I CHALLENGE YOU TO BE DIFFERENT…BE UNORTHODOX

MONTE CARLO BEACH CLUB in ABU DHABI

Do you know that what happens on your weekends or off days affect your performance at work? Studies have shown that a person with a constructive off the job life is always  more successful than the person who lives in a dull, dreary home situation. 

Many refreshing activities done on your off day gives you plenty of psychological sunshine that keeps boredom locked out. 

My humble suggestion is to get out of your shell and do something different every now and then. Be unorthodox.  

I recently arranged a different meeting place for my book club. We usually have our meeting at a coffee shop. But since my new principle is be UNORTHODOX, I suggested we held our book club meeting at Monte Carlo beach club. We all got very excited for the meeting because we all broke patterns that are usual and expected.  Even when I was still at work, I was already looking forward for our book club meeting. New place, different activities but same people who have big ideas that doesn't talk about work but only on our spiritual lives and our growth.

I went straight after my flight and because I was tired, I was craving for a refreshing cocktail that is sweet, with a touch of refreshing citrus and mint perfect for drinking on the beach so a MOJITO suddenly comes to mind.

You see, I drink Mojito every now and then to different bars. Some mojitos are more bitter than usual, some are just sweet and nothing else but the Mojito at Monte Carlo Beach Club in Abu Dhabi is just perfect. Not too bitter and not too sweet nor icy just the perfect blend with a touch of mint. You won't even feel that you already have a buzz (feeling tipsy) by the end of your drink. Its like killing you softly.

DELICIOUS MOJITO at MONTE CARLO BEACH CLUB

If you want something "desserty" kind of cocktail head down to SHO CHO in Shangrila Hotel, Souk Qaryat Al Beri in Abu Dhabi. They serve great Japanese food and a fabulous bar scene in a ultra hip setting. 

SHO CHO in Shangril Hotel SOUK QARYAT AL BERI in ABU DHABI

My favorite cocktail that I would definitely go back to is their Peanut butter chocolate Margarita. Amazing peanut butter taste with an Alcohol. I know it doesn't taste well with sushi but lets go back to being UNORTHODOX here. 

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE MARGARITA at SHO CHO SHANGRILA SOUK ABU DHABI

So let's go back to my suggestion of having a healthy psychological environment.

1. Circulate in New groups especially with people who have different proffessions. Become an expert in understanding people is a requirement to success. Restricting yourself to small group produces boredom, dullness and dissatisfaction. Having a wide variety of people adds spice to your life and is a good mind food.

2. Selecting friends who have different views from your own. In this modern world, a narrow individual doesn't have much future. Associate with the opposites. If your a Democrat, make sure you have friends who are Republican or vise versa. Get to know people who have different religious faiths because it gives you a better perspective about life. We need to be able to see the different side of the coin. But be sure they are a person with real potential. 

3. Select friends who stand above petty, unimportant things. Guard your psychological environment. Select friends who are only interested on positive things, who breath encouragement into your plans and ideals and those who really want you to succeed. Because we do meet people who are more concerned with the things we have or don't have and these conversations are more inclined to be petty.  

What is your definition of a good cup of HOT COCO

Some like it icy cold, some prefers it to nibble, some like it mint or with almonds but I would rather sip it HOT… Thats how wide variety we can mix and match our dear old CHOCOLATES…Sometimes I wonder it must be just only 0.1 out of 99.9 percent of people in this earth does not like any kind of chocolate. They must have some food allergy to it for them not to like it. But those 99.9 percent of people LOVES IT.

80 percent of you must be like me, prefers a full bodied, thick, nutty and semi sweet hot coco. If that is the case, this one is for you.

So what is your definition of a good cup of hot coco? For me, just like an expert drinking wine, I made my own characteristic of a GOOD CUP OF HOT COCO. 

I like it thick and rich (full bodied), Dark, semi sweet and nutty. If all those characteristics are met, then I am holding a WINNER..haha 

Why do i like it thick? because that is when you will feel that the taste of the chocolate.

Why do i like it dark? because the darker it gets, the purer it becomes. (my personal opinion) Compare it with a cheap powdered hot chocolate, no matter how many powder you put in a cup, it is still so light,  the color doesn't get dark, it just get SWEETER. Why? because 80 percent of those cheap hot coco brands are made of sugar, not chocolate. 

Semi sweet and nutty (optional)… I like it semi sweet because if it gets too sweet, I won't finish the whole cup. I like the feeling after a good cup of hot coco, you would actually want MORE, maybe a second cup? If it gets too sweet, you would feel like you are ready to die of diabetes. That is why SEMI-SWEET is just perfect.

Nutty because i love peanut taste. But most pure hot chocolate have a nutty taste and i adore that nutty taste.
  
 What's for breakfast?

Since we are busy people who doesn't like complicated stuff. I want to share with you how I make my perfect hot coco.

I personally do not like powdered hot chocolate but if you must have one for easy use, try Ghirardelli double hot chocolate (which you can only buy in the US) or head down at Jones D Grocer if you are living in Abu Dhabi and they are selling a chocolate powder named ITALIAN THICK HOT COCO, it taste amazing, just like the hot chocolates in ITALY in the comfort of your home.

 Anyway I have the Ghirardelli hot chocolate now available, so i boiled one cup of water in a pot, and put 2 Sachets of GHIRARDELLI hot coco. (This brand is good because even if i put 2 packs it gets darker NOT only SWEETER) Then I added 1 TBSP of REESE's Peanut butter in a pot. STIR till boil. Put in your favorite cup. VIOLA ENJOY! The simpler it gets the better.

 HAPPY BREAKFATS! haha 

German Food in Manila: Prost Braumeister

I have been to different places but whenever you say Germany, it always reminds you of beer. I had the opportunity to fly back to Manila last October and I had the sudden craving for German food and beer. I find it weird I know. A self confessed  Pescatarian suddenly had the craving for a good old German Sausage (filled with real meat, pork and beef is definitely inside those sausages) plus a tall glass of German beer perfect combination after a long day or night (in my case) of work.

I was not in the mood to dress up and wants a casual ambiance. But where? Where in the world will I find an authentic German restaurant in Manila? Good thing I still keep in touch with a German friend of mine who happens to be based in Manila and (who lucky for me) is one of the owners of this German Pub in the Fort; PROST BRAUMEISTER. He invited me to try it although he had a business trip to Singapore that day, he just endorsed me to one of the main owners of the bar named Dom Hernandez.

Celebrity Hunk Sam Milby being one of the owners of this German Pub

I should say, I really made exemptions that night to eat pork.  Dom was very accommodating to me and my mom and he knows that a hungry person's need is to be fed well. He ordered for me their best sellers. The Bockwurst (very juicy and tasty) best with mustard (350PHP), Truffled cream pasta (320PHP), The Artichoke Flammkuchen flatbread (for pretentious vegetarians like me) plus 2 tall glasses of a Paulaner beer. 

I noticed that the waiters were very attentive to their guests needs. Ambiance is relaxing, casual perfect for an after work hang out for beers and dinner although the place is quiet small, expect to have small spaces in between tables. But customer service is excellent in that place.

I had small amount of time spent there but i will definitely come back with friends to try their DUCK FAT FRIES.

 Perfect place to hold  small parties and get togethers. If you want to experience German Food or even haven't tried one go to PROST BRAUMIESTER at the Fort, it is the new "IT" place to be. 

PROST BRAUMEISTER is located at FORT POINTE TWO BUILDING, 28th street (known as THE FORT STRIP) Bonifacio Global City, Philippines. Call them at 02 8283940

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The Salted Egg Vegetable Corn Soup

       We all need to break out from the NORM as what I have said in my previous article. 

Gone are the days where the only food that we know how to cook are spam and eggs. 

Gone are the days where the only dish that we know how to serve our guests at home are "CHICKEN ADOBO". (This famous Filipino dish that is my least favorite although there is nothing wrong about it mind you)

Being Creative, Experimental and Wild when it comes to cooking is a favorite hobby of mine (feeling sorry for my guests at home that they have to adjust to my tastebuds). 

I like it when it is easy and uncomplicated as I don't have time to do the complicated stuff as I am a working woman. The little time honed in making a good meal THE BETTER for me. 

Lets leave the complicated meals for the CHEFS or our Mom's cooking as they seem to enjoy it so much (big respect for them).  

I personally don't enjoy sautéing garlic and onions so I skipped that part as well BUT I still end up have a tasty meal and this recipe that I am going to share to you is one of my favorite meals.

Powder CORN SOUP

This soup is one of my favorites. You can get them in Manila or if you have other corn soup flavor, you can use that as well.

What I do is... PUT the RAW BROWN PASTA (you can use white pasta as well depending on your choice) and FRESH VEGETABLES (of your choice) in one large POT.

Let it boil for 10-15mins....

Leave the boiled water, pasta and vegetables in the POT and put the KNORR SOUP powder.

STIR in low heat until the powder from the SOUP dissolves.

Once it becomes creamy from STIRRING for 5-10mins put in a bowl. 

ADD the SALTED EGG (can be bought in MANILA) on top. If you don't have SALTED EGG you can use BOILED EGG.

THEN VIOLA!!! 

ENJOY IT WHILE IT'S HOT. 

SIMPLE FOODS and SIMPLE RECIPES puts a BIG SMILE to a working woman like me who embraces simplicity and uniqueness in their meal.

HAPPY WEEKEND EVERYONE!!