Chicken Cordon Bleu



A staple meat at home is chicken, the breast part in particular since I can cook it in many ways my kids can enjoy as well as a good source of protein for hubby especially as a post-workout food. They are not so much into fried chicken because of the bones thus I thought of making my own version of chicken nuggets which is more like chicken fingers. 

Then I thought of doing it differently this time by making Chicken Cordon Bleu. A cordon bleu is meat wrapped around cheese or with cheese filling, then breaded and fried. The presence of a stuffing in this case the cheese and ham, makes it different from a schnitzel which is piece of boneless meat, pounded, coated with flour, beaten egg and bread crumbs and then deep fried.

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For this recipe I used 6 pcs. chicken breast fillet, slices of cheese and luncheon meat (in place of ham), bread crumbs, 1 beaten egg, 1 tbsp flour, salt and dried basil leaves.
 
Prepare the chicken breast by slicing it across to make a butterfly cut, then spread it out, sprinkle a bit of salt and some of the basil leaves. Place a strip each or two of the cheese and luncheon meat/ ham. Then roll it up, making sure that the cheese and ham are secure within, to make sure, use a clean toothpick to "lock" it up. 

Then to prepare it for frying, first dust the rolled meat in flour, then dip it in the beaten egg, then roll it in bread crumbs making sure that it does not come undone. Pan fry to a golden brown on all sides. Before slicing into serving size be sure to remove the toothpicks. Kids preferred it plain while hubby had it with tomato ketchup, enjoyed over warm rice. What a filling dinner indeed! 


Eats in the Valley.. Health 101


Meat is the way to go here in the valley if you want your food business to thrive, thus having Health 101 in the vicinity is both welcoming to the sight and taste buds. With simplicity comes greatness in flavors if I may say. Food here did not go through so much process that it loses its form and taste. A salad is prepared meticulously using only organic vegetables from local suppliers and dressings are made from scratch and not store-bought. One can have a fill of dessert without the guilt, soy bean coffee is served along with brewed coffee and lemon grass tea. You can also enjoy a combination of vegetable and fruit juices freshly made, no water or ice added.

What I love among their entrees, aside from the salads of course, are the cornmeal pancakes, a great breakfast fare that comes complete with coffee and fresh fruits. Hubby loves the chicken-pesto melt sandwich and a must try too is the vegetable lasagna. Their menu has a variety of pasta, salad, chicken and fish choices. Savor the flavors of Filipino favorites like sisig and adobo but made healthier with vege-meat and brown rice.



The freshest of salads in the valley!




I could go on and on about Chef Elmer's creations at Health 101 but you might as well pay them a visit and enjoy the dining experience too! 


Health 101
Gladiola Bldg., BSU
Km.5, La Trinidad, Benguet

Hooray for Free Badges! :)

It's been awhile... but thanks to blogger mom, Kaye at http://wahmaholic.com I was able to get hold of these free badges and they are oh so cute! Having two sons whom I proudly breastfed for two years each when they were babies, it hurts me to hear of moms being ridiculed because of breastfeeding their babies in public! I say what the heck! My babies' concerns come first before anything else! 
And thank you very much for these awesome creations that help express our feelings as mothers! Check them out at http://squeesome.com/blog-freebies/ 
Hooray to all Moms!
Happy Blogging! :)



Blog Freebies

Eats in the Valley... Town Fiesta re-invented


A landmark in La Trinidad, Town Fiesta Restaurant sports a fresh new look with a newly renovated dining hall on the 2nd floor. They don't serve liquor since the manager says they want the new place to be wholesome and family oriented  where food can be savored without having to share the ambiance  with drunk and loud patrons. Nice idea indeed, enjoyed our food and of course brewed coffee!




Duting Tan Dukto 2013.. :)

Jam Season!

It's been months since my last post, what's keeping me busy is cooking Passion Fruit Jam. It thrives during the cold, rainy season here in the mountains and what better if not the best way for the family to savor its unique flavor is to cook it up as jam! Goes so well with pandesal, loaf bread and crackers, downed with a nice warm cup of tea! Buy yours now!


Moist Choco Cake... :)


Happy Cordillera Day everyone! here is a treat I made for the family since it was a holiday today here in the highlands and as a promise for my sons that mommy was going to bake a cake for them. Thanks to the owner of this site who gladly shared her family recipe, indeed it was yummy! my family couldn't wait to dig in, so I made an easy mocha frosting to go with it. Will definitely bake this again as cupcakes soon! For the recipe, visit this site. Thanks miss Aikko! :)



Eats in Baguio..Steaks & Toppings!


Quality family time wont be complete without a good meal.. on a warm Saturday summer, after the boys together with their dad got refreshingly shaved heads (i'm kidding that i should get one too) we strolled along session road seeking out a good place to eat and chancing upon the fresh look of this place, we entered and had ourselves seated. Looking at the menu, prices were reasonable with options to double size a serving.
Our choice consisted of double pork chop meal, combo of chicken teriyaki and breaded pork and lastly pork steak for the little gentleman Ethan. Servings were generous and flavor was oh so good! I specifically had the chicken teriyaki and breaded porkchop combo and what huge serving it was! I especially liked the flavor of the teriyaki, well seasoned with the balance of sweet and salt. Nothing too fancy, just the way it should be and i have to say their chicken teriyaki can very well compare to what is  served at a japanese restaurant at the mall which offers it a steep price. 
What impressed me too about the place was its interior design, it was done impeccably which shows the owners' fine taste for art and design. The place is so warm and welcoming, it makes you just want to sit and linger after a good meal if only they would also serve good coffee and desserts, perfect!. I like the color scheme, lighting design and the total ambiance, everything is so Baguio!
This is a far cry from the old Steaks and Toppings we know at the Patria de Baguio, the place was  small but the food was always good. Now that they were able to score a space at the heart of downtown it is refreshing to see that the owners really put their best foot forward in making sure it will stand out from the rest, and i can say they did a good job. I sure will be going back to try out the other specialties and I do hope they will be offering coffee and dessert options. 


Thanksgiving.. :)



For a LOVE that knows no bounds!

For this year's anniversary, we decided to celebrate with a bang! Monday morning started with a trip to the pools of Asin for a dip which the kids looked forward to. It was such joy to see our two boys really have a great time. We look forward to more trips to the waters in order for them to train on swimming. Bringing food was to be useless since the boys wouldn't even spare time to eat much less get out of the water even for a sec so we just brought a change of clothes and drinking water. Had breakfast at Mc Donald's where we got the pleasure of meeting up with our tita who went out of their way to bring us there, saved us much travelling thus were able to reach our destination in half the time. So thankful for  special people who share their resources when the need arise.

So there we were wading in the kids' pool like all other parents who had to watch over their little ones. Hubby gamely teaching the kids at a time the basics of swimming. By promising a treat, ice cream that is, we were able to get out and rest for a while then dip back again and by 2pm we decided to call it a day, took a shower and prepared to go home. Met a great couple too who both work for the Lord's vineyard and lucky to have shared wonderful words with them. Kids were so tired had to drag them to a waiting jeep a few meters away for the trip back to the city. Had a late lunch at Shakey's to cap the day and got them boys a toy car each. The highlight for our Monday night is the honoring we did for each other during our regular home cell meetings, such awesome blessing indeed!

On our special day itself, while nursing sunburns, we woke up early to offer thanksgiving mass for indeed the Lord has blessed us abundantly. Then we hied off for a nice breakfast at Starbucks along session road. I enjoyed the moment so much, there we were tucked in a corner, savoring our coffee, and never running out of things to talk about. My hubby is indeed my best friend!

What I am thankful most of all is the chance to make our day even more special, by providing us the blessings and most of all, the great companionship we have all these years and what I seek from the Lord is for us to be together to serve Him and His community in the years to come.. :)


Eats in Benguet.. Inglay Restaurant



Here is a favorite spot for moi and the Hubby when we crave for something good in this side of town. I have always believed that great flavors always stand out when they are in their simplest form, no additives, frills and fancy stuff. This being the reason why for years now we keep coming back to this place.


The all famous Pinikpikan made special with Sagada etag is what they offer best alongside their tasty versions of all time favorites. One's meal is best savored with their cup of freshly brewed coffee and for years now it never fails to satisfy moi's love affair with caffeine. 


What i had was Pork Binagoongan whose flavors were just right while Hubby had the Lechon Kawali which is his all time favorite. These along with red rice and vegetables. Overall the meal was great and satisfying.


The place has a homey feel to it along with cozy wooden dining sets. It has a relaxing atmosphere making one forget about the daily noise of life. Cheers to Life! :)






Inglay Restaurant
Betag, Km.6, La Trinidad along National Highway
Tel. No. 422-1857

Best Gift Ever!

Was being able to complete the 9-day Aguinaldo Masses! 


Hubby and I are so blessed to finally have the time, energy and help to go on with the early morning rituals. It is such a blessing for us indeed, you see ever since we got married, we didn't have the chance to complete the mass year after year. What with the kids growing up, sleepless nights feeding them and other parenting stuff that we had our hands full on. 


Every year, we were able to serve as choir in the parish for a particular day of the mass but not complete it. With all the hustle and bustle around us, people buying gifts and prepping food for the Christmas dinner and festivities, we had our hands full of practices to sing during the masses  in two different venues, gathering for the Family Day in the Familia Community, preparing the kids for a cousin's wedding and having to sit down through hours of traffic. We were also able to sneak in a dinner date which was fun and enlightening since we had time to talk about plans, not just for us but also for the community we serve in. And we hope to see the realization of these plans soon, with God blessing each of them.. :)


I write this in bed, resting a sore body from all the tasks done from the past days. Hubby is also nursing a cold but had to work today, his forced leave days starts tomorrow. Even the kids are with cough and colds, what with the cold Baguio weather. 


Our vocal chords tired from singing, but no regrets since everything is for God's greater glory! He blessed us with talents, to share not to keep. May we always have a meaningful Christmas! :)

Pinoy Beefsteak



An early trip to the market on a rainy Saturday morning was what I did for a plan to cook up something special for the Hubby. Bistek is what I had in mind after spying some lemons in our fruit tray, harvested from my sister's home garden. This dish is one I learned from my Mama,  its a favorite during special occasions and earned a lot of praises for her cooking.


I bought sirloin beef and had the butcher slice it "tapa-style" for easier handling. Back in my college days while helping out Mama do this, the hardest part was slicing the beef thinly which needed really sharp knives and a lot of patience. Mama wanted her steak evenly cut and no shortcuts were allowed. Next came the tear jerking onions which had to be cut in rings only, once I made a mistake of slicing it to strips and a scolding followed. Lemons are what we use not calamansi. It imparts a great aroma and flavor to this dish that calamansi cannot render. Thus Mama only uses lemons which are abundant here in the highlands. The tartness of lemon coupled with the salty caramel flavor from the soy sauce blend to make this dish so flavorful it makes one have more than a cup of rice! :)


Ingredients:
1 kilo of sirloin beef (sliced thinly)
3 bulbs of medium sized white onions (you can add more)
juice of 10 small sized native lemons
soy sauce
vegetable oil for frying


Wash the beef and slice into serving size, place in a glass bowl. Pour into it the lemon juice and slowly add the soy sauce, adjust the flavor accordingly. With your hands, mix the marinade into the meat to evenly coat and add the onions too. Cover bowl and marinade for an hour. To fry, heat vegetable oil in a pan. Drain the beef pieces from the marinade leaving the onions. Sear the beef pieces and drain the oil, do this until all the beef is done. Then remove the oil from pan, put back beef into the pan and pour in the marinade. Cover and let simmer. At this point you can also adjust the taste by either adding soy sauce or lemon juice. Let simmer until liquid is almost sauce-like in consistency. Serve with red rice, Enjoy!





Benguet Province..

When you wonder where it is, then read this.. :) And as to the history of our place, go here 

Makulay na Buhay.. :)




Color is one thing essential in our life, thus what could be more appetizing than lively yellows, greens and reds on the table! These M&M mugs i found tucked in a corner at the Sunshine supermart. When i was going to pay at the counter, the cashier was sad i found them because she was hoping to get it soon as payday comes. I felt sorry for her that i actually apologized for buying it! :)
And these lovely colored plates were bought at SM and Tiongsan. So much for patterns and sets for eating, i want to enjoy my food and what better way than to add colors to everyday food!
A simple breakfast with the Hubby.. garlic fried rice, longganisa, tuyo and eggs! 
mangan tako! :)




Tuna Ham Carbonara


Here is my take on a famous pasta recipe that almost anyone can whip up. For the pasta, cook a 500 gram package according to directions and set aside.


For the sauce:
1/4 k. chicken ham sliced into strips
6 cloves garlic, diced
1 small can Century Tuna in oil or brine
1 box Alaska cream
1 pack of Knorr cream of mushroom soup (dilute in cold water)
dried basil
ground pepper
salt to taste
grated cheese (Magnolia Cheezee)


Heat some oil and then fry up the ham until a bit toasted, then dump in the garlic. Saute until garlic is golden brown, add the tuna and stir. Measure 1/4 tsp. of dried basil and place on the palm of your hand and rub it before sprinkling into the pan. This way the flavor and aroma are released. Then season with salt and pepper. Pour in the cream soup base and cream. Bring to a boil. Turn down heat. The sauce will thicken due to the cream soup base. Adjust flavors according to taste. Plate up some pasta, pour the sauce and top with grated cheese. Yum! :)




Desserts at the Sweet Stop


    Homemade it is. Flavorful, decadent, heavenly..are just words to describe the yummy creations tucked in this quaint corner of The La Azotea. Tried out some but the choco-mint brownies wowed my taste buds, it captured the perfect blend of chocolate and mint that i have always loved in a brand i used to crave a lot. Their cassava cakes are made not from cassava flour but from real, grated cassava. 



And these chocolate chunk cookies pack a lot of flavor, moist with a chunk of chocolate thus its name. Again not to sweet, just right.. So if you crave for something sweet but not overwhelming, the Sweet Stop it is! :)



Eats in Baguio... Jen's Fastfood


      After much rain for days, a sunny Saturday morning was most welcome thus what could be more fun than strolling down Session road.


      And looking for good eats makes it all the more enjoyable. Moi and hubby thought of where to have a good lunch, a lot of names came to mind then suddenly we thought of going somewhere off the grid from the usual. There's this place that had good mami for Sunday breakfasts after Mass. Off we headed to Jen's Fastfood, and our palates were oh so satisfied!


      While waiting for our food, moi spotted desserts! What joy to have the creamiest brazo de mercedes! No frills, just pure heaven. :) Will definitely come back for the cream puffs! :)


     A typical "rice meal" in Baguio is a plateful of rice, vegetables, fried chicken or pork and an egg. The version of Jen's is made special by their fried rice or shanghai rice with bits of chinese sausage and scrambled egg and green onions.It had much flavor I ate it with just soup! :)


     Hubby had the fried chicken rice, what could be more yummier than the classic fried chicken sans coatings etc. Their version is simply flavorful I may want to come back for a whole chicken! Also tried their pork asado and it had just the right flavor to it, not too sweet or salty. The way asado should be. 




    So when in Baguio, check them out along Diego Silang St. Just food with a lot of flavor, none of the fancy stuff. :)



Passion Fruit Jam

Its fragrance fills the room as i write this piece on the wonderful gem of a fruit which ironically is named after the Lord's Passion.. passion fruit! It thrives in cold weather which is ideal for our Benguet climate. And yes it is indigenous to my hometown of Mankayan where during the rainy season, it grows wild and in abundance too. So when my mom comes visiting us in the city, she brings a bagful of these gems along with some soon to be ripened bananas as well. We make fresh fruit juice right away savoring the heavenly smell and lovely tangy taste! yum!


The health benefits of passion fruit are so immense that people call it "the wonder fruit" . At this site is found a list of benefits of passion fruit. But what amazes me is how it is likened to the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ  through these attributes which I'm re-posting from Wikipedia:

  • The three stigmas reflect the three nails in Jesus's hands and feet.
  • The threads of the passion flower resemble the Crown of Thorns.
  • The vine's tendrils are likened to the whips.
  • The five anthers represented the five wounds.
  • The ten petals and sepals regarded to resemble the Apostles(excluding Judas and Peter).
  • The purple petals representing the purple robe used to mock Jesus' claim to kingship (Mt. 27:28)
The recipe for this delight starts with thoroughly washed 3 pcs. of passion fruit to yield 1 1/2 cups of pulp and seeds. Cut open the fruits and scoop out the pulp and seeds of each and put in a bowl. Store in the refrigerator. The 6 halves of fruit shells you will need to soak in 2 cups of water in a bowl too, which you will also chill overnight. Next morning, take out pulp from the fridge and boil in water for about 10 minutes. Take out from the water and cool.





  • Peel the skin away from the inner flesh that remained on the shells. Place the inner flesh into a pot, along with 1/4 cup of water, and mash to a pulp. Add the pulp and the seeds that you removed yesterday, along with the 2 1/3 cup sugar and the juice of half a lime, to the same pot and boil for 15 minutes. During this time the mixture should thicken.




    Pour the hot jam into hot, sterilized jars, to within 1/4 inch from the top of the jar. Seal the jars. Enjoy them with toasted bread and butter! And a hot cup o' brewed coffee of course! Once again, a food indigenous to the highlands! :)





















  • The Bakings of Ygoymom..

    It's a dream for moi and hubby to finally have a cooking range and a good one at that! Indeed, blessings come to those who work for good. Thus comes this part of moi's posts.. bakes! and more bakes! pastries at the moment and then maybe to some more yummier main dish, pasta and so on.. i can go on with the possibilities.. but most important is the joy of being able to share the bounties that can be had with this Elba oven. :)


    I don't have a formal training in bakes but then anything can be had thru the net.. learning is a process and being inspired by food blogs do help a lot..


    Here are just some of the moi's bakes with acknowledgement for the recipes.. :)



    Frosted Vanilla Cupcakes thanks to this site


    Chocolate Cake thru the site of ms. Berry Halley


    Vanilla Cupcakes fresh off the oven, my kids love it!


    Date Squares via this site