Some Good Duru Bulgur from The Goodwill Market

Going to the market is a little arduous these days but I had to do it during the most difficult times in our lives, the pandemic. One of the few discoveries I've had during that time was a welcome treat, it's called Bulgur. It is cracked wheat grain that's known to be more nutritious than white rice. It's got twice more fiber content which makes it also better for diabetics (like me) who want to control our blood sugar levels.

I've had the chance to eat this quite a lot in hotels but it wasn't that conveniently available in Philippine markets. I also don't know how to cook it other than just mixing veggies and protein (and a bouillon cube on some occasion). It's very filling and satisfying, plus it tastes great. I was wondering what other recipes could be cooked with it, but here goes the good people from The Goodwill Market showing me how it's done. 

In Ilocos, there's a very little known noodle dish called Pansit Lusay. I'm quite familiar with it as I've spend quite a while in the region. The Goodwill Market is sharing this recipe with Bulgur to show how easy it is to make dishes out of it.

 Here are the ingredients:

1 cup of Duru Bulgur (Coarse Bulgur)
½ cup of tomatoes chopeed and seeds taken out
½ cup of onions thinly sliced
1 can Tuna
2-4 tbsp Bagoong Ilocano
Pinch of Black pepper
Salt to taste

Put Duru Bulgur in a rice cooker and wash it first. Cook til it gets fluffy or according to package instructions. Take it out of cooker and scrape with fork onto a tray then put in the fridge to chill. In another container, put tomatoes and onions together, drain the tuna from the can and mix together. Combine it with the Bulgur and treat this like a cold salad. Pour Bagoong Ilocano, salt and pepper to taste. 

This is certainly full of vitamins, minerals, Omega 3, and is an excellent alternative to rice, noodles or pasta. Think about the things you could do with this in soups, salads, Filipino or international dishes that would usually include rice or noodles, using Duru Bulgur was really an eye opener for me and it's been something that I add to any dish if I want to make it a little more healthy. Plus even if you put a little, it's already filling. Plus it can be sent to your home via The Goodwill Market. You can visit their website at https://goodwill.market/. They also have different healthy organic products you should try if you're into healthy stuff. They also have cleaning products, some for the skin, even coffee for those who are choosy. You don't have to travel to other countries to get it, it's all at The Goodwill Market.

 Don't take my word for it, you got to try if it fits your taste!

 

Gloomy Weather: Try MAS Soup Sarap Instant Soup

You've been lazy, you've been doing nothing since this morning because it's so gloomy outside and it's about to rain. I know how that feels because today is EXACTLY like that weather. Now what to actually prepare if YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T COOK. Well, might I suggest a cup of hot, steamy soup? You don't even have to chop things, you don't have to go to the market, you just take out a sachet or two of these lovely MAS Soup Sarap Instant Soup and boil some water. Put the powder in your cup and pour the boiling hot water in it, stir and enjoy!

That's just the start. Now do you have those days when you don't have anything prepared for lunch and dinner, just FRIED things? I don't mind fried chicken, fried fish, fried anything, but we often get gagged with it and rice because most of our dishes are dry. You're perfect solution is soup and with the ones out there in the market, it's going to be pretty expensive sometimes, but this one is affordable and you could get one packet for one person. Put it in a bowl and stir with boiling water, et voila! You've got the perfect thing to start the meal, you've got something to accompany it too because you could put it on white rice and enjoy lunch or dinner even more!

Mom's favorite is the MAS Soup Sarap Instant Soup Seafood Flavor. She loves the bits of shrimp and mushrooms that are in it. It definitely is rich and creamy, but without losing that fresh seafood flavor. I would compare it to that popular brand of noodle, but thicker and less the price. Now why didn't people thought (ghetto) about this? 

My personal favorite is the Mas Soup Sarap Instant Soup Chicken and Corn Flavor. I often cook this manually and get grated corn with chicken or crab and that takes me an hour to finish. This one could very well replace that whole process. Now there may be a little aftertaste but make sure you mix it well so you don't have lumps on you soup. Don't also just go for warm water, make sure it's boiling hot so the powder completely dissolves in it. This Chicken and Corn soup is comforting, I could imagine myself sitting beside the window while it's raining outside and I could just curl up with a book or write a novel or two.

Your whole family would love something like this. It doesn't come in a can, it's not expensive either. It's creamy, earthy and has got mushroom bits on it. You can mix it with white rice and have it as a viand without any worries. I like it. It's super good!

Now don't take my word for it. Go to your nearest groceries, leading supermarkets and convenience stores to get your hands on these lovely MAS Soup Sarap Instant Soup varieties. Now those gloomy or rainy afternoons won't feel bad at all because you have this to look forward to. Make it a hot habit and mix it with veggies, pasta, and you could actually still enjoy this. Now wait a minute, did you know this only costs Php 8.00? UNBELIEVABLE! Now head on to http://www.masfoods.com.ph/ to get to know more about this and their other products. I've enjoyed their coffee too!

Melts In Your Mouth Crispy Pata at Livestock Restaurant ⚫ Bar

We've been looking at great restaurants recently and we've stumbled upon a protein rich one right here in the heart of Quezon City. Located at the sweet street of Sgt. Esguerra is this huge establishment called Livestock Restaurant and Bar. It's beside Packo's Grill and a stones throw away from Wil Tower catering mostly to nearby offices who would want to spend great lunch or dinner or something else after office hours. We've looked at the menu and I'm surprised to see that they've got meaty specials and great pork dishes that can rival the best in the metro. I'll tell you a little more about that later, let's look around first shall we?

The Interiors

The term Livestock instantly would imply a more western vibe to it but the look of the restaurant was more of a relaxed, medium scale sports bar with emphasis on the great selection of wines and spirits that you'll see right from the moment you enter its doors.

They've got ample amount of parking so you don't have to go and leave your car out on the street if you have issues with that. The selections of drinks as you see wouldn't be a problem because most of their offerings are laid out on the counter. You can ask your friendly server what you may want to be served but remember that they have good wine here that would go perfectly with the dishes you'll see later. You can bring your friends along on big sports events because they'll probably have them shown on those wide screen HD TV's they have around the restaurant.