I’m not very fond of nuts (sometimes I get allergies and an extreme itchiness in my throat while eating nuts) so I made sure I had my antihistamine tablet on hand just in case my throat got irritated with the drink.  It turns out, I didn’t get an allergic reaction at all.  But if you happen to be allergic to nuts, it’s probably safer to stay away from drinks with nuts. It’s different for each person, I realize.   This VANILLA NUTMILK, according to the Juju Cleanse website, is packed and rich in Magnesium, B-Vitamins, Copper, and Zinc.

Took some time to check out the benefits of these nutrients, some information that you might need when you choose foods that are healthy for your body:

• Benefits of Magnesium – Magnesium may reverse osteoporosis by improving bone mineral density, prevents cardiovascular diseases, regulates high blood pressure or hypertension, treats migraines, insomnia and depression, and treats diabetes. Link: http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/Magnesium-health-benefits-supplements/2011/01/20/id/369647
• Benefits of Vitamin B – Known as the “happy vitamin”, B-Vitamins help restore balance in the body and aids in disease prevention.  Link: http://www.healthylife-healthyplanet.com/b-vitamins.html
• Benefits of Zinc -improves hair care, functioning of the immune system, improves stress levels and metabolism. Link:  http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/health-benefits-of-zinc.html
• Benefits of Copper – Copper stimulates the brain, improves enzymatic reactions and stalls aging, among many others. Link:http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/minerals/health-benefits-of-copper.html 

Here’s to a healthier lifestyle!

I hope you all enjoy this simple but delicious recipe of mine!

BANGUS BELLY TORTA

You’ll Need:

• 2 pieces of Boneless Milkfish Belly / Bangus Belly  (thawed),
• 3 tbsps. of Star Margarine or Canola cooking oil
• Kiri Cheese / Philadelphia Cream Cheese or any brand of Cream Cheese you like, softened at room temperature
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, crushed and chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped finely
• 1 medium green bell pepper
• 3 small or medium-sized potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 big carrot, peeled and diced
• 1-2 chicken bouillion cubes
• 1-2 stalks of celery diced
• salt and pepper
• Knorr Seasoning
• Cane Vinegar
• calamansi or lemon (2 tbsps)
• 1-2 small boxes of raisins
• 2-3 eggs (depending how fluffy you want your omelet to be)
• 3 tbsps cornstarch seasoned with salt and pepper and a little water

1. Prepare all ingredients (wash, chop, dice, vegetables).  Marinate bangus belly fillet in a bowl with a dash of Knorr Seasoning, 2 tbsps of cane vinegar, and  tbsps. of calamansi or lemon. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes.

2. Melt Star Margarine in a skillet set to medium fire.  You may use cooking oil if you don’t have Star Margarine. Regular butter may also suffice.

3. Cook diced potatoes, diced carrots until tender, add celery and green pepper. Remove from fire and set aside.

4. Cook the marinated bangus belly with a pat of butter or 1/2 teaspoon cooking oil, skin side down until slightly brown.  When the meaty part of the fish can already be flaked easily, you know it’s already done. Use a fork to check.

6. Saute onion and garlic until onions are soft and translucent, and until garlic is golden brown.  Add the fish flakes into the pan with the garlic and onions, cooking it together for about 2-3 minutes.  Then add the vegetable mixture (potatoes, carrots, green pepper, celery).  Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.  Break two beaten eggs into a separate bowl, add the cornstarch, salt and pepper and a little bit of water.  Mix the egg mixture with the fish flakes and vegetable mixture until the mixture is coated evenly with egg. Grate the chicken bouillon cube into the mixture and add the Kiri cheese/cream cheese.

The flaked fish makes it easy for kids to chew in small bites, and since it’s packed with a lot of vegetables (diced potatoes, green peppers, carrots, and celery), you’re able to serve up vegetables without giving them lots of opportunities to pick at their food.  I serve this to my child, and both of us enjoy the meal so much.  You can also choose to use this torts fish-and-vegetable filling for boiled eggplant, make it Tortang Talong with Bangus Belly if you wish. It’s a creative way of feeding your child fish rich in Omega 3′s or healthy fat, apart from his vegetables.

If you’re looking for a genuinely enriching and invigorating experience to rest and recharge your physical, mental, and spiritual state, do look into booking a getaway at THE FARM, check out their website at http://www.thefarm.com.ph/aboutus.html.

My body had been longing for a change after the holidays, what with all the delicious buffet food made available at family gatherings and all the amazing vacations that came with delectable gastronomic delights.

The beginning of the year signaled that it was wise to look into a healthier lifestyle change.  Another friend of mine shared that it would be wise to do a detoxification program that involved drinking freshly-juiced fruits and vegetables.  That would be one good step to not only losing weight, but a good time to give my digestive system a much-needed break.

JUJU CLEANSE is “a no-fuss, all-benefits approach to juice fasting,” where the JUJU CLEANSE company delivers freshly juiced drinks right at your doorstep, which are all juices that are detoxifying catalysts to ease your body into an effective cleansing program that you deem fit for your body and lifestyle.

I decided to start with Level One, which is the One-Day Cleanse.  Since I felt I was really just trying to find out more about this whole “cleansing my inner body” business, I wanted to begin with the default cleanse so that I wouldn’t overwhelm my body, but still benefitting from all the vegetable juice goodness.  JUJU CLEANSE actually recommends that you give the common Eastern practice of “one day a week, every week” a try.

Before trying any cleanse, it’s always best to read all the information on their website, especially if there are disclaimers like this one http://jujucleanse.com/disclaimer.php.

My Juju Cleanse Pack

All six bottles of fresh juice were packed and delivered efficiently to my doorstep the day before my cleanse, in a sturdy thermal bag that also came with a cold pack that you had to freeze so you could use it when you went out toting the drinks.  There was also the standard pamphlet and guidelines included.

I knew that on the day I chose to do my cleanse, I would just be taking in the juices in the Level One, One-Day Cleanse pack (that’s six bottles of juice to be consumed at specific times throughout the day).

I somehow tried to prepare myself the day before by not consuming too much food, by lessening my usual intake of food so that I wouldn’t be craving the whole day the next day.  I loaded up on my usual wheatgrass herbal drink, and lots of water apart from light meals loaded with vegetables.  I decided to really rest on the day of my cleanse, even though I’d started doing my Barre3 workouts the week before, and wanted to keep going while I had my momentum.  I went through the Juju Cleanse website, and saw that it is recommended that one rests during a cleanse, although moderate exercises like walking, yoga, Pilates, and bike-riding are acceptable.

Preparing For The Cleanse

I knew that on the day I chose to do my cleanse, I would just be taking in the juices in the Level One, One-Day Cleanse pack (that’s six bottles of juice to be consumed at specific times throughout the day).

Kat Azanza (the very accommodating lady behind Juju Cleanse) did well to provide clients availing of the Juju Cleanse package with Cleansing Guidelines.  These were those important tips:

• Please refrigerate the cleanse bottles immediately upon receiving them
• Don’t forget to re-freeze the cooling element to prepare it for use the next day
• Get plenty of rest the night before and the day of your cleanse
• Start the day off with a nice fresh cup of mint tea. (They usually provide you with mint leaves, but in my case, they weren’t able to. She just suggested that I have a cup of hot water with a squeeze  of lemon should I feel like having something warm to fill my belly)
• If you are toting your cleanse around with you during the day please do your best to keep the juices refrigerated whenever possible
• Keep hydrated during the days with water or herbal teas
• Moderate exercise is okay but don’t overdo it
• If you can’t resist food during the cleanse then please snack intelligently (a few celery stalks, a couple slices of cucumber, lots of water)

The Night Before

Since I usually cook dinner for my husband and child, it was natural that there was rice and a one-dish viand at the table the night before I did my cleanse.  I have to admit, I still ate a bit of the Chicken Curry I prepared, but I did make sure to load up on salad even more.  Requested my husband to bring home some Chopped Salad from Cyma that we enjoyed together while my young child heartily consumed the Chicken Curry and Rice.

It was wise to stock up on celery stalks, a pack of herbal tea (we chose to try Malunggay Tea at home this time), lemons for lemon water, and of course, precious cucumber for snacking.  When you’re part of a foodie couple like me, you make sure you stock up on “essential” snacking elements to tide you over, just in case!

Kat also mentioned that drinking unlimited amounts of unsweetened coconut water/buko juice and/or wheatgrass in between Juju Cleanse drinks is permitted during the cleanse, which I greatly appreciated.

My One-Day Juju Cleanse Experience

Armed with six bottles of brightly colored juice resting in the refrigerator, I looked over the cleansing schedule.  Labeled 1-6, each bottle was to be consumed on specific hours all throughout the day.  In the case of my one-day cleanse (I chose Level 1), I was to drink Bottle 1 at 730am, Bottle 2 at 10:00am, Bottle 3 at 12:30noon, Bottle 4 at 3:00pm, Bottle 5 at 5pm, and the last Bottle (6) at 8:00pm.

7:30am - Bottle # 1 was GREEN BOMB. This is their drink that’s loaded (and I mean LOADED!) with assorted green vegetables mixed to boost alkalinity and enzyme power.  We’re talking green juicy goodness from spinach, romaine lettuce, malunggay, cucumber, and celery with coconut water and pineapple.

Since I’d been taking wheatgrass for nearly three months now, the taste wasn’t at all vile.  In fact, it tasted fresh, though I was able to pick out the strong and distinct taste of juiced celery the most.  After consuming the entire bottle, I felt full.  Didn’t experience any cravings or hunger pangs yet, even as I sat next to my little daughter who was happily munching a bowl of Kellogg’s Frosties with cold milk for breakfast.  It was, and felt like I was getting off to a pretty good start with the cleanse.

Contrary to the typical reactions that “Green Juice” can taste all “blech ” and “yucky,” I found this drink to be refreshing and invigorating.  I think one good way of approaching this juice fast is managing your expectations about the drinks you’re about to consume.  Already expect that the juices WON’T necessarily be sweet or fruity like the ones you usually take.

10:00 am – Well, this was the time I was supposed to drink Bottle #2, but I wasn’t able to do so on the dot, I was about 30minutes late.   This has got to be one of the easiest-to-drink juices ever.

Bottle # 2 is SPICY LIMONADA, which is lemonade but packed with some heat by making use of cayenne pepper mixed into the juice. If you love regular lemonade, imagine drinking that with a hint of spice.  Apparently it speeds up your metabolism while swinging your body PH into a more alkaline state, that’s what the guide says.

Talk about helping EASE your way into the juice fast. I love this drink! I just might start making my lemonade this way next time.  How did I feel after taking this 2nd bottle of the day? Well, drinking juice makes you go to the bathroom to pee slightly more often than before, I can tell you that much.

I didn’t feel hungry at all, I hadn’t even tried snacking in between my first and second bottle.  But they say that our body’s reactions to juice fasts can be vastly different.

Hunger Pangs – I have to admit, I started to experience a few hunger pangs and an edge of appetite towards lunchtime, being used to a hefty lunch with my child.  While my daughter enjoyed a big bowl of rice and chicken, and even another bowl of cereal, and some Cookies and Cream ice cream for dessert, and plenty of water, I stared longingly a bit at the delivery menus posted on my refrigerator and took a few gulps of water while waiting for my next bottle.  No pain, no gain. You could say I really wanted to make the most of this juice cleanse. (I did thank God there were cucumbers in the crisper just in case I needed a snack!)

12:30 noon - I was supposed to drink this at that time, but I was an hour later in doing so. Anyhow, I deemed it to be okay that I followed the hour increments a bit loosely, as long as I was following the instructions of drinking the juices in the correct order.

NOW I know why the juice in the bottle before this one was delicious.  This juice called RED GIANT is a potent mix of beets, carrots, pineapple, and ginger.  Honestly, Bottle # 3 did NOT taste good.  I savored the taste on my tongue, and I could pick out the strong taste of beets and ginger mixed with the pineapple and carrot juice.  It wasn’t too much of a struggle to finish the whole bottle, but it does leave a strange alkaline taste in the mouth, which I believe, is the whole point.  Digestion begins in the mouth, when food or juice is mixed with your saliva.  The objective of this juice is to pump up alkaline elements into your body that’ll aid in your body’s elimination and cleansing.

It was with this particular juice that I truly felt that the one-day cleanse was taking effect in my body.  After this juice, there was a trip or two to the bathroom.  The RED GIANT juice’s lovely crimson color belied its ginger-beet-rich taste, but it sure worked wonders as a catalyst for cleansing, that much I can say.  I was actually surprised that one can go to the bathroom and do the number two “gloriously” even if you’re only ingesting juice and not any solid food.

Hunger Pangs - I have to admit, I started feeling hunger pangs after going to the bathroom and waiting for the next bottle of juice to take.  When I took a peek at my crisper, I caught sight of my cucumbers, but also stole a glance or two at the light and creamy Kiri cheese sitting on the refrigerator shelf.  Was starting to get tempted to have cheese and crackers, some banana chips, and a wedge of pan-fried Norwegian salmon, but decided to take some buko juice to tide me over before my next juice intake.

3:00 pm – Since my intake got moved to slightly an hour later, I drank this around 330pm.  Bottle # 4 is called ALKAZEST, which is a blend of coconut juice, pineapple, and grapefruit.  Thank goodness this was delicious.  Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, this juice is supposed to supply you with electrolytes to help you go through the rest of the day.  I have to admit, this was a good mid-afternoon drink, and not at all disgusting to the taste.  I’ll keep this combination in mind when I start juicing my own fruits at home.  I discovered that this kind of juice makes you want to pee a lot more, especially when alternating it with water and wheatgrass.

530pm – Missed drinking Bottle # 5 by an hour since I took a short nap.  By this time, I was getting hungry already.  Bottle # 5 turned out to be another batch of GREEN BOMB, which was the same as my first drink.  Since I was already familiar with the taste, drinking this was really no big deal.  I found out that I missed chewing on something, and to think I was on the homestretch of just the One-Day cleanse.  This was my 2nd to the last bottle for the entire day.  To be fair, the “green juice” taste was starting to grow on me, even after just trying two whole bottles in a day.  But the celery taste in this juice really is strong and for a while there, I was feeling a bit dizzy, craving something solid, like a big bowl of chunky soup or a sandwich, even a roasted vegetable sandwich would’ve been welcome.  But I continued to guzzle this Green Bomb juice to the last drop.

8:00pm – Missed drinking my last bottle by two hours since we had to head over to my brother’s birthday dinner.  Bottle #6 turned out to be SALABAT LEMON, which the guide described as a ginger tonic meant to be an expectorant for respiratory problems, and a drink that would improve circulation and stimulate the digestive system.  Well, I don’t know about other people’s reactions to this drink, but when I drank it, I found that my sinuses were declogged somewhat.  Strange, because I didn’t have any colds prior to doing the cleanse.  Could it be a reaction to the drink? I’m not too sure.  Admittedly by this time I was already feeling a bit dizzy and having hunger pangs.  Considering that I was acidic before, I didn’t feel any tummy aches with this lemon-laden drink.

During my brother’s birthday dinner, a big spread was laid out—Baliwag lechon manok and liempo, as well as yang chow fried rice, shrimp balls, bird’s nest with quail egg soup, long-life pancit from Comida de China and a marshmallow chocolate cake.  I only took a few spoonfuls of the soup even though I was feeling hungry.  I was supposed to break the fast by introducing food slowly into my system.  Even though I had planned to break the fast the following day, it didn’t do any harm that I took those few spoons of soup.

We went home and I found myself a bit tired.  Another trip to the bathroom later, I had a pretty good night’s sleep.

THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY ONE-DAY JUJU CLEANSE:

• During a juice fast, it’s good to really take time to rest. I’m glad I decided not to do a Barre3 workout on the day of my cleanse (even though it is just a moderate type of exercise, a combination of ballet, yoga, and pilates), since I was not only giving my body a break but also giving my digestive system an even bigger break by going about a leisurely pace and being able to run to the bathroom whenever I felt like it.
• Avoid delicious food which serves as a distraction.  This is tough, even if I just went through a One-Day cleanse.  A self-confessed foodie, I thoroughly enjoy preparing and having comfort food with a “gourmet” twist for my family, and being blessed with a husband who happens to be a kitchen whiz (what with his culinary background), we truly know good food.  The challenge is being able to focus on consuming the juices and limiting snacks to just cucumbers and celery stalks during the cleanse, with lots of unlimited glasses of water, buko juice/coconut water, lemon water, wheatgrass, and herbal tea.
• It’s wise to consider having meals that ALWAYS include a salad. Greens are good for you. And a lot of fruits and vegetables provide the fiber needed for our bodies to cleanse and detoxify on a daily basis.
• It pays to have encouragement from people.  Kat of Juju Cleanse really took the time to text and ask about how I was doing with the cleanse, and a lot of friends on Facebook also gave favorable feedback about their own Juju Cleanse experience, while some just showed support for my “jumpstart” into a healthier lifestyle route.  All these good vibes helped me focus on my objective, which was to finish the cleanse and listen to my body.
• Manage Your Expectations.  I am glad  I didn’t have that many expectations about immediately feeling a great change in my body.  It’s wise to look at things realistically, that the big-time manifestations of a cleanse happen when you go through more than a one-day cleanse.  But I have to admit, I did feel lighter after doing the cleanse.  I felt that I lost a lot of water I may have retained the past days.
• Reactions to a cleanse vary from person to person. A friend of mine who found out I was going to do a cleanse warned me about boils, because another friend of hers went on a cleanse (probably a longer one, not a one-day program like I did) and experienced boils.  I didn’t go through any of the sort, although I saw it was natural that one would frequently pee during the whole juice fast.  If you happen to be going through constipation problems, perhaps this cleanse would be a big relief for your tummy, but don’t expect it to have “laxative” reactions.  For some people, they still go to the bathroom at the usual frequency.  What I did experience was that I felt lighter after the one-day cleanse, and even as I introduced food to my system, I noticed that I wasn’t consuming as much as the same amount of rice I would normally do.

Among my favorites at 2nd’s are the Sweet Potato Chips that they serve you while you’re waiting for your order.  Thinly sliced, crunchy, with just a sprinkling of cheese, these chips satisfy a crunchy craving while still being in the “healthy food zone.” Because of these chips, I am actually inspired to buy a mandolin slicer so I can try making these at home!

Their Bacon Chicharon is definitely a must-try.  Crunchy and packed with the savory-saltiness only bacon can offer, this is a great appetizer, or “pulutan,” whatever you decide it to be.

Since I’ve been doing my best to still enjoy being a foodie while choosing to go on a healthier route, I decided to give this entree a try.  I was both surprised and delighted to find that their Sea Bass Sinigang Sa Miso was a perfectly seasoned broth packed with tender sea bass fillet that melts in your mouth, packed with chopped eggplant, a good combination of savory and sour that home cooked sinigang is known for.  This dish comes with a cup of white rice, which I know those who love rice will enjoy.  The serving looks small but it is filling and good enough for one meal.

My husband opted to try their roast chicken which 2nd’s calls Healthy’s Roast. He was so pleased with this dish, with the chicken meat cooked just right, and seasoned perfectly.  A good order for those who are veering away from beef and pork but would still like to have a filling lunch or dinner.

To cap the meal, we tried a very light but lip-smacking dessert called Leche Flan Turon. It’s actually three pieces of not-too-sweet-but-really-creamy leche-flan filled lumpia wrapper served with ice cream.  I found three pieces to be a bit too few but then again, you already have ice cream to fulfill your sweet craving.

I wasn’t able to take a photo of the yummy Good Morning Carbonara they serve, which is the usual carbonara but served really hot with a raw sunny-side up on top that you break into the noodles when you eat the dish.  My daughter loved this.  The egg is cooked over the noodles as you mix the egg with the sauce.

We’ve dined several times at 2nd’s but I am pleased to say that they’ve always been consistent with delicious food and excellent service.  For reservations at 2nd’s, call (02) 846-5293.

Just like most first-time mothers, I experienced going through weary, sleep-deprived nights learning how to breastfeed my child, quiet her cries, understanding her cues, adjusting to new life as a parent…and yes, all the while being bombarded by varied opinions and (sometimes) unsolicited advice about “ignoring baby’s cries” and what the best baby training is out there.

Then I realized that what I was doing was basically plucking what were most effective ways for me and my child, and of course, relying greatly on instinct.  So when I began to read what ATTACHMENT PARENTING was all about, I knew that it was a path that I was taking that was a journey to self-acceptance and making repairs to make my bond with my child even closer.

There are still a few things I don’t necessarily agree with regarding Attachment Parenting, but most of its tenets, I do cling to and believe in.  But more on my thoughts, later.

ATTACHMENT PARENTING

William Sears, a pediatrician, coined the phrase “Attachment Parenting,” which is a parenting philosophy that is based on the Attachment Theory in Developmental Psychology.  The Attachment Theory proposes that children attach to carers instinctively, its biological aim being survival, and its psychological aim being security.  This parenting philosophy underscores the importance of sensitive and emotionally available parenting.

It encourages parents to educate themselves about the development and health of their children, so that they can be more conscious and attune to their children’s needs, especially in making decisions that concern their welfare and upbringing.

For more on Attachment Parenting, check the following links:

• http://www.attachmentparenting.org/principles/intro.ph
• http://www.attachmentparenting.org/Time2012AP.php
  
• http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/attachment-parenting/what-ap-7-baby-bs

Attachment Parenting International

AP is not a “one-size-fits-all” kind of recipe.  There is actually a non-profit organization called ATTACHMENT PARENTING INTERNATIONAL (API) that recommends that parents use their own judgement and intuition to form a parenting style that fosters attachment that works and suits their family.  Developed with optimal attachment in mind. Attachment Parenting adheres to the following Principles of Parenting:

1. Preparing for Pregnancy, Birth, and Parenting
2. Feed with Love and Respect
3. Respond with Sensitivity
4. Use Nurturing Touch
5. Ensure Safe Sleep, Physically and Emotionally
6. Provide Consistent Loving Care
7. Practice Positive Discipline
8. Strive For Balance In Your Personal and Family Life

Mayim Bialik’s scientific background (she got her PhD in neuroscience from UCLA, married her college sweetheart, gave birth to two kids) also helped greatly in furnishing readers with information about AP, while sharing AP’s natural, child-led approach to parenting.  To her, it made sense intellectually and instinctually.

In the book, she presented major tenets of Attachment Parenting, and how these universal core principles can be appreciated no matter how you decide to raise your own children.  She included in this book her thoughts on:

• Breastfeeding
• Co-sleeping
• Gentle Discipline
• Baby Wearing

• Misibis Bay (which is located at Cagraray Island in Albay, Bicol) is such a private beach resort.  We were there a few days after Holy Week (and you would think that it would be filled with guests since everyone was still on “vacation mode,”) and even at peak season, we still felt that we had the beach to ourselves.  The exclusivity and privacy the beach resort offers is incomparable, especially since it seems the whole of Metro Manila is stifling from the extreme heat and would want to head over to the beach.

• The journey to the actual resort actually takes a LOT of time, because upon landing the Legaspi airport, you have a bus tour around Bicol (which lasts about 2 hours), a lunch stop, and a small boat ride (to transfer islands, the bus is hitched aboard a huge barge that quickly takes you to the other island leading to the resort).  While I have to say that the bus tour from the airport will leave you exhausted (even after a hefty lunch stop), it was still interesting that our child was able to see so many new sights and landmarks in a ride.  This part may not be the biggest reason why I miss Misibis, but it’s still noteworthy. Traveling is part of our child’s learning experience, and it is the same with us!  It was during the bus tour that we were able to catch a glimpse of the majestic Mayon Volcano and a few other tourist spots.  Memorable, indeed!

Casagaua Ruins

• Misibis also boasts of inviting and beautiful and huge swimming pools, so if you don’t feel like lounging by the beach or taking a dip in the ocean, you can linger in the pools and get a tan on the beach chairs or just read a book by the shade of a tree.  Their kiddie pools are fantastic too.

• It’s so KID-FRIENDLY! Misibis Bay has an outdoor playground, and an indoor play area filled with colorful balls, playmats, and even video game consoles and beanbags for the kids at heart.

•  There’s a lot of green in this resort.  You don’t just enjoy the view of the beautiful blue sea, you also get refreshed at the sight of so many trees and flowers and greenery.

• They have a fantastic spa! Essenses Spa in Misibis Bay offers amazing services. I was able to enjoy their Signature Massage, and it was just the thing I needed after that short plane ride but long road trip going to the Resort. I almost didn’t want the massage to end…The private room smelled of relaxing peppermint oils and the masseuse was polite and excellent.

I also have to say that we were blessed to have made a trip to Misibis with family.  I love spending time with them, and I do know that any place, whether it’s nearby or far-off, is best enjoyed with the company of those you love.

While we do enjoy a food delivery every now and then (especially thin-crust cheesy pizza) and also enjoy trying out new restaurants once in a while, I’ve realized that cooking at home not only helps you save a lot, you also really get the advantage of choosing the freshest ingredients and making sure the food you serve is really suited to your preferred taste.  I also get the opportunity to pack more nutrients into the recipes by adding extra vegetables and other ingredients I feel my child would benefit from, and of course, enjoy eating.  The more practice you get at cooking, the easier it seems to be,  that’s what I’ve observed.

I’m happy I enjoy cooking, it is one of my love languages and acts of service for my loved-ones, particularly my  husband and child.  When we have food cravings, we can easily just whip up something in the kitchen and enjoy it in the comforts of our home.

Here are a few photos of home cooked meals/desserts I’ve prepared for my family. A chef-friend of ours, Chef Ronald Alveyra, encouraged me to post more photos of my little dishes to share with everyone.  I hope to keep adding more food photos to this particular entry. Enjoy!

Leche Flan

(The first time I made this, it was a miserable flop.  But I refused to be discouraged.  When I finally was able to pull it off, even my husband was pleased and impressed.  Like that singer Aaliyah would sing, “If at first you don’t succeed…dust yourself off and TRY AGAIN! )

Buttered corn with leeks and the makings of a Wagyu Beef Burger with Crispy Bacon with Lettuce and Tomato

Baked Chicken with Potato Gratin

Norwegian Salmon with Crushed Strawberry Sauce over Hot Rice which I sprinkled with chopped cooked carrots, raisins, and crumbled crispy bacon bits (my daughter loved this!)

Cream Dory with Cheese Sauce and Grapes And Roasted Vegetables

Creamy Mashed Potatoes Topped with Bacon Bits

Picadillo,which I served with Steamed Fish with Ginger, Onions and Tomatoes

Eggplant Moussaka

…which I served with Grilled Chicken Pita Pockets

Cornbread and Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Cornbread can be paired with country-style fried chicken and gravy, or simply served with butter for a hefty merienda.)

That’s exactly how my husband and I celebrated our 7th year anniversary.  Apart from treating ourselves to a spectacular concert (“Back With Brian McKnight” at the Araneta Coliseum last March 16, 2012, which featured Brian McKnight and his amazingly talented sons Brian Jr. and Niko), we also made sure that we would have a special family trip to a new place we’d never gone to before together…And we picked Baguio City.

Here’s what we did, the places we went to, the food we tried, and the wonderful things we experienced that are worth sharing, especially to those wives and moms and families looking for a special and fun getaway that everyone in the family can enjoy:

DAY ONE – We checked at The Manor in Camp John Hay.  I’ve stayed a few times here but never as a married woman and mother, and it was a wonderful experience even more when I finally did.  Its paneled walls and wooden furniture reflect a Filipino-Colonial feel, but homey and cozy all at the same time.  The view was, and is, as always, breathtaking, with giant pine trees and lush foliage all around.  Talk about throwing open your windows to cool mountain air, with an awesome view of the Cordillera mountains.

Worth trying at the Manor and Camp John Hay are:

Their FOOD!  Their restaurant, which serves delectable meals.  Even food at their room service is impeccable.  If you’re wondering what choice items are good to be ordered from room service, try their Tiger Prawn and Scallop Pasta.  Tangy with the distinct flavor of the sea, this pasta is perfect for merienda or dinner.  If I’m not mistaken, the Chef at the Manor is still Chef Billy King, renowned chef behind Kanin Club in south of Manila, and The Alpha, in Makati, Manila.

Cheesecake Craving Satisfaction!

At the Le Chef bakery on the first floor, it is my opinion that they serve the BEST cheesecake in the whole country.  Light with just the right amount of sweetness, their cheese cake comes in a variety of choice toppings (like blueberry or strawberry) but I think their plain cheese cake is more than enough to satisfy anyone’s cheesecake craving.

The Manor Health Spa’s “Chocolate Ecstacy” Package

For 2 hours and 30 minutes, you get to leave your cares away by indulging in a “chocolatey” and relaxing spa experience that includes a coconut aromatic hair and scalp treatment (30 minutes), an organic chocolate scrub that lasts for half and hour followed by a chocolate bath (you are submerged in a tub of warm bubbles, and the spa attendant pours a pitcher of chocolate bath into the water, leaving your already-scrubbed and chocolate-smelling skin soothed even more with chocolate bubbles), and a hot-stone massage that lasts for an entire hour.  A fantastic package that leaves your skin nourished and smelling sweet and delectable, while melting away your body’s aches.  I tried this at around 7 in the evening (the Health Spa closes at 10pm) and it was just the perfect spa treatment after a long drive from Manila.  I was ready to hit the sack right after, and it was truly a restful sleep.

A glimpse of the private room that has a a hot tub, massage table, a comfy chair for the hair treatment, and subdued lighting— tools to prep you for utter relaxation

Horseback Riding at Camp John Hay was a Happy Experience

My husband and daughter and I were delighted that we were able to go horseback riding in late afternoon of our second day in Baguio.  The friendly and accommodating stable hands helped us mount the horses and led our horses along the riding trail that included going up and down and winding around the small hilly and grassy expanse of Camp John Hay.  For us inexperienced riders, they were a reassuring presence, giving us friendly tips every now and then as we rode along the trails. But I think the one who most enjoyed the horseback riding experience was our little toddler, who couldn’t stop talking about riding and feeling like Corinne, the name of the farm-girl Barbie doll character in “Barbie and The Three Musketeers” video.  More on this later!

DAY TWO:  We knew that we couldn’t let the opportunity to let our daughter experience being like Dora the Explorer pass, and that meant going on a STRAWBERRY-PICKING trip in La Trinidad, Benguet, which is a good 30-45 minute ride from The Manor.

Things To Expect and Try at La Trinidad Strawberry-Picking:

* If you plan to go to Baguio around this time (March), expect that the strawberries are red, sweet, and juicy, but not too big. The strawberry-picking experience was SO worth the long ride going to La Trinidad, Benguet.  For only Php 300.00, my husband and daughter and I were able to grab empty baskets and accompanied by a guide, able to harvest yummy and red strawberries on our own at the strawberry fields.  My child couldn’t stop exclaiming “Wow!” as she made her way down rows and rows of strawberry bushes neatly lined next to each other, little bushels teeming with sweet and juicy red fruit.

Snapshots of our strawberry picking adventure…We couldn’t leave without trying Strawberry Taho, which is a tad sweeter than the usual, with fresh strawberries and strawberry syrup. Still yummy!

We also tried fresh strawberry ice cream. It was delicious.

A Few “Strawberry-Picking” Tips:

1. If you’re going in the morning, you need not be all bundled up, as the sun can be a bit scorching. Pack a hat or a cap to shield your head from the heat, and bring sunglasses as well.  No harm in keeping them in handy.

2.  But if you plan to go in the early afternoon to late afternoon, make sure you bring a cardigan or a jacket.  There is a nip in the air, since you are in the mountains.

3.Make sure to wear comfortable clothes and rubber shoes or rubber-soled closed and comfy footwear. You’ll be picking strawberries, not sashaying down a runway, so leave those high heeled strappy sandals at home.  Leave the open-toed slippers at home as well.  You’ll be walking on solid ground, and it could get a little dusty and slightly dirty.  Protect your pedicured feet with socks and rubbershoes.

4. A friend of mine who’s a Baguio resident told me there’s no harm in asking for a discount or haggling the price of strawberry-picking if they give an expensive rate.  Lucky for us, they only charged us Php 300.00.  On some other days, my friend shared, they charge as much as Php450 for the strawberry-picking experience.

5. If you don’t intend to pick strawberries and would just want to have photos taken on the strawberry field, there are no rates, it’s absolutely free.  But then again, I advise you to enjoy the strawberry-picking too.  I felt like Strawberry Shortcake plucking fruit from the bushels, I couldn’t stop smiling (and I could see my child bursting with happiness and energy as she went from one row of strawberry bushes to another, hunting for juicy, red fruit to harvest) as we moved around, with a little fog on the mountains as part of our lovely view.

After La Trinidad, and harvesting a huge basket (your Php 300 rate includes picking 1 kilo of strawberries) of strawberries, my husband and child and I made our way to Tam-Awan Village, which is home to indigenous aesthetics and exquisite Ifugao craftsmanship and home to works of an artist colony.  I heard from my friend that they have a Cafe there where we could have lunch.  I’m so happy that we went there.

We had their specialties: Their bestselling appetizer, Dynamite lived up to its name…DYNAMITE is actually a plate of huge green chili peppers stuffed with melted cheese and wrapped in lumpia wrapper and deep-fried in oil, served with mayo and ketchup.  Spicy and savory, the oily cheese helped alleviate the hot and spicy “kick” the peppers offered.  A must-try indeed!

For the entrees, we tried the following: Pinikpikan, which is battered Native chicken cooked in a savory broth much like tinola, only the chicken also has other smoked meat.  Sometimes served with native and fresh vegetables, this soup is truly a bestseller in Baguio, and we were so glad we tried the one at Tam-Awan Cafe. It did not disappoint.  It went perfectly with the Bagnet that we ordered, with Red Mountain Rice, which is organic rice.  Their Dayap-Iced Tea was the perfect drink to wash it all down.

We not only enjoyed a sumptuous lunch, but we were also treated to the happy sight of cultural dancers in native bahag costumes dancing right outside the cafe to the beat of cowhide drums.  It was another nice experience for our child to witness.

They have a fantastic shop selling wood furniture, carvings, hand-painted shirts by the artisans featured at the village, as well as handicrafts, earrings, wall hangings, and other charming handmade items.  They also have native instruments like cowhide drums, etc.

What You Can Expect from Tam-Awan Village: 

* Knocked-down huts transported from Ifugao that traditional artisans construced to lay them out resembling the design of a traditional Cordillera village — Ifugao houses with heavy hand-sewn timber and Kalinga house made of hand-sewn pinewood.  Visitors can use the hut with beddings and without beddings.

*It has become a venue for art exhibits and workshops.  Guests can “live” in the huts to get the experience of immersing in an atmosphere that gives them a glimpse of “village” life.

* Features and Activities:

1. Dap-Ay (stone paved gathering place)

2. Crafts Shop and Art Gallery

3. Wishing Pond

4. Cafe/Coffee Shop

5. Sunset Viewing

6. Eco Tours

7. Camping

8. Livelihood and Crafts Demonstration on wood carving, print making, bamboo craft, rice wine making, solar drawing, painting and drawing, and print-making

9. Interaction with the Tam-Awan Village artists and visiting local and international artists

10. Cultural shows

How To Get There:

• BY JEEP: Quezon Hill-Tam-Awan Jeep or Long-Long Via Tam Awan Jeep from Kayang Street, Baguio City Market
• By TAXI: Give directions for Tam-Awan, Pinsao Proper

Sizzling Plate: Affordable but Delicious Australian Beef Rib-eye Steaks

We decided to take out some steaks from Sizzling Plate.  For only Php 276.00 each, we were able to enjoy soft and tasty Australian Beef Rib-Eye Steaks, each came with mushroom soup and rice.  They also serve Sizzling Sisig, Filet Mignon, Barbecued Chicken, and other grilled specialties.  If you’re in Baguio and you want to satisfy a steak craving without breaking your budget, Sizzling Plate is a good place to try.

DAY THREE:  

Had breakfast at this delightful bed-and-breakfast and shop gallery called PNKY. We were stuffed to the gills as we tried their gourmet tinapa with mountain rice and egg, their mini-pancakes topped with fresh strawberries and served with honey and butter, and their usual American Breakfast of bacon and eggs, but still served with mountain rice.   PNKY Cafe is filled with travel knick-knacks like old-fashioned travel suitcases, postcards from around the world, charming travel paraphernalia amidst wooden tables.  It is evident in the furnishings and design that the woman behind this wonderful bed-and-breakfast is a seasoned traveler, from their hard-bound and colorful menu filled with travel photographs to the wooden artifacts and furniture and hodgepodge items being sold in their gallery.  We’re looking into trying their accommodations there the next time we make a trip out to Baguio.  For more details, check out their website at http://pnkyhome.com/.

The very creative counter filled with lomo photos.  The owner of PNKY (Pynky Magsino) loves taking photos of her travels, and it is reflected in the cafe’s personality, filled with bric-a-brac from her trips.

Old-fashioned suitcases previously used by the cafe owner’s parents add a touch of drama to the store

Mini-pancakes my child truly enjoyed

A trip to Baguio is never really complete without a boat ride in its historical and popular Burnham Park.  My little family and I thoroughly enjoyed our 30-minute ride on this rowboat shaped like a swan (my child got a kick out of “riding on a huge white swan”!), with our friendly guide and boatman Mang Jun, who supplied us with little anecdotes about Baguio as he rowed us around the man-made lake that is about 4 feet on the shallow end, and 6-8 feet on its deepest.

After our boat ride, we enjoyed a home cooked meal with one of my dear friends, Luchie and her husband Sol, and their wonderful children.  Our child fell asleep in the car so we decided to drive around a bit to check out a few more sights, if only to take a snapshot or two.  The Mansion is a nice place to have photo ops, with its imposing and huge black wrought-iron gate and grass-filled expanse.  It’s a nice backdrop to Baguio photos taken for posterity.  It happens to be the preferred summer residence of all Philippine Presidents since President Manuel L. Quezon.

We also drove up to Mines View Park, with its rows and rows of stalls selling native goods, wooden bowls, wood furniture, carvings, blankets, woven items, and of course, the usual peanut brittle, lengua de gate, strawberry jam, and cookies for pasalubong.  Picked up a few heavy blankets, jars of strawberry jam and peanut brittle, as well as native instruments like a baby flute and rainmaker, a rattan woven basket for utensils and condiments, and native coin purses.  Capped off the day with a gastronomic feast at Cafe By The Ruins along Otek Street and Abanao Extension.

We dawdled over their delicious Herbed Liver Pate (served with pan de sal), their bestseller, also their Pinikpikan (they loaded up on fresh kangkong in their version of this heartwarming native chicken broth), and Tortang Talong with Kesong Puti (vegetarians will consider Cafe By The Ruins a haven since their produce is truly fresh in Baguio and most often in abundance), their Red Mountain Rice and washed down with Fresh Strawberry Juice and of course, their signature Pandan Iced Tea that is sweetened with honey, with a ring of sugar around the rim of the glass.  The meal we had was filling and satisfying.  This restaurant is also frequented by many foreign guests and visitors and artsy townsfolk.  While we were there, a part of the resto was sectioned off for a handful of diners enjoying a Filipino indie film on a wide-screen projector.  It is also a venue for poetry and music events.

For pasalubong, Good Shepherd in Baguio is the place to go for ube, ube jam, strawberry jam, packed fresh strawberries and sweets like crinkles cookies, lengua de gato among others.  The raisin bread in Baguio Country Club is also wonderful to take home, not to mention the plain cheese cake from Le Chef Delicatessen at The Manor (yes, it is worth mentioning twice. Don’t bring home to Manila the cheesecakes with fruits on top, I was advised by the lady at the delicatessen that the fruits might not taste as good after several hours on the road, just the plain cheese cake would do), as well as their biscotti, chocolate marble cakes, and cookies.

It was truly a beautiful experience, going up to Baguio and seeing it through the eyes of our child, not only being able to relax and relish the cool climate, but be able to immerse ourselves in fun family adventures like strawberry-picking and horseback-riding and looking and appreciating art and homegrown products.  We wouldn’t mind making a trip to Baguio to every year to go through everything all over again.  

While there are no hard and fast rules, I just thought I’d share a few things I’ve been doing that have been yielding some good results in keeping my own child excited and interested and eager to absorb information, even during idle summer days like the ones we’re having now.

Here are a few tips to keep your child busy and eager to learn this summer:

1. Create “creative stations” or “creative play areas” in his play space.

The other day I really took time out to organize my child’s room, and designated specific places for a variety of activities.  I made use of the wonderful birthday gifts she received when she turned three: an “art studio” easel that holds all her paintbrushes, paints (finger paints, watercolor, etc.), paper, and paint books, her very own front-facing bookshelf that holds all her favorite titles (I added some new books that I wanted to introduce as well), and a writing desk that holds her colored pencils, water-based markers, notebooks, and the most current workbook or coloring book she has been using.

A place to read, write, and paint.

Since everything has its “proper place,” it also makes it easier for me to encourage my child to participate when it’s time to “pack away” her things.  She has automatically learned where to return things to where they belong.

2. Dolls and action figures play a great part in creative play. Let your child set them up on their own. Just make sure you take out all the unnecessary wires and binding on the packaging of the toys that are hazards to their play.

When my child turned two, she started enjoying how to play with her dolls and her plastic dollhouse.  Again, I made use of gifts she’s received (like her Strawberry Shortcake Berry Cafe, and her Barbie Vacation Glam Dream House) and helped set up her dollhouse “communities” on her play mat, where she can sprawl herself and just get comfortable while fiddling with her toys and miniatures.

I discovered lately that my child was telling her dolls that she was their “Teacher” and that they were going to play…She had created a classroom-style scenario using her stuffed toys and other dolls.  It was fun that she allowed me a glimpse of her make-believe and creative world, and I was only too happy to watch and observe.  If we didn’t have these dollhouse gifts, I wouldn’t have minded making our own out of a huge cardboard box, or create forts or buildings out of her mega-blocks or wooden building blocks.  We still do come up with structures like these out of blocks even though we already have dollhouses to play with.

Miniatures and action figures and dollhouses, whether they are or come with Barbie dolls, Strawberry Shortcake figures or robots, G.I. Joe’s or Transformers, have a way of bringing out the creativity in children by stimulating their imagination, develop conversational vocabularies, hand-eye coordination, and also encourages concentration. Open-ended play is always possible with these kinds of toys.

3. If you can, invest in educational toys, or make use of wooden toys or make your own puzzles. There are a lot of great educational toys in the market, ones that can last you for many years.

Colorful rubber fruits which we use to teach grouping, colors, counting, and of course, a great accessory in pretend play

Picture Cards That Help Your Child Identify Emotions

In book sales and bazaars, I find that there are a lot of reasonably-priced educational toys or materials for sale. If you scour and keep your eyes peeled for these, they are worth keeping on your child’s toy shelf. Apart from the usual toys, it’s always good to have a lot of educational materials on hand that they can enjoy but also truly learn from.

4. Bake or Cook Up A Storm With Your Kids!

My child and I love baking or cooking in the kitchen together.  There are so many benefits in encouraging your child to be involved in the kitchen.  Whether it’s teaching him or her how to help in preparing ingredients, or mixing or measuring, there are so many things to learn and so many skills to sharpen when they are cooking or baking with you.

I started baking with my child by purchasing easy-to-bake or instant cake mixes from the grocery.  We have not only enjoyed recipes like corn bread or chocolate chip and oatmeal cookies, but we’ve also made small butter cakes, brownies, and banana breads too.  Check out this link to read about the benefits of cooking with your children:

http://www.consistent-parenting-advice.com/children-cooking.html

My child’s oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

My child’s cornbread

Since I have a toddler, I keep her away from kitchen utensils that I know she still can’t handle. I pretty much allow her to do the stirring or mixing and pouring of ingredients like milk, beaten eggs, and of course, I give her free rein when it comes to decorating the pastries.  It brings out her creativity, and being in the kitchen also gives me an opportunity to teach her about ingredients and how they are measured in cups. I also get to explain processes and following instructions, and the science of how a batter becomes baked under the heat of an oven.  You can teach so many things to your child while cooking!

My daughter having fun with decorating her chocolate muffins

The yummy goodies you and your child can come up with in the kitchen can end up as gifts for the holidays or special occasions.  Teaching your child how to cook or bake or baking and cooking alongside your child not only boosts his confidence and self-esteem when he gets to be involved in making something, but it also is a good way to teach healthy eating habits.  I encourage my child to eat vegetables more when we prepare the dishes together.  She gets excited knowing that she’ll be eating something she helped create or make.

5. Start early on music appreciation.

While in the car on the way home one evening, I started singing a few old Filipino classics by Ryan Cayabyab, like the catchy “Kumukuti-kutitap” and “Nais Ko.”  I saw that my child’s eyes lit up and she was really listening as I sang, so when we got home, I went on YouTube and searched for the songs, being performed by children’s choirs.  Then we watched and listened together.  I gave a background about the lyrics, and we moved on to other songs performed by children.  This greatly appealed to her since it was a group of children performing these songs, and she eagerly took interest in the catchy and bouncy songs.  I am making a list of songs I plan to introduce to her, like Saranggola ni Pepe, and Bahay Kubo. I also sang “Happiness” from the musical “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” and now she already knows the lyrics by heart.  It’s good to teach your child about appreciating music early in life.  There is something about music that lifts the spirit and helps greatly in inspiring a child to express himself better.

I surround her with musical instruments, and since we were able to take her to a Kindermusik class early last year, we get to listen to her Kindermusik CD even while she is at play at home.  She not only loves engaging in play while listening to beautiful songs, but her talent for memorizing lyrics is sharpened because of repetition.

There are so many things you can do to keep your child busy this summer. But more importantly, you get to spend enough time seeing your child grow in creativity.  For kids, quality time is still quantity time.

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• FINGER PAINTING

Before I started preparing lunch on another hot summer day, I decided to let my child indulge in some messy play…Squeezed tubes of her Crayola Fingerpaint on a huge aluminum tray, and laid her giant coloring books on her playmate, let her don her long-sleeved art smock, and simply let her have a blast!

Here are wonderful online resources/web links you can also check to further look into the developmental benefits of finger-painting for your child as well as some suggested activities…It isn’t just about being all “icky-squishy-gooey,” there’s a lot a child could learn (apart from enjoy!) from this awesome activity:

• Finger-Painting with A Purpose

http://www.lessonplanet.com/directory_articles/elementary_art_lesson_plans/03_May _2010/403/finger_painting_with_a_purpose 

• Benefits of Messy Play

http://baby.more4kids.info/2008/03/benefits-of-messy-play/

• Finger-Painting Fun

http://www.pampers.com/finger-painting-fun