Typical Foods for Holy Week

Its already holy week, this is a traditional holiday for the Filipinoes, others also called it Semana Santa. This is the most solemn event for us Christians. This holidays include the Palm Sunday, Maunday Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday and lastly the Easter Sunday.

Through this there are a lot of cultural practice that we follow according to our religious beliefs, the most common is about the foods, there some foods that we usually avoid during this season specially on Good Friday. Good Friday also refer as the fasting day where red meat and other dairy products were prohibited. Drinking alcohol beverages is also not allowed as well as no cooking in oil.

Fishes and vegetables were the only acceptable foods during this holiday, it is said that people who can follow this will receive the great blessings from God. Different fish dishes were made as well as various vegetarian dish like Garbanzos.

While in dessert, it is common to have a rice cake, or they also called as the rice pudding.

With this season it is also common with us to take a vacation coz it is a long holiday and some people make the most out of it to take a rest and enjoy. Though I hope that people won't be able to forget the true reason behind this celebration.

March 29,2010

88DB Philippines

Foods to Have a Good Sleep

Late at night though your still awake and can't sleep, or do you wake up at the middle of your sleep and find difficulty sleeping again, or sometimes wake up too early and you have no just but to rise up. Millions of people also suffering from this, and I admit that I'm one of them. Though this thing can be prevented by having a bedtime routine and eating the right food. Here's a short list of foods to help you to have a good sleep.

Potatoes
This will clear your body of acids that block the effects of tryptophan. Just eating a little baked potato or a small serving of mashed or roasted potatoes will be enough.

Bananas
This is consider as a sleeping pill, it contain magnesium that is a muscle relaxant.

Cheese
Cheese is rich in tryptophan, this will help you to have a good sleep. It will be good to eat this during the day in able to encourage the release of sleep hormones. Milk, eggs, meat, nuts, and fish also have this.

Oatmeal
Have a small bowl of warm cereal with maple syrup, oats are a rich source of melatonin.

Hope this will help you a bit in able for you to have a relaxing sleep while having a beautiful dream such as having a vacation or going to beaches while wearing a swimsuit, LOL ^^,. A great sleep will result for you to have a great day. :)

March 25,2010

88DB Philippines

Tips to Avoid Dizziness

Most of us feel dizzy right after eating, and its really hard to resist this, feel very tired and fatigue, I don't know really what's the scientific reason behind this though this is not a good feeling specially for those who are at work and still have a lot of load. Though let me share to you some simple treatment you can apply in able to recover fast:

Vitamin B for dizziness. It will be good that you make it a habit to eat foods rich with vitamin B, coz it consist of antioxidant that prevents the negative effect of free radicals on the nerves, and brain. And it has been prove also that a person lack of this mostly suffer from dizziness or vertigo. Whole cereals are rich with this so it will be good to serve it for your breakfast.

It will be good to cut down eating foods rich in carbohydrate, foods rich with this contribute to the fat in your body. Limiting intake of this will help you to avoid dizziness.

You should also avoid some drinks such as iced tea, diet drinks, and alcohol, also eating of salty and sweet foods at the same time. It still advisable to drink a lot of water, minimum of 8 to 12 glass of water.

Hope that this simple remedies would able to help you to be able to feel relax and comfortable in your job and avoid dizziness.

March 18 ,2010

88DB Philippines

Common Fiesta Foods

I used to attend different fiestas and festival in various places, I have gone to baguio with their Baguio Flower Festival which is also known as Panagbenga Festival, in Cebu City with their Sinulog Festival, in Iloilo with their Dinagyang Festival, also with Quezon and in Batangas. I really enjoyed all the trip and it was quite fascinating that some of their fiesta foods were almost the same. Here are some of the common foods that some city usually prepared during fiestas.

Lechon
This has been called a fiesta food, coz people usually crave for this and a fiesta would never be complete without the lechon. It was quite expensive though people would really prepare this for the fiesta. The term lechon really means a way of cooking, though people get use of it and call it that way. There are different types of lechon such as "lechon baka" and "lechon manok", but the most popular was the lechon baboy.

Menudo
This is not as special as lechon, because maybe it was often a regular meal for others at dinner. This is also a pork dish that have a slightly salty and sweet taste. It is made up of pork, potatoes, carrots and tomato sauce.

Dinuguan
Dinuguan is also a pork dish, honestly don't like this food, though I am wondering why many people love this dish. And consider it as a special menu. It is made up of pork blood that's why its called "Dinuguan", also with intestines and pig guts as well. It is usually serve with the sweet delicacy called "puto".

March 17 ,2010

88DB Philippines

How to Prevent Crying while Chopping Onions

I used to help my mom in the kitchen, I was the one who assist her to prepare all the needed ingredients for the foods, washing it, peeling garlic and other items, and chopping of it. Though there's one that I really hated cutting, the onion. I used to have a teary eye whenever I chop onions and its really irritate me a lot. Thanks that I've learn now how to prevent it, let me share to you some easy ways to do it:

* It will be good if you will first chill the onions in your refrigerator, or you can also wash it in a cold water in able to lessen the acid that cause why your eyes get irritated.

* You can also put lime in your knife before chopping, the acid of the lime react with the gas of the onions.

* To avoid irritation of eyes you can also use a fan and let it blow the gas away from your eyes as you cut it.

* Chew a gum or eat sweets, through this you will be breathing through your mouth not in your nose. Coz if you would stop the odor going through your nose, you will not going to cry.

It is said that onions from farm has much more volatile gas, this is the chemical that react from your eyes, and bring you in tears. Just hope that this simple tips will helps you prevent it, and will stop you from crying while chopping onions.:D

March 15 ,2010

88DB Philippines

Fight Your Toothache - Simple Toothache Remedies

Ouch!!! My tooth is aching again and its really hurt, have you ever experience this disaster feeling? It seems that you wanna pull your tooth, and you can't even eat just because your tooth is aching so much? Actually I used to it though I able to have some remedy in able to ease the pain. I'll share some of it:

Salt
This is a common remedy for toothache and the cheapest as well. You just need to add it in a glass of warm water and gargle it all over your mouth, you can also do it regularly as part of your daily routine.

Hot Pepper Powder
Using a pepper powder plus a pinch of salt would be a good idea also. It will helps to prevent tootache, cavities, bad breath, bleeding from the gums and etc.

Garlic
Combination of garlic and salt is a good combo, garlic have antibacterial properties that kill germs in the mouth. You can also chew it alone and do it daily.

Onions
Onions also have antibacterial properties like garlic so a slice of it would be great to lessen the pain.

Lime Juice
It consists of Vitamin C that will help to protect your teeth and prevent tooth decay, its also provide toothache pain relief.

March 12 ,2010

88DB Philippines

Look Sexy and Burn Your Fats

Summer time is a great time to have a vacation, most people will surely go to beaches to refresh and relax. Most girls would surely choose the perfect swimsuit that will make them look sexy and attractive. Though some might just choose not to wear one, afraid to show their belly fat. But don't be too worry coz there's still a chance for you to look sexy and prepare for your summer get away through choosing the right food to eat. Yes, through your daily food, let me share to you some of this:

Apples
Apple contains pectin, although all citrus fruits have this, apples have a great source of it. Pectin in apple restrict the cells to absorb the fat in your body. It is also rich in fiber that is also good for our body. And the feeling that you are full makes you eat less.

Berries
This fruit also contains pectin and helps to limit the fats just the same as apples.

Soybeans
Soybeans is rich in lecithin which helps to blocks cellular fat absorption and promotes the breakdown of fatty deposits. It would be advisable to have it three to five times a week, this will to boost your body’s ability to eliminate fats.

Bananas
This contains of potassium that will boost your metabolism and regulates your body’s water balance. Milk and oranges are also good source of potassium.

March 11 ,2010

88DB Philippines

Delicious Taho in the Morning

It was a hot sunny morning when I woke up yesterday (it was Sunday). So hot that I can almost feel the sweat on my body. My mind tells me to rise up though my body still want to stay in bed. Then I heard a familiar voice that make me rise up on my bed. "Taho! Taho! Taho!" well, its the mangtataho vendor, opss need to hurry up before the mangtataho left.

I love taho and I used to buy one every weekend, I usually serve it with my breakfast. It is healthy and good for our body. It looks like a jelly with sweet syrup and some sago (other called tapioca pearl). Good to eat while it was still warm.

I can still remember the Baguio trip when I was able to taste their own version of taho. Instead of an ordinary sweetener they added up the flavor of strawberry. And it was really great, the best taho I ever tasted...^^,haha sort of a little exaggerated, though if you've able to try one you'll surely wouldn't forget it.

Just lucky that I still able to catch up the mangtataho vendor...^^,

March 08 ,2010

88DB Philippines

Lets Shake It

Its summer, that's why drinking refreshing drinks would be nice aside from going to cold and cool places. I have share in my previous article some drinks that would definitely make your thirst satisfied, one is "shake". Let me share you one recipe of my favorite shake which is "milkshake".

All we need is a cup of milk, 1 pack of Jello, any flavor will do, and a pint of vanilla ice cream, softened. The directions is so simple and easy to follow. Place the milk and ice cream in your blender, let them mix for 10 seconds then add the Jello and blend for 30 seconds or until smooth. Just an easy step and tada you now have your refreshing shake. You can also add some whipped cream and cherry.

March 05 ,2010

88DB Philippines

Refresh your Summer

Summer is here, this is the time wherein we are able to enjoy some recreational activities, summer bonding, different outdoor activities and a lot more. Its a fun day and a time for scorching heat hence cool summer drinks is the ideal option to refresh the day. Here's some advisable summer drinks that will surely make your summer cool.

Lemonades & Limeades
Lemonades is a lemon flavored drink, that is typically made of lemon, water and sugar. And limeades is somehow the same as lemonades though made of lime juice or lime flavor. This drinks is perfect to ease your thirst and so easy to make.

Iced Tea
This is a classic drink for summer, this is a tea that is often served cold in a glass with ice. Most of iced tea get their flavors from tea leaves some in flavored syrup such as lemon, peach, raspberry, cherry, etc.


Shakes
This is a beverage which is made of milk, ice cream, or any flavorings or sweetener and some ice crush. This is usually serve with whipped cream on top as topping. This is a very cool drink and can really satisfy your craving.

March 03 ,2010

88DB Philippines

Baguio's Famous Delicacies

It was Sunday when I've watch the news regarding the Panagbenga festival in Baguio City - known as the summer capital of the Philippines. It seems that all were having fun and enjoy the festival. I used to remember when we had our vacation there and it was really great. The most memorable with me was when we had food trip and I was so lucky that I am able to taste some of their delicacies.

Strawberry Taho
At first I thought that is just the usual taho that we have here in the Metro but I notice the pink color in the plastic container and I've learn that it was a fresh strawberry syrup instead of the usual sweetener.


Sundot Kulangot
This is one of their famous delicacies though it might sound funny or a turn off to some people though a lot of people in Baguio love this and enjoy eating this one. This is called "sundot kulangot" because it is place in a small container that you need to use your finger to dig out the calamay inside.

Benguet Coffee
Before we left Baguio, I got a chance to taste their native coffee, the "Benguet Coffee". This is famous and favorite beverage in Cordillera and also known to us as "kapeng barako". Their coffee is really aromatic and good to bring as a present for your relatives.

It was really a fulfilling trip and a vacation as well, hope I can able to visit again and explore more of their delicacies.

March 02 ,2010

88DB Philippines

Happy Weekend

During weekends, we usually rent movies and watch at home, that serves as a bonding for the family and a rest day for all of us. While busy watching movies we definitely have something to eat as a snacks. We commonly buy a microwavable popcorn that we all love. There is various flavors that you can choose from like butter, light butter, hot & spicy, cheese, and of course our favorites caramel flavor.

We also buy some potato chips, usually in cheese flavor, this is also one of our favorite snacks, even though its not really a healthy one. Sometimes we buy some crackers too and fill it with some sweet jam or eat it as it, we also eat this as a meryienda. Cookies is also great, and cupcakes as well, though there are times that i almost ignore the movie I was watching and just eat..^^,

March 01 ,2010

88DB Philippines