Hainanese Chicken Recipe

It was in my  first visit to Singapore in 2007 that i was officially introduced to this hainanese   chicken delight.  Back in Daly City they call it  "white chicken with ginger sauce" , it is was my favorite take out food from a meat  store then,   were we call the owner "Pangyao" for he is a Cantonese.

So, although it's most popular in Singapore, this also of Southeast Asia origin. 

I started cooking this recipe after my  children liked this hainanese chicken very much when we had a vacation in Singapore in 2010.  Can you just imagine, they ate a meal of  hainanese  chicken every single day of our 8 day trip! 

It's a little tedious to do at first , the trick here is to prepare all ingredients beforehand and then you can multi-task preparing everything for this wonderful dish. 

This recipe is for 6-8 servings. cooking time is about 1 hour.

Ingredients:

1pc chicken or leg quaters ( 1.2 kg. or approx. 3lbs)

150g  ginger

100g spring onion or onion leaks

100g cilantro/coriander

4-5 pieces of lemon grass

2 pcs med size cucumber

200g  lettuce

8 cloves garlic minced

2tbsp  chicken stock or powder (optional)

500g jasmine rice
pandan leaves

   sugar

      coarse salt

    sesame oil

     light soy

      chili sauce

Procedure: 

1.

 In a stockpot bring to a boil about 3 liters of water.

 While waiting for it to boil. coarsely chop  70g ginger

 and smash it. add this to the stockpot together with 

70g onion spring or leaks , 70g cilantro 2, 5-6pcs of

lemon grass, 2 tbsp chicken powder, 1 tbsp coarse salt. 

2.

 Clean the chicken of small hairs and feathers by

 rubbing it off with a coarse salt. Take the fat off and set aside.

3. Fry the chicken fat until oil renders, add  8 cloves garlic,  20g onion, and 20g sliced ginger continue to fry  until fragrant. Separate the  fragrant oil  and set aside. Pour the fried ingredients in the stockpot to add as poaching ingredient. 

4. When the stock boils, add in the chicken, make sure the whole or all chicken are submerge.

Poach for 20 mins if the chicken is from room temperature and 30 mins if the chicken is chilled. Start the timer once  the stock starts to  boil again,  lower down the flame to a simmering level.

5. While waiting for the chicken to cook, prepare  the ginger sauce, the sprinkling sauce and the garnish.

 For the ginger dip; mince 60g ginger, 20g onion spring and 20g cilantro, add in olive oil and a dash of salt.

For the sprinkling sauce; stir together 3tbsp fragrant oil, 2tbsp sesame oil, 2tbsp sugar, 3tbsp soy sauce and 100ml poaching stock.

For the garnish peel and slice the cucumber, wash the lettuce.

6. Before the end of poaching time, prepare a basin with ice and water in it. Dip the chicken once done and wait 5 minutes before taking it out, this step will stop the cooking and will firm up the chicken meat. 

Wash  rice cook, in rice cooker with equal amount of  poaching stock, 20g of sliced ginger , 1tbsp sugar and pandan leaves

 7. Rub the chicken  with sesame oil and chop according to desired portion.

8. Plate  with rice, garnish and sprinkling sauce.

 Serve with dipping sauces, Enjoy!

If you want to add or suggest ways to improve this recipe, you're most welcome, feel free to post comment below. Thanks!

Char Kuey Teow Recipe

I first tasted this  popular Malaysian  rice noodle  recipe  at then Garden Café, the former coffee shop of Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, and since then, it has been one of my favorite rice  
noodle recipe .My  Uncle  Angel   who is a Sous Chef at that place taught me how to cook this  Southeast Asian origin rice noodle recipe  . It's very similar to  Hongkong's popular street hawker food "Char Siew rice noodles " which my kids also loves to eat when in Hongkong. 

It's  not complicated to cook this rice noodle recipe , you can add  different kinds of  seafoods, pork, chinese  sausage as you like or just stick with the basic pork,  chicken, shrimp and egg which what I  did for this recipe.

The method of cooking this rice noodle recipe is “stir fry” so you have to set the flame of your stove into high.  Heat the wok and stir ingredients one by one rapidly over a high heat.

Ingredients:

 for chili Paste:
(you can use a ready made chili paste if  you have one)

3-5  small red chilies
3 small shallots diced
1 teaspoon oil
A pinch of salt

for sauce mix :

(blend all ingredients together)
1/2 cup  soy sauce
1tbsp oyster sauce
1tbsp thai fish sauce

4 tbsp sugar
dash of white pepper

400 grams rice noodles cooked according to package direction

                                                          

10-12 pcs white shrimp shelled 

                                             

                                                      
                                                               100 grams chicken  strips

100 grams pork strip 

2 eggs scrambled and fried

5 small shallots chopped

1/2 cup chopped chives

3 tbsp garlic minced

1 cup bean sprout

Procedure:

Mince or chop the  chili and shallots and saute until soft.

 Set aside.

Heat the  wok   over high flame until  you see  smoke  evaporates from  it.  Add 2 tablespoons oil  then stir  in half of   chopped garlic, and shallots.

Add in  half of  the pork, stir for about 20-30  seconds  and  then add  in  half of the chicken and  half of the  shrimp. Stir until the prawn starts to turn orange 

Add half of  the bean sprouts

pour in 1/4 of  the sauce mix  and  1/2  chives  

 follow  on   half  portion of the cooked rice noodles add 1/2 tsp chili paste or
 more according to your taste 

add another  1/4  of  the sauce mix  and stir  well until  everything  blends together. 
 Add in half of the scrambled egg and stir again.

dish out, add spring onions and  serve !

Repeat  the procedure to cook the other half of this rice noodle recipe.

Fitness for women 40 and up

with Trainer Jay, Mdm. Linda Diwa and  Dra. Zoida Jandoc-Hernandez   

My goal is to comfortably slow down at work , afford to  travel more and  enjoy life more by the time
I turn 50.  I wanted  to see the world , at least before I turned 60.

And just like what my co- aspiring digirati, Grace Mendoza Talens  wrote, I want my mid-life to be

a transition, be able to celebrate it and be fabulous at 50 rather than be depressed about it.

Who doesn’t want to be fabulous at 50... I guess, every woman does right?

But do you know that our metabolism slows down significantly at age 40? 

At this age our hormones  changes, muscle mass  also start to decrease by 10 percent every

decade. 

Thus; it is not enough for us  women in our forties to just eat a balance diet, sleep 6-8 hours a day and

take supplements.  It is very valuable that we adopt a regular  weight-training  in conjuction with a 
cardiovascular excercise.

  

Benefits

Regular weight training combined with cardiovascular excercise  will develop a strong muscles. It

will not  only makes us feel and look good, it will help combat low energy, mood swings and  insomia,   it  will also result to increased bone density and metabolism, and  lower risk of health condition that can develop after menopause, like heart disease or osteoporosis.... It short overall health and beauty....
In short fabulous self! 

with my Coach Rommel 

How  to start and keep going

Think about it as something must do, an investment for your health, convince yourself to commit to
 regularly do it. 

It is best to enroll in a gym that is convenient with you and hire a trainer to help you until are 
comfortable doing your own program.

Do not sweat alone, it is more fun to have friends to work out with and relate to.

Home Buying Guide for Start-up Families

Most of the time, it is more tempting to just continue to rent. It will be a tough decision resolve  to buy a house  because there will be a lot of sacrifices and expenses that we’ll be facing. When you buy a house, you’ll be entering in a big legal and financial commitment. 

Nowadays, buying a real estate is like marriage, although you can get rid of your spouse, if it’s really a wrong decision to marry him/her, it will not be easy to do.  It cannot be done in a snap of a finger without incurring a big loss. A flawed decision could cost you several pains and hundreds of sleepless nights. Imagine yourself struggling just to raise money for the monthly amortization which can last for about 5 years or even 20-30 years! There is a very little room for error in  buying a home.

Therefore it is best that we take into consideration the process that should happen from the time that we decide to buy a home until the time we actually have the home.

1. Type of home that will suit your needs 

You have to determine what type of home suits your needs. You’ll be choosing from several options: a traditional single-family home, a townhouse, a condo, or a multi-family building with two to four units. They have their own advantages and disadvantages. Does a condo lifestyle suits you and your family? Is buying a townhouse the right choice for you and your kids?  Think about it. You have to be satisfied with its features, fixtures and location. You should always consider your neighborhood size all the way up to the living room design and room layout.

2. Setting the price range

 It is important that, before you proceed in choosing a home, you have to get an idea of how much a lender will be willing to give you in order for you to purchase the property. You may visit banks and lending institution and inquire for a home loan amount and interest you can qualify for.  Banks and other lending institutions will apply certain criteria to determine how much loan you can have considering your monthly income, the debt that you have and your job stability.  The terms, interest and fees varies. It is good to compare them side by side to really see which one could be of best advantage for you.  It is good to get a pre-approval for an amount you can loan and the interest so you’ll have an idea of the price range of home you can afford.

3. Home Shopping

You need to do a lot of research before buying a home. You should build a comparison of its kind, level, location-wise and affordability.  Say for example, you’re working in Makati and you can afford to buy a 5-6 million Philippine peso home. From that point of view, you can probably look at a mid-end condominium in Makati, a two bedroom townhouse in Quezon City or a Single detached house and lot in a subdivision somewhere in the South suburbs of Makati.

Compare each type and kind of home based on location. Do not forget to think through your goals and needs.  (See my blog: Location is major considerationin buying a home).

4. Due Diligence

Due diligence involves among others checking  the  authenticity of the Title and  its transfer history. You should verify the lot measurements, building conformity, worthiness, and permits. You should also be aware of the taxes paid, authority of the sellers and so on and forth depending  on the situation, before making your offer.

If you are buying a condominium from  developers like Ayala , SMDC  or DMCI who are really reputable , maybe not as much- but it is still an abosolute must that you do  a Due Diligence on the property.  Always bear in mind the saying  in the law  CAVEAT EMPTOR!  or “ buyers beware”. It is best that you are assisted by a reputable and  Professional  licensed real estate broker for a more reliable decision-making and approach.

5. Home Appraisal

This is an important step if you are buying from a private individual ,before you make an offer. It will give you  not only an idea of the price  but also the factors affecting the price of the property.  It can be a basis to evaluate if the property will have a good appreciation in the future.

6. Negotiation and Closing

If  you will reach this stage,  it means that all terms are correct and fair. In this case, you are truly decided and strong-minded that you can afford the house. The house meets your needs and goals. You can also rely and depend on the documents and situation of the property. Without having these in mind, there is no use to go through this stage.

Negotiation means you and the seller just have to fine tune , meet halfway about certain things like price, documentation, mode of payment  or few  other concerns. Considering that you have done all the process closing should be a breeze. It should just involve signing of documents with all agreed  terms and conditions in  it and implementing payment  procedure .

Photo Credit: ATI Properties

Photo Credit: Articles 88

Photo Credit: Charles Francis

Photo Credit: Siam Legal

Location is a Major Consideration in Buying a House

Most of the time, we opt to buy a house because of its fixtures and durability. Sometimes, we also look for a clean environment, harmonious neighborhood and classy style of a home. It all depends on our preferences and capacity to own one. But there is something we should look at and take into high consideration.

House in Caloocan

My husband and I both grew up in Caloocan. My parents used to own a House and Lot in Caloocan. It is located in an old subdivision called Morning Breeze. It is near Manila Central University and Hospital, a short walk to groceries and public market, few steps away from commercial establishments and last but not the least, accessible to all kinds of public transportation. With all these in mind, I can probably say that it is a good location.

Acquired House in Quezon City

Amidst all the persuasive and convincing features and settings, we decided not to buy that house in Caloocan City. Instead, we put our investment and bought a house and lot in Quezon City. We considered that house and lot in Quezon City because of these three factors:

1. Location- in terms of conveniences we need to do our business and to raise our children. We've chosen a place that is near to our workplace, our children’s school and accessible for a weekend getaway or family time.

2. Location - in terms of property value, we chose a smaller house and lot in Quezon City even if we could buy bigger house and lot in Caloocan City for the same price. Our house and lot in Quezon City has a better neighborhood and vicinity. Besides, our subdivision is secured and safeguarded. 

3. Location- in terms of investment potential, we chose our house in Quezon City because it is in a subdivision and next to a number of upper class subdivision. We applied the real estate’s principle of progression which states that the value of under-improved property in a high value neighborhood is perceived higher than its actual cost.

When buying a house, we should always know its pitfalls and downsides. You might get a big house, affordable and convenient but is the location acceptable? Will you find fulfillment ad satisfaction in the location of your house in the long run? Let’s always stretch our minds. Let us always think the long-term effects of our own decisions because we are highly responsible in every move we make.

Photo Credit: http://houseandlotsaleinthephilippines.net/

You Don’t Need to Buy a House

“Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbour he is making for, no wind is the right wind.”  - Seneca

I always hear the words “pride of ownership”. I know its meaning and I know how it feels. For me, it is a distinct feeling of achievement combined with sense of security and freedom. It would be a great self-satisfaction for those people who have the capacity to pay the monthly amortization or have that strong purchasing power. On the other side of the story, they might end up burdened instead of being proud of what they have if they will push through with the project w/o the capacity of owning it. Yes. “Pride of ownership” can also be a “big burden” for some instances.

I can say to you, if my only goal as a licensed real estate broker is to sell, I would say of course that it’s always good to buy a house. A house is a basic need. It will give you the pride of ownership. It is an achievemt that will be appreciated in time and so on and so forth.

However, there are certain situations where it is not yet compelling or advisable to buy a house just like the following:

1. If Your Marriage is on the Rocks

It will be nice to own a condominium in Makati City. However, it is not wise to buy if you are not sure if you and your partner are going to stay together at least until you’re paid off with the property. Also, it is not worthwhile to invest your savings and effort if neither of you can’t afford to pay the obligation alone. It might cause a constraint because if you part ways, you might face a foreclosure problem later on if amortization for your condominium in Makati is not paid and hanging.

2. If You Don’t Have a Stable Job

It might be a good idea to buy a home like a condominium in Makati City   if you’re paying in cash or someone is paying for you, or  if in case you’ll lose your current job, you can get a better or at least equally good job  to  sustain payments for your condominium in Makati. Of course if you will be out of job, you will prioritize  groceries, and  transportation  allowance over amortization for that condominium in Makati, the result could be a huge debt for you. 

3. If You Are New in the Area

If for example you are from Bacolod and you just moved in Makati, it would be better to just rent a unit first and then buy a property/house, if that will be your objective eventually. It takes time to build an equity enough to retain money when you sell as you have to pay 6% capital and 3% or more for real estate broker’s commission.

4. If You Relocate Almost Every Year

If your job requires that you relocate almost every year or if it’s in your personality to switch to different environment every now and then , it is not wise to buy a house as you cannot easily sell a house at a drop of a hat. You can buy a house though but it might be a big loss for you.

The choice of buying your new house is really in your hands now.

We really need right timing and extensive decision-making before owning a house.

Photo Credit: Marriage Problem

Photo Credit:  Expatica

Photo Credit: Vandaclean

Photo Credit: Home Search

A mid-range condominium in Pasig for workaholic individuals

I was lurking at facebook last thursday  night when I recieve a messenger message from my friend and former colleague at Edsa Shangri-la Hotel, Rey.  Rey is working in Canada  and he messaged me to confirm  that I'm  a licensed real estate broker, he was happy  and relieved to know that I'am because he wanted to have somebody he knows well to help him with his condominium for sale in Pasig.

Rey love his condominuin in Pasig because of it's resort type theme "So much like Edsa Shangri-la", he said.  According to him it is also very accessible to Ortigas Center area. He just wanted to sell it because he  is now based in Canada. We agreed that he will arrange with  somebody to show me the unit this week, so I checked first what that condomium in Pasig or One Oasis Ortgias offers.

Sharing with you what my  initial  search revealed :   

1. "The development is already complete"

   This are the layout of studio and  2BR unit and  standard  specifications,

2. " Urban amenities  are within  5-6  kilometers away "

As they say, ease of life and convenience awaits at One Oasis Ortigas. Below is the full list of the nearby Hospitals, schools and commercial areas.

3. "Full blast features and amenities on board the development "

Apparently, more than 60% of the community is dedicated to indoor and outdoor recreational activities. It has a Multipurpose clubhouse, Fitness gym, Entertainment area, Activity area, Adult and kiddie pools 

Tree park, Basketball court, Jogging path and Grand entrance. All of these apparently  are co-owned by the unit owners and they have the full access to these amenities.

4." Looks like a  good  value for  money"

As they claim, "this mid-rise condominium in Pasig" is a welcome contrast from the noise and pollution of the city".  This community is  modern, secured and equipped with standard facilities. It is aslo positioned as mid-range condominium in Pasig.

It is seems like it is really a thriving community in the midst of busy streets and workaholic individuals.

Source: Filinvest One Oasis Ortigas

4 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Condominium

Reasons why I loved living in a condominium? Well, it’s more convenient, economical and just a hop and skip away from the Supermarket, Restaurants, Schools, Malls and Hardware. Most of the condominiums nowadays are structured in an urban area where facilities and conveniences are just around the vicinity and always within your reach.

I just remembered how my husband and I decided to move in a condominium in Quezon City when my eldest child was 10, my baby girl was 9 and my youngest son was 4. It was so functional and well-designed. It has two small bedrooms with laundry cum maid’s room. I liked the ambiance and look of the interior and exterior design of that condominiun in Quezon City. We managed to live for fourtheen months  with just one all-around helper  considering that the children were still young back then. I also had that experience of having minimal electric bills because that condominium in Quezon City has a just an efficient space..

Once you’re a unit owner,  you’ll also have the rights to use the amenities and services like
Swimming pool, Gym, Mini-resto, Hall and the playground area. We don’t need to go out of town just to relax because most of the time, we spend our weekends in these highly-equipped and accessible facilities in Quezon City.

When you have visitors or guests, there are options of whether you’ll let them inside your unit or just accommodate them in the lobby. Security guards are very watchful and alert. You can find them at the lobby, securing the whole area. They will call you if in case you’ll have a visitor and will let you know beforehand so that no one can go up without any permission coming from you. Surely, you’ll love the privacy and security in a condominium.

To sum it up, it was a practical and very economical years for us.

There are lots of perks in living in a   condominium. However, there are four important things you have to understand before owning a condominium.

1.      Your proof of ownership will be a Condominium Certificate of Title or CCT

The moment you buy a townhouse in Quezon City or House and Lot in Bulacan, you will have the  absolute right over the property   ( the inside and the outside area as long as it’s in the bounds of the lot stated in the TCT and an airspace). You’ll also be given the Transfer Certificate Title of TCT as proof of ownership. On the other hand, Condominium only gives you the ownership of the unit that you purchased ( only the inside of the unit ).

2.      Condominium project has an enabling act or Master Deed

Before a developer can put up a condominium on a parcel of land, a Master Deed has to be annotated to the TCT of the lot. It usually contains information about the lot and purpose of the project.  I think, what matters most is your awareness and understanding about your rights as a “unit owner” to the use of the common areas of the condominium project and the rules stipulated through declaration of restrictions. There are also times that a declaration of restriction is a separate document from the master deed. Take time to read and understand it before you make that reservation fee.

3.      Every condominium project has a Condominium Corporation

The condominium corporation holds the “Title” to the common areas which is also co-owned by all other unit owners. Therefore, a unit owner is also considered as a stockholder to a condominium corporation. A majority vote in the condominium corporation can impart certain changes in the condominium project as long as it will not be contradicting with the Master Deed or the enabling act. Very often, the condominium corporation also manages the condominium project.

4.      Your ownership of the condominium unit is co-existent with the life of the Building

A building usually has an economic life of 50 years. Once a building becomes uneconomical and obsolete and more than 50% interest in the corporation opposed repair or renovation of the building, the building can be condemned, and what would be left will be  is only your interest in the lot as a co-owner similar with other unit owners.

Generally, a condominium is a good choice for a home because of its convenience and affordability. If chosen wisely, it can be a good investment for a family or young adult and professionals who want to start putting in their money for their future. Most of us think that condo ownership is just for the beginners and young professionals. Nevertheless, owning a condo for life is so common as this will be suitable for many families nowadays.

Is owning a condo good for you? Make sure that the condominium lifestyle is a perfect fit for you. 

Photo Credit:Land Mark
Photo Credit: To Condominiums
Photo Credit: SBLCFBC