Frannywanny

I know it has been a while since my last #FrannyCooks recipe and I'm really sorry about that! To say that this year has been busy and crazy is indeed an understatement. Actually our schedules just got so hectic starting the 2nd quarter of this year and it's just starting to ease off this month. There were just so many things happening all at the same time that at some point, both Paul and I felt like headless chickens running around as we're trying to get a lot of things done. The funny thing is, no matter how alike we can be, we apparently deal with stress very differently. He would resort to playing billiards or watching his favorite YouTube videos while I head to the kitchen to cook or I blog. Either way, we realized that we crave for some me-time to de-stress and we happily would give each other that much-needed space when needed. That, kids, is one of the secrets to a happy marriage. ;) During my recent visit home, I was so lucky to receive some bottles of Mega...

It's Sunday and normally this is the day when Paul and I would head to the grocery to stock up on our veggies, meat and favorite canned goods. Since I've been flying back and forth from Manila to Singapore though, our kitchen cabinet is still well-stocked with bottled fishes and canned meats thanks to the regular care packages that we'd get from both my mom and my MIL. That said, we have been frequenting the grocery much lesser for these past few months. Let me share with you one yummy find that I got from Manila. Meet Super Tuyo ! While it may not be a superhero character, it's yummines can definitely qualify for some gourmet superhero qualities. I received these bottles a few months ago and I was so excited to bring it back as Paul is really a big fan of tuyo (dried herring). He loves it so much that he can happily enjoy a meal with just a generous amount of tuyo swimming in a pool of spicy Sinamak vinegar, fried egg and steamed white rice. I'm lucky that my h...

Look what I've been munching on lately! I know, I've welcomed the year with a promise to lessen my junk food snacking but I guess it's okay to give in to my monthly craving for yummy munchies once in a while right? Well, as my husband would say, smart snacking is the way to go! We have began choosing chips that are baked, have no trans fat or have lower sodium in it vs. it's less healthy counterparts. What a perfect timing that my friend and fellow blogger R sent over a couple of bags of Herr's during our last visit to Manila! I instantly recognized Herr's as those buckets of cheese curls that we would hoard in S&R! Ohhh I love love love Herr's Cheese Curls! Well, did you know that Herr's is made of pure corn meal and is baked to perfection. I guess this is one of the very few corn products that I can eat without getting sick. It doesn't make use of artificial preservatives/flavoring too! I just love being able to enjoy this without ge...

I'll let you in on my mom's secret. :) When my sister and I were still babies, she would make fresh Tomato juice for us to drink. We all know that Tomato has lycopene and it has a very strong anti-oxidant and anti-cancer power. Aside from this, Mommy believes that tomato juice is also very good for the skin. Of course, she wants that for her two daughters and I must say that her daily practice of feeding us with tomato juice has proven its benefits for the two of us. My sister and I have never had a facial treatment done and our only daily beauty routine includes washing our faces at least two times a day and to moisturize, moisturize and to moisturize. Luckily, we were also spared by the terrible facial acne problems that a lot of our peers got during our teenage years. Someday, I wish to do the same for my kids. However, I can hardly imagine myself having the luxury of time to create these fresh juices for them. In fact, I hardly have time to make a glass of juice for mys...

I'm a big salad fan! It's simply because my parents trained us to appreciate eating vegetables at a very young age that a meal at home is not complete without having veggies. What I love most though is having bowls of fresh lettuce and arugula mixed with my favorite ingredients -- kani sticks, chopped sweet mangoes, nuts, shrimps and mushroom! Of course, what makes or breaks a bowl of salad is the dressing! Paul and Mommy loves vinaigrette dressings while I still love the creamy ones. So much for wanting to eat healthy by having salad dinners! I love my Caesar, Ranch, Asian...you name it! Last Friday, while having dinner at my in-laws, I was able to try a new salad dressing that was so fragrant and good that I just ended up having loads of salad and grilled lamb for dinner. It's a Japanese Deep-Roasted Sesame Dressing   and is said to be made of wheat, eggs, soybean and lots of sesame oil! It's from the same company called Kewpie that also makes those delicious ...

Who doesn't love canned goods? With the wide-variety available in the market, the choices are pretty much endless! Growing up, my sister and I have had a number of  Vienna Sausages and Spam in the morning, Sardines Pasta once in a while and our ever favorite Corned Beef Macaroni every single time the craving arises. In fact, one Christmas Day when we all had to skip our annual family dinner because my sister was sick and all four of us have to stay home, Mommy prepared a plate of Corned Beef Macaroni to cheer us up. This is a pretty special recipe because my Mom learned this from her best friend's Mom who according to Mommy was an awesome cook! I love all types of Corned Beef from Palm to the local Purefoods. I love mixing this not only with macaroni but of course with rice! For me, it's one very versatile food item that goes well with rice, bread, pasta, crackers, egg and a lot more! Of course, it's also yummy when eaten alone. While talking about Corned Beef ...

I love munching on chips and that's a fact. The funny thing though, I am not a big fan of potato chips except for Pringles. Rather, I'd go for corn, tortilla, cheese, cassava and all other unique types of chips there is in the market. Most of the time, my luggage is filled with packs of different types of chips as I fly back home. I love those that you can only find in that particular country and luckily, I always end up with the pretty yummy ones that even my family and friends love. Chips + Frannywanny = TRUE LOVE ♥ I'm a pretty lucky girl to meet a man who shares my love for snacking on chips. However, Paul is a hard-core potato and cassava chips guy who prefers this over basically most of the types of chips that I'd normally go for. Still, we click. I remember how we would regularly drop by Matahari Indonesian Deli to get our own bags of cassava chips! It used to just be one bag where we would sweetly share while walking around the mall but since we both wa...

Look what arrived at my doorstep the other day! A lovely purple round box that got me guessing what must be inside. Pulling on the purple ribbon, I opened the box and saw four handy tin containers. Pretty aren't they? I've been a mints fan and I always believe that this is one thing you should not leave home without. Imagine what if you just enjoyed a delicious garlic-themed lunch at Krazy Garlik and you don't have mints to freshen up your breath as you head back to the coffee. Also, I rely on my can of mints to calm me down right before a big presentation. That familiar burst of minty flavor to cool my breath giving me that additional confidence that I need. I'm new to Rio Mints and I was excited to give it a try. There are four flavors to choose from: Burgundy Grape (which I think my friend Richard might like), Pink Grapefruit , Honey Melon and Green Tea and Peppermint . I went for the Pink Grapefruit and I liked the tangy flavor of the grapefrui...

I love breakfast food and nothing makes my day brighter by enjoying hotdogs, corned beef, spam and sausages with egg and rice all day long. While it may not be a very healthy choice, I just enjoy this simple meal at any given time of the day. Then I found something new. Thanks to fellow blogger Leira who gave me a can. Century Tuna Loaf that actually tastes a lot like our local meatloaf only it's made of... TUNA! It may have a different taste but it was pleasant nonetheless. I brought it to work one day and while it may look pretty simple, I truly enjoyed my lunch that day. Partner this with a scoop of garlic rice and some scrambled egg and you're good to go! I liked it very much that I went to the grocery that same day to buy more cans. I also searched for more possible recipes online. Good thing I found a couple over at the official site of Century Tuna. The Tuna Loaf Fried Rice looks yum! :) I'm glad that food brands are now looking for ways to give a he...

I love breakfast food! Nothing perks my day up more than a plate of garlic rice, sunny-side up egg and a choice of meat or fish! I can eat breakfast all day and can never get tired of it. Luckily, my mom discovered a new grocery item that has became a staple on our breakfast table every so often. Dona Elena's Spanish Sardines are packed with iodine and protein plus it has less cholesterol than indulging in those mouth-watering crispy pork bacon early in the morning. It comes in three variants: in Pure Olive Oil, in Corn Oil and Mild Spicy in Corn Oil . Imagine her glee when a big green bag arrived filled with three types of Spanish sardines and two bottles of olive oil. We love using olive oil on our pasta, baked meats and fishes and a lot more! Now I'm thinking of preparing paella soon! Got to fish out that recipe that I've been keeping for a long time! Doña Elena Spanish Sardines and Olive Oil are available in all leading supermarkets!

My mom asked me to pass by the supermarket to buy a can of floor wax... I came out with two big bags filled with chips, ingredients for a pasta dish and .... THIS ! How can I resist this chocolatey goodness in a handy tetra-pak? I chilled it the moment I got home and enjoyed it with Paul this afternoon. Yummy! How about you? Share your Top 5 grocery picks! Nestle Chuckie is available in almost all of your favorite supermarkets and convenience stores.