Gel Jose

#QuarantineCookbook: Lemon Square #SiksikSaSarap Recipes

One of the few bright spots of the community quarantine and being stuck home is the emergence of many a newbie baker’s latent genius in the kitchen.

I’ve been through a baking phase a few years ago but I gradually lost interest due to lack of time and the increasing demands of my job.

When the quarantine was put in place, however, I found myself with more time on my hands and eager to get back into the kitchen to whip up tasty treats for the fam. Being the sweet tooth I am, these dishes tend to be desserts.

I was also recently issued with a challenge: create a snack or dessert using Lemon Square Cheesecake as one of the ingredients.

Lemon Square is a thirty-five-year-old brand that has been serving up real goodness through affordable and nutritious snacks. It has a family of flavors that cater to every personality and snacking quirk in the brood, starting from its flagship variant, Lemon Square Cheesecake, to snack cakes Lemon Square Whatta Tops and Lemon Square Lava Cake, as well as Lemon Square Whatta Flakes crackers and Lemon Square Cookie Bites.

Well, challenge accepted!

Here are – not one, not two, but – three desserts using four of Lemon Square variants. Check them out:

Crema de Fruta with Lemon Square Cheesecake

Ingredients:

1 pack (10 pcs) Lemon Square Cheesecake
1 small can (432 g) of fruit cocktail (drain the fruits and reserve 4 tbsp of its syrup)
1 small can (108g) condensed milk
1 pack (250ml) all purpose cream

Procedure:

In a bowl, mash the Lemon Square Cheesecake pieces until they break apart into small crumbs. Add the reserved fruit cocktail syrup until the crumbs form a loose, streusel-like mixture.

In another bowl, mix together the all purpose cream and condensed milk until well-blended.

In an eight-inch tin can, assemble the crema de fruta in alternating layers of crumbs, sweetened cream and fruit pieces.

Refrigerate overnight to allow the dessert to settle. Serve well-chilled.

Tipsy Chocolate Cake with Lemon Square Lava Cake and Chocolate Cookie Bites

Ingredients:

1 pack Lemon Square Chocolate Cookie Bites
4 pcs Lemon Square Lava Cake
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tbsp Baileys Irish cream
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Procedure:

Crush the Lemon Square Chocolate Cookie Bites until they form a fine powder. Set aside.

In a bowl, mash the Lemon Square Lava Cake until they form into thick crumbs. Press them to the bottom of an eight-inch tin can. Set aside.

To make the tipsy ganache, add the Baileys to the heavy cream in a saucepan. Stirring periodically, heat the mixture over low fire until just before the it begins to boil. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate until well-combined.

Allow the mixture to cool for three minutes before pouring it on top of the mashed Lava Cake in the prepared tin can.

Using a strainer, dust the top of the ganache with the powdered Chocolate Cookie Bites.

Place the tin can in the refrigerator overnight until the cake is fully set.

Serve chilled.

Note: You can lessen the amount of Baileys you put in or take it out all together to make this dessert more kid-friendly.

Avocado Ice Cream Cake with Whatta Flakes Spanish Bread

Ingredients:

For the crust:

6 packs crushed Lemon Square Whatta Flakes Spanish bread
1 stick of softened butter

For the ice cream:

Three avocados peeled and seeded (equivalent to 2 cups)
1 300ml and 1 108ml cans of condensed milk
4 cups heavy whipping cream

Procedure:

In a bowl, combine the crushed Whatta Flakes Spanish bread with the butter. Press the crumb mixture onto the bottom of five 8-inch cake tins then set aside.

In a blender, puree the avocado while mixing in the condensed milk until well-blended. Set aside.

Whip the heavy cream at high speed until it thickens. Gradually mix in the avocado puree until well-blended.

Transfer the mixture into the prepared tin cans, gently pressing the mixture into the containers and smoothing out the top using a spatula.

Freeze for at least six hours or overnight. Serve frozen.

Note: This is an update of the Avocado Ice Cream Cake recipe I published a few months ago, incorporating some improvements I discovered after making this dessert quite a number of times.

There you have it: three #LemonSquareSiksikSaSarap dessert recipes that you can easily whip up to experience real goodness at home.

Product samples were provided to facilitate the recipes.

Looking for other easy-to-cook dishes to try out while in quarantine? Check out my other kitchen adventures:

Making memorable snacking moments with Lemon Square

Remember simpler times when you were younger – spending sunny afternoons with your friends sharing yummy snacks lovingly prepared by your mom?

Playing outside may not be advisable nowadays, but you can still create memorable snacking moments with your kids and Lemon Square.

For thirty-five years, Lemon Square has been a part of every Filipino household, serving up real goodness through affordable and nutritious snack cakes. Its flagship brand – Lemon Square Cheesecake – has carved its place in every millennial’s childhood as the ultimate comfort merienda that is both tasty and filling.

Mothers also love Lemon Square products for its affordability, accessibility, and nutritional value.

Lemon Square also makes snacking more exciting with its family of brands that cater to every personality and quirk in the family:

Lemon Square Cheesecake: the classic favorite that is siksik with the real goodness of fresh eggs and milk
Lemon Square Whatta Tops: whatta cake, whatta topping, whatta filling! Make snacking more exciting with its moist cake, exciting toppings and creamy filling
Lemon Square Lava Cake: a moist, cream-filled snack bar made with real chocolate and oozing with home-baked quality goodness
Lemon Square Whatta Flakes: light and crisp crackers with a kakaibang feel in the mouth and kakaibang flavors
Lemon Square Cookie Bites: light, crispy, bite-sized, melt-in-your mouth cookies bursting with Lemon Square’s classic flavors: Cheesecake and Chocolate, it will make your quirky kids jump around in joy

So stay home and let Lemon Square be your family’s perfect snacking companion.

Experience Real Goodness, Always.

The Jelly List: Unusual desserts to soothe your stress during quarantine

It’s been four months into the quarantine and with all the craziness that’s happening in and out of the country, many of us are feeling the literal and metaphorical heat.

I’m a firm believer in how the right kind of food improves one’s mood. And it just so happens that stressed spelled backwards is dessert.

Being a sweet tooth myself, of course I have a considerable bias towards desserts. (And words to the wise: biases are not inherently bad!)

Before I let my stress get the better of me, let me calm my mind down and yet excite my appetite as I present my picks for out-of-the-ordinary sweets.

These are usually reinterpretations or interesting tweaks to established dessert recipes, bringing something new to classic faves.

I also picked the ones that are currently available for pickup and delivery since most of us are stuck in our homes.

Frozen Brazo de Mercedes from Ombu Kusina

Ombu Kusina prides itself on its modern takes on Pinoy cuisine and this dessert is a prime example of that. Delightful layers of frozen soft meringue alternating custard filling, ice cream and graham cracker crust will make a great end to any meal.

Ombu Kusina is located at Ground Floor, Sequioa Hotel, Mother Ignacia Street, Brgy. South Triangle, Quezon City, open daily from 9am to 8pm for dine-in, delivery and pickup. For reservations and inquiries, call +63 2 84411789 or +63 922 8149086, or email omburestaurant@yahoo.com.

Pinoy street food for #TeamBahay from Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ

Momshies, do you sometimes wish that you could enjoy your guilty pleasures – like Pinoy street food – in full view of your kids?

Well, no need to hide your street food fix from your kids. In fact, you can take this opportunity to introduce them to Pinoy street food.

It’s all thanks to Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ and its frozen ready-to-grill Malinis, Masarap at Mura street food.

Mang Ding’s is where I had my first (and only!) taste of isaw. There, during a foodie meetup with fellow food bloggers, I had a whole lot of fun rediscovering tasty Pinoy street food, all freshly cooked at Mang Ding’s Instagrammable al fresco restaurant.

When Marikina was placed under quarantine and restrictions were placed on mobility and dining out, Mang Ding’s started offering its fare in frozen and ready-to-grill packs.

Each pack is frozen and vacuum-sealed, its contents seasoned and marinated with Mang Ding’s signature sauce.

Tonight, I flexed my indoor grilling muscles, got out my grilling pan and got to grilling.

And wouldn’t you believe it: it was actually quite easy!

First, I thawed out the frozen pack containing the pork barbecue and isaw. Then, I added six tablespoons of cooking oil to the basting sauce provided. I then brushed both sides of the meats while they were grilling until they’re done.

From the satisfying sizzle you hear as they grill, to the appetizing smell of barbecue wafting throughout the kitchen that had my eldest #ExhibitA blurt out “Ang bango, Ma!“, to the beautiful spread these make on my dining table, and to the my fam’s joy as we bite into the tender sweet-savory pork barbecue, isaw manok and isaw baboy, my fam’s Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ dinner is a feast for the senses.

So have one yourself. Treat your #TeamBahay to a lovely street food meal, right at home.

These ready-to-grill frozen packs are priced at:

Pork Barbecue: Php400/20 sticks
Isaw Manok: Php360/20 sticks
Isaw Baboy: Php450/20 sticks
Chicken Tail: Php550/20 pcs
Chicken Barbecue: Php390/3 pcs quarter leg (1 kilo)
Chicharon Bulaklak: Php280 (500 grams)
Liempo: Php270 (500 grams)
Rib Eye Steak: Php500/2 pcs (380 to 400 grams)

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ branches are located at:

Shoe Avenue, Barangay Elena, Marikina City (store hours: daily from 11am to 6pm | Tel: +63 906 3977559)
Block 3, Lot 13 C Buenviaje Street, Barangay Santo Nino, Marikina City (store hours: daily from 11am to 6pm | Tel: +63 916 2853031)

Mang Ding’s Pinoy BBQ is open for dine-in, takeout, pickup and delivery via GrabFood. Safe cashless payments via BPI, BDO and GCash are also available.

Note: If you’re getting a frozen pack, place your order a day before. Mang Ding’s vacuum-packs on demand to ensure freshness.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

Sushi to share from Mumei Sushi

Sushi lovers out there will be happy to know that they can just have their sushi faves delivered right to their doorstep, thanks to Mumei Sushi!

Mumei Sushi began operations in 2018, providing sushi sets on consignment to Robinsons Supermarkets in North Luzon.

The Quezon City-based company then decided to expand its operations to the next frontier: online selling.

In this new space, Mumei Sushi was able to expand its product line in new and creative ways to include items such as:

Rolled Sushi. Aside from the classic faves such as tuna, salmon, kani and California Maki, Mumei Sushi also offers imaginative takes involving new savory or spicy ingredients – such as Seven Spice, Shredded Nori and Bonito Makis – as well as fruitier combinations – such as Kiwi, Avocado and Strawberry Makis. These sushi rolls are priced from Php25 to Php45 per piece but assorted pieces can also be packaged in a Holiday Box (Php1,299 for 50 pieces), Birthday Box (Php2,499 for 100 pieces) or a Grand Sushi Feast (Php4,799 for 200 pieces). Imagine walking into a party with that ginormous box!

Mumei Sushi Tamago (Php45/pc). Sushi made with thin layers of rolled up egg placed on top of sushi rice.

Sashimi in Can (Php399). Slices of fresh tuna and salmon, ready to eat and served in a tin can for presentation and portability.

Onigiri (Php100/pc). Hefty triangular blocks of sushi rice wrapped in nori filled cooked meat dishes such as spicy beef amd Pinoy sisig.

Spam Musubi (Php100/pc). A popular snack or lunch item in Hawaii, made with a slice of grilled spam placed on top of a block of sushi rice wrapped together with nori.

Tempura Soba (Php300/serving). Japanese-style deep-fried battered shrimp served together with thin yet firm buckwheat soba noodles. Both are well-complemented by the special dipping sauce that accompany each serving.

With Mumei Sushi, Japanese food lovers can easily enjoy their faves as well as explore new ways to enjoy sushi.

Here’s a friendly reminder: given that sushi is best served cold, do consume the sushi immediately upon delivery.

It is also best enjoyed with family and friends, so don’t forget to share your sushi stash with your nears-and-dears!

To get your hands on these delectable sushi treats, call +63 2 33528462, text +63 999 4025936, +63 977 4721528 or +63 923 5177609. You may also send a message via Facebook or Instagram.

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate an honest review.

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

A Subway Snack Attack

Busy working at home but in need of some nourishment to plow through your tasks?

Not to worry because you can easily have a tasty and filling sub from Subway delivered right to your doorstep!

The sub, or the submarine, is a sandwich made with a length of bread split lengthwise and filled meats, cheeses, vegetables and condiments. It is so-named because of its distinctive shape, but has also been called hoagie, hero or grinder.

Subway, the world’s largest single-brand restaurant chain, specializes in submarine sandwiches, some of which, my kiddos and I were able to sample when Hubby ordered a few subs for our mid-afternoon snack. These include:

6-inch BLT (Php276). People say that great things come in threes. In the case of this sandwich, those three things are crispy bacon, crisp lettuce and juicy tomato slices served with mayo on freshly baked honey oat bread.

6-inch Roasted Chicken Breast (Php149). A six-inch sub with a tender, juicy roasted boneless chicken breast patty, with lettuce, tomatoes, green peppers, onions and mayo is served on freshly baked honey oat bread.

Truth be told, Hubby ordered a 12-inch Spicy Italian (Php264), a footlong sub with spicy salami and pepperoni with crispy veggies on a freshly baked footlong bread, but I didn’t get a chance to take a picture of it anymore. Guess why, hehehe!

Well, I do plan on getting a fews subs again soon, especially since it has an ongoing Two for Php200 promo.

Posted by Subway Philippines on Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Feel like a sub today?

This Subway branch is located at Ground Floor, Zeta Tower, Bridgetowne Business Center, Libis, Quezon City, and is open from 9am to 4pm for takeout and delivery via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

Got our food faves from Bistro Charlemagne at home

There are places and food that just become family favorites.

Take Bistro Charlemagne, for example.

I had my first taste of its unique and tasty takes on Asian cuisine in its then newly-opened Ayala Malls Feliz branch and it was only a matter of time before my whole family got hooked. Since then, we have visited this resto again and again for intimate dinners or big celebrations with the extended family. We even stopped by for a meal at its Ayala Malls Solenad branch on our way down from Tagaytay.

Unfortunately, it had to pause its operations during the enhanced community quarantine. The fam missed our enjoyable dinners there (and I missed my chance to celebrate my birthday in our favorite place). Sigh!

Thankfully, the metro has transitioned to a general community which provided people some freedom of movement and less restrictions on dining out. That said, I still have qualms about my family, especially the kiddos, leaving the safety of our home.

Well, the solution came when I heard that Bistro Charlemagne has re-opened and has made most of its menu items available for delivery and pickup.

Just in time, too, for my daughter #ExhibitA’s natal day. (She has been hounding me about having her faves from this resto for her birthday lunch.)

And wouldn’t you know it! Ordering was so easy: I just called the Ayala Feliz branch at +63 956 4507704, gave my orders, and then paid via GCash. On the day of my daughter’s birthday, I simply booked for the pickup of my orders from Ayala Malls Feliz Loading Bay for delivery to my place.

Just as #ExhibitA wished for her birthday, we feasted on several orders of:

Drunken Lengua in Brown Mushroom Sauce (Php415). Tender pan-seared ox tongue with mushrooms and asparagus in white wine sauce. This dish is particularly memorable for #ExhibitA, as she was the one who picked this dish out from the menu when I took her and her brother to eat at Bistro Charlemagne a few days after my first dining experience there.

Tenderloin Beef Rolls with Cheese (Php415). Tender, thinly sliced beef wrapped around cheese and sauteed in teriyaki sauce. This dish is absolutely irresistible for my little boy #ExhibitB, who just can’t keep himself from putting roll after roll onto his plate.

Japanese Beef Rice (Php135). Japanese rice, ground beef, mixed veggies and egg, all mixed together in one flavorful rice dish. This goes so well with the other viands that we can’t imagine our meal without this!

I may not be able to bring the whole fam outside yet, but I’m glad I was able to bring one of the best dining experiences home to my family.

Miss dining out? Bistro Charlemagne is also open for dine in and follows strict sanitation and physical distancing protocols for your safety.

This Bistro Charlemagne branch is located at Fifth Floor, Ayala Malls Feliz along Marcos Highway, Dela Paz, Pasig City. Call in your orders or book your table by calling +63 956 4507705 or +63 2 77299496.

Other branches are located at:

GFF-6, Building B, Ayala Malls Solenad 3, Nuvali, Don Jose, Santa Rosa, Laguna. (Tel: +63 049 2580846 or +63 917 8334223)
Lot 2, Third Floor, Cinemas Building, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Entertainment City Paranaque (Tel: +63 2 79149082)

Bistro Charlemagne also delivers via GrabFood, LalaFood and FoodPanda.

Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Use this link to download the FoodPanda app and get Php100 off your first order.

Download the LalaFood App and get a free delivery coupon when you use my code: BEINGJMR53.

Snack time at de Original Jamaican Pattie Shop and Juice Bar

Feeling peckish with hours to go before the next meal?

Why don’t you stave off your hunger with something tasty?

A Jamaican pattie (or two or more!), for instance.

de Original Jamaican Pattie Shop and Juice Bar

This flaky pastry traditionally tinted a golden yellow and filled with seasoned ground beef is claimed to be Jamaica’s No. 1 snack.

It came about when Cornish pastry was introduced in the Caribbean and was then combined with meat fillings flavored by seasonings from India, Africa and Jamaica. The Jamaican pattie then made its way to the US, Canada and UK in the 1960s and 1970s, brought by Jamaicans who migrated to these countries.

In 1990, it arrived in Southeast Asia by way of the Philippines when Fruitas Holdings, Inc. opened the first of many de Original Jamaican Pattie Shop and Juice Bar in Manila, where these yummy patties are baked – not fried! – fresh everyday.

Hubby was the first of us to develop a taste for the Jamaican pattie. His favorite from long before is the Cheezy Beef Pinatubo Pattie, which, as the name implies, was inspired by the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo as evidenced by its spicy beefy flavor.

The rest of us in the fam were introduced to this delicacy during the quarantine when one of my former officemates opened a de Original Jamaican Pattie Shop and Juice Bar at the Zeta Tower in Bridgetowne Business Center some short distance from our home.

The kids and I developed a liking for the Cheezy Beef Pattie. We love its savory goodness, made even better by the cheese that accompanied the ground beef filling.

Each pattie is priced at Php59. Other variants available include Beef Pinatubo (without cheese), Cheeze Tomato, Cheezy Tuna and Chicken Stew.

Order a pattie bundled with a ready-to-drink Fruitas bottled juice (Mango, Four Seasons, Dalandan and Calamansi flavors available) for just Php88.

This branch of de Original Jamaican Pattie Shop and Juice Bar is located at Ground Floor, Zeta Tower, Bridgetowne Business Center, Libis, Quezon City, open for takeout or pickup.

However, it also offers free delivery within Barangay Santa Lucia in Pasig which is where I live. The patties can be delivered baked, for immediate consumption, or par-baked, so you can just reheat during snacktime. Well, isn’t that just awesome!

So when the fam is in the mood for some munchies, we know what to do.

If you’re near the area and want to order, send a message via Facebook, or call +63 917 5695300.

Inang Charing’s Cakes and Pastries now offers Strawberry Shortcake

Is it strawberry season in the Philippines already?

Way, waaaay back into my youth, I only got to taste this luscious red fruit when a family member brought home a precious basket as a pasalubong from a Baguio trip.

Due to its scarcity, eating the fruit fresh was considered sosyal… or shala, as the kids say it nowadays.

Thanks to developments in agriculture and transportation, strawberries are more widely available, making it easier for bakers and dessert makers to incorporate this delectable fruit in their creations.

Such is the case with Inang Charing Cakes and Pastries (read my previous post on this enterprising homebaker here), recently launching its newest offering: the Strawberry Shortcake.

Mhai Capili, the baker behind Inang Charing’s Cakes and Pastries, decided to add this dessert to the menu, taking advantage of the fresh Baguio strawberries being sold in the metro. She decided to test out the recipe forming in her head to see if it will work.

The result is a delightful eight-inch diameter confection made with a light spongy cake layered with thick whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

It is a delight to the senses: The spots of bright red made by the fruit against the light-colored cream and sponge cake draw the eyes. The smell of the fresh strawberries whet the appetite. The contrasts in textures in these elements make for an exciting mouthfeel. And, of course, the bursts of fruity sweetness against the sugary cream filling and cake sates any sweet tooth’s craving.

The best part is that this absolute showstopper of a dessert can be yours for just Php985!

Just order via Facebook or Instagram with a three-day lead time and pay via GCash or BPI bank deposit a day before your preferred pickup date.

Thank goodness there’s no need for me to break the bank, nor travel far, for that shala (or sosyal) feeling you get from eating a decadent slice of Strawberry Shortcake.

Disclosure: I got my cake for just Php785 as I chanced upon Inang Charing’s post regarding the sale price for one of its first-ever batch of Strawberry Shortcakes while I was browsing for dessert ideas for my daughter #ExhibitA’s birthday. You could probably say that I just couldn’t resist. Oh, #ExhibitA (and the whole fam) loved it too. 😋

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

The Jelly List: Chocolate dessert picks for World Chocolate Day

Did you know that World Chocolate Day falls on July 7?

On this day, you can expect chocolate lovers from all over the world to celebrate what they deem to be the end-all and be-all of foodstuffs: the chocolate.

Chocolate is prepared from the fruit of the tropical tree Theobroma cacao (the name translates to “food of the Gods). This tree is native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins in South America, thriving in hot and humid areas. As chocolate’s global popularity grew, so did its cultivation, with cacao plantations in regions such as West Africa, South and Southeast Asia.

While chocolate is so versatile that it can even be used as an ingredient in savory dishes, my love for it stems from its sweet applications.

So, fellow foodies, allow me to share a sampling of my favorite chocolate dessert incarnations from various establishments in the metro.

Teddy Keng’s Chocolate Gateau from Chef Jessie’s Place

Chef Jessie’s version of the decadent chocolate cake, this confection is made of alternating layers of light chocolate cake and rich chocolate cream filling all covered with a rich, shiny ganache and decorated with an unfurling flower fashioned from chocolate. Definitely a choco-holic’s delight!

Chef Jessie’s Place is located at 1997 Pililla corner Obrero and Tanay Streets, Valenzuela, Makati City, open daily from 9am to 4pm for pick up and delivery. To order, text or call +63 917 8967880, +63 917 8330797 or +63 977 0976649 or email chefjessiesplace@chefjessie.com.

Read more about Chef Jessie’s Place here.

White Chocolate Creme Brulee from Bistro Manuel

This rich and creamy custard also features the subtle flavor tones of white chocolate, topped with a torched sugar sculpture and a tangy berry tartlet.

Bistro Manuel Bistro Manuel is located at Second Floor, Six Axis Center, 4347 B. Valdez Street, Poblacion, Makati City, now open for dine in as well as takeout. To book your table, fill out this questionnaire.