Live, Eat and Conquer!

Have You Tried Pork Steak - Filipino Style?

2012-05-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

Unlike most of Western cuisine, Filipino dishes are more on the sweet and salty variety. Filipino style pork steak recipe is an amalgamation between the sweetness of the pork and brown sugar, paired with the saltiness from the soy sauce for that savory goodness.

In this recipe, I use pork chops because the fat content gives the lean meat its buttery taste, which adds more flavor to the dish. You can also use other pork cuts or slices if you want. Just make sure to pick marbled cuts or slices that include the fats (it's pork after all). Pure lean meat can dry out quickly when cooking.

With that being said, try this recipe out and get back to me afterwards with your comments.

Bon Appetit!

Pork Steak Recipe

(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

4-5 pieces pork chops (1/2 kilo)
60 mL soy sauce
2-3 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 cup lime or lemon juice
1/2 cup cooking oil
2 medium-sized onions, sliced into rings
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon brown sugar (can substitute with table sugar)
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine pork chops, lime juice, garlic and soy sauce. Marinade overnight or at least for 1 hour.
Heat a frying pan then pour-in the cooking oil.
Turn the heat to medium and pan-fry the marinated pork chops for about 4 minutes per side. Make sure they sizzle once you place the meat on the pan.
When pork chops are cooked, remove excess oil. Pour in the remaining marinade and water and let it boil.
Turn the heat to medium low and simmer for about 45 minutes or until the pork is tender. You may have to add water as needed.
Stir in the brown sugar, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Add the sliced onions and cook for another 3 minutes.
Turn off the heat and transfer the contents of the pan to a serving plate.
Serve.

Photo Credits: www.panlasangpinoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Pork-Steak.jpg

Source: www.panlasangpinoy.com/2011/02/20/pork-steak-recip

Cheat Meals: Healthy or Not?

2012-05-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

While it is important to eat fruits, vegetables, and various lean meats, this lifestyle also has the tendency to become boring and monotonous over time. If you ask bodybuilders about their diet, you might be surprised as to how much "unhealthy" foods they've been eating on a weekly, even on a daily basis. A diet consisting of foods that don't excite your taste buds, no matter how healthy or nutritious they can be, are one of the many reasons why most people can't keep up with it.

You can certainly cheat on your meals, even if you are following an exercise program to trim down fats or tone up your muscles. In fact, most nutrition experts believe that cheat meals have little to no effect when it comes to getting ripped or staying fit. More importantly, post-workout cheat meals have a greater chance of being used for muscle regeneration, instead of being stored in the body as fats. However, there are some things that you should follow in order to achieve your goal. First off, the 90%-10% diet rule states that you should follow a goal-based diet 90% of the time, while indulging on foods that are not on the diet constitutes the remaining 10%. Indulging on a serving of your favorite ice cream during Sundays, for instance, is acceptable. Secondly, portion control is also important. Eating in small portions, when planning to cheat, can help curb your cravings from time to time.

Photo Credits: www.bodybuilding.com/fun/images/2012/pizza.jpg

Start a Healthy Lifestyle Today!

2012-05-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

While there are many infomercials about products that can magically make you lose several pounds off your weight or get that instant washboard abs in a matter of days, there is no real shortcut to getting a lean and healthy body. Don't be fooled by diet fads that helped celebrities create their amazing bodies. The fact of the matter is that the before and after photos of these people, showing how they lost their weight or improved their fitness, are the result of their hard work and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. I am talking about a holistic approach to ante up the fitness level of your body: doing regular exercise and eating healthy food.

It may not be easy to get motivated in doing that exercise regimen you've always wanted to try or even maintain a regular exercise. However, there are ways to trick your mind in overcoming that obstacle. For instance, it is always good to create variations to your exercise routine to take away the boredom that spores out of monotony. Sometimes, a simple change of environment is all it takes. For those people who are having second thoughts about doing regular exercise, just think of the benefits it brings several years from now. Studies show that people who at least maintain an exercise regimen are looking and feeling younger for their age. Just don't overdo it though. Too much workout, among others, can be a bad thing.

Photo Credits: www.o2blog.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/fitness-level.jpgin/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/fitness-level.jpg

What Soy Milk Can Do For Your Body

2012-05-08T00:32:00.000-07:00

The Benefits

Some say soy milk can be healthy for you. In fact, the proteins found in soy milk can help women with osteoporosis. The calcium found in the proteins of dairy milk will be filtered through the kidneys, this process decrease the amount of calcium for the bones to absorb. This, in turn, creates a higher risk for bone related illnesses such as osteoporosis. However, this is not the case for calcium found in vegetable proteins (soy milk). This is because the calcium found in this particular milk is less likely to be filtered by kidneys; therefore making the absorb more calcium for healthy bones. Another benefit of soy milk is that it contains isoflavones which the dairy milk does not have. Isoflavones is a chemical responsible for reducing the amount of cholesterol you have in your body. Finally, soy milk contains antioxidants (such as phytochemicals - Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Selenium, Carotenoids and many more), which helps keep your body from the effects of free radicals and stress.

The Disadvantages

However, like all things, soy milk has its own disadvantages. For instance, doctors won't recommend you to drink soy milk on a regular basis if you are planning to reduce weight. Soy milk contains chemicals that reduce your body's metabolism. On the other hand, soy milk is a great way to add some pounds if you are particularly skinny or just want to bulk up a bit. It is also said that soy milk contains chemicals that enhances the production of estrogen in both male and females, which can have debilitating effects in the long run (on both sexes). Such information, however, is regarded as debatable as there are evidences that back-up its claim, as well as evidences that counter it.

The Verdict

Whichever side you are on, the benefits of soy milk outweighs its disadvantages by a long shot. However, it is possible that regular consumption of this product may, in fact, turn the balance for the worst. Which is why it is important to keep a healthy balanced diet and drink soy milk every once in a while. After all, it is the dosage that makes the poison.

Photo Credits: www.gtradesg.com/files/soya.gif

Winning the Battle Over Obesity In a Nutshell

2012-04-19T05:17:00.000-07:00

Due to the many conveniences that the modern world has offered, more and more people tend to carry that extra weight on their bodies that could potential develop serious complications to their health. Yes, I am talking about obesity and, as a matter of fact, it is one of the trending unhealthy lifestyles that affects several people (from several countries) nowadays.

Eating doughnuts, pastries, oil foods, cakes and savory dishes that are full of that devilish goodness (bad cholesterol) could immediately turn into body fat, if you are not planing to work it off. However, you don't necessarily have to block these food groups from your diet because the key to healthy living is moderation. Though the word may sound very fundamental, eating things in moderation is one of those things that are easier said than done. However, I am not saying to only eat the foods that was mentioned earlier as it is also important to eat your daily dose of vegetables and fruits. Winning the battle over obesity is not entirely an impossible thing to achieve though it may take sheer willpower to pull it off successfully.

For instance, you may want to buy yourself that favorite shirt you always wanted to have. The should should be about a couple of sizes smaller than your current size and you might want to buy something that is a little bit on the expensive side. After buying that expensive shirt that you are dying to wear, do not keep it inside your closet... display it on your room. The displayed shirt will act as a reminder for you to start losing that pounds, so that the shirt will fit you just right in as soon as possible. Now this may or may not work for you, but such method will help you keep your eye and mind on the goal, which is to lose that extra weight.

There are several gigs and programs out there that promises to shed fat or lose weight in a week or maybe in a month. But the fact of the matter is that there is no real shortcut to reducing weight, or keeping your body fit because it really takes a long time and a huge amount of dedication before you will get any visible results from your efforts.

Photo Credits: www.marcilall.com, www.zazzle.com

Lemons, Anyone?

2012-04-14T01:53:00.000-07:00

There is something about lemons that makes it so appealing. It must be the tang of the fruit (it is a fruit, right?). Even thinking about it leaves my mouth puckered a little bit for a second. Experts say that the juice and zest of the lemon provide a series of health benefits for the body. Probably because lemons are rich in antioxidants. As you may already know, antioxidants fight free radicals that are responsible for inflicting different kinds of ailments and diseases to the body, such as cancers and skin diseases to name a few. The juice of the lemon even helps lower the amount of bad cholesterol (Low-density lipoprotein or LDL) in the body, which is certainly a good thing.

With that said, if you are looking for a great recipe that involves the use of pure lemon juice, I will share to you a recipe that I got from a cooking show called Everyday Italian. It is hosted by none other than chef Giada De Laurentiis herself and she is, by far, one of my favorite female chefs (she even looks hot for her age which is definitely a plus for me). Her recipe was for a basic lemon pasta (spaghetti) but I figured that lemon would go well with shrimp (squid, fish or even clams works just as well), so I just had to add it to the recipe.

Bon Appetit!

Lemon Pasta with Shrimp

You will need the following (yields 3 servings):

1/2 pound pasta (i.e. spaghetti, penne or fussili)
9-12 pieces shrimp (peeled and *deveined)
1/3 cup oil (preferably olive oil)
1/3 cup grated cheese (preferably Parmesan or Pecorino Romano)
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Salt and (coarsely grounded) black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves and 1/2 tablespoon lemon zest for garnish (optional)

Directions in 8 Easy Steps:

Cook the pasta first by placing them in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite (this is called al dente, in culinary terms).
Stir occasionally, about 8 minutes or follow package instructions of your pasta.
While checking for the pasta to be done, whisk together in a bowl the olive oil, grated cheese and lemon juice until they are thoroughly blended.
Once your pasta is al dente, drain the pasta using a coriander but reserve at least a cup of pasta liquid first for later use.
In another pan, pour a tablespoon of cooking oil and cook the shrimp about 2 minutes per side or until their color turns pinkish-red. You can marinate the shrimp beforehand using a few drops of lemon juice, salt and black pepper. It is important not to overcook the shrimp so as not to get a rubbery texture.
Toss the pasta, shrimp and the lemon sauce in a large bowl. Add about 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta liquid at a time until you arrive at a desired consistency (thickness of the sauce).
Adjust the taste by seasoning the pasta with salt and pepper.
Garnish the dish with lemon zest and chopped basil (optional).

Legend:

*Devein: To make a small, usually lengthy, vertical incision on the backside of the shrimp to remove its vein.

Photo Credits: www.wikipedia.org, www.foodnetwork.com

Willie Revillame: Surviving the Times Amidst Obstacles and Controversies

2012-04-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

Willie Revillame is considered to be one of the biggest and well-known personalities in the Philippine showbiz industry today that even a mere child (born in the Philippines) can relate to; but I know for a fact that Willie Revillame has also made his name quite popular among international viewers as well. For those who are not in the know-zone, Willie's first big break was hosting a primetime noon show known as Wowowee and he was one of the biggest assets of ABS-CBN (a television network giant in the Philippines) ever since he made the spot. Willie's hosting abilities were admirable, because he never fails to catch the attention of home viewers, including his studio audiences. He has the right amount of charisma that the poor and the needy have found to be very much appealing. It must be the way how he promotes himself through the show and the various products he endorsed that no other host could have ever done in the history of variety shows in the Philippines. But the host seemed to be so full of himself as he gained popularity that, in 2010, he made a bold move on live television against a fellow asset of the said network giant that ultimately gave him the boot.

So what happened to Willie then?

After leaving the Wowowee and the network (cancelling his show in the process), Willie Revillame struggled for months trying to get back up on his feet again. But it was not that very long until a budding network, back then, gave him a project to continue what he started in ABS-CBN. Yes, the budding network I was referring to was the now a competing network giant called TV5 (formerly ABC5). His first variety show on this particular television network was called Willing Willie. However, it did not last long enough to see the light of day because ABS-CBN immediately filed a lawsuit against Willie and TV5 for their show being a Wowowee rip-off. This happened after just a few weeks of the show's pilot episode.

Even though Willie and his current affiliated network lost the case, this did not faze him at all. While he was off the camera, Willie already have made plans with the network for a complete overhaul of the show but left the key elements of his show intact (such as live broadcasting). This led to the creation of Wil Time Bigtime, which started airing in 2011 at 6:30 PM during weekdays and 5 PM on Saturdays. Unfortunately, 'Kuya Wil' seemed to never run out of difficulties and controversies even with his current variety show, which produced differing opinions about him and how he handles the show.

Well, I guess that is about it on my thoughts about this resilient and charismatic guy. Feel free to express your opinions regarding what you just read (we can even discuss more about 'Kuya Wil' if you want). Til' my next blogging adventure then.

Ciao

Photo Credits: www.ABS-CBN.com, www.tv5.com.ph

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

2012-04-11T09:11:00.000-07:00


Hey You! Yeah You!

This is it. My very first post on my very first blog and, finally, I have jumped to the bandwagon of blogging. Don't get me wrong, I did not mean to say (or rather write) it in a condescending way. It is just that I have been all over my head for several months whether I should start to post several of my passions in this fickle head of mine, as well as almost everything that I have come or came across with in my life. I guess you could say that this is my welcoming speech to this "momentous occasion" even though I think I have gone a bit over the top with my introductions.

As you read this post, I know that you are thinking about what this blog is all about. Well, the title really says it all. It is about life (my life mostly), it is about great comfort food, and it is about how to be successful in both aspects. So if you are excited as I am, feel free to visit sometime soon for my next blog posting adventure.

By the way, don't you think that the image looks great? I think that it is so fitting for my introductory post that I just got to have it. Anyway, I used Google to find this image and it certainly goes without saying that I do not own this particular image (you can find its link by clicking here). In any case, I hope you guys and gals enjoy your stay.