This is not just a typical maja that you have tasted before.   This maja is creamy and special that I served whenever we had a special occasion in our house. My visitors would always ask me how I cooked and what the ingredients were because it was so tasty and yummy. I would always answer them "secret". But now, I am so thrilled to share with you this special maja recipe which I inherited from my ninang. This is so easy to cook and you can use it for your business. Make sure that you buy the brand that I indicated below to achieve the creamy maja blanca that you are looking for. 

I can't believe I was able to post four times this month and I admired my productivity, knowing how hectic my schedule is.  I know blogging is not as lucrative as vlogging nowadays but I love documenting memories. I love to read old posts, reminiscing how my journey was like as a mother. and even as a wife. Aside from that, this blog is my training ground for writing. I am not a good writer though but this a way to hone my writing skills.
Speaking of our Valentine's date, we went to Amiya Resort for dinner. We love this place because aside from it's relatively near where we live, the ambiance is peaceful and soothing.  On an occasion like this, many couples are flocking to restaurants to eat and some have to wait before they can reserve seats. And I hate that!
Good to know that by the time we arrived,  a few people were around so we were able to get a big table. However, it was raining heavily so we haven't round the swimming pool. So we just stayed in their restaurant and listened to the songs of the band performing at that time.




We dined here for the third time already and I can assure you that their foods are affordable and at the same time yummy. Here's what we ordered:

Marinated beef with broccoli for 285 pesos, good for four people. In fairness, the beef was so tender. I love it!
 Imbao soup for 190, good for 4-5 people.
 Lagoon Chicken with French Fries for 280. I can say that it's not so delicious. I should have ordered buttered chicken for my kids.
I am happy to know that there's already an Ice Giant in the restaurant. Ice Giant is known for selling delicious ice creams. We ordered a chocolate ice-cream for 180 pesos. My kids can barely consume it because it's plenty.

As far as the service, ambiance and foods are concerned, I would highly recommend Amiya restaurant. They also have a function hall for weddings, birthdays, or any corporate events.

Amiya resort and residences is developed by the Kisan Lu Lands and Development Inc. You may contact them through their Facebook page or you may call them through this number 09321949719.

A few months ago, I vowed myself not to eat in gluttony and stayed faithful to my healthy diet. Unfortunately, I cheated myself - well it happens sometimes - as my co-teachers whom I have not met for years invited me to eat in Tong Yang Plus. Though my heart is against with gluttony, but for the sake of our friendship, I accepted the invitation. In fact, it's the second time that they invited me. First,  was in Vikings but I refused because I was pregnant that time with my second baby so I didn't want to overeat. My excuse then was still acceptable but at this time I already trapped in the corner, hehe.

Luisa and I arrived very early at the venue and while waiting for our friends, I leisurely took pictures of the surroundings. This is how the table looks like with a hot pot and grilling set-up. I am aware that "grill your own food" is no longer common to some buffet nowadays, but for a first-timer like me, I was impressed!

Since Chesska was already hungry, we decided not to wait for them and we started to eat.  Chesska is super picky when it comes to foods so I was the one who chose the foods for her. Our table is overloaded with a delicious meal and Chesska's ultimate favorites - cake, candy, and ice cream.




To be honest, I no longer eat pork but I just grilled for the sake of picture-taking, lol. It's actually Luisa's grill of choice.

Different Kind of Juices

Dessert Station

Different Choices of Vegetable Salads

Fruits and Filipino Desserts

Make Your Own Halo-halo

Meat Station for Your Grill

Seafood Station

Soup

Ice-cream

My co-teachers

My experience with Tong Yang Plus was superb. As much as I don't want to overeat, the array of foods being served are irresistible. As a matter of fact, I already unzipped my pants as my tummy wanted to pop out. I will surely come back because I have not tasted everything. A rate of 488 pesos is worth to try.

With Friends

Outside the Tong Yang Plus

via: https://www.tongyangplus.com/davao

TONG YANG PLUS, SM CITY DAVAO ECOLAND

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If there's one thing I've  always wanted to be doing every day,  it is cooking a variety and hearty meal for my family. But here's the problem. I can't do it as I've always been swamped with babysitting and working online. So my mother is usually in-charge on preparing our meals throughout the week. However, I always observe that she prepares the same dishes over and over. For example, this week, from Monday - Wednesday,  our breakfast was straight fried eggs. A kind of boring to the appetite, right?

So Our Solution? Meal Planner!

It's actually been a thought to create a weekly meal planner, however,  Ronan and I always forget to do it. But over the weekend, we finally found time to sit down and brainstorm what kind of meals we are going to prepare each day. And here's what we agreed upon.

Meal Planner Version 1

Creating a meal planner is not difficult to do.  First, we listed down all kinds of foods we've been eating ever since we became married (of course, with the absence of pork since we are not eating pork na). Then, I organized our gathered menus using a meal planner template and created two versions so we can use either of them alternately.

Weekly Meal Planner Version 2

Though there's no 100% assurance that I can follow these menus faithfully and cook all of them myself as you know I am always tied with many things, but I will make sure to post these on our kitchen's wall so my mother will not have difficulty figuring out what kind of dish to prepare next meal.

I am thrilled to use this budget-friendly, healthy, and hearty meal planner starting next week. Fingers' crossed (hehe).

We didn't really have anything planned last Sunday until my 5-year old remembered that we promised to bring her again to Davao Crocodile Park. I must say this was our last "hirit" for Summer Vacation because, in a few days from now,  she will go back to school again (hilaan-and-kumbinsihan period again).

Honestly, I wasn't so excited to share our laag in Crocodile Park because we've already been there when Chesska was old enough. As a matter of fact, my mother and I didn't enter anymore to the park as the entrance fee was quite expensive. Instead, I spent our supposed entrance fee to food trip at Picobello Ristorante Italiano (sounds deliciouso, hehe!), just a few minutes drive from the Crocodile Park.

Apart from that, Ronan's brother is a chief cook of the said resto so we purposely visited him, and at the same time ate at some of his invented dishes.

Half Hawaii &  Half Rustica Quattro Formaggi

Good thing about Picobello is that they offer pizza with a fusion of two flavours. Half-half of any flavours of your choice. In fairness to their pizza, it is sticky and cheesy that deliciously melted in my mouth.

Pollo al Porno with Mashed Potato

Chesska loves chicken so we ordered Pollo al Porno with mashed potato. She didn't consume everything as the serving is big enough for a small child so we ate the left-overs. Their roasted chicken paired with mashed potato is a perfect combination (I was still craving for rice, though). It was tender and it did taste good! No complaint about it.

Ice Cream Cake

I truly love the ice cream cake for our dessert. Unlike the other typical ice cream, this type of ice-cream doesn't have "sawa" factor.

Bread for free while waiting for our order to be served. Juice is not included.

exterior

interior

Chesska enjoying inside the crocodile park

Pity us, waiting outside the park & just taking fresh air under the big tree lol

Picobello is located at 2nd floor, The Shoppes at Woodlane, Diversion Road, Ma-a Davao City. You may browse their Facebook Page if you want to learn more about their restaurant.

What better way to reward myself on Mother's Day than treat "myself" with foods (lol)!  We're supposed to eat at Taklobo restaurant just across Karlo's Gourmet cafe but I decided to try another cuisines for our lunch. Yeah, I know, I am a rice-eater gal but there's nothing wrong to try something else other than what we were used to. The cafe (daw) serves Italian, Mexican and French dishes , so we gave it a try!

Here's what we ordered:

The Chef's Burger at 238

Special Spaghetti at 200

Clubhouse Sandwich at 198

Chocolate Cake

Strawberry Mocha at 150 & Double Choco cookies & Cream at 120

Though I was still looking for a heavy meal such as rice but the foods made us really full. The prices of the foods are outrageously high but it is just right because the venue is classy and cozy. The food's taste was as typical as the other cafe I've tried. So nothing really special!

Main entrance of the cafe

cafe's interior

Overlooking to Davao City