Few Tips When Cooking LecheFlan

22 May

I don’t know if it’s due to my PMS but definitely I have this BIG cravings for sweets.

Without having second thoughts, I went straight into the kitchen (just after lunch) and perspire for 2 hours (preparation and cooking) to come up with this plate-0-sweet.

Bathe in sweetness. I couldn’t care less. I’m going to indulge! :)

Leche Flan Cooking Tips:

I have been cooking Leche Flan for years now. Mind you, it’s an intimidating dessert. There have been too many cooking tips around to come up with better Leche Flans. One thing I discovered today?

Beat and Sieve

That, it’s okay to beat up your egg mixture at high speed (using electric mixer. Yes, it’ll create bubbles. Some say, when there’s too many bubbles, you’ll have a soggy Leche Flan. To solve this, I took out a clean cloth and use as a sieve. Gently pour in the egg mixture into the cloth making sure the bubbles are separated.

Then, pour egg mixture into separate molds.

Use the egg whites, too

Another thing. How many people have you heard to use egg yolks only in cooking Leche Flan? Many I guess. They say, the egg whites are not good in making Leche Flan -Egg whites are full of fats. Eggs whites can only make your Leche Flan create too many air pockets when cooked.

Whether it’s for health purposes or for aesthetic appeal of the dessert, it pains me to waste those egg whites. Especially that I am not making meringue :)

Steam at very low heat

And to lose those tiny air pockets (I said, sieving is the first solution), here’s what to do. Let the water in your steamer into a rolling boil. Afterwards, you can now lower the heat and start cooking your Leche Flan. You can achieve a super soft and smooth Leche Flan when you cook it at low heat.

Can we enjoy the sweetness now?

Check out How to cook Leche Flan? a la RIZ :)

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50′s Diner @ Baguio City

16 May

Choosing which to dine while in Baguio City is not a problem as there’s a slew of restaurants to choose from around the city. However, when choosing which diner to go, better consider the topmost important factor- Will there be ample parking? And, please, consider that too when looking for hotel accommodation in the city.

It’s actually better to ride a taxi when you are not so sure if there’s parking area. Or, better still, just walk.

Just as we did when we decided to visit 50′s Diner after the daughter’s graduation at University of the Philippines-Baguio City. Their Leonard Wood Road branch is just a 5-minutes walk from where the daughter stays. So, no need to bring transport. Besides, going out at night is the nicest thing in Baguio. You’ll feel the coldness of the air sweeping up your face. It’s just so romantic walking in at nigh. Just brace your legs for going and down and winding through the streets. Hey, it’s what makes it all the more exciting when you are up visiting the city -The Walking!

And, so after few take of deep breaths, we find ourselves in front of this famed diner in the city.

And, what to expect in this 50′s theme diner? Arts, photos, pink-neon lights, and a vintage jukebox in one corner. I wonder if it’s working.

A lot of Miss Monroe’s golden years photos. And, yeah, Grease…who could forget?

There’s the bar area. We would have wanted to have our seat there, but then, the owner guide us in one corner. Yes, that’s the owner in red shirt. He’s been busy cleaning tables!

Daughter said waiting time here at 50′s Diner takes longer especially on weekends. Because its the hang-out of most tourists, and of course, students and their barkadas.

Good thing that it took us only 5 minutes and we’re guided to our seats. And while waiting for our foodies, we enjoyed our sips….

Then, we realized, we shouldn’t have taken our drinks first because we’re surprised at the humongous servings of meals served on us….

The little girl ordered their budget meal Mama’s Kidd which cost 95 Php.

The daughter takes on one of the diner’s best seller -Guys on the Hood for 130 Php a plate.

Me and the hubs shared this Full House plate which cost 180 Php. As you can see, there’s two servings of spicy chicken wings, macaroni, and 2 servings of deep fried spring rolls consisting of crunchy cucumber, carrots and ripe mangoes -It becomes my instant favorite!

Honestly, the taste of their food is just average. I’m sure there’s a lot of other restaurants in the city that would have offered better tasting food. But, the affordability of their servings (huge servings) must be the reason why the diner has become very popular. Not to mention the novelty of what the place has become.

50’s Diner
92 Upper General Luna Road, Corner Brent Road,
Baguio City, Benguet, Philippines
(0916) 659-5555

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Bonding In The Kitchen

14 May

Rains have come. Soil have been saturated by the much needed water. Thank Heavens, at least, we’re free from watering the plants. The dry season has brought the plants to almost lifeless. Even if we need to water them two times a day.

Yes, rain’s such a relief. Even to the weather. Somehow, it has doused out the hotness particularly during daytime. Unbearable summer it has become, really. That, even in the mid-morning I couldn’t stay longer in the kitchen. I always loved to cook. But, hated the heat. So, I asked the good husband to install exhaust fan in the kitchen to suck out the heat from the inside. Now, the ceiling fan and the exhaust fan worked together to cool the kitchen.

And, to add more glory to my cooking session, the husband had also fix his cool dave murray strat and hang it to the corner near the kitchen area. He said that he could play some of my favorite music while I do my cooking.

Sounds great isn’t it? There’s nothing better than working in a nice environment. Plus, getting all the chances to be together and bonded – him, playing his music and me, doing what I love to do.

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Cheesecake!

10 May

The afternoon heat was unbearable. As always, the kids were all tucked in our room where the AC is keeping them a little colder. However, they all raced back to the kitchen as soon as they smell the aroma of what was baking in the oven.

Cheesecakes! Made 2 dozens of this easy-peasy cheese cupcakes.


Here’s the simple procedure.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
3 large eggs
3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup fresh milk
1 cup refined sugar
1 pinch salt
1 tablespoon vanilla (optional)
1 cup cream cheese (I used Philadelphia cream cheese)
1 cup grated cheddar cheese for toppings

Cooking Procedure:

  • Preheat oven at 375 degree F.
  • Sift together flour and baking powder. Add in the pinch of salt. Set aside.
  • In a bowl, beat the butter on low speed until thick, slowly add in the eggs. One at a time.
  • Add in the sugar, milk, and vanilla. Beat for 2-3 minutes.
  • Then, slowly add the flour mixture. Beat at medium speed for 5 minutes.
  • Fold in the cream cheese using the spatula. No need to use the beater/mixer.
  • Slowly pour the mixture into the muffin cups.
  • Add grated cheddar cheese on top.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

TIP: You can also make frosting out of the remaining cream cheese. Beat together cream cheese, butter and 2 tablespoons water with mixer on low speed until well blended. Frost the cupcakes.

However, I decided to just go with the cheese on top because the kids always prefer their cupcakes straight from the oven -hot, moist and Oh-so-cheesy!

What a blessed Friday afternoon. Enjoy your weekend!

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Enjoy A Free Day

4 May

What I like lazy days like this is I never to bother what I am gonna serve my family. They are the one’s planning on what foods to prepare.

While I sit back, lie on the chaise and hear some melodyne playing in the background. Sometimes, I wish my days could be like these. Nothing to do except hear lovely sounds all-day long. I feel comfortable hearing soft music. It makes me calm and stress-free.

Saturday Foodie Treat

4 May

Twas another lazy and scorching hot summer Saturday afternoon. To beat the heat, the eldest daughter prepared “black gulaman” to quench our thirst. While she was cooling down the “gulaman” (soft jelly) unto a mold, I hastily prepared and cooked up “banana-langka turon”.

Perfect tandem…

Right after preparing and cooking, we headed outside to the garden and enjoy the coolness of air while indulging in these sweet treats. Love this kind of staycation -weekend bonding with the family, al fresco dining…nothing could have been better.

 

The quench-buster black gulaman drink. Served ice cold.

Nothing beats these classic Pinoy foodies. Easy to prepare. Easy on the budget. Sweet treats to enjoy lovely Saturday afternoon with the family.

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Is Juicing Really Healthy?

2 May

As it appears, there’s no stopping everyone in leading a healthy lifestyle. More and more creative ways of preparing healthy food are on the rise. Latest on the list? Juicing.

Google Image

Juicing fruits and vegetables is an excellent way to satisfy your daily intake requirement which is two whole fruits and three veggies per day. By juicing your fruits and veggies, you do not only offer an alternative way of serving them, but you can also mix in a set of fruits and veggies in one drink. So that’s taking in different kinds of nutrients in just one big gulp!

Warning for Diabetics

But while fruit and vegetable juices are undeniably healthy, this wonder drink may not be suitable for some people, like those who have diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. This is because juices, especially those fruit juices, have higher sugar and fructose contents. It is best that diabetics limit their intake of these kinds of drinks until they normalize their bodies’ sugar levels.

Make Use of Those Pulps

But after extracting the juice from the fruits or veggies, what do you do with those pulps? There are a lot of ways you can do with them so that they won’t be put to waste just like that. These pulps can make a healthy ingredient to muffins and cookies. Or better yet, add them into your juice itself! Most of the nutrients in fruits and veggies are on their skin and pulp, so it would be just a waste if you just throw these after extracting the juice.

Juicing is fun and easy. Who knows, this could even be good bonding activity for the family!

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Banana-Langka Pie

22 Apr

After sharing you the Mango Pie (which was baked), I want to share another fruit pie. However, instead of baking, I had opted to fry them in the hopes of achieving that crispier dough a la Jollibee pies :)

And, look what I got after deep frying the pies on a very hot oil…

Crispier and more tastier fruit pies…

Here’s the quick recipe guide:

For pie dough: Check here my easy-peasy basic pie crust recipe.

For filling: Since I have sweetened jackfruit in the fridge, I decided to make it as pie filling combined with sweetened banana (saging saba).

Procedure:

  • Knead the dough, then form into whatever shape you desire. Place the filling near the center of each form dough then seal.
  • Deep-fry into a very hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes.

Let me share you the difference between frying and baking pies. (applies also to meat pies)

Texture. I must say, the difference between baked pies and fried pies are in the texture. Frying pies will result in a more crispier dough. With baked pies, the texture will depend on how minutes the pies stay in the oven. More minutes means you’ll have a crunchier dough. While baking the pies in shorter minutes will achieve a chewy dough.

Concern for health. Naturally, frying means using oil. If you are one who’s been avoiding oils and other fats, baking pies is more the better choice.

Taste. Pies, whether baked or fried, are equally delicious. However, frying intensifies the flavor of the butter (in the dough mix) which is then mixed into the filling which makes the it more flavorful and moist.

Honestly, me and my family prefers frying the pies.

What about you? Have you tried making your own pies? It’s a great snack for the whole family.

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Another No-Bake Grahams Treat

18 Apr

Maybe, this is the most common dessert most Filipinos love to prepare. Why? It’s a no-bake, no-fuss preparation. It’s a super easy sweet treat that everybody loves to indulge.

Including my family. I guess, we’ve come up with more versions than I can remember -we made ripe mangoes as topping, and Oreo topping, too.

Even kids can do this dessert. Boy! They love doing this dessert. So, I am hands-free. Er, I have to do the dishwashing :)

Anyways, here are the ingredients.

2 packs crushed Grahams
2 package of All-Purpose cream (chill and mix until thick)
2 cups fruit mix
2 cups honey (I use pancake syrup)

Preparation:

  • Mix together the crushed Grahams and the honey/syrup.
  • Press half of the mixture into a pan.
  • Pour in half of the cream.
  • Place the remaining Grahams mixture then pour the cream.
  • Then, top with fruit mix.

Done!

Let’s indulge with this pretty simple dessert.

Let kids do kitchen preps.

Thank you kids for helping me out. It always feels great knowing that kids show interest in cooking. It’ll be a lot of mess when kids take active part in kitchen preps. Never mind the mess. What’s more important is the learning experience they’ll reap out of the activity.

 

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Where To Secure Penny Stock Advice

12 Apr

If you are searching for beginner’s tips and advice about the world of penny stocks or daytrade, you might become overwhelmed with the vast information the internet can give out. It might be hard for you to differentiate what advice is just fit and right with the kind of penny stocks knowledge you got.

To help you out to get the right tips and advice from penny stocks experts and veterans, I listed down few pointers below. You can use or follow them to trim down the tips and penny stocks adviceyou got online. They work greatly for some penny stocks beginners I know and it might help you out too. So sit down and read thoroughly the tips I have for you below.

Read Updated Penny Stock Blogs

Most penny stock blogs offers beginners guide up to experts’ advice.  Some of them are a bit outdated though. So get your guide only from updated blogs that can surely give you insights and knowledge you need as a penny stocks beginner.

Subscribe To Trusted Newsletters

A quick online search of penny stock newsletters can give you overwhelming result. Make sure to pick and subscribe only to one or two of them. Subscribing to more than 2 newsletters can just make you feel overloaded with information which surely you don’t want at all. So choose your newsletters carefully and when in doubt or you don’t like the initial choices, you can always search and refine the results again.

The world of penny stocks is a bit too much to handle if the knowledge you got is not good enough. So know the basics of it first and follow my above given tips for better learning experience. 

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