Homemade Gulaman

No other drink is best of summer than a tall glass of ice-cold gulaman, a traditional Filipino drink made of sweet syrup mixed with water, lots of ice and chunks of of the gelatin-like gulaman.

Tired of going out in the searing, summer heat to search for this drink, only to bring home a few in flimsy plastic cups, my mom and I learned to make this drink at home where we can whip it out of the refrigerator anytime for a fuss-free cooler.

my best friend for summer

Chowking Halo-Halo

This is less of a blog entry and more of a mindless rave about one of my favorite comfort foods for summer - Halo Halo!

Halo-halo is a cold Filipino dessert made of a wide assortment of sweet beans, saging saba, nata, sago, gulaman, and pieces of jack fruit on a bed of shaved ice, topped with milk, toasted pinipig, eche flan and a scoop (or two) of ice cream). We usually find a lot of that stuff in stores and stalls around the metro during summer, but when you're at home on a stifling summer night and can't bring yourself to go outside, best dial the Chowking delivery hotline (98888) and order their famous Halo-Halo. 

pictured = HEAVEN

They have it in regular sizes, but if you're famished, I suggest going for the Halo-Halo Fiesta at Php94. Add another scoop of ice cream if you will. It's not inexpensive, but totally worth it since the toppings are generous, and it's a cold piece of heaven delivered right at your doorstep.

Yummy Goat's Milk

I heard from the office grapevine that a colleague was selling fresh goat's milk, but never really bothered to find out more. Everyday I'd see these unmarked, sealed bottles filled with pale pink, brown or milky, peach-colored liquid in the pantry fridge, most of them with the owners' names scrawled on the plastic (it's a shared fridge, you can never be too sure) and can't being curious as to why this particular product did such a roaring trade.

I eventually plucked up the courage to ask my colleague (casually), about his goat's milk business, and he was nice enough to give my boyfriend and I a free taste - a small bottle each of strawberry and chocolate-flavored goat's milk.

 

 

chocolate, plain, strawberry and melon!

Well now, I'm wondering why I never bothered to ask or buy the stuff before. The milk was simply delicious, rich and smooth, and arguably more tasty than the usual carton-milk we find at groceries. It was easy to understand my officemates' fondness for the drink, it being a healthier alternative to soda and all, and it has  already become the latest food fad at the office.

At Php35 for the small bottle, and Php65 for a 500ml one, it was also quiet a deal, especially since this was honest-to-goodness goat's milk, fresh from the farm and pasteurized and bottled by the family business. 

On a health issue side-note, goat's milk is also considered to be closer in composition to human milk, making it a more compatible source of nutrients for us growing kids. It also contains more potent amounts of protein, calcium, and a lot LESS fat than cow's milk. 

What I like about it the most though, was that drinking  the milk felt less like a chore, and was something I really enjoyed. I like mine cold from the freezer, shaken and enjoyed with some cinnamon toast for breakfast and oatmeal cookies in the afternoon for that daily shot of calcium. They come in 4 'flavors - plain, chocolate, melon and strawberry. The chocolate milk was thick and creamy, and very tasty without being too sweet. The strawberry milk tasted a lot like melted ice cream; very lightly flavored, so it didn't have that in-your-face, synthetic strawberry taste. I haven't tried the Melon and Plain Milk yet, though based on their aroma I'm sure they taste just as good.

Best Thing I Ever Ate: Casa Xocolat's Aztec Xocolat

This is such a no-brainer, after my endless fawning over this particular drink from a chocolate cafe on one of my earlier posts. After such a long day, that's not likely to end anytime soon, one could do with a favorite comfort drink. Mine would usually be hot chocolate, and finest being a cup of Aztec Xocolat from the one and only Casa Xocolat. 

hello, old friend

Simmered in milk until it's thick and velvety, this concoction goes an extra mile by being 'hot' in more ways than one, as an infusion of spices gives it an exotic kick you wont find in store-brought mixes. Don't be alarmed by the presence of 'spices' in this hot chocolate - their flavors are very mild and wont over-power the base, chocolate flavor.

You can buy a tin can of the powdered Aztec Xocolat to whip up your own version at home, though I personally prefer going to the cafe to have a cup, mostly because I don't believe I can duplicate the exact spiced chocolate experience. It'll take a little effort and time to go to Casa Xocolat just for this, but absolutely worth it.

Best Thing I Ever Ate: Lindt Lindor

I've mentioned this in a former blog and I will say it again - Lindor chocolate from the Swiss brand Lindt is one of the most seductive chocolate treats I've ever had.

Lindor Christmas Edition chocolates in star and bell shapes

On the surface it might not seem that much different from other chocolates; it's got a smooth and thick texture, the kind that would stick to the roof of your mouth, and a very milky-chocolate taste. It's got a less-milky chocolate filling too.


Eating it cold makes it a normal chocolate (albeit a delicious one)- crisp and snappy, a little hard to bite, especially with its shape (they usually come as chocolate balls). But what got me hooked was when I accidentally ate a piece that was almost melting. It was at the temperature where the chocolate can barely hold itself together, and one wrong move while peeling the wrapper can squish it and turn the thing into a yucky mess (but still very delicious). 

Unwrap it gently though, then pop in your mouth, bite down, and the filling (which melts into a more liquid consistency) just explodes in your mouth. It's one of the most seductive (food) experiences I've ever had, something any girl would truly appreciate.

Best Thing I Ever Ate: Roasted Pumpkin with Crab Meat Hash

I've only recently started to take a liking to creamy pumpkin soups, but this one from Plaza Ibarra, tasted at a cousins' wedding, has got to be one of the BEST pumpkin soups I ever had. 



photo taken as hurriedly as the soup was ladeled, yours truly being extremely hungry and all :">

Suprsingly, it didn't have that strong pumpkin taste as with most soups; the taste was very mild, somewhat  sweet and enjoyable. I found myself gulping (yes, gulping) spoonful after spoonful without tiring of the taste. It didn't have that usual pulpy texture either and was amazingly thick and smooth and feels oh so good on the tongue.

There were fairly sizeable pieces of crabmeat in it, and it was real crabmeat, not those red, stringy things found in grocery stores, and the helpings of the meat were generous so you don't feel cheated at all.

Unfortunately, the soup was part of Plaza Ibarra's catering service and cannot be ordered nor bought individually, so there are little chances for me to actually have this again.

But hey, if you ever wind up attending a debut or wedding at Plaza Ibarra and see this soup bubbling in a large, black boiler, go grab a bowl-full (and get those accompanying Soft Butter Rolls while you're at it) and it just might make your night :p

My (current) Favorite Desktop Nurse: Campbell's Instant Soups

I'm not a coffee drinker, but I still need that hot something to sip on slow, lethargic days. Chocolate is a little tricky to make (but only because I have VERY specific taste in hot chocolate *cough* casa chocolat *cough*) and I'm too lazy for tea.

On some days I have those cereal drinks for a sweet treat, but most days I go for Campbell's Instant Soups - one of those 'pour contents into a mug and add hot water' varieties. Almost as good as the real thing, and very filling too.

mmmmmmmmm....

 
They taste great on their own but I love mixing them up with some other things:

Hash Brown - eat on the side or crumble it up and toss in the soup for a makeshift creamy chicken/mushroom-potato soup

Crackers or Toasted Bread - classics! Same as the Hash Brown

Sunflower Seeds - just sprinkle on top for an added crunch

They come in two flavors: Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom, with some varieties like Croutons or Twisted Pasta. Though I am hoping they have more flavors, or would branch out eventually - I can only take variations of Chicken and Mushroom for so long XD XD

Red Wine Punch

My boyfriend stumbled on this recipe about a year ago when making a special holiday dinner for his parents. 

This simple drink requires just three ingredients but is really yummy and perfect for the holidays, which was why I decided to make it for our Christmas and New Year dinners. It's also perfect for parties because the taste is mild enough even for those who cannot tolerate the full-bodied flavor of red wine, and the additional ingredients can make one bottle go a long way.

Ahhhhhhh...

Creamy Garlic Dip

I'm not just bragging - my mom makes one of the BEST garlic dips I've ever had. It started out as a craving to have something with our chips at home and my mom started mixing ingredients together, tweaking and adding more stuff with each creation, until she came up with our new staple.

Mom's Creamy Garlic Dip garnished with dill and mustard dollops, served with potato/cassava chips

We love having this with a variety of potato chips and even plain crackers. No need for strong flavors though - the dip itself is already very tasty. Speaking of which, better bring a toothbrush when you dig into this; the dip doesn't go stingy on the garlic so it's got that spicy, super-garlicy kick.

Casa Xocolat

I've noticed we've been having our meet-ups (and birthday treats) at Casa Xocolat Katipunan branch lately. But who can blame us - seriously, it's a chocolate cafe :p

The Katipunan branch is one of those 'homes remodeled to accommodate a cafe' establishments, meaning it has that warm, homey look, complete with mismatched furniture, a little garden and cute novelty/artsy decor - I really love these type of cafes. It's all really nice and cozy, perfect for a date (perhaps the outdoor area on a cool night would be the better option) or a meet-up with friends.

(left to right) lots of nifty decor; ooooh, multicolored paddles?; our tabletop of chipped tiles; the cafe's counter featuring the menu scrawled on a chalkboard

It's obvious from the menu that this is a 'strictly (or mostly) chocolate' fair; even the savory dishes have a little chocolate/cacao element in them. Admittedly, we've never had the savory dishes, because we only went here for dessert, but maybe next time - I heard they were pretty good too.

Pictured: the obvious :D I also like the fact that it's all on one page so you dont have to keep flipping them over when trying to decide what to get

Mint Chocolate Sticks

I'm a BIG fan of the mint-chocolate flavor line. Most people hate it, but I just love the combination of the cool, minty goodness and sweet chocolate, especially dark chocolate.

I found this recently at a grocery store

It's around Php99 for a box of approximately 30 sticks; I'm not sure if this is available in other grocery stores yet, I've only seen it in one so far. 

Delfi Chocolatier's Dark Mint Chocolate Sticks

These thin, cigarette-length sticks of dark chocolate are filled with a peppermint flavored fondant; the texture is more crisp than fudge-y, so it's not messy at all. I love their proportions because one stick gives you that 'serotonin shot' plus the wake-up zing of mint, and you wont be compelled to chow down on the entire box right away.

I keep a bunch of these in my bag, and nibble on one or two sticks to perk me up. Better than a pack of cigarettes, I'd say :p

They also have these in orange and vanilla. I'm not a very big fan of the orange-chocolate combo, but I just might give it a shot in this one...

Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream in a Mug

Aaaaand, nothing spells heaven like a mug of Selecta's Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream on a late afternoon.

Selecta Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream

...even if it's a dark, rainy, pre-typhoon afternoon. But chocolate is chocolate right? Especially chocolate ice creams that's drizzled with hot fudge and mixed with these delectable chunks of truffles.

Okay so thinking about it, we have stuff like Frozen Hot Chocolate, but is there such a thing as Hot Chocolate Ice Cream? Which would probably just be a really creamy hot chocolate drink...right?

I suddenly have this urge to heat up a bowl of Chocolate Truffle ice cream and drink it up...