Making the most out of pantry staples

The kitchen has never been busier now that everyone’s staying at home. The thing is, options have also been limited with the community quarantine in place.  With most of us stocking up on canned and instant food for their long shelf life and convenience, you won’t be alone when finding yourself out of ideas on how else to serve pantry staples.

Here are a couple of ways to jazz up what you most likely have in stock from The Maya Kitchen.

Hotcakes. Maya Hotcakes are great on their own, but there’s always room to introduce new flavors to this menu favorite. It’s easy enough to add in oats, fruits, peanut butter, or anything else you prefer. If you don’t want to go for sweet, here’s a tip: Get some onions and cheese and mix in leftover shredded roasted chicken or chopped square ham bits to your hotcake batter for something savory to start the day.

Canned sardines. A popular pantry regular, it’s a good source of protein and a versatile ingredient. Add eggs to make torta, grab some spaghetti to whip up a quick pasta dish, or throw in misua or sotanghon for a hearty noodle soup. Cook with leftover rice for another take on your favorite  sinangag, or sauté canned sardines with your preferred seasonings to serve on top of a steaming bowl of rice.

Hot dogs. A top pick for kids, hot dogs have long since established their place in our fridge. Saute with onions and banana ketchup (you can choose a spicy version for extra kick), or try a twist on lumpiang shanghai by swapping your usual giniling with hot dogs and lots of gooey cheddar cheese. Add canned or bottled corn, beans, salsa, and peppers for a Tex-Mex-inspired hot dog dish, or serve as corn dog bites for a fun, tasty snack.Tinned tuna. Budget-friendly and good for you, canned tuna presents many possibilities for everyday meals. Turn it into a  spread  to go  with  your  breakfast  toast  or  as  the star  of  your  salad.  Make quick  patties by adding breadcrumbs and onions, or get all the #avors you love about  sisig  by substituting canned tuna for an equally delicious dish without the cholesterol. 

Tip: Whip up a creamy tuna bake with Spanish-style canned tuna, fettucine noodles, condensed cream of mushroom soup, and frozen mix vegetables. Top with saltine crackers and grated cheese, and pop in the oven for 10-15 minutes.

Instant noodles.  Instant noodles are convenient and tasty, but there’s really nothing stopping you from going beyond what it says in the packaging. One of the easiest ways to upgrade instant noodles is to use it with other ingredients or infuse it with different flavors. Enjoy your own ramen by adding pork slices, eggs, nori, and miso paste to your instant noodles, or do a Thai-inspired stir fry by using peanut butter for your sauce. For a dish that’scloser to home, use your instant noodles to make bulalo or as the base to pancit canton. 

Discover   many   other   tips   and   recipes   you   can   try   while   keeping   safe   and   healthy   at  home  atwww.themayakitchen.com. Like   and   follow   Maya   Kitchen   on   Facebook   and  Instagram   @TheMayaKitchen1   and   follow   us   on   Twitter@TheMayaKitchen.

BPI extends public service, relief in the time of COVID-19

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has stepped up efforts to provide service and relief to Filipinos to ease difficulties brought by the COVID-19 situation, while at the same time ensuring the safety of clients and its employees.

“As a bank, we have to help ensure that the financial system continues to operate efficiently, no matter how trying the circumstances. We have to do our part to minimize the chances that a health crisis becomes an economic crisis. And we have to do this in a way that minimizes the health risks to the people that we have deployed,” said Cezar Consing, BPI President and CEO.

Some of the Bank’s initiatives that are currently being rolled out include:

1. Branch network. Select BPI branches as well as those of its subsidiaries BPI Family Savings Bank and BanKo remain open to attend to clients basic banking needs with all Over-the-counter (OTC) fees temporarily waived. For its skeleton staffing, BPI is providing special food and transportation allowances, and arranging carpooling or transportation to help employees get to their workplace assignments. Soon, all branches will have acrylic screens, which are currently being delivered to the first batch of branches, to help protect clients and employees.

2. 90-day grace period. Front liners--such as those in the medical field including doctors and nurses, as well as policemen and soldiers who are on duty or called on by the government to deliver service during the enhanced community quarantine period-- are given the option to avail of a 90-day deferral in their existing auto and housing loan payments, interest-free.

3. 30-day grace period. BPI clients can avail of a 30-day grace period payment option applicable to personal loans, home loans, auto loans, SME loans, and microfinance loans. All are subject to certain terms and conditions. Credit card holders also have the option to defer payment for 30 days without incurring late payment charges.

4. Waived fees. Transfer fees to other banks using InstaPay and PESONet are waived, as well as transfer fees to other BPI accounts using its mobile app for the duration of the enhanced community quarantine period. BPI’s remittance partners also either waived fees or offered discounts for overseas Filipinos: Kookmin (discounted fees until December 31, 2020), i-Remit (waived fees from March 21-22, 2020), and Remitly (waived fees and higher FX rates from March 25 to June 30, 2020).

5. Corporate citizenship. BPI, together with the Ayala Corporation and Globe Telecom, donated PhP 5M to Philippine Red Cross for the procurement and distribution of 50,000 face masks and 2,000 sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) to medical front liners who are in critical need of protection in hospitals, local government units, and airports.

As the need for social distancing becomes more critical, BPI is also advocating online banking to minimize the need for branch visits during this time. BPI clients are encouraged to do their everyday banking with BPI Online and Mobile App, conveniently and securely at the comfort of their homes.

UNICEF Appeals for Support

UNICEF urgently needs $42.3 million to scale up its response to the Covid-19 virus outbreak and support global efforts to contain it.

“This is a race against time,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Henrietta Fore. “The immediate focus is to reduce human to human transmission but also to help children in areas where their access to essential services has been disrupted.”

The preliminary funds will support UNICEF’s work to reduce the transmission of the virus including by strengthening risk communication and tackling misinformation so that children, pregnant women and their families know how to prevent Covid-19 spread and where to seek assistance.

UNICEF’s current response focuses on supporting the Government of China and the broader East Asia and Pacific region countries where most of the cases have so far been reported. Since 29 January, UNICEF has flown in 13 tons of supplies, including protective suits, masks, goggles and gloves for use by health workers. Additional shipments are in the pipeline and UNICEF is pre-positioning supplies in key locations.

Given the unpredictable nature of the virus and the continued spread, UNICEF is also liaising with Governments, World Health Organization counterparts and other partners in developing contingency plans in other regions, especially in countries with weaker health systems and limited capacity to deal with major disease outbreaks.

“We are hoping for the best, but must prepare for the worst,” Fore said.

Dessert Dreams with the Queens of Buttercream

Having a sweet tooth and three kids, with sweet tooth as well, it is important for a dad like me to learn about baking. In this aspect I get the help of The Maya Kitchen every now and then. And last week I learned flower piping from no other than The world-renowned duo of Queen of Hearts Couture Cakes - Valeri Valeriano and Christina Ong!

Valerie and Christina, with the photo of the first ever cupcakes they decorated.

The Maya Kitchen brings in the popular Filipino founders and owners of the London-based Queen of Hearts Couture Cakes shop, for the special Dessert Dreams with the Queens of Buttercream workshop. The session included a cake decorating demo using local and easy to find ingredients like MAYA products and a hands-on exercise where we got expert guidance on frosting a cupcake. 

Valeri and Christina’s sweet success started with a tiny oven (that can only bake six cupcakes at a time!) in their tiny kitchen in London in 2011 while taking odd jobs to survive. Since they had zero baking experience, they equipped themselves with YouTube videos, basic baking tools and improvised piping bags to give friends a unique handmade Mother’s Day gift. They made their first sunflower cupcake and unlocked a passion for baking and buttercream art. 

The books the  Queens of Buttercream published are available in popular bookstores

Soon, Valeri and Christina started their own cake business and pioneered innovative techniques and intricate designs that won them medals in cake decorating competitions in London. Now known as Queens of Buttercream, they have since been invited to conduct workshops at jam-packed venues all around the world. They have also authored best-selling books The Contemporary Buttercream Bible (2014), 100 Buttercream Flowers (2015), Buttercream One-Tier Wonders (2016), and Buttercream Flowers for all Seasons (2018), which have been translated into different languages.

Despite the success and their busy calendar, Valeri and Christina still make time to travel to Manila at least once a year. Their passion for baking and sharing their knowledge have also led them to organize the first Cake Fiesta Manila, the first-ever ultimate cake show in the Philippines, in 2019. Supported by Maya, the event is considered as the biggest baking and cake decorating expo in the country, with a second run slated on November 13-15, 2020 at the SMX Convention Center Pasay. 

The beautiful cupcakes we've decorated!

Learn great recipes at www.themayakitchen.com. Like and follow The Maya Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram @TheMayaKitchen1 and follow us on Twitter @TheMayaKitchen. e-mail  contact @themayakitchen.com, or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City or call 8892-1185 or 8892-5011 local 108 or +63929 679 6102.

Obra Maestra 2020 At The Shang

This February, discover more of Philippine fashion as Shang celebrates the timeless appeal of the iconic Filipiniana dress. Nothing can better showcase the beautiful iterations of this quintessential Filipino look than a night of fashion history  with  some of  the  biggest  names  in  Philippine  design  and  fashion. 

#ObraMaestraAtTheShang   bringsSpectacular   Cultural   Fashion   Show   &   Exhibition:   The  Evolution   of   Filipiniana   Fashion  featuring   modern interpretations of the Filipiniana at the  Grand Atrium.   Participating designers include  Oskar Peralta,  ReneeSalud, Ditta Sandico, Richard Papa, Roland Lirio, Steve De Leon, Delby Bragais, Peri Diaz, Albert Figueras,Peter   Lim,  Ricci  Lizaso,  Glenn  Lopez,  Edgar   Madamba,  Jontie   Martinez,  Jerome   Navarro,  Joyce  Penas-Pilarsky, Lito Perez, Edgar San Diego, Gerry Sunga, Philip Torres, Edwin Uy, and the late Bad Boy of Philippine Fashion, Eddie Baddeo. 

This dazzling display is scored  by celebrated  kundiman  musicians, tenor Sherwin Sozon and soprano Tonton Pascual of the Lyric Opera of the Philippines, Mike Austria, Al Gatmaitan, Homer Mendoza, Vince Conrad, and Kathy Hipolito Mas. The fashion show complements the unveiling of the upcoming publications of fashion and arts impresario Zardo Ayangco-Austria, who conceptualized and directed Obra Maestra at the Shang. 

The first  one is  the  landmark  Obra Maestra:  A   Portrait  of  Excellence  in  Philippine Fashion  and  Culture,  a retrospective of vintage fashion photography, culled from bibliophile Mario Feir’s exclusive Filipiniana collection. The coffee table book will also feature narratives on Filipino arts, customs, and traditions from the pre-colonial and colonial periods to the post-war and contemporary times. 

The other publication is NOBLE IDEAS. To Aspire and Inspire, a full-color magazine with almost 200 pages of inspiring work and articles from some of the country’s talented and artistic designers from various fields. 

Obra Maestra has also put together a special exhibition of the evolution of the Filipiniana from pre-colonial times to the 1970s at the Luxury Lane, East Wing until February 29. Included in this showcase are pieces from Feir’s exclusive   Filipiniana   collection   and   the   masterworks   of  Ramon  Valera,  Pitoy  Moreno,  Aureo   Alonzo,  Ben Farrales, R.T. Paras, and Pacita Longos. Proceeds of the Obra Maestra benefit the construction of the Benedictine Sisters Reparatrices of the Sacred Heart’s new monastery and chapel in Mexico, Pampanga. These also raise funds for the Duyog Marawi Project, spearheaded by Bishop Edwin dela Peña, and the victims of the recent Taal Volcano eruption.

 #FeelTheShangVibe and pay #HomageToHeritage as Shangri-La Plaza turns into a mecca of arts and fashion, open to anyone who wants to appreciate the best in Filipino culture. For inquiries, call 8-370-2597/98 or visit www.facebook.com/shangrilaplazaoffcial.

Solmux Advance

Unilab, the leading pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, is once again in the limelight for making the first medicine in the world to combine carbocisteine with zinc, addressing one's cough while strengthening immunity.

Solmux Advance is a significant addition to Unilab’s impressive portfolio of products, which include trusted brands Enervon, Biogesic, Neozep, and Ceelin.

Solmux Advance is a medicine used for the relief of cough characterized by excessive or sticky sputum or phlegm to help treat respiratory tract disorders such as acute or chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They are also used in the treatment of otitis media with effusion and glue ear.

About Unilab:

Unilab is the leading pharmaceutical company in the Philippines, a position it has consistently maintained over six decades. Its portfolio includes some of the biggest prescription and over-the-counter brands in the country.

Established in 1945, Unilab is the realization of the vision of its founders, Jose Y. Campos and Mariano K. Tan. It is a strong industry leader distinguished by its corporate philosophy that places the people at the center of everything—Bayanihan. Work revolves around trust, reciprocity, and the sharing of fruits and burdens.

Unilab’s key management officers are Chairman Jocelyn Campos Hess, President and Chief Executive Officer Clinton Andrew Campos Hess, Vice Chairman Mariano John Tan and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Benjamin Yap.

Nina Daza Updated Nora Daza’s Iconic Cookbook Let’s Cook with Nora

When one mentions Nora Daza, great food comes to mind. A true champion of Filipino cuisine, Nora’s culinary contributions have made a huge impact in the local food culture. Now, the legacy continues in the Daza family as Nora’s youngest daughter and renowned food writer Nina Daza Puyat recently launched a new edition of the iconic Let’s Cook with Nora cookbook to fit today’s kitchens.  

(L-R) Eric Fajardo, Nina Daza-Puyat, Lourdes Fajardo

In honor of the launch of the cookbook’s new edition, The Maya Kitchen pays tribute to the culinary legend by hosting To Mom with Love: Nina Daza Puyat’s Loving Tribune to Nora Daza’s Iconic Cookbook, a special cooking demo with Nina who dishes out how she restyled her mom’s timeless recipes to make it more relatable to modern-day cooks and foodies.

At the demo, Nina features some Noche Buena-ready dishes such as Daza Chicken Relleno, the Daza family’s signature dish, Orange Tart, a must-try at Nora’s Au Bon Vivant restaurant, Kaleslaw, a healthier version of coleslaw, and Parmesan Fish Sticks, an updated version of her mom’s Fish Sticks Italian Style.

“It took me over a year to kitchen-test all the recipes in my mom’s cookbook Let’s Cook with Nora. The new edition remained true to the easy-to-follow recipes, but I tweaked some instructions, updated the ingredients list, and added variations, so it reflects how we cook today,” Nina explains. “My mom’s cookbook was launched over 50 years ago, so it was about time we upgrade the recipes.”

 Daza Chicken Relleno

Dubbed as the Philippines’ first culinary ambassador, Maya and Nora hosted the pioneering cooking and baking competition The Great Maya Cookfest with Nora Daza that ran from 1976 to 1990 and helped launch careers of a new generation of chefs and cooks. She also joined the show winners as they traveled to the United States, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, among others, to promote Filipino cuisine and learn about the host country’s food.

Kaleslaw

Nora and Maya’s connection goes beyond the cookfest, as the culinary legend actively promoted The Maya Kitchen, formerly known as Maya Bakeshop, and Maya products by holding cooking demos all over the country. Most of the episodes of her show, Cooking It Up with Nora, were also shot at The Maya Kitchen.

“Hosting Nina’s demo of recipes off the new edition of Let’s Cook with Nora brings Maya’s bond with her family full circle,” says Eric Fajardo, Business Development Manager of Liberty Commodities Corporation. “The Maya Kitchen has always been proud that we’ve been a part of the impact of the Daza family—from Nora to Nina—to the Filipino culinary scene.”

As Nina takes on the mantle to ensure her mom’s well-cherished dishes remain relevant in today’s homes, the legacy of Let’s Cook with Nora remains 50 years on to inspire and delight a new breed of culinary enthusiasts.

Daza Family

Like and follow The Maya Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram @TheMayaKitchen1 and follow us on Twitter @TheMayaKitchen.

Learn great recipes at www.themayakitchen.com. If you want to take your baking and cooking skills up a notch check out Maya Kitchen’s course offerings at the website, e-mail contactus@themayakitchen.com, or visit The Maya Kitchen Culinary Center every Tuesday to Saturday at 8F Liberty Building, 835 A. Arnaiz Avenue (Pasay Road), Makati City or call 8921185 or 892-5011 local 108 or +63929 679 6102.