Coffee with Friends

At a cozy corner in Caffe Nero...

From left to right: Perry, Kuya Jhun and Roni

Clockwise from top: chocolate fudge cake, tiramisu and white chocolate mocha

Vampires vs. Wolves, Zombies & a Food Storm

Went on a movie marathon again, this time I had horror, romance, action and comedy in the menu.

1) New Moon (http://www.twilightthemovie.com/) reminded me of how it was like to be a teenager on the throes of falling in love. While I hated Bella's selfishness (though she was honest about it), I was actually rooting for Jacob Black despite the fact that we all know how this love triangle ends. Can there be an alternative ending?

2) I asked myself, will I be able to survive a day in a land full of zombies? Probably not. But Zombieland (http://www.zombieland.com/) makes it look easy - just follow Columbus' Rules for Survival. Interesting how the characters had no name but referred to each other by the place of their origin (Tallahassee, Columbus, Wichita and Little Rock). There are a few memorable scenes like the opening scene (of course), Bill Murray's cameo, the fireplace scene where Tallahassee talked about his dead son, and the scene where Tallahasse finally got to eat a twinkie - enjoy the little things (Rule #32).

3) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (http://www.cloudywithachanceofmeatballs.com/) made my mouth water.

Of victuals

Someone, older and suffering from high cholesterol level, told me that we should enjoy our favorite foods while we're still young, healthy and able but in moderate amounts. This statement made me fell less guilty about my secret, once-in-a-while food binges and so I listed down, in no particular order, just some of my favorite eats and made a mental note to have them whenever I can - in moderate amounts.

Chilli's: Citrus Fire Chicken & Shrimp, Texas Fries, Quesadilla
Don Henrico's: Bottomless Iced Tea, Buffalo Wings
7-Eleven: Bola-bola Siopao, Slurpee
Andok's: Lechon Manok
The Noodle Room Express: Pad Thai, Chicken with Black Bean Sauce, Kung Pao Chicken
Tapsi ni Vivian: Tapsilog, Tortang Talong, Adobong Pusit
Lapid's: Pork Chicharon (yung may laman)
Chinese Dragon: Seafood Hot Pan
Shalimar: Beef Chilli, Thai Chicken, Chicken Sweet Corn Soup, Mixed Fried Rice, Mixed Grill
Al Sahary Restaurant: Shawarma
Safeenat Al Bahar: Cajun Burger, Fruit Cocktail
Pizza Inn: Potato Wedges
Hardees: Mushroom n' Swiss Burger
KFC: Toasted Twister, Chicken Popcorn, Gravy, Spaghetti, Brownie
Caesar's: Tiramisu, Chocolate Mousse, Spicy Chicken Pizza, Garlic Chicken Roll
Masaya: Chicken Wings
McDonald's: Fries, Apple Pie, Big Tasty, Hashbrown
Carl's Jr.: Onion Rings
Baskin Robbins: Banana Berry Shake
Dunkin Donuts: Boston Creme
Jollibee: Aloha Burger, Tuna Sandwich, Spaghetti, Burger Steak, Peach Mango Pie, Crisscut Fries
Pancake House: Fried Chicken & Gravy
Sweet Sunflower Seeds from China
Hot Bread: Danish Bread (assorted)
Tropical Hut: Burger Steak (esp. for breakfast)
Shakey's: Mojo Potatoes
Max's: Lumpia Shanghai, Caramel Squares
Pizza Hut: Salad Bar
Wendy's: Frosty, Salad
Mang Inasal: Chicken Inasal, Bbq
Starbucks: Mocha Java
Corn Cucumber Smoked Cheese Iceberg Lettuce Ham Salad with Thousand Island Dressing
Fresh Chicken King: Chicken with Mushroom
Spinneys: Almond Croissant, Potato/Russian Salad, Mexican Chicken Roll, Maple & Pecan Rolls
Chowking: Lumpia Shanghai, Nai Cha, Daing na Bangus with Kangkong & Bagoong, King's Congee
Doritos Nacho Cheese with Old El Paso Salsa Mild & Cheese Salsa
Frito Lays Ruffles Cheese/Sour Cream
Goldilocks: Dinuguan, Laing, Fruit Salad, Lumpia Sariwa, Bbq
Kenny Roger's: Fiesta Roast Chicken, Corn Muffin, Baby Potatoes, Corn & Carrot, Cheese Macaroni
Arns' Guinataang Tulingan (Bicol Style)
Capricorn & Fortune Bakery: Pandesiosa
Red Ribbon: Chocolate Mousse, Caramel Crunch, Mango Sylvanas
Perry's Sizzling Sisig
Danao Orange Banana Strawberry Cocktail
Burger King: Chicken Fries, Mushroom n' Swiss / King Burger
China House Restaurant: Chilli Prawns, Fried Rice
Greenwich: Hashbrown, Pizza Hawaiian / Supreme
Arns' Estrelladong Tuna
French Baker: Lasagna
Ferrero Rocher, Cadbury's Milk Tray, Godiva / Lindt Collection, Patchi, Butterfinger, Hershey's Pot of Gold: Chocolates
Seattle's Best: Frappuccino
Selecta: Coffee Crumble
Al Jazeera Restaurant: Biryani
Malabon's Kakanin sa Bilao, Pancit
Pospas ni Aling Nena: Pospas, Tokwa't Baboy
Activia Strawberry Yogurt
Triple V Express: Green Mango Salad, Dinuguan, Siomai
Subway: "Create your own sandwich" (basta may Philly Steak)
Molo's: Sizzling Gambas, Steamed Boneless Bangus, Crispy Pata, Fried Ice Cream
Miggy's: Burrito Dog, Quesadilla, Soft Taco
Popeye: Fried Chicken
Texas Chicken: Mexicana Burger
ENOC: Spicy Hotdog
Kowloon West: Lumpia Shanghai, Pansit
Luyong: Tortang Itlog, Ampalaya Con Carne
Golden Crown: Chicken Lollipop
Jif Peanut Butter with Honey

The Oatmeal Challenge

Our Challenge:
Lose weight by 1 to 2 kg within one month (easy peasy!).

Our Plan:
To have only oatmeal (and nothing else) for dinner every night for this month.

Our Method:
1. Go to supermarket.
2. Buy oatmeal (to look for the no-cook variety because we're lazy!)

Notes:
We took the Jungle Oatso Easy Banana Toffee Flavoured No-Cook Oatmeal which comes in a box of 10 sachets (Strawberry and Chocolate flavors are also available, but this one's the winner because it's two flavors in one).

Implementation:
Day 1
Boil 360 ml of water. While waiting, prepare 2 bowls and pour the contents of 2 sachets (1 bowl : 1 sachet). Pour 180 ml of boiling water into each bowl then mix. Wait for about 2 to 3 minutes, then dig in!

Result:
It was over from day 1. Arns could not (and will not) survive on a bowl of oatmeal for dinner... heehee!!!

Pizza la sera...

Just when I thought the day would pass uneventful and I was about to take a shower, brush my teeth and turn-in for the night... Arns surprises me with a box of pizza! Yay!

Pizza courtesy of Anabel

Schezwan Prawns for dinner!

There is this Chinese Restaurant in the area where we've first tasted this spicy dish. The entry in the menu is actually "Chilli Prawns". They serve it boiling on a vessel with a small stove underneath (they put out the fire - and the fun - after setting the vessel on your table) and we really love the smell and the smoky flavor. We like it so much but eating outside is always expensive so I thought of trying to make it at home. I wondered what makes the smoky flavor. We went there and ordered this dish siguro twice or mga tatlong beses pa and every time, tinitingnan ko talaga lahat ng kasama ng prawns doon so plato ko. I thought it was the dried chilli at first, pero may nakita akong parang paminta and it was giving that signature "smoky" scent. I googled Chinese herbs and spices and landed on a page describing Schezwan peppercorns (also called Sichuan). Eureka! I found my secret ingredient!

And what a coincidence! Kuya Rey is visiting from China! Kaso, di rin niya alam yung Schezwan peppercorns. Buti na lang he had help from his Chinese colleagues and after a few hits and misses (may language barrier e!) and another help from Google (I mailed him the pictures), nakabili rin siya! In the end, I got 2 kilos of Schezwan peppercorns, 1 kilo each of black and white peppercorns, and some dried red chilli (yay!!!). Bait talaga ni Kuya Rey...

Finally, I made my first batch... and it was a hit! Hurrah!

And with 2 kilos of Schezwan peppercorns, I can make this any time.

Yum! Bon appetit!

And here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

Tiger Prawns (you can shell and chuck the head if you prefer it)

Schezwan Peppercorns, toasted

Garlic, chopped

Dried Red Chilli

Bell Pepper, deseeded and sliced into strips

Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce

Canola Oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:

Heat canola oil in a wok. Saute garlic until fragrant, then add bell pepper. Put in the tiger prawns, toasted schezwan peppercorns, dried red chilli, salt and pepper. Saute for a while until the prawns become pink. Mix in enough Thai sweet chilli sauce to make it saucy and simmer for a little while. Voila! Your Schezwan Prawns are done.

This is very simple and basic, you can revamp this recipe by adding some more herbs or spices, maybe like shallots or paprika to suit your taste.