Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Summer Buko Ice Candy

 Summer for me is a season to crave for this guys right here!

 Mukha silang masarap, pero akelngan mo pa bumili sa labas sa labas ;) 

Everyone has different tastes when it comes to their perfect summer quencher of thirst and heat. Sa mga pinoy bet ko hindi mawawala ang special buko ice candy. You don't need to look far to buy one dahil we are a coconut growing country, yey for being in the tropics! and you don't need din to buy when ingredients are readily available at you know how to make one. Hindi ako magaling magluto pero nagawa ko ito, malamang ikaw rin ;) No hassle and definitely a hit sa family and friends. Here is my  Buko Ice Candy recipe.



I use the following:

2 pieces of buko can make:
  • 1-2 cups of grated coconut meat
  • 3-4 cups of coconut juice
1 can of 390 ml condensed milk

1 cup of sugar

1 liter water

3 tablespoon of conrstarch (optional)

vanilla (optional)


Directions:

  • Make sure you clean all the utensils and the ingredients. Mix the coconut juice with1 liter of water, condensed milk, then add milk and sugar. You can adjust the amount of water  and sugar according to your taste then the grated coconut milk. Mix until well blended and pour them in traditional little plastic tubes.
I Also tried the cooked or boiled version, they said it will make the ice candy creamier. This is what I did according to some of the buko ice candy maker.

  • Melt in warm water the 3 tablespoon of cornstarch, mix them with one liter of water put to boil on low fire. Mix constantly to avoid clumping until the water thickened in consistency. Add the buko juice, condensed milk and sugar. Mix until well blended then add the coconut meat,after few seconds its done. Pour it inside the little plastic tube when cool enough.
 Put them inside the freezer for 24 hours then enjoy your own refreshing buko ice candy. What an accomplishment right? hahaha ;) it is to me! Made 40-50 pieces out of this mixture ;)

Lady Bikers!









Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Rene's Saigon: Vietnamese Specialties

After a short stroll at Baybay and a failed attempt to find Camella Homes we headed to a discreet restaurant at Rizal Avenue extension, a short distance from the Puerto Princesa Airport. The place is called Rene's Saigon: Vietnamese Specialties, I don't know about other places but in our city, Vietnamese foods are a hit. I always hear my friend's talked about this place, that's why Mayette and I will try their famous Chao Long for the first time.



I don't know if it's because of the cloudy weather, the place seems pretty quite and glommy considering it's still part of Rizal Avenue which is a major street of the city, but this atmosphere can serve as a charm to invite food trippers. The place has a native style, with a kubo outside where we chose to eat.







The difference between Saigon's and other popular Chaolong or Vietnamese houses is, this place serves better, with a waitress that will bring you the actual menu and they serve a lot more authentic Vietnamese dishes. The comparison in terms of atmosphere and service is not an add-on for free. Looking at the prices, Sagon's is up to 20% higher compare to its competitor but pretty sulit naman for the food do taste good and the place is clean and cozy.




Enjoying our hot bowl of chaolong and healthy garlic breads.
After a ton of chit-chat and a full stomach, I say Rene's Saigon is a place to visit for those who wants quality servings of authentic Vietnamese food.


The owner is obviously an APO Fraternity Member, Logos and memorabilia's are everywhere. Ahem Brian ;)

Gloomy Fun Ride Afternoon

March 20, 2012

Today, myself and my lady friend Mayette decided to have a short joyride around the city proper. She dropped by our house at about 1:30 in the afternoon riding her scooter bike. We both brought our own helmets for safety and to follow city traffic rule in Puerto Princesa City, it's not allowed to drive a motorcycle here if you're not wearing one.

We first visited the Baybay, famous for its beautiful view of the sea and mountains at the port area of the city. Lucky us we didn't suffer from the heat of the sun which is terrible normally at that time of the day, it was unusually cloudy-windy afternoon,yay!

Baybay on a cloudy afternoon, still with a beautfiul view of the sea and mountains by the port area.


Mayette flashing a big smile.



Cool cloudy afternoon, Mayette's long sleeved top was a good match for the afternoon.





Law abiding citizens! wearing our HS red and NK blue helmets. Off to find a place for meryenda.


On our way to bancao-bancao, quick snapshot during thr red light.

Monday, March 19, 2012

One Sweet Dream

Saw this picture on the web, it reminds me how Brian and I enjoy spending time on the beach. Hope I'll be on the spot of these two one of these day, one sweet dream it'll be.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Foods That Can MAke Your Life Longer

While browsing for news in yahoo, I stumbled upon this article that can easily catch one's attention. Yes! this is a re post, the original article titled five food that help you live longer. Sa title pa lang, sino ba ang ayaw mabuhay ng mas mahaba?. You might have read a lot of articles with the same topic but what i like about the contents of this one is that it does not include foods that are unbearable to eat, iyong tipong mapapapikit ka o maduduwal after mo kainin. Out of the five foods mentioned I actually eat 3 of them. for the sake of informing you all what are these five foods,here they are: colorful fruits, dark chocolates, green tea, oily fish, olive oil.

With the above mentioned fruits surprisingly as unhealthy as I am, I eat 3 out of 5 healthy foods enumerated reguarly. Gosh! Masaya na ako niyan, sabi ko nga I find it fascinating na good tasting food are actually good for you. So here are the benefits of the 3 of what I always eat, the 3 na I can actually or most of us acutally can live to tell kasi hindi tayo halos namatay sa lasa ;)


 1. Green tea - As much as possible I drink tea every morning, not specifically the green tea variant but compare to other tea this one actually taste friendly lalo na sa mga teens to young adults. Not everybody of my age is a big fan of the "tea" but rather than gulping a liter or 2 of carbonated drinks or alcohol this one is definitely a smarter choice. Hindi ko naman gusto at first but I choose to make it a habit dahil alam ko ang benifits of this wonder drink.

green tea
Green tea boasts an impressive array of health benefits, helping to improve cardiovascular health, regulate blood pressure, boost the immune system, and lower cholesterol. Studies have even suggested that drinking green tea – which is rich in health-boosting flavonoids – can help to lower your risk of cancer. Research findings published in the Journal of the American Medical Association appear to back up these health claims, as the Japanese study of more than 40,000 participants found that those who drank five or more cups of green tea a day had a death rate that was 16 per cent lower than those who drank one cup, over the course of 11 years. (Yahoo!News SG)


2. Colorful Fruits - Growing up in a home where my father is a big fan of any type of fruits helped me develop this fondness of eating prutas, pakiramdam ko napaka dry pa pakiramdam ng hindi nakakain nito kahit isang piraso in a week. My mother then regularly stocks load of it and reminds us to eat some for it's better daw sa junk foods, which is true. Well then this is a big thank you to my papa and mama for making us eat this sweet wonders of nature that can actually makes us live longer, long live the prutas.


fresh fruits

Research suggests that those who eat more fruit and vegetables tend to live longer than those who don’t, due to the nutrients they contain. While all fruit and veg is good for you, brightly coloured produce is particularly beneficial as the natural pigments which give them their color can also help prevent cancer. The Okinawans – who are reputed to have the world’s longest life expectancy and who have low rates of heart disease and cancer – have a diet that is rich in fruit and veg, especially dark green and yellow varieties. In particular, the Okinawan diet features large quantities of sweet potatoes, having replaced the traditional Japanese staple of rice with this vibrant veg. (Yahoo!News SG)


3. Dark Chocolates - Do i need to say more? For me aside from diamonds, chocolates are a girl's best friend ;) and I personally prefer it to be dark. 




dark chocolate truffles

Good news for chocoholics – chocolate can help you live longer!  Cocoa beans are packed with antioxidants which studies have found can help cut your risk of heart disease – the biggest killer in the Western world. This may be why Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived a grand total of 122 years and 164 days (the oldest verified age of any human being ever) put her good health down to her regular chocolate consumption. However, before you go stocking up on chocolate bars, it is worth bearing in mind that one square a day is enough to boost your health. Also, make sure you go for the over 70 per cent cocoa bars which contain more flavonoids and less sugar.(Yahoo!News SG)


The 2 other healthy food are the following, I eat fish and maybe I do take in some olive oil without my knowledge because we don't use it at home hehehehe. Here are the details for why they are included in the list.


 4. Oily Fish - i dont know why is it tag with it should be oily, but maybe related to those fish oil capsule supplements that has a lot of health benifits. My father used to take Squaline regularly, a shark oil supplement. 

steamed fish
People in Japan have the longest life expectancy in the world, which may be down to their traditional diet which is high in fish. Not only does opting for fish over meat reduce your risk of many of the health problems associated with red meat, such as heart disease, but oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and trout are renowned for their health benefits. Oily fish are a good source of vitamins A and D which are good for the immune system. Furthermore, they are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have been linked to a lowered risk of heart disease, brain damage and stroke.


5. Olive Oil - a very popular healthy oil, most known chef used them on their regularly cooking and even gourmet food, so it must have taste good.

olive oil


Many of us stay away from fats and oils in a bid to stay trim and healthy; however, ‘good’ monounsaturated fats, which are found in olive oil, are actually essential for good health. Studies have found that regularly consuming olive oil can help cut your risk of stroke and heart disease, due to its high content of micronutrients called phenols which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The oil is also a staple of the healthy Mediterranean diet, which studies suggests can help you live longer. Research has found that those who follow this eating plan have a 20 per cent higher chance of living longer, gaining an estimated average of two to three years.


For the whole article please visit: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/5-foods-help-live-longer-090000738.html