Cooking with my Air Fryer | Cheese Muffins Recipe.

I've been wanting to try to make my own cheese muffins for the longest time. In fact, I've bought most of the ingredients for it on my last grocery run (which was like, three weeks ago). However, I had qualms about baking it without a mixer, thinking that it would be too much of a pain to mix the ingredients with just a spatula and a wire whisk.

Thankfully, I chanced upon a Hanabishi Hand Mixer yesterday, while I was window shopping at the department store. I really had no plans of buying anything inside the department store because the main purpose of my trip to the mall was to pay bills and buy food stuff. I ended up buying clothes for the kids (my son, my niece and nephew), underwear for myself (because they were on sale), some gardening tools, plus the hand mixer. Lol.

Today, I tried making the Cheese Muffins and it was a success! Good thing I decided to buy this hand mixer. My arms would probably be sore from mixing had I used just the spatula and the wire whisk because the mixture is thick! Anyways, here is the recipe. Please use an electric mixer should you wish to try this. :)

Cheese Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsps baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/3 cup refined sugar

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 eggs (room temperature)

1 can (300 mL) condensed milk

2 tsps vanilla extract

1 cup Quickmelt cheese, grated

Procedure:

1. Preheat the airfryer to 190° Celsius.

2. Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside. 

3. In a separate bowl, mix the butter and sugar using an electric mixer.

4. Beat the eggs in the mixture, one at a time.

5. Add the condensed milk and vanilla extract and mix again.

6. Pour half of the dry ingredients in the mixture. Mix at low speed.

7. Add the remaining half of the dry ingredients, again mixing at low speed.

8. Add the cheese and fold in to combine. 

9. Pour the batter into paper lined muffin pan cups. Top with more grated cheese if desired. 

10. Set your air fryer to Bake mode and bake at 170°C for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

11. Optional: Switch to Convection Broil for 3 to 5 minutes if you want the muffin tops to look more brown. (Kindly make adjustments to the temperature settings if you're cooking with a conventional oven.)

#SustainAbilidad: Quarantine Waste Management.

There’s no denying that Filipino’s lifestyle, habits and consumption patterns have radically changed after six months into the community quarantine due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As we are compelled to stay at home, we have relied more on deliveries for food, online shopping, and other essentials – posing additional environmental challenges because of our increased municipal solid waste (MSW) and hazardous waste. 

Even before the pandemic, the Philippines has been navigating through overwhelming volume of waste. According to a 2015 report by the Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, the Philippines ranks third among the world’s highest contributors to the global marine plastic pollution problem.

But were you aware that household waste contribute to the biggest chunk of solid wastes in the country? The National Solid Waste Management Status Report 2008 – 2014 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) showed that residential waste constitutes the bulk of MSW (56.7 percent), followed by commercial sources and public or private markets (27.1 percent). 

Now, the biggest challenge is for us to break old habits and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. Through its business activities, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) has always been committed in engaging in initiatives that solve social issues which include global sustainability. With environment educational campaign dubbed as #SustainAbilidad, APC aims to aid consumers to incorporate sustainable practices into their daily activities. This campaign includes social media promotions featuring Super Suzy and her kid, the main characters representing ordinary people that champion global sustainability to teach and inspire young and old members of their family and community to bring out their “SustainAbilidad”.

Here are a few reminders from Super Suzy on managing our household waste:

Some tips from Super Suzy! Click to enlarge.

While we may have taken a number of steps backwards because of the pandemic, it’s not too late for every household to start sustainable practices. Segregating at source is a good start for every household as proper waste management is crucial not just for the environment but also for mitigating infectious disease transmission. Visit facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH/ to learn more about #SustainAbilidad. 

The Ajinomoto Group is a global company with specialties in the business of food and amino acids, guided by our leading-edge bioscience and fine chemical technologies. Based on the corporate message “Eat Well, Live Well.”, we have been scientifically pursuing the possibilities of amino acids in supporting the healthy lives of people all around the world. We aim for future growth and continuous contribution to greater wellness by creating value through sustainable and innovative solutions for communities and society.

The Ajinomoto Group has offices in 35 countries and regions, and sells products in more than 130 countries and regions. In fiscal 2018, sales were 1.1274 trillion yen (10.1 billion U.S. dollars). To learn more, visit www.ajinomoto.com. 

Royal Canin Club App | Rewards Programs, Pet Care Education, and more!

If you’re a loving pet owner stuck in quarantine, chances are you’ve resorted to various online sources to tend to your pet’s needs. All pet parents are known to go a long way for their beloved, loyal pets to ensure they get the right nutrition and care they deserve.

Leading and trusted pet care brand Royal Canin Philippines understands this unique bond between pets and their parents and celebrates this through the launch of their rewards program mobile application, Royal Canin Club. The app is an easy-to-use, system that aims to aid doting pet owners in keeping their furry babies delighted and healthy.

Now available on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, the Royal Canin Club app provides pet owners with exclusive access to credible pet care information as well as Royal Canin products and exclusive promos. In line with the brand’s thrust of providing the best-tailored nutrition for pets, the app is a complementary tool for both new and loyal Royal Canin patrons who strive only for the best, loving experience for their furry friends.

The Royal Canin Club app is now available for download on iOS and Android.

As soon as one downloads the app and completes registration, Royal Canin already rewards pet owners with an awesome gift set and vouchers, whether they are loyal users or new to the brand.

Pet owners will also get to enjoy the Royal Canin e-learning tool, with informative and engaging content on maintaining pets’ wellbeing: proper diet and nutrition, digestive health, neonatal to ageing care, skin and coat care, training, and understanding pet behavior. Users also get access to exciting app features such as pet quizzes, store locators for partner establishments, and first dibs to sale and promotion announcements from Royal Canin. Through the application, Filipino pet owners will have access to an exclusive store finder feature that can connect them to the nearest pet store, veterinary clinics, and pet breeders at the utmost convenience.

The app is a product of Royal Canin’s 50 years of passion for pets’ health and wellbeing, five decades of understanding each pet’s unique needs and care that match their physical and emotional requirements.

“The Royal Canin Club app aims to be a trusted partner of pet owners who want nothing but the best for their cats and dogs. Through the app, we hope to provide guidance to discerning pet owners with accurate and relevant information about caring for their pets, all while they earn redeemable points for when they engage with the app’s activities,” says Adriann Eusebio, Royal Canin Philippines’ Country Director.

A sneak peek at the Royal Canin Club app.

The app is expected to appeal to a huge group of the public, especially with the growing number of pet ownership in the country. According to Euromonitor International, pet care in the Philippines continues to improve in performance, which can be further attributed to the increasing popularity of dogs as pets, growing sales of pet healthcare products, and a greater propensity for owners to feed dogs with packaged food.

The global pet care e-commerce market size is also expected to grow owing to the increasing usage around the world, according to a Grand View Research, Inc.’s study. Additionally, Asia Pacific is expected to witness a CAGR growth of around 10% due to rising pet adoption and the growing economy of the region.

“Over the years we have committed to attending to the unique needs of dogs and cats. Our passion for pet health continues to drive us to introduce new products and innovative solutions that foster a healthier environment, all while working with the best pet shops, veterinarians, and breeders around. We look forward to the positive impact that the Royal Canin Club app will have on our beloved pets here in the country,” Eusebio remarks.

The Royal Canin Club app can be downloaded from the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, free of charge. For more product news, promotions, and information on special giveaway contests, one may follow Royal Canin Philippines on its social media pages.

Spotlight | Aurae Natura Diffuser Blend in Blissful Sleep.

I've always been a fan of aromatherapy - the art and science of using natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. I reckon that my penchant for aromatic materials began way back in junior high school, when my then-boyfriend would gift me with scented candles and reed diffusers. These days, I've leveled up with essential oils and oil blends because 'hashtag adulting'. Haha!

I've been trying out several brands of essential oils lately, experimenting with different essential oil blends even. This led to my discovery of Aurae Natura, a social enterprise brand that helps to uplift the lives of the poor and supports efforts that contribute to the spiritual growth of women rescued from sex trade trafficking. Founded in the Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm in Angat, Bulacan, Aurae Natura offers a variety of aromatherapy products - from diffusers to essential oil blends made with 100% pure and natural essential oils, and even inhaler blends. 

Aurae Natura recently launched their newest essential oil blend, and I had the chance to get first dibs on it, thanks to my Human Heart Nature Laguna family. There may have been no face-to-face event-slash-product launch because of this pandemic, but my HN Laguna family made sure that I get to try their new releases, just like in the good, 'old normal' days.

Aurae Natura Essential Oil Diffuser Blend in Blissful Sleep.

Aurae Natura's newest product is Blissful Sleep, a blend of pure essential oils carefully selected to support a calm and relaxed mind to ease yourself to sleep. It's made from all-natural, locally-manufactured ingredients, all of which are known to support deep and restorative sleep: 

A powerhouse blend of all-natural ingredients.

• Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) - one of the most popular and most versatile essential oils; promotes relaxation and eases anxiety
• Ho wood (Cinnamomum camphora) - has a woody and floral scent that helps detoxify the body and acts as a natural disinfectant
• Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) - its tarty, citrusy scent elevates mood and alleviates stress 
• Mandarin (Citrus reticulata) - a light, fruity scent that helps calm the mind and body
• Ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata) - a soft, flowery fragrance that soothes stress, tension, and sleeplessness

To use, simply add 8-10 drops of this blend for every 200 mL of water in your diffuser. I like taking a whiff from the bottle before I start diffusing. It's like tasting an appetizer before enjoying the main course. 

Ending the day with some Blissful Sleep.

Blissful Sleep has been my go-to nighttime blend lately. Diffusing it is like a treat to myself after a hard day of juggling household chores, writing gigs, and my son's (online) school activities. Now I can't wait to try the other Aurea Natura essential oil blends. I have a feeling Joyful Mornings will soon be my go-to perk-me-up blend!

Aurae Natura Diffuser Blends retail for Php 359 per 5 mL bottle and can be bought at Human Heart Nature stores, at the Human Heart Nature website, and the Aurae Natura website. 

Cooking with my Air Fryer | Cappuccino Muffins Recipe.

A-and we're back to regular programming! I had been in (social media) hiatus for about a week or so and had not been baking much because of my eye problem. Halfway through September, I had been having issues with my left eye - it felt dry, the upper part of the sclera had reddish streaks, and it felt like I had something stuck in my eye most of the time. I finally decided to see my eye doctor as soon as Yue's exams were over, and I was diagnosed with corneal abrasion. I'm still under medication as of this writing, and there's still a miniscule white spot on my cornea, but my eyes feel much, much better and less sensitive to light than it did two weeks ago. 

Anyway, moving on to what this blog post is really about - the recipe. I had been baking my Cappuccino Muffins differently, using just one egg. Until I realized that two eggs are better than one, lol. But seriously, my muffins became lighter, fluffier, and definitely more moist after I started using two (room temperature) eggs. And with that, here's the recipe. Enjoy! :)

Cappuccino Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups flour 

3 tsps baking powder 

2 tsp coffee

1/2 tsp salt 

3/4 cup white sugar 

2 eggs 

1 cup milk 

1/4 cup vegetable oil 

1/4 tsp cinnamon 

1/4 tsp nutmeg 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

1 cup dark or semisweet chocolate chips 

Procedure: 

1. Preheat the air fryer to 190° Celsius. 

2. Stir together all the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, coffee, salt, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg) in a large bowl. Make a well in the center. 

3. In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork. Stir in the milk, oil, and vanilla extract. Pour this mixture all at once into the well in the flour mixture.

4. Mix quickly and lightly until moistened. Do not overmix.

5. Lightly fold in the chocolate chips into the mixture.

6. Pour the batter into paper lined muffin pan cups. Top with more chocolate chips if desired.

7. Set your air fryer to Bake mode and bake at 170°C for 15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

8. Optional: Switch to Convection Broil for 3 to 5 minutes if you want the muffin tops to look more brown. (Kindly make adjustments to the temperature settings if you're cooking with a conventional oven.)

Smile Train Philippines Celebrates World Smile Day®.

World Smile Day®, a day devoted to smiles and acts of kindness, will be celebrated by people all over the world on the 2nd of October. Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft organization, through its local entity, Smile Train Philippines, will be hosting an online event to raise awareness for children with clefts. Together with Smile Train ambassadors Marian Rivera, Catriona Gray, and Megan Young, the charity launches #540Today to convey and champion the 540 babies around the world who are born with a cleft every day.

The crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has affected millions all over the world, including children born with a cleft lip and/or palate. With the global lockdown pushing for cities to establish stringent rules and regulations, thousands of babies are left untreated. It is estimated that COVID-19 has forced Smile Train partners to put more than 33,000 cleft surgeries on hold this year.

“Despite the pandemic, Smile Train is keen on celebrating all of the people who have contributed to their work and help change the lives of babies born with untreated clefts in the Philippines,” said Smile Train South East Asia Director Kimmy Flaviano. “We’ve adapted various avenues and utilized technology to reach more patients and communities in the Philippines.”

The event, which will be hosted Live on the Smile Train Philippines Facebook page at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, will allow Smile Train to bring more smiles into the homes of the Filipinos. More Smile Train ambassadors such as Tim Yap, Barbie Forteza, and Paul Marney Leobrera will take part in the festivities to encourage people to raise awareness for #540Today. They all share their experiences working with Smile Train and raise awareness for access to proper medical care and financial assistance needed by children born with cleft lip and/or palate.

Smile Train’s Team Empower will also take part in the celebration by inviting everyone to Ride for Smile Train Home Edition. Ride for Smile Train Home Edition is a virtual experience that will utilize two fitness platforms, Strava and Zwift, to challenge, engage, and grow the community of Smile Makers. Moreover, Smile Train long-standing fitness partners, Beyond Yoga and Electric Studio, will be offering classes to help promote the cause. Beyond Yoga will be hosting a free yoga class on Facebook while Electric Studio will offer their Ride, Box, HIIT, Strength, and Flow classes for the benefit of Smile Train Philippines.

Smile Train acknowledges the support and collaboration of its donors, partners, and ambassadors around the world as they continue to transform the lives of patients with cleft and help improve their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. The pandemic may have posed a challenge to the charity, but it is committed to applying sustainable solutions that would be of great help to their beneficiaries.

“Smile Train has always been and will continue to remain steadfast in advocating for children with cleft and to providing free surgery and comprehensive cleft care to them. With the help of all our partners, we can truly make a difference to create more smiles,” shared Flaviano.

For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to donate, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines, please visit smiletrain.ph, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.