Saving and Investing For Your Future

No matter how young are, it is important to start early and save for your future. Much more if we already have a family. We must remember that our body ages and get weak, hence our capacity to work decreases as we grow old that's why it is critical to save while we still have the means. We don't want to depend on our children for money when we retire, aren't we?

That's why it is such a blessing when I stumbled upon Francisco Colayco's best selling book "Wealth Within Your Reach" in early 2011. This book is full of insights that you can use and you will definitely relate to it because it is designed in Philippine settings. It is aimed to teach that all Filipinos regardless of their status have the capacity to invest and become financially independent. It taught me that i can save, invest and grow my money for only P1,000 thru the concept of mutual fund. I also learned that aside from investment, it is also important to provide for 2 other funds for specific purposes namely emergency fund and insurance and how you can build these 3 funds simultaneously. I wish I was able to discover this book earlier so that I could've started when I was much younger.

This book is an eye opener. I'll share with you some of the tips I learned in my succeeding posts so you too can start the habit. Hope this book will be an eye opener to you as it was for me.

Bell Pepper Pizza

Ingredients:
- 8pcs medium sized bell pepper cut in half
- 1pack bacon chopped
- 1can mushroom chopped
- Onion chopped
- 4oz  cream cheese softened
- Mozarella grated

How  to cook:

1. Saute onion,  bacon and mushroom until cooked. Add a few salt
2. Transfer to a bowl and let cool
3. Mix cream cheese  and 1/3 of  mozarella. Blend well.
4. Stuffed mixture inside bell pepper
5. Put remaining mozzarella cheese on top
6. Bake for 15mins in 350 degrees until cheese is melted 

You may also use pizza crust instead of bell peppers as it base.  Just put some pizza sauce before placing the bacon mixture and add chopped bell peppers on top.

Enjoy!

Playtime at Gymboree

We went to Gymboree Edsa Shang to redeem our deal grocer voucher and enroll Mikeila in their Play & Learn Class and Music Class. She will start next week, so excited!

But first, we let her play at their play area and she had lots of fun!

If you're planning to bring your kids there to play, you must remember a few simple rules:

• Only children below 5 years old are allowed to play
• Adults accompanying the kids inside the play area must remove their shoes and wear socks
• Children must be bare foot
• Always stay with your child within a hug's reach

Don't worry if you forgot to bring a pair of socks. Gymboree sells these at P40/pair.

Let your kid's imagination run wild and have fun!

Chicken and Tuna Pesto Pasta

I love to cook on my spare time. Here's a simple pasta recipe that you can whip up for merienda or parties.

Chicken & Tuna Pesto Pasta

Ingredients:
500g fusilli pasta (cooked as directed)
3 cans tuna flakes (i like to combine two variants - in vegetable oil and hot & spicy)
1 small pouch Clara Ole Cheesy Pesto Sauce
1/4kg boneless chicken cut into cubes 
Olive oil or butter
garlic
garlic powder
pepper
Maggi magic sarap

How to cook:

1. Marinate chicken cubes in pepper, garlic powder and magic sarap for 15-20mins
2. In a skillet, saute garlic and chicken until brown. Mix in the tuna but drain and reserve the oil. Add some pepper
3. After several minutes, put the pesto sauce and the rest of the oil from the canned tuna.
4. Salt to taste. Let it simmer for 10 minutes. 
5. Pour the pasta and serve while hot

Try this at home and let me know what you think. :)

Oreo Truffles

I whipped up something new in the kitchen today. I was looking for a no-bake dessert that can also be served on parties since Mikeila's 2nd b-day is in a few months. Here's the recipe for Oreo Truffles (also called Oreo Balls)

Ingredients:
30pcs Oreo Cookies
8oz cream cheese, softened (for this recipe, I used Philadelphia cream cheese 1/3 less fat)
360g white chocolate chips used for baking

How to cook:

1. Crush the Oreos real good until you get a powdery consistency. You may do so by putting it in a blender or by placing it in a ziplock bag and manually crushing it with a baking pin.
2. Transfer to a bowl and put the softened cream cheese. Blend well with the Oreos until smooth. Refrigerate for 30mins.
3. While waiting, melt the white chocolate chips using a double boiler method or microwave. For the former, get a saucepan and fill a quarter of it with water. Simmer in low heat. When the water gets hot (not boiling), place another bowl on top of the saucepan uncovered. Make sure that the bowl is dry and that it does not touch the water below it. Put the chocolate chips and stir occasionally until chocolate is melted. Remove from the pan and set aside.
4. Take out the Oreo mixture from the fridge and form little balls the size of a lollipop. Dip each ball in the melted chocolate making sure that it is completely covered. Place the balls in a baking tray lined with baking sheet. Put a cocktail pick in each ball so that it will be easy and fun to eat
5. Refrigerate and let it set.

My husband loved this. Try this and it will surely be a hit especially to those with sweet tooth!
Enjoy!

Healthway Dental Package For Your Li'l Ones

In celebration of Healthway's 15th year, they are offering an amazing dental package for children 12 years old and below. The package includes teeth cleaning, sealant and flouride application for only P1,500. Promo runs starting June 1 to August 31, 2012. Just remember that sealant can be applied to kids at least 6 years old.


Contact your nearest Healthway branches to set an appointment.