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| Monday, June 9, 2008 |
| Concoction: The Italian Soda |
Prior to Master Joh's birthday, I have never heard of Italian soda. Have you? Pardon my ignorance if the whole world has known of this really cool drink. Now I actually feel like I belong somewhere among the elite. ;) Hah! This coming from somebody currently obsessed with Cali Ice and Tortillas. Eh.. I have no idea why.
Anyway, I have been going about thinking about that special drink for sometime now - considering that it is almost a month since I tasted it, and I have yet to ask Master Joh how they made that, or if it came from a bottle - but I don't think so, really. So I went about my usual gallivanting in cyberspace and thought to finally look up the recipe - if any - on how to make Italian soda.
Here is what I got. I just compiled it since most recipes direct you to do the same thing:
Ingredients:
- 4 tbsp. syrup
- 3/4 c. milk (some recipes do not include this)
- Carbonated water
- Crushed ice
Direction(s):
Mix the syrup and milk in a tall glass. Add carbonated water and ice until the glass is full. (Don't try mixing the ingredients in any other order or the milk will curdle.)
~~
Here is a video on how to make the Italian soda. The first part, before the lady pours in the cream is the Italian soda. After she pours the cream and the whipped cream, it becomes the Italian creamosa. :) More stuff learned today!
The video is courtesy of ExpertVillage.com
 Labels: drinks, food, good finds, how to, recipes, tips, tips tricks |
| posted by Ann @ 8:14 PM
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| Saturday, May 10, 2008 |
| Saturday Recipes: Easy Quick Fix Club Sandwich |
My day started out with a huge craving for a sandwich. All I want is an honest to goodness Dagwood sandwich. Even thinking about it right now is making my stomach growl. Considering that I haven't had a decent breakfast or a good enough lunch, I think I just might be able to have room to down one and a half of a Dagwood sandwich. Care to test my theory? :D
The Dagwood Sandwich
However, in light of my health goals and other pocket concerns, I think I might have to resort to just making my own sandwich. I actually found a recipe online, but since there are some ingredients that are hard to find or are costly, I tweaked it up a bit and I believe this will serve as a basic club sandwich.
INGREDIENTS
- 2 slices crisp bacon
- 3 slices toasted bread
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 leaves lettuce
- 2 slices cold cut ham (can be substituted for any meat you prefer)
- 2 slices tomato
DIRECTIONS
- Place bacon in a heavy skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain on paper towels.
- Spread each slice of bread with mayonnaise. On one slice of toast, place the ham and lettuce. Cover with a slice of toast, then the bacon and tomato. Top with last slice of toast.
There! Think that's easy enough? It's yummy, too! I believe it could pass off as a complete meal already.
As for me, my stomach is really, really noisy now... Sandwich!! Sandwich!!
Alright, folks! Chow down!
Labels: bread, cooking, Dagwood sandwich, food, ham, health, healthy living, homegrown, how to, recipes, sandwich |
| posted by Ann @ 3:00 PM
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| Sunday, April 13, 2008 |
| Tibicos: Miracle Grains |
"Tibicos, also known as tibi, water kefir grains, sugar kefir grains, Japanese water crystals and California Bees, are a culture of bacteria and yeast held in a polysaccharide matrix created by the bacteria." - Wikipedia Around a week ago, my colleagues and I visited a friend who was hospitalized due to a number of problems on her pelvic area. That time she was hospitalized and given stenting to help drain her right kidney which had given her some pains due to the fact that it had somewhat gotten shut off after receiving her 3rd Cesarean Section.
Due to the fact that she is having more operations in the coming months, she has visited the local Carmelites convent frequently. On her last visit, the kind Sister gave her tibicos which had arrived a month or so ago. It has been believed that tibicos somehow "heals" those who drink the beverage it forms when mixed with water and molasses.
It is said that Mother Theresa of Calcutta once journeyed to Tibet and was given these gels by the monks and masters of the region for her work. And that was how the Carmelite Sisters came across the grains which was sent from Manila, who received it from an outside source, too. In fact, it is because of these supposed healing powers that the grains are being given to those who are in need.
Tibicos are found all over the world, and there are no two cultures which are the same. "Typical tibicos have a mix of Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Pediococcus and Leuconostoc bacteria with yeasts from Saccharomyces, Candida, Kloeckera and possibly others." (Wikipedia)
There are many ways to prepare tibicos for consumption which can be found all over the Internet. The following mixture was the one given by my colleague who in turn received it from the Carmelite Sister.
Ingredients:
- 1 liter water
- 2-3 molasses
- Tibicos grains
Instruction(s):
- Mix water, tibicos grains, and molasses in a huge jar.
- Allow to ferment for 24-48 hours.
- Drain carefully using a clean cloth. Do not throw away grains (these can be reused).
Note: Some sources say that people with defective kidneys should not drink this mixture as there are some bacteria that cannot be handled by the kidneys.
In this case, my colleague stopped drinking it for now since the state of her kidneys are not yet so clear... But she is sharing them. I look forward to having my share of these grains. I want to give some to my mom who I think badly needs it. Just a little faith in these miracle grains just might be the trick. ;)
Cheers!
Labels: Carmelites Sisters, cure, health, healthy living, Mother Theresa, recipes, remedies, tibicos |
| posted by Ann @ 10:44 AM
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| Saturday, April 5, 2008 |
| The Secret Recipe of the Mouthwatering Watermelon Salad |
My mom has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. What I love about her cooking is that she tries not to put a lot of twists and turns into anything. Perhaps it is because she is a very busy woman that she has accumulated a number of quick fixes for different occassions. Sometimes her methods apall me (being my grandmother's granddaughter), but most of the time, I love to copy them.
One of her many quick treats is the one I am about to share. I have been dreaming of this for days now, and I hope you can enjoy it with me.
The summer heat is just absolutely killing me. Who wouldn't want to cool down with a treat as juicy and yummy as this..?
I call this one, "AiAi's Chop n Mix Watermelon Salad".
Ingredients:
- 1 watermelon (the size is up to you)
- 1 box cheese (I use EDEN)
- 1 large can evaporated milk
- 1 small can condensed milk
Instructions:
- Cut the watermelon into small bite sized pieces. The seeds may be taken out or not. Set it aside.
- Cut the cheese into small cubes. Set it aside.
- Open the cans of milk.
- Pour the milk into the watermelon. Make sure to taste it so that you can adjust it to your preference.
- Add the cheese to the watermelon in milk. Mix it well.
- Put salad/mixture in the refrigerator until cooled.
- Serve.
The watermelon salad can be served with ice cubes mixed in it.
Even as I write this, my mouth waters. *sigh* I can't wait to mix it up today. It is not so complicated, and I like it. Certainly a very nice treat for the summer, too! ;) Enjoy!!!Labels: fruits, healthy living, homegrown, nutrition, recipes, salad |
| posted by Ann @ 7:49 AM
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| Sunday, March 30, 2008 |
| How to Make Delicious Potato Salad |
One of the things my friends swear by, is my grandmother's potato salad. They say it is absolutely, YUMMY! So, I will do the world a favor by sharing her version of this salad to you. It is not that hard, and you do not exactly have to follow everything by the book. There is no exact measuring and you can adjust everything to your preference. Isn't that nice? ;) You'll love it! Trust me. If not, well then, at least you tried. :D
I call it, "Lily's Potato Salad". Here it goes:
Ingredients:
- 2 kilos potato
- 2 tetra packs Mayo
- 1 can pineapple chunks
- 1 chicken breast
- 2 apples (preferably Fuji apples)
- pepper
- sugar
- salt
- pickled relish
- mustard
- white onion (finely chopped)
- chicken cubes
Instructions:
I.
- Wash the chicken breast and put to boil. When boiling, but garlic, onion, chicken cubes, salt, vetsin (optional), and a dash of pepper.
- Check if chicken breast is already soft or cooked.
- Take the chicken out of the soup to cool. DO NOT THROW AWAY CHICKEN STOCK/BROTH.
- Once chicken is cooled, shed chicken into small strips.
II.
- Peel the potatoes
- Depending on the size of the potatoes, chop until 1/4 of the size of a small potato.
- Cook the potatoes in the chicken broth. [To test if potatoes are already cooked, push a toothpick into one. If it goes right in, then it is ready.]
- Use a colander when removing the potatoes from the broth.
III.
- Mix the chicken strips and potatoes, pineapple chunks [drained], and chopped apples [same size as the potatoes].
- Season to taste using salt, pepper, mustard, pickle relish, mayo, etc.
Enjoy!
If you have questions or clarifications, please do not hesitate to ask.
[Edit: I forgot something, guys. Awfully sorry. I left out the pineapple chunks and the chopped apples.]
Labels: cooking, homegrown, how to, potato, recipes, salad, tips, tricks |
| posted by Ann @ 6:11 PM
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| About Me |
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Name: Ann
Home: Philippines
About Me: even when she has fairy wings on, this girl is anything BUT dainty. perhaps the size, the weight, and the personality alone are just too much for her to be considered delicate, prim, proper, and refined. this girl with the mud smudged cheeks has been down on the ground one to many times. these times forced her to be tougher, smarter, and more savvy than she has ever been. perhaps she will always be, never dainty.
email me: neverdainty [at] gmail [dot] com
See my complete profile
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