#WeightLossJourney | DIE-ING WITH A T.

I have to lose a lot of weight. My youngest brother is getting married in October, and I do not wish to look like the mother of the bride. I have been trying to eat healthy since the new year, but that's just it, I still eat, and have not really watched how much I stuff into my mouth.

Two weeks ago, I was told that a nutritionist was downstairs offering a diet plan to employees looking at losing weight. I went and got myself weighed and tested, and whaddya know?! I was _ _ pounds overweight!!! Let me leave you to imagine those double digits, but yes, I am way, way above the average and ideal.

So to jump start that diet, I signed up. We were to follow the diet plan, which consisted of two shakes to replace breakfast and lunch. Then overall consumption for the day, including the shakes, was a certain number of calories - my magic number was 1,100. Yes, poor me. :(

My 1,100 calorie meal plan.

So far, after 10 working days, I have lost 6+ pounds. That isn't so bad. Now because I have had liver problems in the past, I have weaned myself off those meal replacement shakes, and have decided to look for green smoothie recipes that more or less give the same or lower number of calories. Because I really love green juice, I have decided to just stick to it. So far, I've found three.

Recipe is from the Blendtec recipe site.

Recipe is from the Blendtec recipe site.

Recipe is from the Blendtec recipe site.

Today, as I drank my smoothie, I kept thinking of food. I am dreading the next few days as we go on a staycation for the Easter holidays. Why is it so easy to gain weight and yet so hard to lose some? I am telling you, all that shake, chicken and fish will shoot out of my ears soon! But my metabolic age is even higher than I thought it would be! So I really have no choice, lest I want to be obese in my senior years. Yes, it is sad and crazy!

But after two weeks of dieting, I feel better physically, really. I look at how flatter my stomach is, and it gives me good vibes. Next week, I will start joining my artist at the gym upstairs, if only for cardio exercises. Yes, this is really it. I need to start caring for myself.

Cheers to Die-ing with a T. Who am I kidding? LOL! Good luck to me!

#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

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

#FunFriday: Cheekoy!

I've been seeing posts about Michelle's Cheekoy, and thought I'd try it at home. I love the combination of anything sweet and salty (take M&M's Pretzel for example, of which I am an addict, LOL!). So I searched for the how-to on Michelle's blog, and cooked a batch last night.

T'was so good, A and I ate it up in a flash.

Lumpiang Tikoy and Cheese = Cheekoy! #nom!

This morning, I had my nanny make another batch. It's really, really good! I convinced everyone at the office to try making it at home with their tikoy. LOL! You should definitely try making this at home.

Cheekoy recipe here: http://www.mymomfriday.com/2011/02/mom-fridays-lumpiang-tikoy-at-keso.html

~~~

Michelle Lim is the blogger behind mymomfriday.com. She left the corporate world to take on the role of wife and hands-on mom to two kids and a rabbit.