FREE Breakfast at IKEA

Starting September 19 through September 21, IKEA is offering FREE breakfast until 10:30am.

Have a TEErific IKEA breakfast before shopping or whatevah!!!

Take 5

1. 5 Minutes of Caring - Text Appeal - CoolPeopleCare
2. 5 Minute Craving Busters - About.com
3. 5 Things You can Do in 5 Minutes (or less) to Protect the Planet - Cottonwood Institute Blog
4. Achieve Your Potential: 5 things You can do in 5 Minutes - The SideRoad
5. Sitting in Silence Good for Your Health - ABCNewsOnline

Make it a TEErific 5 Minutes!!!

Wokking Your Way to Good Health

Confucius says: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

First step is choosing a wok that matches your needs & budget. I prefer to cook with a round bottom wok. Wok cooking is very fast, so gather all your ingredients first before heating up the wok. I use the wok for all my everyday cooking.

Here is my simple & quick recipe for a healthy sinigang (Filipino sour soup dish).

1. Spices (lemon pepper, garlic & onion powder), tarmind soup base & olive oil spray

2. Chop up onions (1/4 cup) and 5 cherry tomatoes

3. 5 catfish nuggets or tofu

4. Bitter Melon Leaves (one handful bunch)

5. String Beans (1/2 cup)

6. Coat the wok with the olive oil spray under medium heat.

7. Start with the onions & brown the catfish nuggets before adding the tomatoes.

8. Add 2 cups of water and allow the mixture to simmer.

9. Season with the spices, start with one teaspoon first and taste.

10. Add the string beans, constantly stir the mixture. And 5 minutes before serving, add the bitter melon leaves into the mixture to cook.

11. Approximate wok cooking time: 20 mins.

12. Eat it as a soup or over steamed rice.

I am not one for leftovers so I cook just enough for 2 servings. Learning to cook with a wok is FUN and healthy. Once you get the hang of it, you can wok and roll to your pace.

Sample FREEbies

This week's TEErific Sample FREEbies:

• Kashi - Get a Free Cookie
• Yogi Tea Free Samples
• Chef Paul Prudhomme's Complimentary Magic Seasoning Blends
• A Traveler's Guide to America's Dairyland
• Betty Crocker Potatoes Free Sample

Enjoy your TEErific Sample FREEbies!!!

That's Sweet - Halo-Halo

This YouTube video (gusto14321) caught my interest. I love halo-halo especially the ones I had back in our small town in the Philippines. The ingredients were fresh not canned except for the evaporated milk and they used the metal shaver on a block of ice. Our local street vendor prepared the mixture right in front of you. I am salivating as I write this.

Will Chowking live up to their enticing, mouth watering commercial? I am ready to find out.

Chowking
131 W Carson St Ste D
Carson, CA 90745
310.835.7100

I was greeted by a friendly staff. There are 2 sizes for halo-halo, Classic (coffee cup serving) or King (super-size). I opted for the King size - cost $5. The staff agreed that the King size was the best way to enjoy their halo-halo concotion. The mixture was prepared in less than 5 minutes. It was exciting to bring home a sweet taste of the Philippines. I was disappointed that the major ingredients were not in the mixture such as the flan, coconut, banana slices which the commercial video beautifully displayed. Just a lot of clear & green cubed gelatin, red mung beans and some jackfruit. The King size provided 2 medium servings of halo-halo. Sweet but not overly rich. Although, the overall enjoyment of this halo-halo was good. My rating for this sweet pleasure is 3 TEEspoons.

Well, I am on my way to the next stop to find that TEErific halo-halo perfection.....stay tuned.