Travel: A cheap way to get around MY and SG ♥♥♥

Did you know that you could go on a travel in three big cities (Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Johor Bahru) between two countries (Malaysia and Singapore) with a measly Php 16,000 including airfare and travel taxes?

Before I share the specifics of the trip my cousins and I took last March, I would like to share you the expenses and activities (main activity/expenses highlighted).

Budget airfare: Try to check on the Php 1 base fare from MNL to KL thru Cebu Pacific or AirAsia. We had our flights booked several months ahead of our actual trip.

City Tour: We booked this one via Shore2Shore Travel. Their guided half day tour can already bring you around KL's tourist spots in a private air-conditioned van.

Train ticket to/from SG: Taking the train takes longer travel time HOWEVER it is a way lot cheaper than taking the plane. Since it takes around 8 hours of travel between KL and SG, I opted to take the 2nd class sleeper seats (bunk beds). It will not only take us from Malaysia to Singapore, BUT it also serves as our accommodation for two nights. Quite clever! Book your seats via KTMB MY; schedule for their trips open within the two months of your planned travel.

Accommodations in SG: We stayed at the Footprints Hostel located at the Little India district which is in proximity of shopping malls and the Queen bus terminal (travelling to Johor Bahru).

USS: You can opt to book your tickets ahead of time via RWSentosa - Universal Studios. You can check for promotions on their site. I have already booked our tickets when I saw that they will be having a promotion 15% price off within our scheduled trip. :(

Legoland: If you have already set a date for your trip to Legoland, you can book tickets in their website via advance booking with 20% off their published rate. However once booked, you cannot change the date of your trip so make sure that date is finalized before booking your tickets.

Happy planning! :)




♥dei♥

Restaurant Trip: Celebrating my birthday @ Kichitora of Tokyo ♥♥♥

Oh my! I got so busy with stuff I have yet to post a blog this 2014! To start it off is this late post of my birthday.


Birthdays are fun and meaningful when spent with the people you love. And this year was no different, though would have been more special if my sister, Dianne, was here with us.

With the fast rise of ramen house right now, I decided to treat the loved ones to the new branch of  Kichitora of Tokyo located at Glorietta 5.

For starters I ordered their Chicken Karaage and Gyoza, which were both wiped out the minute the servers placed them at the table.

Chicken Karaage and Gyoza
The karaage was piping hot when it came to our table. It was crispy on the outside yet soft and tender inside.\
The gyoza was flavorful though it was a struggle eating it because the wrapper was a bit stiff.

The boys ordered big bowls of ramen each. While the girls opted to have the set meals.

Spicy Paitan Ramen Zenbu No Se ♥♥♥
Spicy version of the Paitan Ramen complete with all toppings! My brother loved his big bowl of this; I also had a small bowl included in my set meal. 

Paitan Ramen Zenbu No Se ♥♥♥
Fresh ramen in a rich Chicken Soup with Pork Chashu, Leeks, Bamboo Shoots, Bokchoy, Fish Cake, Nori and Egg
My dad loved how big the serving was 

Since the food we had was way different from the ones we had last year (see post here), I thought they would not be satisfied with eating just only ramen but after dinner I was seeing smiles of satisfaction on their faces. It made me happy too. :)



**Late post due to busy-ness in the office and preparing for the Malaysia-Singapore trip.




♥dei♥

My Cupcake giveaways.. ♥♥♥

With Christmas fast approaching, I got busy with baking chocolate cupcakes yesterday as giveaways to family and friends.

The cupcakes were made using the batter from the Super Moist Chocolate Cake recipe. I topped it with homemade butter cream icing and strawberry jam for some extra love. ♥♥♥

Some of the cupcakes before packaging..such a BEAUTY!! ♥♥♥

Boxes full of love..and CHOCOLATES..and STRAWBERRIES..

A personal gift box filled with ♥♥♥..

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous 2014 ahead! :)

♥dei♥

Kitchen Experiment: Super Moist Chocolate Cake ♥♥♥

If there is one thing that I can't resist for dessert, it has got to be the chocolate cake; preferring the moist, gooey kind. :)

I have spent weeks looking and trying out recipes and I was about to give up until just last week, I came upon a recipe bragging for that Ultra Super Moist Cake. I tried it last weekend and it was superbly moist and soft as if you feel like drowning in that deep dark rich brown goodness. :)


SUPER MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes for the cake; 15-20 minutes for cupcakes
Servings: 1 8x8 cake; 12 pcs 3-oz cupcakes

Super Moist Chocolate Cake topped with Ganache

INGREDIENTS:

For the cake:
1 cup milk
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup oil (I used canola oil)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1&1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg, beaten at room temperature
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar

For the ganache:
1/2 cup whipping cream
3/4 cup baking semi-sweet chocolate

PROCEDURE:

For the cake:
1. Heat together milk, butter, oil and cocoa powder until just the butter melts. Let it cool to room temperature.
2. Preheat oven at 180C 10 minutes before baking.

3. Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Add sifted sugar, baking soda and egg into the flour mixture.

4. Add mixed dry ingredients to the cooled wet ingredients. Beat it well using an electric beater or hand whisk until mixed well.
5. Pour batter into greased/lined cake or cupcake pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes for the cake; 15-20 minutes for the cupcakes.

For the ganache:
1. Place the chocolate in a bowl.
2. Heat the whipping cream on low flame till small bubbles start appearing around the edges.
3. Pour the heated cream to the bowl of chocolate. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
4. Whisk it using a manual whisk until it gives a liquid consistency ganache. If you want to thicken it more, place bowl on some ice and whip; it will start thickeing.
5. Spread ganache on cooled cupcakes.


This recipe is perfect for sharing with family and friends this coming holiday season. Happy eating! :)




♥dei♥

Kitchen Experiment: Lengua de Gato ♥♥♥

Baking goodies is the latest hobby I enjoy doing during the weekends. My family, including my turning-1 old nephew, obliges to taste them heartily. (I hope!)

One my favorite things to bake is the Lengua de Gato (Thin Butter Cookie), which my nephew loves to munch using his first two front teeth. :)

LENGUA DE GATO

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1-1/8 cup flour

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp calamansi or lemon extract

Procedure:

1. Cream butter and sugar in a bowl. Continue mixing until smooth in texture.

2. Add the egg, vanilla extract and calamansi or lemon extract in the butter-sugar mixture.

3. Gradually add the flour in the mixture.

4. Preheat oven at 356F (180C).

5. Spoon or pipe the mixture in a greased pan. They must be spaced an inch apart.

6. Bake the cookies for 3-5 minutes or until their edges turn to light brown.

Lengua de Gato ready for munching! :)

That was so easy right? You can even bake them in your oven toasters at 5 minutes.

Why go up north when you can enjoy these delicious treats at the comfort of your home. Enjoy! :)

♥dei♥

Restaurant Trip: Serye :(

My mother celebrated her 20th year in service and as a celebration she wanted to treat us to dinner.

I have wanted to try out the food at Serye so when I chanced upon a deal they have at 50% off, I recommended it to her.

Wrong choice.

The deal was only meant for their "Special Menu" and we were expecting they were really special. Nah! To think there were only a handful of dishes in that menu yet the food they served us were forgettable in taste and drenched in oil.

Binukadkad na Tilapia with Ensalada Mangga
We could have enjoyed it more if it was served hot and crispy.

Camaron Rebosado
Could not taste the shrimp because of the thick breading.

Crispy Binagoongan
This dish we enjoyed the most.

Honey Fried Chicken
Blah!

Pescado with Sweet n Sour Sauce
Like the shrimp, the fish was missing from the thick breading used.

Boneless Crispy Pata
We added this to our meal (not part of their special menu). This was crispy yet lacked seasoning. And it was expensive too.

Overall, the experience in Serye was forgettable but I am raring to try their well-known barbecues next time around.

♥dei♥

Restaurant Trip: Pasto ♥♥♥

Sometimes I get bored eating just my packed lunch at the office that I crave for some Italian fare.

Good thing I bought Deal Grocer vouchers at 50% off a few weeks back.

Pizza, Pasta, Panini

Menu 1

Menu 2

Crostini with Spinach-Gongonzola Dip
Pasto's version of Italian Crostini with choice of dip.

This is my favorite appetizer at Pasto. ♥♥♥

Diavola
Grilled US Angus Steal with Bell Peppers and Onions in mildly spiced tomato sauce served with Rice Pilaf

This is my favorite entree. ♥♥♥
I prefer my steak in au jus but their spiced tomato sauce made me think otherwise.

My complete lunch! YUM! ♥♥♥

Pasto

*Bonifacio Global City - The Fort Strip Mall, BGC, Taguig City

*Libis - Eastwood Citywalk, Libis, Quezon City

*Ortigas Pasig - El Pueblo de Real, Ruby Rd corner Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas, Pasig City

*Salcedo Village - 3rd Floor paseo Center, Paseo de Roxas, Salcedo Village, Makati City

*Greenhills - GF Theater Mall, Greenhills, San Juan City

♥dei♥