Oatmeal and Raisin Cookie Bars

Tweet

Oatmeal-Raisins Cookie Bar

Last Sunday, I tried to make oatmeal and raisins bars but resulted to cookie bars. I think I used a higher temperature or baked it longer. When I tried to review the recipe it really looks like the recipe for oatmeal cookies.

Oatmeal-Raisins Cookie Bars

I used instant oatmeal instead of rolled oats. This might be the reason for having the said end product. Anyway, masarap din naman.

From Instagram

I even use it to make ice cream sandwich by placing a scoop of chocolate ice cream between the two bars.

This can be a nice giveaway to your friends and colleagues this Christmas Season.

Here is the recipe:

Oatmeal-Raisins Cookie Bars

OATMEAL-RAISINS COOKIE BARS

INGREDIENTS:
¾ cup butter, melted in double boiler
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
2 cups instant oatmeal
1 cup raisins
2 large eggs
¾ cups brown sugar
¼ cup white sugar
1 tsp cinnamon powder
1 tsp salt

DIRECTION:
Pre heat oven to 150ºC.
Line baking pan with baking paper and grease with butter. Set aside.
Mix butter, brown and white sugar, eggs, and cinnamon powder until smooth.
Fold in all-purpose flour, salt, and oatmeal until fully combined.
Pour in greased pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Cool completely and cut into bars.

Tip/s:
Using pizza slicer does the cutting of cookies better.

Read More »

A Throwback... Matthew the Little Musician

Tweet

Oops... It's not yet Thursday but I already want to share this throwback photo.

Couldn't believe how time flies, here's our little pianist 2 years ago.

As early as 1 year old, I can already see that our little boy is a music lover. He loves to sing too. Because of that he was sent to represent his school to APRISM 2014 and he's just 4 years old. 

Here's a throwback video of his performance.

Sorry for my background voice. Close up video was not allowed that time so the kids will not be distracted.

Up to now, he still loves to sing and guess what his favorite song now? It's none other that Alden Richard's Wish I May. Every night before he sleeps. he's always asking me to watch Alden's music video.

He also wants to play piano and I am thinking of enrolling him next summer to a piano lesson. Since he already know how to read, I think he is ready now. I hope I can find a summer piano class near our place so he didn't need to travel pa. For sure after he learn how to play piano, he will ask me to buy him a dj keyboard. I bet he will the coolest musician ever! Haha! Sorry, I got carried away. Just a proud mom here.

Do you a little musician too?

Read More »

Bibingka

Tweet

Last weekend, I was thinking of what will be a perfect pair for barbecue and pancit for our special Sunday dinner. Mommy suggests pizza but seems not fit for the first two. I was about to make puto but make bibingka instead.

Bibingka

Bibingka is a traditional puto made of galapong or ground rice. This is common during Christmas season especially in front of the church after simbang gabi together with puto bumbong. Best eaten with grated coconut and paired with hot coffee or chocolate.

Some customers want to make their orders special by adding cheese and salted eggs as toppings.

The conventional method of cooking bibingka is pouring the galapong mixture in a clay pot lined with banana leaf. It is then cooked using a charcoal-fired stove. The top is also heated using charcoal simultaneously.

Bibingka

Instead of the usual method of cooking bibingka, I used an oven with top and bottom heaters on.

Here is a simple recipe of bibingka using an oven.

Bibingka

BIBINGKA

Ingredients:

1 cup rice flour, not glutinous

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

2 tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 medium eggs

1 can Alaska Evaporada

1 tsp vanilla

Margarine

Cheese for topping

Pre-cut banana leaves

Directions:

Pre-heat oven at 175ºC.

Line muffin pans with pre-cut banana leaves. Set aside.

Combine dry ingredients and mix well.

Add Alaska Evaporada, eggs, and vanilla.

Mix until no more lumps of flour is observed.

Pour the batter in lined muffin pans then top with a slice of cheese.

Baked for about 15-20 minutes.

Spread butter or margarine while the bibingka is still hot.

Serve with grated coconut (optional).

Read More »

Christmas Gift Ideas for Ladies

Tweet

Less than a month to go before Christmas. Have you already prepared your gifts for friends and loved ones? Or are you having some difficulties in choosing the right gift?

Mommy shared some gift ideas for men. Most are composed of gadgets, power tools and other thing sthat suites men’s interests. It is time for me to share some ideas too. That is Christmas Gift Ideas for ladies.

Bags and wallets

Source: Gucci

Ladies will definitely love these items. Just be sure to know their favorite color and material – cloth or leather. Last year, Mommy eye for a bag at the mall so I bought it secretly for her.

Adult coloring books

Source: Life hack

Adult coloring books are very popular now. It's a good gift for those who are always stress because of work or house chores.

Jewelry

Ladies love jewelry. For sure they cannot resist if you give her a piece of gold or silver jewelry. Make this piece of metal more personalized by engraving it like Joy Jewelers sterling silver engravable charms.

Electronic gadgets

Source: Asus

If men love electronic gadgets like phone and tablets, women can't say no to electronic gadgets too. Today, LazadaPH is having a Pinoy Cyber Sale where you can find electronic gadgets with marked down prices.

Gift giving is already part of the Holiday season but we must not forget the true meaning of what we are celebrating on this time of the year.

Have you already completed your Christmas gift list?

Read More »

On Regulating TV Programs and Ads

Tweet

Television (TV) is one of the most influential media for people of all ages. There’s a strong tendency that people may believe in everything we watch on TV. That’s why it’s also a powerful tool for communication and information.

Just like the use of internet, we should also guide our children in watching TV shows and even commercials. Thanks to Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for regulating and classifying each TV program according to its suitability to the viewers’ ages.

However, it’s still us who will decide what programs we will let our children watch. Also, they are TV ads in a rated G (General Audience) show that may not also suitable to young audience. Parents and guardians should be vigilant on what our children should watch.

Being a working mom, this is one of my household problems. Since my husband and I both work outside home, our helper/yaya is the only one who will guide our son in watching TV after his class. Even if I will tell her not to let our son watch this and that, I am not assured she will not really do that. I know that’s also the dilemma of other working moms like me.

Our son is a very smart boy. He can easily recall everything he watch. Sometimes, I am surprise that he knows all the character in a TV show. He also has a strong recall on TV ads jingles too.

Just like what I have said, there’s a tendency that people believes everything we watch on TV. Let me share this one case of ridiculous lawsuits about a TV ads. Because he believed that when he use that certain product, what the TV ads showed will happen to him as well. So he filed a case, here’s what happened.

A man from Nigeria, Anthony Olatunfe, filed a case against Uniliver Nigeria Limited. He sued the later for not attracting girls after using the product as shown in the commercial. He said, "no girl ever agreed to even go out for a tea or coffee with me, even though I’m sure they could smell my breath. I always brush my teeth with so much close up gel to make sure the girls get turned on by my fresh breath as they usually show on TV.” Also, he was got fired from his job by trying to kiss his boss after brushing his teeth.

He even presented used and unused tubes of close-up as evidences. And he accused Uniliver of cheating that caused him mental stress. Really absurd but this is true, haha.

Seriously, this is something we parents should take seriously. Instead of TV, we should think of other ways to entertain our kids. Also, regulate the time of watching TV. Always be sure that we are around when they watch TV. As much as possible do not put a TV inside their bedroom.

This is really a difficult task for us parents. Do you have other ways to regulate TV programs and shows that children can watch?

Read More »

Calamares with Crispy Fry Seasoned Crumbs

Tweet

Mommy received a gift pack from Ajinomoto and one of the items in the loot bag is Crispy Fry Seasoned Crumbs. It is a mixture of seasonings and bread crumbs perfect for fried dishes like chicken, tempura and calamares.

Calamares

Last week, I found squid sold in the market at low price. Buying such items at cheaper price is doubtful but when I checked on the squid it looks fresh naman. Calamares became part of our dinner that day.

To lessen the malansang amoy, I squeezed few calamansi on the squid and marinate it for about 10 minutes before frying.

Calamares Main Ingredients: Squid, Calamansi and Crispy Fry Seasoned Crumbs

According to the cooking instructions, no egg is needed when Crispy Fry Seasoned Crumbs is used. Just make sure that the meat is wet so the crumbs will stick on it.

However, upon trying the first batch, the crumbs did not stick on the squid. To resolve the problem, I went to the usual breading procedure. Dip the squid in flour and egg before rolling into Crispy Fry Seasoned Crumbs.

The calamares goes well but I got another problem. I need to hide the finished product first or else, wala nang matitira para sa dinner.

Matthew cannot wait to take his first bite of Calamares.

Calamares is perfect paired with either spiced vinegar or garlic-mayo dip.

Calamares

CALAMARES WITH CRISPY FRY SEASONED CRUMBS

Ingredients:

1/2 kilo squid, sliced into rings.

1 pack Crispy Fry Seasoned Crumbs

1/4 cup calamansi juice

1 egg, slightly beaten

1 cup flour

Oil for frying

Direction:

Marinate the squid in calamansi juice for about 10 minutes.

Coat the squid rings in flour.

Dip in egg.

Coat with Crispy Fry Seasoned Crumbs.

Deep fry until the coating become golden brown.

Place the cooked products in strainer or papar towel to remove excess oil.

Serve with garlic-mayo dip or spiced vinegar.

Read More »

Perfect Memorials Holiday Gift Guide

Tweet

With the Holidays fast approaching, Perfect Memorials, the leading online retailer of premium quality memorial products has created a special Holiday Memorials category with more products, many of which are on sale.

Memorial Ornaments

Ornaments serve as very thoughtful gifts for someone who is looking for a unique way to memorialize a lost family member or friend during the holiday season. Perfect Memorials has many different styles to choose from and even offer them in packs of 5 or 10, which makes it very easy for you to share an extra special memory with a group of friends or family that will last for years to come.

Photo Pendants

Give a gift that will be enjoyed year round with a Perfect Memorials Photo Engraved Pendant. These pendants are engraved with the photo and name of a loved one and can be worn around the neck or displayed alongside other mementos and keepsakes.

Memorial Cards

Personalized Memorial Cards are very thoughtful stocking stuffers you can give to your loved ones during the holiday season. Perfect Memorials memorial cards come in five vibrant color options and serve as a very nice and tasteful way to carry or display a photo and special memory of your lost loved one. Visit PerfectMemorials.com and enter the keyword Memorial Card to view all of your Personalized Memorial Card options.

Premium Jewelry

Perfect Memorials Premium Jewelry Collection is guaranteed to steal the hearts of your loved ones and the spotlight at your next holiday party. The Premium Jewelry Collection combines our most iconic cremation jewelry pendants with free engraving and a complimentary custom engraved jewelry gift box. With 12 options to choose from, you are sure to find a special gift for everyone on your holiday list.

Engraved Stones

Whether displayed in a memorial garden, city park, or inside your home, engraved stones make a perfect way to celebrate your loved one. Personalization including names, dates of their legacy, other text sentiments, and artwork are available to symbolize and pay tribute to the life of a loved one or family pet. Engraved stones are offered in many shapes and sizes and they are sure to spread cheer throughout your family during the entire holiday season.

Click here to view these specially priced items.

Disclosure: This post was provided by eAccountable and contains affiliate links that may yield commissions earned at no cost to you.

Read More »

Vigan Empanada ala Chemist Dad

Tweet

Here is another merienda suggestion – Vigan Empanada.

The usual empanada is a baked or fried bread stuffed with meat like asado, chicken adobo or bola-bola. Vigan empanada, on the other hand is very different. The filling is made of vegetables (grated papaya, toge or mung bean, carrots), meat (vigan longanissa) and while egg. (Source: Vigan.ph)

Unlike the usual empanada, Vigan Empanada is best paired with spiced vinegar. 

Vigan Empanada ala Chemist Dad

Few weeks ago I made my own version of Vigan Empanada. Instead of papaya and Vigan longganisa, I used sayote and home made skinless longganisa. I already tried making this one using a homemade dough for the wrapper but ended unscuccessful so I tried using the ready-made lumpia wrapper. I also used Ajinomoto Ginisa mix to enhance flavor.

Vigan Empanada Ingredients
Grated syote, skinless longganisa, eggs, cornstarch, lumpia wrapper, Ajinomoto Ginisa mix

Look who's waiting to take a bite of Vigan Empanada ala Chemist Dad?

Matthew the Judge

VIGAN EMPANADA ALA CHEMIST DAD

Ingredients:

1 cup sayote, peeled and grated

Eggs, yolk separated from white

Lumpia wrapper

Homemade skinless longganisa

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium sized onion, chopped

1 tbsp cornstarch dissolved in 1 tbsp water

¼  sachet Ajinomoto Ginisa mix

Cooking oil for deep frying.

Direction:

Saute garlic and onion.

Add grated sayote and Ajinomoto Ginisia Flavor mix. Continue cooking for about 2-3 minutes.

Remove from heat and cool.

Add egg white. Set aside.

Saute skinless longganissa until color turns brown.

In a plate, lay lumpia wrapper.

Place sayote mixture and longganisa.

Make a well and nest egg yolk in the middle.

Carefully fold making half circle and seal the sides using cornstarch mixture.

Fry until golden brown.

Drain excess oil in paper towel.

Serve with spiced vinegar.

Read More »

Chocolate Truffles

Tweet

Happy Halloween!

Are you already prepared for the trick or treats?

Before the event starts in your area or office, here is a simple yet irresistible sweets that kids will surely love - the Chocolate  Truffles. It is not only good for the Halloween but can be served for all occasions as dessert. 

Chocolate Truffles

Ingredients can be easily found in groceries and supermarkets. Basic ingredients are M.Y. San Graham Crackers, cocoa powder, sugar, condensed milk, all-purpose cream, butter, and chocolate bar for coating.

Main ingredients for Chocolate Truffles
(M.Y. San Graham Crackers, cocoa powder, all-purpose cream and condensed milk, butter, sugar, and marshmallows)

To reduce the sweetness, I placed marshmallow as filling. And to give more surprise, fresh or dried fruits can be use as fillings. 

Chocolate Truffles

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLES

Ingredients:

2 cups M.Y. San Graham Crackers, crushed

¼ cup cocoa powder

1 tbsp butter, melted

1 tbsp granulated sugar

¼ cup condensed milk

¼ cup all-purpose cream

½ tsp salt

Marshmallow for filling

Chocolate sprinkles for toppings

For the coating

½ cup butter

150 grams chocolate bar

Direction:

Combine cocoa powder, crushed M.Y. San Graham Crackers and butter. Mix well.

Add the remaining ingredients.

Coat the marshmallow with the Graham mixture and form a ball of about 1-1.5 inches in diameter.

Freeze for at least 15 minutes.

Prepare chocolate coating by melting butter and chocolate bar in a double boiler.

Coat the frozen chocolate balls and place in a paper cup.

Top with chocolate sprinkles.

Chill before serving.

Tip/s:

If you don’t have double boiler, place a mixing bowl over simmering water make sure the water will not touch the bottom of the bowl.

Read More »

MagnetStreet.com Christmas Card Guide

Tweet

Oh my G! Christmas is here and we can't stop it from coming real soon. Do you already have your Christmas list? 

I plan to start shopping for gifts early. But if it won't push through due to time constraint, I am thinking of personalized Christmas greeting cards as giveaway. This will save me time for shopping and is very affordable too. And if you also like to give Christmas greeting cards, let MagnetStreet Christmas card guide help you decide.

Starting your own holiday tradition can begin with a beautiful, custom-designed holiday greeting from MagnetStreet. Connect with family and friends (colleagues, too) with a card that speaks to the season and is easy to personalize. Browse beautifully designed layouts and then change the colors to fit your style or theme (even custom colors). Your photos will print with crystal clarity and you can word your card—just the way you want!

The perfect holiday greeting:  a unique photo and message keepsake plus, a blessing for the season. 

Two words: custom and quality. Your satisfaction is paramount at MagnetStreet — that’s why we offer a 100% quality guarantee.  Start your own tradition and keep more in your Christmas fund, too. They are offering discount too. Great right?

25% off all Christmas Cards! 

Code: LHOLIDAY25 | Exp. 11/20/15

Magnetic Cards Unique Keepsake.  Family and friends love this distinctive and long-lasting keepsake magnet. Your greetings stick on the fridge while your photo and sentiments remain in their hearts.

Folded Cards Classic Greetings. Enduring look with many templates to choose from! Custom-design from front to back, your photos will look amazing printed on any one of the 3 premium papers.

Photocards Contemporary Cheer. These classy cards are a terrific option for sharing a few of your favorite photo highlights from the year. Match the paper style to your festive design. Disclosure: This post was provided by eAccountable and contains affiliate links that may yield commissions earned at no cost to you.

Read More »

Chocolate Roll

Tweet

Last week, one of my colleagues brought chocolate cake during our weekly meeting. I get a slice and pair it with a cup of coffee. Parang nabitin ako and I decided to make chocolate roll at home over the weekend.

Chocolate Roll

I asked my Little Helper Matthew to assist me in putting the chocolate chip toppings and he enjoys a lot. He also made a shorter version of it as gift for Teacher's Day. Marunong ng sumisipsip. Hahaha

Chocolate Roll

CHOCOLATE ROLL

Ingredients:

For the cake:

4 egg whites

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp cream of tartar

4 egg yolks

1 cup cocoa powder

1 tsp instant coffee powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup cake flour

For the frosting/ganache

125 grams Dutché Premium Dark Chocolate bar, chopped

1 tetra pack Alaska Crema all purpose cream

For the toppings: Chocolate chips

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 150ºC.

Brush baking pan (around 1 inch high) with oil or butter then line with parchment paper. Set aside.

Sift cocoa powder, instant coffee and cake flour three time. Set aside.

In a bowl, whisk egg yolks until frothy.

Add vegetable oil, sugar and vanilla extract and mix.

Add sifted mixture and mix until no more trace of lumps. Set aside.

In another bowl, whisk in one direction egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks appears.

Gradually add powders sugar and continue whisking until stiff peaks developed.

Transfer about 1/4 of the egg white mixture to the egg yolk mixture and mix.

Return the resulting mixture to the remaining egg white mixture and fold until no more traces of egg whites is visible.

Pour the resulting mixture into the baking pan and bake for 25-30 minutes.

After baking, turn upside down into parchment paper and roll.

Keep it rolled and cool.

While cooling the cake, prepare the ganache.

In a double boiler, place the chopped chocolate bar and all-purpose cream until chocolate melts.

After cake has been cooled, remove the parchment paper.

Spread ganache on the surface and roll again.

Spread the remaining ganache on the exposed surface and comb using fork or icing comb.

Top with chocolate chips of grated chocolate bar and serve.

Read More »

Opiates: Signs of Addiction and Withdrawal

Tweet

One of the most powerful painkillers is the morphine. This substance is naturally occurring and can be extracted from the opium poppy. In 19th century, this is widely used as painkillers by soldiers during the American Civil war.

Though this is the most potent, a patient taking painkillers derived from opium might get addicted without their knowledge. How can you spot if the patient is already having addiction or drug dependency with pain relievers? 

Here are the signs of opiate addiction.

Increasing dosage – during the time of medication, growing tolerance may be experienced by a patient which resulted to increase in dosage to get the same effect.

Personality shift – change in mood, energy and concentration can be observed.

Getting isolated – patients tend to withdraw from family and friends.

Continuous usage – Patients keeps asking medications even they have been already treated.

Trying to get more prescription – some approach different doctors to get access to the drug.

Physical change – changes in sleeping and eating habits, personal hygiene and having constant cough, running nose and red eyes are few of the physical changes.

Hallucinations – over-reacting to normal conditions like lights, sounds and emotions.

Memory gap – forgetting or total mental blackouts of the events and happenings.

Defensive – responding to defend and trying to hide their drug dependency

If a person possess some of these characteristics, he/she may be already in the state of addiction and needs to call medical attention and might undergo detoxification.

If the patient undergoes detoxification, more problem may be encountered. Discomforts like nausea, vomiting, restlessness, insomnia, body aches and chilling, diarrhea to name a few. This condition is know to be as opiate withdrawal.

Though this problems can be resolved by other medication, it may lead to another addiction. In order to avoid encountering another problem, Elimidrol was formed by Sunrise Nutraceuticals.

Elimidrol is known to be the #1 opiate withdrawal supplemnent that gives relief from the discomfort experienced during the detoxification process. This can be consumed by patients who wants to totally or gradually stop the use of opiate drugs.

Elimidrol is made of potent and effective ingredients, and comes in powder form. Thus, enhances the effectivity and fast acting relief. It has a day time and night time formula ensuring of getting relief 24 hours daily.

Each pack is made of 28 servings good for 4-week detoxification period. This is not limited to one time dosage per day. You can increase the intake especially during the more difficult periods.

Additional source: Foundation for a Drug Free World

Read More »