My 20 Quick and Healthy Fixes (Soup Recipes)

VI. Pumpkin/ Carrot Soup
¼ ripe Pumpkin/ 3 med. sticks Carrots (if both, use half portions of each)
250 ml. Milk
Salt and Pepper to taste
(a) In sauce pan, cover pumpkin/ carrots with water and boil until tender (not too much water). Scoop out of water and puree in blender. Add water used for boiling in blender if needed to reduce thickness of puree.
(b) Pour back puree in sauce pan and add milk.
(c) Simmer over low heat and season with salt and pepper.

VII. Corn Soup
5 cobs White Corn
1 tbsp. Butter
3 cloves Garlic (diced)
1 pc. medium-size White Onion
1 cup Water
1 cup Moringa leaves or ½ cup Celery (diced)
(a) Using a sharp knife, gently slice off kernels off the corn cobs. Scrape off pulp as these will thicken the soup.
(b) In sauce pan, melt butter and sauté garlic followed by onions.
(c) Pour in water and corn kernels. Season with salt and pepper. Leave to simmer over low heat.
(d) After a 5 minute boil, turn off heat and add in moringa or celery.


VIII. French Onion Soup
3 large White Onions cut into rings
½ stick Butter
500 ml. Milk
¼ cup grated Cheddar Cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste
(a) In sauce pan, melt butter and add onions. Leave to heat until onion is totally wilted.
(b) Add milk and cheese. Simmer over low heat.
(c) Season with salt and pepper.

IX. Cheddar Tomato Soup
1cup diced Ripe Tomatoes
2 pcs. chopped White Onions
250 ml. Milk
½ cup Cheddar Cheese (grated)
1 cup Water
1 tsp. Basil
½ cup Diced Celery
Salt and Pepper to taste
(a) Puree Tomatoes and Onion.
(b) In sauce pan, combine puree, milk, cheese and basil.
(c) Simmer over low heat and season with salt and pepper.
(d) Turn off heat and add celery.

X. Seafood Chowder
¼ kg each of Scallops/ Clam/ Shrimp/ Fish Fillet
¼ cup Diced Onions
3 cups Potatoes (cut into cubes)
½ stick Butter
250 ml. Milk
½ cup Cheddar Cheese (grated)
1 cup Water
1 tsp. Basil
½ cup Diced Celery
Salt and Pepper to taste
(a) Melt butter and sauté onions, potatoes and celery over low heat.
(b) Add in seafood.
(c) Pour in water and milk.
(d) Simmer over low heat and season with basil, salt and pepper.

(Stand Alone Recipes to follow…)

My Quick & Healthy Fixes

For me, cooking has become therapy. It happened when eating lunch on workdays has become a necessity rather than a pleasurable break. I would order a Cheeseburger Meal and eat while working in front of my computer. When I forgot to eat, I would look for the fastest starch/ sugar option available and gobble it up in seconds.

A routine annual physical check-up at my husband’s office revealed that his triglyceride level is off the charts. It was then that we decided to make a conscious effort on the quality of the meals we take while in the workplace where we spend most of the day at least five times per week.

I surfed the net for realistic options. I know we’re not ready for something as drastic as turning vegan as we’re both big meat eaters so I started by making a weekly menu with reduced carbohydrates and increased fiber. Budget and prep time are also major factors.

We did the grocery list and I started preparing our office meals either the night before (for more complicated viands) or the morning before work. I thought it was going to wear me out but I ended up really enjoying my short times alone in the kitchen. It also makes me happy that lunchtime has become an anticipated break for my husband work days.

Here are my 20 Quick and Healthy fixes. Recipes are good for 2-3 servings so feel free to make adjustments as you deem necessary. Hope they come in handy for you too!

SOLOS or COMBOS (may be had alone but better when complemented with any of the succeeding soup recipes)

I.Beefsteak Sandwich
¼ Sirloin sliced very thinly
1 pc. medium-size Bell Pepper (sliced in strips)
1 pc. medium-size White Onion (sliced in rings)
1 small can Button Mushrooms (sliced in 2 or 3)
3 tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
3 tsp. Vegetable Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Swiss Cheese (or Cheez Whiz)
Ciabatta, Foccacia or any High-fiber bread you prefer
(a)Marinade beef in Worcestershire Sauce for 10 minutes. Simmer over low heat, season with salt and pepper. When marinade dries up, add oil to fry a little.
(b)Place in white onions and let fry until wilted. Add in bell peppers and mushrooms and turn off heat before the peppers wilt.
(c)Slice bread in half. Place filling and top with Cheese.


II. Lettuce Wraps
¼ lean Pork (ground)
1 pc. medium-size Carrot (diced)
1 pc. medium-size Turnip (diced)
50g. Peanuts (crushed)
1 pc. small White Onion (diced)
3 cloves Garlic (diced)
3 tsp. Sesame Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste
Lettuce leaves, washed and drained
(a)Over low heat, let pork simmer in 3 tbsp. water until meat’s oil is extracted. Drain oil from pan.
(b)Add in all the other ingredients and sauté until carrots and turnips are cooked but still crunchy.
(c)Eat by putting fillings in lettuce leaves, wrap and roll away.

III. Creamy Onion and Mushroom Omelet
1 pc. medium-size White Onion (sliced in rings)
1 small can Button Mushrooms (sliced in 2 or 3)
¼ cup grated Cheddar Cheese
¼ cup Full Cream Milk
3 tbsp. Vegetable Oil
4 whole Eggs (beaten)
Salt and Pepper to taste
a)Saute onion in 1 tbsp. oil until wilted. Add mushrooms, cheddar cheese and milk and blend together until creamy. Set aside.
b)Beat eggs lightly (if you want crepe-like omelet) or vigorously (if you like fluffy omelet). Add salt and pepper.
c)Over low heat, grease pan with 2 tbsp. vegetable oil. Pour in half of the beaten eggs. When base is cooked, place half of the filling over half a side of the egg and fold the other half over.
d)Remove from heat and repeat folding with the other half of the mixtures.

IV. Home-made Pizza
¼ ground round Beef
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 pc. medium-size Bell Pepper (sliced in strips)
1 pc. medium-size White Onion (sliced in rings)
1 small can Button Mushrooms (sliced in 2 or 3)
250ml Tomato Sauce
½ cup grated Cheddar or Mozzarella Cheese
Ciabatta, Foccacia or any High-fiber bread you prefer
a)Over low heat, let beef simmer in 3 tbsp. water until meat’s oil is extracted. Drain oil from pan. Season with salt and pepper.
(b)Slice bread in half and spread tomato sauce over cut surface.
(c)Place topping on bread: beef, mushroom, onion, pepper and cheese.
(d)Pop into the oven toaster and let cook for 5-7 minutes.

V. Broiled Chicken Breast
½ Chicken Breast (with or without skin)
5 cloves crushed Garlic
Salt, Pepper and Lemon to taste
a)Cut chicken breast in big cubes. Place in deep pan and add water just enough to cover the meat.
b)Add in garlic, salt and pepper. Leave to simmer over very low heat (this will take about 20 minutes so you may want to squeeze in a shower already)
c)When the water have evaporated, let the meat and garlic fry a little in the extracted oil.
d)Remove from heat. Squeeze lemon juice over meat.

Soup recipes to follow!

My Ziggy-faced Nacho

Had a most unpleasant experience at the OB-GYN Ultrasound Center Alabang yesterday.
First the doctor was late and then she wouldn't let Tats into the room, "Nakita na naman nya yan dati di ba? Ayan o lalaki, alam nyo na yun di ba?" (he's seen this before already, you know it's a boy right?) I don't know where she got off being overly familiar when I've never encountered her before and the doctors there in previous scans were much nicer. Nacho was kicking and squirming the whole time that horrid woman was running the stick over my belly.

Tats had to contend himself with the screen of the receptionist who was nice enough to interpret the image her first reaction being... "Ayan Sir o, ang laki ng pisngi ng anak nyo!" (your child's cheek is so plump)

At 35 weeks, Nacho is already 6.5lbs and i look like i'm ready to explode anytime. Unenthusiastically, she pointed out the liver, kidney etc. When I asked if the lungs are fully developed, she looked at me incredulously and shook her head as if i just asked the stupidest question of the century.

After paying and getting the results, Tats and I left without bothering to make small talk. As soon as were out the door, we both agreed how much we hated that doctor. Then we opened the envelope and took in the features of our ziggy-faced baby... at least there was something pleasant to balance the day's scale.

The Gelato Redemption: Amici et Cara Mia

We’re off to Greenhills sooner than I thought!

My husband and 2 brother-in-laws are huge pizza and pasta lovers so it wasn’t hard to convince them to have lunch at Amici. On our way down Connecticut, I regaled them with tales of the original one in Don Bosco where my old office used to be. I described the portly priests cooking away in a steamy kitchen separated from the rest of the cafeteria with a clear glass sliding window, the noisy boys we competed with for table space, the complimentary bread baskets with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to boot… and of course the generous servings of pasta with the featured meat which alternates between rosemary chicken or roast beef for only P110. The meal must be capped with a scoop or two of gelato at P30 each with a side show of the previously-cooking priests relaxing to shots of espresso shared with Bencab. That was 2003.

After being bought by the family that used to own Red Ribbon (now under Jollibee), today’s Amici boasts of Italian-themed interiors of white, green and red with the Greenhills branch annexed to an entire “gelateria” section called Cara Mia in lovely pastel colors. It feels totally different but I’m glad they kept the water and ice station where you can get an entire frosted pitcher for your table. Another down-to-earth touch is you can actually order 1.5L of softdrinks because for my boys, a can just won’t do.

We ordered the meat pizza with ham and sausages, penne with smoked salmon, fried mozzarella and lasagna al forno. The price increase was expected but not the petite servings. Each dish was enough for a girl my size but definitely not for guys used to wolfing down 36” pizzas as fast as I could finish a regular sandwich. The penne was pretty good but the lasagna was too fragrant it felt like I was eating in a flower shop. You can’t go wrong with fried mozzarella but there are so many ways you can screw up with pizza starting with the thick-bready crust same as the one of pizza hut.

I knew my companions were dissatisfied but they were such gentlemen to say so. They were probably itching to bolt for the nearby McDo, but I ushered them to Cara Mia, the reason why I brought them there in the first place.

The display of gelato, ice cream cakes and cookies were beautiful but not on adventurous mode anymore, they stuck to the classic Pistachio and Strawberry while I went for the most complicated-looking Mango Jubilee which I’m pretty sure I won’t find in ice-cream version anytime soon. Back in Don Bosco I used to order the Rum Raisin, maybe I was the only one so they phased it out, but I’m sure a lot of people will go crazy over my new choice which would be more appropriately called Berries Buffet – there were more strawberries and blueberries than mango packed in gelato whose main purpose is to hold ‘em fruits together.

We were all happy with dessert and should have left it at that except after a little shopping we decided to go one more for the road. We ordered a slice of Banana Blast ice cream cake and Strawberry Gelato Milkshake. The cake was 3 flavors of ice cream with a dark crusty bottom, chocolate sticks and strawberry drizzle, it looked very pretty but was quite overwhelming - plus points for the generous strawberries much more prominent than the banana-flavored ice cream so again this one should be aptly renamed. The milkshake was very thick and rich they way it’s supposed to be but I don’t think I’ll be having any again in this lifetime.

pa-pa-pa-palaisipan2...

If you were flat broke - would you work in a brothel that can earn you around $70 + tips/day?

pa-pa-pa-palaisipan...

How would you react if your wife told you that her gift on your upcoming birthday is 365 nights of sex?

If you were the wife, would you give this as gift?

A Lite & Fresh Lunch

I've been following Market Man's posts on his food adventures in Paris lately and all those food stores seem so deliciously amazing!

Last Saturday, Tats and I went to Greenhills early for his lunch reunion with friends at Chili's. I was excited by the prospect of trying something different on my own as he's a creature of habit and usually chooses to eat at the tried-and-tested restaurants experimenting only with places with prior recommendation from reliable sources.

I wanted to look for Angel's Kitchen but figured it's not within walking distance from V-mall, at least not for somebody 8mos along the way. Since I have not had breakfast, my grumbling stomach with a kickin' & screamin' baby brought me to the nearest, haven't before tried food stores within a 20-ft radius. And I must say that I seem to have a little gourmand of a bun in the oven!

First stop was Beju: The Fruit Store, I've always wanted to go inside but never got to. Lo and behold the bounty - they were so beautiful I almost broke into a song! Fruits and flowers are always delightful to me be they in the market, mall or sidewalk. The difference with this store is at close inspection, the produce are oh so perfectly smooth in different palettes and I bet they're succulent too, plus it also helps that they're displayed in wooden pails and natural baskets. Common favorites like apples, mangoes, oranges, bananas and lychees with exotic ones like plums, dragonfruits, cherries and others I have not seen before! They also serve fruit shakes, smoothies and medley snacks of fresh slices, very enticing but not hefty enough for brunch. I opted for a medium-sized shake and asked the cashier's recommendation... Orange-Banana, haven't tried that before. At P60, it's the same price as the more commercial stalls except Beju is a lot more generous with fruits and less on syrup. Very fruitty indeed!

I was almost halfway through my drink by the time I got to Milkyway right next door. I've eaten at their Pasay Road branch several times and love their Crispy Pata and Lechon Kawali both being deep-fried parts of a cochinillo. Practically all items on their menu have brought me much joy espcially when capped by a refreshing scoop of buko sorbet. But the Greenhills branch is sort of a deli/ turu-turo type where you can buy their bottled and packed food items or choose from 8-10 viands featured for the day.

My fruit shake was making me feel all healthy inside so I opted to get the Chicken-Asparagus Sandwich for complement. Subtle mayo, flaked chicken, white asparagus and tomato slices stacked cold in trimmed bread coupled with the cool, tangy shake - the combination was fantastic! I savored every bite, finished with a fresh-just-right fullness and was very satisfied. It dawned on me that this is how meals are supposed to be taken, relaxed and appreciated as God intended thus making eating one of our greatest pleasures. I thought of my hurried meals and rubbish calories from undeserving foods of the past - to be absolutely avoided from hereon.

I just read in today's Phil. Star that Amici (the one in Don Bosco) not only opened a branch but also a specialty gelato-bar, Cara Mia in Connecticut Ave. Wow, these and Angel's Kitchen, can't wait for my next visit to Greenhills! =)