Oh My la Senza

This was my surprise gift from hubby. 

I was rushing to be at Active Play last Saturday because I was out with my Kumare for a date. And the family will be having a Christmas dinner at that time. I'm glad I was able to make it before the said dinner. So when I was in the play house already, my SIL handed me the paper bag and told me it was from her Kuya. Wow, so I said thank you. Prior to that, on my way to the venue, I was thinking if hubby ever thought of any surprise for me and for her little girl. But I dismissed the thought, expecting and getting disappointed is kinda painful. haha!

I never dared ask hubby if its his idea. Or my MIL or SIL's idea, buying these:

But nevertheless, I love it! And the size is just right! hahaha! I've been wanting to buy a piece from la Senza for ages, but because its too pricey, I wasn't able to! Now, its like a dream come true already!

The feeling of being surprised?

A sheer bliss!

Thank you hubby!

Chicken Katsu Recipe

Remember my post about the newly opened Japanese Restaurant named Yabu: The House of Katsu at SM Megamall? Well, I found a recipe about their famous japanese katsu just now. It is so simple and affordable. I might as well include it for New Year's eve.

Ingredients:

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 cup oil for frying, or as needed

Directions:

Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper. Place the flour, egg and panko crumbs into separate shallow dishes. Coat the chicken breasts in flour, shaking off any excess. Dip them into the egg, and then press into the panko crumbs until well coated on both sides.

Heat 1/4 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken in the hot oil, and cook 3 or 4 minutes per side, or until golden brown.

Pasta Arrabiata Recipe

I was browsing earlier for easy and affordable recipes to prepare on new year's eve. The last time I dined at Italianni's with a friend we ordered something similar to pasta arrabiata, I am not so sure whether its pasta arrabiata or arrabiato. But sheeessshh, the dish was so delish. You should try it too!

Anyhoo, here's the recipe I found at myrecipes.com.

Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons minced garlic (about 5 cloves)
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 (28-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 (29-ounce) can tomato puree
• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 (16-ounce) box penne pasta
• 1/2 cup freshly shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese blend*
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
• Garnishes: Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese shavings, fresh basil sprigs

Directions:

1. Sauté garlic in hot oil in a 6-quart saucepan over medium heat 1 minute. Add tomatoes and tomato puree. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low. Stir in red pepper flakes and next 4 ingredients; cook, stirring occasionally, 20 minutes.
2. Prepare pasta in a large Dutch oven according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Return pasta and reserved cooking liquid to Dutch oven, and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
3. Stir basil into tomato sauce, and pour 3 cups sauce over pasta. Toss to coat. Serve with remaining sauce. Garnish, if desired.
4. *1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese may be substituted.

Lunch at Tokyo Cafe

My kid is a food critic, well that's according to her grandma (my MIL). When we went to Mall of Asia to have lunch during their field trip, this young lady dragged me inside of Tokyo Cafe. Obviously it wasn't her first time there. She's been there couple of times already. And yes, maybe she knows the food at heart.

Well, what can I do but to surrender to her whim. :)

I ordered a glass of lemon ice tea for her drink.

My favorite pasta with mushroom and shrimp. Pardon me, I forgot what it is called. :(

And she ordered this burger with fries for herself.

The foods were superb as always. And looking forward to taste all their yummy foods.

Back-Packer

I am a heavy packer when it comes to trips. I dunno, I just feel the need of packing extra stuffs for unexpected incidents. My bag or should I say bags were packed one or two days ahead so that gave me enough time to go through my things again in case of if I forget something.

But this time, when I packed our things for our short vacation, I was surprised that I packed light. Wew! Mind you, both my tot's stuffs and mine were in this bag.

Congratulate me! Hahaha!

It is not my kind of bag, really. But I realized, it is more comfortable especially when I bring my tot's with me during trips.

Now, I'm loving my The North Face bag. :)

Oatmeal: My Daughter's Almost Everyday Breakfast

Good thing there are now varieties of oatmeal in the market and there is an instant option too. With the many brands popping out, there is this only brand that me and my kiddo like.

Waking up sometimes late and preparing for breakfast in a short time, eats our time prepping up for school. That's why I stock foods that can be easily prepared especially when rushing.

And number one in my list is oatmeal. And another reason to be grateful for oat-lovers is it also has different flavors. That's why my tot loving it too much that it became her daily breakfast meal.

Oats Nutritional Facts:

Oats and heart health-

The Oatmeal and oat bran are rich in dietary fiber, i.e both soluble and insoluble. One of the most important components of the soluble fibre abundantly present in oats is beta-glucans. These beta glucans have been studied to aid in lowering blood cholesterol levels. The benefits are attributed to the fact that when soluble fiber passes through the digestive tract, they break down and form a gel like substance. This gel then traps the cholesterol carrying bile acids and in turn reduces the absorption of cholesterol into the blood stream and the adjoining cells. So, the entire process results in entrapping of the bad LDL cholesterol without having any effect on the good HDL cholesterol.

Oats and grains also contain compounds called tocotrienols, which are basically antioxidants which form vitamin E along with tocopherols. These tocotrienols reduce the free radical damage, inhibit cholesterol synthesis and help to lower blood cholesterol levels. A reduced synthesis and absorption of LDL cholesterol help to reduce the risk to coronary heart diseases. However, the point to be noted is that Oats and other whole grains shall be most effective in improving heart health, when consumed as part of a low-fat, high-fiber diet taken together with regular exercise.

It is recommended to have at least ½-1 cup (1½-3 ounces) of oats every day, so as to derive its health benefits. The oats may be prepared into hot cereal or porridges. However, there have been instances where excess consumption of oat bran have led to digestive complaints.

Oats and blood sugar levels-

The beta glucan present in oats helps to slow down the rise in blood glucose levels after a meal and also helps to delay the absorption into the cells. Here’s how it works. We have already seen that the soluble fiber forms a gel like structure while passing through the digestive tract. This gel increases the viscosity of the contents of the stomach and small intestine, which in turn slows down digestion and prolongs the absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream. This means that drastic fluctuations in the blood sugar levels after eating is avoided and a stable glucose level is maintained. This is desirable, especially for weight loss seekers and diabetics. Similar benefits may be derived by intake of other sources of soluble fiber like whole grains, fresh fruit and vegetables.

Oats and weight control-

The dietary fiber helps to make you feel full faster and longer. This help to reduce cravings and bingeing tendencies and leads to better chances of losing weight effectively. Oats also help to improve the athletic performance by providing calories for meeting the energy demands of a workout. They tend to improve metabolism, when eaten an hour before work outs.

 Additionally, oats contain phyto chemicals (plant chemicals which have been associated with protection against chronic disease like cancer) and a good balance of essential fatty acids. Oats are also a storehouse of essential vitamins such as thiamin, folic acid, biotin and minerals such as zinc, selenium, copper, iron, manganese and magnesium.

Wow, there are plenty of reasons to include oats to our meal. Not bad for daily consumption, not at all.

Disney on Ice at The Big Dome

Oh my!

Just reading the title makes me want to withdraw and back out on our upcoming field trip this Friday.

If only I have known this earlier... tssskkk...

I've been dreaming for my daughter to go to Disneyland someday. Well, everyone- including white-haired adults, for sure has dreamt of going there. You know, the thrill of seeing those famous Disney characters, who wouldn't like the idea?

Its like a treat good for life. lol

I was disappointed and nearly depressed already (kinda exaggerated?NO!!!) and I blame myself for not reading or watching too much news. But then, thanks to Facebook- where it was posted by Smart Parenting.

Anyhooo, the said show will be crowded with more than 50 Disney friends. Imagine that? It will start on Christmas day at SMART Araneta Coliseum. It is a never-before-seen show, Disney on Ice presents Let's Celebrate.

The all-new production will showcase a magical medley of holidays and celebrations that will transform the Big Dome into a colossal party on ice.  Audiences young and old will be delighted as they join Mickey Mouse and friends on a delightful tour of festivities jam-packed with fun surprises, spectacular skating and vibrant costumes. Filipinos will be enthralled as they witness one exciting event after another, including a Valentine's Royal Ball with the newest Disney princess, Tiana; a very Merry UnBirthday Party with Alice and the Mad Hatter; Jack Skellington's frightfully festive Halloween Party with the Disney Villains; and a Hawaiian luau with Lilo and Stitch.

It will be from December 25, 2011 to January 3, 2012,  call Ticketnet at 911-5555 for purchases and show schedules.