Now Cooking: Adobo de Pollo Cremoso ♥

Ever since I went to the #CreateWithCream event hosted by Nestlé Cream, I've had the desire to create! :D
 

It started because I had so much fun during the cooking demo! That day, I was able to bring home a couple of Nestlé products, and we suddenly had an abundance of Nestlé Cream at home. (YAY!) So I would make desserts like Peaches & Cream and good ol' Creamy Fruit Salad, but today I finally got to recreate the Creamy Chicken Adobo at home! :D

 

 I wrote down the entire recipe + some tips are on my previous post, but you may click on the photo to enlarge it.

My very own Adobo de Pollo Cremoso ♥

AKA Creamy Chicken Adobo!

My mom helped me with this one, and it's one of the rare occasions we get to cook together, so I immensely enjoyed it! On my second try, I modified step #3 and didn't pour ALL the reserved sauce but we still used an entire pack of Nestlé Cream, hence the thicker sauce. I like it better this way! As for the finished product, my Mom and sisters tried it, and they liked how the salty and tangy flavor was balanced. As for the sauce, it goes so well with the chicken, especially the rice. SARAP! (And I'm not saying it because I'm the one who made it. LOL) My best tip for you, just give it a try the next time you're planning to cook adobo. Chicken Adobo doesn't have to be a normal dish. YOU can make it special any day! ;)

 

This one's the Creamy Fruit Salad I made too with Nestlé Cream! I found the recipe at createwithcream.ph, and used up the near expiry cans of fruit cocktail at home ASAP! As of press time, my sister is asking me to make some more! :D

Facebook: Nestle Cream 

Love,

Helen

 

Let's keep in touch!
 

Lucky Citrine on Facebook
Lucky Citrine on Instagram

#CreateWithCream: Creamy Chicken Adobo is LOVE!

I grew up in a Chinese household where saying "I love you" is awkward or never done at all. Ever since I was a kid, I never heard Mama and Papa tell me that they love me, but they don't have to - I know they do. I think their love language are giving gifts and feeding us. My sisters and I may seem skinny, but we eat a lot! My dad would buy us whole birthday cakes just because. My mom would still prepare our food even if she's busy tutoring my youngest sister. It would be very nice if I could match their love language and make something special for them. ♥

Yesterday was an extra fun day for Panda and I because we attended Nestlé Cream's #CreateWithCream event. The first image that pops up when I think of Nestlé Cream is always fruit salad being the kitchen newbie that I am, but yesterday I got to learn something new. You can add a new creamy twist to a classic savory Filipino favorite to make mealtimes more special!

Now Cooking: Creamy Chicken Adobo

Celebrity chef Rob Pengson did a live cooking demo for us. He's in charge of some of Manila’s finest restaurants: The Goose Station, Hyve and Vyne, Hungry Hound, Niner Ichi Nana, and Olive Tree Kitchen and Bar.

Creamy Chicken Adobo

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, cut into pieces, approximately 1 kg
• 1/3 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 sachet 8g MAGGI MAGIC SARAP
• 1/4 cup crushed garlic
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1 pack NESTLÉ ALL PURPOSE CREAM 250mL

Procedure:

1. In a pot, boil chicken in vinegar, soy sauce, water, MAGGI MAGIC SARAP and garlic. Cook uncovered until boiling. Lower the heat and simmer while covered until chicken is tender but not disintegrated. Simmer for 10 minutes. Strain sauce and reserve.
2. In a large pan, heat the oil. Pan-fry the chicken until golden brown. Remove excess oil.
3. Pour in the reserved sauce and simmer with the browned chicken until sauce is almost dry.
4. Pour in NESTLÉ All Purpose Cream and remove from heat. Serve hot.

Tip: When pouring Nestlé cream into the pan, push the chicken aside first so the cream only touches the sauce. Pour Nestlé cream in slowly and whisk it FAST for it to emulsify.

I learned that the technique of twice cooking the chicken adobo to give it flavor and crisp, then the finishing touch of Nestlé Cream gives it the rich, creamy, delicious twist.

Chef's special: Creamy Chicken Adobo

While the Creamy Chicken Adobo was being cooked, the aroma of the dish was just wafting throughout the venue. Nasaan na ang rice?! :D After the demo, Chef asked if anyone would want to try cooking the same dish during the event. They needed 3 pairs of volunteers, and I wasted no time and raised my hand ASAP. I wanted to make the most out of it and I really wanted to cook this dish together with Panda!

Chef Panda (He's opening a restaurant next month!)

He did most of the cooking, while I did the motivating and cheering...

...and smiling and posing. Hoho! Joke lang, nagparticipate naman ako. :D

Before & After

The chicken adobo already smelled so good in its classic form, but when Nestlé Cream was added to the dish it became even more special. (Just a single addition in the ingredients made such a huge difference!) Our sauce initially had a strong vinegar flavor, but Nestlé Cream toned it down and gave it a creamier and thicker texture. Imagine a mix of savory, tangy, and creamy flavor all in one dish! ♥ When poured over rice, the rich sauce just wraps around each grain. My mouth is watering again just thinking about it.

Here's our own version of Creamy Chicken Adobo! And no, you may not use my shot in joining the #CreateWithCream contest or else I'll report you. :)

Thank you, Chef Rob and Nestlé Cream! We enjoyed and learned a lot. I'm excited to recreate this recipe of Creamy Chicken Adobo at home. When I was telling my sister about the event, she told me that a colleague from her previous workplace always made delicious creamy pork steak for them using Nestlé Cream, too. That's something to try as well! :D

Website: createwithcream.ph

Facebook: Nestle Cream

Have you tried cooking with Nestlé Cream? Feel free to share with me your favorite dish/recipe! I want to learn more and cook more para sa kinabukasan. Haha :D

Love,

Helen

Let's keep in touch!

Lucky Citrine on Facebook
Lucky Citrine on Instagram

Watsons Triple Bonus Promo + Haul

I live way up in the North, so it would take a LOT for me to trek all the way to Fort just for an event. When I was invited to the Watsons Triple Bonus Blogger Shopping Day at SM Aura, it was an easy yes! :D

It was funny because I already joined this same promo a few days ago when I bought a makeup remover and some oil blotting sheets at Watsons Fisher Mall, and then I received an email for this event. It's not every day you get the chance to win Apple watches, coupons, and shopping points!

For a minimum spend of P500 (single-receipt) from Watsons or The SM Store Beauty Section from August 27 to September 27, 2015, inclusive of any of the participating brands, you will be entitled to join the e-raffle upon registration and texting of entry.

Participating brands are marked with a red diamond sticker.

The Triple Bonus Promo gives you these exciting deals:

(1) GREAT DISCOUNTS

I had fun looking around! I especially liked these deals from Watsons brand. Super sulit!

(2) E-RAFFLE WITH HOT PRIZES

They're giving away 50 Apple Watches, and SMAC members get the chance to win up to 50,000 Shopping Points.

(3) INSTANT CASH COUPON

For a minimum P1,000 single-receipt purchase from Watsons or The SM Store Beauty Section from August 27 to September 27, 2015, inclusive of any of the participating brands, you will receive P100 cash coupon (GC and not a discount voucher!) which you can use on your next shopping trip.

MY HAUL! :D

Because I'm getting mature and I feel like I've reached the point where new makeup doesn't excite me as much as before... I have this very practical Watsons haul consisting of skin care, vitamins, and everyday essentials! :D

Watsons Cream Body Wash in Green Tea and Strawberry (Buy 1 Take 1 at P229) - I LOVE this body wash. I won't ever buy pricier ones after trying this. I've emptied my Cantaloupe scented one, and is currently halfway through with Green Tea at home, so these are my lovely backups. (Hint: Green Tea reminds me of Elizabeth Arden Green Tea perfume!)

Celeteque Acne Solutions Acne Clearing Facial Moisturizer Gel (P335) is my skin saver! I swear by this moisturizer to shrink my occasional breakouts fast without drying out my skin.

Bioderma Sensibio Eye Contour Gel (P1,248) - I recently ran out of eye serum, and was planning on trying Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye, but chanced upon Bioderma, a French drugstore brand that has reached Philippine shores just recently. I was torn between getting the Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle Solution with a tiny 2ml tube of this eye cream as freebie attached to it, or this full-sized 15ml tube. So, I went with what I actually NEEDED at the moment. (Micelle Solution, you're next, after I finish all my makeup removers!)

Kamillosan M Spray (P428) is a handy dandy sore throat buster, so I had to have one as backup at home just in case someone gets sick. I'm liking the new slimmer packaging. It used to be stout before. (Heck, I was even tempted to get a tiny Lysol To-Go, just to make sure no germs will survive!)

Berocca in Mixed Berries and Citrus (P265 each) - I'm excited to try these 2 new flavors of Berocca. I missed the event where they launched these, so I bought them instead since I was really so curious on how they tasted like. So far, I'm liking mixed berries! :3

I'm not very particular with the cotton I use for my makeup remover and toner, so I got this one from Purity because it came with free cotton buds. The Colgate Gold Charcoal toothbrush was a pasalubong for my Panda. :D

Shopping at Watsons was, is, and always will be fun! Now crossing my fingers on winning amazing prizes from the Triple Bonus Promo. Visit http://bit.ly/WatsonsTripleBonus and Like Watsons Philippines on Facebook for more information.

Thanks for the invite, Watsons and Nuffnang Philippines!
 

Love,

Helen

SkinWhite and Nuffnang bring you Snow White and the Huntsman

Skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony - Snow White is one of the first beauty icons of our time. Achieving her beautiful blush white skin that Prince Charming can't resist is now easier more than ever, because we have SkinWhite!

How does SkinWhite work? It has Synchrowhite Action that works simultaneously in 4 ways to give you that rosy white glow, as it does the following:
(1) WHITENS the skin’s surface

(2) REDUCES formation of new dark pigments at its source

(3) NOURISHES skin with Vitamins

(4) PROTECTS skin against toxins and UV rays

I think Kim Chiu is the perfect endorser for Skin White. She always has that beautiful glow!

And if you want to see how SkinWhite works, watch this best kilig BFF story. It reminds me of my high school days!

SkinWhite has a complete range of whitening products for the face and body. Know more about the SkinWhite products here.

SkinWhite also has an exciting contest for all you lovely ladies! Join their "Love to be Near" Summer Promo here.

Love,
Helen

Listerine Natural Green Tea Launch at Umu, Dusit Thani

Meet the newest addition to the iconic mouthwash brand Listerine: Listerine Natural Green Tea Antiseptic Mouthwash. Truth to be told, I haven't used any type of mouthwash before since I felt that brushing and flossing are already enough for good dental hygiene, but it's always good to learn and try new things.

I used to think that mouthwashes are an additional but unnecessary step to oral hygiene, until I found out that brushing alone cleans only 25% of your mouth. In the Philippines, 92.4% of the population have the most common disease known to man, which are dental caries or tooth decay. This can easily be prevented by 3 simple steps to good oral hygiene: brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash.


Listerine Natural Green Tea Antiseptic Mouthwash is the natural way to fight tooth decay. It contains green tea extract and 2x more fluoride (vs. other Listerine variants), and it kills 99.9% of germs in your mouth and shields teeth from tooth decay.


Natural green tea contains catechins that inhibit cavity-causing bacteria, tannins that prevent build-up of plaque, and fluoride that strengthens teeth enamel. Fluoride, on the other hand, remineralizes and restores the enamel strength, resists acid attacks from bacteria and sugar, and reverses early signs of tooth decay. It has been found that Japanese kids who drank a cup of green tea after a meal had significantly less tooth decay compared to those who didn't drink green tea after a meal. This shows green tea's affinity to the enamel of the teeth.

It's nice to know that this mouthwash is alcohol-free and has a mild flavor. The liquid solution formula is unique as it coats the teeth, which forms a protective shield to prevent cavities from forming. I've been using this mouthwash for days and I noticed that it takes a longer amount of time for plaque (that sticky white film that coats the teeth and causes cavities) to form on the surface of my teeth. Also, I've noticed less freaky morning breath after I wake up, which is a good thing. This mouthwash will leave your mouth clean and fresh for a longer period of time.

The new Listerine Natural Green Tea Mouthwash is available in leading supermarkets, drugstores, and department stores for about P75.00 for 80ml and P170.00 for 250ml. That's a small price to pay for stronger, healthier teeth and gums with less cavities.

Here are some pictures from the launch:

The launch was held in Umu, Dusit Thani, in Makati. The restaurant has a dim and relaxing atmosphere, and they served excellent and authentic Japanese cuisine.

Green Iced Tea & Hot Green Tea

Pumpkin Tofu

Shaké (salmon) and Maguro (tuna) Sashimi

Miso Soup

Kani Salad

Crispy Shrimp, Kisu and Assorted Vegetable Tempura

With Krissy and Cai

With Maggie

It was nice to learn something new, and meet new friends during the event. Thanks, Maggie, Krissy, and Cai for being my table-mates. Thank you, Nuffnang and Listerine Philippines for the invite!

Love,
Helen

PLDT myDSL & Nuffnang bring you The Avengers!

One of the catchiest commercials I've seen was the boy who sang "Anna Banana" on Youtube where his mom was playing it over and over again so the number of views could be increased. This commercial was brought to us by PLDT myDSL, proving that the strongest connections are at home.

Anna Banana Original Commercial

This was the commercial aired on TV that captured the interest of many...

Anna Banana Original Song

...and led them to search in Youtube if it really existed. Yes it does, and it not only had 100 views, but over 1 million views as of now!

Anna Banana Thank You Video

Because of the success of the Anna Banana commercial, Derek S. Lozano (the kid in the commercial), recorded this "thank you" video for all the comments and views for his song.

I liked the commercial the first time I saw it because I was touched by the message. His mom was supporting him all the way, watching his video again and again even until the wee hours in the morning. When his son got so excited that his video reached many hits, he ran down to his mom to announce its success, not knowing the effort his mom put behind it. I think that was very sweet!

I'm sure that PLDT and even non-PLDT subscribers enjoyed the commercial. By the way, I've got updates regarding PLDT myDSL:

1. PLDT myDSL Plan 1299 is now upgraded to 1Mb from the previous 768Kb.
2. For subscribers of Plan 990, upgrade your subscription to Plan 1299 by simply adding P300 to your monthly bill.
3. For more information, go to www.pldtmydsl.com.

This update was brought to you by PLDT myDSL and Nuffnang!

Love,
Helen

Freebie Beauty Haul

I seldom do haul posts, but a freebie haul post is a must. :D

Early this week, I gave two bottles of (almost brand new and barely used) fragrances to our helper because she might find better use for it. The same day, I won this bottle of perfume from Northern Living Magazine! Northern Living caters to those who are living in the metro North. This magazine is all about fashion, beauty, retail, food and dining, health and fitness, home and entertainment, art, personal profiles, and other lifestyle offerings. Subscription is FREE, you only have to pay a minimum amount for delivery. Like them on Facebook so you'd be updated with their current issues and promos.

These items arrived a day after I won. (Hooray for lightning speed delivery!) Thank you, Northern Living!

Tous L'eau de Toilette 50ml and Tous Journal

There are three variants of this Tous fragrance range. I got the green one, which has a citrus scent. I like fresh scents so I'll see how this one works out for me. I like the journal too because it looks so posh with its mint green cover and metal ball charm. I like writing in notebooks with no lines so this one's super nice.

Yesterday, I received an unexpected package from Human Nature. I was surprised and I so wanted to see what was inside. I got two of their newest product for review. Thank you, Human Nature! I'm very excited to review these items!

Human Nature Deodorant in Aloe Fresh 50ml
Human Nature Healthy Lotion in Berry Bliss 50ml

Because I am a body butter fanatic, I rarely use lotion so I'm curious to see how this one will work for my super dry body skin. (Body skin, because my facial skin is oily.) I'm liking both the scents of these products. The deo smells super fresh, and the lotion smells so sweet and fruity.

Last night, I attended Nuffnang's special screening of The Hunger Games in Shang Cineplex. I did not read the book prior to watching the movie so I was super glued to the screen. The movies was very nice and interesting and I would not spoil any part of it for you. Go watch it! I'm a new fan of The Hunger Games. These two items were part of my goodie bag from Banana Boat and Schick. (I gave the Schick razor and shaving foam to my dad so they're not included in the picture.)

Banana Boat Ultra Protect Sunscreen Lotion SPF 80 PA+++
Banana Boat Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 110 PA+++

I now have no excuse to not go to the beach, thanks to Banana Boat, Schick, and Nuffnang!

I shall review these products soon so watch out for it! :)

Love,
Helen

Summer is hotter with Banana Boat Sunscreen Lotion, Schick, & Nuffnang

My ideal Nuffnang summer is of course a trip to the beach! Summer is never complete without going to the beach.

Three things I love:

1. Sunny, clear blue skies


2. Lounging by the gazebo


3. Playing Frisbee with friends


Two things I need to get ready for summer:

1. SPF

I think it's a crime to go to the beach without bringing SPF. It's sunburn, wrinkled, leathery, sun-damaged skin waiting to happen! While the sun is not totally our enemy, as it can help us product Vitamin D, essential for the absorption of calcium into out bloodstream, it's always nice to be protected. For all the SPF you will need, there's Banana Boat Sunscreen Lotion. We’ve got you covered.

2. Smooth, hair-free skin

What's a bikini-body with unwanted hair all over the place? It ruins the moment. While I am a fan of waxing, a quick shave at home does the job if I am in a hurry (or if I want hair removal to be virtually painless). With Schick, one glide results to smooth, touchable, and hair-free skin: perfect accessory for your sexy swimsuits! Schick. Free your skin.


Summer is gonna be a blast with Nuffnang, Banana Boat, and Schick!

Love,
Helen