Contadina Easy Spaghetti with Meatballs Recipe

In culinary school, we were taught that great food begins and ends with the ingredients. The dishes that you prepare will only be as good as the quality of the ingredients you put in them. Using fresh meat and produce is ideal in cooking excellent meals, but most of us simply do not have the time to do supermarket runs daily and cook from scratch. Thankfully, there are high-quality food products out there made with premium ingredients which can cut cooking time in half but do not jeopardize flavor and nutritional value. One prime example of that is Contadina.

Contadina came from the same makers of Del Monte, one of the most trusted brands for high-quality culinary products. Contadina is an Italian word which means â€œwoman of the fields.â€ It symbolizes the care and compassion that these women pour into making flavorful and authentic dishes. They adopt the Mediterranean philosophy of cooking meals with passion by using only the finest and freshest ingredients which are harvested from the worldâ€™s most abundant regions.

The new Contadina product line consists of basic Mediterranean cuisine essentials:

Olive Oil

Sourced from Andalucia, Spain, Contadinaâ€™s Olive Oils are extracted from freshly-pressed Hojiblanca olives, hand-picked from 100-year old trees cultivated under the Mediterranean sun.

Pasta

Their beautiful pastas are made from premium-grade 100% Durum Wheat Semolina, straight from the Western Prairie provinces of Canada. Firm and bouncy, each piece is a delectable bite worth savoring for a truly authentic Mediterranean pasta experience.

Pasta Sauces

Made in Italy, Contadinaâ€™s pasta sauces use fresh tomatoes, herbs, and authentic cheeses. Each pasta sauce is thoughtfully prepared, following a traditional recipe to reward you with authentic flavors that are undeniably Italian.

Tomatoes

Grown in California, their Roma Tomatoes are made with love and an abundant supply of sun and nutrient-rich soil resulting in firm cuts that aren’t lost after cooking and a delectable, fresh tomato flavor that enriches your recipes.

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Julie’s Biscuits – Baked With Love, From Malaysia to the Philippines

While walking at the grocery last weekend, at the biscuits aisle, I recognized a brand that has been there for quite some time and it was only now that I paid attention to it. I guess I was used to picking the more familiar brands in this aisle. Now that I know more about Julie’s Biscuits – the history of the brand, how they make them, the culture and the people behind the company – it’ll be pretty hard to resist grabbing packs of it to take home whenever I go grocery-shopping. 😀

Contrary to what most Filipinos know, Julie’s Biscuits is not in any way connected to the local bakeshop that bears the same name. Julie’s is a Malaysian brand that has been around since 1981, and they are available globally, in 75 countries to be exact. They have 3 factories in Malaysia where all their products come from. They don’t have factories outside Malaysia because they want to ensure the consistency and quality of their products, starting from the ingredients down to how their biscuits and cookies are made. They have been available here in the Philippines for 4 years now, and so you might already be seeing them at the grocery. Trust me, if you havenâ€™t tried any of their biscuits or cookies yet, youâ€™ve got to!

I was one of the lucky bloggers who were invited to visit Julie’s factory in Melaka, and to experience the culture and the food in Malaysia. I’ll tell you more about our whole Malaysian trip on a separate post, but you can read the highlights as you read on. 🙂

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Make Someone’s Christmas Delicious with Mondelez

It’s a few weeks before Christmas, and I haven’t done any gift shopping yet. Thankfully, I share many interests with the people I’m buying gifts for, particularly, my love for chocolate. If you’re in the same situation as I am, you’d be delighted to know that Mondelez Philippines has a lineup of goodies that you can give away as instant gifts this Christmas.

I love receiving and giving personalized gifts, and in the past years, I can no longer count with my 2 hands the number of times I’ve received and given personalized Toblerone bars as gifts for birthdays and the holidays. It’s cute, personal, and, not to mention delicious too. I especially love the Crunchy Almonds variant. 🙂

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6 Reasons Why the ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser Is a Foodie’s Best Friend

Being active food bloggers, it has become more important than ever to own a reliable, fast, and feature-packed smartphone that can help us create better content and connect easily with our readers. Weâ€™ve discovered 6 compelling reasons why the new ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser is exactly the phone foodies like us are looking for!

6 Reasons Why the ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser Is a Foodieâ€™s Best Friend

#6 – Incredible Design and Grip

When it comes to modern smartphones, the exterior is just as significant to whatâ€™s inside. ASUS is one of the phone companies who were able to incorporate incredible design with powerful software and hardware into an affordable smartphone. The ASUS ZenFone 2 Laser, with its ergonomic arc design and thin edge of only 3.9mm, lets users hold the phone comfortably in their palms. Its hairline design and metallic finish give the phone a premium look and feel, without being overly priced as compared to other mid-range phones in the market.

What this means is you can comfortably hold the Zenfone 2 with one hand while you’re taking photos of your food without worrying you’ll accidentally drop itÂ and ruin your shot. 😀

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Jollibee Peach Mango Sundae – A Sweet Twist on a Classic

Jollibee’s Peach Mango Pie is one of our long-time favorites. We enjoy it nice and warm, with the sweet flavors of the peach and mango filling oozing out of the crisp pie crust. We also love it chilled. Ken and I are even fond of dipping it in Jollibee’s vanilla sundae, and we both agreed they should start offering a Peach Mango Sundae. Guess what, our wish has been granted! 😀

When we heard about Jollibee’s new Peach Mango Sundae, we didn’t waste any time. We just had to try it. It’s as good as we imagined. The bits and pieces of the sweet and tangy peaches and mangoes on top of the creamy vanilla sundae were simply perfect together. 🙂 We also paired it with Jollibee’s Peach Mango Pie. Ang sarap! You have to try it! 🙂

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Magnum White Chocolate Almond â€ª- Let’s #CelebrateWhiteâ€¬!

Imagine this: thick white Belgian chocolate coating with bits and pieces of almond that beautifully cracks as you bite into it, revealing a rich, creamy vanilla ice cream inside. Mmmm.. mouth-watering. We’re describing the newest indulgence that we just discovered: Magnum White Chocolate Almond.

We already fell in love with all the flavors of Magnum. Ken and I can’t get enough of Magnum Almond. I was speechless on my first taste of the Magnum Gold. Our nanay’s favorite would have to be the Magnum Classic. See, there’s a Magnum flavor for everyone. 🙂

Now, white chocolate lovers would definitely revel in this newest Belgian chocolate creation from Magnum. They revealed this flavor last September 30, and if you’re like us who can’t wait to get a first taste of this indulgent Magnum White Chocolate Almond, you’ll be delighted to know that they’re taking over the malls around the metro on Sunday, October 4. #CelebrateWhite as you take a bite into this new Magnum ice cream flavor, along with your favorite Magnum ambassadors and dance to the beats of the hottest DJs in town. Follow @MagnumCelebrateWhite on Instagram to know more about this party!

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5 Quick Tips for Cooking For One

I’ve been living away from my family for over a year now. I got used to our nanay and Ken cooking our meals at home, so I had to go through a big adjustment when I decided to move out. I’m now staying in a studio condo unit that has a small kitchen with not much wiggle room. In this tiny kitchen, I surprised myself when I realized I can do a lot even with such a tight space.

As much as I hate to admit it, when I first started living solo, most days, I relied on food delivery and frozen / processed food. I realized, after a few weeks, that I need to change this because 1) it’s not healthy for me, and 2) it’s been causing a big dent on my expenses. I’ve been wanting to learn more about cooking, but I never took it seriously. I have bookmarks upon bookmarks of different recipes, and yet I’ve only tried making around 10 of them in the past 5 years. Last July, I decided I needed to do something about that, so I’ve been cooking more and enjoying the goodness of home-cooked meals ever since.

I decided to share with you some quick tips for foodies who are like me, living solo, with this desire to cook and eat good food in their own homes. And, maybe soon, Iâ€™ll start sharing my own Mhelinamnam recipes. 😀

TIP #1: Invest in quality kitchen tools.

For me, this is vital. You’ll be using your kitchen tools for a long time, so better invest in quality products. Also, look for kitchen tools that will help you come prep time and washing up afterwards.

In my opinion, a non-stick pan is crucial. It doesn’t matter what your cooking skill level is, you must own a non-stick pan. It not only beautifully cooks dishes like fish, meats, eggs (oh my goodness, eggs!) and sauces, but you also minimize your use of oil, making your meals healthier. 🙂

Thankfully, I found a non-stick pan that works on my induction stove – the newly-launched Lock & Lock Hard & Light Black & SilverÂ non-stick pan. It’s lightweight, and it promises improved resistance to scratch and corrosion with its 3-coating Dupont Teflon. You can find this in Lock & Lock boutique stores and in leading stores nationwide. Trust me, this is a lifesaver! I am #LockedInLove with it. 🙂

I can now pan-fry meats and seafood without worrying about food sticking to the bottom of the pan. Cleaning up is also easier with this non-stick pan.

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San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines : A Newfound Favorite

Ever since I started living on my own, I’ve made sure to stock my little kitchen with different groceries, ranging from meats and vegetables for when I’m in the mood to prepare special meals, and ready-to-eat food items for times when I’m exhausted from work and have no energy to cook. Just recently, I added a new favorite: San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines.

Sardines have been a favorite of mine since I was a kid. I can polish off 1 to 2 bowls of rice in one sitting with just one can of sardines. When I was in high school, I got exposed to Spanish Sardines for the very first time and I got hooked ever since. 😀

I love San Marino’s Corned Tuna, and I use it in my sandwich spreads, pasta dishes (I love it spicy!) and tuna omelet. So when I found out they also have their own Spanish Sardines, I just had to try it!

Upon opening the jar of San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines, I felt my mouth watering as the aroma of the sardines inside tickled my senses. I was surprised to see that there were more than 10 pieces of sardines inside. I can enjoy 1 bottle for lunch AND for dinner. Indulge yourself to a luxurious dining experience without breaking the bank – Php 95 for a 240g bottle. Sulit, right? 🙂

I emptied the jar of sardines onto a plate. Inside, you’ll see slices of pickled cucumber, carrots, hot pepper and peppercorns soaked in corn oil. They don’t use preservatives, so you should refrigerate the bottle as soon as you open it.

Their Spanish Sardines are made with select freshly-caught herring fish, with intact scales that you won’t even feel when you eat them. I love spicy anything, and this Spanish Sardines had the right amount of kick and flavor that made me eat more rice than usual. 😀

Our nanay actually haven’t had sardines for quite a long time. She said she didn’t like them ’cause of the scales and they taste too malansa for her. I asked her to try the San Marino Premium Spanish Sardines, and she loved it! She even asked me for extra serving of rice. We both agreed that it’s the best-tasting Spanish Sardines we’ve ever had. 🙂

I especially love the fact that it has Omega-3 that helps lower one’s blood cholesterol level, which aids in reducing risks of heart problems. It’s also a good source of protein and energy; perfect for someone like me who usually eats quick dinners when I come home after a tiring work day and needs the energy to head to the gym or work on my other hobbies afterwards. 🙂

Have you tried San Marino’s Premium Spanish Sardines? Visit their Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/SanMarinoCornedTuna – for more information. 🙂

Our #ClaraOlePotluck Fiesta, Boodle Fight Style!

We’re from Malabon, and if you know anyone from there or you’ve attended at least one fiesta or party hosted by someone who lives in our hometown, you know how festive ourÂ celebrations could be. And if you’ve been to one of our parties at home, you’ve seen how lavish we are when it comes to preparing food for our guests. We did just that when we hosted our own Clara Ole Potluck Fiesta party a couple of weeks ago.

The party took almost a month to prepare. The Clara Ole team gave us one task – to prepare a menu showcasing the wide variety of dishes you can make using their products, and how convenient and easy it is for anyone to serve delicious dishes, whatever level your cooking skills are and however small your kitchen is. We personally use Clara Ole products in my little kitchen in my Makati condo, and I tell you, everything I cook with their products come out perfect. 🙂 My favorites would be their pasta sauces and marinades.

Going back to our party, Ken and I thought of hosting a boodle fight, and we all agreed on the Pinoy Fiesta theme for our friends. Since it’ll be a boodle fight, Ken knew serving a couple of dishes won’t be enough. So, he came up with a menu composed of 14 dishes + the punch, which serves as my only contribution. 😀 All of the dishes were made using Clara Ole products, as listed below.

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Baon Ideas with Oreo and Tiger Energy Biscuits

I remember when we were still kids, our nanay wakes up really early in the morning to prepare our baon for school. Ken and I usually didn’t know what she prepared for us, and we’ll just be pleasantly surprised come recess time. I guess that’s why we always look forward to opening our lunchboxes during our breaks. She always makes sure we have something to eat that’s not just delicious, but will also energize us for the rest of our school day.

I’m sure many moms would agree that a good baon is vital during school days. I’m seeing a lot of moms getting creative with their kids’ baon nowadays. If you’re one of them, and you need a little inspiration, we’ve got a few ideas for you. We used 2 well-known products fromÂ Mondelez PhilippinesÂ for these recipes.

If this is your first time hearing about Mondelez (pronounced ‘mohn-dah-leez’, meaning ‘delicious world’), their company was formerly named Kraft Foods. The company has been around for decades and theyâ€™re behind familiar brands likeÂ Oreo cookies, Tiger Energy biscuits,Â Tang, Eden Cheese, Cheez Whiz, Cadbury, and Toblerone. If you check their website, you’ll find delightful recipes forÂ fun baon ideas for your kids.

Ken and I love putting a twist on our favorite dishes, and we did exactly that with the recipes belowÂ usingÂ Tiger Energy Biscuits and Oreo cookies, which are already good baon as is, but we thought of other creative treats you can make with them. These snacks / baon bites will surely give you a boost of energy, so it’s not just great for kids, but also fun snacks to take with you to the office or as merienda at home. Let us know once you’ve tried these recipes, okay? Enjoy! 🙂

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