Healthy Meal Plan using US Potatoes

As someone who’s always on the go, cooking on a daily basis sure is challenging. Since I’m trying to change our eating habits, I’ve been trying to encourage myself to prepare food every day and try new recipes that will also entice Zeeka to eat healthily.

Weekdays are usually the busiest. I had this bad habit before that I’ll munch on high-calorie snacks and sugary drinks to make me feel full and energized. Whatever’s fast and easy to purchase from the counter, that’s what I get.

I’m immensely grateful for the huge shift I made towards my impulse eating habits and decisions. In the beginning, it doesn’t seem to look like a big deal. But the bad effects happen at the end part, right?

Consuming more vegetables, fruits, and protein may seem to be a bit hard to commit every day, though the end results usually are the grand motivators.

Meal planning shouldn’t be complicated particularly for moms like me, who don’t have a lot of time to prepare and cook. I’ve learned that the best way to achieve the effective weight loss is to consume food that will make you feel full longer every day. One of the easiest and readily available in the market is the potato. US Potatoes are the freshest and the packed with vitamins! You can learn more about US Potatoes from this page: https://www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines/

This power crop has a lot of nutrients and vitamins that is enough to make you healthy and feel energized. It is rich in Vitamin C, immune-boosting and helps lower cholesterol. One medium potato with the skin contributes 2 grams of fiber or 8% of the daily value per serving.

Day 1: Bacon and Potato Wedge Omelette

Ingredients:
250g US frozen potato wedges
1 tbsp olive oil
4 rashers bacon, diced
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup of milk
1 cup of mozzarella cheese

1. Place the frozen US potato wedges in a pan of boiling water. Cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until tender, then drain.

2. Heat the pan then add oil. Fry bacon for 4-5 minutes then add the potatoes. Fry for
another minute.

3. Beat the eggs then add milk, salt, pepper, and half the mozzarella cheese. Add the mixture to the pan and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Add the remaining mozzarella cheese and place under a preheated grill until golden. Serve with your desired sauce.

Day 2: Garlic Herbed Roasted Potatoes

Ingredients:
3 lbs. frozen US potatoes
1/2 cup olive oil
4 tbsp garlic
2 tbsp rosemary
2 tbsp thyme
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 200 °C.

2. Cut the frozen US potatoes in half or quarters then place in a bowl. Add olive oil, salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, and garlic. Toss until the potatoes are coated.

3. Transfer the US potatoes to a sheet pan and spread out into 1 layer. Add the butter on top to
spruce up the flavor. Roast in the oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour until browned and crisp. (Flip
with a spatula during cooking to ensure even browning.)

4. Remove the potatoes from oven, sprinkle parsley. Season to taste.

Day 3: Garlic Potatoes, Green Beans, Shrimp And Cauliflower

Ingredients:
1/2kg prawns, peeled
1 lb. US fingerling potatoes
3 c. cauliflower florets
1 lb. green beans
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
5 clove garlic
1⁄2 tsp. paprika
1 tbsp red wine

1. In a large pot, cover the US fingerling potatoes with 2-3 inches of salted water. Boil over high
heat. Then, reduce the heat and cook for 8 minutes until the potatoes are almost tender.
2. Add the cauliflower florets and green beans to the pot. Simmer until tender for 5 minutes.
3. In a small skillet, heat the olive oil then add the garlic. Cook over low heat until golden brown. Add paprika, a large pinch of salt. Remove from heat.
4. Drain vegetables and transfer to serving bowl. Season with salt and drizzle with garlic oil. Sprinkle with red wine.

Day 4: Potato Lollipop Recipe

Ingredients:

2 medium US potatoes, boiled and peeled
1 medium carrot, boiled and peeled
3 bread slices
2-3 green chillies
1 small piece ginger
2 teaspoons cornflour
½ teaspoon cumin powder
Salt
Olive oil

1. Boil and peel the potatoes and carrots. Mash well. Crush peeled ginger and green chillies using a mortar and pestle.
2. Add crushed ginger-cilantro-green chillies paste,salt and cumin powder.
3. Soak the bread slices in water for 2-3 minutes,squeeze the water well and ad to the potato mixture. Add corn flour and mix well. Mix well to form a dough.
4. Shape into small lollipops from the dough and shallow fry from both sides till golden.
5. Let it cool for 5 minutes. Now insert lollipop sticks or snack pickers into each lollipop.

Day 5: Potato and Peppers Stew

Ingredients:

1 red onion, finely chopped
1 whole garlic, mashed
8 bell peppers (red, yellow, green), seeded and sliced in julienne
28 ounces canned tomatoes
1 lb. US potatoes, scrubbed well and cut into ½ inch cubes
250ml vegetable broth
1 handful of fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

1. In a large pan, saute onion in 3 tablespoons olive oil and set on medium-high heat. When completely softened, before it starts browning, add the garlic. Sauté for an additional minute.

2. Add all peppers and lower heat to medium-low and stir well. Partially cover with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes.

3. Add tomatoes and US potatoes. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste and keep stirring well over low heat and cook for 1 hour.

4. Add vegetable stock gradually using a ladle while cooking. Add the stock to reach attain desired consistency. Consistency should be thicker than a pasta sauce. Garnish with parsley on top.

I hope you enjoyed these recipes! Feel free to share these with friends so that all of us benefit from eating Potatoes!

Get more information about potato nutrition, recipes and general potato facts from Potatoes USA – Philippines Facebook Page here.

Matilda: The Musical by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group

One of my favorite movies is Matilda! A year ago, we watched it again since it was first released in 1996, together with our daughter. She was three years old at that time. When I heard that this was turned into a play, I was excited to watch it. I was even more excite to find out that this internationally acclaimed musical, Matilda, will be produced and shown here in Manila by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group. The opening night will be on November 10!

One of the things that I looked at right away were the people who will be playing the different significant roles. The role of Matilda will be played by Telesa Marie “Esang” De Torres, whose most notable works include ABS-CBN’s The Voice, and the Les Miserables Asian tour, Uma Naomi Martin, who has made her theater debut in A Little Princess, and Felicity Kyle Napuli, who has been recognized as Outstanding Child Performer at the Gawad Musika Awards.

The other cast members who will be Matilda’s wacky and charming classmates are namely Gabrielle Aerin Ong and Maria Ericka Peralejo as Lavander; Denise Fidel Arteta and Chi Chi Tan as Amanda; Nicole Chien and Ella Gonzalez as Alice; Alba Berenguer-Testa and Chantel Marie Guinid as Hortensia; Josh Nubla and Miguel Suarez as Bruce; Rhythm Alexander and Ian Albert Magallona as Eric; Gabo Tiongson and Pablo Miguel Palacpac as Nigel; and John Joseph Miraflores and Teddy Velasco as Tommy.

The Wormwoods

Of course, I also wanted to know who will be playing the adult roles. Due to give some show-stopping performances are Jamie Wilson (37 years of acting experience) as Miss Trunchbull. He has made the theater his home since the age of seven, appearing in numerous critically acclaimed productions such as Pippin, Almost Maine, Jersey Boys: The Story of Frankie Valli; The Four Seasons, and Run For Your Wife.

Cris Villonco will play Miss Honey. Cris, who rose to stardom as a solo artist best known for her hit single “Crush ng Bayan”, and has since then has made a name for herself in the world of theater and film. She recently appeared as Alison in Atlantis’s Fun Home.

Joaquin Valdes will play Mr. Wormwood. Joaquin is not a stranger to the Philippine theater scene. He started as a performer at a very young age and took a break from it working in advertising for eight years.

Carla Guevara-Laforteza  will play the wife, Mrs. Wormwood. Carla, who is a Miss Saigon alumni, has performed with Atlantis in many productions including Nine, The Addams Family, Saturday Night Fever and Avenue Q.

Emeline Celis-Guinid will be Mrs. Phelps. Emeline has started performing at seven years old and has been seen in Atlantis musicals such as Rock of Ages, The Bridges of Madison County, Jersey Boys and Saturday Night Fever.

Nel Gomez, who will be playing Michael Wormwood, has been acting for 10 years, was most recently seen in Kinky Boots.

Bibo as Rudolpho, started his acting venture with The Ateneo Blue Repertory, was last seen on the Atlantis musical stage as Bob Crowe in Jersey Boys. The energetic ensemble consists of many of the country’s most dynamic performers.

To complete the cast are Steven Conde, Tim Pavino, Rhenwyn Gabalonzo, Teetin Villanueva, Gerhard Krystoffer, Alex Reyes, Jim Andrew Ferrer, Gabby Padilla and Mica Fajardo.

Matilda is directed by Bobby Garcia, Choreography by Cecile Martinez, Lighting Design by Driscoll Otto, Musical Direction by Farley Asuncion, Set Design by Faust Peneyra, Costume Design by Raven Ong, Sound Design by Kevin Heard, Vocal Coaching by ManMan Angsico, Assistant Direction by Steven Conde, Assistant Choreography by Jim Ferrer, and Assistant Vocal Coaching by Rhenwyn Gabalonzo.

Presented by Promil together with Metrobank Card Corporation, Matilda will make its Philippine debut at the Meralco Theater, Ortigas Center, Pasig City from the 10th of November to the 10th of December this year. My family is very excited to watch this!

Shows will be scheduled on Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m and 8:00pm. The show is recommended for children aged 7 and above (children under the age of 4 will not be permitted inside the theater). Tickets ranging from P1,500 to P4,000 are now available at Ticketworld (call 891-9999 or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph).

For more information, visit http://atlantistheatrical.com/faq.

Simple Tuna Dishes that you will Love from Gold Seas Tuna

Hey, guys! I just realized that this week, I wrote about food twice or thrice, and I have been looking at food review sites and different recipes. Grabe! This diet is making me think about food more! It’s a good thing that I recently went to an event by Gold Seas Tuna Chunks where we were taught how to cook healthy meals (so kahit kain ako ng kain, at least, I’m eating healthy dishes).

Me and Frances of TopazHorizon.com

Shari of MistyMom, Yours Truly of MommyGinger.com and Raquel of Mamachows at the Gold Seas Tuna Chunks Event

Frances of TopazHorizon.com, Shari of MistyMom, Yours Truly of MommyGinger.com, Raquel of Mamachows and Michelle of Mymomfriday.com at the Gold Seas Tuna Chunks Event!

The dilemma for moms like me, who hardly cook, is what do I serve my little one. Early on, she needs to learn how to eat good food. We also have her best friend over, since her friend lives in the same area. For these 2 four year olds, what can we serve that is nutritious yet fun to eat!

I would highly recommend dishes from Gold Seas Tuna Chunks. I, myself, would eat tuna as is. Haha! Yes, I do that because I love tuna, and we used to have just tuna and kamote when my sister and I would go to the gym (decades ago, btw!).

Why tuna? Tuna is a nutritious, light and versatile food that is rich in protein and vitamins. Simple and uncomplicated.

Here are some simple dishes made out of Gold Seas Tuna Chunks  created by Chef Rosebud.

Yours Truly with my Chef idol, Rosebud! 🙂

Gold Seas Tuna Chunks is the newest, premium canned tuna in the market. What I like about this brand is that each can has meatier tuna loin or chunks. And look at the picture below! I already drained water from the can, and it still has a lot (A LOT!) of tuna inside!

Here are the recipes for Gold Seas Tuna Shepherd’s Pie and Tuna Quesadilla!

TUNA SHEPHERD’S PIE

INGREDIENTS
3 medium  potatoes, peeled, chopped, boiled and mashed
30g unsalted butter
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium white onion, chopped
720g jar tomato pasta sauce
2 celery stalks, trimmed, chopped
150g broccoli, cut into florets
1/3 cup frozen corn kernels
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
2 cans tuna in spring water, drained, flaked

PROCEDURE
1. Put mashed potato in a bowl. Add butter, milk and two-thirds of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Stir with a wooden spoon until smooth. Cover to keep warm.

2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion. Cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes or until onion has softened. Add pasta sauce, celery, broccoli and corn. Stir and combine. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add basil and
tuna. Season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine.

3. Preheat grill on medium. Divide tuna mixture between four 1 1/2 cup-capacity ramekins. Top with mashed potato. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes or until potato is golden and cheese has melted. Serve.

TUNA QUESADILLA

INGREDIENTS:
1 pack Spaghetti Sauce
1 pack Flour Tortilla, small size
500 grams Mozzarella Cheese
250 grams button mushrooms, sliced
2 cans of Tuna in water
Olive Oil for pan frying

FOR THE SALSA:
Tomatoes, diced
Ripe mango, diced
Olive oil
Lemon
Cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste

PROCEDURE
1. Spread some Spaghetti sauce on a tortilla.

2. Top with grated mozzarella cheese, sliced mushrooms and tuna flakes.

3. Fold in half and pan-fry until golden.

4. Drain on tissue paper to remove excess oil. Serve with tomato salsa on the side.

So that’s it! 🙂 I really had fun cooking these dishes. I even had more fun after when it was time to eat it!

Hope you try out these recipes!

Love,

Mommy Ginger

 

P.S. Gold Seas Tuna Chunks is a product of General Nutrifoods Philippines, Inc., Gold Seas Tuna Chunks uses only responsibly-fished tuna and is dolphin safe to help preserve sustain and preserve marine life for future generations.

 

What I Learned from a Korean Drama

I’ve been too nice. I know that sounds chauvinistic, but just hold on for a bit.

If you know me, I will say yes to a lot of things. I will offer to meet up and coach a person for free. I will sometimes offer free advertisement on my blog for small business owners. I will offer financial resources for things to push through, even if I won’t exactly benefit from that thing. I will even offer brands free stuff from my blog and from my own time, if I want to help out.

And mind you, these things are things that are of value to me, whether it be because of the time spent or the financial resources that I spent. I know that these are valuable to many others, too.

And I did not build my brand overnight. It took blood, sweat and tears.

Where is this going, you may ask?

This is going to a lesson that is applicable in all of your freelancing careers (and entrepreneurship lives! haha!). And I was reminded of this lesson while I was watching White Nights, a korean drama on Netflix.

I was reminded that to keep a Client/Partner happy, the relationship that we have should be a “win-win” situation for both parties. Although, in that K-drama, they laid things out in a blunt manner.

But seriously, why do I NEED to keep giving if I feel that I don’t get anything out of a relationship. Why is it my fault that I have to step back when I feel that I’m no longer valued? Why do I always need to understand people around me, when it was I who was the one in the losing end all along?

So before you make decisions, or feel things, assess the situation. Ask yourself, were you fair to your client? Did you give it your all during the times that they needed you? Did they value you as much as you valued yourself?

If you did the best that you could, then that’s what matters.

And if you’re on the other side, before you judge, think. Did you really give as much value? Why do you feel that way? Is it the other party’s fault or was it a lapse on your end. What could you have done to keep the relationship alive?

Walang forever if walang effort para maging forever.

Potatoes, Potatoes!

Part of growing up was encountering the countless times of being told the importance of consuming fruits and vegetables daily. I know, because I’m now continuously encouraging Zeeka to be religious in adding these healthy and natural crops to her daily food intake. My husband and I have also seen the benefits of having fresh produce
on our plate.

Since we’re always on the go, we have to make sure what we’ve eaten will suffice our energy to tackle the day. Carbohydrates have a bad reputation when you want to lose weight. For weight watchers like me, I say carbohydrates aren’t that bad because its main function is to give you energy. It all boils down to moderation and balance in everything we consume coupled with proper exercise.

I’ve learned to eat more vegetables and protein often because I don’t want to sacrifice my health. It sure wasn’t easy on my end, but I know Zeeka will benefit how I started to change my perspective in eating what’s right.

Aside from the leafy greens, vibrant cherry tomatoes, and refreshing zucchini, the potato is a vital crop that contains a lot of nutritional value. What we get in our home are US Potatoes. We get US Potatoes from supermarkets like S&R, SM, Rustan’s, and Robinson’s.

Do you know how important eating potatoes are? Here are some facts you might have missed about this crop:

1. Potatoes are a great source of carbohydrates, potassium, and energy. One serving of potato has more potassium and energy than a banana. Also, it’s a better alternative than eating white rice or bread if you’re trying to start with an effective healthy diet.

2. Potatoes are fat-free, low in sodium, and cholesterol-free. I didn’t know that this power crop is also a great source of vitamin C!

3. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, potatoes are the leading vegetable crop in the United States! It’s also being hailed as the world’s fourth most consumed along with wheat, rice, and corn.

4. In the early 1950s, most Americans preferred to devour fresh potatoes. However, it gradually
changed when they were introduced to processed potatoes such as fries, wedges, and
hash browns. Processed potatoes have grown more favored when the technology to properly
freeze the vegetables improved.

5. Here in the Philippines, we’re usually exposed to russets. But in the US, there are thousands of potato varieties. These varieties are further classified to either Russet, white, yellow, purple, blue, fingerling, petite and red.

6. A key to fulfilling your weight loss goal is consuming foods that make you feel full longer.
According to Dr Jacquie Lavin, a weight-loss doctor for Slimming World, it’s better to eat complex carbohydrates like potatoes, rather than simple carbohydrates such as sugar or bread
which give a short energy boost and are usually followed by hunger pangs. Potatoes are one of the best options that can help reduce binge-eating.

You should take heed that the precise quantity of potatoes you’d consume has still to be
measured, a few good and suggested servings of potatoes daily would also help lower blood
pressure and cholesterol.

To know more about US Potatoes, you can visit this link: https://www.facebook.com/PotatoesUSAPhilippines/