A Summer In Baguio With Sophie

I was in Baguio 2 weeks ago with my niece, Sophie.

We rode the Joy Premiere Bus of Genesis bus company.

Betsy said to book our tickets online via iwantseats.com.  We were able to choose our seats.

It is a 28 seater bus with a toilet and a "stewardess"!

With free water and Rebisco cookies! Hihihihi.

There was also wifi on board but I did not get to use it because I get dizzy whenever I read something in a moving vehicle.

We left the Cubao terminal at 12:20 and got to Baguio via Marcos Highway at 4:20.  There were no stops so the travel time was quick.

We checked in at City Center Hotel on Session Road, just 3 buildings away from the market and near the restos on Lower Session.

Sia accompanied me.  Her 1st time in Baguio.

I was very happy because the room had an ac.

I set it at 16C and was in seventh heaven.

Sophie felt cold so I gave her my comforter.

Our first meal in Baguio was in Canto.  FGM and Cherry recommended it.

It did not disappoint! We ordered the ribs with salad and mashed potatoes. The rack of ribs was very tender!  The serving was enough for 2 people.

Shoestring potatoes.

Strawberry shake!

Our dessert was the Strawberry Shortcake from Vizco's.

We ate it in the room because we were tired from the trip. Plus Sophie did not want to walk UP to the restaurant.

I also bought puto bumbong from Solibao.

The sidewalk on Lower Session Road was really steep.  I was always out of breath.

We went to the famous Night Market on Harrison Road.

Sophie wanted to shop at the Ukay Ukay,  I guess that's the new fad in DLSU now.  I also know of some students from there who love thrift bargain shopping.

But.... I had a very bad allergic reaction to dusts.

When I got home, the allergy attacks became even worse because of the heat.

Our midnight snack was in Cafe Volante on Session Road.

Pizza, a small one for me.

Cheese pizza for Sophie.

White pasta for Sophie.

It was cool in Baguio. The temperature in the evening was 18C, sometimes even lower.

Hotel gave us free breakfast coupons even if I booked via Agoda.

I got the Longanisa on my first day.

Tocino on the second day.

Sophie did not eat breakfast because she preferred to sleep in.

We had lunch at Secret Garden Cafe off South Drive, the road going to Baguio Country Club.

I was pleasantly surprised by the pizza!!

I loved it! Never mind if it had pineapples!  The crust was fantastic!!!! Light, airy, crisp and just WOW!

For the pizza alone, I will go back to Baguio!!!  Every month!!! If I could!!!

And to think Baguio is not my most favorite place on earth!

But really... the pizza was a clincher for me.

I also ordered Beef with Broccoli.

Sophie had the steamed fish.

Then we went to the market.  In the Hilltop area, there is another ukay ukay inside the market but I told Sophie I cannot go in because of my allergies.

I just waited for her outside the market.

Under the pouring rain.

For an hour.

I bought sili from a vendor because I stood in front of her space and almost blocked her merchandise.

Sophie was very happy with her loot.  She bought several jackets.

We went back to the hotel but she saw some nearby thrift stores near the hotel so she went by herself.  When she got back, I asked her if she wanted to eat pancit.  Her answer was a resounding, NO!

Oh darn!  How can one not like pancit???? In Baguio?!?! So I told her to rest while I walked to a "nearby" restaurant.

Good Taste.

My Ate said to try it.  It is the biggest restaurant in Baguio.  It has 2 branches.  The other one is on Otek St.

The restaurant is like a giant industrial cafeteria. My Ate and Mayette liked it but their spouses did not.

Lots of people were waiting for a table.

I did not have a hard time because I was just by myself.

I ordered Pancit Bihon but they brought Miki Bihon to my table.

Of course, they had to change my order.

Finally, after a while, a platter of pancit was delivered to my table!

It was good for 8 people!  I only wanted to try it so I probably had about 2 saucer sized servings. I brought back the rest to the hotel and gave it to the night guard.  It was still piping hot because I took a cab going back.

Dinner was in 50's Diner.

We each had a shake.

I ordered a burger and it was huge! The bun was 6 inches in diameter!!! 

Sophie had the Chicken Kiev.

We went back to the night market! I finally had a chance to try the Strawberry Taho!

I bought a tshirt with a Westie!

It doesn't fit me but I bought it because of the Westie!  I also bought a couple of jackets.

The next day was market day!  Ohhh I wanted to buy so many produce but I could not carry it.  I just bought lemon, my favorite flowering pechay which I haven't eaten yet up to now and longanisa for pasalubong.

Hihihi I did not buy the hanging longanisa. 

I got the the sanitized vacuum packed longanisa from Dipasupil.

Some say the longanisa that they serve in Baguio Country Club is supplied by Tuvera.

It's just a rumor, though. But rumors tend to be true, most of the time.

Our last lunch in Baguio was uneventful and boring.  We just went to the nearby mall, Cedar Peak, I think?

Mine was Sinigang na ulo ng salmon.

Sophie had the sisig but it was full of fat she barely touched it.

And it was time to go home!  We waited at the bus terminal of Genesis. 

We bought a sako bag each.  Kuya said not to put our ukay ukay loot together with our clothes in our luggage, our 20 kg sized luggage.  I just discovered that my niece is not a light traveler also!

I really enjoyed my mini vacation with Sophie in Baguio.  I asked Kuya if Soph enjoyed herself and the answer was, YES!

She and I want to go back!  I have been campaigning to my friends. I told them that I want to eat the pizza again and I did not get to eat the chopsuey at Rosebowl!!!

So.... Baguio is in my immediate future.

Double Fried Korean Chicken

I was checking out some YouTube videos when I came across a recipe of Korean Fried Chicken. Double Fried Chicken.  I used ingredients which are readily available here in Manila.

Double Fried Korean Chicken

1 1/2 K. chicken wings, cut into 2 parts
1/2 t. salt chicken
1/2 t. black pepper
1 t. ginger, smashed then chopped

Marinate the chicken in salt, pepper and ginger for 20 minutes.

2/3 C. rice flour
1 liter cooking oil

Coat the chicken pieces with rice flour and set aside.

Heat oil up to 300F. Fry the chicken a few pieces at a time for 7 minutes.
Remove chicken and drain.

Heat the oil up to 350F and flash fry the chicken until crispy.
Set aside.

Glaze

2 T. cooking oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 C. Sempio Korean soy sauce
1/2 C. corn syrup
1 T. cane vinegar
2 T. brown sugar
1-2 t. gochujang
1 T. sesame seeds, toasted
2 T. Happy peanuts for garnish
Spring onions, chopped for garnish

Heat the oil in a pan.  Cook the garlic until fragrant.
Add the rest of the ingredients.  Do not stir for 2 minutes.
Stir and cook until the glaze is bubbly.
Put the glaze in a bowl then add the fried chicken pieces.
Turn the chicken pieces until coated with the glaze.
Transfer to a platter and garnish with spring onions and Happy peanuts.

Cream Of Broccoli Soup

I was so surprised that 1 big head of broccoli in SM was only 54.00 pesos!  So, I bought broccoli, cut it into florets and it was just so much for one person.  I usually just eat 3 or 4 florets.

I decided to make broccoli soup.  I called up Mona and she gave me instructions that were so easy to follow.

Cream of Broccoli Soup

500 gr. broccoli, cut into florets
2 C. water
1 Knorr chicken cube
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 C. All purpose cream

Boil the broccoli in water until tender. As in mashable tender.

Process in a blender or use a stick blender and puree until smooth.

Put back in the pot, season with chicken cube, salt and pepper.

When it boils, add the cream and stir. Let it boil and stir.  Do not let it curdle.

Serve while hot.

Brown Adobo

I was just trying to cook fried chicken the other day when I decided to boil the chicken I marinated and turn it into Brown Adobo.

Hermie and I liked it so much because it was not too "asim" (sour).

In fact, I am going to cook it again.  I have many adobo recipes in my blog shared by friends but this is my favorite at the moment.

Brown Adobo

700 g. chicken, legs or thighs
2 T. vinegar
1 T. Coconut brand soy sauce
1/2 t. rock salt
1/2 t. coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 t. MSG (optional)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 C. water
1/4 C. cooking oil
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1-2 t. Knorr seasoning

Marinate the chicken in vinegar, soy sauce, salt, pepper, garlic and MSG overnight.  Do NOT skip this part.

Boil the chicken with marinade in 1/2 C water for 30 minutes.

Drain the chicken pieces and set aside the sauce.

Fry the chicken then put on a serving plate.

Brown the garlic in the oil where the chicken was fried.

Add the sauce and reduce until slightly thick.

 Add   Knorr seasoning then pour over the fried chicken.

Arroz Con Pollo Y Chorizo

I have been watching YouTube videos recently.  Mostly recipes. Then I came across several videos of the different ways of cooking arroz.

The videos were in Spanish! I hope I understood the instructions correctly!

I came up with my own recipe, a mish mash from several videos and my own imagination.

Arroz con pollo y chorizo

2 C. Japanese rice
1 pc. chorizo Pamplona, sliced
250 g. chicken breast fillet, cut into bite size pieces
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
1 white onion, chopped
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. Carmencita sweet paprika
1 t. turmeric
1 70 gr. Del Monte tomato paste sachet
1 Knorr chicken cube
4 +1 C. water
1/2 C. green peas

Heat a pan or paellera over low heat.
Fry the chicken until half-cooked. Set aside.
Cook the chorizo in the same pan until the oil comes out. Set aside the chorizo.
Add the onions and tomatoes in the paellera and cook until soft. (5-10 minutes)
Add the peppers and the garlic.  Continue sauteing for 5 minutes.
Add the rice and toss to coat it with the oil for about 2 minutes.
Return the chicken and chorizo in the pan.

Season with paprika, turmeric, chicken cube and tomato paste.
Add 4 C. of water and stir.
Rotate the pan every 5 minutes. Stir and scrape the bottom so it does not stick to the pan "yet".
Cover with tin foil.
After 40 minutes, add the peas.
If the rice is not yet cooked to your desire doneness, add 1/2 C to 1 C. water.  Do not stir it anymore because we want the have the "tutong" or what they call "soccarat".

Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes.
Remove the foil and let it dry if it is still "wet".

I like my arroz really wet and mushy to the point that it resembles risotto.

But other people want it dry.

To each his own!

My taste testers, FGM and Tita Mench, said that my experiment tasted good.

Cindy brought shrimps and I grilled it.

It might seem complicated and tedious but it's worth it!

Fudge Brownies By Tasty

A video caught my attention while browsing through FB.  Thank goodness I have all the ingredients at home.  It was Sophie's birthday yesterday so I baked the brownies for her.

Fudge Brownies by Tasty

Wet ingredients:

3/4 C. melted butter
1 1/4 C. sugar
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
4 oz. melted chocolate (microwave for 30 seconds)

Use a wire whisk to mix the ingredients.

Dry ingredients:

3/4 C. flour
1/4 C. cocoa
1 t. salt
4 oz. chopped chocolate

Sift together the flour, cocoa and salt then fold into the batter followed by the chocolate.
Bake at 350F/180C for 20-25 minutes.

I used a 9x9 pan and baked it for 20 minutes only.

Video of the Fudgy Brownies by Tasty

Tokwa't Baboy And Arroz Caldo

I do not have a lot of stories to share.  Life has been boring lately.

Why?!?!?

Because I am on a "diet".  A change of eating lifestyle, so to speak.

A combination of intermittent fasting and wheat free.

Intermittent fasting is when you only eat for 8 hours and fast for 16 hours.

I have to wake up at 12 noon so I can eat between 12 to 8 pm.  Doable but I already miss half of the day.  I do not feel hungry when I am asleep.

I am also doing wheat free but not really the strict version because I still eat rice, corn, potato, etc and use soy sauce for cooking,

So.... what's to write about?!?!?!?! Hahahaha!

I have a very good recipe for Tokwa't Baboy Sauce.  My friends loved it!  They were literally drinking it!

Tokwa't Baboy

Deep fried firm tokwa, cut into cubes.
Boiled pork cut into cubes

Sauce

1/4 C. brown sugar
1/4 C. Coconut premium soy sauce
3/4 C. Surebuy cane vinegar
1/2 C. pork broth
red onions, cut into rings
green sili for sinigang, sliced diagonally
black pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients for the sauce.
Put the fried tokwa and pork squares on a serving plate.
Serve the sauce on the side.

I was chatting with Lisa a few nights ago.

Lia: My stomach feels cold.

Lisa: Use a blanket!

Lia:  No, Lisa! My stomach feels cold and empty!

So I decided to cook Arroz Caldo the other night to ease the "emptiness" in my stomach.

Arroz Caldo

1/2 K. chicken thighs, chopped into small pieces
skin and fat of the chicken thighs, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 inch cube of ginger, cut into strips
2 pcs. Knorr chicken cube
1 C. malagkit rice
8 C. water
black pepper and patis to taste
toasted garlic, spring onions and sliced boiled eggs for toppings

Render oil from the chicken skin and fat.

Use the oil to saute the garlic, onions and ginger.

Add the chicken cubes then the chicken. Continue sauteing until the chicken is not bloody anymore.

Add the malgkit rice.  Do not rinse anymore. I bought mine from the supermarket.

Lastly, add the water.  Let it boil then lower heat and simmer for 1 hour stirring occassionally because it will stick to the bottom of the pan.

Serve with toasted garlic, spring onions, eggs and calamansi.

Hahahaha... so now when I am feeling hungry, I always say: My stomach feels cold and empty!