Chicken pastel is not something I would cook every day as it has many ingredients. But as I was going through the ref and my pantry, I realized I had most of the ingredients to make it. I just had to run to the grocery for three ingredients: bell pepper, carrot, and Chorizo de Bilbao.
Before leaving, I brought the chicken out to thaw. As I was driving to the grocery, in my head, I was going “Pastel or Curry” over and over, and I decided that if I could not find the Chorizo de Bilbao, that meant that I would be making curry. I had an idea of where it could be, so I went straight to that section and immediately saw it … hanging below the Chinese Chorizo and Chorizo Macau. Decision made!
What part of the chicken should I use?
When it comes to chicken, I confess that I favor the thigh part because it is meaty and extra juicy. You can, of course, use any part or even one whole chicken. I know I saw some recipes that say to use chicken breasts, but … just between you and me … that part is dry … my least favorite part of the chicken.
Chicken fillet is also an alternative, but I find that many chicken stew-type dishes are more flavorful with the bone-in. That being said, you can most certainly use fillets … just add more flavor in with the chicken stock later.
Is substitution ok with marinades?
I say, sure, why not? Experiment! I do it all the time. I work with what I have in the kitchen. For example, I used light soy when I made this because that is what I had on hand. For the citrus, I usually use kalamansi, but since I still had half a lemon in the ref, I decided to use it rather than let it spoil.
Is there a technique for marinating chicken?
Honestly, it is the simplest thing. Just put the chicken in a large bowl, pour in the soy sauce, squeeze on the lemon juice, then give the chicken a massage. After that, just leave it alone for at least thirty minutes. Easy peasy, right?
Prep to kill time.
Some people leave the kitchen while marinating as it does take time. Me? I use that time to get all the other ingredients together and set them aside so that when I need them, I just need to scoop them into the pot. After all, there is still a lot that needs to be done.
No chicken stock? No problem. Just dissolve one chicken bouillon cube in one cup of hot water, and voila! Instant chicken stock. 🙂
wash the veggies, then set aside to dry a bit
peel and chop the garlic
peel and chop the onion
unwrap and slice the chicken franks
unwrap and slice the Chorizo de Bilbao
peel and slice the potato
peel and slice the carrot
slice the bell peppers, removing the seeds
pop the can of sliced mushrooms and drain
Slow is good.
There are quite a few recipes that call for high or medium-high heat, and that is usually how I start because I want to get the pan or pot nice and hot when I have to saute first. But once I have the meat in the pan, I usually bring it down from high to medium-high. Later, when the juices come out, I bring it down to medium-low to simmer. Cooking at too high temperatures might cook the food faster, but we miss out on the flavor and tenderness of the dish.
When cooking stews, medium-low and low heat are good once you get a good simmer. Trust me, it takes a little longer, but the results are quite gratifying.
If you don’t enjoy cooking, it may seem like a lot to do. Personally, I find cooking therapeutic and seeing (and hearing) my family enjoying what I prepared makes me happy.
1cupchicken stockYou can substitute with 1 cup hot water plus 1 Knorr chicken cube.
4pieceschicken frankssliced
1largepotatocut into wedges
1piececarrotcut into wedges
1cupall-purpose creamYou can substitute it with evaporated milk.
1red bell peppercut into 1-inch cubes
1green bell peppercut into 1-inch cubes
1cupsliced mushroomsI like to use champignons.
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preparation
Wash the chicken cut-ups and place them in a container. Pour over the soy sauce and lemon/kalamansi and mix. Let it sit for 30 minutes to marinate. Set aside.
Peel and chop the other solid ingredients. Set aside.
Cooking
In a pot, saute the garlic and onion in some oil.
When onions are softened, add in the Chorizo de Bilbao.
Add the marinated chicken and lay it out evenly at the bottom of the pan to cook evenly. Scoop the sauteed garlic, onion, and Chorizo de Bilbao on top of the chicken so that they do not overcook or burn. The goal here is to LIGHTLY BROWN the chicken, not fry it. Lower the heat slightly and cover. You will notice that the chicken will not appear fried but will produce a "soup" instead if you do this. Make sure to turn the chicken as you don't want only one side to brown.
If you have more chicken pieces than space, do them in batches. When the first batch is lightly browned on both sides, put in the remaining chicken and place the first batch on top of them. Don't forget to cover. This step should take around 5 to 10 minutes.
Add the sliced chicken franks and chicken stock. Lower the heat and let it simmer covered for 20 minutes.
Add the potato, carrot, and cream. Mix, then simmer covered for another 8 minutes.
Add the bell peppers and mushroom, mix, and cook for another 3 minutes.
Turn off the heat and just let it sit for a few minutes before serving.
Do you recall me mentioning how we usually have chicken by default here at home? It is a no-brainer, to be honest. When we can’t think of what to cook or what to order in we just go CHICKEN!
For those of you who have gotten into the habit of ordering using apps like Grab or Foodpanda, you know how expensive it can get to order food. You start off just intending to buy for yourself but then there is a minimum needed to get free delivery or discounts using vouchers. In the end, you end up spending more than you intended.
I happen to be one of those people that love to cook and often prefer to do things from scratch. I love Magnolia for coming up with the bridge between cooking from scratch and instant food. Hooray for Magnolia Chicken Timplados Fried Chicken Drumsticks!
Contents of one (1) Magnolia Chicken Timplados RTC Friend Chicken Drumsticks
The packet comes with 3 drumsticks, breading, and BBQ flavoring. This is either good enough for sharing with 1 or 2 people or, just enough for me if I eat it alone without rice.
It isn’t an instant meal like a TV dinner that you can just pop in the microwave and eat. This ready-to-cook packet is, as it says … ready to cook, so it does require some rudimentary cooking skills to come out well. I posted some directions on how to cook the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Ready-To-Cook Fried Chicken Drumsticks on Hearthandhomebuddies.com and CleanSpoonChronicle.com in case you need to know how it is done.
This package I got was not for BBQ chicken. It isn’t a saucy dish. No, it is fried chicken with BBQ powder coating it.
I love the marinade! It is flavorful but not overpowering. The breading gives that crispiness we look for in fried chicken, and the BBQ powder flavoring gives this simple dish that extra zing! I can’t finish a pack on my own but I know that my nephew and niece certainly can. It pairs perfectly with pasta!
I had my BBQ-flavored fried chicken with creamy tomato pesto with Italian sausage and mushroom. I liked it so much that I did it again the following day, lol!
If you live alone or with just one other Magnolia Chicken Timplados is something you may want to consider having in your freezer. It is ready to cook any time you are. Magnolia Chicken Timplados is available in all leading supermarkets.
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and GCash, the leading mobile wallet in the country, remind the public to be careful against so-called lottery scams.
“The modus operandi of these scams begins with victims receiving notices of winning a grand prize for a competition, lottery, or sweepstakes. Scammers will send these announcements through email, phone calls, text messages, or social media. To claim the prize, victims are asked to pay for insurance, taxes, bank fees, and courier charges. As if that wasn’t enough, the scammers also request personal financial information to verify the victim’s identity, which they exploit to initiate an account takeover,” said PNP-ACG Spokesperson, PCapt Michelle Sabino.
To avoid these scams, the PNP-ACG and GCash are providing valuable tips to the public.
It is important to carefully inspect any envelopes received from sweepstakes mailers, paying close attention to the details.
Never divulge personal information to individuals who solicit it through email, SMS, or phone calls claiming that you have won a prize.
Always take the time to read and understand the fine print in lottery or sweepstakes forms, ensuring you are aware of important information such as the start and end dates, methods of participation, and any legal disclaimers.
“By following these precautions, you can safeguard yourself against potential scammers and cybercriminals,” Sabino explained.
GCash reiterates its warning to users to never share their MPIN or OTP with anyone and to avoid clicking unknown links from websites, emails, or messaging apps.
For assistance, users can contact the PNP-ACG through their hotlines at (02) 8414-1560 or 0998-598-8116, or via email at ac*@pn*.ph.
To report scams and other fraudulent activities, users can also visit the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com, message Gigi, and type “I want to report a scam.” Customers can also reach out to the official GCash hotline at 2882 for inquiries and other concerns.
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines which is a part of the country’s leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.
GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.
A recent investigation by the National Privacy Commission (NPC) and the leading mobile wallet GCash, has led to the discovery of certain gambling sites and apps which were used for account takeovers in the recent surge of phishing scams.
Additionally, some influencers may have unknowingly promoted these gaming apps without being aware of their fraudulent nature. GCash is now cautioning its users to be extremely careful when accessing online gambling sites and apps and to avoid them altogether if possible.
In this latest scheme, perpetrators created gambling apps while falsely claiming to be accredited by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). These apps deceive users with a verification process, redirecting them to a fake GCash website or payment page to top up betting credits. From there, fraudsters were able to access sensitive information such as credit card details, passwords, GCash numbers, MPINs, OTPs, and other personal data that can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to user accounts.
Pebbles Sy, GCash CTO
“The trust and safety of our customers remain our top priority which is why we are relentless in ensuring the public is made aware of phishing scams related to online gambling. This goes hand-in-hand with our world-class security features and innovations that give our users additional layers of protection against evolving threats,” emphasizes GCash Chief Technology and Operations Officer, Pebbles Sy.
Last month, the leading mobile wallet announced its collaboration with various law enforcement agencies to further investigate a thwarted phishing attempt which was rectified by the GCash cybersecurity team on the same day they monitored the incident. GCash’s internal investigation traced the phishing link to fraudulent messages masquerading as SIM card registration.
“Our intensified collaboration with law enforcement authorities will continue to expose these scams, but we encourage everyone to join this crusade by staying informed about phishing,” adds Sy.
GCash continues to be in close cooperation with law enforcement authorities, including the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC).
GCash reiterates its warning to users never to share their MPIN or OTP with anyone and to avoid clicking on unknown links from websites, emails, or messaging apps.
For assistance, users can contact the PNP-ACG through their hotlines at (02) 8414-1560 or 0998-598-8116, or via email at ac*@pn*.ph. To report scams and other fraudulent activities, users can also visit the official GCash Help Center in the app or at help.gcash.com, message Gigi and type “I want to report a scam.” Customers can also reach out to the official GCash hotline at 2882 for inquiries and other concerns.
About GCash
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines which is a part of the country’s leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.
GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.
Even the simplest of household decisions impact how communities safeguard the environment. In line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. (PCPPI) encourages Filipinos to make more mindful choices on how valuable resources like water, energy, and oil are consumed and managed.
The exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country, PCPPI reaffirms its sustainability commitments ahead of Earth Day, which is observed worldwide on April 22. According to Frederick D. Ong, PCPPI President & CEO, adopting sustainable lifestyle habits affects people and the planet for the better. “The daily decisions we make can help reduce household waste, save expenses, and improve our well-being. Living ‘sustainably’ does not have to be complex, as we can all start with the choices we make at home,” he said.
Re-use and repurpose
plastic bottle planters photo credit to supersimple.com
It often takes a fresh perspective to see our everyday tasks differently. One of the ways to reduce household waste is through repurposing old items, like plastic water bottles which may be transformed into plant holders or vases. Used boxes can also be turned into organizers, while brown paper bags can be used as craft paper for school projects.
Meal planning
Apart from selecting healthier food options from the market or grocery, meal planning has the added benefit of consuming just the right amount of food—thereby cutting down on excess and food waste. Planning meals ahead of time also helps manage one’s budget, as well as electricity costs.
Unplug when not in use
Turning off that are not in use, using enough water to wash hands, or unplugging fully charged devices are some good practices to manage resource consumption at home. These also help maintain the health of electrical appliances, helping them run properly for longer.
Go digital, go paperless
One of the shifts accelerated during the community lockdowns was the move towards paperless transactions. Mail and bills are now accessed electronically, minimizing the need to consume paper. With further advances in technology, the possibilities are endless for how the world can help preserve and protect trees.
As PCPPI supports the practice of these sustainable practices, the organization continues to work on its own sustainability initiatives that demonstrate its long-term commitment to care and respect for the environment.
PCPPI aims to reduce the use of virgin plastic and reach 100% recyclable packaging. The company continues to expand its efforts in lightweighting and exploring alternative packaging sources. Since early 2021, PCPPI has also transitioned to renewable energy use to supply the energy requirements of its plants. Solar panels are installed in its Batangas, Cebu, and Davao manufacturing facilities.
In line with the Adopt-an-Estero Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), PCPPI has organized clean-up drives near bodies of water in the communities where it operates. PCPPI has adopted key waterways across the country, including those in San Fernando, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, Cebu, and Zamboanga. Partnerships with agencies like the Laguna Lake Development Authority allow PCPPI to regularly meet with other community stakeholders on how to best address environmental concerns and develop innovative ways to protect local ecosystems.
PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country. It distributes well-loved brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Premier. For more information about PCPPI and its products, please visit www.pepsiphilippines.com.
Oral care is an essential aspect of overall health and well-being. Maintaining healthy oral hygiene not only ensures fresh breath and a beautiful smile, but also plays a critical role in preventing gum disease, tooth decay, and other oral health issues. This is where Luster, the leading teeth whitening kit brand in the Philippines, comes in.
Luster’s teeth whitening kit consists of 4 gel pens that contain carbamide peroxide, which helps produce the chemical that makes teeth whitening possible. The LED mouthpiece further enhances the process by speeding up the whitening process, so you can achieve the best results in as early as 7 days. While teeth whitening is an excellent way to enhance the appearance of your teeth, maintaining healthy oral hygiene is just as important.
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping your teeth and gums clean to prevent dental problems, such as cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Here are some tips to maintain healthy oral hygiene:
Brush Twice a Day using Luster Foam Toothpaste
Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste is crucial for removing plaque and preventing tooth decay. Brush for at least two minutes and use a circular motion to reach all surfaces of your teeth.
Floss Daily using Luster Charcoal Floss
Flossing removes food particles and plaque from between your teeth and under the gumline, where a toothbrush can’t reach. Floss daily to prevent gum disease and keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Use Luster PAP+ Mouthwash
Mouthwash can help kill bacteria that cause bad breath and prevent gum disease. Choose an alcohol-free mouthwash and use it after brushing and flossing.
Limit Sugary and Acidic Foods
Sugary and acidic foods can erode tooth enamel and increase the risk of cavities. Limit your consumption of these foods and drink plenty of water to rinse away any harmful acids.
By incorporating these oral hygiene practices into your daily routine, you can prevent dental problems and maintain a healthy and confident smile. Luster’s teeth whitening kit is an excellent addition to your oral care routine, giving you the extra boost you need for a brighter and more confident smile.
In conclusion, oral hygiene is essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Incorporating Luster’s teeth whitening kit into your oral care routine can enhance the appearance of your smile, giving you the confidence to take on the world. Remember to brush, floss, use mouthwash, and limit sugary and acidic foods to maintain healthy oral hygiene. Try Luster’s teeth whitening kit today and achieve a healthy and confident smile!
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines which is a part of the country’s leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.
GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Finance App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1,600 partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6M partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.), the first and only duacorn in the Philippines which is a part of the country’s leading digital solutions platform, Globe Group.
Apart from selecting healthier food options from the market or grocery, meal planning has the added benefit of consuming just the right amount of food—thereby cutting down on excess and food waste. Planning meals ahead of time also helps manage one’s budget, as well as electricity costs.
Turning off that are not in use, using enough water to wash hands, or unplugging fully charged devices are some good practices to manage resource consumption at home. These also help maintain the health of electrical appliances, helping them run properly for longer.
PCPPI is the exclusive manufacturer of PepsiCo beverages in the country. It distributes well-loved brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mirinda, Mug, Gatorade, Sting, Tropicana, Lipton Iced Tea, Milkis, Chum Churum Soonhari, and Premier. For more information about PCPPI and its products, please visit www.pepsiphilippines.com.
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