Food Trip Friday---Homemade Potato Mojos

Well what do you know, I have an entry for FTF after all. Since I'm sick with colds and flu, I have been craving for all sorts of food and flavors. I ended making some Potato Mojos, popularized by Shakey's Pizza here in the Philippines. My sister taught me how to make Mojos just last week. Her recipe tasted even better than the ones served in the fastfood (sorry!).

As usual, Potato Mojos are best served with Mayo-garlic sauce. Of course, also made by yours truly. Making Potato Mojos is as easy as counting 1, 2, 3. This is definitely the answer to my cravings. My son will love it too---minus the mayo-garlic :D

All you need are some thin slices of potatoes(do not peel), flour, beaten eggs, lots of pepper, salt, oil for deep frying and your favorite dried herbs and powdered flavoring. Procedure: Basic deep frying.

What's your food trip this Friday? Share it with at: Food Trip Friday

Join The M.O.B

M.O.B stands for My Own Bag. Every Wednesday, SM Supermarket is going to be using brown paper bags for our purchases. You can also use your own environment-friendly bags for your groceries.This is going to be one of their shares on the preservation of the environment. They are now selling green bags for 35Php. Unlike before, you need to purchase a certain amount and products before you can avail their Green Bag. Thank God they made it easier now.

I was in SM Cubao last Wednesday picking up some veggies. Very timely. I have been wanting to experience carrying brown paper bags for my groceries (just like in the movies). Aside from that, I have always been thinking, why not use paper bags instead of plastic.

2 thumbs up for the SM Group of companies! I hope they use it like twice or 3x a week, not only every Wednesday.

Pizza Bread

I greatly recommend this easy-to-make snack.

What You Will Be Needing:

Bread Slices of your choice (Wheat is good!)
Pizza sauce (which is available at your local store)
Your choice of meat (ham, sliced sausage, pepperoni)
Grated Quickmelt cheese (mozzarella---better!)
Medium Green bell pepper (chopped into short, thin slices)
Medium White oninon (chopped into short, thin slices)
Button mushroom slices
Oven Toaster!

Spread pizza sauce on a slice of bread

Top with your choice of meat (ham, sliced sausage, pepperoni)

* you can add the cheese under and on top

Just put everything on top of each other

Then toast!

A little story behind. I had pizza bread when I was a kid. I learned about it through my childhood friend Jenny. We'd usually hang-out at her place, and we'd make pizza bread as our afternoon snack.

Last night, my son watched an episode of Blues Clues where Steve was making pizza with Blue. My son started shouting Pizza!pizza! with excitement. I got excited for him, so I gathered whatever I can find in order to make one for him. So there, aside from dinner, we had pizza after. I also made new pizza slices this morning for his snack in school.

This Is How You Gotta Do It

We all know that bloggers everywhere are concerned with their site's page ranking. I am one of them. I never really knew the value of having good site traffic until Sweet Nothings got a PR3 last December. Everyone was really excited congratulating me. Well in fact, I had no idea what PR stands for. I researched on it via Google and finally, I was able to understand. Honestly, I doubled my effort in order to maintain that Pagerank. Later on Google took it away, and I had to do another research to find out why my site was back to 0.

I went back to my usual blogging pace. Until now, I'm still down to 0. But it doesn't bother me at all. I mean, I started making blogs without it. I decided to just continue sharing the Sweet Nothings life gave me, regardless of what PR I have. Maybe one of these days a no. 2 or 3 will just pop-up. It is what I'm actually doing with my food blog, I'm just going with the flow.

Original Content is the no.1 factor for a successful site. It is always best to post words and pictures created by the author/ owner of the blog. Most sites are categorized as personal blogs. Which means you tell stories about our life, your experiences, your dreams, your goals and future perspectives. With these, it is easier to get readers, especcially the ones who can connect with your entries. You don't need to invent write-ups or even copy ideas somewhere in order to create an entry.

Let me share these 3 important points to remember: Google took action against domains who tried to rank more highly by just showing scraped or other auto-generated pages that don't add any value to users.

Examples include:

Thin affiliate sites: These sites collect pay-per-click (PPC) revenue by sending visitors to the sites of affiliate programs, while providing little or no value-added content or service to the user. These sites usually have no original content and may be cookie-cutter sites or templates with no unique content.

Doorway pages: Pages created just for search engines
Auto-generated content: Content generated programatically. Often this will consist of random paragraphs of text that make no sense to the reader but that may contain search keywords.

Scraped content: Some webmasters make use of content taken from other, more reputable sites on the assumption that increasing the volume of web pages with random, irrelevant content is a good long-term strategy. Purely scraped content, even from high-quality sources, may not provide any added value to your users without additional useful services or content provided by your site. It's worthwhile to take the time to create original content that sets your site apart. This will keep your visitors coming back and will provide useful search results.

Picnic At The Park

Last Sunday, my family went on a picnic at the La Mesa Ecopark with some friends. We really planned to stay and enjoy the park this time. We started our day having brunch with some homemade Mojos, Mango Squares, Fresh Fruits, Cola and some Veggie Chips. After, we had a relaxing chat--- catching up with whats old and new.

We went around the park to take some pictures. The stroll made us very hungry. My friend treated us to lunch. The La Mesa Ecopark has a small restaurant that take orders. From Kebabs, Grilled Liempo, Porkchops, Fish, and more. Each order comes with a cup of rice, some tomatoes and sliced red eggs, served in banana leaf. We had fresh, cold Buko juice to go with it.

This was my Pork Kebab (60Php) all removed from the skewer.

The meat was tender and juicy. It was perfect!

Since the park was filled with families, we had no choice but to rent a table and some chairs. It would have been fun if we ate in a small hut. Anyway, we found a good location for our table, near a waterhole where you can see some fishes and covered with trees.
La Mesa Ecopark is an enchanting place indeed. You'll never notice time. When you're there, all you'll ever think about is relaxation, family, friends and good food!

Supercharge Your Car!

Since we're using an old car model, quality maintenance is required to preserve it. At SuperChargerPros, they sell the Highest Quality Super chargers, turbochargers, buick supercharger and nose covers. They sell both new and remanufactured products. Using technology's advancement, they're able to bring them from factory direct to you at wholesale prices and save you a great deal of money. They sell for luxury cars such as mercedes supercharger and pontiac supercharger . Supercharger offers a wide choice of parts from foreign to domestic, cars, trucks and SUV's.

Part of it is, great service guaranteed! And if its great service, they're talking about these:

Lowest Prices Anywhere.
Open 24 hours a day
Convenient, personalized and user-friendly online purchasing
The Fastest Shipping times on the net, Guaranteed.
Comprehensive technical information, resources and advice.
A tremendous selection of quality, brand name parts and accessories
Top-notch customer service with Live Toll Free Phone Support
New or Remanufactured option often available

Meatballs in Sweet and Sour Ginger Sauce

This was my first time to make a sweet and sour sauce. I made it before in college but I totally forgot about it, and I got too dependent with my mom around preparing it for me. I was looking for a new dish to prepare last thursday. I ended experimenting on sweet and sour.

Staying away from the usual, this sweet and sour sauce I made, is SUGARFREE!

This dish is perfect for the health concious. Considering that one of my main ingredients is Ginger.

3/4 cup vinegar

1 tbsp catsup

1 tbsp soy sauce

10 packets of Equal/ artificial sweetener---which is equivalent to 1 cup sugar

2 tbsp water

1 tbsp cornstarch or all purpose flour

1 tbsp thin slices of ginger

salt and pepper to taste

note: you can add the pineapple juice from a can of tidbits

Meatballs:

1/2 kilo ground lean

2 eggs

2 medium onions (chopped)

salt and pepper

cooking oil for deep frying

Mix eggs, chopped onions, salt and pepper with the ground lean meat

Make meat balls by molding a tbsp

Deep fry until golden then set aside

In a sauce pan, mix all ingredienrs for the sweet and sour sauce

Simmer until sauce is thick

Top over the fried meatballs and serve with pineapple tidbits

Food Trip Friday---My Kind of Chopsuey

There are different kinds on serving Chopsuey. It depends on the mix of vegetables used. I like my Chopsuey with quail eggs and shrimps/ king prawns. The vegetables are not over-cooked, everything looks fresh.

With this I used:

chicharo (peas in a pod), baby corn, red bell pepper, carrots, white onion, quail eggs (boil & peeled ahead) and shrimps

Stir-fried all together in a wok. Salt and pepper to taste.

Mix 1/3 cup cold water 2 tablespoons cornstarch ,2 teaspoons soy sauce

Happy Eating! Join Us at: Food Trip Friday

Food Trip Friday--- McDonalds Twister Fries!

It's back! this is one of Mcdonald's treats I wait for every year. Last Friday, after picking up my son from school, I treated him to some spaghetti and Twister Fries!

I Miss Our Old Volkswagen

Late last year we decided to sell our Volkswagen car. It was my husband's first car. And the lease we could do, is to sell it to somebody who is very much into Used Volkswagen Cars. We are still considering buying used cars as replacement. We badly need a second car that I can drive taking my son to and from school. We did thought of making an investment going for New Cars. Nowadays, the best cars have flexible packages available. They even have great deals for those interested for a car lease business. Its a good thing that even at this time of crisis, wide choices and options are still given.

Asupara Bacon Maki

Yup! I'm back again in Teriyaki Boy! Got my usual Teriyaki Boy Chicken Don (Php185) but had a different side dish this time. The Asupara Bacon Maki 6pcs. (Php168.00 ). Steamed asparagus, with the usual Maki sauce then wrapped with crunchy bacon. It was real goodness wrapped together.

6pcs was not enough though :D Oh my, there are only 5 pcs in the photo.

By the way, the 6th piece I'm already enjoying :D

Filipino Tapa

Originally, Tapa is the name of a wide variety of appetizers in the Spanish cuisine. It is a traditional dish of salt-cured beef, fried and eaten as a full meal, usually for breakfast with garlic-fried rice and fried eggs, along with a chili-vinegar dip.

There is also a sweet variant of tapa, with the sugar added. Anotheris the (wet) type, which has strips of beef cooked in water, vinegar, and soy sauce and flavored with calamansi, garlic, and sugar.The ingredients and preparation are almost the same with the Filipino Beef Steak. Only, my tapa recipe has artificial sweetner in it, instead of sugar.

What You Will Be Needing:

1/2 K Sirloin Beef ( Beef Steak cut is good)

1 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup Calamansi juice ( i like it on my steak)

3 small packets of Equal

2 pinches of salt and pepper

2 tbsp vinegar

5 cloves garlic minced

How To:

Marinade

Cut beef into tiny pieces. If you're using beef steak cut, tenderize the meat first. Ask your local market meat vendor to cut your steak thinner than the usual.

In a container, mix the meat pieces with the rest of the ingredients.

Marinate over night.

Cooking

Separate meat from the marinade
In a frying pan put marinated meat and 1/4 cup water

Bring to boil until dry

Stir meat continuously until meat is cooked. Add oil if necessary

Best served with tomato and onion salad.
Most of the time we serve Tapa with sunny side up egg. We call the dish TAPSILOG (tapa, with sinangag (fried rice) and egg). It is served during breakfast in restaurants and at our very own homes.

Cheesy, Meaty Macaroni

It's not baked...See, this what I am talking about--- producing easy dishes that will not stress you out with the preparation. Easy yet taste excatly the same or maybe even better.

Every weekend, I make it a point to prepare fun recipes for the family. Just like this Cheesy, meaty macaroni. The procedure for this recipe is as simple as cooking your regular spaghetti. For a healthier result, I boil the ground meat until cooked.

Drain it then saute it with minced grlic, chopped onions and mushrooms.

Simmer for a few minutes then add the Spaghetti Sauce.

Pour sauce over your pasta. Top with cheese.

Using microwavable plates and containers, microwave your macaroni dish and you will then get a baked result.

Denver HVAC Contractor

This just in. We all know that its already summer in the United States. Based on my husband's description when he experienced it, summer in the US is scorching hot. And just last year, my in-laws were complaining that their AC got busted. I can't imagine the scenario. I can advise them to check Denver HVAC. It caters to any point in the United States. Denver HVAC can handle heating, ventilating, and air conditioning problems. They take care of the installation and maintenance of the climate control equipment in your home or business. In this case, a dependable HVAC contractor is provided for the proper installation and ongoing service of your heating and cooling system.

The right Denver HVAC contractor is as essential to the success of your system’s function as buying the proper equipment. Don't do business with a person if he will not do any inspection, that is not a reliable contractor. A Denver HVAC contractor follows a standard procedure. They will start by doing a physical inspection of the equipment.

With the price, it is always best to invest with the best option. Especially when you're dealing with the comfort of your own home. Keep in mind that you don’t have to accept the first estimate you get. You should talk with several HVAC contractors to get a number of quotes that you can compare.

Now, my in-laws knows how to solve their heating and cooling problems.

Steamed Lapu-Lapu

Lapu-lapu fish is the Grouper fish of the Philippines. This dish is seasoned with mixed flavors. Fish steamed and drizzled with seasme oil, fish sauce, salt and pepper. Topped with chopped chives and Kintsay leaves.

Direct TV For My Kitchen

In my very own kitchen all I wanted is a small television that will give me my favorite food channels. My inspirations are mostly taken from famous chefs and food lovers I watch through the old boobtube. Since we already have cable connected to our regular television, a Satellite TV would be something for my kitchen viewing. Direct TV Deals are everywhere online. Part of most Direct TV Deals includes free equipments and free installation. They have more channels to choose from and they provide better picture quality. My kitchen experience will be more fun. Imagine, having your own Satellite TV. You can follow every step of the featured recipe and procedures while your favorite show is on. That's amazing for me, no more jotting down tons of notes.

Azadi Persian Kebab

It's been a long time since we ate in a restaurant. Last night my husband and I were both in the mood for something new. We went around Quezon City just to hunt for a new place to dine-in. As we approached the area of West Avenue, my husband remembered this Persian restaurant he visited with his boss.
Located on the right, coming from Edsa. On West Ave, go straight. The restaurant is just a couple of meters away from the first traffic light you'll see.

A cozy, Persian-inspired dining place awaits you...
Lamb Chops 150Php

Every dish goes well with their signature drink Yougurt Shake Tourshi 30Php

This drink gives balance to the mix of Persian dishes.

Beef Shawarma with Rice

We didn't order every must-try on their menu. One serving is already good for 2 people. One of the dishes I'm looking forward to try on our next visit is the Ox Brain. My husband already tried it previously. He said it was really good and authentic.

Reminder: Watch out for cholesterol!

Keep On Comin'

2 new awards for My Kitchen! Thanks to Tsang of My Solitude and Serenity for sharing these.

The rules for these awards are:

1) To accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his/her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve discovered and think are great! Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I will pass this awards to the following foodies:
More Than I Can Chew
We Ate This!
Kutsara at Tinidor
Eat Time With Nath
Food Trip Friday
Jeng's Home Cooking

Restaurant Thoughts---Teriyaki Boy

Another batch of old photographs taken from one of our Teriyaki Boy visits. Teriyaki Boy has become a favorite. From the wide selection in their menu, the restaurant's ambience, food presentation and of course their reasonable prices. Who wouldn't love it.

Pork Katsudon 155Php

Yaki Udon 125Php

Sukiyaki Beef Teriyaki 145Php
Kakiage Tempura (mix veggies) 125Php

My favorite!
Everything looks and tastes great.

This was also the resto where my son gained interest with the chopsticks.

From My Kitchen and Beyond

With this site growing, and continuing to get more traffic, I found that one thing missing is registering it to a free web directory. We all know what a free web directory does. It increases your site's traffic. And when a site's traffic is up, it means there will be more readers and visitors. One purpose of having a site is to share facts, ideas, stories from all points in life.

Sometimes, people use it for bussiness. If so, there is a business web directory which was also made available like Business. com to cater to your site's traffic.

A web directory lists web sites by category and subcategory. The categorization is usually based on the whole web site rather than a set of keywords. Web directories often allow site owners to directly submit their site for inclusion.

I registered my first site (Sweet Nothings) in web directory a few months ago. It was for free. Meaning, free submission – there is no charge for the review and listing of the site.

Categorizing sites, such as joining a certain free web directory will help the online searchers find the topic they are looking for. I couldn't agree more. It does make it a lot easier. And the site will get a lot of benefits from it. With one click, you'll have all the comments and messages you'll ever need. Some will say that they found your site through a web directory because they're looking for "this certain topic". With my food blog, they might be looking for some restaurant review, which I usually make.

One of the well-known web directory is Yahoo directory. We all know how big Yahoo is. So also consider it a reliable source.

Hopefully over the weekend, I will finally be able to register this food blog. More people will soon discover this site and I will have all the fun as an ordinary blogger wanting to share some thoughts on food and my yummy adventure.

Food Trip Friday---Torta

As I researched on its origins, I found out that there are different kind of Tortas.

Cubana: Inspired by the popular Cuban sandwich. Typically includes a wide variety of ingredients: ham, white cheese, scrambled eggs, sausage.

Common ingredients may include, but are not limited to: Shredded meat

In the Philippines, 'torta' refers to a kind of omelette made with eggs, ground meat and sometimes minced onion and potato.

What You Will Be Needing:

5 eggs (beaten)

1/2 K ground meat (shredded meat)

salt and pepper

1 medium green bell pepper (chopped into small pieces)

1 white onion (minced)

4 medium potatoes (chopped into small pieces)

Olive oil (for sauteing)

cooking oil ( frying)

How To:

In a wok, saute onions, bell pepper, potatoes and meat

add a little water and simmer until cooked

add some salt and pepper on both beaten eggs and suated meat

Then pour sauted ingredients with the beaten eggs

In a frying pan, heat cooking oil

Using a ladle, fry palm-size omelettes

Turn upside down until golden brown.

I like it with catsup!

Learning The Chops

Our snack this afternoon was some egg noodles...It's been raining a good bowl would be nice. When it comes to noodles, I prefer eating it with chopsticks and later on sip the soup from the bowl. My son of course, wanted to get hold of the chopsticks too, and made this his learning moment using them for eating. Getting there... I like it everytime my son takes effort in learning the things that we do.

Almost...
Alright!
Happy little boy! He had 2 bowls.