Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Ice Cream

It's getting really hot here in Texas again...and we have been making and eating lots of ice cream! For me, nothing tastes better than fruit flavored ice cream like my favorite mango, avocado and langkasuy...but for Ryan and the girls, cookies 'n cream and this Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Ice Cream are always on the top of their list.

I'm really not much of a peanut butter person...but everyone here loves it...and I love them, so I can't complain! Since the start of spring, I have no choice but to always give in to their request of making this Peanut Butter and Strawberry Jam Ice Cream. Well, I must admit that I'm beginning to like it too! The very smooth texture that the peanut butter brings to this ice cream is something to fall in love with...and I must say that the combination of peanut butter and strawberry jam (especially homemade one) is truly wonderful. I guess I will also give in to Ryan's request of making Peanut Butter and Cheese Ice Cream very soon!

Ginisang Pechay (Sauteed Bok Choi with Ground Pork)

It's Monday again...and I hope your week is off to a good start! 

Today, I want to share with you a very simple Filipino dish that my mom used to cook often because it's so easy to prepare and is really very economical. It's simply pechay (a green leafy vegetable which is the Filipino Bok Choi) sauteed with ground pork. In the Philippines, pechay is available in the market all year long. It is also one of the common vegetables that can be found in many backyard gardens, so you can buy it really cheap. But cheap as it is, it is packed with nutrients! It is rich in Vitamins A & C and in folate too. It also has small amount of calcium, iron, protein, niacin, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B-6 and Vitamin K. Pechay has that crisp and mild sweet taste that make it so good in soups and stir-fries.

This Ginisang Pechay that I have for you is the simplest way of cooking it. Just like my mom, I enjoy cooking this nutritious and tasty dish! With just a bundle of pechay, a little ground pork and some spices, this will be ready in no time! You should try it!

Salad in a Glass

After Ryan's brownies with cream cheese swirl topping and Lizzy's chocolate mousse cake, I feel that I owe you something healthy! So today, I'm bringing you the vegetable juice that I love to make using our Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer. I remember that in my fruit juice post last month, I promised to share this with you. Well, here it is!

This is called Salad in a Glass. I must say that I've loved this from the first time I tried it! It doesn't only taste good...it is packed with many health benefits too! If you think this  Salad in a Glass is just an ordinary juice, think again because this juice can provide you with 82% of your daily value of vitamin A, 60% of vitamin K, 19% vitamin C and 16% folate from the Romaine lettuce alone. So just imagine how healthier it is with the carrot, tomato, cucumber and celery! Just like the Romaine lettuce, tomato and carrot both have antioxidants that help reduce the risks for cancer. Celery on the other hand, helps regulate body temperature and is a natural tranquilizer. Cucumber is rich in sulfur and silicon which makes it a natural diuretic. With all these being said, I'm sure you'll understand why I love this juice! :)

Chocolate Mousse Cake from That Skinny Chick Can Bake

It's the third Wednesday of the month...and PiTCC's Favorite Dishes from Around The World is back!

Today's recipe is different from the first two we've featured before. It's something rich, moist, sweet and decadent! It's the first "cake" guest post in our series...and I am both excited and humbled that Lizzy of That Skinny Chick Can Bake found the time to share her recipe of my favorite Chocolate Mousse Cake!

I'm sure you all know her! She's that fabulous, sweet and very caring lady who's such a valuable asset in the food blogging community, not only for her mouthwatering recipes and stunning pictures, but much more for her very warm and inspiring personality. I met Lizzy through Foodbuzz and I have been a big fan of her since then. I am not much into baking so I really admire those who are good at it, and Lizzy is one of them. Though she's not from France where chocolate mousse originated, when I think of cakes, she is the first person that comes into my mind! Baking queen is what I consider her to be and I truly feel so honored to have her today! Without further ado, I give you the amazing Lizzy...

Hi everyone! I'm Lizzy of That Skinny Chick Can Bake. I am a self taught home cook who loves making every dish both beautiful and delicious. My family is full of chocoholics and this is reflected in the embarrassingly high number of brownie recipes on my blog! My household composed of a hungry husband and 3 grown up kids plus one sweet, geriatric pup named Lambeau.

I am thrilled to be kicking off Tina's guest posts on cakes for her  PiTCC's Favorite Dishes from Around The World series. She has asked a number of her baking buddies to demonstrate some of her favorite cakes. I was excited to see a chocolate mousse cake as one of her options and nabbed it immediately! My youngest son's birthday was approaching and I was certain this would be his idea of nirvana.

Chocolate is melted, eggs are separated, whites are whipped. Lack of flour makes this cake smooth and silky...a melt in your mouth wonder. The birthday boy was smitten with this fabulous cake...I hope you will be too!

Chocolates are gently microwaved with butter, till smooth and melted.

 

Springform pan is buttered and wrapped in foil.

Egg whites are whipped till stiff.

Egg whites are folded into mixture of chocolate, egg yolks, and flavorings, then scraped into prepared pan.

 Baked in a bain marie (water bath) to perfection.

Thanks again Tina, for inviting me to your incredible blog! You are a constant inspiration both as a home cook and a mom. You are such a dear and supportive blogger friend. 

Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl Topping and Giveaway Winner

Did you all have an amazing Mother's Day weekend?

If you gonna ask me...well, I did! Got some lovely gifts from Ryan and the girls...and Mother's Day turned out really awesome for me! My day started with a filling fried rice with sausage and scrambled eggs breakfast prepared by my sweet hubby. We went to church then had a nice Mexican lunch at On The Border. After that, we watched Dark Shadows (not so good movie but it gave us some laughs). When we got home,  Ryan made these Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl Topping...

Not from scratch though...he used boxed brownie mix. But he made the topping from scratch. He said he got it from Betty Crokers' Cream Cheese Swirl Brownie recipe. Ryan likes to cook, you know. He actually does the cooking every weekend...but he had never made baked treats. This is the first time that I've seen him baked something, so even though these Brownies with Cream Cheese Swirl Topping aren't 100% from scratch, I feel these are truly worth sharing! For someone who doesn't bake, the effort Ryan put into making them is indeed commendable. Neither did he hurt his fingers with the mixer nor overbake the brownies and burn the kitchen. :) I must say he did a pretty good job! And even though the swirls didn't come out really visible, I must say that these brownies are beautiful enough and are delicious too! They are such delightful treats to end my wonderful Mother's Day! 

Remembering My Nanay Through Her Favorite Maja Blanca

“A mother is the truest friend we have, 

when trials heavy and sudden fall upon us; 

when adversity takes the place of prosperity; 

when friends desert us; 

when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, 

 and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, 

and cause peace to return to our hearts.” 

- Washington Irving

I've always been very close to my mom. Though I grew up surrounded by good friends, I've always felt that she's the only one TRUE friend I have. Losing her to gastric cancer was truly devastating for me! I didn't only lose a mother, I also lost my best friend! And though almost 5 years have passed, there are still times when I couldn’t seem to grasp that she’s gone forever. Everyone said it would get easier with time but that doesn't seem to work for me. Losing someone who has always been there, looking out for me, cheering me up and giving me inspiration and encouragement is a big deal. It really saddens me that she's not with me anymore, and believe me, there are times when simple thoughts of her make me burst into tears. I often find myself so envious of those people who still have their mom around. Though I have Ryan and the girls (who definitely make me happy), the feeling of being a motherless daughter sucks! That feeling is worse on holidays and Mother's Day when everyone's thinking of their moms, buying them gifts and doing something special to thank them. That makes me so jealous and miss her even more! 

Today, in honor of Mother's Day, I want to dedicate this post to her...the wonderful woman who gave life to me and raised me to be the loving and responsible mom that I am now - 

ANSELMA LOPEZ FLORES

I truly love my mother deeply! She is the best, you know! I am sure a lot of people say that but I really mean it. While my mom was always a good mother, she was a lot more than that! She was my greatest teacher---she didn't just teach me how to read and write, she also taught me everything that aren't taught in school...she taught me to be honest, forgiving and to treat others the way I want to be treated...she taught me to be independent and to have my own opinions and thoughts instead of going along with everyone else...she taught me to always be thankful and appreciative of the simplest things I have and the things others bring to my life; she said saying thank you is a very simple thing to do but it means a lot...she taught me that laughter is indeed the best medicine but there's nothing wrong in crying and it can make you feel better too. My mom was also my biggest fan and cheerleader. She was always there for me and she never failed to give me the encouragement and support I need in everything I do, no matter how big or small. Above all, my mom was also my best friend. Our relationship was actually more like of sisters rather than of mom and daughter. We really did spend a lot of time together and whether we're eating out, watching a movie, shopping or just talking about anything, it was always fun. With her, I can totally be myself...I can tell her anything and she would totally understand. She accepted me and kept on loving me despite all my flaws! With her, I always felt safe and loved. I am truly lucky to have her as my mother! To her (and my dad, of course), I owe everything that I am today. Now that I am a mother myself, the thought that my Nanay has truly done motherhood so well inspires me to be the best kind of mother that I can be.  I know that I can never repay her for everything that she has done for me, but being able to pass on to my daughters her amazing legacy of selfless love would be a great way of honoring her!

To all of you who still have your moms around, treasure your time together and be sure to give her a hug and tell her how much you love her, not just on Mother's Day...but everyday!!!

And to all the wonderful mothers out there,

 I salute you for your endless sacrifice! 

You truly deserve all the love in the world!
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

As I've mentioned many times before, I got my love of food and cooking from my mom. With that being said, this post wouldn't be complete without sharing with you something related to food. So as I remember and honor my beloved mother, I want to share with you a recipe of her favorite dessert called Maja Blanca. This dessert is usually served during fiestas and the holidays. Adapted from the traditional Spanish holiday dessert manjar blanco which means white delicacy, Maja Blanca is a Filipino dessert made primarily from coconut milk and cornstarch. It has the consistency of thick gelatine and is usually creamy white in color. 

Though the basic ingredients remain the same, it can easily be adapted to include other ingredients...like this manner of cooking that I got from my Nanay. If you noticed from the picture, my Maja Blanca is yellowish in color. This isn't just because of the corn but because it has cheese in it. I'm not a big fan of the regular Maja Blanca. It's good, but I usually don't get excited when I see it on the party table. But this one, I really love! It's cheesy and creamy and I just can't say no to that! I've seen and tasted other Maja Blanca with cheese...but only for topping, which I also like...but my Nanay's version for me is still the best! Adding cream and cheese in cooking it makes it even tastier!

Chicken 'n Peppers Spaghetti

I hate to admit this, but sometimes I'm just too lazy to cook. It's on such days that I make quick pasta dishes like this Chicken 'n Peppers Spaghetti...

...and by quick, I mean less than 30 minutes including prep and cooking time. I'm really not comfortable with serving frozen ready-to-eat food to my family (though I must admit, I sometimes do and that makes me feel guilty)...so even though I'm feeling lazy, I still prefer making a simple meal that won't make me feel guilty. This is an example of that. It is very easy to prepare and cook but it's healthy! The chicken and cheese makes this dish a good source of protein, while the peppers (both the bell pepper and Jalapeño) give this dish added vitamins and nutrients like Vitamin A, C and E, potassium and folic acid. Red bell peppers also contain lycopene, which is a carotene that helps to protect against cancer and heart disease. This is really packed with goodness but is so easy which makes it perfect for lazy to cook days!

How about you, do you have any “too lazy to cook recipe” ? 

Fibers.com Giveaway

Like my new shirt??? Well, I got it from Fibers.com, an innovative website that offers custom clothing items for both kids and adults like t-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, pants, shorts and even undies and baby bodysuits and bibs!

Ordering at Fibers.com is so easy! You can have your custom item with just a few mouse clicks! You simply have to choose the type of product you'd like to customize. They have over 50 products to choose from, from sleeveless shirts to long sleeves and from undies to pants. They have infant sizes from newborn to 24 months and kids sizes from YS to YL. Men's sizes are from S to 5XL and women's sizes are from XS to 2XL. They also have several t-shirt colors, fits and styles to choose from. They have regular cotton as well as organic and recycled ones. For my shirt, I chose the white Junior Fit Ringer T-Shirt with navy blue ribbing which has a base price of $21.99. Regular shirts are priced at $20.99 and recycled and organic ones are $24.99 and $27.99 respectively.

Once you’ve chosen the product you want, it’s time to decide on the design. You can choose from 8,000 pieces of art available on their website or you can upload your own. I used one of their "I Heart T-shirts" design...

...and just added my personalized PiTCC logo on it and changed the text. 

 

There are 500+ fonts available on Fibers.com and they have thousands of cliparts to choose from...so even if you don't have your own graphics to upload, you don't have to worry! With the endless combinations you can make from the available tools on their website, you'll surely come up with a unique design that's 100% yours! The front design is included in the price...so no matter how much graphics you want on your shirt, you don't have to worry about paying more.

I really love how my t-shirt looks. I even had PiTCC's url printed at the back for an additional $3, making the total price $24.99 plus 2-3 day shipping fee of $5.

I know it may sound expensive for a simple shirt...but for the quality of both the shirt and the print, I can say it's worth the price! I've ordered from other custom shirt websites before and I must say that Fibers.com's price range is basically the same but the quality of both their fabric and print is a lot more better. The shirt looks great even after washing it! The best thing about Fibers.com is that they donate a portion of their profits to help public school kids through funding teacher projects at Donors Choose. They are also involved in microfinancing with Kiva to help low-income individuals who do not have access to typical banking services, and they also donate a percentage of profits of all breast cancer t-shirt sales to support breast cancer research. A purchase from Fibers.com is one you can feel good about...so the next time you need custom t-shirts or other clothing items, be sure to check out their website! For product updates and promotions, you can follow them on Facebook and Twitter too!

Fibers.com is giving away one $30 voucher to one lucky PiTCC reader! Fibers.com ships internationally so this giveaway is open to everyone! If you want a t-shirt like mine or you want to try other custom clothing items, simply enter through the rafflecopter below! This giveaway ends on May 14, 12:01a.m. EST!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a $30 voucher from Fibers.com to design a t-shirt for review and another one to give away. All opinions expressed here are my own.

 

Southern Style Fish Tacos with Hoisin Mayonnaise Sauce

It's Cinco De Mayo tomorrow! It's the Mexican holiday which commemorates the victory of their army over the French at The Battle Of Puebla in 1862. People of Mexican descent in the United States (especially here in Texas which used to be part of Mexico and follows many Mexican traditions) celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities. But since we're not Mexicans, Cinco De Mayo for me and my family is more like a Mexican Food Eating Day. For the past 7 years that we've been here, we either eat at a Mexican restaurant or prepare a simple Mexican dinner at home every 5th of May.

We really enjoy Mexican food...but I must honestly say that I seldom make it at home. But in line with Cinco De Mayo celebration, I made Fish Tacos to share with you...

This is based on the Southern Style Fish Taco recipe from my 2005 Southern Living cookbook, which I paired with Hoisin Mayonnaise Sauce that I got from Food & Wine. In case you're wondering what Southern Style Fish Taco is...well, it has breaded fried fish while the original taco from the West Coast has grilled fish. If you'll ask me, I prefer Southern Style Fish Tacos because the breaded fried fish really adds a nice flavor and texture to the taco compared to the grilled fish which tends to be mushy. For the sauce, I prefer the Hoisin Mayonnaise Sauce instead of ranch dressing that is usually used for Southern Style Fish Tacos...not just because of my being Asian (LOL) but because it's so good!  I really never thought that hoisin sauce and mayonnaise will work so well together, but I've been addicted to it since the first time I tried it. They really make a good sauce and is so perfect for fish tacos. You should try it!

Homemade Langkasuy (Jackfruit and Cashew) Ice Cream

It's the first Wednesday of the month and we're supposed to have another guest blogger for PiTCC's Favorite Dishes from Around the World, but sadly, she didn't make it because of her busy schedule despite the two months notice.

But worry not, I have something special to share! What's so special about this ice cream, you may ask. Well, this ice cream flavor is something that you can only find in the Philippines. I'm sure many of you haven't heard of it! It is called Langkasuy, which is the shortcut for Langka (Jackfruit) and Kasuy (Cashew).

It was made popular by Magnolia Dairy Ice Cream and was one of my favorite flavors when I was growing up. Jackfruit is a popular tropical fruit in the Philippines which when fully ripe, has a delightfully sweet flavor. Langkasuy Ice Cream captures the full flavor of this tropical fruit with the added crunchy texture and nutty flavor of cashew nuts. I tell you, their flavors complement each other so well!