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MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan

The Breakup

July 24, 2016 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 7 Comments

I can’t believe that this is happening. 

Because of certain, unforeseen issues that have been springing up, I find myself having to make a conscious effort to break up with one of the greatest loves of my life – bread.

Lol. Ang drama diba? But seriously, my life and pantry are in for a big change. 

Our family doctor (aka my dad) advised us to try shifting to a gluten free diet, in the hopes that this will help cure Little MrC’s never-ending rashes. Because the seasons are changing again, rash-y days are here for us both, and it’s as ugly as it is uncomfortable.

I grew up dealing with the same skin issues that my kid is going through now, so I know how hard it is not to scratch all the itchy bits. Scratching makes things worse, though, obviously. So it’s really a struggle. For a while, when I was younger, I became dependent on my steroid ointment, and I really don’t want the kiddo to end up the same way. It’s both bad for you and expensive in the long run kasi. 

Rice Flour
Thank God for rice flour. Got this bag at Brie’s Baking Needs in Las Piñas.

 

So, our best bet right now is this diet shift. We are going gluten free (GF). It’s worth a try. Plus, abstaining from gluten is supposed to help with other things, too, like bloating, migraines and low energy levels, so this sounds like a good change to make.

Honestly though, I don’t see us making a 100%, no turning back transition, for practical reasons. But I will do as much as I can to limit gluten in our meals from now on. Starting with bread.

Oh, my bread and pastry-loving heart. Breakfast buffets are never gonna be the same. But, on the upside, because I bake, I hope to eventually make GF bread myself at home. Super huge challenge, I know, but I’m up for it. Also, in a few weeks, I feel like I’ll be able to call myself a puto-making expert. Lol.

 

First attempt at making puto at home. Not bad for a beginner. Super yummy, but they’re a little dense in the middle. Maybe I need to make them smaller, and reduce the steaming time? Can anyone share tips? Or a good recipe? The one I used is from Kawaling Pinoy. #theglutenfreeproject

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Jul 27, 2016 at 7:21pm PDT

 

I’m still a little clueless as to how this is gonna go, so I’m holding off on posting any meal plans until I have things figured out. It is daunting, but I’m lucky that I have friends who already are gluten free, and are super willing to answer my questions. There also are countless resources online for recipes, hacks, tips and tricks. Thank God for the interwebs.

It’s gonna be worth it. It’s gonna be worth it. It’s gonna be worth it. Yes, I still have to keep reminding myself, because a life without cake, ensaymadas, doughnuts and sandwich bread is my idea of a sad life. But hey, if it’s for the good of the kiddo, I’m all-in. Isipin ko nalang, the results could make me far happier than bread has ever had. Right?

Wish me luck, guys. And follow along on our gluten free journey! I’ll be using the hashtag #theglutenfreeproject on IG.

Anyone out there living a gluten free life? Please send me links to your favorite GF websites and social media accounts so I can follow them!

Filed Under: Everyday Life Tagged With: Gluten Free, Healthy Eating, Healthy Living

You Let Me Down Today, Uber.

July 21, 2016 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

Warning: This is a ranty, nega post. I don’t do this often, but today calls for one.

I had my worst Uber experience ever this morning. Now, I take Uber all the time, and sure, there have been unpleasant rides. But this one takes the cake. 

The problem is this driver. As far as I’m concerned he is not qualified to drive people around. Why? Oh, for all of these reasons.

  1. I had to wait for him for an hour. Sure, traffic was bad where he came from (which was only 20 minutes away, by the way,) but I know for a fact that wasn’t the only reason why it took so long for him to get to me. Read on, and you’ll see what I mean.
  2. His phone couldn’t be reached. Whenever I book a car, the first thing I do is text the driver my exact pickup address. Spares us both a lot of trouble. But he never got my address because his phone was dead. I knew this because I tried calling him several times.
  3. And then he spent 20 minutes at our village gate. Obviously they wouldn’t let him in unless he told them where he was going. Obviously. But he didn’t know where to go because he never got my message. So how did he get in? I noticed that his car was stopped on the same spot on the map for a really long time. I figured out that he was stuck at the guardhouse. So I called them, asked a guard to find my Uber, give him my address, and send him my way. Finally. Or so I thought.
  4. He went to the wrong house. At this point, I already knew that this driver wasn’t the greatest. So I decided to wait for him outside. He never arrived. I looked down the street and saw the car I was waiting for several houses down. I tried calling again but his phone was still dead. So I walked to him. It’s a good thing I got there before he rang my neighbor’s doorbell.
  5. He used my most hated “I’m new” excuse. Ok fine, it was his first ever trip on his first ever day but that doesn’t give him the license to be unprepared. Or unreachable, for that matter. Rookies are expected to perform well too, right?
  6. He was so dependent on Waze, but really couldn’t follow the map. At one point during the ride, this driver positioned the car to make a u-turn instead of go straight towards our exit. I told him that a u-turn would take us right back to where we started. He said that Waze was making him turn. Honestly, it wasn’t. It’s a good thing I was paying attention. 
  7. Halfway through the trip, he forgot where we were going. True story. He asked me where we were headed. He couldn’t remember. Good Lord.
  8. His driving was comparable to a swerving, heavy-on-the-gas, heavy-on-the-brakes cab driver. Thank God I don’t get carsick easily.

Unfortunately for me, our car is coded today so I really had no choice but to sit there and suck it up. I was hungry, irritated, and very late for work.

Sigh. You let me down today, Uber. I’m a loyal customer, but if you keep hiring drivers like this guy, our relationship might just turn sour real quick. Too bad, coz I think Uber is a great service. Don’t let those bad drivers bring you down.

Side note – I’m loving the WordPress app for iPhone. Yay for blogging on the go. Now to figure out how to properly add photos from this thing. Lol, low tech problems.

Filed Under: Everyday Life

100 Home Cooked Meals

July 20, 2016 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

I love to cook, but there are also days when I’m just too lazy to get to work in the kitchen. Thing is, we live within walking distance of a lot of good restaurants, so it can get really tempting to just order in or go out to eat.

If I don’t make an effort to snap out of my no-cooking funk, we could go for up to a week without having a home cooked meal for dinner. I know this for sure. It has happened before.

After that week, though, my fussy stomach was feeling really lousy already. I was sluggish and always tired, most likely because of all the crappy food we were eating. The boys started asking to eat my food, too. So, I had to get off my lazy, low-energy butt, and cook. 

#100HomeCookedMeals
Now that I finally have a kitchen of my own, I know I should make good use of it.

 

Truth: We all feel better when we eat well. It also makes me happy when I see my family enjoying a home cooked meal that I prepared with love. In my heart, I know that laziness is a lame excuse. And so, I am challenging myself to do better.

100 Home Cooked Meals. This is my way of making sure that I cook more often, and that I don’t give in to my lazy urge to just cross the street and buy lechon manok for dinner.

 

Pork adobo with hard boiled eggs #100homecookedmeals

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Jul 8, 2016 at 11:45pm PDT

 

The goal is to prepare meals at home from scratch each day unless we have a valid reason to go and eat out, like a party or family dinner. Some days I need to be out for work, and those are the most challenging ones, as far as my home cooking mission is concerned, but I guess I’m just going to have to figure out how to make things work. Hello, freezer meals.

I’ve already started posting photos of my dishes on Instagram, and soon I’ll start sharing the recipes for these here, too. I’m excited to try out new recipes, and I also hope that the boys are ready to try new dishes. My collection of magazines, cook books, and saved recipe links are finally gonna be put to good use. 

 

4. Penne in tomato sauce with a little too much Parmesan cheese. #100homecookedmeals

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Jul 16, 2016 at 12:34am PDT

 

It would be great if you guys could follow along. Just keep an eye out for my #100HomeCookedMeals on Instagram. That way, I’ll feel even more guilty when I’m unable to post a new home cooked meal. Lol. 

Any recipe suggestions? Maybe you could share links to some of your favorites (or your own recipes!) in the comments. 

Filed Under: Food & Recipes Tagged With: Cooking at home, home cooked meals

This Week’s Meal Plan (July 18 – 24, 2016)

July 18, 2016 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

Hooray, a meal plan! 

The kid stayed home from school today due to a tummy ache, so I cancelled everything on my schedule. Because of this, I’ve been able to find time for meal planning and blogging over a nice cup of tea.

My week is going to be a busy one, so a lot of the meals on my plan are dishes I prepared ahead then packed away in the fridge and freezer. I also went a little crazy in the supermarket last week so I, thankfully, don’t need to go food shopping until the weekend. It really pays to plan ahead and be prepared when you have a schedule that’s as unpredictable as mine.

Weekly Meal Plan
Adobo is one of those dishes you can definitely make ahead. It freezes very well, and actually gets better with age. Sometimes I marinate the meat before I cooking. Most of the time, though, I just dump everything into a pot and boil away. And yes, this is a very old photo.

 

There’s really nothing special on the menu this week, just a lot of simple meals and dinner staples. I don’t have the energy for anything new or fancy at the moment, so I guess I’ll just have to make up for that next week. To be honest, though, there are times when the boys prefer these simple dishes over the kitchen experiments. So, it’s all good.

Weekly Meal Plan
Meal Plan for the week of July 18. I have a lot of Bread Pan thanks to the Oishi Snacktacular event hehe.

 

In case you want to make any of these dishes at home, too, here are some of the recipes I used.

  • Bangus ala Pobre
  • Adobo – I used the same recipe but with pork instead of chicken. 
  • Sinigang – Try this unique version!
  • Bistek Tagalog – Use thin slices of sirloin instead of pork in this recipe.
  • Banana Muffins – With Swiss Miss!

Have an awesome week, everybody!

Filed Under: Food & Recipes Tagged With: Weekly Meal Plan

Things To Do at the #OishiSnacktacular 2016

July 16, 2016 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan Leave a Comment

I don’t go to mall events often because I had my fill of them when MrC and I were working for retail. Yesterday, though, I made an exception, and headed off to the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall for the #OishiSnacktacular 2016. I’m glad I did because it really was so much fun. Plus, by chance, my friend Camille and her son (my godson!) Lucas were there as well, and so it became an impromptu bonding day for the three of us, too.

#OishiSnacktacular
Hanging out with Lucas and Camille

 

When I arrived yesterday, the first thing I noticed was how colorful and exciting all of the booths looked. This year’s event has an 8-bit inspired game, and it felt to me like I was in one of those video games I grew up playing. You even walk over a giant “Press Start” button when you enter.

#OishiSnacktacular
Oishi Snacktacular Pass to Wow. Entrance is FREE, and then it’s pay to play from there.

 

So what’s there to do at the #OishiSnacktacular 2016? Here’s a quick rundown of the booths and activities.

Take a photo at the Oishi Pack & Pose. Don’t forget to post it online with the hashtag #OishiSnacktacular.

Go to the Make Your Own Snack booth where, for only P20, you can have a customized bag of chips and snacks made just for you.

#OishiSnacktacular
All of your favorites on one bag. Yum!

 

Make sure to line up for the Oishi Snack Catcher. For P200, you get strapped on to a harness, and lowered into a giant pool of snacks. Then, you grab as much as you can, and whatever you get is all yours! Too bad I had to skip this because I was in a dress, but if the boys were with me, I’m sure one of them would have gone up. 

 

Just like @ramonbautista, gusto mo din bang ma-try maging human crane and catch as many Oishi snacks as you can? Sugod na sa #OishiSnacktacular event at SM MOA Music Hall from July 15-17, 2016!

A video posted by Oishi (@oishiph) on Jul 14, 2016 at 11:29pm PDT

 

Cool down with some Oishi Choco Chug ice cream at the Oishi O-Twirl booth. Don’t forget to add toppings to your cup of ice cream for extra yums! All this for only P20.

The Oishi Snack Shack was my favorite activity. Here, you get to fill a 2ft tall Oishi bag with all of your favorite snacks! I loaded mine up with Bread Pan, cereal, Sponge Crunch, Wafu, and a lot of other treats. And the bag is really big, super sulit at P295! I got a lot of stares as I carried it around the mall.

 

Did somebody say baon??? Guys, you can also get yourselves a giant bag (it’s 2ft tall!) and fill it up with all of your favorite Oishi treats at the #oishisnacktacular at Mall of Asia Music Hall today, tomorrow, and on Sunday. Go na! ? #oishiowow #breadpan

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Jul 15, 2016 at 1:36am PDT

 

As if you hadn’t already filled your bags with enough snacks at this point, there’s more to be had at the Oishi Cuckoo Blaster. For only P100, you get to put on the Cuckoo Bird suit, and catch as many balls as you can. 1 ball = 1 snack for you!

After all that activity, treat yourself to a Smart C+ slushee for only P20 at the Oishi Slush C+ booth. The calamansi flavor is super good.

And, before you leave, check out the different Oishi snacks from all over Asia at the Oishi World of Wow area.

#OishiSnacktacular
Durian-flavored Oishi Pillows? Masarap!

 

The #OishiSnacktacular 2016 is open until July 17, which means you still have a day and a half to go there, enjoy, and snack-attack away! Enjoy!

Filed Under: Events & Parties Tagged With: Events, Oishi Snacktacular

Recipe: Knorr #LutongNanay Sinigang with Pakwan

July 15, 2016 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 4 Comments

It’s me! I’m back. I know, I disappeared on you guys again. I’m sorry. It’s just, you know… Life. 

So, it’s been a month since my last post. Since then, we celebrated our first home-iversary. Yes, Casa Cuyugan turned a year old, and I never got to write about it! Basically, we celebrated with a nice big pot of sinigang. 

Why sinigang? Because it’s the first thing I ever made in my brand new kitchen, and we’ve decided to make celebratory sinigang a tradition. Since it was a special occasion, I made sure that my sinigang was special, too. I used leftover frozen Zubuchon instead of plain pork. Soooooo good.

So obviously I was feeling proud of myself for making more than just the usual sinigang, right? Well, lo and behold, days later, I learned a few more ways to jazz up this old favorite. This happened at the Knorr #LutongNanay event at The Cookery Place in BGC, which was hosted by celebrity mom, Camille Prats.

Knorr #LutongNanay sinigang
Class photo at the Knorr #LutongNanay event!

 

You guys have to understand, my pantry is stocked with Knorr products in real life. I grew up with food made from these recipe mixes, soups, broth cubes, and seasonings. I learned to cook using them, too. The sinigang mix in particular. This is the only way I know to make sinigang. 

I’m beyond excited to be part of the Knorr #LutongNanay campaign. Feel na feel ko sya. I’m a home cook, and I take pride in the dishes that I prepare for my family. Food really is my love language. Meal time is bonding time for us, too, so I really do my best to have hot, fresh favorites ready for the occasion.

Knorr #LutongNanay sinigang
It’s like a baby version of my pantry! Only, I have fewer pretty plates.

 

Knorr’s Senior Brand Manager, Czarina de Leon-Manalo, shared with us that the goal of the campaign is to bring back the value behind home cooked meals especially since people choose to eat outside or even alone in this fast-paced world.

She said, “Knorr aims to help more moms bring the family together through the best flavors in their cooking. Cooking is a force for good. When a mother cooks, it is often seen as a way for her to ensure her family’s well being – and through Knorr, moms can serve nutritious meals without sacrificing great flavor.”

I love it.

After the introductions and presentations, Chef Sari Jorge of 25 Mushrooms Kitchen started off with a demo of Knorr Sinigang with Pakwan . Truth – I wasn’t too sure about the idea of having watermelon in my sinigang. But guys, you have to try it. The pakwan adds a nice touch of sweetness to the broth. Extra rice levels.

Knorr #LutongNanay sinigang
Chef Sari Jorge teaching us how to make Knorr Sinigang with Pakwan, with the help of Camille Prats and Peachy.

 

Here’s the recipe.

Knorr Sinigang with Pakwan
2016-07-14 16:08:24
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Ingredients
  1. 500 grams
 Pork Belly, sliced 3 inches x 1 inch
  2. 3 tbsp Knorr Liquid Seasoning
  3. 2 tbsp 
vegetable oil
  4. 1 liter water
  5. 3 cloves garlic, crushed
  6. 1/2
 onion, cut into 2 wedges
  7. 3 tomatoes, sliced into quarters
  8. 1 inch fresh ginger, cut into fine matchsticks
  9. 1
 lemongrass stalk, white part only
  10. 2 pcs fresh kaffir leaves (optional)
  11. 200 grams gabi, sliced into cubes
  12. 500 grams seedless sweet watermelon, peeled and cut into 1inch cubes (divided into 2 parts)
  13. 1 22g pack Knorr Sinigang sa Gabi Mix
  14. 1 Knorr Beef Cube
  15. 1 tbsp
 fish sauce, plus extra to taste
  16. 1 tbsp soy sauce
  17. ¼ tsp 
freshly ground black pepper
  18. 2 long green chillies, sliced
  19. 150 grams
 sitaw, cut into 7 cm lengths
  20. 100 grams
 okra
  21. 1 bunch 
kangkong
  22. Steamed rice, to serve
  23. Fish sauce to serve
Instructions
  1. Marinate the pork belly in Knorr Liquid Seasoning for at least 30 mins.
  2. Place a large casserole over medium-high heat. Add the oil and, working in batches, cook the pork until evenly browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
  3. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and onions to the casserole. Add the tomatoes, ginger, lemongrass, gabi and watermelon and cook for 2 minutes before returning the pork to the casserole.
  4. Add the water, Knorr Sinigang sa Gabi Mix, Knorr Beef Cube. Cook for a further 1–1½ hours until the pork is tender.
  5. When the pork is tender, remove the pork from the casserole and set aside. Strain the liquid and add the fish sauce, soy sauce and pepper to taste.
  6. Add the remaining watermelon, beans, chilies, and okra and cook for 20 minutes, before adding the water spinach and cooking for a minute until all the vegetables are tender.
  7. Serve with steamed white rice and fish sauce for dipping.
By Knorr Philippines
At Home With MrsC https://blissbysam.com/
Knorr #LutongNanay sinigang
It’s our turn to cook!

 

After the demo, we were split into four groups, and each one had to prepare an out of the ordinary sinigang recipe. Ours was Knorr Sinigang na Grilled Liempo . This was super similar to my lechon sinigang, with a smoky-tart-salty broth. I love that it’s a creative way to use up leftover grilled meat, too.

 

More sinigang, more fun! Another yummy dish from this afternoon was this Grilled Liempo Sinigang, lovingly whipped up by @mymomfriday, @yendreyfus and moi. Smokey, salty, sour, perrrrfect. Plus, this is a great way to recycle leftovers, too! O, diba? #knorrph #lutongnanay #asimkiligpamore

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on Jul 4, 2016 at 5:05am PDT

 

The one I am super excited to make at home is this Knorr Sizzling Sinigang . Isn’t it so interesting? I heard that there’s a restaurant that serves this, but I’ve yet to try it. 

Knorr #LutongNanay Sinigang
I never thought you could serve sinigang on a sizzling plate, but diba, this looks so good?

 

Another team made a Knorr Surf and Turf Sinigang, and the last group prepared their version of the Knorr watermelon sinigang recipe.

Knorr #LutongNanay sinigang
Knorr Surf and Turf Sinigang. Classy!

 

It was such a fun afternoon, and I’m extra happy because I now have four new dishes that I can make for dinner at home. I wonder which of these Knorr sinigang versions the boys will like best? Keep you posted!

Knorr #LutongNanay sinigang
Knorr Sinigang with Watermelon. It’s actually good!

 

Do you do sinigang differently? Tell me about it in the comments!

*All photos courtesy of Knorr Philippines

Filed Under: Food & Recipes, Recipes Tagged With: Knorr Lutong Nanay, Recipe, Sinigang

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Hi, I'm MrsC, a happy wife and mom, a help-less but not helpless homemaker, who is learning to live simply in this complicated world.

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