Eleven Minutes was touted as Paulo Coelho's second international best seller next to The Alchemist. According to the author, it was his boldest story ever made. Must agree, I would. It's a story about a woman who lived a life full of emotional and physical struggles in the pursuit of her dream. It's a plot enriched with love, lust, melancholy, sacrifice and hope. Maria (the protagonist), an innocent girl turned into a prostitute, instinctively took the winding road in realizing her dream. Unfortunately, her journey didn't happen the way she expected it to be. It didn't provide her a smooth run but a tougher and highly pebbled one. It even came to a point of almost losing her true self in exchange of awakening, sexual experiences.

When I bought this book, I didn’t have a slightest idea of what eleven minutes exactly means. My impulse just trusted the name Paulo Coelho in having it. Half way through the pages (more or less), I learned that it’s how Maria coined her work as a prostitute. Perhaps to mollify the guilt that's resting inside her, she made herself believe that she only loses her pride, experiences humiliation and abuse, in eleven minutes. Tolerant that afterall, she submissively performs her work only in a matter of eleven minutes. Then, she can redeem her self again.

This novel is about self-discovery and how human life normally faces the battle between free-will and determinism. In Maria’s case, she was able to endure the battle and came out victorious in the end. She was able to transform her eleven minutes into a lifetime. Whenever we face such life’s conflict we were always left with different choices. One, we allow ourselves to be taken by the flow and let destiny gets its toll on us. The other, we take full control and drive our lives to whichever way we want. But is it always more fruitful to have the later choice? Yes, for some may be not for others. At any rate, the choice is always ours.

My Pasta story for this week started with my wandering in the kitchen. I exactly didn’t know what to prepare. I’m not craving for anything neither did my kids. I rummaged around the kitchen cabinets and drawers and found a can of tuna, Italian spaghetti sauce and vegeroni pasta spirals. Inside the refrigerator, there are carrots, cucumber and red bell pepper. I gathered all these things together on the kitchen table mulled for a while and voila! I’m cooking Tuna Vegeroni Pasta in a pan.

When I plated it, unfortunately, the pasta looked too orange-red for me that the colourful vegeroni pasta spirals were already well too hidden. Lesson learned? Vegeroni Pasta is better prepared with white sauce or practically anything but red sauce. The nice colour combinations of the pasta albeit well hidden, still provided that distinct veggie taste. Thus, I would rave about the taste more than the plating. Taste wise, there’s nothing sophisticated in here, it’s very straightforward. It’s a union of flavour notes of seafood and vegetables rounded by tomato taste with a slight sourish back note. On the whole, this is a healthy pasta dish.

What you need:

1/2 of 375 g pack vegeroni pasta spiral, 1/2 cup of pasta water, 1/2 cup carrots (cut into cubes), 1/2 cup of cucumber (cut into cubes), 1 small red bell pepper (seeds removed and cut into cubes), 1 white onion (chopped), 4 cloves garlic (minced), 1 small can tuna chunks or flakes (drained), 250 g italian spaghetti sauce, 2 tbsps olive oil, salt and pepper to taste

How to make:

Cook pasta according to package directions. Set aside 1/2 cup of pasta water. Heat olive oil in a pan. Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant. Add tuna and continue sautéing for a minute. Add carrots, cucumber and red bell pepper. Mix well. Add the tomato sauce and pasta water. Season with salt and pepper. Boil and simmer for 2 - 3 minutes. Stir in the cooked pasta and blend well before serving.

For other mouthwatering pasta dishes, check out Ruth Daniels round up in Once Upon a Feast. Our pasta queen is hosting this week's event.

It’s been such a long time since my husband and I were able to watch a movie together in big screen. Since the arrival of the kids, time seemed to be so out of the way for this much missed leisure pursuit. So when he invited me to see the film MAMMA MIA, I didn’t hesitate to give my nod. The first time I saw the movie trailer, I was already intrigued. It gave an impression of a happy, fun-filled, feel-good movie, just my kind of taste for a film. And gladly, it did not disappoint me at all.

The story started with a girl’s dream of meeting her long lost father to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. To live this dream, she invited the three men from her mother’s past but only to find out in the end that neither of them can identify who her real father is. From there, the story will evolve into love being rekindled coupled with good laughs that maybe contagious at times, and a showcase of friendship that lasts a lifetime. All these were musically woven by no less than ABBA’s greatest hits. Had I not been aware that I was watching a film, I would have mistaken it into an ABBA’s music videos rolled into one. But honestly, it was fun and yes, enjoyable. It’s a musical film, and I must say that this is by far the best that I have watched in this particular genre. I practically grew up with ABBA’s songs. My aunts and uncles were all fans of them so much so that their music became poems and teenage lullabies to me. Seeing these timeless songs come to life, was real entertainment.

I can only care less on whether the film was really shot in Greece or not. The cinematography alone made me dream of a Greek Island getaway outright. On the actors, it's the cutest of Meryl Streep that I have seen. She's light and funny here. She's so unlike any of the previous movies she had made. This lady really stretched her acting abilities well too wide. With Pierce Brosnan, oh boy, this man certainly aged so well. There's a particular scene (when he's watching Meryl Streep sing together with her friends) where he exudes real charm and sexy appeal. I liked his shot there. However, I find him too stiff whenever he sings much more when he danced. Nonetheless, it's a new thing to watch from Pierce Brosnan. With the rest of the actors, they were all enjoyable to watch.

Overall, this movie promises you of a good time. Beyond that, it can also be inspiring and musically magical.

In as far as baking cookies at home is concerned, I am a newbie. I hardly make any or rather, I actually didn’t try to attempt at all. But since I have little palates to please with certain requests I can’t simply ignore, I had to endure the challenge of perfecting one. We had enough muffin and cupcake bashes in our kitchen but it seemed that our baked goods saga is bound to last for long. Only the kids know when, perhaps until the day their throat resists the sugar rush. So, it’s all about cookies the other day.

Different types of cookies exist in abundance. But the truth is, they are just combinations of flour, sugar, fat and eggs unless other variations are intended to be made, that will make a different ingredients list. At any rate, the first four are considered the foundations of the cookie. Proportions may be played around and substitution may be considered to make a cookie recipe specific to ones’ own liking.

In my case, I tend to value texture next to taste. Texture is an essential sensory attribute that greatly affects the overall acceptability of food. And when it comes to munching cookies, I prefer those profiles that not only swank of rich taste but those that exhibit yummy-licious bite. By that, I mean soft, gooey-chunky over crispy and crumbly. To achieve this, most players in the recipe should perform their vital roles properly. In general, quality soft cookies require: quality ingredients used in the proper ratios and the right time and temperature combinations for the baking process.

It may sound too technical, but actually with a reliable recipe at hand and just the needed knowledge with a dash of inspiration, you will be able to give your family and friends any type of cookie they may desire. For us, this is the cookie we like.

Meet my favorite companion these days, my new cookbook entitled - How to Cook by Hamlyn, a division of Octopus Publishing Group Ltd. This book has been out in the market since 2005, and I'm glad that it's still available in the local bookstores. It isn't just a kitchen companion it could also be a favorite coffee table book. There are a lot of things to learn, from the basics of cooking to the practical application. It has all the essentials on the subject of cooking such as the ingredients we normally used as well as the instruments and methods that go with it.

The book is divided into 4 parts. The first chapter focuses on the basic description of the ingredients or foodstuffs that are typically used in cooking. In here, you will get to know some details about your favorite fruits, vegetables, spices, meats, seafood, poultry, noodles, pasta, rice, grains, technically everything imaginable in your kitchen. In the second part, it shows the things we have to do in mastering the basics of the culinary art. Chapter 3 discusses the simple techniques we have to employ to any of our favorite dish to make it real wow. The last part, incorporates everything into practice. There are meal planning and suggested menus too.

How to Cook, promises its reader of everything h/she needs in one volume to create great dishes, by providing practical, everyday advice in the kitchen as well as serving as a source of inspiration for cooking. What's even better, the book is not costly. Judging from its content, the book is fairly priced at P635. Hence, it only proves that not all good things must come with a high price.

Another contest in the block! Calling all moms and dads who have College and Highschool students, you might want to have your children join this worthy contest.

Lucky Me! Supreme brings you its Lid-the way, Save the Earth Lid-Design Making Contest. It's a competition open to all College and Highschool students who have talent and interest in art and designs. Here's the mechanics on how to join:

1. All designs must center on the theme: "Concern for the Environment".
2. No proof of purchase is necessary. You may send in as many entries as possible.
3. WINNER gets P50,000 CASH and will be regarded as the winning design on the Supreme bowl lid. That's COOL!
4. People's Choice Online Winner gets P10,000 CASH.

Log on to http://www.lidtheway.com/ for contest details and to download the Lucky Me! Supreme lid template.

Now is the chance to make the creative juices flow and our environmetal concern put into action. Let those pens and paints do the works and grab a wonderful price. What's more, you'll have a chance for your art to be featured on every lid of Lucky Me! Supreme Bowl, what could be more rewarding than that?

I had a nice time reviewing the entries for this contest. I didn't expect that the dishes will go a long way in as far as naming them is concerned. From "funny sounding" to "lip-smacking tone", I was impressed by the ideas thrown in. Thank you very much to everyone who participated. I hope to have you again in the next Our Taste of Life contest.

I voted for the best name that I think will best describe the dish in all its authenticity. So, without further I do, I'm happy to hand over the P1000 Poquito Mas Gift Certificate to Cookie of Schroochchronicles for winning the 1st price. She gave the names that matched the ideas I have in mind while preparing them. She named the 1st dish, "Eggs Bernardo" (play on Eggs Benedict). Isn't this authentic and with personal touch? What better way to name your dish than having your name attached to it? :-) The 2nd dish, she named it "Pizztini, Pizchetta or Pinoy Pizchetta". What I particularly liked among these three suggestions is "Pizchetta", it's exactly where the dish took off, pizza and bruschetta. Thank you Cookie, for your sensorially fine ideas. With those great suggestions, I am now officially calling my dishes: Eggs Bernardo and BCT (Basil, Cucumber, Tomato) Pizchetta.

Doris of Chronicles of Doritos also made good recommendations with her entry. She called the dishes: ECG (egg-carbs-greens) Salad and Garden Fresh Bruschetta. She's getting a box of personally baked cookies - Chunky Choco-Oatmeal (my favorite these days, I will also include this recipe in my book) for winning 1st runner-up.

Again, congratulations to both winners! I wish you a mouthful of enjoyment with your prices!

Last week, I had an Italian recipe. For this week’s Presto Pasta Night, I’m having Japanese. This week's event is being guest hosted by Gay of Scientist in the Kitchen. I bought a pack of Zaru Soba from the supermarket 3 weeks ago and it’s been resting in the kitchen cabinet since then. My plan to make a Japanese dish was obviously enslaved by some form of procrastination. Seeing my daughter increased her appetite for noodle dishes these past few days, pushed me to get this Japanese noodle done. I don’t know if my being a Product Development Specialist for a noodle company influenced my family’s liking for noodle dishes. In some way, probably yes. Thus, it’s typical to find any noodle or pasta dish scrumptiously sitting on our dining table.

Soba is a lightly brown colored Japanese noodle made of buckwheat flour. It is usually served hot or cold and can be prepared in soup or dry. It’s smooth and has a soft-chewy texture which, makes it a kid friendly type of noodles. Because of its neutral taste, it is a good ingredient for healthy recipes. Making fresh Soba Noodles is easy. But there are important techniques to keep in mind too. You can find out here.

As you see from the photo above, I made two versions of Soba Noodles with Vegetables in Sweet-Soy Broth. The one with freshly cracked egg on top is for the adults in the household and the other on the right side, for the kids. The generous serving of vegetables on the kids' bowl is part of my intention to urge them to like vegetables more. The authentic Japanese version of this dish used dashi stock. But since it's prepared primarily for my kids to enjoy, I used meat stock in my recipe.

What you need:

1 300 g pack soba noodles, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 cup mirin, 4 cups of meat broth, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup julienned carrots, 1/3 cup chopped chinese cabbage, pepper to taste, fresh eggs

How to make:

1. Cook Soba noodles according to package directions. Don't forget to wash it with cold water after cooking to wash away the remaining starches.

2. Combine sugar and mirin in a saucepan. Heat slowly until the sugar dissolves.

3. Add the broth and soy sauce. Bring to a boil.

4. Add the vegetables and let it simmer until the vegetables are cooked just right.

5. Add a handful of soba noodles in individual bowls. Bring in some amount of sweet soy broth (just enough to cover the noodles in the bowl).

6. Crack 1 fresh egg on each bowl while the soup is still hot. Serve immediately.

When it comes to home-made desserts, I love those that can be easily made at home. In particular, those that shies away from hard to find ingredients and the long wait for indulging. If there’s one very flexible and easy to work on ingredient for dessert making, nothing compares to Graham Crackers. It's affordable, readily available and can be transformed into any of your favorite dessert items such as pies, floats, cakes, polvoron and so on and so forth. You can have it baked or simply chilled.

I'm inviting all food enthusiasts to join our new contest entitled "Name This Dish". I'm writing my first ever food book and I've started to screen the recipes that I will include in the overall concept of the project. Last weekend, I've prepared two dishes which were inspired by my desire to go healthy these days. Apparently, I was lost for words on how to rightly call these dishes. Thus, it turned out to be an exciting contest to have here in Our Taste of Life.

The second dish can be considered either a pizza or bruschetta. Originally, the inspiration of this dish is really a pizza. But since I used a different bread and when it came out from the oven, I realized it could actually fit into a bruschetta too!

It is a french bread layered with the following ingredients: quickmelt cheese, tomatoes, cucumber, chopped garlic, basil and olive oil. Baked at 175°C for a few minutes until the cheese was melted.

There you have it folks! Create the most appropriate and tasteful sounding name to grab a dining opportunity for a superb Spanish, Latino, Filipino and Mexican food offerings only at POQUITO MAS SPLATINO CUISINE. Send me those suggestions and win a delightful gift certificate worth P1000.00! E-mail your entries to sherra(underscore)bernardo(at)yahoo(dot)com

I will accept entries until 11:59 pm on Friday, July 11 and the winner will be announced on Sunday, July 13.

Poquito Mas' two branches are located at:

Paseo de Sta. Rosa 1

Don Jose, Sta. Rosa City, Laguna

Filinvest Corporate City
Alabang, Muntinlupa City

Tel. #: (632) 7711334, (632) 7711325

Food minus and food plus are the talks in the Food Industry now. It's either you make the bad stuffs less or fortify the food with what is lacking and claim that the addition make the food healthier. That's basically the trend in food development today. In my kitchen, I think it's about time to take this direction too. Hence, it's only apt to have steamed fish and vegetable salad on our plates came family dinner time. I would like to share these recipes in particular to those who have started to prefer healthier food alternatives. Incidentally, the meal will also make a good entry for this week's Weekend Herb Blogging which is being hosted by Pam of Sidewalk Shoes.

Did it already occur to you why a seafood dish is best paired with vegetables and vice versa? Whenever we take any, we always long for its partner, right? Maybe it has something to do with the dish being light for the tummy that's why we like to have some more. On to the dish, Chayote Leaves (or Sayote Tops in Filipino), is one of the popular vegetables locally. What I particularly like about this vegetables is it's clean, neutral taste. I can barely taste the greeny note. It is leafy, yes, but very subtle in flavor. Thus, it really is perfect for an ensalada (spanish for salad). Similarly, among the locally farmed fishes in the Philippines, perhaps it is Tilapia that'll rank to the top in popularity. It can be cooked in a number of ways. But it is typically served fried in Filipinos' dining table. For now, I would like my family to savour nothing but clean taste (like clean labels in commercial products). Hence, steaming and tossing are our way of cooking; Steamed Tilapia Fillet on Sayote Tops Ensalada is our meal.

What you need:

2 pcs tilapia fillet, 3 tbsps oyster sauce, 2 tbsps olive oil, 4 cloves garlic (minced), pepper to taste

How to make:

1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

2. Rub the mixture into the tilapia and wrap in aluminum foil.

3. Steam until flesh becomes white.

What you need:

1 bunch of sayote leaves (blanched), 3 pcs tomatoes (seeds removed and cubed), 1 small onion (chopped), 1/4 cup calamansi juice, 2 tbsps fish sauce

How to make:

1. Mix and toss all ingredients in a bowl.

2. Chill for a few minutes before serving.

I declared on my post here that Mocha Blends is now my comforting Coffee Place. I also mentioned that this coffee shop is bound to offer more. Hence, I went back to the branch near our place to sample their breakfast plates. Was I glad I did? For the taste, it’s the same notes you can duplicate (or even do better) at home. In the selections, there’s nothing unique to look for. Basically, the menu has the same breakfast plates being offered in other restaurants. With the way it has filled our tummy, the meal is value for money. For a little over a hundred bucks, it would pass a decent, substantial pick. So, what makes it a better option then? If you wake up one morning looking for a heavy, breakfast meal; longing for a strong coffee to match it with amidst relaxing ambiance and some generous servings of WiFi, this is your kind of place!

I am pleased of how Paseo de Sta. Rosa had evolved into a shopper's and foodie's compound. It seemed like it's only yesterday that very few establishments can be found here. But now, it does not only pride its place of interesting culinary finds like Kanin Club and Poquito Mas but more for its sprawling fashion and sports depots. I made a post on that here. And as if all are still not enough, more stores are opening day in and day out. All to the bargain hunters' delight of course! The newbies in the complex are All Flip Flops (Havaianas), Sports Hub (carrying Yonex brand) and Crocs in Brands for Less Store. So, if you haven't check this out, arm your selves with a wider pocket and visit the place. This is a must pit stop to and from Tagaytay. You might want to walk in for a while. Who knows great bargains could strike!

This dish is the sibling of my entry to Presto Pasta Night. Chicken Parmegiane is one of the dishes that Giada de Laurentiis made together with Lemon Spaghetti. When I saw her layer my favorite food components into her pan, I know this is one dish I certainly can't resist. I love the marriage of herbs and cheese in a poultry. I envisioned a lip-smacking, finger-snapping meal. But since my pantry is limited with some of the ingredients she used, I modified the recipe and made it more to our taste liking. I was just a bit disappointed with the brand of the quickmelt cheese I used in my first try. It's simply not true to its name. It did not melt easily and the fusion of tomato sauce and cheese that I expected did not happen. (I'll just let the photo below talk more about it). Fortunately, it did not completely spoil the dish's overall profile. It still has that rich, cheesy and herby notes. Hence, I know better when I made it the second time around. Complement this dish with your favorite pasta and you'll never go wrong.

250 g italian spaghetti sauce, 1/2 kg chicken breast fillet, 1 cup quick melt cheese, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, 5 tbsps extra virgin olive oil, 1 tsp italian seasoning, 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil leaves, 1 tbsp butter, salt and pepper to taste

1. Mix together italian seasoning or herb mix, salt, pepper and 2 tbsps of olive oil in a small bowl.

2. Brush the mixture to the chicken fillet (both sides) and pan-fry it in the remaining amount of olive oil until the skin turns brown.

3. Transfer the cooked chicken in a baking dish. Pour over the italian spaghetti sauce. Add the quickmelt cheese and parmesan cheese on top.

4. Spread out butter in the baking dish and bake it in the oven until the cheese melts.

5. Add chopped fresh basil leaves before serving.

*If you want to do it Giada de Laurentiis' way, replace the above ingredients with the following: fresh rosemary and thyme for the italian seasoning, tomato sauce for the italian spaghetti sauce and mozarella cheese for quickmelt cheese.

Similar to Weekend Herb Blogging, Presto Pasta Night by Ruth Daniels of Once Upon A Feast is one Food Blogging activity I also missed. I do heart Pasta or any noodles for that matter. A number of food posts on this blog will most likely prove that. Timely, one of my favorite celebrity chefs Giada de Laurentiis, inspired me with an invigorating pasta recipe last weekend. After watching the recent episode of her Everyday Italian, I was prompted to take out those luscious foods into our own table. I'm bringing one of them to Presto Pasta Night # 69 which will be graced by guest host Hillary of Chew on That. Here's Lemon Spaghetti everyone, please have some.

What particularly enticed me to try this recipe is it's simplicity. The preparation of the dish is pretty straightforward. Boil, chop, stir and blend! Before you know it, you're already savouring a mouthful of refreshing pasta with a zest!