Mommies, do you believe learning can be easy and light if gamified?

Well, gamification is the new term in the corporate world when you want learning to be interesting, fun, and engaging. But for moms like us, this is already a recurring thing because moms have used it many times, especially the moment children start learning. That's how we, moms, engage with the kids.

It starts from learning the alphabet and numbers until learning mathematics and science. It's is simple if you're on the right track with your children. It's easy peasy, as they say.

So, what do games and learning have to do in the culinary and kitchen? Well, I found out that my kids have a knack for good taste in food, but they don't have the drive to learn how to cook. They would always promise to help, but it always ends with me cooking. That's why I remembered the fun times with them when they were still starting to learn. 

Perhaps it's time again to let them enjoy learning, to start, probably a little game about kitchen and culinary. And since the easiest to cook is egg, we will play about eggs. In the meantime, it is best to have the game online or virtual rather than have the actual cooking. It's simple because all you need to do is focus on the flame and timer of the eggs to have soft and hard-boiled it.

What's interesting about "The Boiled Eggs" is that you learn to be mindful of your surroundings. The game may seem easy playing the game by tapping the burner, but it's hard when you're playing it.

I remembered watching a cooking show where the potential chefs were tested by cooking the eggs. And I think the hardest one to cook was the poached egg.

So, if my kids have mastered the poached egg in a game and real life, then I think I'll find ways to enroll them in a culinary school. If ever, this is the first time that our family will have a chef. Imagine having a son that will cook for your family when there's an occasion.

For now, harnessing their potential would be my top priority. So I'll let the kids play the games in CulinarySchools.Org to make them more aware about cooking and some of the things they need to know about culinary.

So, if you're a mom and you think your kids have potential, whatever it is, you'd better support them and let them know that you're always there for them. At least at a very early age, they'll have confidence in themselves to try anything and learn everything.

As I mentioned in the beginning, learning can be easy and light when you're having fun. The only way to have fun is through playtime. So, keep in mind that learning is not a chore that compels you to learn. Always enjoy the things that you do.

So, mommies always find time to spend with the kids, have fun and enjoy every moment with them.

Experiencing more hours at home made most of us explore the enriching ways of cooking and experimenting with recipes. Whether one is a newbie cook or a long-time home chef, here are tips one can follow to help ensure food safety while making new dishes.

Wash hands before preparing food
Aside from carefully washing any fresh produce or meat product bought from the market, another way to ensure food safety is to practice proper handwashing before preparing ingredients for cooking. Make sure to thoroughly wash hands for more than 20 seconds using soap and clean water.

Disinfect cooking surfaces and utensils
Keeping kitchen surfaces clean can also help prevent food from being contaminated. It is best to use a disinfectant that is ideal for the kitchen.

Check the quality of ingredients
Those who tend to stock up on produce and meat products to lessen trips to the market should be careful to check the expiry date and quality of the perishable items they are buying to avoid using stale ingredients. To be sure, one can buy these products from trusted brands in groceries and meat shops.

Separate fresh produce from raw meat
Make sure that fresh produce doesn’t mix with raw meat during preparation to avoid cross contamination, which happens when food is mishandled, allowing bacteria to transfer from one source to another.

Avoid double-dipping
Double-dipping can include dipping utensils or chips into a bowl of sauce or food after having put it in your mouth. This can pose some problems when it spreads the bacteria from your mouth into the food - especially when you’re sharing it with other people.

Thoroughly cook ingredients
Cooking food thoroughly and properly may kill most of the bacteria that may still be present in the ingredients.

Don’t add raw ingredients when heating food
While it might be tempting, it would be best to avoid adding uncooked meat to already-cooked meals or sauces as it can lead to cross-contamination and food poisoning.

Make preparing meals for the family even more worthwhile by ensuring they eat only the safest dishes. Follow these food safety tips and get quality meat products from trusted brands such as Robina Farms. Their quality meat and egg products are available at leading groceries and supermarkets nationwide.

I have been to some events where cooking is main topic but I have never been a competition of different chefs live. So, it's amazing to see that this  young chefs, budding restaurateurs, and aspiring culinarians from across the Philippines put their skills to the test and rose to the top of their game as they battled it out to earn the privilege of representing their country for an international culinary contest. Lee Kum Kee, the inventor of oyster sauce and a globally renowned Chinese sauce and condiment manufacturer, invited local aspiring chefs to compete at the first ever International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge (IYCCCC) - Philippines Qualifiers at Magsaysay Center for Hospitality and Culinary Arts in Manila last week.

Since its inception in 2014, the IYCCCC has been a biennial contest providing an international exchange platform for the Chinese culinary industry. It encourages young chefs from the world to hone their skills and learn, while at the same time, promoting the inheritance of Chinese culinary skills and sustainable development of the Chinese culinary industry with the aim of enhancing the international standard of Chinese cuisines.


A star-studded judging panel, including Singaporean award-winning Chef Aaron Tan Kean Loon, Champion of Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge 2016, Executive Sous Chef Intercontinental – Singapore, and Chef James Antolin, President of LTB Philippines Chefs Association, Ms Sandy Cu, Product and Business Development Director of Sysu International, and Mr. Ryan Cruz, Business Manager, Lee Kum Kee Philippines selected two winners from the Philippines Qualifiers. The top two talented contestants - Michael Lee Avisado from Vikings Group and Muhajiran "Pongky" Ijiran III from Kuya J Restaurant, earned the privilege to go on to the next level in the 4th IYCCCC in Hong Kong next year, competing with around 50 aspiring young chefs from over 20 countries and regions for the international championship. In the last contest, all three contestants from the Philippines won bronze awards.

The biggest winner during the IYCCC Qualifiers was Michael Lee Avisado from Vikings Group who aside from winning the coveted Gold award, also went on to win the Best Sauce Combination and the Best Presentation categories. Coming in second place with the Silver Award was Muhajiran "Pongky" Ijiran III of Kuya J Restaurant while the Bronze winners were Elier Maghanoy from King Chef Seafood Restaurant (who also won the Most Creative category), Jefferson Palma from King Chef Dimsum Kitchen and Janin Jayco from U-Rack Bar-B-Q & Wings.


The man of the moment, Michael Lee Avisado, has been in the culinary industry for 9 years already and has been with the Vikings Group already for 2 years. He is currently the Executive Sous Chef, as well as the Officer-in-Charge of the restaurant’s Mall of Asia branch. He is partial to Lee Kum Kee for his unique creations as the flavors blend well while retaining each ingredients’ distinct taste. His winning recipe, Shrimp Royale, uses Lee Kum Kee’s iconic XO sauce as its base.

Mr. Leslie Lau, Managing Director - South Asia of Lee Kum Kee said, “With the mission of ‘Promoting Chinese Culinary Culture Worldwide’, Lee Kum Kee is committed to nurturing Chinese culinary talents worldwide. The IYCCCC is an optimal platform for young Chinese chefs from around the world for culinary exchange. In the 3rd IYCCCC, we had representatives from the Philippines for the first time. This year, we are going even further to host the first-ever Philippines Qualifiers. I wish the two talented winners all the success in the finale in Hong Kong next year, representing the Philippines to fight for the championship.”

Renowned for the invention of oyster sauce and its premium quality with over 130 years of history, Lee Kum Kee, is one of the world’s most recognizable names for Chinese sauces and condiments across the globe. Lee Kum Kee first entered the Philippine market with Sysu International Inc as the sole distributor back in the 1980s and has since been one of the trailblazers in the industry, furthering its efforts to promote Chinese culinary culture, and nurturing future local culinary talents.

For more details, please visit www.LKK.com, follow Lee Kum Kee on Facebook (@LeeKumKeePh) and use the hashtag #LeeKumKeePh.

About Lee Kum Kee
Lee Kum Kee was established in 1888 by its founder Mr. Lee Kum Sheung. With its sustainable development in 131 years, Lee Kum Kee has become a well-known household name of Chinese sauces and condiments, as well as an international brand and “a symbol of quality and trust”. Spanning over three centuries, Lee Kum Kee is a globally renowned Chinese multinational corporation offering over 200 choices of sauces and condiments to over 100 countries and regions. Please visit www.LKK.com for further details.

About Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge

Since its inception in 2014, the Lee Kum Kee International Young Chef Chinese Culinary Challenge has been a biennial contest that demonstrates the Group’s mission of promoting Chinese culinary culture worldwide, setting an international platform for young Chinese culinary chefs from around the world to hone their skills and exchange experiences with their counterparts.

One of the best quality of moms are being 'madiskarte'. And as a mom of two I need to be innovative in our kitchen. The main reason that we, moms, keep doing and serving the best meal for your family is because of our love for them. We wanted to impart a piece of us to them through the food that we serve. Of course their favorites.  My parents loves to cook for us, me and my siblings, so when I got married I realized that I need to be in the kitchen for my family.  I am not expose in the kitchen before, I don't know why, but I do love to cook and now I'm doing it for them. My biggest achievement of all is that I can cook on my own.

The fact that I love cooking and wanted to learn more, I always find time to read some cook book and watch some videos in order to make my dish presentable and delicious. So with this, I am happy that I got the 2nd book of Chef Tatung the "Dishkarte Sa Kusina" as I browse it, I know that I will learn more from it.

If you're not familiar with Chef Tatung or Chef Myke Tatung Sarthou, he is the “Umagang Kay Ganda’s” resident chef and currently the bestselling author of the recently released book “Dishkarte sa Kusina” by ABS-CBN Publishing. The book released contains kitchen hacks, recipes, lessons, and illustrations and serving as a comprehensive kitchen guide for Filipino homes today.

Chef Tatung, who has become popular for his no-nonsense cooking tips and animated food trivia, said his new book is a tribute to “Umagang Kay Ganda’s” audience, mothers, and homemakers who have to deal with the practical realities of not just cooking but feeding a family on a budget. “Having a good grasp of cooking skills, common sense and the creativity to innovate and cook off the fly are important in dishing out decent meals that the family will enjoy,” the culinary master shared.

The book not just offers easy-to-follow recipes, but also kitchen basics that everyone must know in storing, preparing, and cooking food in various ways. From menu planning to grocery shopping, thawing frozen items, slicing ingredients, creating sauces, and choosing the right condiments, “Dishkarte sa Kusina” serves as a handy manual that households should have on hand as a quick reference.

“I also decided to write it in conversational Filipino, Taglish, so more Filipinos can benefit from the book,” Chef Tatung revealed, noting that a good number of people in the food industry have not gone to culinary school and hoping that this book will help bridge the readers’ knowledge and skills gap.

Some of the numerous kitchen hacks the popular chef shared in the book are to use color coding in chopping boards to avoid contamination, to place vegetables losing its freshness in iced water, to take advantage of meat broth for future use, and to chop or cut fresh herbs at the last minute before serving to retain its aroma.
Chef Tatung previously authored the award-winning book “Philippine Cookery From Heart to Platter,” also published by ABS-CBN Publishing, which earned the top prize in the World Gourmand Awards for best book by a celebrity chef outside Europe (Yantai China May 2017). He was also the Philippines’ sole representative to the 15th Madrid Fusion Congress in Madrid, Spain in 2016.

Chef Tatung’s passion is the avid search for the roots of Philippine cuisine, through which he rediscovers indigenous cooking methods, connects historical facts, and relishes anthropological insights that enrich the practice of his craft, making him a prime mover in the promotion of Philippine cuisine here and abroad.
To make me cooking enriched I will find more time to read the book from cover to cover, I am hungry to learn more all about in the kitchen, because I want to serve the best food/meal for the love of my life, my family. Mommies,  level up your cooking skills with the help of Chef Tatung’s “Dishkarte sa Kusina,” exclusively available in National Book Store branches nationwide for only P350. For updates, follow @abscbnpr on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram or visitwww.abscbnpr.com.

I am a full time Mom! And that's the reason why I need to prepare meals for my family. I have 2 kids, one who is in grade 5 and the other one is in grade l. The sacrifices that we, moms, need to endure is one waking up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for my love ones. Yes, it's a breakfast for my kids and for my hubby. My hubby to his office and my kids to school. The good thing about this is that I only do this Mondays to Fridays.
One of my friend encouraged me to participate in a sort of competition, a cooking contest. I am a shy type of person and I have never joined any live cooking competition. But at the back.of my mind I want to join because I want to overcome this shyness. So in other words, I was able to convince myself and took on the challenge.

As what I whisper to myself... well, this is it! I was about to face one of my greatest fear - being in highlight with lots of people watching me. And what adds up to my nervousness is that this is a live cooking competition. I love to cook and I enjoyed preparing for my family but this time I need to convince the judges. I'm not a fancy cooker type who is comfortable cooking for the big crowd and I only cook for small occasions like my family's momentous events.
The day has come! My chilling factors doubled and though it was held in a mall in Taguig still there are mall goers who would often look at you and sometimes even look around to see the challengers.
Since it is nutrition month, my prepared dish was simple enough to hopefully capture the taste buds of the judges. I cooked the dish inspired by my kids which I called "Angie's Burger". A burger patty with malunggay leaves, my kids really loved it. I just mixed ground beef and other spices and added malunggay leaves to make it more nutritious. We all know the benefits we could get from Malunggay, that's why I am so happy that my kids really love it.
The battle begin, my competitors are also Mommy  Bloggers, Jing Javier and Lariza Garcia. I know that they are very competitive and they've already join some other cooking competition unlike me who is a newbie. But we're good friends and we just joined to make it more fun and enjoying. Though there were some difficulties happened at the venue, we still manage to pursue competition and gladly that vista mall got some alternatives, some back up plans on things like this. This gave mall goers a little something to watch and enjoy.
Well in every competition, there's a winner and a looser. Jing Javier a very good friend of mine, won the competition, unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to taste her masterpiece, her  creamy heaven. 2nd is Lariza Garcia, I forgot the name of her dish, and me as 3rd, the "Angie's Burger".
Not bad for me, this is the 1st time I joined the competition. There were so many learnings and experiences. I am thankful for it. Thank you so much Vista Mall for the great experience at the "Savor The Flavor" event.

Vista Mall Taguig, the only upscale mall located outside of Bonifacio Global City, houses well-known outlets, restaurants, coffee shops, as well as , world-class cinemas. Located closer to the majority of Taguig.
Vista Mall is located at Bagong Kalsada, Tuktukan, Taguig. You can visit their facebook account at www.facebook.com/vista-mall-taguig or log on to www.starmalls.com.ph , you can call them at 531 8126.

2nd Avenue brought the best of the best chefs in a face-off in an exclusive access to the delightful world of cooking on Knife Fight 3 and Hell's Kitchen 13!

Sunday prime time is lit by Knife Fight 3 with its underground tournament style battle taking place during the overnight hours when restaurants close their doors to the public. 16 top chefs from the New York are face mystery ingredients that must be used in the dishes they prepare. Only one chef remains and is named New York's "Beast of the East". Former "Top Chef" winner Ilan Hall, who ownsthe Gorbals Brooklyn, continues in his dual role as host and judge. Joining him as judges are chefs Naomi Pomeroy and Kris Morningstar.


Last Weekend, I'm one of the bloggers who attended the 2nd Avenue Cooking Session. We, personally prepared cooked Japanese food like , Chicken Teriyake, Tempura, California Roll and Japanese Fried Rice. In the end we did a Bento, and our food that we prepared is so delicious, I will try to cooked all of these  and serve it to my family very soon.

Japanese Fried Rice

Chicken Teriyake

California Roll

I learned  also how to debone a chicken to make it chicken fillet for the Chicken Teriyake menu. At first it's so hard but if I'll do it more often, It will be easy for me. Since my husband love Japanese food, we just usually eat at the Japanese resto when we crave for it. Now I will definitely serve Japanese food to my Family, thanks to 2nd Avenue for the learnings.



This August, 18 contestants vying for the top spot and to be the Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay's Pub & Grill at Caesars Atlantic City will premiere in Hell's Kitchen Season 13 on 2nd Avenue. The show is hosted by world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay as he puts aspiring young chefs through rigorous cooking challenges and dinner services at this restaurant Hell's Kitchen located in Hollywood. He is known for his fiery temper, strict demeanor, and use of expletives. He often makes blunt and controversial comments, including insults and jokes about contestants and their cooking abilities.
Knife Fight 3 airs every Sunday on prime time 9pm. Stay tuned for the premiere schedule of Hell's Kitchen Season 13 on 2nd Avenue. Don't miss out and join the conversations at #DelightfullyReal

Check out 2nd Avenue on http://2ndavenue.ph www.facebook.com/2ndAvenue follow us on Twitter via @2nd_Avenue and on Instagram via @2ndavenuetv
2nd Avenue is the only general entertainment channel on Free TV and Pay TV that offers diverse content, featuring delightfully driven characters for the discerning market. Seen on UHF Free TV Ch. 29, SkyCable Ch.19, Global Destiny Cable CH. 29, Cablelink Ch.35, Cignal Ch.28 and Dream Channel Satellite Ch.32

A mother is often expected to be a superwoman, juggling roles as a mom, a wife, a cook, a housekeeper, and a caregiver for the elders, and many others. By learning ways to become more efficient in performing household chores, moms can also have time to take care of themselves, and enjoy more precious moments with their loved ones.

 

Below are some tips for moms to save time in the kitchen:

 

Be organized. “A place for everything, and everything in its place” is an incredibly useful advice to stick to. By keeping things organized in the kitchen – from the kitchenware and cutlery, to the condiments and cleaning tools, mothers will not waste time looking for the things they need.

 

Scout for ready-made cabinets, shelves, and drawers that fit the kitchen and serve as storage for various items. If you have the budget, you can hire a custom-maker of cabinets and a kitchen organizer, so that slots and nooks can be created to address the family’s unique makeup – for example, families with small children who want sharp objects in hard-to-reach places, or those who want to maximize a small space. This way, the arrangement of objects will be intuitive, and there will be less temptation to mess it up. Other members of the family must also be taught to respect the order of things, as their contribution to keeping the house tidy.

 

Prepare (and use) ingredients and cookware smartly. Related to the first tip, an organized mom prepares all the ingredients and cookware before she starts cooking. This way, she does not run to the pantry and to the fridge each time she needs something. Then, she uses time-saving kitchen tools, including food processor for faster slicing, or blender to puree ingredients that can serve as instant sauce or soup thickener.

 

Ingredients like garlic or onions should be prepared in batches, and stored for future use. The order of the cooking should be smart, too: dishes that only require light sauteeing should come before those that will have strong flavors, so that the same pan or cauldron can be used even without washing. Furthermore, cookware shouldbe washed immediately after (or soaked in water) so that it is easier and faster to remove the dirt.

 

Plan a weekly menu. Having a weekly menu can excite the whole family. Even better, it lets the mom plan the cooking wisely. Planning to have vegetables as a siding for fish? The veggies can be placed in a steamer on top of the rice. Meat, which usually takes a long time to soften, can be used as a main dish, but some can be set aside to spice up the dishes for the next day.

 

A weekly menu can especially help moms who prepare packed lunch and snacks for the family. If they are particularly pressed for time, they can place the cooked dishes in microwaveable containers, and just reheat them on the day these will be eaten.

 

Use efficient fuel that’s safe for the family. For your cooking needs, choose an LPG brand that bears the mark of safety and quality. When fuel is manufactured according to the highest standards, it becomes every smart mother’s trusted partner for efficient cooking.

 

Go with a good brand like Solane, which is backed by its manufacturer’s guarantee of superior product quality, safety, and exact weight. To order today, call Solane’sHatid Bahay hotline number 887-5555 or visit www.solane.com.ph.

Cooking is what most Moms love, and like me I like to have a great dish for my family. Just recently I was invited for an afternoon of clashing culinary skills. Not the clash of clans but clash of the Cusina Idols wannabe. The Next Cusina Idol Cook-Off Challenge is Melawares Culinary Clash, unleashing the cooking talent of participants, students and aspirant cook. Armed with their cooking skills and fueled by their passion for food, ten (10) cooking enthusiasts and culinary students joined to battle it out on “The Next Cusina Idol Cook-Off Challenge.” The event is hosted by Melawares, the popular high-quality melamine tableware and Urban Kitchen, the complete restaurant and food service solution.

The Global Culinary and Hospitality Academy in Pasig City served as The Next Cusina Idol’s cooking arena, the finalists vying for the coveted title are divided into two categories: the Culinary Students Division which is composed of students currently enrolled in the present school year and the Cooking Enthusiasts Division which was held open to all genders, 18 years old and above. Of course if I’m going to join this cooking challenge next year I’ll be on the Enthusiasts Division. Moms love to cook very and it so happen that most of the enthusiastic ones who joins are mostly moms.

Aspiring Cusina Idols underwent a rigorous preliminary round, after purchasing Php500.00-worth of Melawares, Bestware, Perfect Dining, and Urban Kitchen products and filling out an online contest registration found at the Melawares Cusina Club Facebook page these competitors are then required to cook one original main entrée dish choosing between fish and chicken. Of course, Melawares, Perfect Dining, Bestware or Urban Kitchen products are used for the final plating. They took shots of their dish entries and posted it to the Melawares Cusina Club Facebook page. Winners were chosen based on the plating, cleanliness and preparation, and number of Facebook shares. Imagine the excitement they’ve felt just right before the finalist are been chosen.

The finalist for the Culinary Students Division were asked to impress the judges with their star dish using chicken, while those in the Cooking Enthusiasts Division were then to stand out with their original fish recipe. What’s more challenging is that they were given a one hour time to finish the dish and present it on the spot. All finalists were judged based on the taste of their dishes with 50%, cleanliness and preparation with 20%, and plating and presentation with 30%.

After all those nerve shaking preparation and grace under time pressure a mom named Mercedita Madrona won in the Cooking Enthusiasts Division with her innovative fish recipe "Adobo Marinated Hito in Sisig Wraps" while on the Culinary Students Division was Kimberly Jane Solejon with her winning dish "Pan-Roasted Chicken Breast with Chinese Sausage Stuffing". Champions of each category took home a total of Php250,00 worth of kitchen showcase from Melawares, Perfect Dining, Bestware or Urban Kitchen, and will be featured in select major publications. While the other finalists will not go home empty-handed, as they will receive Php25,000 worth of kitchen showcase and will also be featured in select major publications.

According to Chriselda Chua, marketing Manager of CDC Manufacturing Corporation, “It is no secret that Filipinos are foodies at heart, with some of our best chefs making waves at the international food industry. However, while the culinary talents of our Filipino cooks are unquestionable, food presentation poses a challenge to most. Fortunately, Melaware and our other lines are now making it easier to serve not only genuinely delicious food, but beautiful and appetizing-looking as well. With the Cusina Idol Cook-Off Challenge, we are excited to see the best and brightest culinary stars in the Philippines.”

For more information about the Cusina Idol Cook-Off Challenge, visit www.melawares.com or their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MelawaresCusinaClub.

It was Saturday and we were complete, no school, no office and no events, purely house events.   Since all of us are present in the house the whole Saturday, I decided to have a Pasta overload with Clara Ole!

Of course one of my companion in this Saturday endeavor is Clara Ole Pasta Sauces which helped me prepared the pasta for my family.  I am very much inspired to make Pasta, not only because everyone are present but because I can easily prepare different kinds of pasta.  The pasta with the white sauce or pasta with the red sweet sauce.  This is to test whether my kids will love the red sauce or the white sauce.  While I know my hubby would dig in to whatever kind of pasta I prepare as long as it is pasta. He loves it very much.
The first that I prepared was the White sauce, The Clara Ole "Carbonara Pasta Sauce" is a cream-based pasta sauce that's immaculately creamy and fuses salty, smoked bacon and cheesy flavors that will lend your pasta a rockin and mind-blowing taste with flavorful creaminess.
Yes, it is creamy, and we like it though my kids were a little bit curious on the taste in the end, they don't eat much of it, but my hubby and I like it very much.  I just put a ham in addition to the taste, nothing much more ingredients added because it already have the flavorful taste and the creaminess all the way.
Next was the red sauce, the Clara Ole "Creamy Tomato", it is a cream-based pasta sauce that combines luscious cream and vine-ripened tomatoes to provide a succulent smell and heart-warming creaminess that strike every palate.
Well, my kids love it very much, look how they enjoyed eating pasta, and I just added hotdog for additional drama to the sauce, it is creamy and sweet that catches the kids taste buds.  I like it also specially its flowing sauciness.
I just found a partner in the kitchen in serving the best pasta flavor for my boys, and they loved it very much.  I can do this more often.

Also, if you like the plating of the pastas, my hubby took care of that.