Sunday, May 24, 2015

Homemade Fancy Fish Fingers

Another easy way of preparing fish fingers.

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Ingredients

• 4 pcs. (400 g) medium dalagang bukid (Yellow tail fusilier)
• 1 can (234 g) Fresh Cut Crushed pineapple, drained (reserved 2 tbsp. syrup)
• 2 tpsp calamansi juice or Lemon Juice
• ¼ kilo ground pork
• 1 medium carrot, grated
• 4 stalks kinchay, chopped
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• ½ cup breadcrumbs

Method

• Fillet fish and scrape flesh with a spoon. Remove bones, then marinate in pineapple syrup and calamansi juice for 15 minutes.
• Combine with the rest of the ingredients except breadcrumbs. Season with 1 tsp. iodized fine salt ( or 1tbsp. Iodized rock salt) and ½ tsp. pepper.
• Mix thoroughly.
• Form every 2tbsp. of mixture into sticks or croquettes.
• Roll in breadcrumbs and fry until golden brown.
• Serve with Ketchup.

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Six Surprising Beauty Ingredients Hidden in Your Kitchen

More and more of us are staying away from commercial beauty and health-care products full of harsh chemicals and toxins. But many alternative organic and natural products are pricey. If you’re watching your budget (and who isn’t these days?), there are plenty of natural ingredients that are just as good, perhaps even better, than what you’d buy at a beauty counter. Here are some products that you’d find in your kitchen’s pantry that are good for your health and great for your looks.

Pink (Himalayan) Salt

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Not only is pink salt stunning, with its delicate pink, rose-like color, but it is rich in 80-plus nourishing minerals such as iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, traces of boron, zinc and copper, all of which are necessary for good health. This purest form of sea salt is used for cooking, in place of other table salt, and balances electrolytes, eliminates toxins and supports proper nutrient absorption.

Pink salt is also great for cleansing and detoxifying the skin and is often used as a treatment for dry skin, acne, and even psoriasis. Dissolve a handful in the tub for a soothing bath that will stimulate circulation and soothe sore muscles.

Apple Cider Vinegar

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Although it may sound strange, apple cider vinegar is a great treatment for hair. It prevents split ends, removes residue from conditioners, highly alkaline shampoos and styling products, and leaves your mane smoother and shinier. Try mixing one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into one cup of warm filtered tap water. Apply the rinse after shampooing, let it sit for a few minutes, then rinse it out fully with water. You may notice a slight vinegar smell, but it will disappear as your hair dries.

Apple cider vinegar, which has a pH similar to skin, is also great for your complexion. Mix one part apple cider vinegar with two parts water (or more water if you have sensitive skin) to make a refreshing astringent toner that helps reduce blemishes, red marks and softens skin. Lightly dab or spray it on your face after cleansing. The vinegar smell will dissipate quickly.

Baking Soda

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You probably have a bright-orange Arm & Hammer box of baking soda in your refrigerator to eliminate odors, and maybe in your cupboard for baking. But this kitchen staple, also known as sodium bicarbonate, can be used as an alternative to many expensive beauty treatments. For a reinvigorating facial scrub, make a paste of three parts baking soda to one part water. Rub gently onto your face with circular strokes, then rinse with warm water.

Baking soda can also be used to remove stains from tooth enamel, giving you whiter teeth. Simply pour some baking soda into a small dish, dip in your damp toothbrush into it so the bristles are covered, brush for about one minute then rinse with water. Alternatively, you can combine baking soda with your toothpaste. Add toothpaste to your brush, then sprinkle baking soda onto it.

Cinnamon

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This flavorful spice is not just for baking. Its been used for centuries in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine to remedy a host of health issues including indigestion and the flu. But did you know it can also work as an inexpensive and effective lip plumper? Here’s what to do: Apply a thin layer of Vaseline to your lips, then gently pat a pinch of cinnamon on top. Rub it around the surface of your lips for a few seconds and then let it sit for a minute. The mixture will sting your lips slightly. Wipe it off with a tissue, then add a little more Vaseline to soothe your lips.

Coconut Oil

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You may be using coconut oil for stir-frying, sautéing and baking, but this healthy food item also offers a host of beauty benefits. Celebrities like actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Emma Stone cite it as one of their favorite beauty ingredients. Coconut oil can be used in a variety of ways from moisturizing dry skin to removing even the most resistant waterproof mascara. It’s also used as an under-eye and eyelid cream, a lip balm, a body moisturizer.

And for a wonderful body scrub, melt about a half cup of coconut oil at very low heat (if it’s solid), pour over one cup of brown sugar and stir well. Massage the body scrub over damp skin in circular motions and then rinse. If you want it to smell extra-delicious, put a few drops of an essential oil into the mixture.

Honey

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Honey is often considered a healthier sweetener, but you may be surprised to learn that it’s great for your face and nails. Honey gently removes dirt and impurities without stripping your skin of natural oils, balances oily skin, and moisturizes dry skin. Indeed, the sweetener reportedly has excellent antibacterial and healing properties and calms sensitive and acne-prone skin. Next time you’re at the grocer’s, look for raw honey. Make sure the label says “raw” or “unpasteurized” or “unfiltered.” To use it, take about a half teaspoon, warm it between your fingers, add a few drops of water for a spreadable consistency, and smooth it gently on your face. Let sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. To moisturize nail cuticles, mix one teaspoon honey with one teaspoon apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon coconut oil. Rub into cuticles, let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, rinse.

By using ingredients that you have at home, you not only avoid splurging on a store-bought beauty product, but you have the satisfaction of knowing your ingredients are totally natural.

Source:

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

What to Do for Mom Around the House on Mother's Day

Mother's Day is May 10! Consider these ways to show appreciation for your mother and make her day extra special

My mom still laughs about that Mother’s Day in the mid-1970s, where the whole family spent the day scrubbing out the aboveground pool. It was memorable, if less than ideal. But there are a lot of better ways to spend special time at home with Mom.

After talking with a bunch of mothers about what they’d like for Mother’s Day, on May 10 this year, I found some common threads. They all dream of getting a break from their everyday responsibilities, they don’t really want their kids spending money on them, and they want to spend time with their families at home. Also worth noting is that none were fans of breakfasting in bed. Here are some suggestions for helping Mom feel special on her day.

Make this the one day Mom doesn’t have to say, “Clean your room!” Make your bed nicely. Get everything put away and picked up. While you’re at it, change Mom’s sheets. Going to bed knowing there are clean sheets on the bed and not having to put them on yourself is always a special treat.



Plant a window box together. Hit the nursery and have the plants ready to present to Mom, then enjoy getting your hands dirty together. If you don’t have a window box or if making one is too much work, create a small container garden with potted plants.



Start a vegetable or herb garden. If you already have one, it’s a good time to get your plants started. You’ll have to check on your zone for specifics, but in general, around Mother’s Day is a great time to get lots of veggies and herbs planted. The great thing is that this is a gift she’ll enjoy through the summer, with fresh ingredients just steps away from the kitchen.



Groom the pets. Some mothers are also mothers to pets. And some are just mothers to pets and not kids. Give the dog a bath, brush the cat, clean the litter box or take the pets to the groomer.



Complete the chores she usually does. Whether your mother is the one usually on dishwashing duty, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash or folding the laundry, tell her that doing any of that is strictly forbidden on her day. Do it for her.



Share your talents with Mom. One friend of mine, a grandmother, mentioned that her fashionable granddaughter helps her put together outfits as a special treat. If you have great style, help your mother put together some chic looks and accessorize them. Help her get her closet more organized while you’re at it.



Do something special with family photos. This could be blowing one up, printing a favorite photo of hers and putting it in a frame, getting the iPhoto account organized and creating a fun slideshow to share that day, or assembling an album.



Take care of dinner. Whether you prepare it, pick it up or order in, set a special table complete with tablecloth, linen napkins, the good china, candles and flowers to make it extra special. And don’t forget, Mom is not allowed to help with cleanup.



Designate a bath time. Gather up the bath salts, candles, a fluffy towel and her favorite magazine for bath time. Then give her quiet for at least 30 minutes.



source: houzz

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Chicken Breast Stuffed with Tomato, Goat’s Cheese and Asparagus

Here’s another fine chicken dish!

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Ingredients

• 200 g (7oz) asparagus spears, trimmed and halved
• 4 large chicken breast fillets
• 100 g (3 ½ oz) semi-dried( sun-blushed) tomatoes
• 100 g (3 ½ oz) mild goat’s cheese, sliced
• 50 g (1 3/4 oz) butter
• 375 ml (1 ½ cups) chicken stock
• 2 zucchini (courgettes), cut into 5 cm (2 in) batons
• 8 spring onions (scallions), thinly sliced

Preparation

• Cook asparagus in a saucepan of boiling water for 1-2 minutes until tender, then drain.
• Pound each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap with a mallet or rolling pin until 1 cm (½ in) thick.
• Divide the tomato, goat’s cheese and most of the asparagus pieces among the breasts.
• Roll up tightly lengthways securing with toothpicks.
• Heat the butter in a large frying pan over medium heat.
• Add the chicken, and brown on all sides.
• Pour in the stock, then reduce the heat to low.
• Cook, covered, for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the chicken and keep warm.
• Meanwhile, bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil.
• Add the zucchini and remaining asparagus and cook for 2 minutes, or until just tender.
• Remove from the pan.
• Whisk the cream into the stock in the frying pan.
• Add the spring onion and simmer over medium-low heat for 4 minutes, or until reduced and thickened.
• To serve, cut each chicken roll in half on the diagonal and place on serving plates.
• Spoon on the sauce and serve with the green.

PREP TIME: 15 MINUTES

COOKING TIME: 20 MINUTES

SERVES: 4