Ice Cream Cake

We gave our daughter  a choice to pick her  birthday cake and she chose  ice cream cake.  It was perfect since it's hot and having an ice cream literally cooled us down on her 14th birthday.

The only thing about having ice cream cake is that, it's hard to slice it as it is frozen.  Running a hot water over  the knife helps though.

Ice cream cake is too rich for me so I just always share with one of my kids.  I can't finish a slice of this sweet!

But anyway, I am kind of sad that my little girl is getting older.  She'll be driving soon, ugh.  She's been practicing  test online as preparation before she take the written exam for her learners permit.  

3 Reasons You Should Visit Montreal this Summer

Whether you’re single and looking for a good time, or a family looking for a safe and beautiful place to go this summer, Montreal is the perfect spot. It is culturally different for you to feel like you’re on a whole other continent. Montreal truly comes alive in the Summer and is one of the most popular Canadian cities for North American travelers for a reason. Here are three reasons why you should visit Montreal this Summer.

The Festivals

Montreal is a city of festivals, and the whole downtown core’s architecture was built with that in mind. Whether you want to soak in some of the city’s French culture and music at the various Festivals (Francofolies, Jazz Festival, Nuits d’Afrique, and so much more), or see some of the world’s most iconic comedians perform at the world-renowned Just for Laughs Festival, you’ll have an abundance of choice. The Montreal Jazz Festival is also a must-see and features performers from all over the world. And though it’s called the Jazz Festival, you can see tons of alternative rock, blues, folk, and even some DJ sets.

The Food

Montreal is the ultimate foodie town and you’ll get to enjoy the incredible diversity and variety of the local food scene once you’re there. Go on the Eastside and you’ll find kebab shops worthy of some of the best places in Istanbul. Or sample some of the delicious Haitian creole cuisine on the north side of town. Montreal is also the place where poutine, the country’s unofficial national dish, was perfected. And no visit to Montreal would be complete without going to La Banquise, which offers some of the wildest and most enormous poutines you’ll find anywhere in the world.

Montreal also has some of the best steakhouses in North America, and they have their unique Montreal Steak Spice . You’ll have no issue finding a great steakhouse & bar in Montreal, even if you’re looking for something more affordable. Bâton Rouge, for instance, is one of the city’s institutions, and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. If you’re looking for choice and range when it comes to cuisine, Montreal is definitely the place to be.

The People

But if there’s one thing that really sets Montreal apartis the People. The city is one of the safest major cities in North America, and people’s naturally kind disposition certainly has something to do with it.

There’s truly a sense of proximity and small-town charm to Montreal, so don’t be surprised if a complete stranger strikes a conversation with you on the street. The street life is also something else, and there’s always a party going on in Montreal. If you’re looking for great spots, Old Montreal, St-Laurent Street, and Crescent should be on your list.

Conclusion

Montreal is truly one of a kind and a Canadian must stop. Whether it's the food, people, or the general festive atmosphere, there’s something for everyone in Montreal.

Teriyaki BBQ and Sweet Corn

BBQ season is starting again now that the weather is getting warmer.  I haven't uncovered our grill yet since I haven't bought a new  tank of gas yet.  However, we were craving for some good BBQ so I made some Teriyaki BBQ a couple of days ago in the oven.  

I love this new  kabob rack universal fit  that I got from Cavetools.  It has a specially designed notches  that lock skewers into place.  If you owned the Cavetools skewers, you will find this rack so awesome when you  do your BBQ.    Just like  many of their products, this rac is also dishwasher safe so it is very easy to  clean it after using it.  It is stackable so it saves space when you store them.

 You may buy this via  amazon , use the KabobRack15 coupon code to enjoy a 15%  discount.  This comes with free copy of grill Master's Essential Barbecue Recipe Book & access to meat smoking journal.  If you are feeling generous, you can buy one for you and one for your love ones and enjoy more savings.  There's an instant 10%  savings when you purchase two or more.

If you want a nice teriyaki sauce recipe, here's one from Allrecipes.com

• Combine 1 cup water, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, ginger, and garlic powder in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook until nearly heated through, about 1 minute.
• Mix cornstarch and 1/4 cold water together in a cup; stir until dissolved. Add to the saucepan. Cook and stir sauce until thickened, 5 to 7 minutes.

I was going to make  mashed potatoes but  chose to  make steamed rice instead.  The corn is super sweet.  I wish  our asparagus  have started to grow new ones already, it would have been a great veggie for this BBQ.

Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review.  I was provided with the complimentary product/s mentioned  for testing purposes and to help me  facilitate this review but  opinions are my own.

Valentine Feast at Home

My husband went to work on Valentine's Day.  He suggested for us to go out for dinner so I don't have to cook, however, I hate going out on holidays like this.  You know restaurants are always crowded and I just end up having a migraine so I just cook at home.  Let me show you the feast we had, home-cooked food are the best  in my book.  I even made  the card I  gave to my husband.

I made three dishes that  we all liked.  I made some pork BBQ and we ate it with steamed rice and steamed veggies.  

I love using these stainless steel BBQ skewers from Cave Tools.   I love that it measures 15.5 inches so you can really pack it with meat and veggies.  The feature that I like the most with this set is the food remover ring.  It helps to easily slides the food  off the kebobs.  It is dishwasher safe but I love washing it manually.  The advantage of having these kind of skewers is that you can  reuse it over and over again unlike  bamboo skewers.

 This works really good too when you want to  grill corn on a cob.

 This set has ten skewers so if you are hosting a party, you can get a couple of set of these and use it for grilling your favorite meat or veggies.  You can buy this at Cavetools website or via amazon. Use this coupon code, SKEWERS15 to enjoy  15% discount upon checkout.

 Aside from the menu above, I also made the kids favorite dish, the stuffed shells.

 Then we made a no-bake  banana creme pie for dessert.

 Hubby loves burger so I made sure to make some  burgers too so we have some choices to eat.  I was in the mood to cook so they got lucky to have those choices for Valentine's Day.

How about you, did you go out to eat or  are you like me who  cooked and enjoyed the rest of the day at home?  Personally, Valentine's Day is way overrated.  For me it's just another day, it is like Valentine's day everyday for my husband and I anyway so no big deal.  I do however get excited because I always get a pot of mini roses from my husband which I always plant in our garden.  It's nice seeing  them bloom in the summer.

Special Thanksgiving Party For 8th Grade

To make it memorable for our 8th grade children, our homeroom mom, Mrs. Arnold, prepared a special  Thanksgiving meal for them. She brought in her waffle maker in school and different variety of fruits for toppings.

 I have not made a homemade waffle  so after tasting this, I must admit,  it is so much better than the frozen ones  I buy from the store lol.  Now I want to have a waffle maker of my own.

 Thanks to her and her husband and  also to Mrs. Buterbaugh for  their best effort in making this event a yummy one.  

 She's been doing  this for years so she is kind of an expert of what to do to make the children feel special for every occasion.  Aside from the being the best homeroom Mom, she's also a great health care provider, working as a nurse.  I feel blessed to have known this woman, she inspires me.

 Just look at the happy faces of these kiddos.

Thanks again Rose for everything that you do for our children! I'm sure going to miss these gatherings when the kids  starts high school.  I don't think they do these  kind of events in highschool but we will see.

A Foodie's Guide To Vacationing

Are you a food lover? A vacation is a perfect time to indulge yourself and to try tantalizing new cuisines in exciting new destinations. Food is an important part of travel which can teach you a tremendous amount about the heart, culture and even history of a destination. A foodie holiday is a superb way to broaden your horizons and try new food, and there are many fantastic destinations all over the globe which are perfect for food lovers. So, how do you get the most out of a foodie holiday? Here are a few tips which will help you to have a fantastic trip.

 

Hershey, PA - 2015

1. Research Places Ahead

In order to try the best places in town, you will need to research ahead. Spend time looking at where the best restaurants and cafes are in your destination but also try to make sure that you are avoiding the tourist places as these will not be the best places to eat and you will end up paying through the teeth for average food that you could get back home.

Ontario, Canada - 2018

2. Visit The Local Market

One of the best things to do when you arrive in a new place is to head to the local market. In addition to letting you see the type of food that the locals buy, this will also give you a great sense of the area and help you to understand its heart and soul.

3. Do Not Ignore Cheap & Cheerful Places

You will, of course, want to sample the finest cuisine in the fancy restaurants, but do not ignore the cheap and cheerful places either. It is often the food trucks that you find by the bars which serve up the type of food that the locals eat and the perfect snack after a night of eating and drinking!

4. Speak To The Locals

Leading on from this, no one knows the food and best spots in town better than the locals. Try to make friends with the locals and look for recommendations off the beaten path for an authentic experience that the tourists do not typically get to see.

5. Hire A Car & Travel Around

Hiring a car will let you easily explore and get around so that you can visit the restaurants, cafes, fast food joints and cafes in the less busy areas. Car rentals can put you in control of your vacation, and you can find affordable hire cars online.

6. Branch Out

Do not be afraid of branching out and trying new things while you are on vacation. Some local specialties may not be the type of food that you normally eat but this is all part of travel, seeing the world and broadening your horizons.

Food is an important part of any vacation and if you are a foodie then visiting a new country can be an exhilarating and eye-opening experience. These tips should help you to get the most out of your trip and to get an authentic culinary experience no matter where you are.

The Many Advantages of Storing Nuts in Bulk

When it comes to picking out the ideal food, few things beat the wonders of nuts. Nuts are convenient and extremely portable. Nuts work well with sweet foods like caramel and milk chocolate. They also work with savory foods such as meat, fish and poultry. A single sprinkling of nuts adds texture, crunch and lots of spark to any dish. This is one of many reason why so many people choose to keep nuts on hand when they are cooking. It's also why many people like having them around when they're looking for something for a quick, delicious and filling snack. Nuts fill the bill. Given their versatility, it's no surprise that many people want to make sure they always have nuts on hand. One of the best way to make sure nuts always in easy reach is to use Bulk Nuts.

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#CandiedPecans. I used spicy #Honey and sugar mixture for the syrup. It’s #delicious😋 , so satisfying to snack on or eat as #dessert!

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Oct 17, 2018 at 6:06am PDT

Storing nuts in bulk is an ideal way to keep nuts around. Many recipes call for the use of nuts. A person might put slivers of almonds in a chicken dish to help add needed contrast. Nuts can be used to decorate all sorts of sweets. Topping a cupcake with a careful pattern of walnuts or pecans makes it even more delicious. Ground nuts can be applied to the side of a cake to help bring in something special that makes dessert truly shine. A serving of carefully dipped chocolate covered almonds is a special treat on any otherwise ordinary day.

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I bought some raw #pecans , #peanuts, and #sunflowerseeds🌻 then I roasted them with a little bit of #sugar, #honey, #salt and #butter. #nuts

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Nov 6, 2017 at 2:35pm PST

When storing nuts, it's important to keep certain things in mind. The first thing is to make sure the nuts are stored in airtight containers that are not near any sources of moisture. If possible, line the inside the tine in wax paper or foil to help provide an additional layer of protection against the moisture. It's also important to keep the air out so the nuts will continue to stay fresh. Consider storing nuts in the fridge to offer another way to keep keep them fresh.

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I was happy that finished staining the #fence door that hubby installed then it rained, ugh! So to console my disappointment, I'm having some #TrailMix . #DIYprojects #nuts #almond #walnuts #sunflowerSeeds #pepitas #cranberries #healthySnacks

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Jul 3, 2017 at 4:14pm PDT

Keeping nuts in bulk around makes it easy to add something unexpected to any dish. It also makes it easy to bring nuts on the go.

Anyone can reach in, grab a few handfuls of nuts and place them in a portable container. They make the perfect snack just about anywhere. Bring them for the kids on the go during a long car trip. Keep different varieties of nuts on hand. Nuts work well with many other foods when traveling. Pair them with different kinds of fruit to create personalized granola the kids will love. There's no need to bring along any special utensils. Kids and adults can gobble them up raw.

Food, Tea, Mugs, etc..

Few weeks ago, I posted  about my kids Christmas party in school at my parenting blog .   The homeroom Mom really  went all the way in preparing for the party.  Mrs. Arnold brought in foods that everyone have enjoyed the party.  I wish I can cook  as good as Italian Moms lol.  I love making Filipino food but I also like eating Italian food, I just can't make it as good as Italians do.  

She  prepared  vegetable salad, rigatoni with meatballs, cookies for dessert and fruit punch for drinks.  She even bought a cookie cake for the birthday celebrant.  I will miss this kind of bonding and camaraderie among the kids and parents when they go separate ways in high school.

On another note, now that the  freezing temperature  is settling in, hubby and I are really trying to eat healthy and also workout as often as we could.  I would say that by trying to live a healthy lifestyle,  is really rewarding.  It's a lot of hard work to stay healthy but it's really beneficial not only for us but for our children as well.  My husband  used to always feel tired but ever since he went back from working out regularly, he'd become  stronger and healthier and it also made him happier.  It's the same way for me as well, I used to be grumpy and always feel weak but now I am more active and my migraine  have also lessen which is great because migraine is terrible.

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Detoxing with this #turmericTea . It’s a concoction my husband made with cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, and black pepper. It works really well for him so I’m trying it too. #DetoxNaturally #detoxing #ginger #cinnamon #concoction

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Jan 5, 2019 at 10:42am PST

Anyways, aside from eating healthy, we also try to  use  natural products  for treating  health conditions.   I used to take sleep aid pills since I find it really hard to fall asleep but now I  drink slumber tea before going to bed and it works like magic.  Hubby also found a  concoction that works really well for bloating issues and it also works so well with detoxing our bodies.  

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Drinking my serene slumber #tea before I hit the bed. #NaturalSleepingAid #SleepingAid #SereneSlumber

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Aug 25, 2018 at 6:00pm PDT

Time for confession, I will let you know  one secret about me.  When I was in my 20's, I used to collect mugs  but I had to leave it when I migrated here  in the US.  I still collect mugs occasionally especially when we travel but not as much.  I don't have a  favorite mug but I use  different ones depending on what I am drinking.

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Trying to settle my stomach with #tea 🍵.

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Mar 13, 2018 at 7:18am PDT

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Having a hot #tea with lemon 🍋 and honey 🍯 while working. Thanks 🙏🏻 to my wonderful son for doing the dishes tonight, I love my kids!

A post shared by Chubskulit Rose (@chubskulitrose) on Mar 1, 2018 at 3:57pm PST

Winter always brings sickness but we are prepared.  I make ginger tea at home and we  drink it often, it really helps us not get cold.  Ginger tea with honey and lemon is a drink that helps us away from flu.  I believe in the saying  that prevention is better than cure.