Jollibee is Giving Away 35 Bucket Treats!

What's your favorite Jollibee treat? Personally, I love their Jolly Hotdog and Burger Steak, but whenever the family would dine at Jollibee, I always find myself ordering the Jolly Chickenjoy + Spaghetti meal. My mom always choose the Jolly Chickenjoy + Palabok meal. I have a lot of fond memories about the Jolly Chickenjoy... back when we were kids, the only time brother and I could taste this was during Christmastime - as this was the usual choice of food during Christmas parties at mom's office. I remember mom would always opt to take home her share of Christmas party food just so we could enjoy it.

From then 'til now Jolly Chickenjoy still satisfies us. Currently, eating at Jollibee has been one of the ways us sibling bond with our dearest mother, because whenever we are out and we are thinking of where to eat, her vote would always go to Jollibee.




Every week until the 27th of October, Jollibee is giving away Jolly Chickenjoy Bucket Treats (8 pieces of Jolly Chickenjoy, 4 rice, 4 regular drinks, and 4 regular Crisscut Fries) to 35 lucky Jollibee diners. It is open to all interesting participants at least 18 years of age and is currently residing in the Philippines. To qualify, first thing to do is to register for the promo, which can be accessed through the Jollibee website. If you want to join, visit www.jollibee.com.ph/promos, for the full mechanics.

All of us have a particular fondest Jollibee moment. I'm sure those moments were spent with people dear to us. The Jolly Chickenjoy Bucket Treat is available until the 27th, giving you less than 10 days to join, so go and join now!

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Perfect Coffee Every Time

Crafting the perfect cup of coffee each and every time is both an art and a science; a lot has to do with the right ingredients used in the proper proportions. It can get complicated – one way to eliminate the guesswork is with a Keurig® Mini-Plus on demand coffee maker. Single serve or on demand brewing systems have changed the way we make and drink coffee and demystified much of what surrounds the crafting of a consistently good cup of coffee.

On demand brewers do not have coffee pots and warming plates or use thermal carafes – instead they brew the coffee directly into a cup, glass or mug. This means there is less to clean and less waste since you brew only what you need and not a drop more. Because the coffee brews directly into the cup it is always fresh, hot and flavorful. Since there is no warming plate you need never again endure a scorched, stale or bitter cup of coffee plus there’s no nagging fear about whether or not you remembered to unplug the coffee maker.

There is no need to scoop or measure coffee because the machines use single serve sealed coffee pods - Nespresso® brand capsules are one example that I found at bedbathandbeyond.com; there are many different formats of coffee pods and not each kind is compatible with each make and model of single serve brewing system. When selecting an on demand brewer it’s best to go with one which accepts a readily available coffee pod format so you are assured of a consistent supply. It’s also important to make sure you like the coffee options available in the pods which are compatible with your machine.

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On Eating Healthy

Everyday is a learning process for me. When I decided to lose weight, I knew I had a lot of work to do, and that includes eating healthy. I am not really into sweets, but I admit I love meat and fatty food... something that is difficult for me to regulate. I am also a big fan of rice - I can certainly eat rice anytime of the day, making my daily food intake filled with lots of carbohydrates.

When I found out I have very high cholesterol levels, the doctor advised me to go easy on meat and bad fatty food. She specifically mentioned "bad," because (she said) not all fatty food are bad, and some can actually be beneficial to lower the HDL. One thing she suggested is to include avocados into my diet, but I was quick to say that I don't eat it because I don't like the feel of chunky avocados in my mouth. Now that I am re-learning the many ways to eat healthy and incorporating fruits into my diet, I want to go back to that advise and start teaching myself how to include avocados into the diet. One is to pair it with savory ingredients (like guacamole and chicken) or add it as a spread into my wheat bread.

Letting go of the bad eating habits can be challenging, but like I said, everyday is a learning process. I don't expect to go all-healthy in an instant, I can start by letting go of one bad habit at a time. As they say, there is no perfect diet, but there is such thing as a lifestyle change.

*** Jenn ***

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Firmoo Eyeglasses

This post is not directly about food, but as a foodie who blogs, it is very important to me that I can see things clearly, as not only do I write about the foodie experiences, I (at times) cook the food and photograph the plated dishes before I could share it here on my blog.

It was in 2008 when I had my "last" pair of eyeglasses, as it was still the pair I am currently using. Late last year, I already felt it was giving signs of retirement, but I held on to it as new pairs of eyeglasses are quite expensive.Early this year though, I already felt the need of having it replaced, so it was a good timing that I learned about Firmoo Optical - the world's leading online optical store that offers various high quality, fashionable, and professional, but affordable eyewear.

Early this month, I went to my optician to have my eyes checked, and upon giving me the prescription, I gave Firmoo Optical the copy of it, along with my choice of frame. I have been using eyeglasses since I was 11 years old, so I already know what type of frame I want, and I am thankful that Firmoo Optical has a wide selection of eyeglasses to fit one's preference. I also found the site very user-friendly, as each eyeglasses frame have every detail one must know about, including a "Try On" feature to give you an idea of how the eyeglasses would look based on your facial features.



My eyeglasses arrived less than a week after I sent them the details. Pretty quick for an International company, and I am impressed! Inside the package, I appreciated that they put on some bubble wrap to protect the eyeglasses, but the one thing that made me smile was the little packet containing a little tools for the eyeglasses.



This was the frame I chose, because purple is my favorite color and I liked that white part on the sides that gave it more beauty.



For a prescription eyeglasses, they certainly had the lenses right. It sure is like the one I am wearing now, so I am definitely happy with how it all turned out.

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Bellissimo Bellevue!

There’s more to great Italian dining than pasta, pizza and panini! Let The Bellevue, the best 5-star hotel in the Southern Metro, take you closer to the sprawling wineries and quintessential cities of Italy for an authentic Italian dining at its main dining outlet Café d’Asie. Experience a soulful gastronomic journey around Italy and discover the cultural flavors of each of its 20 regions for an Italian Food Festival dubbed "I Love Italy" from April 26 to 30. The Bellevue’s Italian chef Tonino Ianocceli shall titillate your taste buds with a live cooking station and mouth-watering buffet of specialties.

Savor the richness of flavors from its northern region in Lombardy through its creamy risotto and the irresistible array of pizzas coming from its southern region as far as Sicilia. Indulge in a bed of succulent antipasti from prosciutto di parma, carpaccio, panacetta, to smoked salmon and cold seafoods. Take pleasure in a serving of insalata rich with fresh greens, herbs and dressings; a wide array of famous formaggio from the cheese capital of Piemonte. Get acquainted with its traditional meat dishes comprising of beef (bue), pork (miale), chicken (pollo), lamb (agnello), veal (vitello) as well as an array of pastas in a various shapes, colors, and blends. And surrender to sweet endings with heavenly dolce de frutta such as panna cotta, creambrulee, cioccolato, gelato, tiramisu.

For just P1, 390 nett, you can avail of this special lunch and dinner buffet that go along with a free glass of red wine. Bon appétit!

For inquiries, call 771-8181, 09178718181 or 09188718181.

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Asian Culinary Tour at The Maya Kitchen

The very first time I tasted Hainanese Chicken, I couldn't stop raving about it, so knowing a renowned chef will be demonstrating how to cook this dish (and many more), I told myself I wouldn't miss it for sure.

Here's what The Maya Kitchen has to say about the event...

On March 3, Saturday, 1-6pm at The Maya Kitchen, Heritage Hotel Manila Executive Chef Alex Chong brings you on an Asian Culinary Journey as he demonstrates well-loved regional cuisine like Hainanese Chicken Rice and Laksa plus Grilled Prawns with Healthy Coriander Curry Sauce and Carabao Mango Mint Salad along with Nyonya Chicken Soup and Pork Dumpling and popular Malaysian dessert Onde Onde.

Heritage Hotel Manila is part of the Milleneum Hotels and Resorts Group and is one of the few places in Metro Manila that offers Halal certified cuisine.

The Maya Kitchen also has the following One-Day Lifestyle Courses: Restaurant Best Sellers Lenten Dishes, March 10, Saturday, 9am-1pm; Homemade Sausages, March 17, Saturday, 9am-1pm; Nego Kakanin, March 17, Saturday, 2-6pm; Sugar Free Desserts, March 24, Saturday, 1:30-5:30pm; and International Breads Workshop March 31, Saturday, 9am-3pm.

Certificate courses with hands-on are now offered both on weekdays (Tuesday-Friday) and weekends (Saturday) with the following schedules: Advanced Pastry Class, February 29, March 1 and 2, 9am-3pm; Basic Culinary, weekdays, March 6-9 and March 20-23, 9am-3pm; and weekends, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 8:30am-1:30pm; Fundamentals of Bakery Production, weekdays, March 13-16 and March 27-30, 9am-2pm and weekends, March 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2-6pm; Basic Cake Decorating March 30-31, 9am-4pm.

Enroll now and get early bird discounts for the upcoming Junior Culinary and Teen Workshops scheduled on April 10-13 and May 8-11 and April 17-20 and May15-18.

For more information on other courses offerings, log on to www.themayakitchen.com or e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City or call 8921185 / 892-5011 local 108.

Very interesting, eh? I will be there on Saturday. Hope to see you there, too!

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What's New with YUMMY Magazine?

2012 is the year Yummy Magazine marks it's 5th anniversary. This milestone in providing foodies with yummy articles, recipes and food stories is going to be a year-long celebration, and for their first issue this year, Yummy Magazine will introduce new columns and sections:

• Guest Chef - a new section wherein readers can learn more about a renowned personality in the foodie world. Will your favorite celebrity chef be featured? Let's hope so.
  
• Yummy Likes! - a collection of Yummy editors' best picks of anything and everything about food.
• Making It - spotlighting local artisans who are living out their foodie passions.
• Everyday Recipes - This has been a part of Yummy Magazine since then, but this month, this section will be having an upgrade - featuring more baon recipes using 5 ingredients.

Content isn't what the people behind the magazine is working at... next issue, they will be unveiling the new look of Yummy Magazine. I think the current issue looks great, but of course, since this year marks a milestone, I am sure the new look for the magazine will be much, much better.

The first month of the year is oftentimes the month people make resolutions and often, healthy eating is always part of our resolutions (including me). The January / February 2012 issue of the Yummy Magazine recognizes this need for us to start fresh, and aside from the new changes, the magazine also features homegrown products and recipes that will help foodies kick start their healthy lifestyle.

Quoting Yummy Magazine's editor-in-chief, Becky Kho, "YUMMY is expected to be a more fun, helpful, useful cooking and dining companion for you."

The January / February 2012 issue is now available at bookstores, supermarkets, and newsstands nationwide. To get more Yummy news, you can check their website at www.yummy.ph or follow them at Twitter - twitter.com/yummyph or like their Facebook page - facebook.com/yummymagazine.

Here's to a fresh start!

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15% Off on Datu Puti Vinegar

Less than a week left before Christmas. Have you already finalized your list of dishes to prepare? I am sure the usual Noche Buena staples will be there - Lumpia, Lechon, Salad, Spaghetti and / or Pancit.

Here in our house, I will attempt to go healthy. For Noche Buena, I am planning to prepare Fish Pasta in Marinara Sauce and for the Christmas Day Lunch, I listed three dishes to prepare: Fish Lumpia, Veggie Kare-Kare, and Honey-Soy Marinated Liempo (just so my family can get to eat pork). Our Christmas will not be as hectic as New Year's Day, though... since my Aunt Bing and his family as well as other relatives will be here, my mom and her sisters already lined up quite a long list of dishes they want to serve: Breaded Cream Dory, Lechon, Vegetable Salad with Vinaigrette, Spaghetti, Mashed Potatoes, Grilled Seafood, Fruit Salad and some more I couldn't remember.

Vinegar will be a vital part of our cooking, and it was a great budget saver to know that I can get 15% off on my Datu Puti vinegar purchases. This great deal actually started since October, as is something I was delighted to know about because my top two favorite flavors are salty and sour. 15% off can go a long way, and since Datu Puti is the #1 "Suka ng Bayan," it's flavor has been something Filipinos loved. This promo is available nationwide in all your favorite supermarkets, groceries, and sari-sari stores, and if you want to know more about this, you can check out this link about this Mukhasim Awesome Deal.

Going back to the dishes this holiday, I will be using my Datu Puti Vinegar as dip for the Fish Lumpia, as an additive in making the ginisang bagoong for the Kare-Kare, as an additive for the Lechon Paksiw (because I am sure there will be a lot of leftover Lechon), and as a dip for the grilled seafood. Yum!

There are more dishes where you can use your Datu Puti Vinegar. To name a few:

• Fish Kilawin
• dipping sauce for Okoy, Grilled Meats & Seafood and / or Calamares
• Adobo
• Paksiw
• additive for your homemade Atsara and Pickles

Actually, food isn't the only use for vinegar, I actually clean our plastic chopping board by soaking it a few minutes in some vinegar before I scrub it. At times, I also use vinegar in cleaning our counter. It's natural and very effective! Try it!

I do love Datu Puti Vinegar, but I have a much softer spot for their Pinoy Kurat (spiced tuba vinegar). Since the family tasted Sukang Pinakurat years ago, we often visit weekend markets to buy it, but when Datu Puti released the Pinoy Kurat and mom suggested I try it because she and her friends at work loved this, I never looked back. I did love this more than the first brand I tried because I loved how the many flavors of the spices and tuba vinegar blended together.

I suggest you go and try this on your fried and grilled dishes, you'll love it. I actually make my own Chicken Inasal using the Datu Puti Pinoy Kurat and I loved it a lot!

Christmastime often drains our pockets and wallets, it's just so nice to know that even in some simple things - like the Datu Puti Vinegar - we can save some money. If you're just about to shop for your holiday food items, why not grab the 15% off? Your wallet will thank you for it.

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Cupcakes by Cupcake Lab from Trip or Treats

I am not much of a dessert person, but my eyes will always lit up every time I see pastries, because they are just gorgeous works of art! I'd always choose cakes over tubs or scoops of ice cream, and as much as I like tasting these sweet comfort, I think cupcakes are much adorable.

Well... I love cupcakes because it allows me to give myself a sweet treat without really blowing my diet - one small cupcake is oftentimes enough for me to enjoy its flavor. Nowadays, I am admiring pastry artists for coming up with awesome cupcakes that will make one drool at first glance.
Christmas is the time of the year when all of us enjoy fat-laden food and sweet treats. Just a while ago, I chanced upon a wonderful treat courtesy of Trip or Treats. Currently, she is having a Holiday Goodie Giveaway, and 7th treat on her list is a box of cupcakes (three flavors, two cupcakes each). Checking it out, my eyes are just glued at the monitor - admiring the awesome frosting!

If you're like me who also wants to win yourself a box of cupcakes... please check http://wp.me/p20k2c-g8 for the full mechanics.

I know... I am currently on a journey to wellness and weight loss, but hey, I am allowed to have a sweet treat every now and then, right? If I win one of the four boxes, I'd treat myself to a very extensive "Cupcake Photoshoot" and give each flavor a taste (maybe half of the cupcake) so I can share the experience here on my blog, too.

Good luck to all of us who joined.

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June / July Updates, August Plans

I wasn't able to write about the June changes, so I will just tie it up with the July update.


From little cups, I re-planted my tomato seedlings in plastic soda bottles. My brother is a big soda drinker, and since he would sometimes just give these bottles to the people roaming around the neighborhood to collect recyclables, I decided to just use the bottles for my tomatoes.

I took this picture early July, and as of this writing, the seedlings were much taller than the ones in this picture, but I am now starting to wonder why the seedlings aren't blooming yet. They just grow taller and taller, and this has been planted for quite a few months already. I don't know if it's the weather or something, but I am really hoping these babies of mine will bloom and eventually bear fruits.

My ampalaya is a success for me. After seeing a few flowers, I started seeing small fruits and last week, I was able to harvest two fruits already. Currently, there are a few more fruits, but since a new typhoon just arrived, I am not sure if I could have a good harvest because even with the protective newspaper wraps, some fruits were still damaged because of the insects.

For the coming month, I am going back cooking recipes from magazines, and I will try cooking recipes from the two July 2011 magazines I own - FOOD and Yummy. The Yummy Magazine blew me away with its amount of recipes... it was jam-packed with many recipes I want to try that I won't list down the dishes anymore; will just start cooking and share the dishes in the coming days.

As for food trips, I just hope I could have at least one food trip in Cebu and Bohol. Well, that's really definite, but... what I meant with "food trip" is eating at a restaurant that doesn't have a branch here in Metro Manila. Also, I won't be counting the floating restaurant in Loboc because that's also a definite part of the trip. :) Well, like what I said on my travel blog, mom and I will pretty much go with the flow on this trip, I just hope some of my expectations will be met.

*** Jenn ***

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