Gel Jose

Family lunch at BOTEJYU, SM City San Mateo

After being mostly stuck within Metro Manila during the lockdown, the family heartily welcomed an out-of-town trip to San Mateo.

Venturing out from our comfy accommodations at Timberland Highlands Resort to SM City San Mateo for a spot of lunch and a bit of shopping, we decided to dine at the BOTEJYU outlet located there.

BOTEJYU is a Japanese restaurant that originated from an okonomiyaki eatery established Osaka, Japan in 1946.

Its menu expanded to include other popular Japanese dishes such as the ones we enjoyed during our visit:

Tuna Sashimi (Php395). Fresh tuna slices served with wasabi and Japanese soy sauce.

California Roll (Php255). Sushi roll made with crab meat, avocado, cucumber, prawn egg and BOTEJYU’s original mayonnaise.

Edamame (Php110). Lightly salted boiled green soy beans that serve as an appetizer to many Japanese meals.

Prawn Tempura (Php670/10pcs). Crispy battered prawns served with tempura sauce.

Tender Pork Tonkatsu (Php275). Tender pork cutlet breaded and deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served on a bed of shredded cabbage with tokatsu sauce.

Tender Pork Tonkatsu Curry (Php425). Tender pork cutlet breaded and deep-fried to a crispy golden brown and served on a bed of rice with Osaka-style curry sauce poured over it.

Diced Beef Garlic Steak Bowl (Php545). Steamed rice bowl topped with diced beef garlic steak.

Sukiyaki Teishoku (Php540). A set meal which consists of beef cooked in sukiyaki sauce with noodles and soft-boiled egg, served with miso soup, salad, rice and kimchi.

While the menu offerings are a bit pricey, we found the quality to be reliably good, and the service to be prompt.

It’s great to see that BOTEJYU has established its presence in Rizal, thanks to this branch.

This BOTEJYU branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City San Mateo, Gen. Luna Avenue, Ampid 1, San Mateo City, Rizal, open daily from 11.15am to 7.45pm. For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 8524673.

BOTEJYU branches in Metro Manila are located in:

Alabang: Festival Mall Expansion Wing
Caloocan: SM City Grand Central
Las Pinas: Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Ayala Greenbelt 3, Ayala North Exchange
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall The Atrium
Manila: SM City Manila
Paranaque: Ayala Malls Manila Bay, SM City Bicutan, SM City Sucat, SM Southmall
Pasay: SM Mall of Asia Galileo Wing
Pasig: Ayala Malls Feliz, Estancia Mall Capitol Commons, SM City East Ortigas
Quezon City: Ayala Vertis North Mall, Fisher Mall, Robinsons Place Magnolia, SM City Fairview, SM City North EDSA, Trinoma Mall Garden Area
San Juan: O Square 2 Greenhills Shopping Center
Taguig: One Bonifacio High Street Mall

BOTEJYU also accepts orders for delivery through its website and via GrabFood and FoodPanda.

To know more about its latest offers and promos, follow BOTEJYU on Facebook and Instagram.

Check out my previous post about BOTEJYU:

Chinese American fast-food at Panda Express

Chinese food spans a gamut of cuisines, with various regional, religious and ethnic influences into this kind of cooking found within China and abroad.

The development of Chinese cuisine in the United States was driven by small-town restaurants that catered to Chinese immigrant miners and railroad workers as well as the local population which are largely unfamiliar with Chinese food. At the same time, these incorporated local ingredients and adapted the dishes to a more American taste, thereby giving rise to Chinese-American cuisine.

A famous example of eateries that serve Chinese-American cuisine is Panda Express. Founded in Glendale, California in the 1980s as the quick-serve, mall-based version of the sit-down restaurant Panda Inn, this line of business grew to 2000 locations as of December 2017.

Panda Express made its way to Philippine shores in December 2019 when, through a partnership with fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corporation, it opened the first Panda Express branch in SM Megamall, generating long-lines of customers who want to be among the first in the country to sample the restaurant’s signature dishes.

Today, Panda Express has nine outlets, situated in both malls and free-standing locations.

Because of our busy lives, the long lines outside its branches, and then the lockdowns due to the pandemic, it took some time for my family to check out Panda Express’ branches in Metro Manila. (We did dine at Panda Express’ branches in Seattle, Washington during our US trip in early 2019).

After the loosening of lockdown restrictions (as well as the waning of the long lines of people waiting to dine in), we were finally able to treat ourselves to the filling and fulsome offerings of Panda Express.

Diners at Panda Express have several choices when it comes to serving size:

Bowl (starts at Php225) – consists of one entree and one side dish (with 394 to 1105 calories)
Plate (starts at Php310) – consists of two entrees and 1 side dish (with 544 to 1595 calories)
Bigger Plate (starts at Php395) – consists of 3 entrees and 1 side dish (with 694 to 2085 calories)
Kid’s Meal (starts at Php190) – consist of a junior-sized entree, a junior-sized side dish, a 12oz drink and dessert (with 330 to 1000 calories)
Family Feast (starts at Php1,290) – serves a group of four to five persons and consists of 3 large entrees and two large side dishes (with 590 to 2233 calories)

Given our appetites and our own strong preferences among Panda Express’ menu items, is there any wonder why the fam members opted to each get a Plate serving?

Our orders included:

Sides:

Fried Rice. Steamed white rice wok-fried with soy sauce, eggs, peas, carrots and green onions.
Chow Mein. Stir-fried wheat noodles with onions, celery and cabbage.

Entrees:

Orange Chicken. Panda Express’ signature dish inspired by General Tso’s Chicken made with crispy chicken pieces wok-tossed in a sweet and spicy orange sauce.
Kung Pao Chicken. A Szechwan-inspired dish with chicken, peanuts and vegetables, finished with chili peppers.
Shanghai Steak. Wok-seared steak with fresh string beans, onions and mushrooms in a savory sauce.
Savory Shrimp. Juicy shrimp, stir-fried with green onion and bell pepper in a savory sauce.
Honey Walnut Shrimp. (included in one of our delivery orders after our store visit) Large tempura-battered shrimp, wok-tossed in a honey sauce and topped with glazed walnuts.

We found these Plat servings very filling indeed, with the varying textures and flavors of the dishes complementing each other.

Given that all the dishes have been pre-cooked, serving the food was quick and efficient.

This Panda Express branch is located at Upper Ground Floor, SM Megamall Building A, Ortigas Center, Madaluyong City.

Other branches are located at:

Las Pinas: SM Southmall
Muntinlupa: Shell SLT Southbound SLEX, Mojito Lifestyle Center
Panaranaque: Soledad Place Betterliving
Pasay: DoubleDragon Center East
Quezon City: Holy Spirit Drive Don Antonio, Greenmeadows Bagumbayan, SM City North EDSA

Panda Express also delivers via its website, as well as through GrabFood and FoodPanda.

To stay updated about its menu and offers, follow Panda Express on Facebook and Instagram.

Godel Chocolate: home-grown yet world-class from #BeanToBar

We Pinoys are such chocolate lovers, aren’t we?

We have it in our desserts, drinks, breakfast cereals and, sometimes, even our entrees!

It’s no wonder, then, that local chocolate brands have emerged, not just to cater to the Filipinos’ craving for chocolate, but to also spur the growth of local chocolate farming and production.

One such brand is Godel Chocolate.

Established in mid-2020, Godel Chocolate has been providing top quality tools and equipment for cacao bean processing and fine chocolate or compound chocolate production.

To fully demonstrate the exciting possibilities from the local cacao plant, Godel Chocolate came out with its own line of premium-quality chocolate products. As the company continues to hone its expertise in the chocolate craft, it shares its knowledge and experience to budding entrepreneurs. Its advocacy is to help create a new movement of chocolate makers to boost local consumption and production of chocolate, thereby encouraging growth among local chocolate farmers.

I recently attended a tour of its factory in Paranaque, another one of its initiatives to spread knowledge on the local chocolate industry.

Chocolate 101

The tour started with a review of the history of chocolate as well as the basics of chocolate farming and production.

Test-run for budding chocolatiers

Tour attendees also got a sneak peek into chocolate making by making our own personalized chocolate bars.

Chocolate-making solutions

At its core, Godel Chocolate is a solutions-based company. It sells a line of equipment to help small chocolate producing businesses manage the processes involved in chocolate making from bean sorting to packaging.

Want to get in the chocolate-making business? Get more details about Godel Solutions by visiting its website or calling +63 2 88693754 to 56.

The tour ended at the factory’s store which showcases Godel Chocolate products and dessert creations.

Chocolate Products

Godel Chocolate products are made from fermented cacao beans directly sourced from organic farmers in Davao, North Cotabato and South Cotabato. By adhering to chocolate making fundamentals and carefully managing its production processes from bean to bar, Godel Chocolates is able to craft chocolate products that are simple in formulation but packed with flavor.

Other products include:

Bean-to-bar Chocolates: 70% (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter), 50% (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin), 50% milk (cocoa mass, sugar, cocoa butter, soy lecithin)
Specialty Bean-to-bar Chocolates: Tablea Bar, Organic 70% Chocolate, White Chocolate, Salted Caramel Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Cashews, Milk Chocolate with Almonds
Origins Bean-to-Bar Chocolates
Instant Tsokolate: Hot Chocolate Bomb, Stir-in Hot Chocolate
Dragees: Milk Chocolate-Covered Almonds
Seasonal Bonbon ad Milk Chocolate Bars
Gift Boxes and Chocolate Bars
Baking Ingredients

Chocolate dessert creations

Godel Chocolate products can also be made into these mouth-watering desserts.

This factory tour has certainly opened my eyes to the myriad possibilities for budding entrepreneurs in the local chocolate industry and strengthened my appreciation for our home-grown chocolate products.

Want to check out these chocolate possibilities for yourself? Book your slot at an upcoming Godel Factory Tour here.

Tours are priced at Php800/head with private group tours for up to twelve persons priced at Php8000.

Godel Chocolate is a trademark of JCG Marketing Group, Inc. Its factory is located at 11C Sampaguita Avenue, UPD IV, Paranaque City.

To know more about Godel Chocolate, follow it on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and Youtube.

Shop for Godel Chocolate Products at:

Official Online Shop, Shopee and Lazada
Godel Chocolate Kiosk at SM City North EDSA
Gourdo’s: Alabang Town Center, Glorietta 4, Trinoma, UP Town Center, The Podium, SM City Fairview
Salcedo Community Market (Jaime C. Velasquez Park, Saturdays, 7am-2pm)
Ayala Alabang Saturday Market (117 University Avenue, Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa, Saturdays, 6am-2pm)

#EatHealthyEatFresh with Nutrifresh Chicken

With the continuously rising prices, eating home-cooked meals in lieu of dining out is becoming more popular.

Aside from cutting costs on your food budget, home cooking also helps you choose healthy and wholesome ingredients, have greater control over preparation methods and portions, as well as practice your creativity in the kitchen.

However, one of the hurdles to be managed in home cooking involves sourcing of fresh ingredients that will help recipes turn into delicious dishes.

Fortunately, you can now turn to the Internet to conveniently shop for ingredients and have them delivered to your home.

Take Nutrifresh Chicken, for example.

Nutrifresh Chicken is a direct producer, processor and distributor of broiler chickens which is mainly based in Southern Luzon, with branches in Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Gensan, Davao and Palawan.

It carefully manages the production of its chicken products – from breeding, hatching, growing, processing to packaging and delivery – to ensure the adoption of humane practices and maintain product quality while eschewing the use of preservatives, added hormones and steroids.

These dressed chicken selections include:

Nutrifresh Chicken started its venture into consumer retail just when the worldwide pandemic reared its ugly head back in 2020, challenging the company to come up with solutions to efficiently deliver its fresh and premium quality chicken products from its farms to its customers.

Then, it launched an app that enabled home cooks like to order their choices from among its various chicken selections and have them conveniently delivered right to their doorstep.

This online facility made it that much easier for home cooks to prepare nourishing and mouth-watering dishes for their families.

The app is currently being updated to improve its user experience but you can place your orders through Nutrifresh Chicken’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. When the app update is done, you can download it here.

So go online to order your Nutrifresh Chicken selections and be on your way to eating healthy and fresh!

Disclosure: Product samples were provided to facilitate this feature.

5 signs it’s time to consider buying your own home

For most of us, home ownership is a major milestone.

It is not just the hallmark of the ability to make a significant long-term financial commitment, it is also the start of putting down roots. It involves creating a home and establishing your presence in a community for a long period of time, perhaps even permanently. When you own a home, your family has a place to grow up in, and you have a legacy to pass on to your children.

Home ownership also demands some sacrifice: aside from the major financial investment involved, you also need to maintain the home, keeping it clean and in good condition and ensuring that its facilities – from its furnishings and appliances to its fixtures – are working well.

With all of these important considerations, how can you know if you’re ready to own a home?

Here are some signs:

You have a stable income. Paying off your home mortgage will take a significant portion of your budget over many years. You need to be able to count on a steady job or other revenue streams such as investments or side hustles to afford your monthly mortgage payments.
You have saved – a lot! – for a rainy day. Should an emergency occur while you are making those monthly house payments, you need to be able to handle both without putting yourself in a sticky financial predicament. A good rule of thumb is to have money equivalent to six months of your monthly house payments set aside as savings prior to signing the deed.

You have good credit. How you handle small debts – such as credit card payments – can be a strong indicator of how you will handle major financial responsibilities such as house payments.
You are comfortable with managing and maintaining a home. Aside from making your monthly payments, home ownership also comes with many responsibilities such as maintaining the property, making repairs and remodeling when needed.
Your life is aligned with home ownership. If you are at a time when you want more space to raise a family, pursue hobbies and interests, or to put down roots in an area you love, then it may be time to set up a home of your own.

So if you think you’re ready to dive into home ownership, be sure to check out your nearest Lumina Homes project!

These projects are available in over 50 key cities and municipalities in the Philippines such as in Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, Isabela, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Albay, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Agusan del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, South Cotabato and Davao del Norte.

Each is strategically located close to major thoroughfares, transport hubs, schools, hospitals, and business and leisure centers.

Inside these communities are well-designed and constructed house models for one that will suit your needs from single-story starter home rowhouses to two-storey townhomes and detached units, all built with living and dining areas, provision for bedrooms, service areas, as well as toilet and bath.

Aside from having an affordable yet comfortable abode, living at a Lumina Homes community also affords you with amenities that are conducive to enjoyable times spent out of doors.

These include a basketball court, children’s playground, function hall, and mini gardens enclosed in a perimeter fence with 24/7 security, plus free shuttle service to and from town.

Getting your own Lumina dream home is made even easier, thanks to various financing options, such as:

Pag-Ibig Financing which offers the lowest possible interest rate with a 14-month downpayment term and a 30-year maximum loan term
Bank Financing which has faster loan processing with a 16-month downpayment term and a 20-year maximum loan term
Deferred Financing which involves straight payment of total contract price over 24 month at 0% interest
Spot Cash which involves full payment of total contract price applying a 6% discount if made within 30 days from payment of reservation fee, 8% if made within the reservation month, and 10% if made within 10 days of reservation date

Here’s how to get Php500 off when reserve your own Lumina home online:

Visit Lumina Homes’ website.
Click “E-Services” and “Reserve Online” then fill out your details.
Fill out the project name, phase, block and lot of your preferred Lumina project.
Proceed to payment and use my code JLBLMN500. Payments via GCash or debit/credit cards are accepted.

Prima Casa Land & Houses, Inc., known through its “LUMINA” brand, has evolved to be the practical choice of everyone in realizing their dream of home ownership. Lumina is the leading mass housing developer in the country with its roster of value-priced homes in affordable and self-sustaining communities.

For more information and announcements, follow @luminahomesofficial on Facebook or visit Lumina Homes’ official website at www.lumina.com.ph.

Fam faves at RACKS, Entertainment City

Now, why would my Pasig City-based family be in this restaurant on the other end of the metro on a weekend?

The answer’s pretty simple: we just finished a round of shopping at the IKEA nearby and we didn’t want to wait in line for its in-store restaurant.

Having espied this RACKS branch upon leaving the furniture store, I just knew that this is where the fam can sate our hunger quite happily. After all, eating at RACKS is always something the entire family agrees on.

Here are three reasons why:

1. It’s a place for casual and comfortable dining.

Surprisingly, RACKS is a homegrown brand but the look and feel of the restaurant is of the American Southwest from the wide and open layout, brick architectural features and farm-style decor, among others.

Smoking meat, essentially barbecue, after all, is an American tradition.

However, RACKS was actually launched by auto magnate Wellington Soong, exclusive distributor of Jaguar, Land Rover and Maserati in the 90s. It was then acquired by the Prieto family (the same group behind Shakeys, Tia Maria and Via Mare, among others) in the mid-2000s.

The new owners instigated some changes, such as transitioning the look of the restaurants from the all-white, country-style theme, to a more homey farmhouse style which is still in place in all of its outlets in the country, this branch included.

2. Its signature barbecue sauces just makes everything better.

Among the things RACKS is known for is its own-brand barbecue sauces. Available in two variants – Original and Extra Hot – these sauces are the perfect condiments to bring out the flavors or RACKS smoked ribs.

These sauces accompanies all orders in the restaurant but can also be bought by the bottle for Php340.

(Cooking hack: my mom also uses it as a marinade for her Crispy Tadyang recipe.)

3. Our family already has its go-to orders here.

Having patronized RACKS since its launch in the 90s (Hubby and I even had a few of our dinner dates in some branches), it’s no wonder that we have established our fast faves from its menu.

Our meal, of course, is centered around RACKS’ Classic Pork Ribs (Php495 quarter | Php775 half | Php1,565). Hickory-smoked in a blend of herbs and spices to achieve that rich and smokey flavor. Given the appetites of my family members, only a full rack can satisfy us.

Our order of Classic Pork Ribs is served with a two side dishes and we opted for our faves, tangy Coleslaw for Hubby and myself and snackable Mac ‘n Cheese for the kiddos.

In other restaurants, we could have had an appetizer of a plate of onion rings but not in RACKS. Oh, mo! Here, we start our meal with a sizable Onion Brick (Php345).

Our meal also includes our preferred grains: Java Rice (Php85 single | Php425 platter) for Hubby and the kids, and Garlic Rice (Php85 single | Php425 platter) for me.

Completing our meal is a Pitcher of House-blend Iced Tea (Php295).

Is it any wonder the fam tends to gravitate towards RACKS for a fuss-free yet delicious family meal?

This branch is located at Aseana Square, Entertainment City, Diosdado Macapagal Blvd, Tambo, Parañaque.

Other Metro Manila branches are located at:

Las Pinas: SM Southmall, Evia Lifestyle Center
Makati: Paseo de Magallanes
Mandaluyong: SM Megamall
Manila: Robinsons Place Ermita
Muntinlupa: Festival Mall
Paranaque:
Pasay: SM Mall of Asia
Pasig: Tiendesitas
Quezon City: UP Town Center, Timog Avenue, Trinoma Mall, SM North EDSA
San Juan: Greenhills Shopping Center
Taguig: The Fort Strip

To know more about RACKS or to order online, visit its website. To stay updated on its promos and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Maximize your budget and groceries with Robinsons Supermarkets’ PISO Sale at MetroMart this October 14-17

As we are heading into the holiday season, the double digit promos, payday discounts and PISO SALEs are also ramping up! And with this payday weekend, you can definitely double down on the deals from the Robinsons Supermarket PISO SALE, exclusively via MetroMart this October 14-17, 2022.

Power to the Piso

Don’t miss out on the upcoming Robinsons Supermarket PISO SALE, exclusively available via MetroMart topbilling the mid-October payday weekend this October 14-17, 2022. You’ll have a chance to snag premium brands and products in big quantities for ₱1.00 ONLY! It’s perfect for stocking up your pantry, and the big quantities are great for sharing among members of the family. These include Delimondo Ranch Style Corned Beef, Coke Zero Sugar, Oreo Vanilla Cookies, Selecta Fortified Milk, Gardenia Sliced Bread, and Colgate Triple Action Toothpaste.

The Right Timing

Select products are available for only ₱1.00 within schedules of 9AM- 2PM & 3PM-8PM throughout October 14-17, 2022, Friday until Monday. The first PISO SALE day will also have the 1-peso products available the whole day, from 9AM – 8PM.

Please see the PISO SALE itinerary below:

Date and Time	Item	Retail Price
Oct 14, 9am-8pm	Delimondo Ranch Style Corned Beef 380G Gardenia Regular Slice Whitebread	₱185.00 ₱79.00
Oct 15, 9am-2pm	Ruffles Cheddar Sour Cream 6.5oz Coke Zero Sugar 2L	₱157.50 ₱74.50
Oct 15, 3pm-8pm	Selecta Fortified Milk 1L x2 Oreo Vanilla x9	₱150.50 ₱74.00
Oct 16, 9am-2pm	Coke Zero Sugar 2L Mi Sedaap Spicy Chicken 87g x5 Mi Sedaap Mi Goreng 91G x5	₱74.50 ₱88.00 ₱88.00
Oct 16, 3pm-8pm	Colgate Triple Action Toothpaste 175G 2pcs Zonrox ColorSafe Bleach 900ML	₱185.00 ₱67.25
Oct 17, 9am-2pm	CDO Funtastyk Chicken Tocino 450g CDO Chicken Ham 250G	₱173.00 ₱99.75
Oct 17, 3pm-8pm	Gardenia US600 Thick Slice Whitebread Libby’s Vienna Sausage Robinsons Interfold Kit 1ply 120 pulls 3 pcs	₱79.00 ₱65.00 ₱98.00

*Sale items are subject to availability in Robinsons Supermarket branches.

Bank promos and cashbacks

200 or 300 pesos shaved off of your total tab can go a long way, and the trick may lie in the payment method! Most banks offer discounts for both their debit and credit cardholders. Even e-wallet fintech platforms like GCash and Maya do the same. Partnered with the PISO SALE, you can definitely stretch your peso and purchasing power with your MetroMart order!

Nationwide PISO SALE

This payday weekend event is also available throughout the Philippines, where MetroMart has expanded its serviceable locations! The PISO SALE is available in participating branches of Robinsons Supermarket via the MetroMart app and website, all over Metro Manila and key locations throughout the Philippines, including Bicol, Palawan, Tagaytay, Pangasinan, Cavite, Cebu, Baguio and Davao

The Robinsons Supermarket PISO SALE, exclusively via MetroMart, is applicable to New and Existing Users of MetroMart. A min. spend of only ₱2,500 is required in order to avail the 1-peso sale items. Only completed checkout of orders within the scheduled day and time can avail the discounted items.

Are you new to MetroMart? Sign up for a MetroMart account here and enjoy Php200 grocery credit.

MetroMart is the #1 online grocery delivery service in the Philippines. Our grocery partners include S&R (with or no membership card required), Robinsons Supermarket, Landmark, The Marketplace, Shopwise, All Day Supermarket, Merrymart, Super8 Grocery Warehouse, Ever Supermarket, UltraMega Supermarket, and over 500+ specialty store retailers like Pet Express, Baby Company, Toy Kingdom, Toys”R”Us, National Book Store, Office Warehouse, Southstar Drug and AllDay Rx. Customers can order from their favorite stores on the MetroMart app and have it delivered to their door in 2 hours!

Over 160,000 products are available with MetroMart’s 500+ partner supermarkets and partner specialty stores. Order your groceries through http://www.metromart.com, or download the app on iOS or Android app store.

For more updates on MetroMart, follow it on Facebook and Instagram at @metromartph.

Details provided in a recent press release.

Recipe: Cinnamon Pecan Pudding

Here’s my confession: I get so antsy at the thought of food waste.

I don’t like the idea of throwing perfectly good food away just because the fam got tired of it. This attitude is probably a holdover from my younger years when my family was not living as comfortably as we are now and I didn’t get to enjoy a lot of good food.

Still, getting my fam to finish of every last bite of leftover bread can be quite a challenge.

After all, while freshly baked bread does get us salivating at the mere aroma of it wafting from the oven, stale leftover bread is, at best, ignored and placed at the back of the refrigerator.

The solution? Re-invention!

With just a few additional ingredients, a little bit of prep work and some time in the oven, the leftover bread that my kiddos turn their nose up at becomes a mouthwatering dessert.

I got the idea for this recipe from fellow blogger Tina of Hungry Travel Duo who made a Creamy Bread Pudding from stale bread. I just made a few substitutions – such as using leftovers from my homemade bread and using pecans instead of raisins (because I’m not big on raisins!) – and adjustments for my family’s taste – like doing away with the sweet milk sauce – and my Cinnamon Pecan Pudding came to be.

Here’s how I did it:

Ingredients:

6 to 8 1-inch slices of bread cut into 1-inch cubes (you can use 8 to 10 pieces of regular sliced bread)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
2 tablespoons room temperature butter
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup roughly chopped pecans (you can substitute this with chopped walnuts)
3/4 cup condensed milk

Procedure:

Grease a baking pan with butter.
Spread the cutup bread and 3/4 cup of pecans evenly in the pan.
In a bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, cinnamon powder and condensed milk, then pour over the bread.
Top with the remaining pecans.
Bake in a 200 deg C oven for twenty minutes until golden brown.

This recipe is great when you want a quick and fuss-free dessert or if you want something fresh from the oven for your coffee break.

How about you? How would you re-invent your leftover bread?

Check out my other dessert recipes:

Why you should design your bedroom with a Scandi aesthetic

The Scandinavian aesthetic – which originated from Nordic countries such as Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland – has stayed in prominence among design styles preferred by home owners for quite some time.

Characterized by clean lines, light spaces and the absence of clutter – hallmarks of Nordic minimalism – this design theme has the surprising ability to imbue the look and feel of warmth and welcome into a space, as well as having a strong visual appeal.

Basic Principles

Scandinavian design is guided by the principles of balance and harmony with one’s environment using well-crafted and high-quality items while remaining unencumbered by excess clutter.

This design philosophy uses a minimalist and well-considered approach which seeks to combine beauty and functionality, resulting in a sleek and modern decor that still feels warm and inviting.

Scandinavian design principles for the bedroom

It’s not surprising then that Scandi themes translate quite well in bedrooms.

The bedroom is space within the home dedicated to resting and restoring oneself – where one shakes off the concerns from the outside world at the end of the day, and then prepares for the challenges of a new day.

Within this space, one should be able to take a restful slumber, do relaxing activities like reading or meditation, or just enjoy one’s solitude.

The bedroom should definitely be a welcoming place, somewhere to let loose and relax. Applying Scandi design principles to one’s bedroom helps to bring about these desired effects.

Here are rules of thumb that will help you design a tasteful Scandi bedroom:

Keep it simple.

Prioritize simplicity and functionality by keeping the bedroom free of clutter and unessential elements. Use sleek, clean-lined modern furniture, while implementing proper arrangement and storage of the room’s elements. Doing so will help to declutter your mind, resulting into a more relaxing space.

Use muted colors.

Scandi design uses quite a lot whites, grays and tans, and complements this neutral and nature-based palette with accents of blue and other bright colors. These contribute to less unwanted visual stimulation and gives the room a more soothing atmosphere.

Maximize natural light.

Artificial sources of illumination may increase risks for migraines and eye strain so it follows that making the most of natural light will help in minimizing these risks, and has the bonus benefit of improving one’s sleep cycle.

Painting the walls white as well as making minimal use of window treatments help to optimize the natural light the enters the bedroom.

Bring the outside in.

Nature plays a big role in Scandi design, attributable to the natural beauty of Scandinavian countries, as well as their long winter season which led to the desire to incorporate natural elements into interior spaces.

This can be achieved through the use of plants and flowers that add pops of color to the minimalist design, as well as through the use of light woods such as beech, ash and pine which inject warmth into the space.

Design for hygge.

Scandinavian design embraces the concept of hygge – the quality of coziness and comfort that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being – which would definitely suit the bedroom.

Adding elements that add joy or the feeling of living well such as cool and silky bed sheets, a comfy comforter, or tasteful artwork will not only personalize your bedroom but also create a space you would look forward to escaping to.

Thinking of applying a Scandi aesthetic to your bedroom? It might be time to hie yourself over to IKEA for great ideas and exciting finds.

About IKEA

In 1951, the IKEA began operating as a mail-order catalogue business based in Almhult, a small, forested village in the Swedish countryside. Its founder, Ingvar Kamprad decided to sell good-quality furniture at low prices.

Since 2008, IKEA has been recognized as the largest furniture retailer in the world, with presence in Europe, Middle East, North Africa, East Asia, India, Southeast Asia, Oceania and North America.

In 2021, opened its largest store in the world right in our home turf, a 65,000 square meter outlet located in the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City which houses over 8,000 items.

You can visit IKEA Pasay at the MOA Square, Marina Way, Mall of Asia Complex, Barangay 76 Zone 10, CBP-IA, 1300 Pasay City, open daily from 10am to 10pm.

You may also order online through its website.

To stay updated on its promos and offers, follow it on Facebook and Instagram.

Header Image by Freepik | Other photos taken during store visit to IKEA Pasay.

Check out my previous posts about IKEA:

Answers to some questions you may have about IKEA PH (but haven’t gotten around to asking)

A taste of Scandinavia at IKEA’s Swedish Restaurant

Yummy baked goodies from The French Baker

I can barely remember a time when The French Baker was not around.

Since the early 90’s, it has been making affordable, premium-quality and freshly baked European-style breads available to more Filipinos, thereby broadening our food horizons beyond the neighborhood panaderia.

The French Baker was born out of founder Johnlu Koa’s desire to bring his Paris experience back to the Philippines in the form of French breads and pastries. Since then, the bakery-slash-restaurant has been churning out baguettes, croissants, sourdoughs and tarts alongside local bakery treats such as pan de sal and ensaimada, and cafe fare like soups, salads, pizzas and pastas.

If it weren’t for The French Baker, I might not have developed such a deep appreciation for the art of bread and pastry-making, and my family also would not be enjoying our favorite baked goods so easily.

These include:

Apple Crumble Danish (Php105). Layered and glazed pastry topped with cinnamon-infused apple streusel. While I usually gravitate towards The French Baker’s Blueberry and Peach Danishes, this is a welcome addition to my faves.

Choco Walnut Danish (Php105). Another variation of the delightful Danish pastries, this time with a chocolate cream filling topped by crunchy chopped walnuts.

Blueberry Muffin (Php72). A buttery quick bread with sweet and tangy blueberries mixed in. This is great for a fuss-free dessert after a meal, or a sweet snack.

Butter Croissant (Php73). A crescent-shaped viennoiserie made by layering the dough with butter, rolling it out and folding it several times resulting in a flaky textured roll with the same airy texture as a puff pastry. This goes so well with butter and coffee as a breakfast treat, and is my daughter’s favorite pastry.

Almond Croissant (Php115). A tasty expansion to The French Baker’s croissant possibilities, thanks to the addition of toasted and sweetened almond slices.

Beef Turnover (Php118). The French version of the empanada, this consists of savory ground beef filling encased in the flaky pastry dough. This is my husband’s go-to quick eats, whether for his coffee break or midnight snack.

What I love most about these baked goodies from The French Baker is that my family and I can enjoy them at home!

Whether with our coffee or hot chocolate in the morning, a sweet way to cap our lunch or dinner or as a delicious snack in between meals, these yummy pastries are always within easy reach.

You too can stock up on your favorite European-style baked goods from The French Baker by dropping by the outlet nearest you and ordering them for takeout. With over 50 branches nationwide, this shouldn’t be too hard. 🙂

You can also order for delivery from its website or via GrabFood and FoodPanda.