Mini Pizza

Monday is my new Sunday, and with time on my hands, I thought of ways I can bond with Zeus. Earlier we went for a stroll in our garden and we saw things we never paid attention to before. The activity made us hungry, so I whipped up an easy-to-do snack: mini pizzas!

Ingredients:

bread slices of choice (panini, foccacia, regular toast, etc...whatever you want)

pizza sauce (can be bought from the grocery or make your own)

toppings of choice (I used vienna sausage and pineapple chunks, but whatever you want or have will do)

grated quickmelt cheese

Procedure:

1. Pre-heat the oven or oven toaster (300 deg F).

2. Spread pizza sauce on the bread slices, enough to equally cover the surface.

3. Arrange the toppings on the bread slices.

4. Top with grated cheese.

5. Bake for 3-5 minutes until cheese melts and the bread toasts for a bit of crunch.

Nestle Pops

Look at what just popped out of the freezer:

Regular container - P99.75

Nestle Pops is the only bite size chocolate covered vanilla ice cream pieces in the market today. Aptly named, I ended popping these into my mouth one after another. The contrast of the crunchy outer shell with the smooth ice cream is addictive. Too bad it melts easily and the direct contact with my fingers doesn't help. Oh well, I guess I just have to eat 'em faster!

Healthy Options

Healthy Options is a flourescent lit haven for organic and health food fanatics. Even if you're not that conscious of what you eat, the place charms you with is spacious interior and hand painted decor.

Aisle after aisle, colorful display of different snacks and drinks tickle my curiosity and tempt me to reach them off the shelves. There are so many stuff we wanted that I now have a grocery list in my head: pear juice, cheese puffs, ready-to-toast blueberry waffles, seaweed flavored rice cakes, flavored sparkling water, apple chips, frozen blueberries, and the list goes on and on.

Prices are a tad bit expensive compared to your regular supermarket and most of the products/brands are exclusively distributed in the store. We put it off for now but will definitely come back at another time.

We also found something that gave us "Healthy laughs"

Want some honesty? Now you know where to get it.
(all together now...honest tea is such a lonely word...)

Healthy Options
Basement level, Greenbelt 5
Makati

Potato Cheese Croquettes

Mashed potatoes is one of the most popular comfort food in the US. It is also greatly appreciated here in Manila and is usually served as a side dish to fried or roasted chicken.

But what to do with leftover mashed potatoes [if any] when everyone has had their fill and no longer yearns for the comfort it brings? Make croquettes out of it!

Croquette came from the French word croquer, which means “to crunch”. The dish is a French invention which is usually made of mashed potatoes and minced meat, dipped in egg, rolled in breadcrumbs then deep fried. It became so popular that almost every country now has their own version of preparing the classic favorite.

My version is very similar to the European tater.

Ingredients:
leftover mashed potatoes, chilled
1 whole egg, beaten
quick-melt cheese, cut into 1/2 inch thick strips
1/2 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
cooking oil

Procedure:
1. Scoop 1 tbsp of mashed potato onto your palm.
2. Flatten it to make a patty.
3. Place 1 cheese strip in the middle of the patty.
4. Roll patty using palms to cover the cheese all over with the mashed potato.
5. Dip the roll in the beaten egg.
6. Roll it in panko and make sure that it's evenly covered.
7. Heat oil in a pan.
8. Fry potato rolls until breadcrumb coating turns golden brown.
9. Remove excess oil with paper towels.

Kani Maki

Craving for Japanese food during the wee hours of the morning, when all decent restos I know are already/still closed, made me do the unexpected.

I made my own maki.

I've heard from a TV chef before that it's best to always have a pack of kani at home. You'll be prepared when the need for a quick snack arises, and there are so many possibilities with what you can make -- salads, sandwiches, tempura or simply eat it by itself. That was one of the best advices I've picked from the tube.

You might be asking yourself "what is maki?" and "what is kani?". You've probably seen these words in Japanese restaurant menus but have never bothered to find out what these translate to. If you still haven't Googled it by now, let me add to your knowledge of basic Japanese dining vocabulary:

maki - roll
kani - crab meat (sticks)
kani + maki = crab meat roll
nori - dried thin seaweed sheets
sushi - vinegared rice

It is interesting to note that outside of Japan, some people refer to or understand sushi as the raw fish or seafood. Truth is, the sliced raw fish or seafood is called sashimi.

I took out the makisu (bamboo rolling mat) from its hiding place and cracked my knuckles. With the kani out of the chiller, I was ready to roll.

Procedure:
1. Lay the makisu on a flat surface.
2. Lay a sheet of nori on the makisu.
3. Mix cooked rice with a solution of vinegar, sugar and salt to make the sushi.
4. Spread the sushi on the nori sheet.
5. Place the kani (and other desired filling) on top.
6. Roll tightly.
7. Slice roll into 6-8 pieces.

Click here for a detailed, step-by-step instruction on how to make your own maki.

Itadakimasu!

Chips Delight Striped Chocolate Chip Cookies

For an instant and inexpensive mood lift (shopping is definitely out of the question). Just like any other stressed individual, I will find the light of hope...in the fridge.

At the farthest corner of the lowest shelf, I found an almost forgotten pack of Chips Delight Striped Chocolate Chip Cookies. Expiration date checked, I lifted 2 devils from their plastic bed. Sinking my teeth into a cookie loaded with chocolate chips and laced with chocolate strips reminded me why it was kept in the recesses of the cold box in the first place. It's too sinful! Mmm, wish I had a glass of cold fresh milk to wash it down.

According to research, chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural substance that is reputed to stimulate the same reaction in the body as falling in love.

Stressed = (chocolate) Desserts.

Maybe that's why I feel giddy...or it might be the sugar rush straight to the head.

Lord Stow's Egg Tarts

This is a repost from my other blog:

Andrew Stow did not secretly transport these little pieces of heaven to Asia. His egg tart creation was born in Coloane Island, Macau. Lord Stow's egg tarts stand out from the rest because of its flaky pastry filled with generous creamy egg filling that's not too sweet, and topped with slightly burnt caramelized sugar.

The locals of Macau eat it for breakfast, as a snack or dessert. Once you've tried it, you too would want to eat it as part of every meal, everyday!

The Lord Stow's Bakery franchise reached the Philippines in 1999, and thank goodness for that! These treats are soo good, I wouldn't care less if it were from an underground business. No need to fly all the way to Macau just to taste the melt in your mouth goodness.

Per Piece - P36.00
Box of 4's - P142.00
Box of 6's - P210.00
Box of 12's - P400.00

Moo Ice Cream Sandwich

This is a repost from my other blog.

Mmmm-Moo Ice Cream Sandwich from Wall's/Selecta is a sure pick-upper when you're tired and frustrated (especially with work). This comfort food can be found in 7-11 outlets and is available either by piece or by pack. Good thing there is always a 7-11 store nearby...a short walk towards happiness *sigh*.

This dairy delight is better and safer than Prozac, but too much of anything can be harmful. Its side effect? You'd end up craving for more.