Thursday, August 26, 2010

Today

Posted by CHAT at 5:20 PM 0 comments

is the day of AAM’s culminating program for Buwan ng Wika. Like what I posted here, the CASA pupils were asked to bring Filipino dish good for 5 people for the salo-salo. I was supposed to buy Goldilocks Tropical puto. Yesterday after our shift, I asked my colleague to accompany me to the nearest store near our building only to find out that they have already run out of stock. We went to three more stores around Makati but hear the same line “ubos na po.”

And since it was already way past 7pm and we can’t find a store that sells puto, we went to Glorietta’s foodcourt and saw a stall that makes delightfully happy. I asked the seller if the food is easily spoiled as it’ll be eaten by the kids the next day. She said she won’t just add butter and sugar so it won’t be spoiled. She even commented that there is no need to put the food on the fridge.

The food that solves my problem yesterday was Bibingkinitan. For Php 120, I went home with 6 bibingkas. Been eating this for a long time now but totally forgot about it when I was dead focused on buying puto.

1

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Agape party

Posted by CHAT at 5:45 PM 0 comments

In celebration of Joshua’s school’s Buwan ng Wika, all the CASA pupils are requested to bring Filipino food to share with their classmates. The food should be good for 5 children only. Rice will be provided for each class.

At first, I decided to buy the famous Malabon’s Sapin-sapin. However, according to the recent memo the school gave, Joshua needs to bring either bibingka or puto. Of course, I don’t want my mom to get stressed out by preparing bibingka so we decided to buy puto instead.

Our choice is Goldilocks Tropical Puto. The party will be tomorrow so I have to drop by the nearest store before heading home later this afternoon.puto

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

What to wear (part 2)

Posted by CHAT at 12:18 AM 0 comments

Remember this post about my son’s Linggo ng Wika program on Friday? After searching for a costume for him and ended up borrowing my cousin’s Muslim costume, I was devastated and lost my excitement when I talked to his teacher yesterday morning. According to Teacher Angel, it was only the girls who are required to wear costumes while the boys wear their usual PE uniforms. They still need to bring Filipino dish though.

Good thing we didn’t pursue in buying a costume for him. I am still making him bring the costume on Friday just in case.

Friday, August 20, 2010

What to wear?

Posted by CHAT at 5:03 PM 0 comments

I am one cramming mommy again. Just yesterday, Joshua arrived home with a memo from the school. They need to be in a Filipinana costume on the 27th for the culminating program of Buwan ng Wika. Aside from that, they also need to bring Filipino food good for 5. The food is no-brainer, I can just go ahead and buy sapin-sapin or any native delicacies readily available in the grocery store. What makes my head spin around is his costume. I dare not want him to wear the common Barong Tagalog nor the Camiso Chino with red pants. My cousin has a vest/pants costume that looks like a Maranao costume. He’ll fit it once I get home and if ever it doesn’t fit, good luck to Mommy!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Quicker.com is having a blog contest

Posted by CHAT at 5:04 PM 0 comments

4888668920_a235e8ed91_b Are these eye candy for you? Do you want to win these items?

1st price - Ladies Chronograph (bic face) watch
2nd price - Kate Spade kikay kit (orange)
3rd price - Kate Spade kikay kit (floral)

Faye is having a contest on her blog and is open to all international readers. Read more about the contest here.

The Contest Ends on the 8th of Sept 2010 so if you wish to participate you must enter before that date. Winners will be announced on Sept 18,2010! The winners will be picked through Random.org!

The mechanics of her contest is very simple. Here’s how:

1. Subscribe to her feed via email located right side bar (REQUIRED) - 1 Entry
2. Blog about the contest along with the Prizes {You MUST include the Prizes and My link}- 5 Entries
- If you have multiple blogs, much better. Each blog post along with the Prizes -5 Entries.
3. Leave a comment in this post telling Faye what you did and give the link of the blog post. 1 Entry.
4. Comment to any of her post. From August 8,2010 to Sept 8,2010 and you’ll have 1 entry each comment.
-Make it sure it’s at least three word ! LOL And NO SPAMMING, PLEASE!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Happy birthday!!!

Posted by CHAT at 5:06 PM 0 comments

IMG_6546

My darling Claire,

You came by surprise to us. The moment we could finally see you, I though I lost you. I got knocked down after the operation and the last thing I heard was a faint cry. When I woke up, I wanted to see you badly. It has been an agonizing two days before I finally held you with my arms. I fell in love with you, and you have sucked my soul deep down.

You are a good baby. You didn't give me a hard time on your first three months. You sleep all through the night. Thank you. Seeing you so tiny and fragile, I decided to breastfeed you so long I can. I mustered all my strengths and sacrificed each single time to express my precious milk just for you. It came a surprise I lasted 8 months.

You are a sweet child. You loved to be cuddled and always wanted to be played with most especially with your Kuya and Dad. I thought you were prim and proper but you were getting louder and louder every single day.

You are an independent child. You are now showing independence. You rarely like to be held and carried. Instead, you want to explore on your own. You didn't mind all the bumps you get.

And as you turn one, I would like to say sorry. Sorry for we weren't able to give you a party you deserve. You'd know the reasons in time. I wish you wouldn't see us less of a parent someday.

Happy birthday my little darling. We will forever love you.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Everyday school baon

Posted by CHAT at 8:31 PM 0 comments

I can’t believe how time really flies so fast. Joshua has been in big school for more than two months now, turning three months when August ends. That means, he has been eating cookies and cupcakes and breads day after day, five times a week as his baon. I’m one mother who has lost all the ideas of what to give him for recess. Good thing I found an article written by Tita Amy sharing 10 gourmet pandesal baon treats for the kids.

 

10 Gourmet pandesal baon treats for your kids

 

School’s back! For moms, this could only mean one thing - a whole new year of facing the biggest challenge all mothers with school-age kids must deal with everyday: what baon to prepare for their growing kids.

 

As for me, the start of school takes me back to the late 70s when opening my fifth grade red and green checkered lunch box meant anticipating what treats could be found inside. However, despite holding my breath before opening it each time, my lunch kit held the same thing everyday: fresh calamansi juice. I don’t know what possessed my mom but she made me fresh calamansi juice everyday such that my Thermos jug smelled of freshly-squeezed calamansi even if it only had water in it.

 

And every single day, my daily calamansi juice came with one thing: a pandesal with some kind of filling in it. This was the 70's, a time when it was totally uncool to eat pandesal in school. The cool kids had sandwiches with different types of palaman (fillings) – ham and cheese, hotdogs, burgers, corned beef and luncheon meat. They were the rich kids—the ones who raved about having a taste of pizza pie (yes, it was known to be a pie back then), most likely from 3M. To keep my lowly pandesal from my seatmates’ condescending eyes, there was only thing I could do—gobble it up in two bites.

 

Fast forward some 30 years and I’ve had just about as much pizza as any grown woman could possibly eat or want. But the age-old question remains: what would your kid’s baon be today, tomorrow, and the day after that? The quick answer still is: a sandwich. Some bread with some kind of filling in it.

 

The only difference is that today, my pandesal and my sassy seatmate’s “tasty bread" a.k.a. American white bread could be whole wheat, 5-grain, sugar-free, even a snooty foccacia. And now, the variety of palaman to fill them with are just as mind-boggling, and hence, preparing our kids’ baon has become more challenging—and fun!

 

What type of bread should go with what type of palaman? Would peanut butter and jelly go well on foccacia? And the even bigger dilemma: is a sandwich enough to fill a growing child’s daily nutritional needs? Will a sandwich of barely-there ham and mayo sustain your kid through the challenges of the day? Can your kid show off and share his or her sandwich with his or her bestie (bestfriend)?

 

If I were to be a fifth-grader all over again and armed with my now grown-up knowledge of food and all things good and edible, my grubby hands would be reaching for gourmet sandwiches that are packed with flavor and of course, healthy. But even with all the different types of bread out there, my choice for bread still remains to be the humble pandesal, which can either be whole wheat or sugar free. It goes well with the calamansi juice that my Nanay Lily used to make and it can hold a motley of spreads and fillings that can take the pandesal to a new level of gourmet distinction.

 

Here are 10 Gourmet Pandesal ‘Wiches guaranteed to make any kid the toast of the class every recess time – all homemade and with very few processed ingredients:

 

1. CHICKEN ADOBO and KESONG PUTI

Spread some butter on each side of the pandesal and toast. Put a slice of kesong puti on the bottom side and top with shredded chicken adobo.

 

2. SMOKED SALMON

Whole-wheat pandesal with smoked salmon garnished lettuce, a slice of tomato and cucumber. Use cream cheese spread instead of mayonnaise on the pandesal slices.

 

3. GRILLED VEGETABLES

Slice a jumbo (oversized) pandesal into half. Mix two cloves of minced garlic into ¼ cup of mayonnaise. Grill some sliced eggplants, tomato, bell peppers and zucchini. Spread the garlic mayonnaise on each Panini slice and layer the grilled veggies on the sandwich.

 

4. TURKEY HAM

Whole wheat pandesal with turkey ham and low-fat mayo, lettuce, a slice of tomato and cucumber. Just make sure you don’t put just one thin slice of turkey ham on the sandwich—three would be just about right.

 

5. BEEFY BURGER

Make some homemade burger patties with lean ground beef, onions, minced garlic and carrots and season with pepper, salt, a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Top with a slice of low-fat cheese and garnish with lettuce, tomato and cucumber or a pickle.

 

6. PINOY BRUSCHETTA

Cut a pandesal into several ¼-inch thick slices (just like crostini slices). Mix some minced garlic into 2 tbsp of butter. Spread on the crostini-pandesal and toast. Combine cubed kesong puti, chopped tomatoes, minced garlic, ¼ tsp of dried basil, a dash of Italian seasoning and pepper, and 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil. Put the mixture in a small leak-proof plastic container. To eat, spread some of the tomato-kesong puti mixture onto the pandesal.

 

7. CHUNKY TUNA

Mix some flaked tuna (in water) with low-fat mayo, pickle relish and minced onions (not too much). Spread on the pandesal. May be served with lettuce and a slice of low-fat cheese.

 

8. CHICKEN GALANTINA

Make your own chicken galantina or embotido using ground chicken breast (500g), 3 tbps minced bell peppers, ¼ cup minced onions, ¼ cup minced carrots, ¼ cup grated cheese, 2 tbsps catsup, ¼ cup breadcrumbs, 2 tbps. flour and an egg. Season with salt and pepper. Shape mixture into an embotido on aluminum foil. Seal both ends well. Steam over boiling water for 40 minutes and let it cool. You may do this before hand and keep in the chiller until you are ready to make your sandwich. Slice your pandesal in half, spread some low-fat mayo on each side and put a ½ -inch slice of chicken galantina.

 

9. SPANISH SARDINES

Saute two tablespoons of chopped onions then put in the Spanish sardines. Spread low-fat mayonnaise on pandesal slices and put just enough of the Spanish sardines-onion mixture. Add a pickle slice or two if you like. You may serve with scrambled eggs on the side and tomato and cucumber slices.

 

10. CHICKEN PESTO

Of course, you can always just buy a bottle of pesto sauce in a grocery but it’s better to make your homemade pesto using chopped cashew nuts, basil, parmesan cheese, minced garlic and some olive oil. Put everything in a food processor, pulse and reduce to a spreadable mixture. Flake some cooked chicken breast. Spread homemade pesto on each slice of the pandesal and top with the flaked chicken.

 

The varieties of healthy baon treats for your kids are endless. Of course, it’s always easier to just make a corned beef or hotdog sandwich but it’s a good way to start them young on good eating habits. Train your kid to be a little gourmet eater and while you’re at it, put in a fruit cup, a banana, a bunch of grapes or sliced mangoes, papaya or melons in his or her lunch box. It’s a healthy way to sweeten your kids’ day and trust me, they’ll remember and love you more for it.

 

GMA News

My breast is still the best

Posted by CHAT at 12:13 AM 0 comments

No need for an explanation why until now, even if not exclusively, I still breastfeed my little girl.

Breastfeeding, also called nursing, is an easy, inexpensive and healthy way to feed your infant. Recommendations are to breastfeed your newborn for the first 12 months of life because of the many benefits to both you and your baby. However, it's important to know that the American Academy of Pediatricians recommends breastfeeding for those women who don't have health problems.

 

Benefits to baby

Breastfeeding offers many benefits to your baby. Breast fed babies have lower rates of asthma, gastroenteritis, and ear infections, as well as higher levels of development and intelligence. Breast milk contains two specific fatty acids that may help increase the infant's brain development. Breast fed infants, and those who are fed expressed breast milk, have fewer deaths during the first year. Not only that, but breast fed infants have fewer illnesses than babies fed formula. Finally, breast milk helps prevent common childhood illnesses and infections.

 

Benefits to mom

Breastfeeding offers many benefits to you as a mother. These benefits include a more rapid return of uterine tone, postpartum weight loss, delay of ovulation, and decreased risk of breast, ovarian, and endometrial cancers. There is evidence that indicates many mothers that breastfeed have fewer episodes of postpartum depression.

 

Lactation consultants

Breastfeeding offers many benefits to you and your baby. If you are breastfeeding and experiencing difficulty contact your health center, healthcare provider's office or hospital for help. A lactation consultant, someone trained to help women with breastfeeding, may be able to help you. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about getting help with breastfeeding.

 

When not to breastfeed

In certain situations, women are advised not to breastfeed. This may be due to certain health conditions, medicines or a chronic illness. It is always important to discuss with your healthcare provider how you plan to feed your baby.

 

Yahoo Health

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Christmas gifts

Posted by CHAT at 11:33 PM 0 comments

Would you believe that as early as now, I am already scouting for gifts for Joshua’s teachers, teacher aide, classmates and CASA guards. Seriously! I have already listed a few items and if budget permits, these will materialize. I’m just having a hard time as to what to give to his classmates as they were 19 of them.

I found out this uber cute personalized keychain made from Polymer Clay. This was is from Poxee Shop.DSC01512Ain’t it cute? I have already inquired about it and sad to say, I have to cross it out as a Christmas gift for his classmates. It’ll be expensive to order 19 pieces of it. But I’m thinking of giving this out though to my girl colleagues.

So, I have to look for alternative gifts for his classmates. On my list includes sugar cookies which I think is a very, very safe and common gift during Christmas. What else can we give? Any ideas?

Monday, August 2, 2010

1st Quarterly Exam

Posted by CHAT at 7:49 PM 0 comments

Because of what happened here, I make sure to check Joshua’s bag once I get home. Last Friday, I was really surprised as he didn’t bring his plastic envelope home. It’s only during Fridays that they bring the envelope home to show their parents the activity sheets they have done for the week as well as the assignments they need to finish during weekends.

Yesterday, after school, Joshua went home with the plastic envelope.

“Mom, Teacher Angel said to bring this back Monday next week.”

I browse all the folders and guess what! The very reason why the kids brought their envelope is for them to be reviewed by their parents or caregivers as they will be having their first quarterly exam on Wednesday until Friday (Language, Mathematics, Sensorial Arts and Cultural Arts).

Of course, I – the ever cramming, OC mother – made sure to browse the activity sheets and the assignment sheets and make a similar exam based on the reviewer notes. I photocopied it in three copies and ask my cousin/mother to review my kid once he gets home today.

I just wish he excel as this is the first time he’ll be experiencing such. Go Kuya Joshua! Make Mom, Dad and Claire proud of you.

 

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