Treasure Jar

We love Quorn non-meat grounds. It is like meat, only it isn’t. The texture is like meat and if cooked correctly, it doesn’t feel and taste like a non-meat ingredient. The kids and the hubby do not complain but instead say that it feels like they are eating meat, that is not meat.

Quorn is made with Mycoprotein, a fermented, natural, nutritious fungus taken from the soil. Mycoprotein is high in protein, high in fiber, low in saturated fat, and has no cholesterol. It’s texture is just like meat without the oil “sebo” effect when the cooked food turns cold.

Here are a few recipes I have made with the Quorn non-meat grounds:

Slowcooked Lasagna:

Sautéed with onions, garlic, a little vegetable oil and cooked with carrots and potatoes:

Sautéed with onion, garlic and cooked with tomato sauce and carrots: 

Sautéed with onions and garlic, cooked with fresh brown mushroom and tomato sauce. Add cooked penne pasta for a pasta meal.

Tags: #platefuloffun, cooking with non-meat grounds, cooking with Quorn non-meat, healthy cooking, healthy recipes, homecooking, lunchbox ideas, meat substitute, Quorn non-meat grounds, Quorn Philippines, TreasureJarFinds

#TreasureJarFinds Mushroom Omelette for last Friday’s (September 1) lunch in between workload. This is filling and delicious.

Mushroom Burger steak and 2pcs Classic Panfried Chicken

Halo-halo, without ice cream.

2nd and 3rd photos were from two weeks ago.

Pancake House has been a favorite restaurant of the family for a long time. The servings are big, the taste is good. The food being served feel like these were made from a family home kitchen.

Not ad, we paid for these meals.

Tags: Pancake House, Pancake House Classic Panfried Chicken, Pancake House Halo-Halo, Pancake House Mushroom Omelette, TreasureJarFinds

BG Bridal Gallery launches mobile wedding planning app

Brides-to-be now have a wedding planning tool at their fingertips with the BG Bridal Gallery App

BG Bridal Gallery, an international wedding planning company has launched a mobile app which offers free wedding planning consultations. It has a showroom at the Bonifacio Global City.

During the launch, BG’s Wedding Experts showcased the features of the mobile app and showed how they are purveyors of All Things Wedding. 

What is BG Bridal Gallery? Why is it a Wedding Planning Tool?

BG Bridal Gallery CEO Tony Wakiyama explained that the BG Bridal Gallery app “gives brides-to-be access to all things wedding from wedding ideas professionals, promos and more.”

Available in iOS and Android, the app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store and Google Play, respectively. It is absolutely free. Couples planning their wedding can discover wedding ideas like planning tips and global themes. They also have access to the finest wedding professionals. Special promos and VIP access to discounts and freebies can also be availed of in the app.

Mobile App Launch Promos

Brides-to-be who download the app have the chance to win exciting prizes such as a Php25,000 voucher that they can use to purchase any BG Bridal Gallery wedding service and a chance to win dinner for two at High Street Cafe, Shangri-La The Fort at the monthly draw.

“Help Brides Out. Drop a Review and Win” campaign invites future brides to leave reviews for their wedding professionals. This will enable them to win a free di we at Shangri-La at the Fort. By signing up in the BGBridal Gallery app and leaving a review, they get a raffle entry. The more reviews given the more raffle entries can be had for more chances of winning

“We encourage both brides and newlyweds to download and experience our app. Newlyweds can share their experience and help more brides create their perfect wedding day,” said BG Bridal Gallery General Manager Mark Consuegra.

GM Consuegra also shared that “Cinematic wedding video with personalized storylines are trending for this year while pre-wedding photo shoots are still very popular, especially when held outside the city,” Greenery, rustic and modern themes are the latest trends in 2017.

One Stop Shop Wedding Planning Solutions

Aside from investing in new technologies to make wedding planning easier, BG Bridal Gallery also offers engaged couples a one stop shop solution to wedding planning:

• free consultancy service from their expert wedding planners, the company aims to make wedding planning easy and stress-free.
• BG Bridal Gallery offers on-the-day coordination, full coordination and a one stop shop wedding package.

“We have witnessed more than a million weddings from the last 40 years so we understand the varied and ever changing taste of brides when it comes to weddings. By bringing global themes and design, we give Filipina brides more choices for their dream wedding. We also continue to partner with the finest professionals to make sure that brides have access to the latest trends from local and international markets,” said Wakiyama.

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The BG Bridal Gallery Showroom is located at Unit 312, 3rd Floor C2 Building, Bonifacio High Street Central, BGC, Taguig City. To inquire or to book a BG Bridal Gallery’s wedding planning, brides can visit them at their showroom, 10AM to 8PM, Monday to Sunday (except holidays). They can also sign up for a free consultation at the BG Bridal Gallery Facebook or call (02) 720 9804 or email infoph@bgbridalgallery.com.

For more information on BG Bridal Gallery and its latest promos and activities, they can visit the website at https://www.bgbridalgallery.com.ph and chat with the BG team or find BG Bridal Gallery on Facebook at facebook.com/bgbridalgallery and on Twitter and Instagram @BGBridalGallery.

***
ABOUT BG BRIDAL GALLERY
Into the wedding industry since 1976, we have filmed real love stories of more than one million couples with NST Pictures. We’ve witnessed different cultures and traditions. We captured special moments from across the globe — Japan, United States, and the Philippines.
Through the years, we saw how brides (and grooms) prepare for their big day. We came to understand what they need and so, with the same passion to pull off that dream wedding, we dedicate a wedding planning services online and offline for brides. Yes, our commitment paved the way for what is now BG Bridal Gallery — a place for all things wedding.

Tags: All Things Wedding, BG Bridal Gallery, BG Bridal Gallery app, BG Bridal Gallery wedding app, Bridal Gallery Tony Wakiyama, one stop wedding solution, wedding app, wedding ideas, wedding ideas app, wedding planners, wedding planners app

How do we Do More with Less? Here are a few ways:

The holidays are almost gone and with it came wonderful memories that, as a mom, I hope will be cherished in the years to come.

Several years ago, I have started FRUGAL CHRISTMAS and our family has been practicing this ever since.

Here are a few of the Frugal Christmas practices I have done since I started though a lot of it, I have not blogged about:

• Family photo Christmas tree ornaments which started as a project back when we were still homeschooling. These ornaments still adorn the tree and we have added more updated photos.

• Handmade tree decorations. Children and adults as well should try this to foster bonding time, personalize their trees and unleash their creative energies. These hand-made Christmas stockings still hang from our tree this year. This year I added a 3D Christmas tree made of gold tinsel to the Christmas wreath I decorated hanging on our front door. The excess tinsel was used to wrap gifts.

• Japanese paper as gift wrapper. You can choose any color you like depending on the theme of your gifts. This year, I used yellow Japanese paper with gift tags made by one of the children.

• Baked goods wrapped in yellow Japanese paper with personalized gift tags. Since we bake at home, it has been our practice to give baked goodies to friends. (see photo above)
• Personalized gift tags. You can either print these yourself or make from scratch. We always opt for the latter.
• If you love going to bookstores and bookstores that sell bargain books, then you can spend a little time scouring bargain books to give to book-loving people.
• Hand-made gold ribbons hang on our tree every other year. These have seen a lot of Christmases and hang alternately every year with the red ribbons. This year, we are having the red ribbons.

• Hand-made notepads. The last two years had us made notepads to give to the children’s friends. These were made during times when they have “nothing to do”. They also assembled these while watching their favorite videos on their gadgets.
• For this year’s Christmas, everything we served for the Noche Buena were home-cooked or home-prepped:

o Baked ham
o Chicken pasta and chicken fajitas (blog post coming up soon)
o Slow-cooked chicken
o Cheesecake
o Cheese platter

Blueberry cheesecake by the eldest child finally sliced and tasted, a day after Christmas! This is easy to make and you spend less than if you buy commercially baked ones.

For our family reunion Christmas lunch, we brought slow-cooked ribs and the eldest child made brownies. Easy-peasy prep, right?

Photo below is the Electrolux microwave being used to melt chocolates for the brownies.

I know the list is getting longer so I will stop. Finally, yes!

What do all these things mean for “Do More with Less” when it feels like there is so much to do with all the crafts that involve conceptualizing, cutting and pasting and with the baking and cooking tasks?

All these tasks, we do not do year after year. For the tree decorations, since we have plenty of these (and hand-made too!) we alternate what we put up on the tree. Buying Christmas tree decorations every year is not something we do since we already have at home. Baking goodies for family and friends is what we love to do and for the last three years, the children are tasked to do these, making me have more time to do other chores. The personalized gift tags are easy to make because we have been doing this for several years already.

We “Do More with Less” by planning ahead, making lists and following up on schedule to avoid the hustle and bustle of the season.  The gift packs for the village guards and Noche Buena packages for the families of Manang Salve (who helps clean the backyard) and Joey (our occasional DIY guy) have been distributed a day or two before Christmas Eve. Christmas and New Year’s Eves are not main worries because we already have the things that needed on-hand and so we don’t have to join the rush to purchase what was not bought and getting stressed caught up on long supermarket queues and traffic jams.

We “Do More with Less” investing in reliable appliances like Electrolux that make chores easier so we don’t see housework as burdens. Our Electrolux Vacuum Cleaner is something the kids use by themselves. This is the youngest child’s task: cleaning the area where the puppy stays.

We “Do More with Less” by giving more importance to tasks that foster spending time with our loved ones.

Aside from not spending too much money, the family also tends to give importance in having more time bonding because we are all working together to make wonderful Christmas memories that we will look back with fondess, joy and love.

“Do More with Less” everyday, it is good for the mind, body and spirit.

Tags: Do More with Less, Frugal Christmas

Unfold your incredible stories: ASUS Philippines recently unveiled Zen AiO Pro with pre-installed Microsoft Windows™ 10. The ASUS 23.8-inch Zen AiO Pro Z240IC, the first models in the incredible new Zen AiO Pro Series, a premium range of all-in-one PCs that fuse art with industry-leading technology.

Featuring a stunningly-elegant all-aluminum design, Zen AiO Pro has some of the following features:

• 6th-generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and gaming-grade NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 960M graphics with up to 4GB of video memory
• the latest USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, up to PCIe® 3.0 x4 M.2 SSD storage
• Zen AiO Pro models are equipped with a powerful six-speaker ASUS SonicMaster Premium sound system that delivers 16W of incredibly rich and clear stereo

Zen AiO Pro is the ultimate digital hub for work or for play because of its high tech features and elegant design wth slim and elegant unibody shell forged from anodized aluminum. The display is a layer of edge to edge glass while the rear cover has fine brushed-metal finish.
Extreme beauty, extreme performance
The extraordinary Zen AiO Pro is built to provide out-of-the-ordinary performance for discerning home users. Using the latest generation of quad-core Intel Core up to i7 processors, combined with 16GB of the very latest DDR4 memory and lightning-fast up to PCIe® 3.0 x4 M.2 SSD storage, Zen AiO Pro has power to spare for instant responsiveness and ultra-smooth and immersive entertainment.

Dedicated NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 960 gaming-grade graphics with up to a class-leading 4GB of video memory ensure users can enjoy superb stutter-free high-resolution movies and videos in vivid, lifelike colors, or play even the very latest games at full resolution with high quality settings.

Zen AiO Pro is the world’s first all-in-one PC to use the next-generation USB 3.1 Gen 2, which delivers blindingly-fast data transfers of up to 10Gbit/s —twice as fast as USB 3.0, and over twenty times faster than USB 2.0. With these speeds, even the biggest data transfers take no time at all. Zen AiO Pro uses the latest USB 3.1 Type-C connector for improved ease of use — the connector is reversible, so it can’t be inserted the wrong way round. And for all-device connectivity, Zen AiO Pro also has a full complement of 4 USB 3.0 ports plus a USB 2.0 port, along with the latest ultra-fast 802.11ac Wi-Fi.

Incredible sound, awesome entertainment
Zen AiO Pro is designed for the ultimate multimedia entertainment, with up to a stunning FHD 10-point multi-touch IPS display for vibrant, pin-sharp visuals that make every detail visible, along with wide viewing angles and ultra-responsive touch interactivity. Zen AiO Pro also has a color gamut of up to 100% sRGB, which ensures accurate, rich and vivid color reproduction.

The incredible audio system has a total of 6 speakers that deliver rich and clear full-range sound. Each 8-watt stereo channel uses three powerful speakers located at either side of Zen AiO Pro, giving fully-realistic stereo separation and a total of 16 watts of pure, undistorted sound for an amazingly-lifelike experience.

The state-of-the-art technology in Zen AiO Pro ensures an awesome entertainment experience, whether users are watching the latest blockbuster movie, enjoying games or simply relaxing with music.

More PHOTOS here.

Specifications: Z240ICGT

CPU – i7-6700T
GPU – GTX 960M 4G DDR5
Storage – 2.5″ SATA HDD 1TB (5400RPM, 9.5mm)
M.2 SATA SSD 128G
RAM – DDR4 2133MHz, 8G *2
Screen – 23.8” Full HD 1920×1080 LED-backlit
OS – Windows 10 (64bit)
WiFi – 802.11bgn+Bluetooth 4.0 (Single band)
USB Ports:
• 1 x USB3.1 (Type-C)
• 4 x USB3.0
• 1 x USB2.0
I/O Ports:
• 2 x HDMI-out
• 1 x Microphone
• 1 x Headphone
• 1 x 2-in-1 card reader
• 1x Power Input
• 1x LAN
• 1x Kensington lock slot
Dimensions – 585(W) x 434(H) x 52~190(D) mm
SRP – Php 97,995
~~~~~~~~~~
About ASUS
ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,326 awards in 2014 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 13,600 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of 4,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2013 was approximately US$14 billion.

Tags: ASUS computers, ASUS Zen AiO Pro

ASUS ROG Next-Gen Gaming Notebooks

ASUS recently released the new ROG series notebooks at an exclusive event at the Valkyrie Club in Taguig.

The following are the common features of these gaming laptops:

• 6th generation Intel® Core ™ processors

• new chassis and upgraded hardware

• Microsoft Windows™ 10

• ASUS’ 2-Year Warranty Parts and Services included

For Hardcore Gamers : ASUS ROG G752

The new ASUS ROG G752 is powered by the 6th-generation Intel® Core ™ i7 quad-core processors paired with Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M graphics processors with up to 8GB of GDDR5 video memory, specifically made for Hardcore gamers and enthusiasts.

Nvidia G-Sync technology is standard on all varieties. An anti-ghosting gaming keyboard that supports up to 30-key rollover, 2.5-mm long-travel keys, Thunderbolt 3.0 technology with USB Type-C, and up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM. The G752 also has a FHD resolution IPS display to maximize the viewing experience.

Efficient dust-release thermal tunnel.

The unique thermal design of ROG G752 helps prevent internal dust build-up. Hot exhaust is efficiently managed and expelled through the rear vents to direct heat away from you for more comfortable gaming sessions.

For Mid-Range Gamers : GL552

GL552, a high-performance gaming laptop powered by up to 6th-generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors and NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX™ 960M graphics with DirectX 12 support. GL552 has ASUS-exclusive GameFirst III network optimization, a highly-responsive, low-profile, red-backlit keyboard with specially-marked WASD keys, and an up to Full HD IPS display with wide viewing angles. It bears the distinctive G Series lines and has a user-friendly design that provides access to the drive bay and memory slots for easy upgrades. Full-on ROG gaming performance and classic design ROG GL552 is made for gaming and primed for creativity, with up to 6th-generation quad-core Intel Core i7 processors for the performance to power the latest gaming titles and discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics with Microsoft DirectX 12 for sharper visuals and smoother in-game animations.

The new gaming notebook retains the classic stealthy F-22 Raptor-inspired lines popularized by ROG’s G Series, with angled surfaces giving GL552 a dynamic, powerful stance — for a design that’s as attractive as it is strong.

Commanding keyboard, maximum storage flexibility instant upgradability GL552 sports a stylish low-profile keyboard, with easy-touch keys that operate with a travel distance of 1.8mm for a perfect gaming response. The marked WASD key group and dedicated numeric pad enable fast, full control. Manufactured as a solid, one-piece construction, the entire keyboard is illuminated by a ROG-red backlight for anytime visibility.

GL552 also offers maxed-out storage options, with an up to 1TB hard disk drive and an up to 128GB M.2 solid-state disk (SSD) available as an option — fulfilling users’ desires for both maximum storage and maximum speed. It’s also simple to push GL552 even further, with a slide-off panel offering instant access to M.2 SSD, hard drive and memory slots.

Faster frags, the widest views and total audio immersion GL552 features ASUS-exclusive GameFirst III technology, which optimizes networks to give users lag-free gameplay. It prioritizes game packets and allocates more bandwidth for smooth, lag-free gaming. GameFirst III features four preset packet-priority modes, and manual settings for users who want total control over their network. GL552’s large 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display has a matte-black finish that eliminates glare for stunning visuals without distraction. This superb display offers wide 178-degree viewing angles for minimal color shift even when viewed from extreme angles.

ASUS SonicMaster provides rich, crystal-clear high-fidelity audio, while ROG AudioWizard features five easy-to-use preset modes with settings tailored to suit different game genres to give an even more immersive experience.

Thinnest 4k gaming notebook in the Philippines – G501 G501 is powered by the 6th-generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and the new NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960M 4GB DDR5 graphics for an unrivalled gaming experience. This impressive power is supported by ASUS-exclusive Hyper Cool technology with dual independent fans, delivering smooth, stable performance for both gaming and professional content creation.

In addition, G501 has a 15.6-inch QHD (3200×1800) to treat users to incredibly detailed visuals and lifelike colors. Ultraportable design for gaming on the go ROG G501 is one of the world’s thinnest gaming laptops, with a height of just 20.6mm. It features a lightweight aluminum construction and weighs just 2.06kg (non-touchscreen). It’s modern, elegant design sports red bezel accents and gaming features like a red-backlit keyboard with 1.6mm of key travel for a responsive feel, a numeric keypad, and marked WASD cursor keys.

Exclusive Hyper Cool technology G501 is also the coolest and quietest gaming laptop on the market, with exclusive Hyper Cool technology built in. This advanced cooling system employs dual fans and copper heat sinks to remove heat efficiently with minimal fan noise. Both processor (CPU) and graphics-processing unit (GPU) are cooled independently based on each component’s demands to ensure maximum efficiency — delivering extremely cool gaming experiences that are both whisper-quiet and silky smooth.

Uncompromised gaming performance and fast content creation ROG G501 is powered 6th-generation Intel® Core ™ i7-4750HQ processor for the smooth, powerful performance required to drive today’s fast-paced games. G501 also features the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M graphics with up to 4GB of GDDR5 video memory for sharp, vivid visuals and smoother in-game animations. The powerful GPU also drives hardcore content-creation, enabling even the most demanding creative to produce any kind of content on the go.

In addition, can be paired with PCI Express® x4 (PCIe® x4) solid-state disks (SSDs) for data-transfer speeds of approximately 1400MB/s — more than twice (2X) as fast as SATA III SSDs or 16X faster than SATA III hard disk drives! Optional Onboard Intel Thunderbolt™ technology provides a single-cable data and graphics interface with speeds of up to 10Gbit/s — twice the bandwidth of USB 3.0. Immersive ASUS SonicMaster audio G501 features ASUS SonicMaster audio, incorporating ICEpower®, Bang & Olufsen technology, for high-quality sound. ASUS AudioWizard gives users five preset audio modes with settings tailored to suit different game genres.

MORE PHOTOS HERE.

Lessen your worries on your PC with ASUS’ notebook 2-year global warranty! Now you have the opportunity to protect your investment with an extended global warranty worth Php2,500. This is available to select ASUS notebook models with pre-loaded Microsoft Windows™ 10.

~~~~ About ASUS~~~~

ASUS is a worldwide top-three consumer notebook vendor and maker of the world’s best-selling, most award-winning motherboards. A leading enterprise in the new digital era, ASUS designs and manufactures products that perfectly meet the needs of today’s digital home and office, with a broad portfolio that includes motherboards, graphics cards, optical drives, displays, desktop and all-in-one PCs, notebooks, netbooks, servers, multimedia devices, wireless solutions, networking devices, tablets and smartphones. Driven by innovation and committed to quality, ASUS won 4,326 awards in 2014 and is widely credited with revolutionizing the PC industry with its Eee PC™. ASUS has more than 13,600 employees around the globe with a world-class R&D team of 4,500 engineers. Company revenue for 2013 was approximately US$14 billion.

Tags: ASUS computers, ASUS gaming laptops, ASUS ROG