergency high heels (keep a pair stashed in the car).
7. Go with your gut, and don't second-guess it later. If you’ve spent days preparing for a meeting that starts in an hour and the school nurse calls to report a painful, though not hospital-worthy, monkey-bar injury, there’s no one right thing to do. On any given day, your instinct might be to skip the meeting. Or suggest that the nurse apply an ice pack and send Shorty back to class. Make a snap decision and then―this is key―don’t question it later. Let it go. Really. I mean it.
8. Leave your kids (and the stories about them) at home. While I’m sure your coworkers love hearing about Sophie’s ballet recital or poison ivy, you can keep them begging for more by limiting updates on family life to one per week (unless your kid gets a perfect score on his SAT, in which case, keep the good news to yourself forever). Remember―bragging about your kids is what family parties are for.
Related: 10 Business Strategies to Organize Your Family Life
9. Don't obsess over things no one will remember in five years. Come 2015, no one, not even you, will still be angry that the PTA insisted on scheduling meetings during the workday. Or that your child was the last holdout against potty-training at preschool. I learned this from a nursery-school director named Susie Meisler. She used to peel screaming 3-year-olds off their parents, carry them into her office, and call over her shoulder to the fretting parents, “Get a cup of coffee. Everything will be fine.” And Susie was right.
10. Stop thinking of yourself as split into separate but equal roles: mother, worker, me. Listen to philosopher John Locke, who said that a person recognizes himself as the same being throughout his life, in different times and places. You are one person, indivisible, who just happens to wear many hats. And while I get that the weight of all those hats can wear you down, at least be happy you’ve got something important to do.
6 Quick Fixes for Fabulous Skin
by Liz Brody, Shine Staff, on Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:16pm PDT
"Botox in an apple?" one skin doctor scoffed, sounding as if he wanted to hang up on me. I'd asked him if any foods or supplements might offer a youthful boost similar to injectable "B." High-tech treatments work wonders; they just make my wallet break out. And I figure if certain diets can help curb heart disease and diabetes, why not the skin? It's the body's largest organ, after all.
The science may not be rock-solid, but tantalizing research does suggest that making a few lifestyle tweaks can help your complexion find its potential. Call it: eat, pray, glow.
HAVE AN ORANGE A DAY: Of all the studies on diet and skin, perhaps the best case can be made for increasing foods with vitamin C, according to Jenny Kim MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology and clinical medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, who pored through the scientific literature for Yahoo! with the help of one of her residents, Jamie Zussman, MD. She cites a 2007 study that examined national data from 4025 women and showed that a higher intake of vitamin C was associated with a lower likelihood of a wrinkles and aging dryness. The main sources of the vitamin in the study were orange juice, fruit—citrus and other kinds—and tomatoes. You just need two of those oranges, or a cup of the OJ, or four large tomatoes to get more than the recommended daily amount of vitamin C for adult women.
EAT FOR COLOR: Most experts, in fact, vote for a potent cocktail of antioxidants. To RealAge doctor, Michael Roizen, MD, coauthor of YOU: Staying Young, that means loading up on all the colorful vegetables and fruits you can manage, plus green tea. "If you avoid saturated and trans fats, added sugars and syrups, and any grain that's not 100 percent whole—foods that age you both inside and out," he says, "you can eat almost anything else." For Neil Sadick MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, it's simpler. "If I had to do two things in my life food-wise to protect my skin," he says, "I would ingest more soy and drink a glass of red wine at night." Once you change your diet, he says, it should take three to six months to notice an improvement.
POUR ON THE OLIVE OIL: New York dermatologist Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, whose MD and PhD (in genetics) are both from Harvard, claims the secret of the lustrous Mediterranean skin and hair is olive oil. "It not only provides those antioxidants that prevent toxic damage," she says, "but also the fatty acids that are an integral part of skin, hair, and nails." In her opinion you get the best benefit when you don't cook it. "At home, I put raw olive oil on our poached eggs in the morning, drench our salad at lunch, and at dinner, it goes on top (raw again) of any vegetable or pasta dish."
POP A FISH OIL PILL: Journalist Thea Singer, whose book Stress Less: The new science that shows women how to rejuvenate the body and the mind hit the shelves this week, points to a fish oil study that, she says, "really blew me away." Published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it showed that people with the highest levels of fish oil (marine omega-3 fatty acids) in their blood also had the least amount of "telomere shortening," a known marker of aging. Singer explains that telomeres are the tips on the ends of chromosomes that protect the DNA, and when they get too short, the skin cells "go to sleep and start spewing enzymes that chew up collagen and elastin, which ultimately can cause sagging and wrinkling." UCLA's Kim points to other studies suggesting that fish oil may help suppleness and psoriasis. There's no harm in taking a supplement, or in eating more salmon.
GO OFF THE CRAZY DIET: Going back to those telomeres, Singer's book describes a convincing body science—some of it Nobel Prize-winning—showing that chronic stress can speed up the rate at which our cells age (skin included) by ten years or more. One activity that causes the body to produce stress hormones, you may not be surprised to learn, is strict dieting. You'll go much easier on yourself with a more moderate method of weight loss.
TRY DANCING WITHOUT THE STARS: One of the best ways to turn back the clock, Singer believes, is dancing—with a partner, in a class, or alone in your living room. But if that's not your thing, practicing compassion meditation—or any kind (see more here from a wonderful teacher)—is a great way to unwind. Yoga, massage, joining a support group, and feeling grateful, are also proven means to cultivating radiant calm, both inside and out.
"Botox in an apple?" one skin doctor scoffed, sounding as if he wanted to hang up on me. I'd asked him if any foods or supplements might offer a youthful boost similar to injectable "B." High-tech treatments work wonders; they just make my wallet break out. And I figure if certain diets can help curb heart disease and diabetes, why not the skin? It's the body's largest organ, after all.
The science may not be rock-solid, but tantalizing research does suggest that making a few lifestyle tweaks can help your complexion find its potential. Call it: eat, pray, glow.
HAVE AN ORANGE A DAY: Of all the studies on diet and skin, perhaps the best case can be made for increasing foods with vitamin C, according to Jenny Kim MD, PhD, associate professor of dermatology and clinical medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, who pored through the scientific literature for Yahoo! with the help of one of her residents, Jamie Zussman, MD. She cites a 2007 study that examined national data from 4025 women and showed that a higher intake of vitamin C was associated with a lower likelihood of a wrinkles and aging dryness. The main sources of the vitamin in the study were orange juice, fruit—citrus and other kinds—and tomatoes. You just need two of those oranges, or a cup of the OJ, or four large tomatoes to get more than the recommended daily amount of vitamin C for adult women.
EAT FOR COLOR: Most experts, in fact, vote for a potent cocktail of antioxidants. To RealAge doctor, Michael Roizen, MD, coauthor of YOU: Staying Young, that means loading up on all the colorful vegetables and fruits you can manage, plus green tea. "If you avoid saturated and trans fats, added sugars and syrups, and any grain that's not 100 percent whole—foods that age you both inside and out," he says, "you can eat almost anything else." For Neil Sadick MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College, it's simpler. "If I had to do two things in my life food-wise to protect my skin," he says, "I would ingest more soy and drink a glass of red wine at night." Once you change your diet, he says, it should take three to six months to notice an improvement.
POUR ON THE OLIVE OIL: New York dermatologist Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, whose MD and PhD (in genetics) are both from Harvard, claims the secret of the lustrous Mediterranean skin and hair is olive oil. "It not only provides those antioxidants that prevent toxic damage," she says, "but also the fatty acids that are an integral part of skin, hair, and nails." In her opinion you get the best benefit when you don't cook it. "At home, I put raw olive oil on our poached eggs in the morning, drench our salad at lunch, and at dinner, it goes on top (raw again) of any vegetable or pasta dish."
POP A FISH OIL PILL: Journalist Thea Singer, whose book Stress Less: The new science that shows women how to rejuvenate the body and the mind hit the shelves this week, points to a fish oil study that, she says, "really blew me away." Published earlier this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association, it showed that people with the highest levels of fish oil (marine omega-3 fatty acids) in their blood also had the least amount of "telomere shortening," a known marker of aging. Singer explains that telomeres are the tips on the ends of chromosomes that protect the DNA, and when they get too short, the skin cells "go to sleep and start spewing enzymes that chew up collagen and elastin, which ultimately can cause sagging and wrinkling." UCLA's Kim points to other studies suggesting that fish oil may help suppleness and psoriasis. There's no harm in taking a supplement, or in eating more salmon.
GO OFF THE CRAZY DIET: Going back to those telomeres, Singer's book describes a convincing body science—some of it Nobel Prize-winning—showing that chronic stress can speed up the rate at which our cells age (skin included) by ten years or more. One activity that causes the body to produce stress hormones, you may not be surprised to learn, is strict dieting. You'll go much easier on yourself with a more moderate method of weight loss.
TRY DANCING WITHOUT THE STARS: One of the best ways to turn back the clock, Singer believes, is dancing—with a partner, in a class, or alone in your living room. But if that's not your thing, practicing compassion meditation—or any kind (see more here from a wonderful teacher)—is a great way to unwind. Yoga, massage, joining a support group, and feeling grateful, are also proven means to cultivating radiant calm, both inside and out.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Lumpiang Ubod with San Marino Corned Tuna
Ingredients:
1 can San Marino Corned Tuna
Fresh Lumpia wrapper
1/4 cup julienned carrots
1/2 cup crushed peanuts
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
1/4 cup diced tofu
1 clove finely minced garlic
1 lettuce leaf washed and dried
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tbsp vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
Procedure
First, let's make the lumpia sauce. Grind the peanuts.
In a pan, add vinegar, soy sauce and water. Simmer for a few minutes.
For the lumpia filling, julienne the carrots, mince garlic and add in to the simmering sauce.
For garnishing, sautee garlic and shallots in vegetable oil.
Add brown sugar to the simmered lumpia sauce.
In a pad, lightly fry the tofu. Add the San Marino Corned tuna and ubod. Season with salt and pepper.
Finish off the sauce by mixing in crushed peanuts and cornstarch.
To assemble, place lumpia wrapper on a plate, top with lettuce, add in the filling and wrap.
Drizzle with lumpia sauce, spread the remaining crushed peanuts on top and the sauttee shallots for garnishing.
1 can San Marino Corned Tuna
Fresh Lumpia wrapper
1/4 cup julienned carrots
1/2 cup crushed peanuts
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
1/4 cup diced tofu
1 clove finely minced garlic
1 lettuce leaf washed and dried
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tbsp vinegar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cornstarch
Procedure
First, let's make the lumpia sauce. Grind the peanuts.
In a pan, add vinegar, soy sauce and water. Simmer for a few minutes.
For the lumpia filling, julienne the carrots, mince garlic and add in to the simmering sauce.
For garnishing, sautee garlic and shallots in vegetable oil.
Add brown sugar to the simmered lumpia sauce.
In a pad, lightly fry the tofu. Add the San Marino Corned tuna and ubod. Season with salt and pepper.
Finish off the sauce by mixing in crushed peanuts and cornstarch.
To assemble, place lumpia wrapper on a plate, top with lettuce, add in the filling and wrap.
Drizzle with lumpia sauce, spread the remaining crushed peanuts on top and the sauttee shallots for garnishing.
San Marino Corned Tuna Sandwich
Ingredients:
4 slices wheat/rye bread
1 can San Marino Corned Tuna
1 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 hard boiled egg, mashed
10 g dill, minced
1 small shallot, minced
1 tbsp capers
1 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
1 salad tomato sliced thinly
2 leaves lolo rosso lettuce
1 cup potato chips
Procedure
In a bowl, mix together San Marino Corned Tuna, mayonnaise, lemon juice, egg, dill, shallots, capers, sugar, salt and pepper and set aside and chill
Lightly grill bread until crisp (you can also just toast the bread in toaster)
To assemble, layer lettuce then tomato on top of 1 slice of bread. Add the tuna filling then top with the other slice of bread and slice in half diagonally
Serve on plate with chips
Basil Spaghetti with San Marino Corned Tuna
Ingredients:
100g spaghetti
20g sundried tomatoes chopped
10g red onions sliced into 1/4 inch rings
10g minced garlic
1 can San Marino Corned Tuna
10g basil
2-3 tbsp olive oil
20g parmesan cheese
5g parsley for garnish
Salt
Pepper
Procedure
Cook spaghetti according to package directions
Sautee the onions and garlic in olive oil
Add the San Marino Corned Tuna and tomatoes and continue sauteing for 3-4 mins
Season with salt and pepper
Turn off the heat and toss in basil and mix
Plate and garnish with parmesan cheese and parlsey
by san marino
To All the Single Moms
Cute ng blog ni MS Wilma Doesnt..Nakakrelate ako..:)
Belated happy mother's day to all of you!
Being a mother is a very tough job...at first it was so exciting, but remembering how it felt when I was in the delivery room—it wasn’t ok at all! I’m sure a lot of mothers out there will agree with my sentiments. Napaka-hirap talaga yung pakiramdam na di mo alam kung napapatae ka ba o kung anong ispiritu ang nasa loob ng katawan mo na gustong umigtad!
Hay, indescribable feeling, kung baga sabi ng iba, after six years of having Asiana, I witnessed two new mothers and how they gave birth to their first born—I was there in mind and spirit—parang feeling ko, na-refresh lahat ng memories ko when I was in that situation.
But the difference is I didn’t have a husband to stand by my side...nakita ko kung paano nataranta mga asawa nila, kung paano nagkamali ang mga lalaki sa pagbili ng milk for their newborn at adult pampers for their wives…being a mother is a very tough job-imagine wala ka salary or tf wala ka pa day off...at ang masakit doon, wala ka pang asawa…di ba ang sad?
But on the other hand, based on my personal experience, easier to be a single mom. I’m sure marami ang magtataas ng kilay diyan. There are pros and cons, but I’m not telling everybody to be a single mom ha! Kasi mahirap siya when you're alone talaga...
Anyway, advantages first. Easier in making any decisions for the sake of the bagets…as they always say, mothers knows best. Madali din kung anong values ang kailangan mong ituro sa bagets, kasasma na diyan ang religion, beliefs, at kung anu-ano pang ka-eklatan sa buhay. One thing I’ve learned from being a single mom is to be true and honest to my kids. Mahirap talaga sa una, pero pag nasany ka na super dali lang. I remember the first time Asiana asked me about her father: ay, day! Literal na nahulog ako sa upuan kasi that is the first time that I had to talk to her about her father. Syempre may tatay talaga siya, ano ako immaculate conception mag isa lang nabuntis? Di noh! But it was a decision I had to make, and what I tell her could make or break her as a person.
So para mapadali ang buhay ko, sinabi ko ang totoo about her father. Gosh!!! Lapot ako after that, buti na lang matalino ang anak ko mana sa nanay niya (wag na kumontra, akin talaga mana). Minsan tayong mga matatanda mahirap para sa atin ang magsabi ng totoo. During that time of my life, I had to say the truth, and that same day, may nabasa akong ad sa EDSA na the truth shall prevail...ganda di ba, the universe conspires for us to have our freedom?
Asiana and I have a wonderful relationship because of that day...kaya to all the single mothers, just be true to yourself. That’s the first secret to live a happy life. Nakkss! Try ko lang magpaka-writer dito.
And the second thing is never say bad things about their father. What made me say that? Sa lahat ito ng single mom noh, kahit na ang galit niyo sa tatay ng mga anak ninyo ay lumagpas na sa langit, huwag talaga ipaalam sa bagets para naman they won’t grow up na may galit sa mundo noh! Ang laging isipin niyo, the moment na ginagawa niyo ang bagets ay nakatirik pa ang mga mata nyo...(bastUSSS) Hehehe!
Life is what you make it after all. Til next time, mga ka-blog! Nakssss, gosh I’m beginning to love it... I love you all...you can ask me anything ha, basta ‘wag lang math, mahina ako diyan eh...
by wilma doesnt , wmn.ph
Belated happy mother's day to all of you!
Being a mother is a very tough job...at first it was so exciting, but remembering how it felt when I was in the delivery room—it wasn’t ok at all! I’m sure a lot of mothers out there will agree with my sentiments. Napaka-hirap talaga yung pakiramdam na di mo alam kung napapatae ka ba o kung anong ispiritu ang nasa loob ng katawan mo na gustong umigtad!
Hay, indescribable feeling, kung baga sabi ng iba, after six years of having Asiana, I witnessed two new mothers and how they gave birth to their first born—I was there in mind and spirit—parang feeling ko, na-refresh lahat ng memories ko when I was in that situation.
But the difference is I didn’t have a husband to stand by my side...nakita ko kung paano nataranta mga asawa nila, kung paano nagkamali ang mga lalaki sa pagbili ng milk for their newborn at adult pampers for their wives…being a mother is a very tough job-imagine wala ka salary or tf wala ka pa day off...at ang masakit doon, wala ka pang asawa…di ba ang sad?
But on the other hand, based on my personal experience, easier to be a single mom. I’m sure marami ang magtataas ng kilay diyan. There are pros and cons, but I’m not telling everybody to be a single mom ha! Kasi mahirap siya when you're alone talaga...
Anyway, advantages first. Easier in making any decisions for the sake of the bagets…as they always say, mothers knows best. Madali din kung anong values ang kailangan mong ituro sa bagets, kasasma na diyan ang religion, beliefs, at kung anu-ano pang ka-eklatan sa buhay. One thing I’ve learned from being a single mom is to be true and honest to my kids. Mahirap talaga sa una, pero pag nasany ka na super dali lang. I remember the first time Asiana asked me about her father: ay, day! Literal na nahulog ako sa upuan kasi that is the first time that I had to talk to her about her father. Syempre may tatay talaga siya, ano ako immaculate conception mag isa lang nabuntis? Di noh! But it was a decision I had to make, and what I tell her could make or break her as a person.
So para mapadali ang buhay ko, sinabi ko ang totoo about her father. Gosh!!! Lapot ako after that, buti na lang matalino ang anak ko mana sa nanay niya (wag na kumontra, akin talaga mana). Minsan tayong mga matatanda mahirap para sa atin ang magsabi ng totoo. During that time of my life, I had to say the truth, and that same day, may nabasa akong ad sa EDSA na the truth shall prevail...ganda di ba, the universe conspires for us to have our freedom?
Asiana and I have a wonderful relationship because of that day...kaya to all the single mothers, just be true to yourself. That’s the first secret to live a happy life. Nakkss! Try ko lang magpaka-writer dito.
And the second thing is never say bad things about their father. What made me say that? Sa lahat ito ng single mom noh, kahit na ang galit niyo sa tatay ng mga anak ninyo ay lumagpas na sa langit, huwag talaga ipaalam sa bagets para naman they won’t grow up na may galit sa mundo noh! Ang laging isipin niyo, the moment na ginagawa niyo ang bagets ay nakatirik pa ang mga mata nyo...(bastUSSS) Hehehe!
Life is what you make it after all. Til next time, mga ka-blog! Nakssss, gosh I’m beginning to love it... I love you all...you can ask me anything ha, basta ‘wag lang math, mahina ako diyan eh...
by wilma doesnt , wmn.ph
Chicken Breast with Pepper Gravy
Now here's a dish even the kids will enjoy: My Favorite Recipes' Chicken Breast with Pepper Gravy.
Ingredients:
2 chicken breasts, pounded to about 1/2-inch thick
350 ml Carnation Evap
1 tsp lemon juice
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/3 cup vegetable oil
Procedure:
1. Combine Carnation Evap and lemon juice in a shallow bowl.
2. In another shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper and cayenne.
3. Dip chicken in Carnation Evap and then flour. Reserve leftover flour and Carnation Evap for gravy.
4. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Let oil get really hot before adding chicken.
5. Fry chicken about 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove chicken from pan.
6. Add remaining flour to skillet with pan drippings. Cook, stirring constantly over medium-high heat until flour is golden, about 1 minute.
7. Gradually stir in remaining Carnation Evap.
8. Cook, whisking well until gravy is smooth and thickened, which should be about 2 minutes.
10. Spoon gravy over chicken and serve.
RECIPE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF MY FAVORITE RECIPES
Yummy Chicken Breast Lunches
Bring back life to the lunch baon! Putting together an interesting variety of ingredients is a sure-fire way of making each meal interesting and appealing. With these suggestions, you might not be able to wait for lunchtime before digging in!
By Chupsie Medina
For quick, easy-to-prepare meals that you will want to bring to the office or even for your child to enjoy during the school lunch break, think chicken breast.
A pack of chicken breast fillets will go a long, long way-with rice, pasta, or as a sandwich. Grill, boil, fry, or bake it. Mix with vegetables, fruits, even nuts. Prepare creamy or spicy. There are endless meal variations you can enjoy with chicken breast. Best of all, it shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes to prepare.
Between Bread
A chicken sandwich is one of the easiest meals that even kids will find hard to resist. And it can be packed with all the right nutrients. Boil the chicken with some celery (or a halved onion), salt, and pepper. When cooked, chop your chicken in cubes and blend with just enough mayonnaise to coat, add a touch of mustard for spice, and flavor with a pinch of salt and a dash of finely ground pepper.
Instead of the usual pickle relish, why not use chopped mangoes, apples, or even grapes to your chicken mix. You may even add coarsely cut walnuts or slivers of almonds. For a zesty taste, toss in half an onion, a stalk of celery, or even a small bell pepper-all finely chopped.
Line some greens on one face of the bread (best to choose multi-grain or whole wheat) before slathering on the chicken mixture. Be adventurous: instead of choosing iceberg lettuce, go for alfalfa shoots or arugula. If you want to add a slice of tomato, choose one that’s ripe but firm; you don’t want to be munching on something soggy five hours after it’s been prepared.
Toss It
Grilled chicken is a great addition to a salad. Pound your chicken fillets for equal thickness. Season each side with lemon (or calamansi) juice, salt and pepper, and toss on a hot grill plate to char for a maximum of five minutes per side.
You may want to slice it diagonally, chop it into cubes, or shred it to pieces. Toss them with romaine leaves that have been cut into bite size pieces. You can add croutons, chopped nuts, and slices of parmesan cheese or even marinated feta. A handful of choice fresh fruits will also give added tang. Try pomelo or orange segments, even cubed cantaloupe or avocado.
To put more life in your salad, mix balsamic vinegar and olive oil of equal proportions. Pack this simple dressing separately, and pour over your greens just before eating it.
Saucy
If you can’t survive the day without rice for lunch, try chicken bistek, a pick up from the Filipino beefsteak dish. It’s best to marinate the chicken fillets in soy sauce, the juice of about six calamansi, and ground pepper overnight. Slice white onions in rings and fry in vegetable oil (or even butter) until they wilt in the pan. Set aside. In the same pan, fry the chicken until well done. Set aside in a separate container.
Add about 1/2 cup of water to what’s left of the marinade, and bring to a boil in the frying pan together with all the drippings from the fried onions and chicken. Reduce to about 1/4 cup for the bistek sauce.
Top the cooked chicken meat with the fried onion rings and pour the sauce. For veggies, pick from a variety of colorful choices: bean sprouts, julienned carrots, diced zucchini, or broccoli. You can steam or lightly saute in butter or olive oil, seasoned with salt and pepper. Remember, to get the best taste from your vegetables, use only the freshest.
With chicken breasts as the basic ingredient, the variations you could think of are almost limitless.
by wmn
Bistek Tagalog
This easy recipe is a great baon meal and a filling one too.
Ingredients:
400g sirloin, sliced 1/8 inch
2 medium white onions, rings
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 Lemon, juiced
1 Bay leaf
3/4 cup Carnation Evap
1/4 cup water
Cracked black pepper
Slurry:
1 tsp cornstarch
1 tbsp Carnation Evap
Procedure:
1. Sear the meat. Set aside.
2. Saute the garlic and onions until wilted. Add in the sirloin.
3. Pour the soy sauce, lemon juice, bay leaf, Carnation Evap and water. Season with cracked black pepper. Simmer until meat is tender.
4. Pour slurry to thicken. Simmer until slightly thick.
RECIPE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF MY FAVORITE RECIPES
7 Ways Your Resume Dates You
Porcshe Moran
Monday, September 27, 2010
The turbulent economy has forced many people to go back into the job market for the first time in years. If there is a thick layer of dust on your resume it might be beneficial to learn the new rules of resume writing and presentation before you start submitting applications. Even the most qualified applicant might not get called in for an interview if his resume creates the impression that he is out of touch with the current business environment. Do not assume that an impressive cover letter can serve as a substitute for a poorly written resume.
1. References Upon Request
There is no need to waste valuable resume space on this outdated section. Employers assume that you will provide references if asked. Instead, keep a separate page with the names and contact information of your references ready to supply to the employer once you have advanced in the interview process.
2. One Resume Fits All
While it is smart to keep a master resume on file, you need to customize it to fit each job for which you apply. Job-seekers who take the time to tailor their resume to the employer's needs will stand out from the pack. Eliminate the details that don't apply to the position and emphasize the ones that make you look the most qualified. It might take a little extra time to apply using this technique, but it will be worth it when your interview offers increase.
3. Objective Statement
The professional summary or profile has replaced the objective statement. Employers are focused on what candidates can do for them, not what the business can do for the candidate. You will sell yourself better with a concise bulleted list of the qualifications and accomplishments that make you a match for the position.
4. Single-Page Resume
One of the most touted resume rules is that the document must be one page. Many people will go to extremes to follow this command, resulting in tiny, unreadable font sizes just to avoid having a resume that extends onto the second page.
Unless you are a newcomer to the job market, it is entirely possible that you'll need more than a page to adequately showcase your skills and qualifications. If you have enough job experience that fits the position, it is acceptable to extend your resume length to two pages. Keep your resume succinct and relevant, but don't go under a 10-pt. font size.
5. Lack of Social Networking
Websites such as Facebook and Twitter might be considered distractions in the workplace, but they can be an asset on a resume. Employers want to know that applicants are up-to-date with current technology and communication trends. Links to a professional online portfolio, blog or LinkedIn page should be included in your resume header. There is a good chance that employers will do an internet search to find out more about potential employees, so make sure that all of your social networking profiles project a professional image.
6. Too Much Information
It is not necessary to give your life story on a resume. In fact, providing an employer with too much information can be detrimental to your chances of employment. Delete information about where and when you graduated high school. Ditch irrelevant jobs from 15 years ago. Although it was standard practice in some industries years ago, it is now inappropriate to include personal details in a resume such as information about your hobbies, religion, age and family status. Not only does it look unprofessional, but that information could be used to discriminate against you.
An employer will ask if they want to know why you left previous positions, so don't mention it on your resume. The rule of thumb is to pare down your resume to only include things that show why you are the perfect fit for the specific position for which you are applying.
7. Outdated Terminology and Skills
Skills in obsolete computer software and systems should be removed from your resume. Technical experience is critical in nearly every industry and employers often use technology keywords to find resumes in electronic databases. Listing basic computer skills such as word processing and using an internet browser is not recommended because employers will assume that you have those proficiencies. The job description is the best guide to determine the terminology and technology skills that should show up on your resume.
The Bottom Line
In a fast-paced and competitive job market the parameters for writing a resume continue to change. Resumes that do not reflect knowledge of the current needs in the workplace and the new rules of how to present yourself to an employer will likely end up in the trash.
This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit
by http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-110835-6816-1-7-ways-your-resume-dates-you?ywaad=ad0035&nc
Monday, September 27, 2010
The turbulent economy has forced many people to go back into the job market for the first time in years. If there is a thick layer of dust on your resume it might be beneficial to learn the new rules of resume writing and presentation before you start submitting applications. Even the most qualified applicant might not get called in for an interview if his resume creates the impression that he is out of touch with the current business environment. Do not assume that an impressive cover letter can serve as a substitute for a poorly written resume.
1. References Upon Request
There is no need to waste valuable resume space on this outdated section. Employers assume that you will provide references if asked. Instead, keep a separate page with the names and contact information of your references ready to supply to the employer once you have advanced in the interview process.
2. One Resume Fits All
While it is smart to keep a master resume on file, you need to customize it to fit each job for which you apply. Job-seekers who take the time to tailor their resume to the employer's needs will stand out from the pack. Eliminate the details that don't apply to the position and emphasize the ones that make you look the most qualified. It might take a little extra time to apply using this technique, but it will be worth it when your interview offers increase.
3. Objective Statement
The professional summary or profile has replaced the objective statement. Employers are focused on what candidates can do for them, not what the business can do for the candidate. You will sell yourself better with a concise bulleted list of the qualifications and accomplishments that make you a match for the position.
4. Single-Page Resume
One of the most touted resume rules is that the document must be one page. Many people will go to extremes to follow this command, resulting in tiny, unreadable font sizes just to avoid having a resume that extends onto the second page.
Unless you are a newcomer to the job market, it is entirely possible that you'll need more than a page to adequately showcase your skills and qualifications. If you have enough job experience that fits the position, it is acceptable to extend your resume length to two pages. Keep your resume succinct and relevant, but don't go under a 10-pt. font size.
5. Lack of Social Networking
Websites such as Facebook and Twitter might be considered distractions in the workplace, but they can be an asset on a resume. Employers want to know that applicants are up-to-date with current technology and communication trends. Links to a professional online portfolio, blog or LinkedIn page should be included in your resume header. There is a good chance that employers will do an internet search to find out more about potential employees, so make sure that all of your social networking profiles project a professional image.
6. Too Much Information
It is not necessary to give your life story on a resume. In fact, providing an employer with too much information can be detrimental to your chances of employment. Delete information about where and when you graduated high school. Ditch irrelevant jobs from 15 years ago. Although it was standard practice in some industries years ago, it is now inappropriate to include personal details in a resume such as information about your hobbies, religion, age and family status. Not only does it look unprofessional, but that information could be used to discriminate against you.
An employer will ask if they want to know why you left previous positions, so don't mention it on your resume. The rule of thumb is to pare down your resume to only include things that show why you are the perfect fit for the specific position for which you are applying.
7. Outdated Terminology and Skills
Skills in obsolete computer software and systems should be removed from your resume. Technical experience is critical in nearly every industry and employers often use technology keywords to find resumes in electronic databases. Listing basic computer skills such as word processing and using an internet browser is not recommended because employers will assume that you have those proficiencies. The job description is the best guide to determine the terminology and technology skills that should show up on your resume.
The Bottom Line
In a fast-paced and competitive job market the parameters for writing a resume continue to change. Resumes that do not reflect knowledge of the current needs in the workplace and the new rules of how to present yourself to an employer will likely end up in the trash.
This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit
by http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-110835-6816-1-7-ways-your-resume-dates-you?ywaad=ad0035&nc
Sell Your Skills, Not Your Degree
Since you graduated, you've probably developed skills beyond what you learned in college. Therefore, you may not have to go back to college if you want or need to change careers. In fact, if you're looking to make a career move, you might be more successful if you look more broadly at your set of skills and learn how to sell those to employers outside of your current career and education niche. (For background reading, see Six Steps To Successfully Switching Financial Careers.)
Focus Your Career Goals
Do you already know what you want your next career move to be? If so, you can jump ahead to the section on creating a skills-based resume. If you don't, you have several options.
First, make a list of what you are looking for in a new career. For instance, are you thinking about changing jobs because you no longer want to sit in a cubicle for eight hours a day? Then your list should include something like "must involve being away from my desk at least four hours per day." Similarly, you may want to have a job that doesn't require a lot of overtime. Consider your preferences for required travel or working on projects in teams or independently. You may not get everything you want, but brainstorming is a great start.
Next, conduct research using descriptions of what you are looking for in a career. Ignore jobs you know are outside of your field of interest. For instance, if somehow "lion tamer" comes up in your search - and your friend's cat makes you nervous - you should eliminate it from any further discussion.
Based on your search results, narrow research to careers that fit at least five out of 10 things you want in a new career. Pick five careers for building a skills-based resume.
University career centers can help you with the following:
Career tests to help you find what you might like to do next
Job placement
Resume review and workshops
Volunteering
Still not sure what your next move should be or need guidance in defining your career goals? Volunteer for a charity organization and/or call the career center at your old university for help. Remember to bring the list of what you are looking for in a new career position with you. (For more, see Should You Head Back To Business School?)
Volunteers at nonprofit organizations are often given as much responsibility as they want to have and extra guidance because they are working for free. You could learn leadership and training skills while showing newer volunteers the ropes or marketing and sales skills while helping to promote charity events. Let volunteer coordinators know what your skills are, so they can assign tasks to help you move forward. (For more, read Social Finance Careers: Creating A Better World.)
Create a Skills-Based Resume
Step 1: List all jobs you've held.
Jot down at least five tasks you performed in each job. For instance, working in teams to create ad campaigns, helping customers find the right products within your company's product line, making travel arrangements for industry conventions or negotiating prices with suppliers.
Then, under each task, write down how you completed this task. Not only will you see one-word skills such as "organizing" or "problem solving", but you'll also find the expanded details you need for adding specifics to your resume. You will not copy your job listings into your resume, but this exercise will be the basis for step three.
Step 2: Browse career sites for your skills.
Select the new career fields in which you are interested. Then, enter descriptions of your skills one at a time into the search box.This will help you determine the specific position titles that could work with the skills you have. Pick five job listings to mull over and study the full descriptions.
Step 3: Showcase skills that fit descriptions of your desired positions.
Pick two skills you possess that match the job listings you selected. Create separate skills sections for your resume for each position. For instance, a resume for an event planning position could list travel planning and problem solving as skills. Skills you could use for a merchandising manager position might include organization, negotiation and/or market analysis.
After picking two of your skills per job, add five to 10 bullets under each skill with your accomplishments in this area. The bullets should be similar to the bullets in step two, but your accomplishment listings will be more detailed.
Step 4: Format your resume.
Put your name, address, and contact information at the top.
Objective - Limit your objective to one sentence that specifies an objective directed at the specific position to which you are applying. Don't write that you are looking for new experiences in a creative field. Specify what you want to do for that company.
Have a section for education below your skills. You want your skills to stand out more than your degree.
Summary of your experience. List all your post-college jobs, your dates of employment and the city and state. If you have a lengthy career history, limit your previous jobs section to where you developed the skills in your resume. Volunteer positions can be included.
Limit your entire resume to one page (To learn more, check out Resume Scribes Seal The Deal.)
The Bottom Line
Most people will change careers at least once in their lives; some will change occupations multiple times. If you went back to school each time, you'd take on a new professional title: lifetime student. Use your professional skills to catapult you into a new career field instead.
Reyna Gobel is a freelance journalist and self-professed financial geek, who realized in her finance classes that personal finances weren't nearly as complicated as she thought they'd be and set out to spread the word.Gobel is also the author of "Graduation Debt: How To Manage Student Loans And Live Your Life" (2010). Her website is Graduation Debt.
Knowledge Or Action?
It's been said that knowledge is power. While that's true to an extent, it isn't the whole truth. Knowledge without action is almost useless. It doesn't help to be a genius if you never do anything with the knowledge. I tend to think of knowledge as ammunition and action as a gun. (It's a typical guy thought, I know but it works for me.) Think about it. If you have bullets and no gun, they're pretty much useless. If you have a gun and no bullets, the best you can do is throw (action) the gun at the target. Not as useless as the bullets (knowledge) since action without knowledge is more productive than knowledge without action
The reason I've been thinking about this lately is that I've been reading article after article about how to make money, get high search engine ranking, find customers & prospects, motivate myself and others and several other subjects and realized that regardless of how much info I've gained, it's worthless if I don't act on the knowledge. And it's the same for everyone. It wouldn't matter if you had a PhD in Quantum Physics if you worked at McDonalds, or a library full of books and never used the knowledge within, now would it? I've met some really intelligent homeless people and some stupid millionaires and the biggest difference is action. Let me say this again, ACTION. Action makes people successful to a certain degree. Not to say that any action will make people successful. Jumping up and down or changing channels will not do it, but action of any kind that propels you toward your target goal will get you they eventually.
Another way to think of it is like having a map. I could give you a map to a lost treasure, but if you never left your house, it wouldn't do much good would it?
So here's a question; what action will you do today, to reach your goal? Reading a book will only take you so far.
by readbud.com
The reason I've been thinking about this lately is that I've been reading article after article about how to make money, get high search engine ranking, find customers & prospects, motivate myself and others and several other subjects and realized that regardless of how much info I've gained, it's worthless if I don't act on the knowledge. And it's the same for everyone. It wouldn't matter if you had a PhD in Quantum Physics if you worked at McDonalds, or a library full of books and never used the knowledge within, now would it? I've met some really intelligent homeless people and some stupid millionaires and the biggest difference is action. Let me say this again, ACTION. Action makes people successful to a certain degree. Not to say that any action will make people successful. Jumping up and down or changing channels will not do it, but action of any kind that propels you toward your target goal will get you they eventually.
Another way to think of it is like having a map. I could give you a map to a lost treasure, but if you never left your house, it wouldn't do much good would it?
So here's a question; what action will you do today, to reach your goal? Reading a book will only take you so far.
by readbud.com
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
QUALITIES OF GREAT MATE
What do you look for a mate?
How do you know that its him or her and how do you that you let the one get away? From the book " When you're Serious about LOve" by Dr. Ray Kuzma, here are some qualities
1. A HAPPY DISPOSITION
2. THOUGHTFULNESS
3. NOT EASILY ANGERED
4. WILLING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
5. PURITY
6. TRUTHFUL
7. GOOD HEALTH HABITS
8. ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITIES
9. GOOD SENSE OF SELF WORTH
10. LIKES CHILDREN
11 A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
12. ACCEPTS YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
13. WILLING TO GROW
14. AFFECTIONATE
How do you know that its him or her and how do you that you let the one get away? From the book " When you're Serious about LOve" by Dr. Ray Kuzma, here are some qualities
1. A HAPPY DISPOSITION
2. THOUGHTFULNESS
3. NOT EASILY ANGERED
4. WILLING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
5. PURITY
6. TRUTHFUL
7. GOOD HEALTH HABITS
8. ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITIES
9. GOOD SENSE OF SELF WORTH
10. LIKES CHILDREN
11 A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
12. ACCEPTS YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
13. WILLING TO GROW
14. AFFECTIONATE
Monday, September 27, 2010
Fudge Brownies
FUDGE BROWNIES
INGREDIENTS:
120 grams unsweetened chocolate
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 pcs eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp Vanilla extract
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
PROCEDURE
1. Pre –heat oven to 325ºF. Line mini 3 inch pans with grease and paper.
2. Melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in sugar and vanilla.
3. Stir in eggs and mix until smooth, add dry ingredients.
4. Pour into prepared pan.
5. Bake around 40-50 minutes.
6. Top as desired.
Brownie toppings: - STORE BOUGHT:
1. Strawberry ice cream with Chocolate topping, bananas, whipped cream and cherry.
2. Vanilla ice cream with Caramel topping with whipped cream and nuts
3. Vanilla with Peaches, Raspberry Sauce and whipped cream by delicioso
FUDGE BROWNIES
INGREDIENTS:
120 grams unsweetened chocolate
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 pcs eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp Vanilla extract
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
PROCEDURE
1. Pre –heat oven to 325ºF. Line mini 3 inch pans with grease and paper.
2. Melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in sugar and vanilla.
3. Stir in eggs and mix until smooth, add dry ingredients.
4. Pour into prepared pan.
5. Bake around 40-50 minutes.
6. Top as desired.
Brownie toppings: - STORE BOUGHT:
1. Strawberry ice cream with Chocolate topping, bananas, whipped cream and cherry.
2. Vanilla ice cream with Caramel topping with whipped cream and nuts
3. Vanilla with Peaches, Raspberry Sauce and whipped cream
INGREDIENTS:
120 grams unsweetened chocolate
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 pcs eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp Vanilla extract
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp salt
PROCEDURE
1. Pre –heat oven to 325ºF. Line mini 3 inch pans with grease and paper.
2. Melt chocolate and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in sugar and vanilla.
3. Stir in eggs and mix until smooth, add dry ingredients.
4. Pour into prepared pan.
5. Bake around 40-50 minutes.
6. Top as desired.
Brownie toppings: - STORE BOUGHT:
1. Strawberry ice cream with Chocolate topping, bananas, whipped cream and cherry.
2. Vanilla ice cream with Caramel topping with whipped cream and nuts
3. Vanilla with Peaches, Raspberry Sauce and whipped cream
Fried Chicken with Gravy (Ajinamoto Crispy Fry)
Cooking Directions for Breading Mix: (3 simple steps)
1. WASH - Wash chicken and drain
2. COAT- Coat chicken evenly with Crispy Fry: Hand toss in a bowl or put in a plastic container and shake.
3. FRY - Deep Fry until golden brown.
Cooking Directions for Gravy Mix:
1. Mix and Bring to Boil
- Mix gravy powder in 2 cups (500ml or ½ liter) of water thoroughly to avoid lumping.
- Heat and bring to boil stirring constantly.
2. Simmer
- Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute stirring constantly until thickened.
Sweet and Sour Pork
Ingredients:
½ kilo pork tenderloin
1 Ajinomoto Crispy Fry Breading Mix 65g-pack
Sauce:
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1/2 cup pineapple juice, from the canned pineapple
1/4 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 Tbsp water
2 tsp minced garlic
1 red pepper, big
1 green pepper, big
1 small canned pineapple, drained
Oil for sautéing and deep frying
Procedure:
1. Cut pork tenderloin into cubes. Season with salt, pepper and Chinese wine.
2. In a clean bowl, empty one 65g-pack Ajinomoto Crispy Fry Breading Mix. Add in the pork cubes and dredge with ACF.
3. Pat-off excess ACF from the pork cubes then fry until golden.
4. Sautee minced garlic in oil, add the red pepper, green pepper and pineapple.
5. Add the sugar, ketchup, dark soy sauce, pineapple juice, vinegar.
6. Adjust sauce with a little stock, if needed.
7. Once the mixture boils, add the cornstarch dissolved in water. Let it boil again and pour over the fried tenderloin cubes.
CRISPY GARLIC POTATO WEDGES WITH BACON AIOLI
INGREDIENTS:
For the Potato Wedges
1 pack Ajinamoto Crispy Fry (ACF): GARLIC variant
1 kg. Large potatoes, washed and cut into wedges skin on
oil for frying
For the Bacon Aioli:
2 tbsp vinegar (sherry or white wine vinegar)
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 pc. egg yolk
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
6 slices bacon
1 tbsp pickle relish
Few dashes Tabasco
Salt and black pepper
PROCEDURE:
1. Render the bacon in a medium frying pan. Once the bacon is a little crispy, take them out and leave the oil. Cool the bacon then chop into smaller pieces and set aside. Get the bacon oil and set aside as well.
2. Prepare the aioli: place the vinegar, mustard, garlic, and egg yolk in the bowl of a food processor and process to mix well. With the motor running slowly add the bacon oil and olive oil and process until smooth. Remove from the machine and fold in pepperoni, bacon, and pickles. Season with Tabasco, salt, and black pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Put the ACF in a ziplock bag along with the potato wedges
4. Heat up the oil to 375F. Fry the potatoes in hot oil until golden brown.
5. Transfer to a rack or colander lined with paper towels.
6. Serve with the aioli.
ULTIMATE BURGER
Ingredients:
3 tbsp Dijon mustard
800g fatty ground beef
¼ cups finely chopped onion
1tsp minced garlic
3 tbsp chopped parsley
Cayenne pepper to taste
salt
pepper
burger bun
Cheddar cheese
Procedure:
1) Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, take a handful and make patties making sure not to pack in meat too tightly as this will result in a dry burger and set aside.
2) Cook in hot grill turning the patty once and wait until meat is cooked through or a meat thermometer inserted reads 160 degrees F.
3) Top burger patties with cheese just before it gets completely cooked.
4) Slightly grill burger bun and assemble your ultimate burger as you please.
Condiments:
onion jam
crispy shallots
mustard
mayonnaise
barbecue sauce
hot sauce
ketchup
sliced pickled jalapeno pepper
salad tomato
lettuce
Dill pickles
Crispy Chicken Rolls with Spinach Filling (Sigumchi Namul)
Spinach Filling:
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh spinach
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 clove crushed garlic
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon vinegar
black pepper
Procedure:
1. Steam the spinach until wilted. Strain and set aside to cool.
2. Squeeze out the remaining water from the spinach leaves and cut coarsely.
3. Mix the remaining ingredients with the spinach and set aside.
Chicken Rolls
Ingredients:
5 chicken breasts, filleted and pounded to 1/4-inch thickness
2 Ajinomoto Crispy Fry (ACF) Breading Mix 65g-pack
2 eggs
Oil for deep frying
Assembly:
1. Put 2 tablespoons of the spinach filling in the chicken breast. Roll and secure the edge with a toothpick.
2. In a clean plate, empty one 65g-pack Ajinomoto Crispy Fry Breading Mix. Add in the chicken rolls and dredge with ACF.
3. Pat-off excess ACF, dip in egg and dust again with ACF.
4. Deep Fry in 350 degree oil until golden brown.
Whole Roasted Lemon-Herb Chicken on a Bed of Vegetables
From EatingWell: March/April 2010 — Subscribe to EatingWell Magazine Today!
Whole Roasted Lemon-Herb Chicken on a Bed of Vegetables
6 servings, 3-4 ounces chicken & 2/3 cup vegetables each
Active Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 2 1/4 hours
Ingredients
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves, divided
1/4 cup fresh thyme sprigs, divided
2 lemons, divided
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1 small onion, quartered
1 4- to 4 1/2-pound chicken
4 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
3 medium turnips, peeled (see Tip) and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 celeriac roots (1 1/2-2 pounds total), peeled (see Tip) and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Active Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 2 1/4 hours
Ingredients
1/4 cup fresh sage leaves, divided
1/4 cup fresh thyme sprigs, divided
2 lemons, divided
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1 small onion, quartered
1 4- to 4 1/2-pound chicken
4 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
3 medium turnips, peeled (see Tip) and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
2 celeriac roots (1 1/2-2 pounds total), peeled (see Tip) and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Preparation
Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 400ºF.
Chop 8 sage leaves and place in a bowl with 2 teaspoons thyme leaves. Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon into the bowl. Add garlic, 1 tablespoon oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; mix well. Set aside.
Pierce the remaining lemon all over with a sharp fork. Cram the lemon, onion and the remaining sage and thyme into the chicken cavity.
Place the chicken breast-side up on a cutting board. Use your hands to gently loosen the skin covering the breast, thighs and the top end of the drumsticks. Smear the lemon-herb mixture under the skin, covering as much of the meat as possible.
Toss carrots, turnips and celeriac in a large bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper until well coated.
Place the chicken breast-side up in a large roasting pan (but not on a rack). Scatter the vegetables around the chicken. Bake, stirring the vegetables occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh without touching bone registers 165°F, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes before carving. Transfer the vegetables from the roasting pan to a serving dish with a slotted spoon, leaving behind as much of the fat as possible. Serve the chicken with the vegetables.
Tips & Notes
Tip: To peel turnips and celeriac (also called celery root), cut off one end of the root to create a flat surface so you can keep it steady on the cutting board. Follow the contour of the vegetable with your knife to remove the skin. Or, if you use a vegetable peeler, be sure to peel around the root at least three times to ensure that all the fibrous skin is removed.
Nutrition
Per serving (without skin): 308 calories; 9 g fat (2 g sat, 5 g mono); 100 mg cholesterol; 21 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 34 g protein; 5 g fiber; 691 mg sodium; 1012 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (162% daily value), Vitamin C (50% dv), Potassium (29% dv), Magnesium (19% dv), Zinc (17% dv), Iron (16% dv)
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 4 lean meat, 1 fat
Position rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 400ºF.
Chop 8 sage leaves and place in a bowl with 2 teaspoons thyme leaves. Squeeze the juice from 1 lemon into the bowl. Add garlic, 1 tablespoon oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; mix well. Set aside.
Pierce the remaining lemon all over with a sharp fork. Cram the lemon, onion and the remaining sage and thyme into the chicken cavity.
Place the chicken breast-side up on a cutting board. Use your hands to gently loosen the skin covering the breast, thighs and the top end of the drumsticks. Smear the lemon-herb mixture under the skin, covering as much of the meat as possible.
Toss carrots, turnips and celeriac in a large bowl with the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper until well coated.
Place the chicken breast-side up in a large roasting pan (but not on a rack). Scatter the vegetables around the chicken. Bake, stirring the vegetables occasionally, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a thigh without touching bone registers 165°F, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
Transfer the chicken to a clean cutting board and let rest for 10 minutes before carving. Transfer the vegetables from the roasting pan to a serving dish with a slotted spoon, leaving behind as much of the fat as possible. Serve the chicken with the vegetables.
Tips & Notes
Tip: To peel turnips and celeriac (also called celery root), cut off one end of the root to create a flat surface so you can keep it steady on the cutting board. Follow the contour of the vegetable with your knife to remove the skin. Or, if you use a vegetable peeler, be sure to peel around the root at least three times to ensure that all the fibrous skin is removed.
Nutrition
Per serving (without skin): 308 calories; 9 g fat (2 g sat, 5 g mono); 100 mg cholesterol; 21 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 34 g protein; 5 g fiber; 691 mg sodium; 1012 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (162% daily value), Vitamin C (50% dv), Potassium (29% dv), Magnesium (19% dv), Zinc (17% dv), Iron (16% dv)
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 4 lean meat, 1 fat
Quick Chicken Cordon Bleu
4 servings
Active Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 1/4-1 1/2 pounds), trimmed and tenders removed (see Tip)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese
1/4 cup coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Note)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or thyme
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/4 cup chopped ham (about 1 ounce)
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 1/4-1 1/2 pounds), trimmed and tenders removed (see Tip)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
2 tablespoons reduced-fat cream cheese
1/4 cup coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Note)
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or thyme
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/4 cup chopped ham (about 1 ounce)
breadcrumbs, trim crusts from firm sandwich bread. Tear the bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F until dry, about 15 minutes. One slice of bread makes about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs.
Nutrition 275 calories; 13 g fat (4 g sat, 6 g mono); 97 mg cholesterol; 4 g carbohydrates; 34 g protein; 1 g fiber; 327 mg sodium; 259 mg potassium.
Exchanges: 4 1/2 lean meat, 1 fat
Parmesan-Crusted Chicken Tenders
4 servings
Active Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
Canola or olive oil cooking spray
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1/2 cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
1 cup coarse dry breadcrumbs, preferably whole-wheat (see Note)
1 pound chicken tenders
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup marinara sauce, heated
Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°F. Place a large wire rack on a baking sheet and coat with cooking spray.
Place flour in a shallow dish. Lightly beat eggs in another shallow dish. Combine Parmesan and breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish. Toss tenders with Italian seasoning, garlic powder and salt in a medium bowl. Coat each tender in flour, shaking off any excess. Dip in egg and let any excess drip off. Then roll in the breadcrumb mixture. Place the tenders on the prepared rack. Generously coat the top of each tender with cooking spray.
Bake for 10 minutes. Turn each tender over and coat with cooking spray. Continue baking until the outside is crisp and the tenders are cooked through, about 10 minutes more. Serve the tenders with marinara sauce for dipping.
Tips & Notes
Note: We like Ian’s brand of coarse dry whole-wheat “Panko breadcrumbs.” Find them in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets. To make your own breadcrumbs, trim crusts from firm sandwich bread. Tear the bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. (To make fine dry breadcrumbs, process until very fine.) Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F until dry, about 10 to 15 minutes. One slice of bread makes about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs.
Nutrition
Per serving: 293 calories; 8 g fat (3 g sat, 2 g mono); 140 mg cholesterol; 22 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 31 g protein; 3 g fiber; 603 mg sodium; 465 mg potassium.
1 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 3 lean meat
Crispy Chicken Lollipop
INGREDIENTS:
For the Honey Mustard Dip:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp. prepared mustard
1 tbsp honey
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
salt to taste
pepper to taste
For the Chicken lollipop:
1 pack Crispy Fry Breading Mix (Original)
40 pcs [1 kilo] chicken wings (pre prep for chicken lollipops)
Cooking oil for deep frying
PROCEDURE:
1. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, honey, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Store covered in the refrigerator.
2. In a bowl, dredge the chicken wings in Crispy Fry; fry until golden brown; drain excess oil in paper towel; serve with your honey mustard dip.
Pineapple-Teriyaki Chicken
From EatingWell: September/October 2008 — Subscribe to EatingWell Magazine Today!
4 servings
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Nutrition Profile
Low sodium | Gluten free |
View Our Nutrition Guidelines »
Ingredients
1/3 cup dry sherry, (see Note)
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 20-ounce can pineapple rings, plus 1/3 cup juice from the can
4 large boneless, skinless chicken thighs, (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed (see Tip)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter
4 servings
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Nutrition Profile
Low sodium | Gluten free |
View Our Nutrition Guidelines »
Ingredients
1/3 cup dry sherry, (see Note)
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 20-ounce can pineapple rings, plus 1/3 cup juice from the can
4 large boneless, skinless chicken thighs, (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed (see Tip)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon butter
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