Simple Ice Cream Cake

For Migi's 8th month birthday, his auntie Yanyan made him an chocolate ice cream cake. Well, it was delicious, 2 of my favorites, cake and ice cream combined. It's a shame Migi could not eat sweets.

For us who are still beginners we can also make a simple ice cream cake with no baking needed. Below is a simple ice cream cake recipe that uses a store bought mamon as base.

4 pcs store bought mamon (either from Goldilocks or Red Ribbon)
2 packs fresh strawberries
2 cups strawberry ice cream.
1 cup whipped cream

Procedure:
1. Slice the mamon in half.
2. Place the half in a 3 inch pan lined with acetate on the side and paper in the bottom.
3. Place slide strawberries on the sides of the cake
4. Cover with softened strawberry ice cream
5. Cover with another layer of Mamon, then FREEZE.
6. Next day, decorate with whipped cream and fresh strawberries, SERVE

Our new bookshelf

Ever since I saw this bookshelf at a popular home living magazine,  I wanted to have one. Unfortunately, I cannot find one in the all the malls I've gone to.

Finally, while browsing for a bar stool for our house, I chance upon this bookshelf at Mandaue Foams Ind, Inc. Since we already own a bookshelf, what we did was sell it at garage sale then my husband bought it as a mother's day gift for me! hehehe
Finally got my dream bookshelf.

Stir fry Beef with Broccolli

Yesterday I cooked dinner for my family. It's beef with broccoli. My husband said it's yummy. You can try it out yourselves. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:
1/4 kilo sukiyaki cut lean beef
1 broccoli
2 carrots
garlic and onions

Marinade:
1 tablespoon rice wine
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon water

Sauce:
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon water

Thickener:
1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water

Preparations
1. Add the marinade ingredients. Marinate the beef for 30 minutes.
2.  Add the 1/2 cup water, and cook the broccoli and carrots, covered, for 4 – 5 minutes, until it turns a bright green and is tender but still crisp. Remove from the pan and drain. Set aside.
3. Heat the pan and add some oil. When the oil is medium-hot, pan fry the beef. Remove the beef when it changes color and is nearly cooked. Set aside.
4. For the sauce, saute garlic and onion, add oyster sauce, soy sauce and water, bring to a simmer. Add the beef and the thickener.
5. For the presentation, round the cooked vegetable around the plate and put the beef at the center. Serve hot.
Bon-a-petit!

Happy first mother's day mommy

Happy first mother's day mommy!

Baby Solid Food

It is really rewarding not to mention cheaper than store bought jars to make your baby fresh homemade food. Migi started his solids when he was 6 months old. We usually give him one variant for one week (example one week of mash potatoes or carrots). What I've noticed is that come weekeneds he has this expression in his face and if only he could talk I think he will say "What Mommee!!, Mash potatoes again!!!". It is also easier to plan and buy in bulk. His pediatrician recommended that if a baby will start solids, parents must give babies the same food for at least 4 days to easily see if he will developed any allergies. Migi already tried the following food: Mash Potatoes, Carrots, Porridge, Avocado, Mango, Banana, Melons.
Now that Migi will be turning 8 months tomorrow. I think its time to plan his menu like we do for the family. Of course, if I were to be given mash potatoes everyday for 1 week, I would definitely complain.

Menu for Migi this week.
1. Carrots with Apple Sauce
Peel, core the apple and cut into chunks.
Same with the carrots, Peel and cut into chunks.
Boiled the apple and carrots together.
Mash the apple and carrots or use a blender for a smooth consistency.
2. Creamy  Banana-cado
Mash the Avocadoes and  Banana
Put some milk and serve
3. Mango Tango
Using a blender, puree Mango and Banana together
4. Avocado with Apple Sauce
Peel, core the apple and cut into chunks
Boil the apple
Mash the Avocado
Using a blender combine the two together for a smooth consistency.
5. Potatoes and Squash
Peel and dice potatoes and squash
Boiled them
Puree as needed
6. Apple and Chicken
Puree together chopped cooked chicken and some cooked apples

Mystery Shoppers in Philippines

Get paid doing shopping? wow for me it's a dream come true!
Usually market research companies hires mystery shoppers to check how their client's business is performing in terms of quality of customer service.

As for me, I have tried one legitimate Mystery Shopping here in the Philippines.
The company is Frontline Focus International.
Here's a step by step guide on how I applied as a Mystery Shopper
1.  Go their Website and Register your Name, City, Country, Phone and Email
http://www.frontlinefocus.com/dialup/index.ASP
2. Wait for a coordinator or representative to contact you via email. They will give you a login access account to their website.
3. To be come a certified Mystery Shopper, you need to study certain guidelines or standards of a particular company.  Then you have to take an online exam. If you passed then you can act as a mystery shopper for that company.
4. Once your certified, you can choose assignments posted on their website or your coordinator will contact you via phone if there is a urgent assignment. Your will not be force to do all the assignments presented to you. It will be on your own discretion or schedule.

Here is my personal experience with Frontline Focus International.
My assignment was to evaluate a popular fast food company via dine-in service.  I need to observe the politeness of the staff, the cleanliness of the store as well as the time it took for them to serve my meal.
After the assignment I need to fill out a questionnaire form to evaluate the store. Also remember to order only the food indicated in the assignment or else you won't be reimbursed for your meal.
After you sent out the survey form to them, they will reimbursed your expenses as well as send you the payment fee as a Mystery Shopper via your bank account.

Also remember that legitimate mystery shopping doesn't require you to purchase a sign-up fee. Beware of these scammers.
Happy Shopping!