by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 4, 2021 | Business
Cleanway Environmental Management Solutions, Inc. (CEMSI) North Plant has been awarded ISO 45001:2018 certification in recognition of its occupational health and safety management. Priority is always given to the safeguarding of health and safety protocols in the workplace. Such prerequisites are imperative in the production, logistics, and systems at work especially when handling, treating, and disposing of hazardous industrial and medical wastes in this time of the pandemic.
ISO 45001:2018 Certified
This certification focuses on a preventive program requiring intensive employee protection and collaboration from the management team. The ISO 45001:2018 offers amendment in the High-Level Structure (HLS) through its standardization of structure, definition, and terminologies thereby facilitating simplified integration into other management systems like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. It has an increased focus on the context of the organization and its risk recognition. More so, wider recognition of individuals covers not just permanent employees but also subcontractors and suppliers.
While the legal and regulatory compliance guidelines address all phases of the PDC cycle, the certification further requires greater involvement and commitment from the top management team. This ensures that health and safety is part of the company’s integral strategic planning.
“CEMSI takes pride in its commitment to the international standards in handling and treating hazardous waste. Our certification for ISO 45001 is a testament to a greater effort to fulfill our mission for the people who take care of the environment. This builds more confidence among our partners as we take health and safety standards to a higher level,” said Jose Exiquel Esguerra, Managing Director.
“ISO 45001 is a set of standards developed to guide the company towards a goal of curbing unsafe practices within the workplace. Having it is both an honor and responsibility. The certification increases awareness of all aspects of health and safety which is timely in this time of the pandemic. We show to our clients and to other stakeholders that the business is safe at all times with a heart and concern for its employees and partners,” said Antonio Celajes, Regional Operations Head for Luzon under the Operations Division.
Cleanway Environmental Management Solutions, Inc. (CEMSI) is the country’s first fully-integrated hazardous waste treatment plant for industrial and biomedical wastes. It opened its first plant in Silang, Cavite in 2004 followed by its southern Philippines facility operating in Leyte Industrial Development Estate (LIDE) in Isabel, Leyte. Recently, the northern plant operations opened in 2019 with a treatment facility in Capas, Tarlac. CEMSI holds certification on ISO 9001:2015 for the quality management systems and ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management systems.
For inquiries, send us a message at in**@**********om.ph or at +63 (917) 830-3023.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 29, 2021 | Health Tips
As Work-From-Home (WFH) becomes the new normal, the realities of performing work and home functions simultaneously may feel like a never-ending cycle. While everyone is trying their best to get a knack for winning in this situation, managing this new lifestyle stressor is not easy for all women, and coping might even be more difficult for working moms.
Pressures build up over time and if unaddressed, it can result in chronic stress that may also affect your blood health. If you notice yourself experiencing symptoms of prolonged fatigue, lack of energy, and lack of motivation, it is time to reassess your lifestyle as you may be experiencing a case of iron deficiency anemia.
Healthy blood leads to a healthier immune system
Ang Dugo Mo, Kamusta? — is the question that Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+) wants every Filipino to have for themselves and their loved ones. Iron Deficiency Anemia is a common case in Filipino women and those with chronic medical conditions. And most of those who have it have learned to function despite experiencing its symptoms.
When the body has iron deficiency anemia, it is unable to produce healthy red blood cells which store and carry oxygen to the other parts of the body. The risk of not addressing this condition may take a toll on the immune system and the body can be more susceptible to illnesses and infections
Small lifestyle changes to boost your blood health and immunity
Incorporating small healthy changes into your current WFH situation can help improve your blood health. Here are three easy ways to add to your daily schedule to fight iron deficiency anemia and keep your immunity healthy.
Perform quick 12-minute exercise routines daily
There are plenty of workout routines available online that you can complete in under 15 minutes. But if you still find those taxing, just keep in mind that the goal is to have your heart rate up a little, so think of it as working out efficiently by exerting the right amount of effort.
This can be as basic as going up and down the stairs, jumping rope, or even just walking around the house for 12 minutes. If you want more intensity, you can try high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with short but intense bursts of activity with short break periods.
Moderate exercise routines when done daily can boost your immunity. Plus, it also helps boost your energy for the day.
Help your body fight off iron deficiency anemia with Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+)
Proper diet and nutrition help keep the body healthy. Going for nutritious meals over processed ones and choosing food rich in iron like red meat, beans, dark green leafy vegetables to add to your diet can benefit your body positively. But for those who are running on hectic daily schedules, monitoring a balanced diet might be a hard commitment to make.
Taking multivitamins daily can help the body get the nutrients and minerals it needs when your food intake won’t be able to provide them.
Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+) is an iron supplement with vitamins and minerals that helps replenish iron stores and increases red blood cell levels in the body.
It has ferrous gluconate, a type of iron salt that allows better absorption of iron in the body, Folic acid, and vitamin B12 which are vital for the production of red blood cells and during pregnancy. It also contains Vitamin C which helps improve iron absorption, and copper sulfate and manganese sulfate that helps in the metabolic processes of blood cell production.
Get quality sleep
Sleep is vital to having a strong immune system and while everyone is aware of this, not all are keeping close tabs on their sleeping routines. The National Sleep Foundation released sleep-quality recommendations, which include:
- being able to fall asleep in 30 minutes or less,
- waking up for five minutes or longer not more than once a night, you fall back asleep within 20 minutes, and
- are asleep 85% of the time you spend in bed.
If you’re guilty of not meeting these recommendations, try to change up the way you get ready for bed.
- Create a healthy sleep routine by going to bed and waking up at the same time daily to train your body and mind on a schedule.
- Free yourself from your phone or tablet at least one hour before bedtime so your brain won’t be stimulated.
- Establish a relaxing bedtime routine like reading a book, meditation, or drinking tea to put you into a state of calm.
Consider these small lifestyle changes an investment in your health. When you maintain healthy blood, it keeps you less vulnerable to getting illnesses and infections. Taking Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+) helps regulate your blood iron, so you won’t have to worry about experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.
If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 26, 2021 | Lifestyle
Leveraging the available digital tools and platforms to bridge their services to more Filipinos, mostly those that are in the far-flung areas, PCSO, in partnership with Minedomain, Inc., is set to launch ‘Birthday Panalo,’ a free and easy-to-use application with an entertaining game which will allow Filipinos to celebrate important dates in their lives, like anniversaries and birthdays, with exciting cash prizes.
Made for Filipinos, by Filipinos
Designed with Filipinos in mind, the Birthday Panalo app banks on the deep-rooted culture of Pinoys in putting value in commemorating special dates like birthdays and anniversaries.
Seavor Choy
While millennials are the main audience targeted with the launch of the app, Seaver Choy, Minedomain Inc. IT officer shared that ease of use is one of the main factors their team considered in developing Birthday Panalo to make it enjoyable for users across various age groups.
“We want the millennials to love this game so we went for what millennials want most — ease of use. We only put in the necessary elements for users to be able to do what they need to do fast and immediately,” he said.
“We focused on the user experience when we were developing by having iterating designs that had constant user feedback. Birthday Panalo has gone through multiple design changes based on different user feedback across different groups,” Choy added.
The core group which made and designed the Birthday Panalo app was an all-Filipino team composed of professionals from the country’s top universities including De La Salle University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, and the University of the East.
“Birthday Panalo app was built with resilience and celebrations in mind. We made it fun and easy to bet but still overly secure,” Choy furthered, assuring users that the personal data and information they input within the Birthday Panalo app are protected according to industry standards.
Choy noted that the Birthday Panalo app has been tested by local and international cybersecurity companies like GLI, Bolton Labs, and Mantua, among others, to ensure that the app has the needed safety measures in place to avoid leakage of user data.
“Internally, we are also certified when it comes to how we operate and how we maintain the application,” Choy said.
Celebrations made even more rewarding
Within the app which carries design elements signifying Filipinos, ‘Kapanalo’ or users of the app can place a bet on a three-part number combination consisting of a month, a day, and a year. If the same combination gets to be picked during daily draws, a user can win as much as P100,000 as a cash prize.
After downloading the app, users can easily sign up using either their mobile phone or email address verified through a one-time password (OTP) sent by the app. Once done with the registration process, users can proceed to participate in draws for as low as 10 pesos which they can pay via mobile wallets like GCash and PayMaya. Winners of lucky date combinations which will be notified via the Birthday Panalo app may claim their prizes at the PCSO main branch in Mandaluyong City, or have them credited on their respective mobile wallets.
The Birthday Panalo app will soon be available for free download via the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Kapanalo from all over the Philippines can also look forward to playing the Birthday Panalo game in select PCSO outlets nationwide in the coming months.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 25, 2021 | Bon Appetit
Purefoods Ready to Eat variants
Purefoods Ready to Eat Viands has 9 different variants and I decided to start with something easy … Pork Humba. For those who are unfamiliar with Pork Humba, it is a sweet and savory dish. This (in my opinion) makes it a perfect filling for siopao, as it will be reminiscent of Pork Asado.
Siopao (sometimes called steamed dumplings) is best known as a Chinese snack, often served with noodle soup.
It’s as easy as 1-2-3
Purefoods Ready to Eat Viands: Pork Humba
Purefoods Ready to Eat Viands are truly easy to serve. it only takes less than 10 minutes to feed our family.
- Take your selected Purefoods Ready to Eat viand from the freezer.
- Thaw it out in the chiller or drainboard.
- Open the package and pour its contents into a pan and heat for 8 to 10 minutes.
It’s that easy! Usually served with hot rice. 🙂
This was the recipe provided by HomefoodiePH and Purefoods for Humba Pao:
Ingredients:
- 1 pack Purefoods Ready to Eat
- 6 pieces store-bought cua pao, reheated to package instructions
- 6 tbsp. chopped peanuts
- 3 tbsp. coriander (wansoy) leaves
Instructions:
- Slice humba into 1/4 inch thick slices. Reheat in a pan with the sauce.
- Assemble by placing a few slices of humba in the pao and drizzling with humba sauce. Serve with peanuts and coriander.
That recipe makes 6 servings.
What I ended up doing
I didn’t have any cua pao and I didn’t want to have to go to the grocery just to buy some. But I did have the ingredients to make siopao buns, so that is what I did. This is the recipe that I used.
Siopao bun
This is the recipe for making just the buns without the filling. You can fill the buns with any kind of food really. It could be savory, or sweet, or both!
Prep Time1 hour hr 32 minutes mins
Cook Time25 minutes mins
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: bread, bun, siopao
Servings: 12
Author: Penny Angeles-Tan
mixing bowl
measuring spoons and cup
Rolling Pin
rolling mat or board
steamer
- 1 cup warm water
- 2 tsp dry instant yeast
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 tbsp oil use a neutral oil
- 1 kalamansi (juice only)
- a little more flour for dusting when kneading
Prepping
Combine the water, yeast, 2 tbsp. sugar, and salt and mix. Make sure that the milk is not too hot or the yeast will die. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. You will know the yeast is alive and ready if it bubbles up.
In a mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder, remaining sugar, oil, and kalamansi.
Pour the yeast mixture into the flour mixture and mix until fully blended. Knead until it turns into a dough that is smooth and not sticky.
Cover the bowl with a clean cloth and set it aside for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
Assembling the pao
After an hour, take the dough out of the bowl and put it on your rolling mat or board and knead it a little more then roll it into a log and divide it into 12 equal (or as equal as you can make them) parts, and set them aside on a tray or mat without touching each other. You can roll them into balls for easier handling later. Cover with a cloth until you need them and let them rest for 30 minutes. The dough will rise even more.
Take one part and knead it and make a ball. Dust it with flour and flatten it with your palm then roll it into a flat disk (circle) making sure the center is thicker than the sides as the middle will hold the filling.
Place 1 to 2 spoons of the filling in the middle of the disk and then gently lift the edges to the middle in folds and then pinch and twist.
Take a small piece of baking paper (or waxed paper) and put the bun on it. This will prevent the filling from leaking out. Place the assembled bun on a plate or tray until you will cook it.
Repeat from step 2 of "assembling the pao" for the remaining dough balls.
It's time to steam
Place your steamer on the stove. Make sure there is water underneath or it won't steam. 🙂 Turn it on and wait a few minutes before putting the buns in
In the steaming tray place enough buns without touching. Keep in mind that the buns will still expand. It is likely that not all the buns will fit in one layer so you will need to either put another layer or just cook a second or third batch. Steam your buns for 20 minutes then turn off the stove and let the buns sit in the steamer for another 5 minutes before removing them.
Notes
- You can fill these buns with anything you want. Keep in mind, it is really just bread. 🙂
- If you are cooking more than one layer of the buns, keep in mind that they will not cook the same because one layer will be hotter than the other. In my experience, the buns at the bottom "blossom" better than the ones on the upper layers.
This recipe is based on research from 2 or 3 recipe sites and I adjusted based on my available ingredients and the amount of effort I was willing to put into it. 😀 This is loosely based on the pita recipe I followed last time but instead of grilling the bread, I steamed it. This is the first time that I made this so while I got it to cook and taste the way it should, I couldn’t get the right technique to pinch it closed consistently, hehe. The next time I make this I will most likely fold the buns into cua pao instead of siopao. 😀
How does the Pork Humba taste?
The Pork Humba ready to eat viand tasted just like pork humba should … savory and sweet at the same time. The meat was just the right level of softness and was anything but tough or dry.
I will confess that instead of thawing it in the chiller or drainboard, I decided to put it in the pot frozen and thaw it gently on the stove in low heat.
I also decided to cut it up with scissors in the pot, instead of cutting it on the board with a knife. This was because I didn’t want to waste any of the sauce.
I didn’t get to use all the humba when I made the paos so what was left I set aside I intend to eat tomorrow for lunch. 🙂
Feedback from the fam
Purefoods Ready to Eat Viands: Pork Humba
They loved it! They loved the flavor of the humba and the combination with the siopao bun (phew!) Now I have one more new recipe to add to my repertoire. Thanks for the assist, Purefoods! And thank you, HomefoodiePH for the recipe suggestion. <3
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 24, 2021 | Food & Beverage
The concept of ready to eat meals is not new to us, another name for it is “frozen dinners”. The difference, I suppose is that while most frozen dinners as we see them in foreign movies are full meals made for one person alone, Purefoods Ready to Eat meals are made for families.
But this is also a reflection of how Filipinos enjoy sharing meals with family or friends. I know of very few Filipinos who cook full meals for just one person. We always tend to cook so much that we are eating the same thing for an additional meal or two. 😀
Purefoods Ready to Eat variants
Purefoods Ready to Eat variants
At present, there are a total of nine (9) variants … each one a standard Filipino dish and (as the packaging says) it has already been slow-cooked to give us, the consumers, the softest, juiciest, most delicious viands in minutes what would usually take us so much time to prepare … because “love takes time”.
I was able to get every variant (except the beef caldereta which I just photoshopped in the picture above to complete the set) and I will try to cook and review each one every day. In our house, there are quite a few people so I have to really think about what I will cook every day and how to stretch it, given how expensive meat and vegetables are.
Also, I am quite handy in the kitchen so I will quite likely do more than just put these babies in the pan, heat, and serve. 🙂 Watch out for what I cook up in the coming days.
Purefoods Ready to Eat viands are available at http://themall.sanmiguelfoods.com and at some supermarkets and groceries. Prices vary depending on the viand you purchase.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 24, 2021 | Health and Wellness
2020 has revealed a lot of things that most people haven’t given much attention to before. It’s crazy how from one year you never knew you’ve been embarrassing yourself in front of people by just scratching your scalp repeatedly because of scalp itch and dandruff. Now, we have a name for this – itch-uations. How does it feel to finally be in terms with the fact that you’ve been having itch-uations even before it was a thing? Embarrassing, right?
That one time you were on a video conference call to present and all eyes were on you. Remember that last meeting with your crush? Oh, and that meetup that you recently did with your friends.
Do you know what those moments all had in common? You were scratching your scalp, subtly yet it’s still noticeable. Itch Nakakahiya!
But it’s time to forget all those awkward itch-uations. Leave them all behind and look forward to big moments without the itch. Because you can free yourself from itch with every use of Head & Shoulders!
As the world’s #1 shampoo, Head & Shoulders products are clinically proven to help fight and protect the scalp against scalp germs that cause dandruff. Formulated with active ingredients to fight the causes of dandruff and itch, and with continuous use, you can be sure that dandruff is not going to turn up anytime soon. You’re sure to start 2021 dandruff-free, itch-free, and free from the subtle yet long-lasting embarrassment of itch-uations.
And now it’s time to embrace your past itch-uations because you’re not alone in this fight against dandruff and itch. Here’s a much-needed push for motivation! Let’s hear it from the many people who’ve dealt with itch-uations just like you, and their promises for a cleaner, dandruff, and itch-free scalp.
Cole shared that his scalp went through a lot last 2020 — awkward brushing, dandruff problems, and on top of that finding the right shampoo was also a struggle. But, lo and behold, Head and Shoulders came to her scalp’s rescue which made her commit to dandruff-free and clean hair.
Check more of these scalp defining moments and testimonials in the comments section of the Head & Shoulders Philippines Facebook and Instagram posts.
Here’s a shocker — itch-uations are actually very common, and you’re not the only one dealing with them. So, stop letting your past haunt you because Head & Shoulders got your scalp covered and to save you from the embarrassment of possible itch-uations. Here’s to dandruff and itch-free new year with every use of Head & Shoulders!
Don’t let your scalp waiting, checkout Head & Shoulders now via Lazada or Shopee.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 23, 2021 | Bon Appetit
Someone once asked me if we (the family) have considered going vegan and I told them that my family will eat anything I prepare (so they say) so it often depends on what I end up cooking.
Lately, I’ve been trying out different ways to cook tofu, as those of you who follow my blog can tell. 😀 My latest attempt is a dish I like to call Tofu ala Bistek. Bistek is the Filipino word for Beef Steak. The process is not quite the same but the end result is.
Tofu ala Bistek is best served with warm rice. Enjoy!
Notes:
- Cutting up the tofu into strips was my choice because I wanted to make sure the marinade would really seep in and I wanted it to look like meat slices.
- Using pancake syrup adds that little bit of sweetness the dish needs but you could try using sugar or honey, I suppose. Feel free to experiment!
- You can marinate the tofu for less than an hour, of course, but note that it will be more flavorful the longer you keep it in the marinade.
- I wouldn’t suggest marinating it overnight as the tofu might crumble or become too salty. I cannot be sure of this, of course, as I have never done that myself. 😀
Tofu ala Bistek
A new take on a Filipino standard.
Prep Time1 hour hr
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese, Filipino
Keyword: filipino, tofu, vegan
Servings: 4
Calories: 142kcal
Author: Penny Angeles-Tan
- 500 grams firm tofu
- 1/3 cup light soy
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 4 tsp pancake syrup
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced or grated
- 1 onion, sliced into rings
- oil for frying You want to use a neutral oil like vegetable oil
Prepping
Place some paper towels on a cutting board and put the tofu on top of it and cover with another paper towel. If you have a cast-iron pan or any heavy pan, place the pan on top of the paper-covered tofu and just let it sit. The weight of the pan will press out the excess water while you work on the marinade.
In a bowl combine light soy, rice vinegar, syrup, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Mix and set aside.
Remove the heavy pan from on top of the tofu and remove the paper towels. You will notice that the towels are now wet from the water that was pressed out of the tofu.
Slice the tofu into thin slices (not too thin or it will just crumble!) and arrange them flat on a shallow dish or tray and pour the marinade on top. Cover and set aside for up to an hour. If you are like me and you tend to forget if the waiting time is long then cover the dish/tray and put it in the ref while it is marinating.
Time to cook
Place your skillet or shallow pan (a wok would also do nicely!) on the stove and heat it.
Place oil in the pan and once hot enough place the marinated tofu (only) flat and leave it alone to brown for a few minutes. Don't get tempted to move it around or the tofu might crumble. Allow it to brown and set. Do not throw away the marinade as you will need it later.
After a few minutes and the bottom is browned, gently flip each piece and brown that side, too. You can tell that the tofu is ready to flip when it starts to shrink a little and look puffy like a pillow.
When both sides are browned, take your sliced onion and scatter the rings on top. Pour the marinade over everything and cover for about a minute.
Your dish is now ready to be served and eaten. 🙂
If you try this recipe, please make sure to tag me on social media @slvrdlphn with the hashtag #slvrdlphnrecipes. Let me know, too, if you come up with a tweak that would make this dish different but still delicious!
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 20, 2021 | Health and Wellness
On days when life gets in the way, it is easy to lose track of yourself. Even when it is frustrating, choosing the easy way out of situations can feel like the best decision when you’re stuck with no options. But even if life throws you a curveball, you’re still able to get back on track — stronger than before. And if you can put your best foot forward again to face the new normal in 2021, your hair definitely can too!
Pantene’s newest digital video empowers women to toughen up by starting stronger and get that extra boost of confidence by taking care of themselves.
It features familiar scenario women can definitely relate to — those times when you feel like you’re losing yourself to a point that even your hair looks like it gave up. Split ends start to pop out and the damage is apparent, and you’re so tempted to take a literal shortcut by chopping off your locks.
Pantene Long Hair Solutions Total Damage Care Shampoo
Now cutting hair short isn’t the only solution to hair damage, you can look forward to stronger days ahead with the new Pantene Long Hair Solutions Total Damage Care Shampoo. It has Pro V with Japanese Rice Oil Essence, specially created for long hair needs to protect your hair from having split ends and prevent hair damage even before it happens.
Rice Oil Essence has 50x Anti Damage Benefit, so you can say goodbye to hair damage and split ends even before it happens. Pantene’s latest video brings the message of empowerment reaching and encouraging numerous Filipinas to keep growing their hair out, here are some tidbits from Filipinas who are now committed to stop with the short cuts and grow their hair long in 2021
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 11, 2021 | Health and Wellness
What happens to your performance and immunity when you are iron-deficient?
Productive people have one thing in common, they ward off feelings of constant exhaustion and drowsiness thinking these are just the result of their hectic lifestyles. They carry on with day-to-day activities even when they experience the inability to focus and perform and not realizing that this might be a symptom of Iron Deficiency Anemia.
Iron deficiency anemia happens when your blood has a lower amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin than normal.
This can cause you to feel weak, tired, dizzy, look pale, and experience headaches. People with chronic medical conditions, women in the reproductive age group, and those who experience heavy menstrual bleeding are most vulnerable to having anemia. While those who are not able to maintain a healthy lifestyle are also at risk.
How to Prevent Iron Deficiency Anemia?
The people who have a higher risk to have iron deficiency anemia are women in the reproductive age group and those who experience heavy menstrual bleeding; athletes in endurance sports and high-altitude training that require the body with more red blood cells; and those with pre-existing chronic diseases.
A change in diet and nutrition comes as the first step. This can include choosing food with high iron content like poultry, meat, and seafood. Eating food rich in Vitamin C like fruits and dark green leafy vegetables can help enhance iron absorption.
For people with erratic schedules, managing a diet can pose a challenge. Taking Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+) can help keep iron deficiency anemia away as it helps the body get the nutrients and minerals it needs.
Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+) is an iron supplement with vitamins and minerals that helps replenish iron stores and increase red blood cell levels in the body. It has ferrous gluconate, a type of iron salt that has better absorption in the body, Folic acid, and vitamin B12, which are vital for the production of red blood cells.
It also contains Vitamin C which helps improve iron absorption, and Copper sulfate and manganese sulfate that helps in the metabolic processes of blood cell production.
How iron sufficiency plays a part in maintaining strong immunity
Micronutrients have an important role in regulating immune function, metabolism, and enzymes. Iron is an essential micronutrient that is needed by enzymes to help maintain body immunity which can help protect the body against infection.
There are certain enzymes in white blood cells that are affected by the iron levels in the body. So, when Iron is deficient, the levels of enzymes in white blood cells are also reduced, and this can affect the body’s ability to fight off infections.
When you live an action-packed lifestyle, even when you’re just working from home but juggling multiple responsibilities, do not ignore the constant feeling of exhaustion. Fulfilling your daily intake of Iron can help support your body as you go through your daily activities.
Maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet, practicing various exercises, and taking Multivitamins + Minerals (Sangobion IRON+) which acts as an iron supplement, can help manage symptoms or prevent Iron Deficiency Anemia. If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
ASC REFERENCE CODE: P083P010821SS
References:
- “Iron-Deficiency Anemia.” National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/iron-deficiency-anemia.
- ‘Iron Deficiency Anemia A Key Problem For Schools And Employers’ Calgary Herald, https://calgaryherald.com/health/diet-fitness/iron-deficiency-anemia-a-key-problem-for-schools-and-employers
- “About-Sangobion.” Sangobion, https://www.sangobion.sg/about-sangobion.
- “Anemia Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3929-anemia/prevention
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 8, 2021 | Bon Appetit
As I get older I find that I tend to lean more towards healthier dishes … in part for better health, but mostly because the price of meat has skyrocketed! While I am wont to enjoy vegetable dishes sadly the rest of my family are not so inclined. I don’t want to trick them with veggie meat (mom already tried it and didn’t like it) so the next best thing for my carnivorous family … tofu!
In the past, I’ve made tofu steak, stir-fried tofu with eggplant and mushroom, etc. But often I find that if not for the tonkatsu sauce or oyster sauce to top off the dishes, the tofu would be bland. This led me on a search for tasty tofu dishes.
How this dish evolved
Whenever I try new dishes at home I usually like to work with ingredients that I have on hand rather than wait until I could run to the grocery to get the additional ingredients I need. This usually means that I go through a lot of recipes in recipe books I have here at home and online to find the one that suits my needs the best.
One such dish is this garlic pepper tofu. One frustrating thing about tofu is how in most recipes, no matter how flavorful the sauce is, the tofu itself is always bland. So I searched and searched and searched until I found this recipe for salt and pepper tofu on thewoksoflife.com which I then modified based on what ingredients I had on hand and made it more garlicky than salty.
What’s in my pantry
Obviously, I had most of the ingredients from the original recipe. I just cut out the chilies which add spice and color to the dish because, well, it was New Year’s Eve and I didn’t want to go to the grocery again. Plus, I was already elbow-deep in cooking other dishes at the same time.
I just wanted to highlight a few ingredients …
Sesame oil is readily available in most groceries. The one I used here is a Korean brand (I think) because that was the last one I bought at Robinson’s Easymart down the street. Popular brands of sesame oil are Lee Kum Kee and Good Life.
Cooking wine might be a little more difficult to find but is readily available at Hi-Top Supermart. In case you weren’t aware of it yet, the price of most grocery items is less expensive in Hi-Top than in any other grocery. Cooking wine comes in red and white. For tofu, I personally think white cooking wine is a better choice but if what you have is red, go ahead and try it.
Now, if you don’t have cooking wine but you do have regular wine, I say have at it! 😀 It just means that your food will have a stronger wine flavor. As for rice wine vinegar, no, you cannot use that as a substitute for cooking wine. It will make your food more acidic.
Weber Roasted Garlic & Herb Seasoning was something we purchased at a whim at S&R which we use for seasoning meat when we are in the mood to grill. But who says that’s the only time we could use it, right? Fair warning, though, this seasoning is a bit pricey at P350 per bottle.
Most of my spices are from McCormick as that is the most readily available brand here. My dream is to one day have a spice rack filled with every spice imaginable. 😀 Other than McCormick, I also get some special seasonings from Badia and Weber which I get from Landers and S&R respectively.
What really caught my attention is how Bill (the author of the post on thewoksoflife) managed to infuse the tofu with flavor so that is what I did my best to imitate as well. This dish turned out so well that I was not able to take a picture of it before the horde could attack it, lol! I hope you enjoy this recipe! Do let me know how it turns out when you try making it yourself.
Garlic Pepper Tofu
This dish is proof that vegetarian dishes can be exciting! And zesty!
Prep Time2 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Cook Time10 minutes mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese, Vegan
Keyword: tofu, vegan, vegetarian
Servings: 4
Calories: 239kcal
Author: Penny Angeles-Tan
Brining
- 1 block firm tofu
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/2 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp white cooking wine
Seasoning and dredging
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp ground white pepper
- 1/4 tsp cracked pepper
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 to 3 tbsp corn starch
Cooking
- oil
- 5 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground white pepper
- 1/4 tsp cracked pepper
- 1 tsp Weber roasted garlic and herb seasoning or Badia garlic pepper seasoning this is, of course, optional, but personally, I like the extra zest and crunch. In lieu of that, you may replace it with more garlic and cracked pepper. 🙂
To get some flavor in the tofu, the first step is to brine
Make sure to slice your firm tofu into bite-sized cubes, which is approximately half an inch.
Combine the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sugar, and warm water in a shallow bowl and mix.
Place the sliced tofu in the same bowl and mix it gently so that each piece of tofu is coated in the brine, not just the bottom. Cover the bowl and let it sit for 1 to 2 hours.
After 1 to 2 hours place a strainer over a bowl and pour the tofu gently to drain and let it stand for 5 minutes
In another bowl, combine the sesame oil and cooking wine and mix. Pour the drained tofu in the mix and gently mix to coat.
We dredge to get that crispy outer coating
Combine the salt, white pepper, cracked pepper, flour, and cornstarch. Sprinkle over the tofu soaked in sesame oil and wine and use a spoon to turn the tofu so that all of them are coated. You can also give the bowl a gentle shake or two (or three) making sure not to crumble the tofu. The combination of ingredients will create a white paste that is meant to coat every single piece of tofu.If you think the batter is too wet or if you want your tofu to be crispier, go ahead and add a little more cornstarch.
It's time to get cookin'!
Mix the salt, white pepper, cracked pepper, and optional seasoning and set aside.
Place oil in your wok and heat up for around 30 seconds on low heat only. DON'T GET TEMPTED TO RAISE THE FLAME/TEMPERATURE! That comes later.
Put in the chopped garlic and move it around the pan to cook evenly. If the heat is low, it should not burn. Cook it until it is light golden brown. Voila! Crispy garlic!
Use either a slotted spoon or a fine mesh strainer to fish out the garlic and set it aside for now. Make sure to leave the oil in the pan! You're going to need them for the next steps.
Heat the oil to medium-high heat, you may add oil if you feel the need to. Place the tofu in the pan in a single layer, making sure each one is touching the oil. Once the bottom part is browned flip each piece to brown the other side.
When all the tofu is browned on all sides put the crispy garlic and remaining spices in the pan and toss everything for about 15 seconds. Scared to toss like the chefs? Not to worry, stirring with a spoon or spatula will do as well. 😀
And you're done! Serve your dish and watch the fam eat it with gusto!
It may seem at first as if preparing this dish takes too long, but trust me when I say that brining is an important step. Brining is also very simple to do – combine the ingredients then forget it for 2 hours. 🙂
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There are plenty of workout routines available online that you can complete in under 15 minutes. But if you still find those taxing, just keep in mind that the goal is to have your heart rate up a little, so think of it as working out efficiently by exerting the right amount of effort.
Proper diet and nutrition help keep the body healthy. Going for nutritious meals over processed ones and choosing food rich in iron like red meat, beans, dark green leafy vegetables to add to your diet can benefit your body positively. But for those who are running on hectic daily schedules, monitoring a balanced diet might be a hard commitment to make.
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The Pork Humba ready to eat viand tasted just like pork humba should … savory and sweet at the same time. The meat was just the right level of softness and was anything but tough or dry.
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