Save on Grocery by Making Homemade Baby Food

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that “infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or more.” Some parents might be surprised to read this because some health care providers, including doctors, suggest that babies be introduced to solids as early as four months of age. This is the updated/latest directive not only from the World Health Organization but also from other trusted authorities such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, UNICEF and Australian Government National Health and Medical Research Council among others. You may click here and here to read articles that summarize the benefits of delaying the introduction of solids to babies to six months of age at least.

 

Many parents however think that making homemade baby food is a lot of fuss so they simply buy baby foods from groceries which are packed in jars or in boxes. But these baby foods are quite expensive, aside from the fact that most of them are available in blended variants and flavors, not really ideal as baby’s first food. It is recommended by doctors that babies try out one kind of food at a time when they are already six months old.

 

We chose the path less travelled by parents. We have decided to give our second child homemade food instead of store-bought baby foods when he started to eat solid food. Let me share some of our reasons for making this choice.

 

We have greater control of our baby’s diet. We are able to plan our baby’s diet and implement it without being dependent on what is in stock in the grocery.

We know exactly what goes into the baby food.

We can make sure that our baby’s food does not lose its nutrients because we are the ones who prepare or cook the food.

We are sure that what our baby is eating is natural and fresh. We didn’t like to use preservatives or other artificial flavors on our baby’s food. We didn’t even put salt until he was one year old because we wanted him to be familiar with the natural flavor and tastes of foods.

We are able to save grocery money because it’s more economical.

Unlike what most people think, it’s convenient. We cook in batches so each batch can last up to 3-5 days. We simply store the baby food in ice cube trays with cover and freeze it. Then, we reheat just enough for each serving or meal.

Now that our baby is older, the baby gets to eat the same foods that the whole family eats so we are able to save much on groceries.

 

Here's a handy helper in making your baby food.

 

How do you make homemade baby food?

 

Click here to continue reading this article.  This was published today at The Philippine Online Chronicles.

Recipes for Meatless Fridays: Seafood Paella or Paella de Marisco

I almost forgot that I needed to blog about a meatless recipe today.  I was busy preparing for my talk/presentation tomorrow among other domestic concerns when I realized that it's already afternoon and I haven't posted a meatless recipe.

 

Anyway, I choose to post about one of my favorite dishes today -- Paella.  Paella is a popular dish from Spain.  It originated in Valencia but later became popular in the entire region and eventually outside of Spain.  You may read here to learn more about its origin. 

 

Traditional Paella has meat (like chicken or sausages) but since it's Lent, I'm sharing here the Seafood Paella version.  I have tasted both versions - traditional and seafood only -- and both are very delicious.  There are many versions or ways of cooking Paella actually and it is said that it varies depending on the style and preference of the one cooking it.

Let me quote from an article published last year in Inquirer Lifestyle:

“To talk about real paella is difficult. We have thousands of recipes. If you go to Spain and you are in the main towns in the middle of the Iberian Peninsula, the paellas will be more on meat and vegetables. They will be adding pimentón or Spanish paprika.

“If you are in the coastline, the paella will be more on fish and seafood, and if you are from the north of Spain, the paella even does not have yellow color because they don’t use saffron.

“When I came to the Philippines, the difference is the hard-boiled egg and chorizo de Bilbao, and the big amount of toppings, like seafood, chicken, etc.”

 

I searched the net for some Seafood Paella recipes that you can try one Friday this Lent.  It actually isn't as difficult as it seems.  Try a recipe first before concluding that it's only for seasoned chefs.

 

 

Seafood Paella from Just Easy Recipes

 

Classic Seafood Paella from Fine Cooking

 

Seafood Paella by Home Cooking About.com

 

A Sensational Seafood Paella Shared by Norma Chikiamco

 

 

If you're not up to cooking your own Paella but are still craving for one, you can just head to Spanish restaurants in your area. In Manila, you can go to Casa Armas, Alba's, Las Paella's, Las Flores, Pio's Kitchen and other restaurants that feature spanish cuisine.

 

Que se diviertan comiendo!  

 

Recipes for Meatless Fridays: Seafood Kare-Kare

It's another beautiful Friday of Lent!  Today, I will share about a dish that I first tried when I was still a college student taking up Hotel and Restaurant Administration in the University of the Philippines in Diliman.

 

It was also Lent at that time and we were planning for our catering class.  My groupmates and I thought of making a delicious twist to the traditional Kare-Kare which is usually cooked with beef.  The result was still a delicious Kare-Kare with new ingredients.

 

What we did was to simply blanch the vegetables so as not to lose their nutrients and to prevent them from becoming soggy.  We did not mix the vegetables right away with the sauce.  We put the vegetables when the dish is about to be served.  We chose to put one kind of fish which has firm flesh that's cut into bit-size squares (to ensure it won't flake easily when cooked), mussels, shrimps and squid rings. 

 

I have lost our original recipe so I've decided to look for similar Kare-Kare recipes in the web that I can share with you.  You may choose from these recipes which you think would best suit your taste and which seafoods to include.  You may also choose to make your own peanut sauce from scratch (which my groupmates I did before) or use the store-bought ready to mix sauce.  We also did not mix the bagoong or shrimp paste right away to the sauce.  It was served with the dish but placed in a smaller container.

 

 

Seafood Kare-Kare

 

Recipe #1

 

Recipe #2

 

Recipe #3

 

Recipe #4

 

 

Try one Seafood Kare-Kare recipe and let me know how you find it?  A grace-filled Friday to you and your family!

 

Recipes for Meatless Fridays: Baked Mussels (Baked Tahong)

It's Friday once more!  Sorry that I was not able to post a meatless recipe last Friday. I totally forgot to make a blog post due to my very hectic schedule in the past week.  I came home late from a meeting in Makati for one of the books I'm writing last Thursday and the following Friday morning, my husband and I went to PICC early to attend the Wealth Summit which was totally awesome! Anyway, you may read some of my posts about that event here and here.

 

 

Now, since it's another Friday of Lent, let me share another favorite meatless recipe of mine.  I love this dish!  It's so quick and easy to prepare.  You can even ask your small kids to help you prepare it.  It's so cheap.  And most of all, it's so delicious!

 

 

Mussels are abundant in the Philippines especially in the coastal areas that's why they are cheap. You just need to make sure that you buy the fresh ones to prevent potential problems after cooking or eating them.  Also, always check if there's a "red tide" alert before buying.

 

 

I have not heard of a red tide alert reccently so here's my Baked Mussels or Baked Tahong Recipe.

 

 

Baked Mussels (Baked Tahong)

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1/2 kilo of mussels, cleaned and boiled so the shells would open

1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of softened salted butter

6-8 cloves garlic, pounded and minced

finely chopped fresh parsley

grated quickmelt cheese

black pepper to taste (optional)

 

 

Procedure:

 

1. Soften butter in a sauce pan. Then remove from heat.
2. Mix all the ingredients (butter, garlic, parsley) well in a bowl except the grated quickmelt cheese.
3. Remove the other half of the shell or the cover from the mussel.
4. Spoon the mixture into each mussel shell. It should be enough to cover the mussel.
5. Top with grated quickmelt cheese.
6. Bake in oven toaster or regular oven for 5-10 minutes depending on the size of your mussels.  The bigger ones take longer to cook.  I suggest you test using a few mussels before baking a big batch to prevent burning your mussels.
7. Serve hot as appetizer or with rice as part of the main meal.

 

I cooked this dish for one of my birthday celebrations years ago and it was a hit!  Try this recipe and get back to me for your feedback, okay?  A blessed Friday to all!

 

 

P.S.

If this is your first time to stumble into my blog, you may check out my one of my latest Lenten posts here and my previously posted meatless recipes such as Crusted Tilapia Fillet, Paksiw na Bangus and Spanish Sardines Pasta. Hope you'll come back again to read some more next time. God bless!

 

 

Recipes for Meatless Fridays: Paksiw na Bangus

As promised in my previous post on Recipes for Meatless Fridays, here is another meatless recipe that you can cook one Friday this Lent.  This dish was a regular in our household when my Lola Caring (Grandma Caridad) was still alive and very much active in our kitchen.  She loved cooking this tasty fish dish in a palayok and we loved eating it!  I have tried to recreate this dish by recalling how my grandmother would cook it before.  I've mentioned before in one of the recipes (Adobong Manok sa Suka) I shared here in my blog (which was also inspired by my grandmother's recipe) that my grandmother didn't use measuring cups or spoons and didn't write her recipes.  Her recipes were passed on to us as we watched her closely cook in the kitchen and as we enjoyed them. 
 

 

Paksiw na Bangus Recipe.

By Lola Caring (Grandma Caridad)

 

 

Ingredients:

 

1 Bangus (milkfish) cleaned and sliced into 4-5 pieces (sinigang cut)

1 head garlic, crushed

thumb-sized ginger, chopped thinly

1 cup white vinegar (there were times when she used tuba)

1/2 cup water

salt and peppercorns to taste

2-3 pieces finger peppers (siling haba)

1 medium sized ampalaya, halved lengthwise then cut into 3-4 smaller pieces

1-2 medium sized eggplant, halved lengthwise then cut into 3-4 smaller pieces

 

 

Cooking Procedure:

 

1. Season cleaned and sliced milkfish or bangus with salt and let it sit for at least 5 minutes.
2. Put crushed garlic, chopped ginger and the peppercorns in the palayok or pot together with the milkfish.
3. Pour the vinegar and water over the fish.
4. Simmer under medium heat until the fish is almost cooked.
5. Add a bit of salt according to taste.
6. Add the vegetables (finger peppers, eggplant and ampalaya) and let it simmer for a few more minutes until the fish and vegetables are done but not soggy. Make sure that you check often enough to prevent the vinegar and water mixture from evaporating completely.  This could burn your fish and give a bitter taste to your dish.
7. Remove from heat and serve hot with steamed rice.

 

This is another easy dish that you can cook this Lent.  Bangus or milkfish is also very common in the Philippines making it available all year round.

 

Mommy TG's Sausage Pasta with Red Sauce Recipe

It's the day before Christmas and I'm pretty sure that most moms are busy in their respective kitchens preparing something that their family can eat together later for Noche Buena.  This mom is no exception. Our family had been very busy in the past months.  It was only yesterday afternoon that my husband and I had the chance to do some Christmas shopping for our Christmas gifts for each other and buy our groceries for our Christmas celebration.  Thankfully, we finished shopping last night early enough so we can still have some time to bond with the kids before going to bed.

 

By the grace of God, I woke up early today; thus, as of this writing, I'm done cooking/preparing our food for Noche Buena.  I prepared the fruit salad first, taught our maid how to prepare the vegetable and beef dish, bought the birthday cake for the Birthday Boy, then after lunch, cooked the pasta and the ham.  I've decided to prepare not too many dishes because there are only a few people in our household and our maid is also taking a day off this afternoon until tomorrow so she can spend Christmas with her family.   Moreover, I want us to have ample time for the essential things like praying together, going to Mass before our Noche Buena, and bonding with each other.

 

 

Let me share with you now my simple pasta recipe in case you haven't made up your mind on what kind of pasta dish to cook.

 

Sausage Pasta with Red Sauce

by Mommy TG

 

Ingredients for the sauce:

 

250 g bacon, chopped

4 pieces Italian/Hungarian sausages, cut into thin ovals or semi-circles (Italian sausages are a bit spicy)

1 T oil (preferably olive oil)

a slice of butter (preferably unsalted)

1 big onion, minced

1 bulb or 8 cloves of garlic, minced

1 kg spaghetti sauce (Italian style or if for kids, you can use Filipino-style with MMK)

half block of quick melt cheese cut into small cubes or grated

1/2 to 1 cup water (depends on how thick you want your sauce to be)

salt and black pepper to taste

1/4 to 1/2 dried basil or torn fresh basil leaves

Procedure:

 

1. Render the chopped bacon to make the oil come out. Once the oil from the bacon is out and the bacon is slightly crispy, set aside in a plate.

 

2. Brown the sausage ovals in the bacon fat/oil. Set aside again once done.

 

3. Saute the minced onions in oil and a slice of melted butter.

 

4. Add the minced garlic once the onions are transparent. Saute until light or golden brown.

 

5. Add the sausages and bacon again in the pot where the onions and garlic are sauteed.

 

6. Add the spaghetti sauce, water and add some salt and pepper and bring to a boil.

 

7. Once boiling, turn down the heat, add the quick melt cheese and let the mixture simmer for around 15 minutes. 

 

8. Add the basil and season once more with a bit of salt and pepper to taste.

 

9. Make sure that you stir often enough to prevent the mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

 

10. Serve hot over cooked pasta and top with grated parmesan cheese. To make the presentation more attractive, arrange some sausages around the plate or on top of the sauce and noodles.

 

This pasta sauce is good for a kilo of spaghetti.

 

No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake Recipes

My husband asked me over the weekend to check out recipes of one of his favorite cakes, blueberry cheesecake.  He requested me to learn it so I can make it at home.  I searched the net once more and found two interesting and easy to do recipes that require no baking.  One recipe I found (at Self) is a healthy version of the blueberry cheesecake in a cupcake.  The other one is a recipe for a big cake or regular cake from My Mom-Friday.  I got excited as soon as I read the ingredients and the procedure for making them.  I might be trying out these recipes soon.

 

Here are the links to the websites where I found these recipes.  You might want to check them out as well and try them this Christmas season.

 

No-bake Blueberry Cheesecake Cupcake - This recipe made use of fresh fruits such as strawberries and blueberries.  In countries where this is not abundant, you may opt to use canned versions of these fruits.  You can also substitute other fruits in season and enjoy a different fruit flavor for your cheesecake.  Below is a photo of the blueberry cheesecake cupcake version from the same website where I found the recipe.

 

 

 

No-bake Blueberry Cheesecake - This recipe used some spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for the Graham cracker-based crust.  In case you find it difficult to find these ingredients in your local grocery store or you don't have them at home and you really are craving to make this cake, you can just use Graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and crushed pineapple for the crust.  I had been using these three ingredients for one of my favorite desserts which I personally make during special occasions - my Crema de Fruta refrigerator cake.  I started making them when I was in college (either first year or second year college) and my family and friends loved them!  My tip on making the crust: Don't use too much butter.  Add butter gradually to the Graham cracker crumbs and crushed pineapple mixture.  Also, don't forget to remove the excess pineapple juice or syrup from the can (if you are using canned pineapples) before mixing it with the Graham crackers.  The consistency of the mixture should be that of moistened or wet sand. It should not be runny, meaning the butter should not be seeping out of the mixture.

 

Photo source here.

Just looking at these pictures makes my mouth water. :) I need to buy the ingredients soon so I can try making this for my family.

 

Let me know if you have tried these recipes and your verdict for them. 

 

  

How to encourage kids to bring their own baon

Here's an article I wrote for Buhay Pinoy of Philippine Online Chronicles.
 

 ********

 

Encouraging your kid/kids to bring their own baon to school is one way to help the family save hundreds or thousands of pesos. Here are a number of tips to help you rally your brood to help save money for the family.
 

 

Explain to your kids (no matter how young they are) how bringing their own baon to school can help you and Dad save money. It would also help if you give them concrete examples of where the money the family is able to save can be channeled. An example would be for family bonding like enjoying ice cream on a weekend or going to the movies. This way, even young kids are encouraged to contribute to the achievement of family goals. Thus, the lesson is not only on finances but also on values like cooperation, unity and goal-setting.

 

Invest in quality containers for your kids’ baon. Before thinking about the appearance of your kids’ baon containers, make sure that they are of high quality, durable and safe for children. It might be a bit more expensive in the beginning but you can save in the long term because you will not be buying a new container every time it gets broken or damaged. Teach your kids to be responsible also by reminding them to take care of their lunch boxes/bags or baonan so that they can use them for a long time. Another consideration in deciding what kind of container you should use for your kids’ baon is its ability to keep warm food warm and cold food/drinks cold. Lastly, choose containers that are spill-proof. Otherwise, the baon runs the risk of being wasted. Most of all, this is troubling to a youngster especially if the food or drink spills on his bag, school supplies and uniform. It won’t be surprising if eventually your kid refuses to bring a lunch box to school.

 

Make the packaging and food presentation attractive. You can use containers with images related to your kids’ interests. For example, if they like the movie Cars, Spiderman, Mickey Mouse or Dora, then choose containers with pictures of these characters. That way, they are excited to use these containers and are eager to see their baon. You can factor in the color of the food you pack for your kids’ baon as well.

Take time to plan for your kids’ baon, be it for snacks only or lunch included.

 

Click here to read the full article.

How to Include Vegetables in Your Kids' Diet Minus the Tears and Battle of the Wills

One of the challenges that most parents face is getting their kids to eat vegetables.  Most kids get to taste vegetables when they start eating solids as parents introduce them one vegetable at a time.  Some kids easily adapt to the taste and get accustomed to them; while other kids show their dislike from day 1.  But kids who learn to eat vegetables at an early age or who have been eating vegetables since they started solids can sometimes start snubbing these nutritious foods for reasons parents usually do not know.  That is the case with my eldest son.  We introduced different kinds of vegetables to him since he started eating solids and he continued to eat vegetables as he grew older.  Then, all of a sudden (when he was around 3 years old), he became a more picky eater and refused to eat some vegetables.  This led me to become more creative and resourceful to ensure that vegetables continue to be part of his diet.



Photo source here.

Let me share some tips or some ways by which we, parents, can include vegetables in our kids' diet without the power struggle or tears.  Hope these tips would help make your meal times something that you and your kids would look forward to.

1.  Mince or puree vegetables and mix them in sauces. - This is one strategy that I hear most moms do.  The taste of the vegetables get overpowered by the sauces thus kids no longer notice that there are vegetables in the dish.

2.  Air-dry vegetables, pulverize and add to regular dishes. - This is similar to number 1 except that here vegetables are air-dried.  This strategy is highly recommended for leafy vegetables like malunggay which are also easy to pulverize once dry.

3.  Pair or combine vegetables with the kid's favorite foods. - Try combining vegetables with some of your kid's favorite foods.  An example is cheese.  Most kids love cheese and many dishes that have cheese as one of the ingredients.  You can try cheese quesadillas or cheese fingers/sticks.  You may spread torn or chopped spinach leaves together with the grated cheese as you make the quesadilla or roll the leaves together with the cheese sticks.  Try adding spinach also to pasta. 

4.  Use products that are fortified with vegetable ingredients. - There are now products that add vegetables to them to make them more nutritious.  An example of this product is Del Monte's tomato sauce with MMK.  MMK stands for Mongo, Malunggay and Kalabasa.  I usually buy this product whenever I need to use tomato sauce.

5.  Juice them or integrate them to fruit juices. - One example of a vegetable juice we like making is the camote tops juice.  We add some calamansi and sweetener after extracting the juice by boiling.  You may read the recipe and read more about its benefits here.  We also drink the award-winning Vitaplus juice/natural health drink whose ingredients are 5 nutritious and medicinal vegetables/herbs namely: malunggay, saluyot, uray, dahon ng sili and talbos ng camote or camote tops.  The great thing about Vitaplus juice is that it comes in 3 fruit flavors (dalandan, melon and guyabano) thus kids like drinking it without detecting the inherent taste of the vegetables.  My eldest likes to drink this with me and his Dad.  It is best for babies 6 months and older, growing active children and the elderly although regular adults can also benefit much from regularly drinking the juice because, through its nutritious ingredients, it helps boost the body's immune system.  I highly recommend this product to parents with children who are picky eaters and who do not like eating vegetables.  This is a much better alternative to powdered juices in the market which has high sugar content and artificial flavors and ingredients.  It has been awarded the Outstanding Herbal Juice Drink Brand from 2006 to 2009, the Consumers Quality Award in 2007, Consumers Quality Award in 2008 and the Consumers Choice Award in 2009 among others. 




Photo source here.

  

Let me share some of the benefits of the individual ingredients of this juice. (Source: Vitaplus brochure) 

Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) - Scientific research has proven that these leaves can rebuild weak bodies, enrich anemic blood and nourish breastfed babies.  Ounce per ounce, it contains 7 times the Vitamin C in oranges, 4 times the Vitamin A in carrots, 4 times the Calcium in milk, 2 times the Protein in milk, 3 times the Iron in spinach and 3 times the Potassium in bananas.  It can help prevent 300 kinds of diseases/illnesses.  It helps prevent malnutrition and fight anemia.  It is a diuretic (increases the discharge of urine) and lactagogue (increases mother's supply of breast milk) as well.

Saluyot (Corchorus Olitorius) - This is reported to be a potent demulcent, diuretic, lactagogue, purgative and tonic.  It may also be a remedy for aches and pains, dysentery, enteritis, fever and pectoral pains.  It is rich in vitamins, carotinoids, calcium, potassium and dietary fibers.

Uray (Amaranthus Spinosus) - It is a good expectorant and an effective astringent, especially in stopping liquid bowels.  Locally, it has been reported that a decoction (flavor extract obtained from boiling in water) of the root relieves one's breathing from acute bronchitis.  

Dahon ng Sili (Capsicum Frutescens) - These leaves are excellent sources of calcium, iron, phosphorous, vitamin A and B.  It is an important gastrointestinal oxidant and also serves as a stimulant, digestive, lactogogue, antispasmodic (prevents, relieves or lowers the incidence of muscle spasm) and anti-pyretic (reduces or relieves fever).

Talbos ng Kamote (Ipomoea Batatas) - This is the only plant that is very rich in iodine, high in calories and vitamin A.  It lowers blood sugar and cholesterol and is a remedy for constipation and stomach distress.

For only Php40.00 (cost per sachet) each day, parents can include these 5 vegetables/ herbs in their kids' diets minus the tears and battle of the wills. The juice is sold at Php800 per box of 20 sachets or booster packs with 3 boxes each at Php2,400. You can also buy 10 boxes and get 2 boxes free by buying the power pack. Purchasing the power pack entitles you to 25% discount on succeeding purchases or repeat orders.

You may get in touch with me through email (teresa@handsonparentwhileearning.com)  or 09178345846 if you are interested to find out more about the nutritional value and medicinal qualities of these power herbs found in Vitaplus juice/health drink.  You may also order Vitaplus products through me since I am a distributor.

5 Venues for a Farm-Themed Kiddie Party

Planning your child’s birthday party can be exciting and stressful at the same time especially if you are a busy parent, if your child’s party is just around the corner, if you have a tight budget, or all of the above. I had been planning my second son’s first birthday party for a few months now and I have spent much time researching and searching for potential party venues after finally choosing a theme for his birthday party - Farm or Barnyard - for the simple reason that our baby enjoys our reading time the most when the stories involve farm animals. He laughs a lot every time we mimic their sounds. He also likes playing with his pig finger puppets a lot.

The challenge is to find a party venue that would fit our theme and budget. Since I started my research and inquiries at various food establishments and party venues, I realized that there are only a handful of restaurants that offer this party theme, so I‘d like to share this list to help other parents who are also planning a similar party:

 

1. The Creamery Resto and Ice Cream Bar

 

 

The Creamery is located at the Ground Floor of Selecta Kids Universe at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. They can cater to farm- and rodeo- themed parties, as well as princess and luau ones.

Kiddie party menu:

Package A
- Classic Spaghetti
- Kiddie Pork Barbecue
- Orange Juice
- Candy Land or Banana Split Decision
Total: with Ice Cream - P13, 600
without Ice Cream - P11, 850

Package B
- Classic Spaghetti
- Mini Burger
- Orange Juice
- Candy Land or Banana Split Decision
Total: with Ice Cream - P13, 600
without Ice Cream - P11, 850

Package C
- Classic Spaghetti
- Mini Burger
- Kiddie Pork Barbecue
- Orange Juice
- Candy land or Banana Split Decision
Total: with Ice Cream - P14, 600
without Ice Cream - P13, 050

Package D
- Classic Spaghetti
- Kiddie Pork Barbeque
- Chicken Fingers
- Orange Juice
- Candy land or Banana Split Decision
Total: with Ice Cream - P15, 050
without Ice Cream - P13, 500

Package E
- Classic Spaghetti
- Kiddie Pork Barbeque
- Chicken Fingers
- Mini Burger
- Orange Juice
- Candy Land or Banana Split Decision
Total: with Ice Cream - P15, 850
without Ice Cream - P13, 950

Package F
- Classic Spaghetti
- Kiddie Pork Barbecue
- Chicken Fingers
- Mini Burger
- American French Fries
- Orange Juice
- Candy Land or Banana Split Decision
Total: with Ice Cream - P16, 350
without Ice Cream - P14, 550

Inclusions:
- party banner
- theme decor
- balloon set-up
- invitation cards
- nametags
- game prizes
- loot bags
- candy shower
- a party host in themed costume in charge of the program, games and activities
- uniformed staff in themed costume
- a primetime number from The Creamery staff
- use of indoor venue/veranda/Kids Universe area
- three hours party time
- birthday gift for the celebrator

A minimum of 30 kids is required to avail of their party packages. For the adult menu, there should be a minimum of 5 dishes consisting of 4 main entrees (choose from pork, beef, fish, and chicken), 1 pasta and/or rice, and drinks.

They also offer Ice Cream Buffet packages:
Choice #1: Kiddo Ice Cream Buffet good for 30-50 guests is P4,900.
Choice #2: Full Ice Cream Buffet good for 50-80 guests is P8,600.

The regular balloon set-up does not include table centerpieces but they have packages for that as well, for a fee. A non-refundable reservation fee of P5,000 is required to block your party date, but will be deducted from the total bill. All prices are exclusive of 10% service charge.

Contact:
Tel.: 901-1424 / 556-9195
Mobile: 0917-8224373
Email: creamery.moa@gmail.com
Visit their Facebook page

 

2. Big Red Barn

This venue has two branches: one in Ortigas and another in Alabang. Each branch has several function rooms that vary in size, depending on the number of guests you are expecting. The branch in Ortigas can accommodate a group of 100 to 550, while the branch in Alabang can accommodate 80 to 250 guests.
For a minimum consumable amount, the party venue fees are waived. Up to 20% of the minimum consumable amount can be converted to play tickets or tokens, and you can create your own menu from the food offerings of Big Red Barn or the Blue Whale Grill.

Kiddie Party Menu (all at P175 / plate):

Combo 1
- Chicken Crunchies
- Spaghetti-Pinoy or Carbonara
- French Fries
- Juice/Iced Tea

Combo 2
- 1 piece Fried Chicken
- Spaghetti-Pinoy or Carbonara
- French Fries
- Juice/Iced Tea

Combo 3
- 1 stick Pork BBQ
- Spaghetti-Pinoy or Carbonara
- French Fries
- Juice/Iced Tea

Inclusions:
• Free use of party venue
• Birthday streamer (on loan)
• Directional banners (on loan)
• Free use of cake stand
• Free guest list form
• Free use of play area
• Free use of stage
• Free name tags
• Free guest identification stickers
• Kiddie Table Set-up
• Adult Table Set-up
• Buffet Table Set-up
• CCTV security coverage
• Extra security during weekends
• Free “I Rule in Fun Ranch” Bumper Sticker for the celebrant
• Free Use of Sound Stage for exclusive parties
• Free use of Fun Ranch Indoor Playground on the day of the party for the celebrant
• Free Birthday Certificate
• Free One Ride All You Can Ticket for the celebrant

They also have their own pool of entertainers and party hosts and an affiliated cake supplier. A 50% downpayment is required to finalize reservation.

Contact:
Ortigas Branch: 706-3019 / 706-2887 / 687-2870
Email address: funranch.bigredbarn@yahoo.com

Alabang Branch Telephone Numbers: 836-9387
Email address: funranch.westgate@gmail.com

3. Racks Restaurant

Racks has several branches in Metro Manila but only their branches in El Pueblo in Ortigas and Paseo de Magallanes in Makati have function rooms. Paseo de Magallanes has two function rooms which can accommodate 30 to 80 persons., while El Pueblo has more function rooms.

Kiddie Party Menu:

Package 1 - P160 / head
- Bolognese with 1 piece garlic bread
- 1 piece fried chicken with fries
- A glass of coke
- Ice cream

Package 2 - P240 / head
- Bolognese with 1 piece garlic bread
- 2 pieces fried chicken with fries
- A glass of coke
- Ice cream

Adult Party Menu (served buffet style, good for 30 persons):

Package 1 - P295 per head, or P8,850 total
- Bolognese
- Classic Pork Ribs
- House Salad
- 4 choices of side dishes
- Bottomless Coke

Package 2 - P395 per head, or P11,850 total
- Carbonara
- Fish and Chips
- Classic Pork Ribs
- Hickory Smoked Chicken
- Classic Caesar Salad
- 4 choices of side dishes
- Bottomless Coke

Package 3 - P465 per head, or P13,950 total
- Carbonara
- Fish and Chips
- Classic Pork Ribs
- Hickory Smoked Chicken
- Classic Caesar Salad
- 4 choices of side dishes
- Bottomless Coke
- Memphis Pound Cake

Inclusions:
- free use of themed birthday banner or backdrop
- free use of sound system
- buffet set-up
- cake and souvenir table with skirting

Barnyard party favors priced at P130 per head include the following:
- 30 pieces themed invitation
- 30 pieces balloons
- 30 pieces themed coloring placemats
- 30 pieces loot bags with 3 premium items (activity book, colored pencils and sticker book)
- 30 pieces themed name tags

A down payment of P5,000 should be paid to reserve the date of your party.

To discover more farm-themed venues and to continue reading this article, please click here.
 

Chunky Potato and Bacon Soup Recipe

One of the soups I like preparing for my eldest son, Yanthy, and my husband is Potato and Bacon Soup.  It's very simple yet very delicious and nutritious.  I like pairing it with fried dishes like fried chicken, pork chop or fish fillet.  Or your child can enjoy it as is since it has carbohydrates and meat.

Ingredients:

4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed

2-3 strips of bacon, coarsely chopped

1 small onion, minced

5 cloves garlic, minced

1 Knorr chicken cube dissolved in 2 cups water or 2 cups chicken broth 

evaporated milk

salt

pepper

Procedure:

1. Washed the potatoes, peel and cut into small cubes. Set aside in a bowl with water to prevent browning.

2. Render the fat from the coarsely chopped bacon in a small pot.  Set aside the bacon in a saucer/plate leaving the oil.

3. Saute the onions until transparent.

4. Add the garlic and saute until light brown.

5. Add the the bacon back to the pot.  Add the chicken broth and the potatoes.

6. Boil until the potatoes are almost cooked.

7. Lower the heat and add half cup of evaporated milk.  (You may make it 1 cup to make it creamier or use cream instead of milk.)

8. Season with salt and pepper to taste and simmer until done.

9. Serve hot.

Camote Tops Tea/Juice Recipe and its Medicinal Qualities

My batchmates and I were led to the dining area for some refreshments.  Then, we noticed that the juice was pinkish in color.  One of my batchmates asked one of the Sisters what it was and the Sister said it was camote tops/talbos ng camote iced tea with calamansi.  We tried it and we asked for more!  It was good!

That was many years ago when I was still in college and was investigating the life of the Carmelites.  Yes, it was in the Carmelite house that I learned about camote tops being made into tea.  Why I did not become a Carmelite is another story. :)

Trivia:  Do you know that this is the only plant that is very rich in iodine, high in calories and Vitamin A?

 This is how to make it:

1. Wash the camote tops (talbos ng camote) with water and vegetable and fruit liquid cleanser like that of Pigeon's cleanser for baby bottles and toys.  (It's made of 100% food grade or edible ingredients and removes pesticide residues on fruits and vegetables.)

2. Boil water in a pot.

3. Once the water is boiling, put the camote tops (leaves only) and let them boil for at least 5 minutes.

4. Steep some more for 5 minutes.

5. Remove the leaves (or talbos) using a strainer and set aside.  You can make these leaves into a salad.  It's delicious too!

6. Pour on glasses (or cups if you want hot tea).

7. Squeeze 1-2 calamansi to get the juice and mix into the tea.  You can add some more if you want it to have a stronger calamansi flavor.

8. Add a teaspoon (or more if you have a sweet tooth) of honey and mix.

9.  Add some ice cubes for a refreshing and nutritious iced tea!

Now, while you're enjoying your glass/cup of camote tops tea, let share some of its medicinal qualities.

• It's a remedy for constipation or aids in regular bowel movement.
• It's a remedy for stomach distress like those cause by indigestion.
• It helps maintain thyroid hormones that prevents the thyroid from getting big.
• It helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol of patients with type 2 diabetes.

According to Wiki.answers.com:

 Sweet potato tops are excellent sources of antioxidative compounds, mainly polyphenolics, which may protect the human body from oxidative stress that is associated with many diseases including cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

 Sweet potato greens have the highest content of total polyphenolics among other commercial vegetables studied.

 Sweet potatoes contain protein, dietary fiber, lipid, and essential minerals and nutrients such as calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulfur, iron, copper, zinc, manganese, aluminum and boron.

 Sweet potatoes are also important sources of vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and ascorbic acid.

In recent years, it has been reported as well that this tea can help Dengue patients recover.  Read more about this on an article here.

Below is the nutritional value that every 100g of camote tops contain as taken from First Vita Plus website :

• 30 calcium
• 24 magnesium
• 373 potassium
• 13 sodium
• 49 phosphorus
• 85 chlorine
• 26 sulphur
• 0.8 mg/kg iodine
• traces of manganese, copper and zinc

Were you surprised that this cheap vegetable can be this nutritious?  In fact, some people plant this in their backyards and just harvest them when they want to have them for salad or tea. 

Mommy TG's Chicken Nuggets/Tenders Recipe

Chicken nuggets, chicken tenders or fried chicken are staples in children's parties.  It's also a favorite baon of kids to school because aside from being delicious, it's easy and not messy to eat.  Moms like them too because they are easy to prepare and can be packed inside lunch boxes in a jiffy.  Moreover, it takes a while before they spoil. 

In case you are tired of your usual fried chicken, chicken nugget or chicken tenders recipe, I'm sharing my own recipe in this post to give you another option on how to cook one of our kids' favorite food.   

Ingredients:

chicken breast fillet cut into small strips or nuggets

all purpose flour

Japanese breading/bread crumbs

iodized salt

ground black pepper

tarragon

eggs

canola oil

Procedure:

 

1. Season chicken strips with salt, pepper and tarragon.  Set aside for at least 15 minutes.

2. Beat eggs lightly in a bowl.  Beat just enough for dipping the chicken strips you are cooking.

3. Dredge or cover the chicken strips with all purpose flour.

4. Dip in beaten egg.

5. Roll on Japanese bread crumbs until completely covered.

6. Once all the chicken strips are covered with breading, heat oil in a pan.

7. Pan fry the chicken nuggets or tenders until golden brown.  (If you're using this recipe for fried chicken, deep fry the fried chicken pieces.)

8. Remove chicken nuggets or tenders from pan once brown and let the excess oil drip by putting them on top of paper towels before serving.

9. Serve hot with rice or pasta.

10. You may use catsup, capsup-mayonnaise mixture or garlic-mayonnaise mixture as dip for the chicken nuggets/tenders.

Enjoy!

Mommy TG tips:

•  I suggest that if you are cooking this for very young children that you cut the chicken into bite-size pieces or into nuggets.  This would make it easier for them to eat the chicken even without your help.  It will also lessen the chances of wastage because the chicken is small enough to be consumed by a child.  Sometimes, small kids cannot finish one whole chicken tender.  Plus you might need to assist them in cutting it.
• You can marinate the chicken overnight or ahead and put in the freezer or refrigerator and cook the following morning for your kid's or hubby's baon.  

15 Sandwich Filling Ideas for your Kid's Baon (and your Husband's, too)

I mentioned in my post yesterday (Native Delicacies for your Kid's Baon) that my younger brother and I were not allowed to eat junk food like chips and cheese curls and drink soda when we were little.  To make sure we adhered to this rule, my mom would take time to plan and prepare our snacks ahead of time.  Our mom would usually prepare sandwiches for us as baon during school days.  Not only does this strategy help parents monitor what their kids eat, it also allows the family to save some money.  Buying ready to eat sandwiches or snack items is usually more costly than preparing them yourself. 

A reusable bag for my husband's sandwiches.

 

Let me share some of the sandwich fillings that I used to have for my sandwiches as a student and a few that I learned to make while in college.  These are very easy to prepare, even kids can help or do these themselves.

Some tips on how to make the sandwiches healthier:

• I suggest that you use whole wheat breads (sliced breads or pandesals).  In fact, there are now malunggay pandesals.  
• For the mayonnaise-based fillings, you can use lite mayonnaise or you can make your own. 
• Another tip in making your sandwiches, spread some butter on both sides of your sandwich (the mayo-based ones) to prevent it from becoming soggy.
• Add vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes.

1. Hardboiled Egg with Mayonnaise - This is one of my favorites.  I like preparing this at home with my little boy.  He likes removing the eggshells from the boiled egg.  You simply mash the egg using a fork and mix with minced onions and just enough mayonnaise to make it spreadable.  Then season with iodized salt and finely ground pepper.  You can also add minced pickles or coarsely chopped celery.  Celery is good because it gives it added texture by providing some crunchiness and by being a source of fiber.  Do you know that celery can help reduce weight because it has negative calories?

2. Cheese - You can do it the old fashioned way of slicing your block of cheddar with a knife or buy thinly-sliced cheese from the grocery.  Buying the already sliced packs of cheese makes preparing your kid's baon faster.  of course, it's costs a bit more.  You can thinly spread some butter or mayonnaise on the bread before putting the cheese.

3. Ham - You can choose to buy uncooked ham or cooked ham.  Spread some mayonnaise before adding the ham.

4. Ham and Cheese - Ham and cheese, on their own, taste good as sandwich fillings.  But they taste very good as well when combined.  You may choose to spread some butter or mayonnaise again on your bread before adding the filling.

5. Ham and Egg - You can prepare this by cooking the egg first.  Beat the egg and fry.  Cut the egg to make it fit your bread before adding the ham.  Again, don't forget to spread some mayonnaise or butter. 

6. Chicken with Mayonnaise - This is one of my favorites.  We prepare this by boiling the chicken first and chopping or shredding it to pieces.  Then, mix minced onions, mayonnaise, salt and ground pepper. 

7. Tuna Flakes with Mayonnaise - Another one of my favorite spreads.  Just flake the tuna and add minced onions, mayonnaise, salt and pepper.

8. Corned Beef with Mayonnaise - We prepare this by sauteing the corned beef first in minced onions and garlic.  Once cooked, we add some mayonnaise.  I love having this filling on hot pandesal!  Yummy!

9. Peanut Butter - I think most kids experience having this as their baon to school because it's so easy to prepare and it's delicious.  There are now healthier versions of the peanut butter.  You can try using them, too.

10. Peanut Butter and Jelly - Peanut is delicious in itself but paired with a fruit jelly, it tastes heavenly! haha I'm sure a lot of kids like this combination. 

11. Peanut Butter and Banana - I think I learned this combination when I was already in high school or college.  Anyway, better late than never because it also tastes very good. Plus, you get to make your child eat a fruit while enjoying his peanut butter sandwich. 

12. Cheese Pimiento - I liked having this also on crackers, not just bread.  When I was in college, I found out that this sandwich tastes even better when you grill the bread.  Thus, giving you a grilled cheese pimiento sandwich.  Try it!

13. Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato - We prepare this by cooking the bacon first, which usually takes just a few minutes.  Then, we arrange the bacon on the bread with a spread of butter or mayonnaise and add the lettuce and slices of tomato.

14. Crab, Carrot, Cucumber and Mayonnaise - You can use crab stick or crab meat flakes and mix this with thin strips of carrot and cucumber. Add mayonnaise, a few drops of lemon juice or calamansi juice, and season with salt and pepper.

15. Burger - You can buy mini or regular burger patties from the frozen section of the grocery or make your own.  Just pan fry and serve in a bun.  Don't forget to spread some mayonnaise again.  You can add a slice of quickmelt cheese and some vegetables also.

There you have it!  Fifteen sandwich filling ideas for your kid or hubby's baon.  Hope this post helps you in your meal planning and in making sure your family eats healthy.