Our Kitchen Makeover Reveal! - Home Foodie / San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc.

It's been a great year for us!  Finally! The kitchen makeover is now done! You can see the transformation below and you will see that this is such a huge blessing by Home Foodie / San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc.

Weeks after I've submitted my Moist Ube Quezo Muffin video entry to Home Foodie's My Great Food Kitchen Makeover Contest, I thought it was nearly impossible for me to win as there are a lot of other great entries that were submitted. I've nearly forgotten about it - just crossed my finger and hoped that perhaps, they would choose my entry. Then one day, someone from Instagram commented on my entry and congratulated me. I didn't understand why she was congratulating me, until I saw my name on Facebook! I still couldn't believe that I've won. I thought, I was just dreaming.

The following day, I got a confirmation email from Nuffnang, and that was the beginning of one of the best days I've had for winning a kitchen makeover contest. 

Seeing this posted was really exciting!

My heart was already set to give it as a gift to my Mother-in-law when I joined the contest and should I ever win it. I know she needed it more than I do.  Even if I would want to have my kitchen made over too.  But, I just want to bless my in-laws with a beautiful kitchen makeover.  It is just a small token of telling her (from both me and my husband) that we appreciate her. I have submitted her kitchen photos to other make over contest/magazines in recent years but none has responded. But, this time, HER KITCHEN IS GOING TO MAKE A MAKEOVER by Home Foodie.  This was indeed, a timely answered prayer!

My Mom-in-Law is a wonderful home cook. I usually see her in the kitchen, cooking something up for the family. My husband would tell me, that they rarely go out to eat because his mom could replicate dishes from some restaurants and cook that for the family. I've witnessed it myself, ever since we were dating back in college, we would just eat in their home than eat somewhere else. But, as years go by, my mom-in-laws very hardworking kitchen has become overly used and cluttered. She makes great stuff here (she was even the one who made "by hand", the major ingredient I used for my Moist Ube Muffin - the UBE halaya itself!)

My friends and family were raving when I shared the news about it. When it was already set and final, I asked my husband to tell her mom and surprise her that we want to give the makeover prize to her.  She was so excited that she immediately cleared her kitchen the next day we told her.  She waited for 2 more weeks before the actual work started.

Here is the progress from the drawing board to the actual finished kitchen makeover by Home Foodie / San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc.

The kitchen - BEFORE

The kitchen is cluttered and disorganized.  The cabinets are way too high, my MIL cannot even reach for the other high shelves. There are mismatched chairs, handwritten labels were posted using tapes.

A few days after the announcement, the team from Home Foodie, designers and contractors went to check on the kitchen that will have a make over.  They inspected and measured the area.  The only contribution I made during this process was to collaborate with what my in-laws needs are in their kitchen (which were all applied on the design and layout), and of course, to send inspiration with the design I'd like for the kitchen. :) My in-laws don't really mind me deciding that for them.

After a week, and after carefully choosing the design, feel, and style (which is French Modern Country) and collaboratively working for the kitchen makeover by designers, Miah Gomez and Arch. Chino Carlos, they sent me their proposed design of the kitchen.

Design proposal stage:

Who wouldn't love this! It was all that was needed for the kitchen, bright, timeless, elegant yet modern.

Construction progress:

Construction started with the dirty kitchen. Ceiling and cabinets were all revamped.

 Yes! We are seeing some white (not dark) paint!

A few weeks after, the kitchen is starting to take shape.

A new cabinet was installed in the dirty kitchen.  New shelves were installed also.

Then, after 4 weeks, the showcase kitchen construction continues.

Ceiling were changed and updated.  New light fixtures and black granite kitchen top were installed. 

After the dirty kitchen, everything was now on remodeling the showcase kitchen. Subway tiles were installed and this made the kitchen - hip and modern.  Better lighting was also installed which made this kitchen look a lot roomy and fresh.

A total of almost 2 months, finally... the kitchen is finally done! My Mom-in-Law loooooove her new kitchen! We also love it and it was the best area of the house, too!

Here is the final kitchen reveal and look at the difference of the old and drab one to the new one now!

My daughter proudly showing the new kitchen!

We love this nook!

This is the area going to the dirty kitchen which was also made over!

Clean and white!

Here are before and after transformation of the kitchen:

Whenever we show this picture to anyone who come by the kitchen, they find it unbelievable that this kitchen was once like that.

Isn't that amazing? That was one great transformation!

My kids' having their snacks in the breakfast nook.  The chairs were also custom-made and done by Carlos + Gomez Interior Design.  I am entirely blessed for them as well and making it less stressful for my in-laws during the design and construction phase. :)

Thank you so much, Home Foodie / San Miguel Pure Foods Company, Inc.   You have made our year one of the best years we've had!

My Great Food's Kitchen Makeover Recipe: Ube Queso Muffin

A video posted by Mira Grace (@mirarempillo) on Feb 13, 2015 at 9:28am PST

My kids and I love to bake and cook.  I gave them their own play kitchen when they were just a year old so they can pretend to be like a chef.  They are 5 now, and they are budding little chefs who love to make a mess help out in the kitchen with me or their Auntie's.  So, the mess is REAL every time we cook with the kids and I am totally not OK with it.  You can always clean up a mess, but you can never bring back their childhood.

I do not have a full kitchen, I usually cook or bake at my parent's or in-law's kitchen as they have most of the tools I need.  But, for the love of cooking, me and my kitchen have made a lot of dishes even without measuring cups/spoons, hand mixers, an oven, etc.

My dream kitchen is something smart and kid-friendly and the equipment and tools to be durable and would last for a very long time.  The tools and equipment, the lighting of the kitchen area (Because I love to take food shots) are main things that matter to me when cooking with my kids.

That is why, I aimed to join My Great Food's Kitchen Makeover contest with my Moist Ube Queso Muffin. While doing the 15 second video, I had no one to ask help to but my 5 year old twins to do the mixing, the pouring, while I take shots. My sister would be the hand model and the one who used the hand mixer and the referee when the twins are bickering as to who pours who.

In between, my twins would spill flour, milk or sugar. They literally cracked the eggs with the shell mixed on the batter so we had to pause for 15 minutes to remove all the tiny shell and retake.  It was both funny stressful, killer-kind and memorable.  Even our pet, Taylor would watch by the oven and lick the pieces of falling batter or sugar on the floor.  The prep time of 20 minutes became 2 hours! Then, after all that, finally... the muffin is done! It was sooooo good! I can still remember it as I write this blog.  It was not too overpoweringly sweet, but the cheese balanced it out and gave a thrill on your taste buds like drinking wine after a steak. We we're laughing and indulging (while, I was almost out of my wits thinking on how to remove the stain on my little girl's new dress - because they did not bring the apron I made for them!).

I am no pro in the kitchen, I cook or bake for my family and friends.  So, that dream kitchen is not just TO cook or TO bake on but as a family affair to remember with my kids till they're grown. Perhaps, with less mess next time. :)

This recipe is also on this blog post entry I posted or this below, and I have added pictures for the directions to help you check the process.

Ube Queso Muffin

1 3/4 cups sifted Magnolia all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup unsalted Magnolia Gold Butter
2 large eggs
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup Magnolia PureFresh Natural Cow's Milk
3/4 cup Ube Halaya
2 tsp. Ube Flavoring
Magnolia Queso de Bola and Magnolia Quick Melt Cheese for sprinkling on top of the muffin.

Procedure:

1. Mix all dry ingredients except sugar. Set aside.
2. On a separate mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and ube halaya.
3. Add eggs one at a time.
4. Mix the dry ingredients alternately with the milk until fully incorporated.
5. Add the ube flavoring and mix well.
6. Preheat oven to 350F for 15minutes.
7. Fill each muffin liners at least 2/3 full with the batter.
8. Bake for 15 minutes or until done.
9. Remove from oven and add grated Magnolia Queso de Bola and Magnolia Quick Melt cheese on top.
10. Serve warm.

Makes 12 muffins #MerryMyGreatFoodin15seconds

Red Velvet Pancakes in Cookies and Cream

A video posted by Mira Grace (@mirarempillo) on Feb 23, 2015 at 7:41pm PST

Red Velvet with cookies and cream? So delicious.

I have always been thinking of great ways to make my picky little eaters at home eat food! We would bake and cook together and there are times that they would just end up eating the batter than actually eating the food we made!

You know, how messy it is when kids as young as 5 would "help" in the kitchen! It usually ends up as a disaster.  Well, for this recipe - I can guarantee that this is almost mess free, kid-friendly recipe.  So, you can make this with the little ones, just make sure you do the cooking and guide their hands from the pan when they pour the batter in.

But, the best part of this - they will love the final result!

Let's get cookin' and yes, this time call in your 4 or 5 or even 12 year olds to do this simple, pretty and delicious all-day, cheer-me-up recipe!

Red Velvet Pancakes with Cookies and Cream

For the red velvet pancakes:

1 pack Magnolia Pancake and Waffle Mix

2 eggs

4 Tbsp Oil

1 cup water

3 tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa

Few drops of Red Food Coloring

1/2 tsp Magnolia Gold Butter

For the Cookies and Cream:

6 pcs crushed Oreos

1/2 pack of 250ml Magnolia All-Purpose Cream

1 tbsp White Sugar

For the toppings:

2 pcs coarsely crushed Oreos

Maple or chocolate syrup

Procedure:

Crush Oreos in a blender. Set aside. In a small bowl, mix Magnolia All Purpose Cream with the crushed Oreos and the sugar. Place in a pastry bag or a zip lock bag and chill for 30 minutes.

Prepare and mix Magnolia Pancake and Waffle Mix as directed. Add unsweetened cocoa. Add a few drops of red coloring and mix well.

Heat a non-stick pan on med-low. heat. Lightly grease a non stick pan with Magnolia Gold Butter. Cook pancakes.

Prepare pancakes, top with the chilled cookies and cream, sprinkle with Oreos and drizzle some sauce! Enjoy!

Makes. 12-15 regular sized pancakes.

#MerryMyGreatFoodIn15Seconds

Fudge Brownies with Salted Caramel

Ahh! Salted Caramel is my sweetest temptation. This recipe will make you fall head over heels. If you haven't really fallen in love yet, this could be your first sweet love. *_-

For some, making caramel is tricky.  Yes, it is.  I thank God for the years I've spent during my college days making Leche Flan almost everyday, and being able to practice the perfect way to cook caramel.  Practice makes perfect, so for this recipe - it is no different except that you'll add salt.  When you are done salivating when you are cooking this patience-test-Caramel, you can start licking off the spoon that you mixed it with.  Pause awhile before making the brownies and just indulge in that sweet and salty goodness! Just be sure that it is cool enough or you'll scald your taste buds. :)

For this recipe, I used Magnolia Fudge Brownies.  It tasted good and was perfect for a quick dessert for my chocolate craving.  When I make brownies, I add coffee to enhance the flavor of the chocolate. To make this recipe even tasty - I added Guittard Semi Sweet Chocolate chips.

Now, let's get working rather and stop drooling.

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Fudge brownies with Salted Caramel

Salted Caramel:
1 cup caster sugar
8 Tbsp. Magnolia Gold butter
120ml Magnolia Cream (or 1/2 cup Magnolia Fresh Milk)
1 tbsp Salt (or Pink salt)
5 tbsp water
2 tbsp corn syrup

Brownies:
1 box Magnolia Brownies (make as directed)
1 tbsp San Mig Coffee Original
1/2 cup Semi sweet chocolate chips

Procedure:
Salted Caramel:
Mix sugar, water and corn syrup in a pan.
Cook in medium heat. Do not mix but just keep turning the pan side by side to keep the sugar from burning.
Wait till sugar melts and turn into a golden amber color (approx. 10-15 minutes).
Remove from heat and let settle a few minutes before adding the butter. Mix well until fully melted. Once butter is melted, add cream/milk. The mixture will sizzle, handle carefully. Add salt. Cook in low heat for a few minutes. Let cool.

Brownies:
Make Magnolia Brownies as directed from the box and add the San Mig Coffee and fold in the semi sweet chocolate chips.

Bake as directed and let cool for 1 hour. Then, pour the salted caramel on top of the brownies. Serve and enjoy.
#MerryMyGreatFoodIn15Seconds

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A video posted by Mira Grace (@mirarempillo) on Feb 18, 2015 at 6:25pm PST

See the oozing Salted Caramel seeping into the Fudge Brownies? The mixture of sweet and salty is just addicting.

So, tell me... have you made some?  How was it, do share your thoughts below!

Cheesy Pork in Creamy Tomato Sauce

I am a home cook and not exactly a pro in the kitchen.  But, when it comes to cooking for my family and close friends - I cook with all my heart. I.just.love.to.cook.

This recipe I concocted is a twist from the Pinoy Menudo.  We love Menudo so much but for this recipe, I created it with some more Pinoy Spaghetti with creamy, cheesy sauce that my kids love!

You can use tomato sauce for this (or even a can of stewed tomatoes - yummy!), but I am very cautious on the sodium content of food eversince my husband had hypertension.

So, I opted to the less sodium but a bit more sour tomato paste. If you find it a bit more sour for your taste, you can balance it out with a tbsp. of brown sugar or choose tomato sauce or a can of stewed tomatoes.

I hope you'll enjoy this recipe as much as I and my kiddos did.  Btw, please don't forget to view my Instagram video about this here: https://instagram.com/p/zQ-lo7TJvF/ and, please like it, if you did. :)

Cheesy Pork in Creamy Tomato Sauce 1/2 kilo Pork menudo cut 3 pcs Purefoods hotdog, sliced 120 ml tomato paste 1 whole Onion, minced 5 cloves of Garlic, chopped 1 big potato, cubed 1 carrot, cubed 1 whole bell pepper, cut into squares 3 tbsp. Magnolia Gold Butter 120 ml Magnolia Cream 2 tbsp Soy Sauce 1/2 cup water Salt and pepper to taste Magnolia Quick Melt Cheese, grated Saute onions and garlic in butter. Add pork. Cook well. Add water. Add bell pepper, Potatoes and Carrots, season with salt and pepper. Cook till veggies are soft and tender. Add hotdogs. Add tomato paste, add cream, add soy sauce. Cook till done. Simmer. Serve hot on brown rice with grated cheese on top. Yum! #merrymygreatfoodin15seconds

A video posted by Mira Grace (@mirarempillo) on Feb 18, 2015 at 6:02pm PST

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Cheesy Pork in Creamy Tomato Sauce

1/2 kilo Pork menudo cut
3 pcs Purefoods hotdog, sliced
120 ml tomato paste
1 whole Onion, minced
5 cloves of Garlic, chopped
1 big potato, cubed
1 carrot, cubed
1 whole bell pepper, cut into squares
3 tbsp. Magnolia Gold Butter
120 ml Magnolia Cream
2 tbsp Soy Sauce
1/2 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste
Magnolia Quick Melt Cheese, grated

Saute onions and garlic in butter.
Add pork. Cook well. Add water. Add bell pepper, Potatoes and Carrots, season with salt and pepper. Cook till veggies are soft and tender. Add hotdogs. Add tomato paste, add cream, add soy sauce. Cook till done. Simmer. Serve hot on brown rice with grated cheese on top. Yum!

#MerryMyGreatFoodin15Seconds

An Ube Quezo Muffin Recipe

A few weeks back, me and my youngest sister were just feasting on my mom-in-law's homemade ube halaya!  We were both in heaven while having this sweet dessert.

While still being in this blissful moment, we've thought about sorbetes ice cream (me and my sisters would just go on about random strange memories so, this were just one of those days) and how she loved her ube ice cream with quezo. We were laughing about it since we find it strange that we were kids who love old-fashioned food. Yet, we were still enjoying our ube halaya mixed with milk.

Now just out of that blissful ube moment that we were having.  I told her "(smiley while chewing on the ube) hmmm... what if we make something like a Filipino version of Salted Caramel? You know, like the sweet and salty kind.  Something like... Ube and Queso! Lightly sweet and salty"  Which we both agreed to make that same day.  From then on, this recipe was birthed.

We wanted it simple and tasty. Moist and light. Something you won't get so choked up on sweetness. But, something even your Lola or Lolo, 80s childhood friends would find appealing.

So, here goes and I hope you enjoy it!

Ube Quezo Muffin

1 3/4 cups sifted Magnolia all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 cup granulated white sugar

1/2 cup unsalted Magnolia Gold Butter

2 large eggs

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup Magnolia PureFresh Natural Cow's Milk

3/4 cup Ube Halaya

2 tsp. Ube Flavoring

Magnolia Queso de Bola and Magnolia Quick Melt Cheese for sprinkling on top of the muffin.

Procedure:

1. Mix all dry ingredients except sugar. Set aside.

2. On a separate mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and ube halaya.

3. Add eggs one at a time.

4. Mix the dry ingredients alternately with the milk until fully incorporated.

5. Add the ube flavoring and mix well.

6. Preheat oven to 350F for 15minutes.

7. Fill each muffin liners at least 2/3 full with the batter.

8. Bake for 15 minutes or until done.

9. Remove from oven and add grated Magnolia Quezo de Bola and Magnolia Quick Melt cheese on top.

10. Serve warm.

Makes 12 muffins.

This is also my entry for #MerryMyGreatFoodin15seconds

Ube Quezo Muffin 1 3/4 cups sifted Magnolia all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda 1 cup granulated white sugar 1/2 cup unsalted Magnolia Gold Butter 2 large eggs 1/4 tsp salt 2/3 cup Magnolia PureFresh Natural Cow's Milk 3/4 cup Ube Halaya 2 tsp. Ube Flavoring Magnolia Quezo de Bola and Magnolia Quick Melt Cheese for sprinkling on top of the muffin. Procedure: 1. Mix all dry ingredients except sugar. Set aside. 2. On a separate mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and ube halaya. 3. Add eggs one at a time. 4. Mix the dry ingredients alternately with the milk until fully incorporated. 5. Add the ube flavoring and mix well. 6. Preheat oven to 350F for 15minutes. 7. Fill each muffin liners at least 2/3 full with the batter. 8. Bake for 15 minutes or until done. 9. Remove from oven and add grated Magnolia Quezo de Bola and Magnolia Quick Melt cheese on top. 10. Serve warm. Makes 12 muffins. #merrymygreatfoodin15seconds

A video posted by Mira Grace (@mirarempillo) on Feb 13, 2015 at 9:28am PST

One great baby carrier and baby travel bag to love!

If there is one thing I'd love to imagine for humans (especially as a twin mom) to have is to be able to grow extra hands when we need it. Good thing, we don't. But with great gears, 2 arms would just be fine!

Being a mom of energy-filled explorer 5-year old and 8 month old twins has its sweet and sour days too. People would ask how we were able to manage 2 babies when we go out. We honestly don't have a concrete answer but just say... "we just got used to it."

Yesterday, we went to meet with a friend and his 3 year old son who just came home for a vacation. They live in the middle east and this is the first time our kids met. As usual, just for a 2 hour dinner, we lugged 2 strollers, 2 different baby bags, 1 milk bag, our laptops, our dSLR a sling and 1 front Chicco carrier. Our handy dandy pick-up truck is full (inside and the trunk).

We use the stroller mainly when the twins sleep. But when they are awake, they would be on the front carrier which they enjoy very much while the other stays on the sling who doesn't look very comfortable at all. The major problem we encounter is the time and effort we move and transfer each of the babies from the stroller to a sling. There would be occasions where we would want to eat in a small restaurant but because of all the contraptions we brought with us, it doesn't look very practical to dine in anymore.

I saw a really great carrier which I really think I would need and fall in loved with. It's a carrier that has a separate pouch and simply snaps in and out swiftly. Our carrier takes 2 people to place the baby in and out, plus 6 snaps to fit her in. While the sling, takes 3 snaps, but the time I check if the baby is comfy is a bit tedious. So all in all, with our existing stroller to carrier system for 2 babies... it would take 8-10 minutes of time to fit them all in. Oh! I didn't mention yet when we needed to change them when they're in their carrier!

The Okkatots system is something I want to get hold of. The carrier and the travel bag would fit almost all what the twins need.

From their site (http://www.okkatots.com/), the features include:

• Facing In or Facing Out: Holds babies every age from newborn up to 25 pounds securely and comfortably: facing you or facing forward
• Separate Pouch: Baby wears separate pouch that goes on and off as easy as a diaper, extends two ways for a custom fit, and detaches to gently move a sleeping baby. So nice to use.
• Waistband Support: Optional-use waistband for parents distributes weight evenly to provide more support for parents and a wider seat for baby
• Versatile Shoulder Straps: Shoulder straps allow baby to lean back for parent interaction or be easily removed when asleep
  Padded shoulder straps: adjustable for a perfect fit (approximately 28″–66″ adult chest)
• Shopping Cart Seat: Carrying pouch can also be used in a shopping cart seat as a child restraint; folds into its own pocket for convenient storage
• Eco Cotton: Made of 100% European “eco” cotton and machine washable
• JPMA certified
• Two-year manufacturer’s warranty included

This is just simply a great baby gear for mama's especially for moms of multiples. I am more keen on safety, convenience and ease of use. The Okkatots is a wonderful baby gear! Now... husband and I can get extra hands we need.

You can visit their site: Okkatots
Photos from their blog at: http://www.okkatots.com/blog/