A Healthy Choice

I did everything I can so Jadyn can eat something heavy for breakfast but I guess Filipino dish for first meal of the day isn't what her taste buds like. I cannot force her to swallow the food I am giving to her so I opted to giving her fruits and a few small pieces of cheese. If she eat it all then I feel good knowing she had eaten something. Strawberry slices and grapes are two of her favorite fruits, gladly we have them in the fridge otherwise she'll starve.

Dried Fish!!

I am so tempted frying some dried fish I have in our refrigerator but the problem is I've been having that stubborn "burning sensation" in the mornings. I am afraid it's gonna get worse and will turn into UTI. Oh please God forbid. I don't want to be sick and be hospitalized just because of that. I have had traumatic experiences in hospitals with my Jadyn so as much as possible I'd like to avoid doing things or eating salty foods that could trigger UTI. But hey, looking at the shot above that I snagged on FB, who wouldn't be drooling with this tamban dried fish with matching tomatoes? SLURP!!!

Vegetable Stew

I crave for pure native vegetable stew. My stomach is needing it right now since it's very cold and starving to death. I so missed those days at my grandma's place where we can just pick veggies straight and fresh from her garden. Hot soup like this is so good to slurp when it's served hot and smoking. Sigh!

Fish Recipes

Nothing is more rewarding than having these mouth-watering Filipino dishes. I love fish a lot. I grew up surrounded by bodies of water and in our place, fish of any kinds were abundant. I wouldn't replace it for a steak.

So speaking of fish, here's what we had this morning. I actually cooked these yesterday and decided to leave some for today. The fried fish is the mackerel which my girl loves so much and the second photo is of my tinolang bangus or boiled milkfish with all the spices and lemon grass to make it more delectable to the mouth.

........these are the kind of foods that could totally ruin my diet, but even so...I still eat them paired with rice...I just have to learn to discipline myself of not eating too much of this when it's late so I could reach my goal of getting rid my unwanted belly fats.

I Cook My Own Chinese Food

I do sometimes crave for Chinese food but my husband is so tight that he would say no if I ask him to dine out at a Chinese buffet. If we are away from home or if there is an occasion that is the only time he would take his family out. If it is just ordinary days and we got plenty of stuff in the refrigerator, there is no way he would say yes to that.

On the other hand, I don't sulk at all for I know we save us some money if we just cook our own food instead of having someone cooking it for us. If want to eat a fried rice and chow mein, I would just cook it myself.

I have done it a few times and it just taste as good as the one we can eat at the Chinese restaurant. The great advantage of home cooking is we don't have to pay so much for the food plus I can cook as much as I like to last for the next meal.

Craving for Embutido

I so want to eat embutido right at this hour. I can only hope that I have some ingredients if not all available in the refrigerator. It doesn't have to be special though, all I want is to taste this dish once again for it has been a while since I've eaten it. Panlasang Pinoy website has all the list of Filipino foods and one of which is the embutido which I am so thankful because the picture itself looks very tasty. I can't wait to make some for me.

Picture courtesy by Panlasang Pinoy

Quick Fix

Sometimes I get lazy cooking food for our hungry stomach so I just grab a can of Ligo sardines and egg. Simple breakfast like this in the picture is such a joy for someone who has been away from her home country for a while and not having anyone to fix meals for her.

Jadyn loves rice and the dried fish too. She is not so fond of my sardinas I don't know why.

Yummy Seafoods!

What a torture for myself looking at this mouth-watering sumptuous seafoods. I so craved for these kind of foods freshly caught from the sea, only can be found in the Philippines. Oh my beloved home country I miss you! I can't wait to get my feet back to the land I love! No place like home as they say is so true! Hohohoho...if only I can pull the days faster so I can get on the plane and go home...tsk tsk..

P.S PHOTOS BELOW ARE SNAGGED FROM MY FRIENDS' ALBUMS..sorry if I stole your photos guys without your permission.

Burnt Pizza

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Freschetta. All opinions are 100% mine.

Look at that photo above. Can you tell what that is? That is my pizza the other day. I craved for pizza, luckily I got one in our freezer. I seldom crave for pizza and when I do, I eat two big pies of it. But then, I burned my pizza and I was so disappointed of myself. I left it in a 400-degree temperature in the oven for 17 minutes resulting to burning and scorching of the pizza that even a dog will refuse to eat it.

On the other hand, I didn't feel I wasted the food for it wasn't a good quality pizza and I didn't like the taste either. I just have to buy for a better and tastier pizza like Freschetta FlatBread next time. With Freschetta Flatbread, I can choose three different kinds. They are Zesty Italian, Roasted Garlic and Spinach, Pepperoni or 5-Cheese. Zesty Italian sounds appealing to me which I would gladly buy for a dollar off coupon that I could use on this site http://www.freschetta.com/thin-crust-pizzas/flatbread-pizza/default.aspx.

If you want to get your coupon too, just go directly to the link or the site I have included in this post then you are good to go.

America's Favorite Brand

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Hormel Foods. All opinions are 100% mine.

It was a dear friend of mine who first introduced me a hormel brand chili during Christmas of 2008. She invited us to come over to her house so we can all share a small Christmas banquet together. At first I didn't like the taste of the chili but as my taste buds get used to it, I liked it more and more and I was eating the Hormel chili like Americans do.

My friend's recipe is perfect during Winter for it is kind of spicy that it really make you sweat after eating. From then on, I was inspired to make my own at home and the husband loving it a lot that he request for different recipes for it. And take note, he wants only one specific brand, the ones that are from Hormel. Luckily, they have varieties of chili from the classic Hormel chili con carne to new, premium Hormel Chili Master varieties such as white chicken chili and roasted tomato, and from Dinty Moore cans to new Dinty Moore HeartyMeals varieties such as chicken pot pie and noodles and beef.

I am looking forward to trying another recipe in the future. If you want to try making new chili recipe or anything that you feel like eating, just visit http://www.hormelfoodsrecipes.com/recipes/default.aspx and browse for different truly delicious simple recipes, you can also share yours there. Oh before I forget, Dinty Moore and Hormel Chili are having their 75th anniversary. Please join them by visiting on their site. Just click on the link provided above.

Brussel Sprouts Eaters

When we have a chance to do grocery shopping along with my husband and baby we don't miss to buy brussel sprouts just because we all love it. It was my husband who first introduced this kind of vegetable to me. At first it smelled foul but then I develop an immunity to the smell and now I am loving it as well as my baby. Since we love eating brussel sprout might as well do my research on the benefits it can give to our body. Surprisingly, there are tons of health benefits it can offer to us.

Here are the health benefits shown in my search;

Cancer Protection from Special Sulfur-Containing Phytonutrients

-- Plant phytonutrients found in Brussels sprouts enhance the activity of the body's natural defense systems to protect against disease, including cancer.

Optimize Your Cells' Detoxification / Cleansing Ability

-- For about 20 years, we've known that many phytonutrients work as antioxidants to disarm free radicals before they can damage DNA, cell membranes and fat-containing molecules such as cholesterol.

For Healthy Skin and Immune Function, Think Brussels Sprouts

-- Brussels sprouts are an excellent source of vitamin C, the body's primary water-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin C supports immune function and the manufacture of collagen, a protein that forms the ground substance of body structures including the skin, connective tissue, cartilage, and tendons.

-- Fiber-rich Brussels Sprouts Support A Healthier Colon

-- Cardiovascular Benefits

-- Protection against Rheumatoid Arthritis

-- A Birth Defect Fighter

Information lifted from its original source. Please CLICK HERE to read detailed information on the benefits and studies of Brussels Sprouts.

Big Brunch

I just had my big brunch. I cooked myself ginisang tahong and pancit bihon typical filipino dishes that would really make someone burp big afterwards. My baby ate some of my food too with matching shrimp paste in vinegar. She likes shrimp paste a lot too so I make sure she has it when eating rice so she expand her appetite and she'll be able to eat a lot.

Too bad I have no pictures to share here. The bihon alone tastes so good that I couldn't stop eating. If I let myself pig out with this kind of food everyday then I don't know how much I'm gonna weigh in the next few months.

Christmas Dinner With Close Friends

For a change we held our simple dinner for Christmas in our house. We usually go to Rose's place for gathering of any occasion but this time we decided to be here in our humble house. It was successful and I am thankful my 4th Christmas in America isn't as lonesome as the past Christmassses I had.

Thank you so much guys for making the Christmas celebration successful. Thanks also to my husband who patiently assembled our girl's toys today. Love you so much Lalabs and baby Jadyn! You complete me guys! I'm so happy to have my wonderful family and friends this very day!

Foods we prepared were spaghetti, macaroni salad, tinonoan nangka, sugar cookies, apple pie, dried squid and fish and steamed rice cake. Not much but enough to fill our stomach.

... our humble food, thankful for the grace that is served upon our table.

... my family opening Jadyn'a present from her Mommy ROse
...with Annie and Abby, myself and my handsome Lalabs
...... my friends with my husband
... friendship Annie and yours truly!

protein bars are good for you

I remember when I was growing up that I was often scolded by my mother because of skipping meals and when I do that, something terrible comes after that. I get acidic stomach that leads me to lose my appetite and stomach pain. I suffered for too long due to the fact that in our country protein bars weren't available at the time.

When I got here in America, I almost do the same thing I did back home, going out and not eating something to feed my hungry stomach. Good thing I talked about this to my friend who adviced me to bring some protein bars when I leave home so when hunger strikes, I can have something to munch on anytime I want. I tried them several times over and guess what? I love them!

Aside from being tasting so good, protein bars also provide the necessary protein that your body needs plus it helps cure hunger for a short period of time. I have learned to carry a bar or two in my bag whenever I go out so I won't get sick anymore.

Food For The Poor

These kind of foods are something that can satisfy my poor stomach and there is no other food ever replace it. Dried fish in the Philippines are bountiful and people don't seem to appreciate it for they seem to have these kinds of kan-onon in every meal they have. It's the opposite here in America. Filipinas would be so thankful if they're able to taste a bit of dried fish once in a while.

I am one lucky girl for I can just buy potpot or baby squid in the Asian market although squids are no longer fresh and don't taste as good as they were when they were still fresh but it's good enough for me. So this is what I have been eating that makes my belly grow big and make two folds in my waist.

..... my pot-pot or sap-sap dried fish and little creatures, dried squid...
........ squid soup with water spinach and white squash.. oh yummy!

Perfect Food For Me

I am privileged to have lived in a place where filipino foods, veggies/ fruits and meats are bountiful. We are situated in the center of the city where Oriental or Asian markets are just 10 minutes away. That enables me to buy my intestines' preferred food. Nothing could be better to cook my own food the way I want it.

I don't mind eating "utan bisaya or monggos"- native stew everyday either as this is what I used to eat back home. Just look at the photos, aren't they worth your drool?

Grilled Fish For Dinner

I meant to post this picture of my dinner on the fifteenth by I forgot.Again it was my husband who grilled the fish for me.

I knew he hated the smell and yet he did it.Although the fish wasn't fresh but it was still delicious eaten along with rice and cucumber in vinegar and soy sauce. Isn't this worth the drool?

Uses Of Mango

Oh I am just happy to know that my baby loves eating different kinds of frutis including mango. If she starts holding food in her mouth and if mango is available in the kitchen, I would just giver her some of it and she'll be able to swallow the food down to her stomach. Ok, why do people love mango? I for one is so crazy over this fruit. What are the nutrients that we can get out of eating mango? Read below if you want to know.


In the Philippines, unripe mango is eaten with bagoong. Dried strips of sweet, ripe mango are also popular, with those from Cebu exported worldwide. Guimaras produces a delicious mango.

Mango is rich in a variety of phytochemicals and nutrients that qualify it as a model "superfruit", a term used to highlight potential health value of certain edible fruits. The fruit is high in prebiotic dietary fiber, vitamin C, polyphenols and carotenoids.[12]
Mango contains essential vitamins and dietary minerals. The antioxidant vitamins A, C and E comprise 25%, 76% and 9% of the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) in a 165 g serving. Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, 11% DRI), vitamin K (9% DRI), other B vitamins and essential nutrients such as potassium, copper and 17 amino acids are at good levels. Mango peel and pulp contain other phytonutrients, such as the pigment antioxidants - carotenoids and polyphenols - and omega-3 and -6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Nutritional information lifted from Wikipedia.

Mouth-Watering for Pregnant Filipinas

I saw this very crunchy looking green mango in FS last night and snagged it so I'll make paibog-ibog to all who crave for it. Even myself drooling over this ginamos and raw mango. So yummy and so perfect dip in ginamos. Who wouldn't love it? I think most filipinas if not all love to eat this type of mango that can only be found in the Philippines eh.. Lami nga lami jud! Ato ni bay!

Craving For This

I am trying to finish off all the frozen meats I have in our freezer because I don't want to leave them all behind when it's time for me to fly halfway around the world in the next 50 days. I want to leave the freezer clean and free from old frozen meats that I bought months ago. So far, I am making progress of finishing it slowly.

Why am I talking about it? It's because, I can't wait to go home na and eat just the vegetables that can only be made in the Philippines. "Utan-bisaya" is what we call it with small pieces of chopped pork fat in it. Sluuurrppp thinking of yummy utan makes me drool so bad. Anyways, here's a picture utan bisaya that I made ages ago and this is exactly what I'm craving right now.