At Home With MrsC

Raising a family, making a home.

MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan

Life in a Foodie Neighborhood

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Fact: We live a short walk away from some of the best restaurants that BF has to offer.

Moving thisclose to Aguirre has given us a whole lot of reasons to eat out, much to the dismay of our wallets and waist lines. It’s so hard to resist, especially when interesting new places pop up. Plus, there are days when really we crave for old favorites. 

Within our first eight months here, we’ve been able to try quite a few places already. Some were awesome, others we’ve already gone back to, and then there was one that we’ve officially declared a never-again. Yes, may ganon! Lol.

First, our favorites.

Ramen Kuroda tops this list. I love that MrC and I can split a ramen set here and go home super full. Soup is definitely not one of my favorite things, but the ramen at Kuroda really is so good. To me, this is the best place to go to for rainy day comfort food. Their sushi and sashimi are okay, too. 

 

Ate at Kuroda, forgot to take a photo of the ramen. #HungerGames #RamenKuroda #itswhatsfordinner #tarasasouth

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

Then there’s  Magnum Opus . We’ve actually already tried Magnum Opus before, but being so close to it now means that we get to visit more often. If you’re after great coffee, come to this place. I love, love, LOVE their Flat White. They have a small selection of food, there, too. Their Monte Cristo is fantabulous! The bread pudding is a must-try, too. My kiddo loves it.

 

Caught eating cookies at Magnum Opus! ?: @polcuyugs #nightcap #magnumopusfinecoffees #aguirrefoodtrip

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

We also love  Gerbu’s Burger n’ Tacos . To be honest, the food here isn’t super duper spectacular, but it reminds MrC and I so much of all the favorite things we loved to eat in Zobel when we were younger, so we just keep coming back. Meals here are super inexpensive, too, so it’s a very sulit option. Their Blue Cheese Burgers are good, as are the Mongolian Rice Bowls. I also like to come here for cheap sizzling steak, which, believe it or not, is something that I crave for once in a while.

 

 

When we feel like splurging, we come to Bamba Bistro . This place is owned and run by one of our friends from high school, and OMG she makes super amazing food! I love love love their Bistro St. Salad, Baby Back Ribs, and Pizzookie. Okay, my tummy just grumbled.

mrspcuyugan
La familia at Bamba Bistro

 

Now here’s a rundown of the other places we liked.

I love ice cream. I do. If I could have ice cream every day I would. We recently had the chance to try two relatively new ice cream places in our neighborhood. The first was Outre , which serves liquid nitrogen ice cream. The boys actually tried this dessert place out before I did, and of course I got annoyed and demanded that they take me there, too.

 

On my first visit, the kiddo and I shared a cup of their Cookie Monster, which has milk ice cream, chocolate chip cookies and sprinkles. We went back a few weeks later, and that time I ordered the Pink Velvet. This was super good paired with  Bucky’s , which is conveniently located just a floor a above Outre. Win-win.

 

Tried the Pink Velvet tonight. Yummy when paired with original Bucky’s! #liquidnitrogenicecream #outremanila #dessert #tarasasouth

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

The other ice cream place we went to was Southern Dairy . This is where MrC and I hang out on Little MrC’s card game Sundays. I think we’ve come back maybe 3 or 4 times already. So far we’ve been able to try their burgers, which were okay, their banana split, and several flavors of their homemade gelato. I liked the cookies and cream. The green tea was also good.

 

Tropical Hut Hamburger has always been a family favorite, and I love that we live so close to it now. I would honestly never eat at the restaurant, though, because it looks really grimy to me. Now, I know what you’re thinking. If the place looks grimy then the food might not actually be clean. Sure, I’ve thought about that, too, but it’s never stopped us from buying a few classic burgers to bring to Manila Memorial Park on All Soul’s Day.

 

Our Manila Memorial Park family tradition. #tropicalhuthamburger #allsoulsday ? by my daddy

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

I know that I’m a few months late to the Larcy’s game, but I’m happy to say that I finally got to try this popular cupcake place a few weeks ago. I’m picky when it comes to baked goodies, which is why I learned to make them myself. Larcy’s offerings are really nice flavor-wise, but I find the cakes to be too light an spongy for my taste. I like cupcakes that are cakey and a bit more dense. My best friend predicted that I would feel this way, which is why I waited so long before finally trying this place.

 

 

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see that I post about Pastry Armoire and Chef Anna Chua quite often. That’s coz I love her, and she makes such amazing goodies. I go to them for pints of Up In The Clouds ice cream, yummy homemade pandesal and pizza crust, and Spicy Tinapa and Inasal Marinade by Chef Arnold.

 

 

When snacking is in order, the kiddo’s place of choice is Wicked Dogs . I love super loaded hotdogs, and this place does not disappoint. It’s actually the boys who have gone to the store, and yes, they tried another new place without me. They did bring me back a Chicago Dog, though, so I forgave them.

 

I want this for brekkie. #wickeddogsph #southeats #tarasasouth

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

 

Last but not least is  Kantori Yakitori . This was our date place of choice for our wedding anniversary last September. Food here is awesomesauce, and you will think so, too, if you love anything char-grilled. Thing is, you leave the place smelling like barbecue. Next time, I think I will take a bath AFTER we go there and not before hehehe.

mrspcuyugan
Anniversary dinner at Kantori Yakitori.

 

We will, for sure, be checking out more new places in our neighborhood soon. And, of course, we’ll be coming back to some of our favorite ones, too. 

As for the one place that we will never ever go back to even if you paid us? That would be Okiniiri Japanese Restaurant. It was so bad that even the dishes that I thought couldn’t possibly be done wrong were done wrong. I don’t have a single photo from when we ate there. If I did, all you’d see is sad looking food and frowny faces from us. That bad. I’m still not over it. Lol. Wish we had gone to Sensei Sushi instead.

Have you tried or heard of any good restaurants in the BF area lately? Where should we go next? 

Recipe: Calamansi Muffins

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Fact: I am obsessed with Real Coffee’s calamansi muffins.

I really make it a point to have some whenever I go to Boracay. I’ve also asked quite a few friends to bring boxes of the stuff home for me when they go. I knew that it was only a matter of time before I tried making these muffins myself. I finally did, and they were good.

After searching online, I decided to use Pepper.ph’s calamansi muffin recipe. I was hopeful from the moment I read this recipe, which promised to be just like my favorite island snack. The good news is that I was not disappointed.

Calamansi Muffins
Hello, beauties!

 

I honestly don’t think that the finished product tasted exactly like the calamansi muffins from Real Coffee. These, were lighter and softer, which to me means that they were actually better. Hooray! Notice that I speak of them in past tense? That’s because they’re all gone.

There are, however, two things I think I will change next time I make these. First, I’ll do away with the paper liners and just make them directly in a greased muffin pan. This is how they do it in Real Coffee, and I feel that this will make the bottoms of my muffins a little crustier. 

The other change I plan to make is to use brown sugar instead of white.

 

Calamansi Muffins
Yields 12
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Ingredients
  1. 1/2 cup butter
  2. 1 cup sugar
  3. 2 pcs eggs
  4. 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  5. 1 tsp baking powder
  6. 1/4 tsp salt
  7. 1/4 cup milk
  8. 1/4 cup calamansi
Instructions
  1. Mix flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, combine milk and calamansi.
  2. In a third bowl (yes, lots of washing afterwards,) cream butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add eggs one at a time to the sugar mixture, and mix well.
  4. Add the milk mixture, followed by the flour mixture. Mix until well blended, but don’t over mix.
  5. Distribute batter evenly into paper-lined muffin cups or a non-stick muffin pan.
  6. Bake in preheated 350 degrees Fahrenheit oven for 18-23 minutes.
Adapted from Pepper.ph
Adapted from Pepper.ph
At Home With MrsC https://blissbysam.com/

 

I feel like this recipe would work well with lemons, too. When I do make a lemon version, I’ll add some zest into the batter along with the lemon juice.

I’ll probably wait a few days before I make another batch, though, coz this one disappeared far too quickly. These muffin experiments are making us all extra fat. :p

Do you bake? What are your favorite recipes? I’m always looking for something new to try.

Enveloped Ideas

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Fact: Enveloped Ideas is a song by Filipino band, The Dawn.

It has nothing to do with this blog post.

I will be talking about ideas, though, and how I’m often at a loss for them when it’s time to start writing.

It seems like every time I’m not in front of the computer, I know exactly what I want to write and blog about. Then I sit down, and everything just disappears into a mushy pool of random thoughts. It’s my sad but true reality.

Well, recently I’ve gotten the chance to work with a (really) young director who gave me the brilliant idea of idea-banking. No, it isn’t a new concept, but there’s just something more appealing about having something enthusiastically explained to you versus reading about it online.

mrspcuyugan
Notebook, check! Pens, check! All that’s missing now are ideas.

 

At our last shoot, he showed me a small notebook that he started carrying around in his back pocket. It contains his random thoughts and ideas – anything and everything that might be interesting to write about, photograph, shoot, or think about. His goal is to write down 10 ideas a day. It’s basically bottled up brainfarts, or, enveloped ideas! Lol. I just had to…

I always have ideas bouncing around in my head, but I’ve never really thought to list them. Why not? I dunno, but now I think I should have started this a long time ago. I feel like it’s a great habit to develop, especially for someone like me who needs to have an active idea bank for work (and for the sake of this blog, too.)

I’m starting today. My colorful pens and little yellow notebook are ready. I hope my brain is ready, too. It’ll be fun creating my own writing prompts, and going over my list of random thoughts on writing days. I hope this means that more interesting and exciting blogging times are coming up, too.

Do you guys keep a list of blog topics and ideas that you want to write about or do you just wing it like I’ve always done? Do you agree that keeping a list of ideas can help us defeat the dreaded blank page?

Discovering Myself on Snapchat

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Confession: I have recently become addicted to Snapchat. I don’t know how it happened, but it just did.

During my first few weeks of trying out the app, a million and one things would go through my head as I viewed my own snaps. Thoughts like:

Oh my gosh this is what my voice sounds like to other people?!

My intonation is all wrong! Do I really speak this way???

Should I be fixing my hair before I record a video?

Ooh, if I angle my head and the camera this way, I look thinner. Lol.

I must look silly to people who can see me doing this.

Nakakahiya ako! Ang tanda ko na, ngayon pako natuto nito!

I wonder if it matters that I don’t make an effort to look nice (as in, made up) in these videos?

I really am camera-shy.

That last thought perplexes me. I am camera-shy and I do have stage fright. It’s so bad that even when I’m asked to speak during meetings, I stumble. I get nervous whenever everyone’s attention is turned to me.

mrspcuyugan
I get SUPER nervous whenever there’s a microphone in my hand, even if all I need to do is read VO spiels from behind the tech booth.

 

BUT, during regular conversations, when attention is drawn to me naturally, I’m totally fine. It’s so weird. I don’t understand why I function this way. I’ve always known that I would do better behind the scenes than in the spotlight, though, because of this. And so behind the scenes I have stayed.

Sayang (it’s a shame,) some people say, because I do have a lot to say. Most of the time the things that come out of my mouth make sense. I guess this is why I enjoy writing and blogging so much. I get to let those thoughts and opinions out without having to open my mouth.

Sayang, some people say, because I’m quite entertaining. Well, my humor is sarcastic and self-deprecating. It isn’t for everyone. So I try to keep my audiences small. As in friends and family only. I feel, though, that as I get used to this Snapchatting thing, I’ll start to seem less uptight there. At the moment, I’m still struggling to get over the actual sound of my voice.

Sayang, some people say, because I register well on-cam even though I’m a bit on the chubby side. To this, all I can say is HAHAHAHAHA. Yep, I may be plus-sized, but that never bothered me before. I’m not the type who will shy away from a camera because of the way I look. I don’t pretend to be thin. I know my angle, and because I’m a girl I sometimes choose to use it. I do love being me, and that’s a fact.

mrspcuyugan
Even as a bride, I was awkward in front of the camera. This is why we had no prenup shoot, no on-the-day video, and only one, super-trusted photographer during our wedding.

 

It’s strange, but being on Snapchat has sort of helped me learn more about myself. I now have a better idea of how I sound to other people, and what my face looks like while I speak. I never realized that I made that many facial expressions. No wonder I’m able to piss people off so easily. Lol.

I also know that my days can be really dull. I wake up, have coffee, cook, drive. I get on the computer and write. I read a little, cook some more, then drive again. Most of my time is spent at home. When I actually go out, it’s to go grocery shopping or to the laundromat. Guys, do I need a life? Lol.

At the same time, I’m learning that I really like this life. It’s a far cry from what my days were like during my 20’s, especially when I still worked in events management. Everything was so exciting and fast-paced then. Now, things are slow, calm, and quiet. I like it, but some days it makes me feel old. And I know I’m not actually old.

mrspcuyugan
Back when I was cooler.. Lol.

 

There are days when I sit and think about how I can make my snaps look more interesting. Of course I know that the answer is to actually go out and do something. Whenever I’m out, though, I don’t open Snapchat. Why not? Because I really fell like I look silly recording myself as I speak into my (huge) phone.

At the start of 2016, a friend shared that vlogging will soon kick blogging’s butt. I take this to mean that those of us who are more comfortable at writing rather than speaking our thoughts are in trouble. I guess that Snapchat, in this case, also works for me as a sort of trial phase, should I ever transition to posting videos.

At this moment, however, I can say that I am so not ready for it. But add me on Snapchat anyway. 😀

mrspcuyugan
MrsPCuyugan on Snapchat

 

Have any of you guys shifted from blogging to vlogging or have you started to incorporate videos into your posts? How has the transition been for you? Is anyone else out there totally not camera-ready like me? 

Digital Konmari

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I’ve just done a drastic digital Konmari on my blog. 

I did the same with my Instagram account a few months ago, and it actually made me feel good. I deleted photos that I didn’t want on my feed anymore, including ugly ones, posters for old events, and pictures that I simply didn’t wanted to see anymore. Basically everything that didn’t spark joy.

The other day, out of nowhere, I decided to de-clutter my blog. The first ones to go were old posts promoting workshops from 2012, 2013 and 2014. I don’t think those are needed anymore. Then, I deleted old giveaway posts. I took down posts that I felt were senseless, too. 

mrspcuyugan
A couple of weeks ago, it was my phone that I was obsessed with. I deleted apps and games that I once thought I couldn’t live without, but no longer used or enjoyed.

 

A blogger friend told me before that I shouldn’t delete posts so drastically because it might affect my page rank or domain authority. Truth is, that really doesn’t matter to me. For some reason, I had this compelling need to get rid of clutter on my blog, and I went ahead and did it. It felt good.

While I was at it, I fixed up my menu bar (up there, if you wanna check it out.) There are drop-down menus now, and most of my posts have been properly segregated into adequate categories. I feel so accomplished.

All of a sudden, I have moments where I get these intense feelings of irritation over clutter. All of a sudden, I have no problem throwing things away. Well, some things at least. My yarn, notebooks and pens are all still safely hidden away. Lol.

 

Today I bought a trash bin. I shall call him Hulk. #Domestication #athomewithmrsc #lipatbahaychronicles

A photo posted by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan (@mrspcuyugan) on

 

I was never the type to be bothered by clutter. MrC even said that he didn’t understand how I could sort of thrive in it. But, I dunno, something changed when we moved houses. It doesn’t happen often, but I really make the most of it when I feel that way.

Once, I ended up sweeping the entire house, upstairs and downstairs. Then there was one time where I decided to just clean the bathroom. That’s not at all normal behavior for me.

Often, my cleaning sprees involve doing large batches of laundry at a time, and throwing out random containers of old food from the fridge and freezer. Sometimes I go nuts on my email and just delete everything that’s been left unread for over 3 months.

It’s insane how aggressive I can get with the purging, but I think it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I wonder what on Earth I’ll be compelled to clean up next?

Blogger friends – Do you delete old posts from your blog? Why/why not?  

I’m Glad I’ve Got Glad®

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I know that all moms say this, but I’m really a very busy person.

I’m a full-time mom, which means that I’m a tutor, a (not-so-fun) playmate, a driver, a snack fairy, a hot chocolate maker, and a TV buddy, among other things.

I’m also a housewife. This means that I do the grocery shopping, I attempt to clean, I empty laundry baskets, and fill up closets with nice-smelling, clean clothes. I make coffee and a packed lunch for MrC most mornings, and make sure that there’s a hot meal ready for him when he gets home after work.

 

I recently took on a new job, too. It’s been nearly five years since I quit my day job in favor of being hands-on at home, and I have absolutely no regrets. But, with Little MrC being at school all day, and the new responsibilities that come with living on our own, I knew that it was time to find work that I can do while I do what I do.

At the end of last year, I decided that I was ready to start chasing some of the big dreams that I parked when I got pregnant. Lo and behold, just when I did, an opportunity opened up. Ang galing lang. This gig’s gonna last for as long as it lasts, and I intend to make the most out of it while I have it. It’s a good one, and I’m excited to write about it when I can. 

So, going back to my original point, I’m a very busy person. Now that actual work that involves being out of the house has been thrown into the mix, it’s become harder to be the homemaker that I want to be. It’s a good thing that, over the last few years of me being completely home-based, I’ve picked up quite a few tricks for making this whole home management thing easier. A lot of it involves Glad®.

glad cling wrap
Am I the only one who gets excited over cling wrap in the mail? Lol!

 

When you look around our house, you’ll see that we really do use a lot of Glad® products. We use Glad® Storage Bags with zipper tops for everything from makeup to Lego to yarn and crocheted items to, of course, food.

I find that it’s the best way to store half-finished bags of cereal, chips, and crackers so they don’t get stale. This is perfect since I like to buy big bags of stuff instead of snack-sized ones. More food, less trash. Makes sense to me.

I also use storage bags in the freezer. My freezer is tiny, and this allows me to make the most out of the little space I have. As much as possible, I like to marinate meats before I freeze them so that all I need to do is thaw and cook later on. There are some things I like to cook a lot of and store, too, like pasta sauce, French toast and seasoned ground meats.

This is a total lifesaver, especially on days when going to work means being on-set by 6AM and home by 11PM. I simply leave a note for MrC, telling him what they can thaw and heat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This also makes school mornings easier for me. French toast, waffles and pancakes are awesome, because they can go straight from storage bag to toaster to plate to tummy.

glad cling wrap
Pork chops, washed and ready for storage.

 

In the kitchen, Glad® Cling Wrap is my go-to handy helper when I’m marinading meats. We don’t have help so I really try to not to use too many tools when preparing food. I typically marinate the meat in the same bowl that I washed it in, then let it sit in the fridge covered in cling wrap. I swear, this just makes it so much easier, not just to prepare food, but also to clean up afterwards.

Here’s a tip: Use cling wrap instead of aluminum foil. Many use aluminum foil to store food, and I did too, for a long time. The thing is, aluminum foil was designed for cooking not storage. It doesn’t keep out air and seal in moisture as effectively as cling wrap. Plus, when you’re marinating anything with tomato, the foil reacts to the marinade! I had to learn this the hard way, as I once had to scrape off foil bits that melted and stuck to a chicken I was preparing to roast. Hassle. And possibly unsafe lol.

glad cling wrap
Yay for protection against cross-contamination in the fridge!

 

When you really need a tight seal, Press N Seal is the answer. This one’s a little more expensive, but it’s so worth it. I first saw this product at an aunt’s house. She had a salad bar laid out, and her little bowls of condiments were covered with Press N Seal. She said she prepared everything way ahead, and things managed to stay crisp and juicy as they were supposed to. Plus, of course, clean. At home, I use it mostly to store glasses of taho in the fridge for the kiddo’s afternoon snack. 

 

Like I said in the super corny title of this post, I’m just glad I’ve got Glad®. God knows it really does make my life easier.

If you wanna know more about Glad® products, visit www.glad.com.ph, and check them out on Facebook and Instagram.