Thursday, June 28, 2012

Silken Tofu with Crispy Dried Scallops

Being a busy mom, I am always on the look-out for meals that are quick-cooking and yet healthy and flavorful.  Early evenings are the most hectic time of the day in my household, so weekday meals are usually less elaborate.  But less elaborate doesn't mean giving up on nutrition, flavor and presentation.

This silken tofu dish meets all those requirements, with the least amount of effort. Tofu is one of the favorite foods of health buffs because of its low calorie count, relatively large amounts of protein, and has zero saturated fat.
 
 
Silken Tofu with Crispy Dried Scallops 
2 blocks silken tofu (I used the round tubes available in the nearby grocery)
4 tbsp dried scallops, broken down into small pieces and fried (can be prepared in advanced)
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp light soy sauce (or make your own by mixing equal parts soy sauce/water) 

few stalk of scallions, chopped 

To make Crispy Dried Scallops:
 1.  Rinse dried scallops and rub off any white film on the surface.  Wash and place in bowl, covered with hot water overnight.
2.  Drain scallops, reserving the stock.  Shred scallops by hand, discarding the hard muscles.
3.  Lay flat on a baking tray, and bake on a preheated 175 degrees celsius oven till crispy.  Set aside for later use.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1.  Heat tofu in hot water, with packaging intact.
2.  Heat a wok, put some oil, fry dried scallops until golden and crunchy. drain away as much oil as possible with a kitchen towel.  Set aside.
3.  With oil in wok, fry minced garlic until golden.
Drain garlic on kitchen toweland set aside.
4.   Cut open tofu packaging and slice tofu into 1/2"-3/4" thick.  Put on a serving dish.  Pour light soy sauce on the base of the tofu.
5.  Top tofu with crispy scallops, scallions and garlic bits.   
6.  Serve to your family and enjoy at once. 

There!  The garnish makes it look like you slaved away in the kitchen, when all it really took to prepare this dish is 30 minutes from prep to serving. :)
 

* If you have left-over scallions from this dish, you can read how I extend the shelf life of scallions for upto two weeks right here.




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Friday, June 22, 2012

Phenomenal Tip: How to Store Scallions/Leeks

The kids have all gone back to school, and my mornings have slowly begun to ease back into my comfortable ritual.  I now have time to position myself in front of the computer uninterrupted – for a long stretch of time.  I used to think, when my oldest was still a pre-schooler and my youngest an infant, that I would eventually be rewarded with lots of leisure time as they get older, and thus be less needy.  Such a silly thought!:)  I am soon to be a mother to a high-schooler, and yet my days are still filled with activities that are all about being a mother.  

Anyway, after being deficient in writing posts the entire summer, let me get going by sharing with you a wonderful kitchen tip that has been of much help in my kitchen...How to store leeks and scallions to enjoy them upto two weeks.

I love scallions and leeks, and I frequently use them to garnish our plates come dinner time.  However, most homemakers rarely use them because of their tarnished reputation for the reason that they wilt quickly.

Let me show you what I do...

1.  First clean the leeks/scallions in running water, making sure to take out the grime and dirt.  Throw out wilted parts also.

2.  Then placed the scallions alongside the container where you plan to store them, and cut them out a few inches shorter.

 3.  Leave them slightly damp, cover tightly.  They will keep for upto two weeks - guaranteed!

 4.  Enjoy them!
Silken Tofu with Dried Scallops and Scallions. Recipe to follow soon!
Dried Scallops and Egg White Fried Rice. Recipe to follow soon!

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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

HeadWare Love

During the start of summer, I was given some HeadWare products to sample, and my kids were more than willing to use them as they engaged in various activities. J finds good use for it during swim meets, to keep hair off her face as she waits for her turn in between heats...

...and later on as a bandana when the mid-day sun proved too hot to bear.

Still, we found another good use for it - to hold an ice-pack when she sprained her ankle...

They gave me 3 designs, perfect for each of my three kids.  J loved that hers came in her favorite color purple, while B found the doodle print super cute, and R just loved wearing his Spidey mask.:)

Established in 2010, Headware develops functional and useful products that allow people to enjoy to the fullest the active life they seek. Their first creation, the Basic Headware, is a multipurpose seamless tube that has more than twenty uses for a deceptively simple-looking product. The Basic Headware has amassed a vast following from the sports, adventure and travel communities.

Headware® adds another accessory to their arsenal of essential products, the Loop Scarf. The latest innovation in fashion and travel accessories utilizes the signature multipurpose lifestyle that Headware® has established.

The Loop Scarf, like Headware®’s previous creations, is stretchable, breathable, all-purpose, tubular and still seamless.  This piece allows you to enjoy travelling in warm and cold climates as the lightweight material helps protect you from intense rays of the sun as well as keep you warm in colder temperatures. With its usefulness, the Loop Scarf is a travel-must-have whether for short trips or long term travel traversing continents.

The versatile scarf scores points in the fashion department as well. Scarves have the ability to transform an outfit from ordinary to exceptional. Add a pop of color to ensemble by choosing a bright hue. For cool night outs, the Loop Scarf works as a bolero perfect for any outfit.  For the more adventures types, the Loop Scarf can even be used as a top together with other accessories.

The Loop Scarf (P690) can be worn as a bolero, double loop scarf, shoulder shawl, single loop scarf, head scarf and in as many uses as the imagination can think of. It comes in Black, Grey, Beige, Brown, Teal, Purple, Plum, Red and will be available starting June at ROX, Moana, The Travel Club, Lonely Planet and Planet Sports.

Like their Facebook page to know more about HeadWare products.


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Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Kipling Spring/Summer 2012


Kipling bags have long been a favorite of many for their casual and fun loving designs.  Kipling has come a long way from its original roots of providing high quality backpacks into creating functional and fashionable casual bags.  My own daughter is a fan of this Belgian brand, and her joy couldn’t be contained when she saw the colorful new designs.

The vibrant colors of the totes are just perfect for the remaining days of summer, and the backpack is also perfect for school aged children who have outgrown their stroller bags.  See some of the new designs for yourself!



Just recently, during the 3-day sale at Megamall, I chanced upon the Kipling store at the second level of Building A.  The store sports a spanking new interior which can only mean a better shopping experience. 

Shop for Kipling bags online at zaloro.com.ph, and at SM Mall of Asia, SM North EDSA The Block, SM Megamall, SM Bacolod, SM Iloilo, SM Davao, SM Cebu, Robinsons Place Ermita, Rustan’s Alabang Town Center, Rustan’s Shangri-La, Rustan’s Gateway, Rustan’s Makati, Landmark Makati and TriNoma.

To get product updates, visit Kipling Philippines on Facebook and get to find out more exciting news from the lovable monkey through kipling.ph.



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Tuesday, May 8, 2012

A Proverbs 31 Kind of Woman



Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! 

In this modern age, it is refreshing and definitely a wonderful change of perspective to know that somewhere in the Bible there is a lovely passage that shows us where to find a timeless example of virtue, responsibility and good sense.  Here in Proverbs 31, we find a MOTHER who embodies the qualities which every believing woman should strive for in her personal life, in her physical appearance, in her family life, and in her daily duties.

As I share the verse below, I hope we are all inspired to be a Proverbs 31 kind of woman.

The Proverbs 31 Woman :
10An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.

rare, precious
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.

trustworthy
12She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.

kind
Her Character
as a Wife
13She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.

works joyfully
14She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.

goes extra mile to get choicest goods
15She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.

disciplined
16She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.

enterprising, prudent with money
17She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.

energetic
18She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.

good steward
19She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.

diligent
Her Devotion
as a Homemaker
20She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.

compassionate, generous
Her Generosity
as a Neighbor
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.

provident
22She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

elegant
23Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

influential
24She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.

industrious
Her Devotion
as a Homemaker
25Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.

poised
26She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

wise
Her Influence
as a Teacher
27She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

manages her home
28Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:

praiseworthy
29"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."

distinguished
Her Effectiveness
as a Mother
30Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

God-fearing
31Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.

honored
Her Excellence
as a Person

table above taken from www. proverbs31woman.com

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Tuesday, May 1, 2012

A Passion for Pink {Crepe Paper Curtains}

There are new things coming up for this blog. And in preparation for the exciting times ahead, the blog will be moving to a new home!  While I will still be writing about our phenomenal life, it will now have a new name. 

From now on, I will be doing all of my posting at The Phenomenal Mama


I hope you could all bookmark the new site and follow me there!


I will still be keeping this blog open so you can read all of my old posts.  But you won't miss a thing with the new blog as it will have all of the old posts, as well. 


* * * * *



We have all done crepe paper crafts at some point, mostly during our grade school days.   So when the recent opportunity arose to decorate B's Crafternoon party with crepe paper curtain in gradient shades of pink, I was delighted!  The wonderful ombre effect made by combining white, light pink and fuschia pink made it easy for me to convince the 2 girls of how fun making crepe paper curtains can be!
 
It is really a simple process of cutting, lining up, cutting, lining up...

Here is the step-by-step guide on how I did it.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Monday, April 23, 2012

DIY: Kokeshi Fashion Bookmarks

There are new things coming up for this blog. And in preparation for the exciting times ahead, the blog will be moving to a new home!  While I will still be writing about our phenomenal life, it will now have a new name. 

From now on, I will be doing all of my posting at The Phenomenal Mama


I hope you could all bookmark the new site and follow me there!


I will still be keeping this blog open so you can read all of my old posts.  But you won't miss a thing with the new blog as it will have all of the old posts, as well. 


* * * * *



One of the paper crafts I prepared for B's crafternoon party was fashion paper bookmarks.  It is a project that is easily adaptable if you have an afternoon with your kids this summer.  I will share with you the easy steps on how to make your own bookmarks made out from up-cycled materials.
It is sure to be a hit with your little fashion designers, and what makes this even more of a hit is that it is simple enough for the young ones to do on their own.  And as if that were not enough, the adults would love this project to bits as the materials needed are already available in your home - even right this second!  
 
Fashion Bookmark #1:
You will need:  cardstock paper, magazine cutouts, cutter/scissors, glue.

1.  First, you need to draw a layout of the kokeshi doll on paper.  Make sure that the "dress" is big enough to serve as a canvass.  Since I was doing this for a craft party, I decided it would be easier to just do a one digital pattern and mass-print it outAlternately, feel free to draw out the outline of the dress freehand, the facial features can be drawn using a fine-tipped pen, the hair can be colored in using markers.

2.  Using a sharp cutter/scissors, cut out the outline of the "dress."


3.  The next step would be to scan through back issues of fashion magazines and cut out boldly-colored and strongly-patterned pages.  Sort out the clippings, and group according to color or pattern
 
 

4.  Now, unleash the creativity, and mix and match the bits of papers to come up with your very own fashion creation!  The resulting work can be something simple...

Or it can also be an elaborate mix of patterns

Fashion Bookmark #2:
You will need:  cardstock paper cut-out to the following shapes; dress shape, circular shape for the face and a semi-circle for the hair, paper puncher cutouts, cutter/scissors, glue.
And so nothing is wasted, the paper cut-outs that was taken out (the dress outline) can be made into still another kind of bookmark.

Fashion Bookmark #3:
You will need:  used envelope corners, nice graphics cut-out from magazines: 

 

1.  cut-out a corner from a used envelope
2.  glue the entire surface
3.  stick template/magazine cut-out onto the glued surface.
4.  press firmly together until glue dries up completely.

Happy crafting!

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