Chef for a Day

Children were in for a culinary surprise at the United Square Mall (the one that is a stone's throw from where we live). The United Square in Novena is dubbed as "The Kids' Mall" -- they house several outlets for famous brands of infants' and children's apparel and shoes - which I would say is more than what you will find in the bigger malls. There is also a branch of Toys R Us and Early Learning Center (ELC) in this mall. ELC boasts of unique line up of toys and books.

Everysooften, United Square sponsors learning events for kids. This month, they sponsored a Children's Cook Out at the Atrium where kids can learn great things about nutrition, good table manners and of course, experience being a chef!

There are four stations that you can choose from -- Japanese Bento, Oriental Mooncakes, Pizzeria and Kaya Jam. The food they will be preparing were all very creative renditions suitable for kids' consumption.

They also get to have a nutrition and health tour before going into culinary action!

Here are snippets of the Cookout...


Chef Kyla having a great time at the Pizzeria Station



It's a great idea to jump start kids on simple cooking

Preparing for the Cookfest

The first stop is the food pyramid

Height and weight measurement for the BMI charts



Kids also learned table setting, good manners and get to do hand-on for napkin folding



Getting started!

Kyla worked independently on her pizza

 

Kids received goodie bags from sponsors and a certificate

The best part-- Kyla shares her Pizza with Kuya Kevin

Kyla took home her pizza creation and gave the half for her brother, Pizza being his favorite food. It's a wonderful way to end the day!


Lego Mania

We were wondering what on earth was the long queue all about at the atrium of the nearby United Square Mall... apparently Toys R Us held a 3-day mega sale for Lego. The 1st day was exclusive for Members and it was indeed a box-office!  It was marked down from 30-40% off. Not bad.

We did our own share of lego hoarding.
I was disappointed that I was too late for the Lego City series.

We did our share of hoarding. They'll make great Christmas gifts for my godchildren and nephews.

Kyla and I enjoyed assembling her new toys and we bought Toy Story and giant Technic series Bulldozer for Kevin (he is into big cars). I was too late for the City and Kingdom series so we ended up with Prince of Persia set.

Its good to note that Lego is still a hit with the kids these days though I must say I did think that the adults probably enjoy them more!

Lego mad rush!

I was about 5 when Lego was introduced in Manila via Gift Gate. It was already 'relatively expensive' then. The only Lego we owned was a boxful of loose lego bricks when Manila C.O.D. (where Mom used to work) put some old stocks on sale. And probably a few more that were given to us as gifts.

It's amazing how lego managed to flourish and sustain its brand despite the passing of years.

I got Kyla to play lego- it is a great way to get them to be creative, it stirs a bit of spacial-visual intelligence skills. She said she wanted to be an engineer too, so a bit of visual-spatial skills ought to help.... and we have some mom-and-babe bonding time --  as opposed to just being glued to a PC.

Kyla started to work on the Toy Story Lotso Truck for her brother

Kyla finished assembling the easier stuff

This is from the Kingdom and Ninjago Series

So now, off I go --  she said she needs some help with the truck!

Birthdays... Birthdays...

Metamorphosis was not yet in existence when Kevin celebrated his 7th Birthday so this is really a reminiscence of his birthday celebration way back in 2007.

We decided to hold his party at the village clubhouse of our home in Sta. Rosa, Laguna on the exact date of his birthday which fell on a weekend. We never really tapped party planners for these ocassions so it was a joint family effort to plan and prepare for his birthday party. Hosting this at the clubhouse though meant having to coordinate caterers, decorations, sound system, host/entertainment and lootbags altogether. But I enjoy doing these things so we went for it. Much later,  for our daughter's 7th birthday, I had to go with all-in package when it became apparent to me that I will be leaving the country way earlier than her birthday event.

We chosed a Madagascar-Safari theme party although we decided not to have a costume party for the kids and kept it low-key for Kevin. So we made up for it through the decorations. I hired a 3rd party contractor to set up the decorations and balloons including the decorations for the cake station, the balloon tower and table centerpieces.

Picture from home, while preparing for Kevin's party. These were then his favorite things.

We opted for a Madagascar Theme Party.
I had to rely on a 3rd party to set up the balloon decorations.
Most pictures look dark though as we relied only on our dgcams.

 To keep the kids busy, we hired a Caricature artist. Kids (and Moms) can take home portraits of themselves in a superhero or fancy character of their choice. The artist drew a picture of Kevin as the Safari Ranger together with the Madagascar animals. Even my Mom was able to queue for it and she had it framed.

The party host was dressed as safari ranger and later changed into his magician costume. I got a deal where the party host doubled as magician, game master and we he also got to make animal balloon twisties and give a short puppet show. We also had lots of games, Kyla and I enjoyed buying tons of prizes at Market-Market.

Magic shows are always a hit with the kids. Even if they've seen it a hundred times.



Puppet show to keep the youngsters busy after lunch





We had a Pinata and a Pabitin for the kids

We also prepared the lootbags which contain Kevin's favorite goodies and toys. We also printed thank you tags and attached this to each loot bag. My kids love receiving loot bags from parties so we made sure that every kid will be delighted as well. We prepared for 40 lootbags and set of 12 more for the kids at 8+ of age (had to give them something more suitable for tweens).

We enjoyed preparing the lootbags with Kevin's favorite goodies and toys

Tons of games prizes are a must so that every kid gets a chance to win some.



We did not hire a professional photographer to cover the event and relied on our dgcams (and some titas) for the pictures (hence some photos lack lighting). We did miss taking a picture of the buffet station, the goings on at the caricature corner and sorbetero ice cream station.

The venue was a full house and it's a relief that the caterers have extra tables and chairs that were set at the pool area at the last minute so we can have everyone seated comfortably. We were most overwhelmed by friends, relatives, colleagues, teachers, neighbors and the sheer number of children who came by!  Kevin who was usually not at ease with large and noisy parties was at his best behavior throughout the event. We are grateful to have them share with us this important day in Kevin's childhood memories!

Happy Birthday Kevin!

Marina Bay Sands : Inside and Out

The Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is the newest iconic landmark at the Singapore Bayfront. Teamed up with the view of Merlion, the Singapore Museum of Arts, the Grand Fullerton Hotel, the Helix bridge, the hip Esplanade Hall (aka the Durian) and the Singapore Flyer, makes for a breathtaking skyline.

A clear skyline makes a wonderful backdrop, to think that in the same morning it was actually raining like crazy in the same area.

 I had an opportunity to stay overnight at the MBS for an annual company event. It was interesting to be able to see MBS from the inside after several photo ops from outside.

The interior of the MBS Hotel as you enter the lobby is nothing awesome or frivolous which is a stark contrast to the grandeur of its exterior. It's not that bad, but simply falls short of expectation. My benchmark in Manila being the Manila Peninsula and the Manila Hotel. Actually, the lobby feels like an extension of the Marina Bay Shoppes- and technically speaking, it is! It IS a very busy lobby as a matter of fact. Like the entire city was in there. You can access the Mall, the Casinos and the Exhibition Center via an underground channel. The posh-factor was likely invested on their Casinos.

 We were booked in a twin sharing room and got a bayfront view which is spectacular at night. The room and the bathroom were spacious and has a modern minimalist look. We only spent less than six hours of sleep and did not really get to stay a minute more in our room. We did however, hanged out at a colleague's room while chatting the night away.



Masette's room has a panoramic view of the Bayfront. With the Esplanadae and Singapore Art Museum (I call it Adidas) at the background.



Ready for the Dinner Event!

Before leaving, we definitely made sure we get to visit the famous view deck at the 57th Floor. The view deck is designed as a ship nestled atop the triple towers of Marina Bay Sands Hotel.
The long infinity type pool dotted with lounging chairs welcome you after you walk past by the security. You need to show your MBS door card to be able to enter the view deck, else be prepared to shell out for the bragging rights ("been there").

View of the Infinity Pool. Literally "swimming at the edge".

I thought that it must probably feel weird to be swimming at the infinity pool with swarms of locals and tourists flocking the pool side for photo op. Folks like us basically.

There are two gourmet restaurants situated at the prime spot atop MBS-- Sky 57 and Ku De Ta. You need a reservation (and a hefty amount of money) to dine there. The making of Ku De Ta was featured in Food Network Asia.

At the far end of the deck is a spacious boardwalk where people can hang out and enjoy the view of Singapore harbour. I realized that while the ship looks massive from below, it doesn't actually look as intimidating once you are on the deck. You could be walking along any random park, for that matter.



You have to insert $1SGD at the coin slot to use the telescope. I warned Dwight that the 1SGD isnt taking him any far....



At weekend nights, a firework display follows a Light and Sound show at the Marina Bay at around 8 pm or so. If you've nothing to do on weekend nights, it is worth hanging around to see the L&S show.

The light and sound show about to start. Taken last April 2011 after we watched Lion King.

The Marina Bay Shoppes is their shopping mall with all the global and luxe brands. When shopping in Singapore, dont expect to get a bargain. You wont. But if you are looking for a hard to find design or latest trend that you normally wont see in say. Manila, then yes, Singapore it is.

This is my weird side kicking in... I have many shots of the Marina Bay Sands but my favorite picture was taken from the Marina Barrage. We were doing an outdoor teambuilding activity and I snapped a picture of the MBS framed by what I noticed to be rainclouds looming nearby. True enough, you can see from afar the mist of rain enveloping the MBS skyline and making its way towards us. I snapped this photo before running for shelter which was like 500 meters away.

For some reason, I love this picture.

I also love walking along the riverfront with the view of Marina Bay Sands, taking in the new world charm of this cosmopolitan city. In this part of Singapore, the traces of its old world is barely physically discernible. But just by sitting along the benches of the riverfront, watching people and life as it happens, you can breathe the spirit of old Singapore with the cool wind gushing by.

Credits:
Thanks to Ed Macias for the pictures. And for patiently bearing with us during the Photo Op.

The First True Pinoy Burger

This is the result of watching Food Network Asia too much. I suddenly miss Hamburgers. Not just any burger. I miss the Tropical Hut Hamburger.

Before Jollibee and Mc Donald's became the icon for burgers in the Philippines, there was Tropical Hut Hamburger. We lived at the heart of Cubao for thirteen years and our apartment at Yale Street is 5 minutes away from the Araneta Center. The earliest  Tropical Hut Hamburger fast food store was located along the same arcade where Manila C.O.D. Department Store was situated.

This was the first Hamburger we've ever tasted. I remember my Dad bringing this home one Saturday afternoon as his pasalubong from work. The THH were generous in size, the beef patties were thick-cut and juicy but not overdone. No fuss and frills, just the beefy goodness of the first ever comfort food we came to love.

The other underated specialty of THH is their Spaghetti Special! The THH Spaghetti is the epitome of Pinoy's sweet-style spaghetti sauce with generous serving of slightly melted cheese and slices of sweet ham. Their menu evolved through the years to include the latest food fare. My other favorite from THH is the Tapsilog (Filipino style beef steak strips with fried rice and sunny-side up style egg) Their Cubao branch started serving this the 80s as a luncheon fare.

Before we left our home in the Philippines, THH opened a branch in our hometown in Sta. Rosa. My husband and I used to drop by at Tropical Hut even during week nights as an alternative to home cooked dinner. Their food repertoire now include salads, Pinoy dishes like dinuguan, kiddie favorites like fried chicken -- but my eternal favorite remains to be their original hamburger, spaghetti special and tapsilog.

Tropical Hut Hamburger

Partners In Crime

I had an opportunity to link up with old Cabuyao friends last July 21-22 here in Singapore. The F&HC Offsite is an annual event held in Singapore and the venue this year was the Marina Bay Sands. I'll talk about my MBS experience in a separate blog.

Meeting up again with old friends (...and when I say old, it means our friendships went back from years ago) made me realize I havent really laughed for a long time now. There wasnt really anyone who was good at cracking the sort-of-wholesome kind of green jokes, friends who have stories of misdaventures and mischiefs that could make me laugh 'til I cry, friends who are unabashed at making themselves sound or look silly just for the heck of it, friends who would stick it out despite me being me, and all that history.

Or friends who could listen to your woes and tears when you needed a shoulder to cry on. At one point in my life the past few months, the tears just came streaming down in solitude and I only had the rain to camouflage them.

This is a tribute to my friends from my old workplace. While work will never really cease to stop, the difficult days were easier because you have been there. I truly miss all of you.




My friendship with Ninnie is strengthened by a common clandestine bond. 

"Glo G" and I started out as project partners in 1998 and lunchmates since 6750 days.
Pretty much because we both get hungry by 11am. We also went through many shared EO days at the Plant and who would have thought our future home will be in the same Plant.




With Boss Ed and Ninnie. QA brought us together. In my case, I was their adopted member. Circa CLT days, we called ourselves the original outer circle.



My Kikay Friend at the Plant.
Zarah and I make up the formidable Liquids Initiatives Team then.
With 4 major initiatives per quarter. We were the good cop, bad cop team. Guess Who's Who?

We were batchmates at the B3 College held in SG, had a pact of solidarity.

Mommy Joyce is truly my mother and friend for all season.
Eversince my month 1 in the plant and we were seatmates at the front row of the Cabuyao shuttle.

Jas is my first mentor in PS and also a friend through the many episodes in my life.

One of the Best Team Ever! We were a team but we were also friends. Together we first brought to realization the MPO packaging dream of being Asia's best.

The title "partner in crime" last ended with Dwight so far.
We were friends since Liquids Engg days and we had gone through so many hilarious, forgettable, witty, desperate and argument-laden days. Our friendship even survived despite the expired Hopia- I thought he was being thoughtful leaving me a piece for merienda. He told me later it was expired!





Our Weekend Baking Bonding (and how I learned to bake...)

I learned to bake in 5th Grade after joining the Culinary Arts Club. I didn't join just for the free tasting, though I would say it makes for an interesting fringe benefit. But I really did put into practice what I learned. The first cake I learned to bake was the basic sponge cake. I cannot forget this because while in the process of melting the butter, I used a small skillet and used high setting for the burner. The result? The melted butter caught fire and before I knew it, the whole pan was on fire! Anyways, the cake turned out fine (after repeating my batch of butter). Then I moved to Devil's food cake, cupcakes and muffins. I stopped baking sponge cakes after breaking our electric mixer (did something very stupid...) and only made the ones that can survive manual mixing (like coconut macaroons and brownies).

Baking has now become a weekend bonding for me and my kids. We take a special favor for muffins because they are quite easy to prepare, you can mix and match flavors and ingredients, it works best with tea or coffee and most of all, I better put to good use my Muffin Recipe book!

Kyla is my all around side kick- she helps me fetch some ingredients, mix the batter (when I'm done with the mixer) but she has to do it manually of course, add the choco chips or sprinkle the toppings. Kevin is our morale booster, patiently watching while we are at it. He even pulled a stool to sit near us.

The simple cheese cupcake is my favorite while the kids love choco-chip muffins. I will try the peanut butter variety as my next project.

Here are the samples of what we have made so far...

There are my first attempt to do Iced Cupcakes.

Loved the Blueberry Muffins. I used icing sugar as sprinkles.

And these are the Choco-Chip Muffins.
Last week I also baked Choco-Banana variety with Cream Cheese frosting.

Baking has now become one of our weekend activities.

There are many more muffin recipes waiting for me -- days of weekend bonding with the kids. I know that when they surely remember muffins, the fragrant aroma will bring memories of home.

Blueberry Muffin Recipe

125 g softened butter
140 g caster sugar
2 eggs
140 g plain flour (I used Gluten Free flour for Kevin)
1/2 tbsp baking powder
125 g dried blueberries
2 tbsp milk
icing sugar, for dusting

Line a 12-hole muffin pan with paper muffin liners. Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat together until light and fluffy, then gradually beat in the eggs. Sift flour and baking powder and fold into the mixture. The fold in the blueberries and milk. Spoon the mixture into the paper liners.

Bake in the preheated oven, 180 dec C for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Let the muffins cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer into a wire rack to cool completely.

Dust the tops with sifted icing sugar once the muffins have cooled down.

Makes 10-12 muffins.

*fold - this is a technique in mixing

Happy Baking!