Quick and Easy: Sweet and Sour Fishball

Have you ever had that feeling that you no longer want to eat those canned foods, instead, you wan't real food with real taste. However, the odd was never in your favor and what is left inside your grocery cabinet is canned goods and some processed food on the fridge.

Well I had that moment. Well, actually moments. And during this moments, I'm becoming innovative with food recipe.This was is on processed fish balls. The one that you can buy from the streets during afternnon, outside the school gates and in plaza kiosks.

Prep time:30 mins max
Cooking time: 15-20 mins
Serving size: 6 people


Recipe:

6 pcs. Fish ball
Onion
Garlic
2-3 Tomatoes slices
Carrot strips
Pineapple bits
Tomato Sauce
Bell Pepper
Some seasoning
Brown Sugar
Salt


How to cook:

1. Slice fish balls in quarter, then tomatoes in strips as well as the carrot, and bell pepper.
2. In a pan, saute onion, garlic, fish balls, tomatoes and bell pepper.
3. When fish balls turn golden brown add tomato sauce and pineapple tidbits
4. Add the carrot strips (I add then last beacuse I like eating my carrots kinda crispy)
5. Adjust taste with salt and sugar
6. And yes, Its done and enjoy your quick and easy meal :)

Contemplation:

Fish ball doesn't go well with tomato sauce. I think oyster sauce would taste better with it.

All in all, it did taste well and I was solved with real food. :)

Squash Yema Cupcake

Just another food porn about healthy foods. Been obsessing lately with baking and squash. So here it is, my very own Squash/Kalabasa Yema Cupcake.



For my recipe, I just looked it up on the net and tinkered it a little. It was supposedly Squash with salted caramel toppings, however, my resources were scares, so I made some revision to the recipe.

Prep time: 30 mins max

Cooking time:15-20 mins

Serving size: Made up to 24 cupcakes.

Recipe:

Ingredients for cupcake:

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon iodized salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (I only used cinnamon powder)
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar (brown sugar, moscuvado to be exact)
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup pureed pumpkin

How to bake (this was the recipe I copied)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cupcake tin with non-stick spray (But I only sprinkled flour on my "rubber" like container)
2. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice together in a bowl. 
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attached, beat granulated sugar and butter together until fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Scraping down the sides of the pan after adding each egg. Slowly beat in the dry ingredients. Fold in the pumpkin puree. 
4. Fill in each cupcake mold 2/3 of the way full. Bake in preheated oven 15 -20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove cupcakes from oven. Allow to cool for several minutes in cupcake tin, then transfer to a parchment paper lined cooling rack. Cool completely. 

Tip:

This is how the batter looked before I placed it inside the oven, I add a little water in the tin container, to add a little moisture to my cupcake.

The texture became "Puto" like, so I removed the water on the next batch and it was like the real deal.

Then this is how it looked like on top view, not burnt or under cooked. It was just right. If you can see the whole on the right side cupcake, it has toothpick whole on it. My oven timer was kind of broke so I have to time it myself and check on the cupcake from time to time

The cupcake alone taste great. The squash was sweet that it does not taste odd. However, i think next time I should be using grated squash compared to puree. The cupcake was heavy. 1-2 cupcake would make you feel full already.

Then for my frosting, I used yema.

Ingredients of Yema:

3-4 egg yolks

1 can condensed milk

 pinch of salt

About 1/4 of 100g unsalted butter stick (optional)

How to cook:

On a deep pan, melt the butter then mix condensed milk and egg yolk. Stir the mixture and add salt. Kepp stirring till it looks creamy, you can add flour to make the consistency of the yema thick but on this recipe, I opted to.

All in all, the verdict of those who tasted it was a thumbs up. They were just suggesting to maybe cut down on the squash cause it was a little heave on the tummy.

Squash Cupcake is love...

Squash Cupcake is comfort...

Squash Cupcake is NOMNOMNOM;NOM!!!

ELF Duo: Eyes and Lips.

This was the very reason why I discovered ELF - the lip stain in SM department store. Before dahil student ako I cannot afford such pricey cosmetic. It costs around 300-350 php, same price as now and to think that was 2 years ago. Just to try the brand, my first ELF cosmetic was their  lip plump with stain din ata un which costs only 150 php and it was not disappointing than my liquid eye  liner.

Anyways, even after the eyeliner incident, it did not stop  me from buying my most coveted lip stain (I actually bought this out of stress because shopping therapy really helps sometimes ^^ ) plus a brow liner ( just to feed my curiosity why it was a sell out.).


Lip Stain

I bought the Fashionista even though I love the two nude colors more. Almost all of my outfits are white and black so just to add a little color to my oh-so-minimalist outfits.

Brow Liner

This picture was grabbed online. credits goes to the blogger, but i forgot the link.

I bought this two last May and the texture is still okay, the smell is okay and it has not dried up unlike my liquid eyeliner. Though with the lip stain, I seldom used the gloss part cause the more I used it, the shorter the staying time of the stain. While for the brow liner, I like the color, suits my color. Then the treat part, well it does not make my brows thicker but it tames my brows. Making it stay in

place and in one direction. Even the not so cooperative tip near the nose part hair. :)

All in all, I like it and I'm still using it, though not every day but regularly. Can't wait to try more ELF cosmetics.

Foodies for the Mind and for the Heart: Banana Fries

Three months of being a bum (my choice) and so many things to do but since my keyboard was damage, I felt a bit lazy writing using my online keyboard. Anyways, I'm back and hopefully I can get my mojos for blogging back too.

So, recently, I'm fond of eating banana que every afternoon as if I'm a pregnant woman craving for the sweet sugary taste of the refined sugar juxtapose to the piquant sourness of the over ripe banana. Uummm-YUM!

Just my luck, this week,we had Potchero in our menu. So, I spared some bananas for myself and made my own Banana que. Having no idea on how do they make banana que, I made a little experiment in our kitchen. I call it, "Experiment Banana Fries".

Ingredients:
3pcs Saba/Cardava Banana (I like the almost over ripe ones)
Sugar (I'd use moscovado if available. It's sweeter and healthier than refined sugar)
Oil

How to cook:
Slice banana into strips or fries size

Heat cooking oil, then...

On the first batch, I  fried the rolled bananas in sugar. Note, before I placed the bananas in the pan, the sugar has already melted and it looked liked the "super deep fried bananas" (refer on picture on above). Tasted okay but there was no sugar crunch.

For the second batch, I fried the bananas then after it turned golden brown, I sprinkled the sugar. After 1 minute or so, flip the bananas and sprinkle sugar again on the other side (tasted and looked better). Crunch-check!

Lastly, place it on a saucer or plate or where ever you want it.

Add on: I made a little twist by mixing potatoes and sweet potatoes on my 2nd attempt of doing this snack. However, it requires draining especially for potatoes. So have some paper towel or tissue ready.

Contemplation: Banana que is supposedly a no-brainer snack to cook,but it took me two batches to get it done. I should consult the web next time to conserve resources(CHAR!) but where's the fun experimenting? :)

Banana Fries is love...
Banana Fries is comfort...
Banana Fries is NOMNOMNOM!!!

Testing 1,2,3,4

Budget cutting season again ladies, especially  for those who have quit there jobs for what they have thought then lo and behold - NOTHING. (sishhh, talk about experience) NEVER ASSUME people, NEVER ASSUME! It's deadly.

Anyways, since I 'm saving, I have to cut my expenses on salon services. So I tried this products for the past 2 months (wala ng laman yung mga bottles and sachet, verdict mode) and for my hair care...

I bought my Monea Powerdose hair repair, hair supplement on our local grocery. Worth about 180-200 php. Instructions were -use this product after shampoo and conditioner. Massage on scalp and leave it for about 10-20 minutes and rinse off. Recommended use- 3 times a week. Result to me were,my hair strands became thinner,bagsak looking (sleek) but still looks dead (salon stiff). Smells okay and does not cause dandruff or any other side effects.

Second, I bought my Dark Secret herbal coloring shampoo (Dark Brown) on the same local grocery as my Monea Powerdose for about 30php. Inside you have a free gloves. Apply it like a regular shampoo and leave it for 5 minutes but I usually make it 10 (no adverse effect naman sakin). Can last for 4 weeks but for me, about 2 weeks or so, so I usually apply it twice a month. So far, does not cause hair fall, dandruff or other side effects. 

Just a segway, having unrully hair is not all the time sexy. Sometimes, kahit anong make-up mo, if your hair is a mess, wala ding effect pagmamaganda mo.

AND DONT BELIEVE THIS....

Sometimes you think you look like the girl from the left but actually you look like Barbie after a decade of no shower and no combing of hair.

For my skin care i tried Dermablend cleansing milk as facial wash. Bought in Mercury Drugstore for 50-60php.  Can be used in 2 ways- 1 is by the usual facial washing method (lol, method talaga) or 2, by applying it directly on face then wiped off by cloth or cotton (Parang make-up remover siya). Leaves skin soft and moisturize but unfortunately for me, I had break-outs. FYI, this product is like a low end/local version of Cetaphil. Some are afraid to use it because it has "paraben" but some said it was okay because it was dermatologically tested. As for me, after 1 bottle, it was enough.

Then I bought a lotion, just for trying sake. It was Lander advance skin care restoring body lotion. It cost around 200 ata but was totally worth it. My only issue about this product was, it's thick and sticky on my skin. Especially if I'm sweating, very uncomfortable that is why I returned to Johnson's but bought the new variant-the cooling gel. It cools the skin and it's like water once you rub it in. Smells good too. Amoy baby!  Anyways, I would not be repurchasing this product until matapos ang tag-init or global warming kasi kahit umuulan, ang INIT!

All in all, I had some good buys and some goodbyes. Well not because of bad side effects, it's just that hindi kami compatible.

Flash Back Friday: 90's feel

It's Friday and I'm here in my bed, surfing the net, boring myself to death as I watch the time ticks to 12. No TGIF with friends nor online date with him. No evening munching nor movie night. I'm not in the mood to read my new borrowed book which was....

So, since it's Friday, I'll just have a Friday flashback. To start with:

My ooohh-sooo-awesome beddings thanks to my mother! Super Mario. We had a Nintendo and it's still working aside from the two controlers :(

Backstreet Boys, Britney,Spice Girls and Sugar Rey

Then this awesome cassette tapes. I found more from my sister's box and our yellow Sony Walkman. I wonder if it still works.

Then I bought this oh-so cute circle sunnies. Reminds me of Yoko Ono's fashion.

The girl on my left was on some 90's movie and on my right is Miss Alice Dixson

Tapos, last year, I had a bangs and I look so 90's, fluffy and full of volume. Like wagas talaga yung volume niya. 

Then, do you have that feeling sometimes that you don't like to dress up like Barbie? Well, occasionally, I do. Sometimes, I do love to have a little twist. A surprise to people I know and to myself.

One time I tried to be more on  the "DARK SIDE". A twist of grunge to my make-up and hair. Like Courtney Love.

Wet n' Wild 506B

...and here I was with my messy hair and dark lipstick. :) Grunge-y ei? NOT!(LOL) Though the lipstick looks a little lighter, orange-y to be exact, the actual color was dark red.

All in all, I so love the 90's, except for some of the fashion they had but a little tweak would be helpful. I'm saying loud and proud, I AM A 90's BABY!

2 Shades of Pink

Okay, so this post is one of those months delayed blog but I'm trying to cope up with my list of blogs under draft and with my schedule of work and class.Anyways, here is my new found partner in crime (last February!) , Victoria's Secrets lip gloss. It's not too glossy, not too sparkly and not too

heavy textured on my lips. Like Goldilocks said, "IT IS JUST RIGHT!".

I usually use lip gloss instead of lipstick when I'm in a hurry or a combination of two when I feel like having that simple make-up, girl next door look (CHOS!).

color: 2AAB 

I seldom use this fuchsia kind of pink lip gloss alone with my bare lips because my lips would look like ewan.
I usually pair this with my Clinique Guava Stain lipstick which looks like healthy color lips unlike mine which is mapulta.This adds a little tinge of pink-ish color and glitters.

color: 2DAB

This one I like! I always use this when I'm in a hurry or when my red lipstick fails to make me feel good. If you'll look at the top most picture, this one is almost half empty (YIKES!).
Anyways, I just use my Avon nude lip liner under (full lip coverage) then swish my VS tickled pink (YES! I named it TICKLED PINK. Just an a.k.a. kasi this came from a make set which me and my sisters shared. Sa inyo na ung eyeshadow ladies :) ) wand and VIOLA!

 This is the 3rd  and hopefully not the last product I will use from VS aside from the variety of sexy smelling perfumes and lotions (Thanks to loving Auties abroad). So, all in all, it's not about the brand I 'm after, it's the quality the product gives to the users.

Tengo Ganas De Ti ( I Want You) - A Not so Disappointing Sequel

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After months and months of being a draft on my blog, I have finally found a time to write about the part 2 of  I love you 3 meters above the sky. 

Well to start with, it was very sexual like whole frontal thingy but no "dingdong" shown. Bakit kaya sa babae lang. Well, anyways, NOT suitable to watch with kids around.Very heart breaking in so many part, like mapapaiyak ka pa rin but not as tear jerking as of part 1. Less memorable line. Lastly,Tengo Ganas De Ti (I Want You) was not really a so disappointing movie (BERNE YOUR EPIC!) but has a really really disappointing ending. I was expecting more but well it was written.

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Deja vu?Not really, actually some scenes from the first movie where reenacted. Ano to?Comparing notes (YIKES!)

Mario Casas why so sexy.

Yung ever pacute and tagos sa laman na pick-up line. K. Pero expect less than before but more more more sex scenes.


For SEX SCENE IMAGES,
 don't use your imagination. Watch the movie here and yes, it has English subtitle.

 Again, this movie wouldn't be an epic as the first one if hindi magagamit yung title sa isang scene o dialogue

I want you too Mario:)

 Some scenes where I cried T.T

way to move on. Burn it like you mean it.

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All in all, okay naman siya, as you watch the movie more, you'll get irritated and pissed off bakit ganun yung ending. hehehe... Dont worry, I won't tell. I'm no spoiler :p 

If the first sequel was a 9, I'd give this one an 8.

(P.S. THIS IS NOT A MOVIE REVIEW)

Foodies for the Mind and the Heart: Kamote Fritters

Have you ever been in a situation where you are tired of eating canned foods? Well I have. It's the time when our house maid went for a for a 3 days vacation and your left me with my siblings and a lot of canned foods. Tuna in different flavors...Imagine that :)

My gulay, where are you? I wanted to eat gulay. Everything green.So, I went to check our backyard and found that their are no papaya. I don't have a recipe in mind for  malungay since we don't have meat in our fridge. All I see is kamote. I searched online but no recipe for kamote, just kangkong.

 KANGKONG.....loading...loading....and a big light bulb popped out!

So third in our menu is Kamote Fritters. Fresh and free kamote leaves! Not yet served in any restaurants or food stands. :)

Arial view of my crispy Kamote fritters:)

Ingridients:

A bunch of kamote leaves

Ice cold water

Cooking oil

Batter

1 cup cornstarch

I cup all purpose flour

2 cups water

1 egg

Seasoning (Like pepper or salt or whatever)

How I cooked it:

Wash and clean Kamote leaves and set a side in a bowl of cold water for 10-15 mins.

Mix all the batter and season according to the taste you want. After 10-15 mins, drain and dry with paper towel the kamote leaves then dip into batter and fry. Flip to other side if golden brown. Remove from pan and drain oil on paper towel. Serve with dip. :)

For our dip, we had mayonnaise but you can always try other dip like soy sauce or with ketchup.

Tip: Komete taste different than kangkong. Kangkong is bland while kamote leaves has this not so sweet after taste.

Kamote fritter is love...

Kamote fritter is comfort...

Kamote fritter in NOMNOMNOM!!! 

...plus it is healthy :)

nom nom nom healthy food

Foodies for the Mind and the heart: Palutaw

Second in our menu of most comforting food is Palutaw. Palutaw for me is LOVE!This should be the 1st in my list. My favorite! This is the one I could eat for the whole day with out having "umay". Pwedeng up to sawa!

Considered to be a native delicacy in my hometown-Antique,Palutaw is usually a "Lola's recipe". It is made from grounded sticky rice cooked with coconut milk or "gata" added with banana (Sab-a), yum/sweet potato/gabi and most specially BALLS.  : )  Balls made from grounded sticky rice. 

Seldom seen in carinderias or eatery but ought to have the most number of versions from different "Lolas" from our place. It has a wide variety cooking styles and colors. Yes! Colors.... see below how 1 recipe can have 3 colors? We have the plain white one, the purple-ish and the yellowish color.

This was cooked with purple yum that is why it looks kind of purple-ish

Ingredients:

4-6 pcs of Banana  (I'd prefer the almost ripe one, it gives a tangy but not so disturbing taste)

3-4 pcs of Sweet Potato (Depending on the)

Grounded Sticky Rice (Pilit in native term)

1/2 wash sugar or 1/4 Moscovado sugar

2 Buko of Coconut Milk (Gata) or 4-5 cups coconut milk

4-5 cups Water

2-3 cups of Sticky Rice (1-2 cups for the sticky rice balls and 1 cup for thickening)

1 spoon Vanilla Extract

Optional:

3-4 pcs Gabi

3-4 pcs purple yum

Grated Coconut

Sago

Grated jackfruit

Corn

How I cooked it:

Moisten sticky rice with a little water then roll into balls. Set aside after.

Boil the sago. When water is boiling, drop the sticky rice balls. Stir occasionally to avoid it from sticking in the bottom. Add the ingredients (Banana, sweet potato, yum/gabi etc.) and while waiting for the ingredients to cook, add the remaining sticky rice(dissolved in the water) to have that thick consistency.

Continue stirring then add sugar and vanilla for flavoring and aroma. Lastly, Place the coconut milk "gata", stir then serve.

Palutaw is love...

Palutaw is comfort...

Palutaw is NOMNOMNOM!!!

2 different Palutaw but same comforting taste

Foodies for the Mind and the Heart: Chicken Arroz Caldo

Recently I have been craving foods from my childhood, from Palutaw, to Champorado to Arroz Caldo to many many more. This are foods that I only get to eat during Flores de Mayo or when I'm at my grand parents place. Though some of it are served in our school canteen, it is not as tasty as the home made one. 

First in our menu is Chicken Arroz Caldo made from Japanese Rice.

Arroz Caldo is like our "Lugaw". Made from Sticky Rice, has egg and I guess the only difference is the "sahog" which for Arroz Caldo is Chicken and Lugaw has none(?) They are both thick soup and very  heavy to eat. Busog ka Agad even with only 1 bowl. Arroz Caldo are available in many carenderias especially in the morning for breakfast, during afternoon  for snacks and in the evening till dawn, thus it is cooked in several ways and variety.

Ingredients:

2 cups of Japanese Rice

1 chicken thigh

Garlic cloves minced and chopped ( Used for toasted garlic and to saute chicken)   

Peeled and Chopped Ginger

5 cups water

Knorr Chicken cubes (not paid to advertise)

Chopped green onions

Soy sauce

Calamansi

Pepper

Oil

Salt

How I cooked it:

I sauteed the chicken with the garlic and ginger until brown (but not totally)in a pot not in a pan (I dread make washing). Then  I set it aside.

Then I simmer the rice on the pot I used to saute the chicken. I added the broth cubes to add flavor to the rice.Then when the texture was almost thick, I added back the chicken and add some seasoning like the salt, soy sauce and pepper. You can add water depending on what consistency you want for the Arroz Caldo. For me I added an extra 2 cups because the Japanese rice absorbs water fast making it dry and the grain more "Malaman" (I don't know what is the right term, I  am sorry. Basta parang lumalaki lng ung rice). 

Place it on a bowl, add toasted garlic and chopped onion and viola! Instant Arroz Caldo. Easy right? You can also add egg if you like but in my case, no egg was available.

Though my Chicken Arroz Caldo was an Epic Fail (the soup just dried up after an hour, it was like plain yellow rice with chicken. Note to self: NEVER use Japanese rice for this dish) it still tasted great (walang halong biro).

Chicken Arroz Caldo is love...

Chicken Arroz Caldo is comfort...

Chicken Arroz Caldo is NOMNOMNOM!!!

Look at the grain of rice. Malaman :) 

TBT: Dress away

Thoughts Before going to bed:

New year is fast approaching and that means another picture taken with families and friends before the year ends . Hence forth, new outfits to try, new outfits to buy and new outfits to wear para sa pictorial.Kung baga yan na yung damait na yan ay ang year ender memory mo sa ibang tao. At naniniwala ako na save the best for last. Kaya dapat the last outfit to be worn is the best among the rest of the outfits from your closet. The best sa naisuot mo the whole year round. At dahil thursday ngayon,naisip ko lang na mag TBT (throw back thursday) before going to bed.

Greek inspired outfit with my brown booties. (Actually this is just a top that I made into a dress :) )
(senorita collections dress shop )

Tribal inspired outfi with my native cluth bag and bangles :)

Dress up dress down yung drama ng top na to, I sometimes used it sa office. No accessories needed. :)

I saw a movie once, yung sa sunlife ata un and my sister commented na the top looks nice. Casual formal daw ang drama (Mukhang na iiyak lang ako. LOL) (senorita collections dress shop )

My favorite one, I have  a chiffon top like this, iba lang yung design sa likod (senorita collections dress shop )

Just changed my pambaba with this so awesome and cute reversible skater skort (Short na Skirt. Back then we would call this macarena shorts. IDK why 0.o ) (senorita collections dress shop )

ELFified: ELF waterproof eyeliner review

Last September, I finally bought my most coveted eyeliner by ELF, the ELF Waterproof Eyeliner Pen. And yeah, it does look like a pen. From its size (Length) to its slim tip point. And yes, I do realize that this review is kinda late.

ELF waterproof eyeliner .( Upper right: That was the color when i first opened it. Nice right?)

Based on reviews, this product have less positive feedback with fairly happy users but still I bought it because I thought its quality is like of the lip stain  I used before by ELF and to my dismay, (DUM-DUM-DUMMMMB) I was proven wrong.

So what convinced me to buy this product despite the not so good reviews?

Aside from the trusted brand name (based on my lip stain experience), the price was also affordable, about 150 php. PLUS, they don;t test on Animals that is why it's a BIG CHECK on my cosmetic list.

What are the positive side of this product?

The first time I used it, the ink color was really black and is not pigmented. Doesn't smudge and could last the whole day with out minor retouch (No chipping off). They give precise and thin lining. Good for bat wing, cat's eye and other eyeliner lines with long tail. It goes smooth and drys quickly. And the best part of all was that it can be easily removed with petroleum jelly and doesn't leave your eyes dark for the next day. (NO MORE MORNING RACCOON EYES).

What was the down side?

It dried up after 1 and 1/2 month or so. Like literally. My sister told me to placed it upside down but nothing happened. She then told me to put it in the fridge and so I did and then when I used it again it wasn't as black as before and I only used it for my one eye and none left for the other side. Also the tip was becoming frayed producing an ugly not so define line and is not waterproof as indicated on the pen.

To repurchase again?

No, BUT maybe I'll try the improved version like the ones I have read on some reviews.