At Home With MrsC

Class Suspensions and Lazy, Rainy Days + Baon Plan #4

August 1, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 18 Comments

Like I said last week, I adjusted my baon plan posting by a week because we had almost a whole week without school thanks to the crazy storm that was #GlendaPH. If you follow me on Instagram, you will have seen that our place was a cross between Jumanji and Jurassic Park, sans the large animals.

Thankfully, apart from having no water for 2 days and no power for 4 days, we were all okay, safe and dry at home. Our only casualty was the rear windshield of my dad’s trusty old Nissan Vanette, which had an acacia tree fall on top of it, breaking the glass. I’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Mom’s car and my sister’s car under some branches. Thankfully, these weren’t hit hard.

This Week’s Featured Recipes and Baon Plan

After the storm, life got really busy for me with back to back projects and work galore. And of course this is great, but it also means that I’ve had less time to prepare meals. This baon plan is perfect for hectic or busy days, because it requires very little thinking and not a lot of effort either.

I have three featured recipes this week. One is a Honey Balsamic Pork Chop recipe that’s actually my Glazed Tuna Recipe but with pork chops instead of tuna steaks. There’s also a Beef Tapa Recipe that my cousin shared with me, based on my grandmother’s tapa. This is a dry kind of tapa, sort of like a jerky. The last featured recipe is for Longganisa, which I got from Market Manila. I cook this giniling style so that I end up with crispy, garlicky bits.

Here's a quick peek into the lunchboxes for Baon Plan #4 — Here’s a quick peek into the lunchboxes for Baon Plan #4

Click here to download this week’s baon plan. To check out my past lunchbox plans from Grade 2 and Grade 3, click here.

Promise to share another baon plan in a couple of weeks, and hopefully a new recipe before then. Here’s to an awesome August for all of us!

The Good Box PH and #MrsCsWellnessProject

July 29, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 10 Comments

You know that you are starting to get older when your tummy begins to feel funny after a night of pizza and beer. Or burgers, fries and milkshakes. Or greasy Chinese food. What I’m saying is that, yes, I feel my body getting older, and that it’s my tummy that’s telling me so.

Now is as good a time as any to start making better food choices. But you see, I do love to eat. Asking me to cut certain things out of my diet, or having me abstain from eating particular types of food would result in a very sad, very cranky MrsC. That’s why I choose to go for calorie counting. It allows me to have a little bit of everything that I like, but within proper proportion, or less, if only to satisfy my cravings without wiping out my caloric allowance for the day.

The thing with calorie counting is that it can really be tedious. I know this because I had to monitor my serving size and log them while I was pregnant with Little MrC. My blood sugar started to spike halfway through my pregnancy, and controlling my food intake was the only way for me to manage my gestational diabetes. The nutritionist monitoring me was pretty strict, so I was lucky that we actually had a book of meal exchanges at home.

Fast forward to today. When I discovered that there are groups who offer meal plans that can be customized according to your calorie requirements, I got super excited. Oh, if only guys like The Good Box existed years and years ago when I was preggers!

My pretty pink bag of 1200 calorie goodness from The Good Box PH

This amazing opportunity to try The Good Box was specially arranged for members of Mommy Bloggers Philippines. We were to be given a full day’s worth of meals, and that included breakfast, lunch, dinner, and AM and PM snacks. Our total calorie count for the day was 1200 calories, which is super manageable for me. I know that others might find this to be too little, especially those who are heavy rice eaters. The first thing I noticed when it was delivered was that the meal was packed in wither reusable or biodegradable containers. Plus points agad!

With The Good Box, you can choose from several meal programs, starting from 1200 calories to 2700 calories. There are also special programs available – South Beach Diet, Diabetic Diet, Hypertensive Diet and Pregnant-Diabetic Diet Programs. They take food allergies into considerations, too, which I feel is really important. Oh, and the price will vary depending on the weekly meal program that you choose.

Here’s what I had during my one day trial:

Breakfast - Fruit and Nut Pancake + Coffee — Breakfast: Fruit and Nut Pancake + Coffee

Breakfast was a fruit and nut pancake and coffee. I love that they thought to include coffee with my meal. I saw that the other moms had juice with theirs. You know how I need my caffeine fix in the morning, and I like that this one was nice and creamy without being overly sweet. I wish that I could order bottles and bottles of this and store them in my fridge. The pancake was good, and the fruits in it made it sweet enough to not need any syrup, but I kind of had a hard time with the nuts. I’m used to eating smooth, fluffy pancakes kasi. The chunkiness is something that I could eventually get used to, though.

For my AM snack, I was given two chewy caramel apple cookies. Like I shared on Instagram, I left the house for a bit for a meeting after breakfast, and I came home at a little past 11AM already. I though I’d be dying of hunger by then, but I wasn’t! I excitedly tore off the wrapper of my cookies though, simply because I was so excited to be eating cookies. These were good. As in really good. They were soft and chewy, and not too sweet. And they were pretty big, too. These did not feel like diet food at all. I ate them cold, straight out of the refrigerator, and I think this is the best way to eat these cookies.

Lunch: Lemon Poached Chicken and Potato Salad, Vegetable Sticks and Dip

I did a bit of work in between my snack and lunch. By the time I started to feel hungry, I was happy to have a ready meal that I could just pop into the oven. Since the boys are out during the day, I usually have lunch with my mom or alone. This makes my solo meal a no-brainer, and I like having that sort of convenience in the middle of a busy day. Lunch was a lemon poached chicken and potato salad, and come vegetable sticks with thousand island dip. This was my favorite meal of the day, and I am already planning to make my own version of the chicken at home. So, so, so, good, and the serving was just right to carry me through until snack time. Yes, even without rice. The potatoes did the trick.

PM Snack: Pita Chips and Guacamole and Hummus Dip

Like I usually do, I had my PM snack at my computer (attempting to squeeze in a little bit more work for the day) while my son had his after school snack across the table from me. The pita chips and tiny tub of guacamole and hummus dip looked really small for a snack, but I was fine with it. I couldn’t figure out though if the dip was actually hummus, guacamole, or a combination of both.

Dinner: Salad and Eggplant, Ricotta and Tomato Pappardelle

When dinner time rolled around, I was actually pretty hungry. It’s a good thing that we have dinner early at home, otherwise I might not have made it, given the small afternoon snack. I was excited that I had both a salad and pasta, two of my favorite things to eat. The salad came with a vinegar-based dressing and a few salami slices. The pasta dish was an eggplant, ricotta and tomato pappardelle. I really liked the pasta, which was light and fresh-tasting. This I can also make myself at home.

I went to bed completely satisfied with my food for the day. I enjoyed my experience with The Good Box so much that I’m actually thinking about ordering from them for at least a month. This whole experience jump-started my #MrsCsWellnessProject, and I’ve been monitoring what I’ve been eating since that trial day.

My Good Box day was on a Thursday and the next Friday I prepared a 1200-calorie meal plan for myself at home. Over the weekend, I didn’t count calories, but I tried not to eat too much. I’ve been doing the same thing also so far this week. Honestly, I’ve had fewer hyperacidity and hypoglycemic episodes since I started. Guess it really was time to make a change.

If you feel that calorie counting would work for you as a weightloss or a wellness program, I recommend that you try The Good Box.

THE GOOD BOX
105 Hawaii St., Pasig Greenpark, Pasig City
Mobile: 0917-7111732
Email: thegoodboxph@gmail.com
Website: http://thegoodboxph.com/
Facebook: The Goodbox PH
Twitter: @thegoodboxph
Instagram: @thegoodboxph

Oh, Bellevue, How I’ve Missed You!

July 26, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 10 Comments

The Bellevue Manila has always been one of my favorites. I have a lot of fond and fun memories in that hotel. It was the venue of the first ever corporate event that I helped organize, and their kitchen catered my first big social event in Alabang several years ago. Little MrC attended his first Halloween event at the Laguna Room, and MrC and I once celebrated my birthday at Cafe d’Asie. I chose The Bellevue as the official residence (naks) of my wedding party, and because my friends know that I love the sweet treats there so much, they gifted us with a basket from the Pastry Corner during our wedding. Yep, The Bellevue and I go a long way back.

I had just realized that I hadn’t been back there in a long time, when my friend Jane invited MrC and I for a quadruple dinner date. It would be MrC and I, Jeff and Jane (or sugar and spice, as he told me hehe), Nino and Mish , and Kaye and her kiddos. I immediately blocked my schedule off for that evening, and prepared my tummy for the feast that was to come.

This picture belongs to Jane. Super love our group photo!

MrC and I actually arrived a little late, so everyone was already there. I came from a bento workshop that afternoon and I really wanted to shower before dinner. It was good, though, that Jane decided to schedule this dinner on the same day as the workshop, otherwise Kaye might not have been able to join us. Blogging about that Bento #Crafternoon session with The Bento Mommas soon, by the way!

Of course I was already hungry when we arrived, so MrC and I hit the buffet right away. Even though it had been years since my last meal at Cafe d’Asie, everything still looked, smelled and felt the same. It felt like home and I was so very happy to be there.

Like I always do at hotel buffets, I went for the sushi, cold cuts and cheeses first. MrC started with his usual bowl of soup, a plate of sushi, andsome cold cuts.

The plates on top are mine and the ones at the bottom are MrC’s

The highlight of my night was the roast beef (see top left photo in the collage above!), which was nice and pink and pretty bloody when it was sliced. I actually contemplated having it seared a bit on the grill, but I’m glad I decided not to because it was just perfect the way it was already. I chose a peppercorn gravy to drizzle over it, and picked up some potatoes to eat it with. Drool.

Fruits, salad station, Mongolian station and cold cuts

After that first batch of food, MrC had a plate of rice and assorted viands. I thought about maybe having a salad or some fruit, but I could feel myself getting full already. I opted to head over to the dessert station instead. Like I said, I love the sweet treats at The Bellevue oh so very much, so there was no way I was gonna miss out. I also saw something new, something that wasn’t there yet during our last visit – ice cream. Lots and lots of it!

There's always room for dessert at The Bellevue Hotel! — There’s always room for dessert at The Bellevue Hotel!

If I could try every flavor of ice cream in that freezer I would, but I don’t think that my stomach would be able to handle more than one scoop. So, as recommended by Jane, I tried the avocado flavor. It was so yummy and really creamy. I actually had quite a bit of sweets that night. I don’t regret it.

The strawberry mousse is one of my faves from Bellevue. I have it every time I eat there!

After dinner, we went up to The Vue Bar, supposedly to have some drinks. The boys shared a few drinks but none of us girls had any. The others were too full from dinner, while I was too sleepy to function. Lol, me and my 9pm bedtime! We stayed and chatted for a bit, and the other ladies even danced a little. I didn’t coz I’m KJ like that. I only dance when I have alcohol in my system. But I already promised them that I would give it a go the next time we go out. Yes, alcohol or no alcohol, I will dance.

My dinner date, the view from The Vue, and our party of 6

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Jane, for the invite, and thank you to The Bellevue Manila for having us. It was a much-needed, long overdue date night for MrC and I, and we’re both so glad that we got to spend it with our amazeballs friends at one of our favorite date places in the south. Can’t wait to be back, and next time we’ll take the kiddo with us. Come to think of it, the next time we’re at The Bellevue Manila, I think I want it to be for a staycation!

Café d’Asie and The Vue Bar
The Bellevue Manila
North Bridgeway, Filinvest City
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Phone: (632) 771 8181
Fax: (632) 771 8282
Email: tbmnl@thebellevue.com
Website: http://www.thebellevue.com/
Facebook: #/thebellevuemanila
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellevuemanila

Cool and Clean with Priva Intimate Wash

July 22, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 9 Comments

For as long as I can remember, pH Care has been my feminine wash of choice. I never liked the overly perfumed smell of other brands, nor do I like using those that smell like antiseptic. Lucky for me, my sensitive skin seems to agree with pH Care, and so I never had a problem with rashes or itching over the years.

I recently had the opportunity to try a new intimate wash offering from Unilab, Priva Intimate Wash by pH Care. Normally, I don’t experiment with new commercial products, but because this particular one had the brands Unilab and pH Care tied to it, I knew that there was really no need to worry. And no, I’m not just saying that. These are really brands that I use and trust in real life. Hehe.

About Priva

Priva Intimate Wash has a pH-balanced formulation that gently cleanses and helps protect against itching and bad odors. It is also formulated to revitalize the delicate feminine area. It comes in two variants, Skin Firming and Skin Lightening, and both have a cooling effect. That cooling factor is a super plus for me. Ever since I discovered cooling feminine wash, I’ve been hooked. Something about it just makes me feel fresher and cleaner.

The Skin Firming and Cooling variant has collagen and natural extracts of Kwao Krua, an herbal root found in Thailand known to help improve skin elasticity and firmness. It also contains Witch Hazel extracts to help skin retain its natural moisture.

The Skin Lightening and Cooling variant, on the other hand, is formulated with glutathione and natural strawberry extract that helps lighten darker skin areas.

The cooling component they use for both variants of Priva is called RevitaCool, a gentle cooling ingredient that keeps you feeling cool and refreshed with every wash. Both have been clinically tested by obstetrician-gynecologists, and have been proven to deliver results and to be safe for daily use.

The Verdict

After using both variants for a little over a week (I alternate between the two with each bath), I can say that I am happy with both. I like the light flowery scent of the firming variant a bit more than I do the light fruity scent of the lightening one. At the same time, I can already see that the lightening taking effect, even after just a few days. As for the skin firming, I think I’ll need to give this a little more time before I see major results.

I am happy to report that I have absolutely no rashes resulting from the use of both variants, which is both amazing and a really good thing given my sensitive skin. Unilab and pH Care have proven yet again why they are such trusted household names with Priva Intimate Wash. I am definitely going to continue on using this brand.

What feminine wash do you prefer? Have you tried using Priva?

Sweet Treats From Pink Wasabi

July 11, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 14 Comments

One fine day I received an SMS from my wonderful blogger friend Jane, telling me that she was sending some goodies from Pink Wasabi over to my house. I never say no to dessert and sweet snacks. That message and the surprise delivery super duper made my day. Thanks, Jane and Chef Anna!

Something for chocolate lovers like me!

I instantly fell in love with Pink Wasabi’s bite-sized Tableya Brownies (PHP 188.00 per pack, 36 brownies per canister), and so did my dad! I remember that the NBA Finals were on that day, and as soon as I got the package I rushed to my parents’ room to share the goodies with them because sweet treats are meant to be shared. Before the game was done, the brownies were all gone. It’s a good thing that I secretly set some aside for MrC and the kiddo to try!

As if I wasn’t already in chocoholic heaven with the brownies, there were also two containers of cookies included in the bag. Oh my, happy heart and happy tummy talaga! The cookies came in two flavors, Chocolate Chip swirled with Nutella (PHP 160.00 for a canister of 6) and Cashew Nut Butter with Choco Chunks (PHP 150.00 per canister of 6). My boys really, really, really loved these cookies.

I knew that the closest place I could get these delightful desserts from was in Makati, so I really savored every bite. And then, during one of our brainstorm meetings for our Fringe Salon Blogger’s Pampering Day, my friend Michelle said that she was planning to invite Pink Wasabi to cater one of the legs. I’m so happy that Chef Anna said YES! I got to indulge in these yummies again. At the event, they were also joined by Orange Whisk and Simply Pie, who served delicious quiches and other savory snacks.

Super cute, super yummy Reinbo Profiteroles

At the Fringe event, apart from eating my chocolatey favorites, I also got a second taste of Pink Wasabi’s Reinbo Profiteroles. I got a small box of these cute and colorful cream puffs from Jane, too, but for some reason I just enjoyed them more the second time around. Of course, my fave was the Green Tea flavor, and the Orange Coffee one come in as a close second. There were also Strawberry and Caramel Pepper flavored profiteroles in the box.

These profiteroles require refrigeration in order to prolong their shelf life. They are best consumed within 3 days, though, which is expected since these pastries are filled with a creamy custard. In case you plan on ordering, here are the prices:

Box of 4 – PHP 155.00
Box of 6 – PHP 195.00
Box of 12 – PHP 360.00
Box of 15 – PHP 428.00

Unique Kashi Maki cakes

If I thought that the profiteroles were adorbs, I was completely floored when I saw the Kashi Makis. These desserts are works of art! Imagine sweet hand-rolled cakes that look like sushi! Okay wait, no need to imagine. Let me show you.

Diba, so nice? These would make really great gifts! My favorites were the White Matcha, Oolong Berry, and the Midnight Mint flavored ones. Basically, I loved all the tea-infused flavors. My mom and MrC on the other hand liked the liquor-infused ones. My kiddo loved the Chocnut and the Choco Caramel Popcorn flavors. No surprise there. You can check out all the available flavors on the Kashi Maki Flavor List.

Like the profiteroles, these are ordered by the box, and you will need to place your orders at least three days in advance. Here are the prices for the Kashi Maki:

Box of 4, chef’s choice, assorted – PHP 140.00
Box of 9, chef’s choice, assorted – PHP 280.00
Box of 18, chef’s choice, assorted – PHP 540.00

When you order a box of 18, you get a pair of steel chopsticks to go with your Kashi Maki. And, in case you plan on giving these as gifts, here is a list of upgrades and add-ons:

White chocolate plaque (choice of Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary text – PHP 20.00
Customized white chocolate plaque
- Small, 2 words max – PHP 20.00
- Medium, 4 words max – PHP 25.00
- Large, 6 words max – PHP 30.00
Gift Tag – PHP 25.00
Steel Chopsticks – PHP 25.00

The Reinbo Profiteroles and Kashi Maki come in these beautiful boxes

While chatting with Chef Anna, I found out that they also supply desserts for Lasa Restaurant, which means that they can deliver to Alabang. Yay! She made Michelle and I try the Leche Ka!, a leche flan that sits on top of chocolate cake made from Batangas cacao. Oh my golly, so, so, so sinfully good. I hope that the boys and I can go back to Commercenter soon to have some.

To find out more about Pink Wasabi, you can check them out on Facebook or visit their website, www.mypinkwasabi.com.

Thanks again, Chef Anna, for sharing your yummy treats with us! 🙂

Steak With Cheese Sauce + Baon Plan #3

July 10, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 15 Comments

Confession: This post is dated Thursday, July 10, but I am writing it on Tuesday, July 15.

July has been good for me so far, where my WAHM Life is concerned. That means though that time management has been a challenge. I’ve not been able to find time to write, mostly because my days have been full. When I did have a couple of hours or so to spare over the last couple of weeks, I’ve been either napping or reading because my brain has been too tired to think. Today, though, classes are suspended in the Muntinlupa mountains, and so I basically have no responsibilities – no baon to prepare, no school bus driver duties, and no homework. Yay for me! I just really hope that this typhoon (which has yet to be felt) is not as strong as they say it will be, especially since MrC is off to work today.

I thought I wouldn’t have time to write today, but it seems like the kiddo is more excited about the prospect of catching his weekday cartoons over spending extra time with mommy, so while he’s glued to the tube, I’ve decided to blog. Yay for me, and yay for lazy, pajamas-in-bed kinds of days. I’d make hot chocolate but so far it’s still too hot and humid for a hot drink.

A sneak peek into what’s on this Baon Plan

Among all of the things listed on my queue, which sadly has pending posts from February pa (I know, so irresponsible), I’ve decided to work on my baon plan first. I love that I’m actually able to help out a few moms by posting what I pack each week. I also love that my mom friends and blogger friends recommend my baon plans to other mommies. I must be doing something right, right? 🙂

Okay, moving on.

Last Week’s Test Recipes

I didn’t get to make Parmesan Chicken Fingers because I forgot to buy breadcrumbs. Instead, I made a quick an easy Chicken Popcorn using Del Monte Quick N Easy Breading Mix. I just cut up some filleted chicken thighs into 1″ cubes, dumped them in a plastic bag with the breading mix, shook it up and fried in a bit of oil. The kiddo really loved this.

For the Balsamic-Honey Glazed Pork , we used pork chops instead of pork loin medallions. It was actually my mom who prepared this, and we had it for dinner at home instead of baon. I liked it, but the little boy wasn’t that happy. I guess this appeals to more mature taste buds.

This Week’s Featured Recipes and Baon Plan

This week’s baon is based on what I actually packed for the boys over the last two weeks. You can even see some of them in the first photo in this post, and on my Instagram feed. While I still think that planning ahead helps, especially when it’s grocery shopping time, I also like to prepare food that I feel like making on that particular day. That explains why I sometimes deviate from my own baon plan. Lol.

Featured recipes from this blog are my ever-so-reliable Breaded Pork Chops and my Chicken Menudo . I also have Bangus Belly ala Pobre on the menu. I used store-bought bangus for this, and the brand that I like is Sea King. But I really want to start marinading my own from scratch. I think I will try this recipe from Casa Veneracion because it looks so simple. I also am sharing with you the easiest steak recipe ever with cheese sauce to match. This is one of Little MrC’s favorite dishes. The cheese sauce makes it super kid-friendly.

Lola Terry's Steak With Cheese Sauce

2014-07-14 22:51:20

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Ingredients

Beef tenderloin
Knorr Seasoning
Salt and Pepper
Oil for frying

For the Cheese Sauce

1 cup Fresh milk
1 small bar Quickmelt cheese, grated
Knorr Seasoning
Pepper
Pan drippings from the steak

Instructions

Rub salt, pepper and Knorr seasoning onto each side of the steak. The amount of seasoning you use will depend entirely on your taste. Let the meat sit for a few minutes to marinade.
Heat oil in a skillet and cook the meat to your desired doneness.
Transfer the meat from the pan to a serving plate, and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Lower the heat on your stove and slowly pour in the fresh milk, stirring as you pour to prevent curdling.
Add the grated cheese. Simmer until melted, stirring occasionally.
Adjust seasoning with Knorr and pepper.

By MrsC

Adapted from Lola Terry's Homecooking

At Home With MrsC https://blissbysam.com/

Click here to download this week’s baon plan. To check out my past lunchbox plans from Grade 2 and Grade 3, click here.

Thanks for stopping by! I’ll have another lunchbox menu ready for you in two weeks.