Tous Les Jour

I was craving for some French macaron for quite some time and never had the chance to visit Bizu Patisserie.  So after a quick lunch with moms (my mom and mom-in-law) and my sisters-in-law, I dropped by Tour Les Jour in Eastwood. Been passing by this shop for a month now and never got to visit until today.

The place is quite small and no tables to dine in over a cup of coffee. But quite surprised for the assortment of cakes and pastries they offer, neatly placed in the temperature-controlled glass panel shelves while breads perfectly laid out on the table. I hope they taste as good as it looks. The cakes are decorated so nicely and priced decently. Researched a bit about the store and found out that it was first opened in Korea with it's main goal is to serve baked goods with Frech-Asian flare hence the name.

As for the macaron, I'd say the taste is good but the texture is not what I expected it to be. A bit hard to bite through the middle part as compared to the macarons I've had. Nevertheless, it's quite cheap for at 20Php a a piece. And if you aren't that particular, it'll do. I still want to try the famous Korean bun and the rest of the pastries in my next visit. Try it for yourself and let me know.

Beauty Haul: MAC Lipstick

Got a late Christmas pressie from my brother in Singapore. Yay! He got me two new shades of MAC lippies: Morange and Dress it UP. I am not a fan of red lippies but I wanted to be a bit adventurous this year and wanted to wear something bright. Maybe then, I'll find the right shade of red that'll fit my skin tone. 

My 5-year old niece doing the modeling shot  L-R (Dress it UP, Morange)

(Here I am wearing Morange to a lunch date with my Mom)

Quick tip: I find Morange a bit drying, so make sure to put lip balm on top.

Meet Sachi

Just a quick post, can't resist! She's too cute. I've always wanted to have my own pet dog but condo-living makes it hard for us to get one. Maybe in the future when we're settled and all, I'd definitely get me a mini-Shih Tzu. They're very kid-friendly and they don't shed as much.

Here we are at BGC for a late-night coffee at Starbucks. Such a chick-magnet according to the husband. haha!

Bagel Breakfast Burger

Good morning, everyone!

Nothing beats home made burger and so is making a great meal to jump start your day. The husband is working really hard for my shopping trips and me a bum at home (*wink, i know it's bad), so it's just appropriate that I make up for it by feeding him good food. Haha! Kidding aside, I know he gets hungry easily and since we don't eat rice in the morning, I try to be a bit creative.

Here's a simple burger made out of the usual american breakfast ingredients: bacon, eggs and bagel.

Ingredients:

• Bagels (plain or flavored, this one I used blueberry)
• 2 Eggs, sunny side up ( I hate eating the yolk, so mine is well done)
• Bacon (of your choice, used gourmet smoked lean bacon w/ no preservatives)
• 2 Large Tomatoes, sliced
• Cheese slices, Mozzarella preferred (I used Magnolia quick melt)
• Salad greens, Romaine lettuce preferred
• Onions (optional, the husband and I don't like it)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook the eggs, sunny side up. 
2. In the same pan, sear the bacon until cooked.
3. Wash and dry the lettuce, tear up large ones. Slice the tomatoes and onions.
4. Place the cheese on top of the bagel. Microwave on high for 20 seconds to melt the cheese.
5. Arrange the burger like a pro. Eggs, bacon, tomatoes and lettuce.
6. Serve with orange juice on the side. Happy eating!

Crabstick Salad in Mango Dressing

Who doesn't love Italianni's? I have to admit that their salads and pizza are the best in the menu. A bit pricey though and since I have been craving for their Sicilian chicken salad, I decided to make my own for dinner.

Trying to keep a healthy menu can be quite tasking and expensive here in the Philippines. One can't simply maintain a vegetarian diet without breaking the bank. I don't understand why buying salad greens and organic crops can get really expensive here. For example, salad greens and organic tomatoes can set you back around 150-200Php. For an averaged-income family, how can one possibly afford that on a daily basis? Ridiculous, right? I remember when we were in Chicago last 2011, buying organic food at the weekend farmers market was such a happy experience. It was cheap. 

Anyway, I didn't have chicken so I used imitation crab stick for this recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1    (10 ounce) Package of Mixed Greens or Romaine Lettuce
• 1/2 Cup Ripe Mangoes, cubed 
• 1/2 Cup Seedless Grapes, halved
• 3    Large Totatoes, deseeded and diced
• 5    Pieces Imitation Crabstick, flaked
• 125G Mango Yogurt (chilled)
• 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Cream (chilled)
• Pinch of Salt
• Olive Oil

Cooking Instructions:

1. Layer the salad items on a serving bowl.
2. Whisk together the yogurt, cream, pinch of salt and about half a teaspoon of olive oil to make the dressing. (You can actually make the dressing ahead of time and chill in the fridge until you are ready to serve.)
3. Toss and garnish with extra crab stick and mangoes. Serve and Enjoy!

Note: Make sure you buy good quality imitation crab stick as this will affect the taste of the salad. Also, ensure that the mangoes are ripe and sweet.