#iloveLKK | COOKING IS EASY WITH LEE KUM KEE!

I practically grew up with Lee Kum Kee.

Seriously, Lee Kum Kee products are staples in my household. It was the same when I was growing up. Like I said, I practically grew up with the brand. I have fond memories of my childhood and my favorite Lee Kum Kee product - the Fine Chili Sauce. I ate everything with it - Pork Chop, Inihaw, Chinese Lumpia, Noodles - even Cheese! Remember that Lee Kum Kee jingle? "...Bring out the Lee Kum Kee! Bring out the Lee Kum Kee..." Yup, I knew that song by heart. I still do.

Oh, and who could forget our favorite go-to sauce - the Chicken Marinade - with simple instructions on how to cook a chicken: 1) Brown chicken in pot with a little oil, 2) Pour Chicken Marinade, 3) Bring to Boil, 4) Simmer until cooked, and 5) Enjoy! So simple, even kids can cook with it.

Now if there's a household brand I believe in, it is this. Especially now that I am married and have kids of my own. Lee Kum Kee has always made life easier. For a full-time working mom like me, Lee Kum Kee has helped me create delicious dishes in so little time. I am telling you, their sauces are lifesavers!

Moms and future moms at the #BetterMe Recipe Swap with #LKK!
(from L-R: Neva, Shiao Chew, me, Didi and Louren.

A few weeks ago, I got invited to a recipe swap hosted by Lee Kum Kee. There, I, along with other moms and future moms, learned more about Lee Kum Kee and its history in making quality sauces. Shiao Chew Chan, Lee Kum Kee's Southeast Asia Regional Category Manager for Soy, explained the tedious steps the brand has been taking to ensure their sauces are top-notch - even culturing their own oysters to make certain their Number One product, the Oyster Sauce, is of the best quality.

Shiao Chew re-telling LKK's history.

Lee Kum Kee is a family corporation spanning four generations. I can just imagine the heart that is put into this business for it to have lasted in the family this long!

Moms who demonstrated their cooking skills with LKK sauces that day: (from L-R: Eliza, Michelle, Suzi and Mish)

Anyway, during the recipe swap event, four moms shared their special recipes making use of Lee Kum Kee sauces. These were sooo good, and sooo easy to cook! This is seriously making me reconsider cooking special viands for my bentos, even in the morning before school. Lee Kum Kee makes cooking so easy!

Suzi Abrera's Thai-inspired Omelette. I love anything with eggs! And cilantro! 

Michelle's Grilled Salmon. I love how you can also bake this. This was so good!
I am sure RL will love this. He loves fish!

Michelle's Tofu Saute. So simple, but so delicious. I wanted to eat the whole plate!

Another super easy recipe! Would you believe Eli doesn't like to cook? This was nommy!!!

Inspired by these moms, I whipped up a quick recipe for you to try out as well. I make this regularly for my kids. It is a mix of chicken and veggies. I make it just the way I remember my mom making it for us. This recipe is from my childhood. I do not have the exact measurements (I cook just like my grandma, no recipes! Just stories!), so feel free to taste your cooking and adjust as you see fit. The measurements, however, I place in my recipe below is an approximate of the amounts I used. It shouldn't be too salty. But my kids love this just the way it is.

CHICKEN AND VEGGIE STIR-FRY

Ingredients
1/4 kilo Chicken Breast or Thigh Fillets, cubed
1 tbsp. Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce

1 tbsp. Cooking Oil

1 tbsp. Lee Kum Kee Freshly Minced Garlic

1 pc. small Onion, diced

2 slices fresh Ginger

1/2 c. Button Mushrooms, sliced in quarters

1/2 c. Baby Corn, diced
1 pc. small Green Bell Pepper, seeded and diced

2 tbsp. Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce
1/2 c. Lukewarm Water
1 tsp. Cornstarch
Dash of Lee Kum Kee Sesame Oil

Procedure

1. In a small bowl, marinate chicken fillets in Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce for 5-10 minutes.
2. Take a wok, heat cooking oil. Add Lee Kum Kee Freshly Minced Garlic, Onion and Ginger until fragrant.
3. Add marinated chicken and brown until half-cooked. 
4. Stir in mushrooms, corn and green bell pepper. Stir-fry.
5. Add Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce. 
6. In a bowl, dissolve cornstarch in water. Add to pan. Stir-fry.
7. When chicken is cooked, add a dash of Lee Kum Kee Sesame Oil. Stir-fry. 
8. Turn off stove and serve over hot rice.
9. Serves 2.

This recipe is making me hungry! Omnomnom! Told you cooking is easy with Lee Kum Kee!

~~~ * ~~~

Lee Kum Kee is running a contest on Facebook! Get a chance to win P25,000 worth of kitchenware Gift Certificates! So easy to join! Here's how:

1. Like the Lee Kum Kee Philippines Facebook page. 
2. Upload a mouthwatering photo of your dish beside the Lee Kum Kee product you used. 
3. Name the dish and use the hashtag ‪#‎LKKRecipesByMe‬ and #(Lee Kum Kee product used) (Example: ‪#‎PandaOysterSauce‬). 

Promo period is from May 27 - June 24, 2015. Terms and conditions apply. You still have a week to join the promo. Get cooking with Lee Kum Kee and join today!

#iloveLKK!

| Lee Kum Kee Philippines on Facebook
| philippines.lkk.com/en/Kitchen

#ContestAlert | WIN A PRINCESS MAKEOVER FROM DISNEY CHANNEL ASIA!

THIS MAGICAL MARCH, EXPERIENCE THE FAIRY TALE WITH 3 OF DISNEY'S CINDERELLA MOVIES ON DISNEY CHANNEL, AND WIN A PRINCESS MAKEOVER!

I love a good Disney contest - they always give out awesome prizes. And I know a lot of you have little girls who would love to win this makeover! I wonder if A would still be game to join this... it is fairly easy to join. All you have to do is watch the special airings of Cinderella, Cinderella II: Dreams Come True, and Cinderella III: A Twist In Time over on Disney Channel, and you get the chance to win a makeover for your little princess!

Here's how to join!

1] You must be a Disney Channel Subscriber.
2] You must be between the ages of 6 to 17 in order to join this contest. Parents must give consent to kids below 13 in order for them to participate in this contest.
3] Watch the Cinderella movies on Disney Channel Asia from 7 – 27 March, 2015.
4] Spot the puzzle during Cinderella, Cinderella II and Cinderella III.

HINT: The contest question features the Fairy Godmother and will be aired during each commercial break.

5] Head on over to the Disney Channel Asia contest page, and submit as many correct answers throughout the week.
6] Three winners with the most correct answers will be selected each week!
7] Winners will be announced on the Disney Channel Asia contest page on the 17th, 24th and 31st of the month. They will also receive a notification call or email from Disney. YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT YOUR CABLE SUBSCRIPTION NUMBER, so make sure you qualify first before joining.
8] Each winner will get a Princess Makeover and a Photoshoot! They also get to keep the princess outfit after the shoot.

Catch the Cinderella I, Cinderella II: Dreams Come True and Cinderella III: A Twist in Time, Saturdays at 9am (Mal/Phil)) from 7-21 March. 

Encore telecast on the same day 8pm(Mal/Phil), and the following Friday 10am(Mal/Phil).

Live your dream to be a princess now*!

* For full FAQs and Terms of Conditions, visit this link.

| DISCLAIMER: This blogger is in no way connected to this contest or its organizers. This contest appears on this blog for announcement purposes only. The contest is the property of Disney Channel Asia / The Walt Disney Company (Southeast Asia) Pte LTD. The contest is open to all Disney Channel subscribers in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, but is covered by its Terms and Conditions.

#QUICKGIVEAWAY | Winners for Saved Festival Giveaway!

Had a mighty hard time accessing decent net connection, but I finally got to check the entries! I received 12 valid entries, and after entering those names on the List Randomizer over at random.org, we have our winners!

To win four (4) Patron tickets to tomorrow's Saved Festival, our winner is...

ROCHEL REYES!

Roch, I will be at the Green gate of the Smart Araneta Coliseum tomorrow. Please message me on my Facebook page so i can get your mobile number. Congratulations!

And to each win a 'Love' by Esterlyn CD from House of Praise, we have the following winners:

DANNESE MARIE RIVERA

MICHELLE MENDOZA

RICHARD MACALOS

BELLE PANGANIBAN

Guys, please drop me a message on my Facebook page as well. I need your mailing address so I can ship your CD. If you will be at the event tomorrow, let me know so I can just hand your CD to you. Congratulations!

Thank you, everyone, for joining this quick giveaway!

#QUICKGIVEAWAY | Saved Festival Tickets!

I know this is late, but yes, better late than never.

I have four (4) extra Patron tickets to tomorrow's SAVED FESTIVAL, featuring Israel Houghton, Esterlyn, Victory Worship and Francis Chan! Was supposed to run this giveaway last week, but I got sick, and had to catch up with work. Anyway, I am giving these tickets away to one winner. BUT! To make this giveaway a little bit more fun, I am throwing in four (4) extra CDs of the new Esterlyn release - LOVE.

Esterlyn's LOVE album releases in the Philippines this weekend!

Do note that this giveaway will run until 7PM. Winners will be selected at 7PM via random.org.

*EDIT: giving THESE away here. Lazy to edit on photo, hehe.

Anyway, here's how to join this quick giveaway.

1) Like this blog's Facebook Page: facebook.com/FirstWivesClubBlog.

2) Follow me on Twitter: @nappyKAYE. 

3) Share this post publicly on Facebook and/or on Twitter with the following message:

"I want to win those SAVED FESTIVAL Patron tickets!"

*Make sure you tag me (either my FB Page or Twitter handle) and THREE OF YOUR FRIENDS (they don't have to be the people you are bringing with you, in case you win).

4) Leave a comment with your name, email address, and links to your shared posts on the comments section below. This is the most important step, because I will choose winners from here. Must wait for the captcha code so your comment gets published!

That's it (pancit)! I will pick the winners via Random.org tonight at 7PM. Winners will be announced on this blog.

C'est tout! Remember, you must be able to watch in order to join this giveaway.

#LYSOLGiveaway Winner!

Sorry, this announcement  for my LysolPH Giveaway comes a day late. We are still here in the hospital. The good news is... the pedia says if RL's platelet count goes up to 170K+ normal levels (right now, it is up to 130K from 117K) by tomorrow morning's CBC, we can go home! Woohoo!

Anyway, I had Yaya J lug my laptop to the hospital the other night. Didn't get to do much work though since RL was being really needy. Personal nurse ang peg, pero dapat naman talaga diba? So yes, back to the announcement. Sorry, late!

CONGRATULATIONS TO...

MICHELLE CU-MARTINEZ

of xoxoMrsMartinez.com

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Michelle, I will send you a DM on Twitter. Send me your shipping details. Or let me know if you will be in the ABS-CBN area - you live near lang diba? And maybe we can meet up. Hehe!

Again, congratulations! Thank you to everyone who joined this giveaway hosted by LysolPH!

#HealthyHomes

| facebook.com/LysolPH

#HillsongSelfie

The thing with contests such as this one is... well, it takes a lot of effort. So before I announce the winners, I would like to thank everyone who took time to plan, shoot, post, and share their entries. I would also like to thank those who sent birthday greetings. I really am sorry if you misunderstood the mechanics of the contest, but I really, really appreciate the hard work you put into making something creative just for me.

Some of our qualified entries...

Great job, guys! And so, without further ado, let me announce the winners for the #HillsongSelfie contest! Do note that a total of 9 people came together to judge your photo entries. With much consideration for the qualifications of our sponsors, here are the selected winners...

TOP PICK

to win three (3) Hillsong United PATRON - SRO Tickets

(valid only for June 11, 2014)

Congratulations, MARC DANIEL RIVERA!

TWO (2) RUNNERS-UP

to each win three (3) Hillsong United UPPER BOX B Tickets

(valid only for June 11, 2014)

Congratulations, SARAH MAE MARIANO!

Congratulations, JOY MARIEL REGONDOLA!

And as promised, the following people will also be given Hillsong United gift packs from House of Praise for getting special mentions for the following categories:

MARC DANIEL RIVERA

MOST HILLSONG UNITED MERCHANDISE

JAYLORD RODRIGUEZ

MOST LIKED ENTRY

Thank you once again for joining this contest. You will all receive a notification email from me. To all ticket winners, see you tomorrow at Araneta Coliseum for Hillsong United's first worship night!

This contest has been sponsored by Becca Music, Inc. and House of Praise.

#WELCOMEZION

Electrolux Has A New Home!

A few weeks ago, I received an invitation to a housewarming party. Electrolux has finally moved to their new office at Bonifacio Global City! I didn't quite know what to expect, but I was excited to see what they had in store for everyone.

I took RL with me, since I couldn't leave him at home with the temp and her two sick kids. Good thing I did, because he had a great time (the folks over at Electrolux are so nice and good with kids). We were treated to a great spread of food, and were later ushered into another room for the main event.

Yay, welcome!

Thank you, this was sooo good!

Electrolux literally transformed a part of their new office to resemble a brand new, beautifully decorated house. The place was so beautiful, you wouldn't think it was all made up for that day's event.

RL loving Electrolux's new 'home'!

Can I take home your fully-equipped kitchen, pretty please?
I currently own an Electrolux Refrigerator, but I want that one!!!

Now, the little boy wanted to take this cool, front-loading washing machine home.

Enjoying the comfy seat in front of the big telly...

He quickly settled in on the couch.

We were welcomed to Electrolux's new home by their Marketing Manager, Andrea Pionilla, who introduced us to their newest campaign - Delightful-E Yummy. "Electrolux believes that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Delightful-E Yummy capitalizes on the simple yet most treasured family moments spent inside the kitchen, as well as the stories that come with it," she shared.

Andrea Pionilla, Marketing Manager of Electrolux Philippines, Inc.

I love this new campaign! The idea to create family moments in the kitchen has been the driving force behind my bento hobby, plus all those cooking, baking, and DIY activities with the kids. I have very fond memories of both my grandmothers in the kitchen, and how they each shared stories of their childhood and family history, while cooking up something special on the stove.

We were then introduced to their newest brand endorsers. Present during the bloggers launch were Janice Crisostomo-Villanueva, Mommy Mundo founder and mompreneur extraordinaire,  and Chef Bruce Lim.

I've always admired Janice and how she always seems to be on top of everything - I mean, she's a wife, a mom, a businesswoman, a boss, a blogger, a writer, an events person, an endorser... you name it, she probably has it up her sleeve. And yet, she manages to spend quality time with her kids. 

Janice sharing a bit of how she juggles life as a working mom.
And yep, Cai, your favorite DJ, Delamar, hosted the event.

Janice prepared an easy cook-in-your-oven-toaster dish she calls "Quick Bangus Belly". She aptly renamed it the "Open-faced Rellenong Bangus" as she was explaining how to cook it. I love Rellenong Bangus, but I don't appreciate the prep that goes into making it. So this recipe looked promising. Plus, I love the fact that I have the right appliance for the job - an Electrolux oven toaster!

See, pretty easy to prep!

Yes, free taste! This was Janice's "Open-faced Rellenong Bangus" Nom!

Now Chef Bruce is synonymous to kitchen god. He's been endorsing one of the food brands at work, so he has become somewhat of an icon to me. I am not surprised that Electrolux has continuously tapped into Chef Bruce's endorsing power. When he says it's top-notch, then it must be true. Seriously, he knows his kitchen. "I am proud to be working with Electrolux, a brand that puts importance to the value of family. Families need not to go out of the house to bond; even doing simple chores at home can be enjoyable when done together," he shares.

He cooked his "Creamy Adobo Penne Pasta" dish for us, sharing that he learned how to cook for himself when he was younger, and how he and his brother put together this adobo dish after school one day.

Chef Bruce recommends cooking this the easy way, using Electrolux's Induction Range.  

Let me just say, as soon as he started cooking, the room smelled like heaven! He is truly a master in the kitchen.

This was really, really, REALLY good! Mmmm...more, please!

The brand ambassadors were later asked which Electrolux appliance was their favorite. Janice chose the Electrolux Silent Blender - a gem, I tell you! Imagine, blending without all that noise! It also comes with a grinder for dry food. This is a must-buy! I am saving up for one!

Chef Bruce highly recommends the Electrolux Refrigerator. He pointed out to the one on display, and says he has the exact same one at home. And he loves it because it comes with the patented NutriLight feature that "fools" veggies and fruits into thinking they are still getting sunlight - thus, improving food preservation. I also love how he demonstrates that the door on that particular refrigerator doubles as a dry-erase panel - for notes, lists, and what-nots. This refrigerator is to-die for! I want one!

We also heard from Cheska Garcia-Kramer (and Kendra-Superstar!!!), who had to come on via video, as Kendra needed to go home and nap that afternoon.

RL was actually sad he didn't get to meet Kendra that day. Oh well, next time!

Overall, RL and I had a great time at Electrolux's new, Delightful-E Yummy home! It was a day of surprises and delightful announcements as Electrolux also kicked off their latest digital campaign with this DELIGHTFUL-E YUMMY ONLINE PHOTO CONTEST!

So easy to join and win Electrolux appliances weekly! Simply (1) capture photos of delicious dishes that remind you of home; (2) follow @ElectroluxPH on Instagram and Twitter; (3) upload your photos on these two social platforms; (4) add a catchy caption that explains why the dish reminds you of a hearty home; and finally, (5) use the hashtag #DelightfulE and tag @ElectroluxPH.

The featured weekly Electrolux appliance will be given to one lucky winner weekly.

JOIN NOW!

For more details and other news, visit Electrolux's Little White Book.



| twitter.com/ElectroluxPH
| instagram.com/ElectroluxPH

To Die with a T.

My younger brother is getting married this year. June, to be exact. I have about 2+ months to lose weight (I don't want to look like the mother of the bride no, LOL). So I've been starving myself lately, literally cutting down on food.

I tried going on the Cabbage Soup Diet last month. Alas, I actually gained because I gorged on cabbage soup all seven days. Kasalanan ko ba na I love cabbage soup? LOL! So ayun, I ended up gaining two pounds instead of losing any! Aray!

You must be wondering how I managed to eat all that soup, and why I didn't get tired having bowls and bowls of it everyday. The secret? TABASCO SAUCE!

Man, a few drops of Tabasco Red Pepper Sauce gave it the extra punch, and it was indeed delicious soup! I really, really didn't mind having it every single day.

A week after that diet, I switched to all veggies. I love salad. I love greens, carrots and tomatoes. I don't mind having it plain (no meat), kahit na minsan, feeling kambing na ako. Hahaha! Baaaa!!!

My cabbage, lettuce, arugula, carrots, tomatoes and sunflower seed salad. Nom!

And I'd add a few drops of Tabasco Sauce to the apple cider vinaigrette. Sarap! Life-saver talaga! In fairness, I lost those two pounds plus some.

Thank you, Lord, for Tabasco Sauce!

~~~ * ~~~

Ok, I know this is late, but I had tons to do last week, plus I had a bento party order early this week. Pasensya na, sorry po. Haha, here's last week's scheduled giveaway...

Yup, you guessed it. Tabasco. I knew I was going to write this piece, especially since I was heavily using this hot sauce brand during my cabbage soup week. So I thought I'd give some away.

WIN THESE! Giving away this set of Tabasco Pepper Sauce!
Garlic Pepper Sauce, Original Red Pepper Sauce, Green Pepper Sauce, and Chipotle Pepper Sauce!
(Oops, missing Habanero, oh well.) 

Original Red is the best! I love this because it is classic! Plus, look, it's FAT FREE!

Green Pepper Sauce is mild and gives just the right punch to any dish!

Garlic Pepper Sauce is my favorite! I love Garlic, and use this for steak. Mmmm...

I also love the smokey flavor of Tabasco Chipotle! This is great for burgers.

FACT: I always bring along a bottle of Tabasco Sauce in the car. We bring it with us to McDonald's, KFC and other restaurants. Once, we ate at this posh steak house (name of establishment withheld) and I cannot believe they didn't have Tabasco! Instead, they brought a bottle of some local brand of hot sauce that didn't quite taste like anything hot and peppery. I cannot (and will refuse to) use any other hot sauce brand. Only the best - Tabasco.

Anyway, you know what to do. Follow all applicable steps on Rafflecopter below. Please remember to use a valid email address when logging into the Rafflecopter app. That same email address will be used to notify you in case you win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to anyone with a valid Philippine address, and will run from today until 1159PM of Tuesday, March 18.

Bonne chance!

#WWEGiveaway Winner!

I had a very busy week, but no, I didn't forget about this giveaway. Rafflecopter drew the winner Thursday morning. I couldn't make the announcement then (nor could I display the name on the widget), because I knew I couldn't blog about it until today.

So without further ado, let me announce who won the WWE Rumblers Rampage Devastadium Set from last week's giveaway...

Congratulations, 

KIRK DAMASCO!

Kirk is actually my little brother's friend and business partner. When he was a little boy, his parents would shrink-wrap his toys and put them on display in his room. So no, he didn't get to play with his toys. So when he read about this giveaway, he joined! Funny, too, because he asked my brother and KY to help him with his entries (he knows nothing about Rafflecopter, and this is his first time to join a Rafflecopter giveaway). How cool is it that he got picked to win this?!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, Kirk! I'll send your prize to your office. Thank you for joining the giveaway! And thank you to everyone else for joining, too! 

I'm a little behind schedule for this week. Please be patient, medyo busy ang lola niyo. Hehehe.

It Never Ends!

Today, I came home to two bickering siblings. One was complaining that his sister was making faces at him (and he was whining to no end), and the other? Well, she was making sure to irk her brother, waiting to see if she could make him cry. And so the little one starts picking on his sister - kicking her, poking her, touching her things, etc. And then the sister cries (pikon din pala). It becomes a crazy cycle! Kulang nalang talaga mag-wresting sila! Kaloka!

I've written about this before. It can be very frustrating when you get involved. Today, I decided to be Spectator Momma. I let them be, and watched them 'til they got tired. Eventually, A went up to sleep. And I finally got some peace. RL's disposition immediately changed - you'd think someone switched on his happy light (if there is such a thing).

I've been told that they will outgrow this phase. And I tell you, I cannot wait 'til that day comes.

Don't get me wrong. I don't want them to grow up just yet. I just pray that the kids learn to get along. The little boy loves and adores his older sister, but A sure loves to pick on her little brother. Did I ever do that to my younger siblings? I asked my brothers and they remember how I used to exert superiority (being the older sister) when we were playing with our Lego sets. "You used to get all the nice pieces to build your village. You had mansions, tapos yung sa amin, squatter!"

Okay, okay, I get it. I was a bully, too.

Two weeks ago, I started a new reading plan on my Bible app - Parenting By Design. I have made it my mission to make sure I pray for my children everyday. There are things out of my control, but it comforts me to know that I can pray for my kids, and that God is very much in control of any situation they find themselves in.

Parenting by Design Daily Devotional.

I love the reading plan because it is a good supplement to my 365 Days Bible in One Year reading plan. Plus, the daily devotions aren't long. I can spend more time praying after. If you want to try it out, you can download the Bible app by YouVersion and search their reading plans for it.

Here's today's devotional:

Each devotional comes with a verse for you to reflect on. I love how the Bible is also a great instruction manual on parenting. I'd be lost without it!

Meanwhile, I pray my kids get out of this season of fighting soon. I am getting old playing the referee! Seriously, you should see all my gray hair. Ack!

~~~ * ~~~

As I've mentioned in my post yesterday, I've had to move this week's scheduled giveaway to next week. The sponsor had asked to move it. Timely, too, because what better thing to giveaway than this...

WWE Rumblers Rampage Devastadium Playset - retails for $25 - $30 in the US!

Yes, win this WWE Rumblers Rampage Devastadium Playset! Can't believe I'm actually giving this away. Okay, it's not an expensive gadget, but it's still a nice prize, right? Hehe. Plus, it's brand new, original and imported.

You know what to do. This week's giveaway will run until Wednesday night, next week. You must have a Philippine address to join. You must also use a valid email address, so I can notify you properly should you win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What do you do when your kids fight?