I grew up in Nueva Ecija, the Rice Granary of the Philippines, where rice cakes of all sorts were part of my daily living. They were being sold on wet markets or peddled on streets. They were considered common that when I started living here in the Metro, even though I could buy from reputable bakeshops and some supermarkets to satisfy my craving, I still couldn't taste their authenticity. 

Above all the rice cakes that I love, Suman sa Lihiya is my number one favorite. It's soaked glutinous rice treated with lye and mixed with coconut milk, wrapped in banana leaves which is boiled for at least two hours. It's served with Latik, a sweet sauce with a mixture of coconut milk and Muscovado Sugar, and topped with Budbod (dried coconut pulp). It's not easy to find it here and I have no time making it due to my very hectic schedule.. I only have a chance to taste it when friends give it as pasalubong and it happens rarely. I miss eating it always. 

Not until I discovered the branch of Senyor Juan Suman Latik near our home.

Working late and now craving for @senyorjuan.ph #sumanlatik or #sumansalihiya... . Have you tried #senyorjuansumanlatik? It brings back my childhood memories eating my most favorite rice cake! Yummy! . #allaroundpinaymama #aapmfavorites #certifiedsuki #filipinofoodmovement #pinoyfood #ricecakeph #foodie #foodporn #foodgasm #instafood #foodblogger #momblogger #mommybloggersphilippines #tastethehistory

A post shared by Gng. SJ Valdez (@allaroundpinaymama) on May 20, 2017 at 12:28pm PDT

It was love at first bite when I tasted its one piece Original Suman Latik a.k.a. Senyorito (Php35.00). It's closest to the flavor of my favorite Suman sa Lihiya  and  on that moment, I knew that Mom and Paps would love it too so I bought a box of three pieces, Senyorita (Php95.00), as pasalubong. I was right, They liked it so much. From then on, whenever there are special occasions like reunions or small gatherings, Mom always brings Senyor (Box of 12- Php375.00) or Senyora (Box of 6- Php188.00) as her pot lock contribution. Senyor Juan never fails to delight anybody's appetite, the old or the young ones alike. It has the taste of history that can be passed on through generations.

Just recently, I had a chance to taste not just my favorite Original Suman Latik but also five Senyor Juan's Espesyal and Fried Suman Latik Flavors. 

Brace yourself because the photos that I am going to show you are drooling! Believe me, they all taste so good! Here they are:

Espesyal Ube Macapuno Suman Latik

(Php69.00)

One piece Suman topped with Latik, Ube, and Macapuno

Espesyal Leche Flan Suman Latik

(Php69.00)

One piece Suman topped with Latik, Leche Flan, and roasted peanuts

Espesyal Mangga Suman Latik

(Php69.00)

One piece Suman topped with Latik, ripe mangoes, and roasted peanuts

Fried Suman Latik Cheese

(Php75.00)

One piece fried Suman topped with Latik and grated cheddar cheese

Fried Suman Latik Chocolate

(Php75.00)

One piece fried Suman topped with Latik, chocolate bars and sprinkles

Among the flavors that I tasted, my favorites were Espesyal Ube Macapuno Suman Latik and Fried Suman Latik Cheese. I shared them with my family and they were all amazed with the explosion of flavors inside their mouths, truly a one of a kind tasting experience. Paps loved Espesyal Mangga Suman Latik while Mom liked Espesyal Ube Macapuno Suman Latik but she told me that she liked the Original Suman Latik more. Kuya said that Fried Suman Latik Chocolate was his first choice that obviously, I thought that he would like. 

These Suman Latik were best paired with Gourmet Hot (Php35.00), Cold Barako Coffee (Php45.00),  or Choco Tablea (Php99.00). 

Although there were Mangosteen-Dalandan (Php45.00) or the award-winning Dalandan Honey Juice (Php35.00) available, I preferred drinking them as is while chilled! They were definitely great natural thirst quenchers. 

Apart from serving great-tasting Suman Latik variants and natural drinks, I can attest that Senyor Juan Suman Latik follows a strict food handling protocols and good customer relations which I have observed on my visit in its SM Mall of Asia Branch.



Miss Katrina, the staff who was in charge knew how to keep her stall clean and she prepared my food properly. She was great in suggestive selling and client relations. No customer left without ordering or dining in.


Senyor Juan's tagline impresses me, "This business is owned by God, managed by Senyor Juan." Senyor Juan Suman Latik walks its talk. I, as a loyal customer for months, feel happy and satisfied whenever I purchase or dine in.

I highly recommend Senyor Juan Suman Latik . We can have #TheTasteOfHistory without breaking our pockets. You may visit any of its branch near you.

You may find Senyor Juan Suman Latik  on Facebook, Google+, and Instagram. You may also visit www.senyorjuan.ph for more details.

But of course, Paps reminded me again this morning that we should practice celebrating Mother's Day so that the kids would appreciate celebrating occasions even if they would be very simple. It could also be a venue to create good family memories with a dash of something special which honestly I didn't have much while growing up. I have already mentioned in one of my blog posts why but anyway, I don't want to spoil the day. It's mother's day and it's my day. Paps cooked one of his specialties but this time, used Sugar Blend instead of brown or white sugar.

Here it is:

Ingredients

1 kilo Del Monte or Dole sweet style spaghetti sauce 

1 head garlic, minced

2 medium red onions, minced

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

3/4 kilo ground pork

2 big carrots, grated

2 tablespoons minced coriander (optional)

165g bar Eden Cheese, grated

1/4 kilo tomato, halved

400g  Jolly button mushrooms

1 kilo spaghetti, cooked al dente 

dash of McCormick dried basil and oregano

Sugar Blend, measurement depends on your taste preference

water 

salt, optional 

 

Procedure

 1. Boil meat together with onion, coriander (optional), and pepper  until oil comes out. Fry until light brown.

2. Saute meat with garlic and mushrooms.

3. Add in carrots, halved tomatoes, and water until ingredients are slightly submerged. Stir occasionally while cooking in medium fire.

4.  Once it's cooked, put spaghetti sauce, grated cheese, dried basil, dried oregano, and sugar. Let it simmer. To adjust the taste depending on your preference, add Sugar Blend or salt.  

   

Paps doesn't mince the tomatoes always to preserve their juices. Both of us love eating them chunky while we press and mash them before serving the spaghetti to our kids. 

Instead of approximately five tablespoons of brown or white sugar, Paps put 2 1/2 tablespoons of Sugar Blend only. That would mean that he only used 1/2 the amount of sugar that was equivalent to 50% less calories! Yay!

Sugar Blend makes our healthy beverages and dishes even healthier. To know more about Sugar Blend, I have already shared it together with my Quick and Easy Sugar Blend Polvoron Recipe that my kids like so much too.

Happy mother's day to all amazing mom's out there! Let's cherish every moment with our family and be thankful to have the best vocation in the world despite the pains and challenges that go with it. Let's also keep in mind that our painful childhood memories in any way should not affect negatively the manner we raise our kids.  Enjoy your day! Love, love...

Chinese dishes are my most favorite next to Filipino dishes. Their colors, textures, and flavors are so enticing and literally burst in my mouth. Whenever our family and loved-ones celebrate special occasions, we opt to reserve in our favorite Chinese restaurant because we are always sure that our guests would truly be satisfied and the compliments that we get are truly heartwarming.

My kids and husband can't say no to Chinese food like I do. For a cook like me who is fond of preparing quick and easy dishes due to my very busy schedule, my reliable source in giving me suggestions in finding easy Chinese recipes is my best friend Google (Moms, I know that you can relate. LOL!). I would search for the easiest and quickest recipes and of course, it also takes time to find the right ones and I would always end up cooking the dishes that I know--- Pancit, Lumpiang Shanghai, Yang Chow Fried Rice, Egg Drop Soup, and Siomai (using ready made wanton wrapper). Seriously, nakasasawa na and I also would always say to myself, "Sana mayroon namang iba."

Google search for this matter is finally over at the moment because now I have with me a copy of Easy Chinese Recipes --- Family Favorites from Dim Sum to Kung Pao by by Bee Yinn Low. It has over 70 great-tasting recipes to keep us covered when we crave for Chinese dishes- from appetizers; soups; dim sum and dumplings; beef, pork, poultry, seafood, vegetables, tofu, and egg dishes; noodles and rice; desserts; and drinks that are so easy to prepare and I guarantee that are so delicious.

How did Bee Yinn Low come up with this cookbook?

As mentioned in the book's preface, Bee Yinn Low grew up in a Chinese household in Malaysia. She watched her mother cook as she was growing up but wasn't allowed to help that much. After a few years as a working woman in California, her love for Chinese food kept her determined to replicate the unforgettable flavors that she tasted during her youth despite having limited time in the kitchen. She did her best to develop her own versions of her favorite dishes using the readily available ingredients in local supermarkets. She experimented, read, and tasted until her passion became an expertise. Thereafter, her meals became well-loved by her friends and loved ones that prompted her to share her love of Asian Cuisine through her blog, RasaMalaysia.com. Moreover, this website has become the internet's most popular Asian food site.

When I started reading this cookbook, I immediately felt the author's generosity in sharing her skills. All the contents were written and explained in a very simple manner, supported with detailed and enticing photographs that even people who still haven't experienced cooking or find it difficult to cook could follow.

Due to so much excitement, Paps, who is better and expert in the kitchen, cooked Sweet and Sour Chicken based on the Sweet and Sour Fish found on page 102. Wow! It tasted so good that he decided to cook it again the following day!

If I will be subjected to Marshmallow Test, I think I'll fail. Nah! Just kidding! This EASY CHINESE RECIPES, FAMILY FAVORITES from DIM SUM to KUNG PAO book by BEE YINN LOW from @tuttlepublishing is a winner! I can't help but share this ASAP before my scheduled review about it because hubby and I are so glad to have this in our cookbook collection! . . Last night, Paps @type2cell cooked Sweet and Sour Chicken based on the Sweet and Sour Fish recipe on page 102. It tasted so authentic but so easy to do. . . There are over a hundred authentic quick and easy to prepare Chinese recipes to try. Aside from that, the author developed versions of her favorite Chinese dishes that had all the taste but were a lot less work! Amazing! . . It's a must-have for cooking enthusiasts. Two thumbs up! . . #allaroundpinaymama #aapmfavorites #bibliophile #tuttlepublishing #BeeYinnLow #bookstagram #book #spotmyfood #chinesefood #yummyph #huffposttaste #buzzfoodfeed #wimyummy #momswhoblogph #mommybloggersphilippines #certifiedbloggers #momblogger #foodblogger #7september2016 #igersmanila #makeitblissful

A post shared by SJ Valdez (@allaroundpinaymama) on Sep 6, 2016 at 11:24pm PDT

Bee Yinn Low would like her readers to nail Chinese cooking by first giving basic cooking techniques and tips, basic tools in utensils, and understanding Chinese ingredients. She even included the basics on how to cook steamed rice, make sauces, condiments, and dipping condiments that would compliment the recipes in the book. The content on this part of the book that our family enjoyed the most was how to make homemade dumpling wrappers from scratch (page 31). Our kids were giggling while doing this maybe because it was truly fun and amazing!


Lumpiang Shanghai is a dish that Kuya and Loley love so much. Knowing how to wrap and cook them properly (page 65) makes him love it more. This shows that even kids can follow Binn Yin Low's recipes and replicating her creations here at home make our palates and tummies satisfied at the same time creating wonderful bonding moments while cooking and eating them with the family.

It's Grandparent's Day here in the #Philippines that's why we've cooked Loley's favorite Lumpiang Shanghai for lunch. @beeyinnlow's Spring Roll wrapping technique found on her book, EASY CHINESE RECIPES from @tuttlepublishing makes cooking Lumpia hassle-free! See the photo to know how. . . #allroundpinaymama #aapmfavorites #aapmreviews #aapmcollaboration #lumpia #springrolls #cookingtips #spotmyfood #foodie #chinesefood #momblogger #foodblogger #mommybloggersphilippines

A post shared by SJ Valdez (@allaroundpinaymama) on Sep 10, 2016 at 11:07pm PDT