Camiguin's Vjandep Pastel

VjANDEP PASTEL (pronounced with silent "j"), which originated from Camiguin in 1990 has become a famous food pasalubong. So when my sister traveled to Cagayan de Oro, she bought home boxes of these luscious pastels from their CDO branch. 

PASTEL is a Spanish term for CAKE. By our ingenuity in grammar, PASTEL has long been called in English, as a soft dough coffee bun whom the Spaniards has generously taught our ancestors and made PASTEL as part of a Camiguingnon's delicacy. This made PASTEL a common treat in the tables of the affluent Camiguingnon's of the time, especially during special gatherings and occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, fiestas, Christmas and the likes. http://vjandep.com/

The custard  is covered with a soft fluffy bun plus the yema filling (a family favorite) has just the right sweetness and creaminess. A good box of bread right there!

Recipe: Easy-To-Make Tuna Sandwich

Tuna Sandwich

This easy to make tuna sandwich  is very much like Pink Salmon with Egg-Mayo Butter Toast Sandwich 

To assemble: Simply stack up San Marino Corned Tuna, quickmelt cheese, scrambled egg and mayonnaise in between toasted burger buns. Simple, easy, healthy and cheap on the go meal perfect pambaon for kids as well as yuppies. 

Pan de Manila: Banana Loaf

Mom and I were recently craving for banana cake, how we both wish we knew how to bake one. We both agreed we definitely needed to learn before the year ends if we want to regularly enjoy one of our favorite pastry. Last week, I happen to pass by Pan de Manila after a hearty merienda at KFC, and there I realized they were selling banana loaf for Php75. Excited to try, I bought a loaf and their signature brick-oven baked pandesal as pasalubong for mom. We both find the banana loaf much sweeter compared to Red Ribbon's Banana Crunch but it also has that right moist and and addicting crunch on top. I managed to eat 2 slices paired with coffee for breakfast, a great way to start the day.

Recipe: Pink Salmon with Egg-Mayo Butter Toast Sandwich

Here's one recipe that even picky eaters (like my siblings) would truly enjoy. I have been thinking of how I could turn a can of boring pink salmon that has been sitting at the pantry for quite sometime into a yummy breakfast meal that could be both tasty and healthy. And so my Pink Salmon with Egg-Mayo Sandwich was born.

Ingredients:
1 small can of Pink Salmon, flaked
half onion, diced
4 eggs, beaten
1 small pack of mayonnaise
Gardenia bread
butter
Cheese

Procedure:
1. Saute onion and pour in in a can of pink salmon until cooked and set aside.
2. Cook scramble eggs with mayo
3. Toast 12 slices of tasty bread with butter
4. Assemble in between slices of bread:  Cheese, pink salmon, scrambled eggs and mayonnaise.

Makes 6 sandwiches.

And they sure loved it, even without rice, we all agreed that a sandwich is enough to satisfy that morning crave and best of all it is so easy to prepare. Too bad, I wasn't able to take a picture.

Snack of the Week: Pan de Manila's Dulce de Leche

Pan de Manila's Dulce de Leche

Pan de Manila may specializes on traditionally baked (pugon-style) pan de sal. But this summer, I find myself consistently enjoying this sweet afternoon treat Dulce de Leche, which is somewhat similar in flavor to caramel.

Lechon Bread for the Holidays!

Want to celebrate the holidays with a tasty, crispy looking lechon minus the fat? Well here's something you could consider - how about a Lechon Bread for a change! I was fascinated at how this cute little pig tricked a lot of people in the house (yes, including me). An ingenious way of celebrating the holidays on a grander scale but still staying on the budget, sort of like going for the "look for less" type. :)

Lechon Bread

sliced lechon bread

Pinoy Tasty

Pinoy Tasty, the country's first nationally distributed generic bread loaf hits store shelves this first week of October. My dad bought home 2 loaves of it for us to try. Selling at P36 per 450 gram loaf, this bread is a sure help for those who want to save big on bread.

My take? It's not as soft and tasty as Gardenia, a must have in our grocery list. Probably because Pinoy Tasty is not enriched with milk, eggs, margarine, cream and butter, and uses the cheaper non-vat washed sugar. But for the budget concious out there, Pinoy Tasty can help you save more.

Pinoy Tasty