Sibuyas Republic

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

A simple Good Friday lunch turned out to be a feast. My boys asked for grilled tilapia and some eggplants. So, I told them I’d cooked some “buro” -burong kanin na may isda (fermented rice with fish). It’s a perfect dip for the fish and veggies.

In case you are wondering what is a buro and how to prepare this local gravy. Hop on to here.

Have a blessed Good Friday. Let us keep in our hearts how Jesus had suffered and died on the cross to pay for our sins in order for us to have Eternal Life.

Halo-halo has become a Filipino culture. And so, roadside halo-haluan in our community sprouts like mushrooms. For 15 peso per 12-ounce disposable cup, you get that indulgent and icy cold Pinoy dessert. Nothing beats summer here than a glass of halo-halo.

And, to make sure I do not spend 15 pesos x 5 or 7 (when niece and nephew makes palibre) a day on halo-halo, I get to prepare our own halo. It’s like “do your own halo-halo, make sawa-sawa on the ingredients”.

I bought sago and powdered gulaman on the market and cooked them accordingly. I have to cook the sago with a little brown sugar, just to make sure it’s clean and safe to eat. I also cook sweet potatoes (a.k.a kamote) and saba bananas -sweetened them with brown sugar and pour in few drops of vanilla just for flavor. Then, the leche flan -I try to cook as many as 6 llaneras (aluminum mold) of this dessert either for halo-halo or as dessert. We’re really a family of sweet tooths.

From those sangkap (the red mongo beans and nata de coco are store bought), the rest of the family can enjoy “Eat-All-You-Can-Halo-Halo).

Beat the summer heat. Enjoy halo-halo. Indulge!

Any time of the day.

PS.

I must tell you how excited the kids can it be preparing their own halo-halo. One kid doesn’t like kamote, one kid doesn’t like mongo beans. However, they tend to add in more of their favorite ingredients especially the leche flan and sweetened bananas.

They even ask me to cook ube (purple yam). Geez! Can they have enough?

So, this is the popular “dynamite” that the eldest is raving for. She had been asking me to try cooking one whenever she gets to stay home during short vacations. But, being a no fan of chilies (I love jalapeno but not as a snack!), I snubbed her request.

But, on spending Christmas in Baguio (the daughter’s University home), we get to try few pieces…

We caught up few food kiosks on one of the entrances to Porta Vaga (Session Road). As sure as I am, the daughter knew now every nook and cranny at the city on where to find food vendors. Geez! She’s into street food. A lot. Must have been the conduct of studes with meager allowance? Ha ha.

So, after hearing mass at the Baguio Cathedral, we stopped by a kiosk where this “dynamite” is sold…

Had my piece only. The little daughter dare not to try. The dad, the lad and the city dweller lass had their fare share. Not so hot. That’s their verdict. As for me, for a piece of dynamite, I had to gulped down half of a 500ml bottled water. And, the spiciness barely left my mouth.

I must say, the jalapeno’s crunchy, I swear I love its flavor -jalapeno cut in half and with cheese on it, wrapped in lumpiya wrapper and fried lightly in oil. I see now why it’s a bet for quick snacks…

Have you tried one?

Each year families are busily packing and preparing for that big moment when the kids go off to college. For many, this once-in-a-lifetime experience can involve traveling far from home, maybe for the first time ever; therefore, taking some of the amenities of home can certainly prove reassuring for these new college students. A comfortable night is the key to a successful day in the classroom, so dorm bedding is an important element to consider. Cozy and attractive dorm bedding is as critical to a college freshman as crib bedding is to a newborn, and for largely the same reasons.

Good quality bedding for dorm rooms and the crib in the nursery have much in common. Both are made of top-quality materials, are easy to care for, and are available in many styles, patterns and colors. The sets usually consist of many of the same elements: fitted bottom sheet in a variety of sizes, top sheet, and cozy blanket or comforter. A complete dorm bedding set also includes one or more matching or coordinating pillowcases. While the proud parents of the newborn usually choose the perfect crib-sized bedding, college students generally select their own colors and styles.

It is easy to see that comfortable, practical bedding knows no age boundaries. Everyone, regardless of age, can appreciate a nice place to spend the night, one that looks as good as it feels. Manufacturers have provided many different options, from the crib to the dorm room to the master bedroom at home, to satisfy the individual needs and tastes of most consumers.

Another long weekend. Saturday started with a promising sunshiny skies in the morning. Yet, the afternoon came with the usual visitor, a heavy downpour. Good thing was, I already hauled off from the oven our afternoon snack…

So, as we watched the heavy rains from our patio, we savor the sweetness and crunchiness of this raisins/nuts-adorned Saturday treat…a GRANOLA.

It was our my favorite snack. Used to buy Nature Valley granola bars in the grocery shop. So, to save me few pesos, what else to do but try to make few bars at home…

There’s just too many granola recipes out in the net, but this one’s I did was inspired by Alton Brown’s recipe at FoodNetwork.com.

Here goes…

I use:

500 grams of quick cooking Quaker oats
1 1/2 cups of brown sugar
1 cup melted butter
2 tbsp. cinnamon powder
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
raisins
nuts (peanuts and cashew nuts were the ones I have here in the pantry)

Cooking procedure:

In a large bowl, mix in the oats, raisins and nuts. Set aside. While in a saucepan, melt the butter over low heat, add in the sugar and stir until fully melted, add the salt, the cinnamon and the vanilla extract. Stir until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Then, mix in with the oat mixture.

Transfer the mixture into a baking dish/pan (greased with butter) and bake (oven preheated @350 deg.F). Bake for about 15-20 minutes.

Allow to cool before cutting into desired size and shape.

Still hot but crispy, here’s my share…

After a couple of burps, I kept thinking what shall I be cooking for the next two days. Sometime….I would want to hate the long weekends. Because that’s when I get to stay longer in the kitchen, too.

Ciao for now…enjoy your weekend foodie.