Archived: Book Shopping in Blue and S&R’s NY Style Pizza

This outfit’s actually already ages past. They were taken by my bestie, Martin, when I accompanied him to book shopping in a bookstore in Trinoma. I must say, the ambiance there was quite exceptional compared to others. It gives you the peace you need when trying to decide your next good reads.

Anyway, as for this casual outfit, I went for a very chic ensemble with main tones of blue and white. The brown belt and bag were in dull tones just so it’s not a monotony of bright and bubbly.

I added the yellow tassels for an extra flair of color. To frame the face, I let the curls and my braid fall to one side.

Later on that night, we stayed over in our friend’s house. Her mom’s like the superstar baker and that night, she served us the heavenliest moist rum cake drizzled with some condensed milk. I learned that the secret to moist cake is the addition of pudding to the ingredients. I will surely try that soon!

Sorry for the blurry rum cake photos. Couldn't get it right! Still looks yummy tho. Hehe.

They also treat us to S&R’s NY Style Pizza. I never thought that something bought from the supermarket could be so gourmet-tasting! Unlike other pizzas, the toppings were really a burst of fresh flavors and the dough was baked to be chewy and light.

It’s a must try, guys! Toodles!

Sesame Barbecue Cruncher

Usually, I stay at home alone during this limbo land-esque destiny for non-post grad students during the wait for the board exam results. Usually, too, I just buy my lunch from the local canteens. But yesterday, I decided to cook, for a change. I rilly missed the kitchen craft, and I rilly missed eating healthy as well, so I thought I’d experiment with some local ingredients. I came up with a really easy and quite affordable yet exquisitely palatable recipe using leftover barbecue from dinner the night before.

Ingredients (for 2-3 servings):

• A tablespoon of vegetable oil
• A tablespoon of butter
• A bulb of white onion, sliced
• A dash of salt and pepper
• A tablespoon of sesame oil
• 2 pork barbecues, cooked (grilled) and separated into pieces
• 3 bouquets of pechay, chopped as desired
• A handful of green beans (Baguio beans or bitsuwelas chopped as preferred)
• 2 red and 1 green bell peppers (or as many or little as desired), squared
• 2-3 pieces of tofu, quartered, seasoned (try Aji Ginisa Flavor Mix!) and fried in vegetable oil
• Optional: Red or green chili peppers, finely chopped for a spicier dish

Steps:

1. Caramelize the onion in the vegetable oil and butter with a dash of salt.
2. Add the sesame oil and sautee the barbecue pieces. Add the optional red or green chili peppers here.
3. One at a time, toss in the pechay then the beans then the bell peppers. Season with salt and pepper and/or a mix (I used the family’s favorite Aji Ginisa). You can add the bell peppers earlier, say after the sesame oil, but I added it second to last for an extra crunchy mix. Adding some water, about half a cup, can make the dish richer in sauce. Just flavor it as necessary.
4. Lastly, add the tofu. Toss a little, and serve warm paired with white rice.

And the verdict? It yields smoky, crunchy and flavor-packed bites – just a great feast for the mouth. I know it says that the recipe serves two to three people, but I was able to consume it all for myself during my lunch and my afternoon merienda. Now I know it may seem quite unhealthy, what with all the oils, but the right, healthy choices and the little portions do the trick. The dish is also highly rich in the “dark green leafy,” the variety of protein sources (meat, tofu and beans) and antioxidants from the peppers. Try it for yourselves! And don’t be afraid to experiment with other ingredients!

Day Out: Going Vintage and Zark's Ultimate Burger

I'm back! (: And to celebrate my return, this blog will both feature fashion and food! And some personal bits as well!

Last Wednesday was such a bizzy day out for me. I went to the university library to study for the board exams tomorrow. Twas one of my last study days. Wuhoo! Excited to get it over with! Teehee!

Then, I went to our college and received the delivery of my last baby as the school publication editor-in-chief, the Lampara magazine of the Nursing Journal. Of course, as per request of my RLE (duty) group mates, I took photos with all my babies!

Forgive my goofy face. Was just sooo excited to finally have em all. Hihi!
One broadsheet, one journal, one magazine and three folios - one hell of a year!

Next, I was off to meet with my hunny to accompany him to the doctor (an accomplishment after all the nagging I did just so he would get the check-up already.) He claimed that the look I pulled off that day was "pang-mayaman." I went for a vintage and classy chic vibe. What do you think?

That vintage top is actually a dress tucked in a pair of Bayo trousers that I folded for cooler feel.

I was able to scavenge that vintage necklace in my mom's collection. Since it was originally too long, I removed some of its length with pliers. Don't be afraid to do DIYs every now and then!

I found those precious shoes hung in Rob Ermita's department store. For 250 bucks, it's a pair that can make any outfit chic.

After that, my friends and I had our much-awaited Zark's escapade in Taft. I never expected that a burger meal would ever be satisfying for my rice-is-what-fills-me stomach, but Zark's surely turned that idea around.

My choice: Zark's Ultimate Burger - A hefty beef patty with lettuce, tomatoes and - wait for it - BACON, glazed with cheese and sandwiched by yummy soft buns. With monster fries and iced on the side, the meal totaled only 150 bucks!

One of my friends attempted the Jawbreaker challenge - attempt being the operative word. Why? Well... 

This is Zark's Jawbreaker, a three-pattied concoction of high protein and greasy goodness. You can enjoy the meal without any time limit for 250 bucks (with bottomless iced tea already!) 

I can't imagine how people can chow down this monster meal in 5 frickin minutes, but there's a whole wall of people who were able to do it! If you accomplish the challenge, you get the meal, worth 300 pesos (cause it has a bigger serving of fries), for FREE! and you also get a shirt and your proud photo on the wall.

Lastly, I and my bestie, Martin went on to the Nursing Journal general assembly, where they ('cause I couldn't handle another bite after that hefty Zark's meal) feasted on our favorite Noodle King garlic wings and bihon, and Calda Pizza's 36-inch Quattro Stagione - both must-try local fastfoods, I tell you! More on these two greats later!

As a resolve, I've decided to be "more personal" in this blog, like in this post. I also tried starting anew with another blog, The Manila Spectator, but I'm thinking of reverting everything back here. Hopefully, since the board exams will be over soon, I'll have more time to update this blog and come up with exciting posts and even contests and giveaways, so stay tuned!

Cheers to a new beginning!