Between You and Cherry

PRC Registration Renewal in Clark (ONE STOP PROCESSING CENTER)

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Sat, 18 Nov 2017 06:50:00 +0000

Our PRC License.... How important right?

As Professionals, it is our license to practice in our chosen fields and therefore, whether we are currently practicing our professions or not, it is so important for us to keep it current and updated.

ONE-STOP PROCESSING CENTER

Finally, this is my update on my blog regarding the PRC ID License renewal (LINK HERE) and I want to share, yet again, my experience with you guys who want to renew their licenses as well, to give you an idea on the process.

Unfortunately for those living in San Fernando Area, SM CITY Pampanga no longer processes PRC ID renewals. But no worries...it is still available within Pampanga and now, PRC has their own designated office in Clark Freeport Zone's ONE STOP PROCESSING CENTER (Formerly Clark Polytechnic).

So last November 7, 2017, I went to the One Stop Processing Center because my License will expire this month. At the entrance, I was greeted by a very accommodating security guard and asked me, "PRC po Ma'am?". I told him, "yes po" and he signaled his hand towards the building entrance and delightfully said, "5th door po Ma'am." The area is not that big enough so no worries because you won't get lost. Besides, the rooms are labeled as to what agency they are. And with accommodating guards like manong guard, how can you get lost? Haha.

PRC OFFICE

So upon entering the PRC Office, I approached the counter and I was instructed to get a form (available at the counter), fill it up and paste a recent a picture with name tag. Goodness me, I forgot to bring a recent PRC sized picture that conforms to the requirements but thankfully, there is a "Bayad Center" near the PRC Office and they were able to print my pictures after 15 minutes of waiting; they also have pens just in case you forget to bring one.

So once I had a picture available, I am ready to start the process. When I went back to the PRC Office, the time was 11:05 AM. The queue was not that long as there were just around 8 to 9 people in the waiting area.

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Here are the steps....

Application Form (Click to view larger image).
They have plenty of forms available at the counter.
If you wish to download it, please click HERE.

STEP 1: DULY FILLED APPLICATION FORM
As I've mentioned, there were forms available at the counter so you just have to get one and make sure that you have it properly filled out with your data. They have paste available on the writing area so don't forget to paste your ID Picture and sign the form. This step takes around two (2) minutes to accomplish.

STEP 2: SUBMIT THE APPLICATION FORM
(Time check...it was 11:05 when I submitted my form to the PRC personnel.)
Once the application form is properly filled out, submit the form to the first counter, along with the current license you have. The ID Card will just be checked and will be returned right away after inspection. From here, you will be asked to sit down and wait while your paper is being processed. It took around a good 15 minutes before my name was called...

STEP 3: PAYMENT(Time check... 11:20am)
At the counter, my name was confirmed and I was asked to pay Php 450 for the renewal fee of a Nurse. After giving my receipt, the personnel asked me to have a seat. It took around 15 minutes until my name was called out again...

STEP 4: RELEASING!!!
...At first, I thought the process was taking so long because as compared to my previous renewal three years ago, that one only took around 15 minutes for the whole process until I received my claim slip...

And so my name was called out again and I was asked to sign their "RELEASING LOGBOOK" which I did. To my surprise, instead of handing me out the usual ID CLAIM SLIP, the personnel gave me my NEW PRC LICENSE ID CARD!!!

Isn't that amazing? Instead of waiting for a month or so...they are already releasing PRC ID License Cards right there in their Office. This really made me happy because there is no need to follow up whether the cards are already available and moreover, it saved me time and money having to go back to claim the card. So KUDOS to PRC for that!!!

All in all, the actual processing of my PRC license renewal just took me around 30 minutes. At 11:40 am, I was on my way out ready to go home to my kiddos. Overall, I'm giving this office a rating of 4.8/5 with regards to my experience with the PRC license renewal. And let me just add, my husband also renewed his PRC License 2 days after I did mine and according to him, it took him less than 20 minutes from Step 1 until the release of his ID Card. His license was supposed to expire in July 2018 but they processed it already. Nice one!

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ADDITIONAL INFO:
As of this writing, there were NO CPD UNITS REQUIRED for the PRC License renewal yet. If until when this requirement is flexed, I am not sure.
Those whose licenses are expiring in less than one year can also renew their licenses already. So my suggestion is to renew your licenses while PRC still exercises flexibility on license renewal with regards to the CPD requirements. (Go na mga besh!!!)
OTHER TRANSACTIONS provided by PRC CLARK:
Aside from the RENEWAL of ID CARDS, they only process requests for DUPLICATE and REPRINT, according to the PRC personnel. So that means for any other processes such as verifications, printing of certificates, request for change of name, etc., you would have to go to PRC Main Office in Manila.

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So there you go guys, I hope that I have helped you one way or the other. Let me know how yours went by leaving a comment below.:)

I'd like to hear from you! What do you guys think about my post? Your comments and suggestions are very much welcome and appreciated! Thanks!

TAGS: Between You and Cherry, Cherry Yutuc, Pampanga, PRC ID, PRC Renewal, PRC Registration, Philippines, PRC license Card, CLARK City, One Stop Processing Center, Clark Polytechnic, SM City Clark, SM CITY Pampanga, Professional ID, NURSE

Turon con Langka Espesyal

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 05:26:00 +0000

Special Banana Springrolls with Sweetened Jackfruit

Turon con Langka Espesyal

Have you been craving for something deliciously sweet lately? Try our version of Turon con Langka Espepyal! (Special Banana Springrolls with Sweetened Jackfruit)

It is a sweet dessert that is famous in the Philippines typically made with banana, brown sugar and spring roll or lumpia wrappers. The variety of banana used for turon is called saba which is very common in the Philippines. If you are not familiar with this banana variety and would like to google it, it is otherwise known as the cooking banana or Cardaba banana. Click HERE for more info on saba banana from Wikipedia. It is usually available at Asian Stores.

Because it is cheap to make and of its good taste, turon are among the popular street foods here in the Philippines. With just 5 pesos, you can already buy 1 roll from street vendors!

If you are a Filipino, I guess you would understand me if I say that street foods are delicious, tipid (frugal) and fun! But one issue that I have to point out though with streetfood is cleanliness. There are a number of illnesses that we can get from improper food preparation and some might land us a trip to the hospital. My point is, be a little cautious when buying.

Anyway, the good news is, turon are very easy to make so if you don't want to buy from street vendors, you can always prepare it yourself. You can even prepare it and store some for another day. I will share a simple tip for better storage, later.

This recipe of turon is my mom's version. I remember how delicious and mouth-watering the turons are from UST canteen and my mom tried to copy them and this is now our version.

INGREDIENTS:
- 20 pcs lumpia (spring roll) wrappers
- 10 pcs saba banana (saging saba)
- brown sugar
- 1 cup raw
jackfruit (langka) cut into 1/2 inch strips
- 1 cup water
- Vanilla extract for flavoring (optional)
- 2 cups cooking oil

STEPS:
1. First things first so we have to cook the jackfruit before everything else. In a small pot, put the water, 1/3 cup brown sugar and 2 drops of vanilla extract and mix well then add in the jackfruit strips. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring occasionally to avoid getting burnt. Let the liquid turn syrupy or slightly thickened and allow the jackfruit to absorb the flavor. Remove from heat and cool down.
2. Cut each banana into halves, lengthwise.
3. Now for the wrapping part, place one banana slice at the center of the lumpia wrapper. Spread 1 teaspoon of brown sugar on top of the banana and add 2 strips of sweetened langka.
4. Fold the wrapper over the banana, tuck in the sides and roll. Close the edge of the wrapper with water.
5. Once done with the wrapping, heat the oil in a deep frying pan.
6. Fry about 4 to 5 banana rolls and wait until slightly brown.
7. Scoop 1 tbsp of brown sugar and pour onto the frying rolls. Do not mix it. Just wait for it to caramelize. Once it turns into a caramel, flip the rolls to let coat them with caramelized sugar.
8. Drain excess oil then they are ready to be served.

Now, earlier I mentioned about a little tip for storage. What we do is to skip the part where we put sugar, during the wrapping (step 3). If you plan to prepare ahead, just do not put sugar on them while wrapping. The problem is that when sugar is added, they will become sticky and destroy the wrappings so skipping that part lets you prepare them beforehand. Then when you want to fry them, just add sugar during this part (step 7).

So I hope you enjoy this and let me know how yours went. Happy eating!

I'd like to hear from you! What do you guys think about my post? Your comments and suggestions are very much welcome and appreciated! Or if you'd like to request a recipe, please let me know. Thanks!

TAGS: Between You and Cherry, Cherry Yutuc, Panlasang Pinoy, Pampanga, Lutong Kapampangan, Budget friendly, Cooking Tips, Pampanga's Best, Recipe, Pampanga Cuisine, Cook from Pampanga, Philippines, Asian Food, Pinoy Food, Streetfood, Dessert, Turon, Langka

Homemade Tacos

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 11:24:00 +0000

Today, I will be sharing how to make homemade, delicious Mexican Tacos.

This is yet again another favorite for me. This is our own version of the famous mexican classic, a delicious Mexican food that is flavorful and spicy that's guaranteed to satisfy your appetite.

The ingredients that we used are pocket-friendly without sacrificing the taste and quality. For example, instead of taco shells that can be bought from the market, we used lumpia wrappers. The lumpia wrappers are cheaper but equally crunchy and good tasting.

What's more is that it's guilt free! You can have big servings of it and you don't need to feel guilty about it. It's low in carbohydrates and high in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Good for our health, our tastebuds and our tummy, too! Hope you'll like it!

INGREDIENTS:
- 1 whole cabbage
- 10 pcs slightly ripened tomatoes
- 2 cucumbers
- 1 180g pack cheddar cheese, grated
- 20 pcs lumpia wrapper
- 1/2 cup cooking oil

For the Taco Meat:
- 1/2 kilo ground pork or beef (I only used pork)
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 medium onion
- 1 tbsp atsuete powder
- 4 tbsp water
- 3 tbsp taco mix
- salt and pepper, to taste

For the Taco Sauce:
- 500 mL water
- 1/2 cup sweet and spicy banana ketchup (UFC)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- pinch of salt, to taste
- chili powder (optional only and adjust according to desired spiciness)

STEPS:
1. Mix well all the ingredients for the taco sauce in a small pot. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally until thickened. Set aside.
2. Slice the cabbage thinly. The thinner, the better [as shown in the picture at the right]. Set aside. Note: I like the cabbage better than the lettuce because of its taste and crunchiness but you may use lettuce.

3. Dice the cucumbers and tomatoes as displayed in the pictures. Set aside.
4. Next, we will saute the taco meat but first, we need to dissolve the atsuete powder in 4 tbsp water, set aside. In a medium skillet, heat the oil then fry the garlic into golden brown. Add the onions and let it caramelize then add the ground pork, atsuete mix, taco seasoning then add salt and pepper to taste. Stir occasionally until well done. Set aside.
5. In this step, we will fry the lumpia wrappers so that they will resemble the commercially available taco shells. I like to prepare the wrappers at the last part, just before serving the tacos, because I want them really crunchy. In a frying pan, heat about 4 tbsp of oil over low heat only because the wrappers cook very quickly. Using your kitchen tongs, hold half of the wrapper upward while letting the other half fry flattened in the pan, until golden brown. Then turn the wrapper so that you will be holding the fried half and curve it at a 45 degree angle and let the other half fry flat into a golden brown. When done, place in a drying rack to drain excess oil. Continue doing this until you are done with the 20 wrappers.
6. Now, all that's left to do is assemble the tacos! Get one taco shell, put 2 spoonfuls of cabbage at the bottom, 1 tbsp each of cucumber and tomatoes, 2 tbsp of taco meat then top with cheese. Serve with sauce on the side.

Tadaaah! And that is our homemade version of the famous tacos. It's quick, easy on the pocket and delicioso!

So I hope you enjoy this and let me know how yours went. Happy eating!

I'd like to hear from you! What do you guys think about my post? Your comments and suggestions are very much welcome and appreciated! Or if you'd like to request a recipe, please let me know. Thanks!

TAGS: Between You and Cherry, Cherry Yutuc, Panlasang Pinoy, Pampanga, Lutong Kapampangan, Budget friendly, Cooking Tips, Pampanga's Best, Recipe, Pampanga Cuisine, Cook from Pampanga, Philippines, Asian Food, Pinoy Food, Mexican Food, Homemade

PRC Registration Renewal at SM City Pampanga

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Thu, 17 Apr 2014 01:19:00 +0000

Hello! How are you? Today, my post is not about cooking or recipes. I just want to share my experience with my PRC ID renewal recently at SM City Pampanga hoping to help our fellow PRC ID holders by giving an idea on the renewal process.

My license was supposed to be renewed in late 2012 but since I was pregnant with our first baby then, I did not want to travel too far to Manila (since I am from Pampanga). Anyway, to cut the story short, 2014 came and I still haven't renewed my PRC License. Because of the long travel, the fact that I did not know how to commute to and from PRC (Opo, maliligaw ako sa Maynila. Promdi lang. Lol!), the long lanes at PRC, and most specially my little girl, I really could not go to Manila because it was too inconvenient for me.

Thankfully, last January, my tita (aunt), who is also a professional, informed me that the Business Center at SM City Pampanga is already accepting and processing PRC ID Renewal. Thank God!!! I mean how convenient right? It was so time and energy saving and moneywise, too! So at the soonest time possible, I went to SM City and finally got my ID processed for renewal.

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Click Here For My Latest Blog

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Just in case you asked, the SM Business Center is located near Tom's World, Toy Kingdom, Partyland, Our Home, etc and beside Enfant (if I remember it clearly). I am not sure though if the Business Center inside the department store is also accepting PRC renewal transactions.

Anyway, I arrived at the business center at around 10 in the morning and thankfully, I was their first customer. The manong guard assisted me and I was asked to fill up the PRC Form and attach a picture with it that conforms to the PRC requirements. (Important Reminder: Come to the business center wearing something with collar. This is for picture purposes.) Since I did not bring a picture with me, I went to Tronix (located at the 3rd level) and it took me around 15 minutes only to get my pictures done and cost me Php60. Just tell them that your picture would be for PRC renewal, with name tag, and they'll know what to do.

Application Form (Click to view larger image) or
you may download it here.

After I got my pictures, I went back to the SM Business Center, filled up the application form correctly, attached my photo and went to the transaction counter. They asked for my old PRC License (the card itself and not a photocopy) , got my application form and encoded it to their computer. At this point, I was asked to stand in front of their camera because they would need to take my picture for the ID. I asked them how come they asked me to attach a picture in the application form and the lady said that it was for "back up" purposes only, in case the photo that they captured will not be accepted by PRC Main Office. Note that I have mentioned previously that you should come to the Business Center wearing something with collar and this is what it was for.

Now, the fee for renewal alone is Php 450. If your ID is not expired, you would only have to pay 450 pesos plus SM's transaction fee of PHP 50. But since mine was expired for 15 months, I had to pay a penalty of around 25 pesos per month that my registration have lapsed. So overall, I paid the amount of Php 860 (810 for PRC Fees amd 50 for SM fees).

After my payment, the lady showed me the confirmation that my transaction was successful and returned my expired card, asked to keep my receipt and claim slip for claiming the card. All-in-all the transaction at the Business Center took less than 15 minutes only. Whew!

Normally, it would take 30 to 40 business days before the PRC ID can be claimed unless there would be a problem with the delivery, like what happened to mine. So anyway, it's Holy Week already and I would have to check mine by next week and update this blog soon.

UPDATE:
SM CITY Pampanga no longer processes PRC Registration Renewal. However, PRC has a new office located at the ONE STOP PROCESSING CENTER inside Clark.

Please click on the link below to read my latest article. ⇩⇩⇩

Click Here For My Latest Blog On:
PRC Registration Renewal in Clark

Let me know how yours went! :)

I'd like to hear from you! What do you guys think about my post? Your comments and suggestions are very much welcome and appreciated! Thanks!

TAGS: Between You and Cherry, Cherry Yutuc, SM City, Pampanga, PRC ID, PRC Renewal, PRC Registration, Philippines

Creamy Mango Cooler

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 08:07:00 +0000

Hello! How's are you feeling this summer? Here in the Philippines, summer officially started just a week ago but the heat is already like "whoah!!!" Lol.

Anyway, instead of feeling irritated because of the heat, we tried to squeeze the fun out of the season and just let things cool down with summer activities such as swimming! My little girl just loves it!

Here in Pampanga, we have beautiful resorts. We have our own version of Boracay named PORACAY which has white sand also. This is located in Porac, Pampanga, hence its name. We also have Fontana Leisure Parks and Casino, Villa Alfredo's Resort (which is a paradise!) and Villa Antonina's among the many others. Maybe I will write a seperate blog on this topic because we sure have a lot of resorts here. What better way to cool down than to swim, eh?

So anyway, speaking of cooling down, today, we were kinda craving for halo-halo. But then we were just too lazy to go out of our way to buy the ingredients from the market so instead, we went to a grocery nearby and found gulaman (gelatin; jelly) and mango flavored pearl powder. An idea popped out of my mind and so we bought one of each plus one can of evaporated creamer and went home. And the rest is history. Lol!

Of course, halo-halo will always be delicious. But then if you want to try something new, something frugal (tipid) and something easier to make then I suggest the Creamy Mango Cooler. It's refreshingly cool!

INGREDIENTS:
- 1 15g pack gulaman (gelatin/ jelly) powder, clear or yellow color
- 1 ripe mango cheek, flesh cut into small chunks (optional)
- mango flavored pearl or juice powder
- 500 mL water (about 2 cups)
- 1/3 cup evaporated creamer
- 5 tbsp table sugar
- ice
- rice crispies

STEPS:
1. Dissolve the gelatin according to instructions, add mango chunks and 2 tbsp sugar (adjust according to desired sweetness), mix well then cook as instructed. Once set, cut into 1 inch strips. Set aside.
2. In a blender, put 2 cups water, 4 tbsp mango powder, 1/3 cup evaporated cleamer, mango chunks, 3 tbsp sugar and 2 cups ice. Blend well into a smoothie.
3. Pour into a glass, top with mango gelatin and rice crispies. Then it's ready to be served!

Creamy. Delicious. Refreshing. Easy to make. Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

So I hope you enjoy this and let me know how yours went. Happy summer!

I'd like to hear from you! What do you guys think about my post? Your comments and suggestions are very much welcome and appreciated! Or if you'd like to request a recipe, please let me know. Thanks!

TAGS: Between You and Cherry, Cherry Yutuc, Panlasang Pinoy, Pampanga, Kapampangan, Budget friendly, Cooking Tips, Pampanga's Best, Recipe, Cook from Pampanga, Philippines, Asian Food, Pinoy Food, Summer, Hot Weather, Thirst Quencher, Samalamig, Mango

Egg-Stuffed Meatballs with Cream Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:26:00 +0000

Hi there! So this recipe that I will share is one of my party favorites. I like to serve them at the buffet table for parties or simple family gatherings because they taste great and look so good on the table. And easy to prepare, too!

If you are planning for a party and you're wondering what to serve, I would definitely recommend this recipe. Or if you are just looking for a new dish to try at home, then this is definitely a must try. This is something different from the meatballs that we normally see or eat. Here goes the recipe and I hope you will like it.

INGREDIENTS:
- 12 Hard-boiled chicken eggs, peeled
- 1/2 kl ground pork
- 1/4 kl shrimp, peeled then finely chopped
- 4 pcs sweet ham, finely chopped
- 1 whole raw chicken egg
- 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp powdered milk (I like to use Bear Brand but of course, you may use your preferred brand)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 3 tbsp cornstarch or flour, whichever is available
- cooking oil (around 1/2 cup, it mostly depends on the type of skillet you are using)

For Cream Sauce:
- 1 pack Nestle All Purpose Cream (250 ml)
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated quickmelt cheese (or ordinary cheddar cheese will do)
- 3 tbsp flour
- pinch of salt

STEPS:
1. In a large bowl, put in the ground pork, chopped shrimp, ham, carrots, onion, raw egg, powdered milk, salt and pepper.
2. Add in 2 tbsp of cornstarch (or flour). Using your clean hands, mix the ingredients well. If the mixture is still moist, add in 1 tablespoon of cornstarch at a time until the mixture is sticky enough and can hold their shape once we fry them. What I like to do, just to make sure that they will maintain their shape once fried is to scoop 1 tbsp from the mixture, form into a ball and fry it. If this sample goes well, then you can proceed to the next step. You can also taste it to check if you are already satisfied with the salt and pepper. Then put adjustments as necessary.
3. Once the mixture is ready, divide the mixture into 12 equal parts.
4. Get 1 hard-boiled egg and get 1 part from the meat mixture then wrap the meat around the egg so that it would envelope the egg. Set aside then continue doing this until you are done with the twelve.
5. In a large frying pan, heat oil over medium fire. Now, the amount of oil that you will need depends on the type of pan you have. The idea is to have it around 1 centimeter deep. It is also important to make sure that the oil is hot enough before frying the meatballs so they will not Astick and fall apart.
6. Put the meatballs in, do not over crowd. Fry each side until brown then turn until all sides are done and the meat is brown all over. Place in a draining rack or over a paper towel to drain excess oil. Set aside.
7. Put a saucepan over low heat then add the butter. Toss in the flour and cook, stirring until it has mixed well with the butter.
8. Add in the milk, salt and grated cheese then bring to a boil, stirring constantly to avoid getting burnt under. Continue boiling until the cheese melts.
9. Add in the all purpose cream and let it boil again before removing from heat.

Egg-Stuffed Meatballs with Cream Sauce

And that's it. The egg-stuffed meatballs may be served as it is but I like to slice them into halves because they are more appealing when served this way. Just make sure though that you're slicing them with a sharp knife to avoid ruining their beautiful shape. Arrange on the platter and serve with the Cream Sauce.

So I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know how it went. Happy eating!

I'd like to hear from you! What do you guys think about my article? Your comments and suggestions are very much welcome! Or if you'd like to request a recipe, please let me know. Thanks!

TAGS: Between You and Cherry, Cherry Yutuc, Panlasang Pinoy, Pampanga, Lutong Kapampangan, Budget friendly, Cooking Tips, Party Ideas, Pampanga's Best, Recipe, Pampanga Cuisine, Cook from Pampanga, Philippines, Asian Food, Pinoy Food, Eggs, Meatball, Fried, Cream Sauce,

Squash and String Beans in Coconut Milk

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:30:00 +0000

(Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw )

How are you doing today? If you'll ask me, well my tummy is super happy. I have been craving for ginataang kalabasa and sitaw (Squash and String Beans in Coconut Milk) for days and finally, my craving was satisfied today. Let's just say it was so delicious that I had more than 1 serving of rice and let's not get into further details with that, please. Lol!

Ginataang Kalabasa at Sitaw

Let me share the top 3 reasons why I think you should try this recipe. First, it's good for our health. Kalabasa (yellow squash) is rich in beta carotene that helps in repairing cells damaged by free radicals while sitaw (string or snap beans) is high in fiber that helps regulate bowel movements and lower cholesterol. And these are just a few of the many benefits of these vegetables. Coconut milk or gata, on the other hand, is also rich in vitamins and minerals that aid in bone health and prevent anemia. Secondly, this recipe is easy on the pocket because I only used dilis or dried anchovies and shrimp paste instead of pork and shrimp. And last and certainly not the least, is its palatable taste. The rich flavor of the coconut milk and squash mixed together with the saltiness of the anchovies and shrimp paste, all blended well into a sumptuous creamy flavor that just leaves you craving for more. It's just mmm.. mmm.. Gooood!

INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, sliced thinly
- 1 to 2 tbsp shrimp paste (please adjust accordingly to taste as some pastes are too salty or )
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup dilis (dried anchovies)
- 2 pcs long chili peppers (siling pang sinigang), cut into 1 cm long
- 1 bunch string beans or sitaw, cut into 2 inches long
- 1/4 kalabasa, cut into 1x1 inch squares
- 1 cup thick coconut milk or gata (pure)
- 1 tsp black pepper, fine ground

STEPS:
1. Heat the large skillet over medium fire and toast the dried anchovies or dilis, stirring frequently until crispy. (Note: Do not put oil). Remove from skillet then set aside.
2. In the same cooking pan, heat the oil then saute the garlic and onion.
3. When the onions are caramelized, add in the shrimp paste and cook well. You may use either sauted shrimp paste or not and please adjust the amount of paste you will use, according to taste.
4. Add in the water and bring to a boil. It is important to let the water boil first before adding the vegetables so that the vegetables will retain their fresh colors.
5. Once boiling, put in the string beans, squash and chili peppers. Add in the ground pepper. Bring to a boil and do not cover. Again, I advice against covering because it destroys the color of the vegetables. Stir occasionally to ensure that the vegetables are all cooked evenly. Let it simmer until the vegetables, specially the string beans, are halfway done.
6. Drop the anchovies in and add the coconut milk. Bring to a boil once more, stirring occasionaly; let it simmer for a minute and then turn off the stove.

Note: I like my string beans cooked just enough so that they are still crunchy and snappy. Keep in mind that even after you remove it from the heat, the vegetables will continue cooking from its steam. But if you'd like yours to be well cooked, you may extend your simmering time accordingly.
And we are done! The best part, of course, is the taste test.

So I hope you enjoy this and let me know how yours went. Happy eating!

I'd like to hear from you! What do you guys think about my post? Your comments and suggestions are very much welcome and appreciated! Or if you'd like to request a recipe, please let me know. Thanks!

TAGS: Between You and Cherry, Cherry Yutuc, Panlasang Pinoy, Pampanga, Lutong Kapampangan, Budget friendly, Cooking Tips, Pampanga's Best, Recipe, Pampanga Cuisine, Cook from Pampanga, Philippines, Asian Food, Pinoy Food

Adobong Alimango sa Gata Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 13:49:00 +0000

Hello there! So today, I'd like to share a very delicious recipe that I learned from my mom. We prepared this dish for Alex's 1st month celebration and it was a hit! It is so yummy that thinking and writing about it makes me drool already. LOL!

So first, I just wanna share the not-so-secret secret to cooking delicious seafood dishes and that is to cook them fresh--Always! For crabs, when I say fresh, I mean they are still alive and moving until they are on fire or ready to be cooked. When buying crabs, keep in mind to always check EACH crab if they are still alive. Based from experience, if you just let the vendor choose the crabs, sometimes they will sneak in a weak or dead crab, even if you specified for fresh ones, specially if you are not buying from your suki. So just to be sure, check that there are no bad crabs because they can ruin the taste of the dish.

One more thing, if it's possible choose the female ones. They have more fat which are yummier and it just adds more flavor to the sauce. You can distinguish them by the wider flap on their bottom as compared to the thin and pointy one on males.

Another tip that I can share is to choose the ones which are changing their shells, whenever possible. Because of the process that they will undergo to change shells, crabs will eat more so that when they are immobilized, they will still have enough energy to survive. Hence, they have more fats. You can distinguish these crabs because of their soft shells. These soft-shelled crabs are very delicious.

So enough said, here is the recipe and hope you'll like it too! Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:
- 1 kl fresh crab (alimango)
- 3 tbsp vinegar
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup white onions, sliced thinly
- 4 tomatoes, sliced into wedges
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- Salt, to taste
- 1 tbsp black pepper (coarsely ground)
- Thick coconut milk from 1 whole coconut (Unang piga or kakang gata)
- 1-2 cups water

STEPS:
1. Clean the crabs well then cut them into halves.
2. Put them in a casserole and add in the vinegar, pepper, salt (to taste), half of the garlic, half of the onions and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil over medium fire.
3. While waiting for it to boil, put the oil and saute the remaining garlic on a separate pan, until slightly brown. Add in the onions and wait until they are transparent and shiny. Put in the tomatoes and let it cook until they are soft enough then mash them onto the pan (to make the tomatoes into a sauce).
5. Add the sauted mixture into the casserole with the crabs, cover and let it simmer until they are cooked and almost done. Add in a little more water, as necessary, so it won't dry. Just enough though because we want our dish to have just enough sauce but not SOUP. :-)
6. Lastly, add in the thick coconut milk and wait for the sauce to boil and thicken then turn off the heat. And then we're done!
I'd like to put an emphasis on puting the coconut milk just before we are done because we don't want it to boil too long or it will start to release its oil (just like in LATIK) and that would release a flavor that we don't want on our dish.

What's great about this recipe is that it's easy to prepare and is not really expensive. If I am not mistaken, a kilo of crab (as of this writing) costs around 200 pesos. You may also add prawns, if you'd like.

This recipe is good for 5-7 persons.

Adobong Alimango sa Gata, our finished product.

So I hope you enjoy this recipe and let me know how it went. Happy eating!

I'd like to hear from you! What do you guys think about my article? Your comments and suggestions are very much welcome! Or if you'd like to request a recipe, please let me know. Thanks!

TAGS: Between You and Cherry, Cherry Yutuc, Panlasang Pinoy, Pampanga, Lutong Kapampangan, Cooking Tips, Pampanga's Best, Recipe, Pampanga Cuisine, Cook from Pampanga, Philippines, Asian Food, Pinoy Food, Coconut Milk, Crab, Seafood, Gata, Lutong Bahay

Pure Happiness

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Thu, 27 Mar 2014 04:34:00 +0000

February 2010. It was a very happy day. The day my husband and I got married.
..I guess when couples get married, people around unintentionally puts a little pressure on them on whether they'll have babies or not.. So imagine the pressure on us when 2 years after being married, we are still not pregnant. To be frank, I also felt scared....because I also knew that I had a "problem" and unsure whether the meds I took would correct it... 'cause if not, that would mean infertility for me, no baby for us.
September of 2012. One day, while working at a local hospital, I started to feel uncomfortable in the abdominal area.. I felt sick. It continued that way so that the next day, I had to call in sick because I wasn't really feeling well. My husband suggested that I take a pregnancy test before I drink any meds, just to be sure that it was okay. As usual, I expected a "negative" result because I didn't want to get my hopes high and be disappointed once again.
The instructions on the kit said, add 3 drops of urine and so I did..1.. 2.. 3... Then I covered the results area with my thumb and closed my eyes. I felt nervous having to wait for a few minutes for the sample to settle in. I kept thinking--it will be just another negative result though deep inside me, I knew that I was really hoping for a positive one. "Lord, please be with me," I prayed. I took a deep breath. I just wanted to get this over with. So I peeked in the control line.. There was a red line, like it was supposed to. Then slowly, I removed my finger covering the Test Line... I gasped. There was a faint red line! Suddenly, I heard my heart pounding and my eyes started to swell. Before I knew it, I was crying and smiling at the same time. I was elated. Oh my goodness! They say there is no such thing as a "false positive" result...so I am pregnant! I stood up and got myself together. I took a deep breath and wiped my tears.
I rushed out of the bathroom to show the result to my husband. He was just as happy with the news!
But then again, before we shared the good news, we just wanted to make sure that that faint line was REALLY a positive result. I told him I could not wait any longer so my husband bought another kit right away. And there they were....two kits telling me I am pregnant.

On my 8th week of pregnancy, we had our confirmation...my ultrasound results revealed a live single fetus. And on my 26th, we had our 4d congenital anomaly scan. A healthy baby girl is on the way! I could not be happier. For almost 3 years, my husband and I were happy just having each other. But then when we knew we were finally pregnant, the pure genuine happiness we felt is beyond explainable.
May 2013. Our precious daughter, Sophia Alexa was born..Thank you Lord for our precious gift... She is perfect..To God be the glory!

Diabetes: A Pandemic in the Making

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 08:00:00 +0000

What really is this Diabetes and why should we be concerned about it?

Diabetes Mellitus, or simply diabetes, is a disease that is metabolic in nature. Simply put, Diabetes is a condition that results from either an impaired production of the body’s sugar-regulating hormone in the pancreas or when the body cannot use this hormone; the effect of which results in an increased sugar level in the blood.

There are 2 types of diabetes simply referred to as Type 1 and Type 2. The key distinction between the two is that Type 1 diabetes is caused by an insufficient insulin in the body (due to the impaired production) while Type 2 is brought about by the weakened insulin resistance due to different reasons as people age. With Type 2 diabetes, there is enough insulin in the circulation but the body cannot utilize it for some reasons.

But before we go any further, let us first discuss: what is this insulin that we are referring to?

Insulin is the hormone responsible for converting the starch and sugar that we eat into a form of energy that the body can use for our daily activities. If we don’t have it or it is insufficient in amount, sugar will be retained in the blood stream. Because of elevated sugar levels, blood becomes more viscous and consequently, if not properly managed, can lead to other life-threatening health conditions.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in the year 2000, there were around 171 million people diagnosed with diabetes. Nowadays (just 12 years after), it is alarming how the figures have amplified by more than a 100% and diabetes cases around the world are now being tallied at 346 million...and counting. Between Type 1 and Type 2, the latter is more prevalent as it comprises 90% of the total cases of Diabetes Mellitus and the average age of people with diabetes are around 40 to 59 years old. In the United States, 30.3 Million are affected with diabetes or 10% of the diabetic population.

Experts say that the most common cause of diabetes is lifestyle factors such as lack of exercise or physical activities, obesity, unhealthy eating specially with sweets and soda and stress.

While a lot of people may be preoccupied with preparations from different epidemic diseases that are terrifying, isn’t it about time that we also give as much attention with diseases that are chronic in nature but may cause serious consequences on our health? One good example is diabetes. The sudden rise in Diabetes Mellitus cases is alarming and tells us that it is something that should not be ignored.

People affected with diabetes come from different walks of life – popular celebrities, rich and poor, old and young – anyone can be afflicted with it. Contrary to the common notion, eating sweets is not the only reason for diabetes onset. Anything in excess can be harmful to us and that is why we need to make sure that we take a close watch on our health by avoiding unhealthy lifestyle which can help manage, if not prevent, the onset of diabetes mellitus.

Preparing for the Survival of an Earthquake

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Every year, the United States Geological Survey records about 20,000 earthquakes or about 50 earthquakes a day. On the average, 134 of which have magnitudes between 6 to 6.9 while magnitudes 7 to 7.9 and 8 and higher and having average annual episodes of 15 and 1, respectively.

Earthquakes, the trembling of the earth's surface, can be a devastating phenomenon depending on some factors such as its magnitude, duration and other environmental hazards around us. And despite having the best and latest technology, it is sad to say that there is still no proven way of predicting an earthquake. Because of its unpredictability, the best weapon that people have against this natural force of nature is to prepare for it.

The fact is an earthquake itself is not the real cause of deaths. Most of the time, fatalities are the result of secondary factors such as collapsed buildings, falling objects, shattered glass, fire and so on.

Therefore, one of the first things to consider when readying for such event is assessing the surrounding environment. Information, such as the strength of the buildings and the placement of some things around the house such as chemicals or heavy objects, are vital.

When planning ahead, it is important for each family member to know what to do and where to go when an earthquake happens. It also necessary to keep an emergency kit consisting of non-perishable foods such as canned goods, clean drinking water, flashlights, medicines, first aid kit, blankets, batteries and battery operated radio.

Another crucial consideration is to check all the flammable chemicals at home and make sure that these items are placed on low-lying cabinets and that they do not easily tumble and catch fire.

During an earthquake, it is most important to remember to try not to panic so that you will be able to think clearly on what to do. When the earth starts to shake, remember to practice "DUCK, COVER AND HOLD". This means to lower the head, cover it with the arms and hide under a sturdy table or desk and hold on to it. If there is no furniture, try to move into an open area such as hallways or stay near the house posts or walls and stay away from stairs, windows, high cabinets, appliances and heavy furniture. If you happen to be outdoors, stay outside and just remember to move away from buildings, trees or any possible falling objects.

Keep in mind to stay calm as possible during the shaking and stay in that position until the trembling stops and then check to see if anyone is hurt or if there is fire. Move carefully from your position and always use stairs when going down.

Strong earthquakes are extremely serious phenomena that can be devastating and horrifying. But instead of just being afraid, what we can do is to empower ourselves by educating ourselves and preparing so that we know what to do during these devastating events.

Breast Augmentation: What You Should Know About

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:11:00 +0000

According to the 2010 report of American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast augmentation remains to be the top cosmetic surgical procedure of 2009. In 2008, an estimated 307,000 cases of breast augmentation were filed and although there is a 6% decrease in 2009, this surgical procedure still remains on top of the list.

Breast augmentation, otherwise known as augmentation mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure performed to enlarge (or augment) breasts in order to achieve a fuller appearance. Others opt for this procedure for breast reconstruction purposes to restore breast volume, which may have been lost due to mastectomy, trauma, or congenital deformity.

In order to augment breasts, implants are used. Implants are breast-shaped prosthesis that are made of silicon covering and either silicone gel or saline (salt water) filling.

Typically, the procedure is done on an out-patient basis which usually takes two hours. The process starts with administering anesthesia which can either be under local or general anesthesia. Incision is then made around the areola, in the armpit or under the breast, depending on the type and size of the implant. The method by which the prosthesis is inserted also depends on the said conditions and after which, the incision will be closed.

As with any surgery, breast augmentation surgery has associated risks which include bleeding, infection, unfavourable scarring or fluid accumulation. Other risks associated with the surgery may be related to the implant itself such as obstructed mammography or capsular contracture, where a firm scar forms around the implant. And although most mortality cases are associated with anesthesia or medication errors, death associated with breast augmentation are extremely rare. Another important consideration that women should take note is that there are no lifetime guarantees with breast implants. And so before going into the procedure, women should weigh the pros and cons and decide, “Are you a good candidate for breast augmentation?”

Aromatherapy and Its Important Benefits to the Mind and Body

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Thu, 26 May 2011 18:51:00 +0000

Aromatherapy is an alternative form of medicine that is used to relieve pain and stress. This form of treatment employs essential oils for its aromatic properties that are believed to influence a person’s mood, thinking, mind-set and function.

The first known use of aromatherapy dates back to more than 5000 years ago. Back then, the people from Egypt pay tribute to the Egyptian gods by burning herbs, spices and woods in order to send their prayers to the heavens through the risen smoke.

Today, aromatherapy is used because of its medicinal value. Although it has not been proven that aromatherapy cures major diseases, it is on the other hand, known to be effective in lessening the pain and discomfort that are related to such conditions.

Aromatherapy can be used in three different ways. First is by applying it directly to the skin, also known as topical application. This is the method of application used for massage and baths like those from the spa. Topical application of aromatherapy benefits you in one of the following ways:

Tissue and muscle repair of lesions, injuries, cuts or abrasions.
Muscle relaxation
Better sleep at night
Improved circulation of blood
Relief from inflammation
Enhanced skin suppleness

Second, aromatherapy can be infused through inhalation of oil or infusion vapors. This is beneficial to the body such as:

Relief of nasal congestion
Relief of Lung infection that may be caused by bacteria and fungus
Aids in expectorating phlegm
Better sleeping pattern

Lastly, diffusion of oils in the air is another way to infuse aromatherapy. This method allows the aromatic smell to be utilized by circulating the aroma through the air. The smell may help the body and mind by:

Alleviating headaches
Energizing the mind and body
Producing calming effects

In addition to that, aromatherapy is advantageous to the mind and body in a lot of ways. It helps relieve mind problems such stress, anxiety and depression and this in turn may also lower the blood pressure. With aromatherapy, you will also improve the circulation of your blood which in turn helps eliminate unwanted toxins and improve wound healing process.

Your immunity against certain illnesses and infections is also improved with this alternative medicine by improving your resistance. Aromatherapy also results in enhanced digestion. For women, you can also get relief from menstrual cramps.

There are a lot of oils and infusions that can be used in Aromatherapy. You can choose from a broad range of essential oils based from the scent you prefer and healing properties of each kind of oil. Simply put, aromatherapy has a long list of benefits to the body. It is a great, natural, inexpensive and effective way to alleviate certain signs, symptoms and conditions. And with practically no known disadvantage of its use, Aromatherapy is definitely one great alternative medicine that is worth a try.

March 11's Japan 9.0 Quake

noreply@blogger.com (Cherry RN) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 04:39:00 +0000

It was March 11, 2011,around 2 o'clock here in the Philippines, when I got a phone call from my eldest brother from the United States. I picked up the phone and said "Hello! How are you?," in a good-to-hear-from-you tone of voice. But instead of saying "I'm fine.," he asked me to turn on my TV and watch CNN and said that a magnitude 8.9 (later on increased to 9.0) earthquake struck Japan and that a tsunami alert was raised in the country. A few minutes after, he hung up the phone and said he will call back in a while.

For many viewers, maybe, it was a horrifying scene to watch, just like in the movies. It was unbelievable how an earthquake with that strength be real. To make it worse, it was a heart-breaking moment to watch and see how the estimated 77.4 feet tall tsunami engulfed everything in its path. Once again, my brother called and told me that the tsunami was currently devastating the coastal areas of Japan.

For my family and I, the anxiety was actually even worse. It was because my brother's children were in Japan when these events happened and to add more, we were clueless as to what town or city they were at that time and I could only cry and pray that they were far away from the towns that were affected.

During the first few hours of learning about the situation, I tried doing my research on their whereabouts, made phone calls, sent messages and it was only a few hours after, that we got a news that they were safe and that they were at the southern part of Japan. It was a big sigh of relief and I could not thank God enough that they were safe and that they are almost a thousand miles away from Sendai...Thank God.

To this day, it is still hard to believe how three catastrophic events (earthquake, tsunami, radiation exposure) happened in a particular part of Japan, simultaneously. Being far away, we can only help in very little ways such as donating money (that I'm sure will go a long way) to organizations conducting rescue and relief efforts and of course, Pray for Japan, most especially those who were devastated, who lost their loved one, who are still looking for their missing loved ones, who lost their homes and have no house to go home to and those who are threatened by radiation exposure.

Japan, our prayers are with you.

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Earthquakes (the shaking of the earth), are unpredictable forces of nature which can be devastating, depending on its magnitude (strength), duration and other hazards around us.

"Strong earthquakes are extremely serious phenomena that can be devastating and horrifying. But instead of just being afraid, what we can do is to empower ourselves by educating ourselves and preparing so that we know what to do during these devastating events."

For Tips on Preparing for the Survival of an Earthquake click here.

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For Resources Related to Japan Crisis (Missing Person Finder, Donations, Alert and Status, etc.) visit Google Crisis Response.