The Kitchen Mom by dhess

Whether you’re working from home or doing a weekend movie marathon with the family, you can make your day extra sweeter by enjoying home activities with a cup of hot chocolate. Stay cozy and level up your hot cocoa game with these easy-to-make Swiss Miss chocolate drink recipes. Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa Who says peanut butter only goes well on bread? Pour a sachet of Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate into a mug. Add 180 ml hot water to dissolve the cocoa mix. Add a tablespoon of creamy peanut butter, and gradually stir until well-mixed. Top off with whipped cream. Caramel Hot Cocoa Simply adding caramel to your drink can give it a different burst of sweetness. Make your caramel hot cocoa by pouring milk into a mug and heating it in the microwave until it’s hot. Add in half a teaspoon of caramel syrup and stir until fully dissolved. Pour in a sachet of Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate. Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel. Mocha Hot Cocoa Savor the perfect blend of chocolate...

The COVID-19 Pandemic intensifies the Philippine’s battle against Double Burden of Malnutrition. Double Burden of Malnutrition is defined by World Health Organization (WHO) as “the coexistence of undernutrition along with overweight and obesity, or diet-related non communicable diseases, within individuals, households and populations, and across the life course.” The limited distribution and access to food supplies aggravate the plight of poor and low income Filipino households to sustain each person’s required nutrients through healthy meals. On the other hand, home confinement due to the mandated community quarantine may cause more people to not only restrict their physical activities but also to overeat and/or consume more food with empty calories as part of coping with stress and/or boredom. Given the importance of maintaining healthy diets to sustain our health and immunity against viruses and bacteria, we should turn to the practice of Pinggang Pinoy® as a viable saf...

Through challenging times, NutriAsia’s own frontliners have remained dedicated to keeping shelves stocked with Filipinos’ favorite and trusted food products. In recognition of this, children of NutriAsia employees are honoring and further protecting them through their Salamat BayaNAI program. Children write messages of encouragement to NutriAsia’s own frontliners. Launched by Batang NutriAsia, an in-house summer program for children of NutriAsia employees, the Salamat BayaNAI program saw 3,800 face shields assembled and donated to NutriAsia merchandisers and employees for their protection. Despite the risks, these merchandisers served as the company’s front line in ensuring supermarkets and grocery stores remain stocked with NutriAsia products throughout the community quarantine, while employees from departments such as Human Resources, Total Quality Management, R&D, and Supply Chain also continued to report to work on site, making sure that all operations rem...

As part of the new normal, many people are now working from home, sitting in front of computers for most of the day. However, there are some who need to be in online meetings—client calls, pitch presentations, team conference updates, and virtual catch-ups with colleagues—as part of their work. So, what’s a girl got to do? Amp up her looks a little and be her most confident self, even on video calls. One way to achieve this is to apply just the right amount of makeup. Here are a few tricks to tune up one’s looks for a work meeting (or even online after-work get-togethers with friends). Start your day with a morning skincare routine A simple key to staying motivated all day is to feel good, especially during the morning. After washing your face, apply moisturizer and sunscreen (yes, even computer and phone screens emit UV rays!), and give your skin the extra care it needs. Apply concealer Cover your dark spots and brighten up under eyes with a concealer for a natur...

“What if she says ‘no’? What if she gets pregnant right away? What if she gets sick? What if I get sick?” —these are the thoughts running through the mind of a young man as he prepares to propose to his girlfriend in the newly-launched online video of BDO Life Assurance Company, Inc. The video spotlights a man confronted by life stage uncertainties or the ‘what ifs’ that come with getting married, starting a family, and growing older. “What if she wants a big wedding? What if she gets pregnant right away? What if we have twins? What if ours kids want to get double majors?” Like the video’s lead character, it’s normal to feel uneasy over these ‘what if’ questions despite the excitement of beginning a life together. Fortunately, there is a way to address life’s ‘what ifs.’ “Everyone needs two plans in life. Plan A consists of a wealth accumulation program focused on successfully saving and investing within a given timeframe. But given life’s uncertainties, lifestyle needs...

Yung super yung budget na ginagawa nating mga nanay ngayon dahil marami sa atin an No Work, No Pay. Kaya ang ginagawa ko kung ano ablng available na pwede iluto sa kusina yun nalang muna ang ginagawa ko. Kailan patin kase naten pakainin ng masustansyang pagakain ang ating pamilya lalo na sa  panahon ng pandemic. Nakakatuwa na meron mga tao, na lagi handang tumulong sayo kahit hindi ka magsabi. Meron pa ako nakita na isang hiwa ng kalabasa , na bigay ng kapitbahay, at meron din 1 pa na natitira na canned tuna in flakes in oil na galing naman sa relief pack na bigay ng barangay. . Pwede na ito lutuin para sa hapunan namin ngayon. Sayang wala na ang malunggay sa  kapitbahay namin, nakalbo na hahaha. Healthy Pumpkin Rice with Tuna Flakes Ingredients :  1 /2 cup of rice 1 canned tuna flakes in oil 1 cup/ slice of kalabasa/ pumpkin 1 onion ( minced ) 1 small ginger ( minced ) 2 1/2 cups of water 1 tsp of turmeric salt and  pepper 2 tbsp ...

Locally stranded individuals (LSIs), currently staying at the Philippine Ports Authority, recently received assistance from the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF) and TV5 Alagang Kapatid Foundation, Inc. (AKFI) who paid them a visit and advised them on health protocols while distributing snack packs and raincoats. “We hope to provide some comfort and nourishment to over 200 LSIs patiently waiting at the port area for a ship that could transport them to their respective homes in places such as Basilan, Jolo, Sulu, Cagayan De Oro, Butuan City, Iloilo, Bacolod, and Cebu,” said PSF President Ma. Esther O. Santos. “Though they are sad and distressed at having to wait for days and weeks in less than ideal conditions, well-meaning people who call on them to see how they’re doing, and the prospect of getting home eventually, lift their spirits,” Santos added. During their visit, the personnel of PSF and AKFI shared basic information with the LSIs on standard health protocols - like wear...

BDO Unibank, Inc. cautions against scammers who use SIM cards to deceive and steal their victims’ money. One modus is called SIM Swapping, where scammers disguise as telco agents offering upgraded network connection in exchange for SIM cards. More prevalent is the SIM Upgrade modus. Scammers purchase 4G SIM cards, register their victims’ mobile number, and fool their victims into giving the One-Time PIN (OTP) needed to own the mobile number. In both modus operandi, scammers takeover their victims’ mobile number to control their victims’ online bank accounts. BDO urges clients to call BDO Customer Care to deactivate their accounts if they get SMS notifications or emails about suspicious online transactions. How SIM Swapping and SIM Upgrade work Scammers identify then gather their victims’ personal information through phishing or from the internet. They mention personal information such as birth date and mother’s maiden name when they call their victims to sound convinc...

With Hallyu (Korean Wave) being at its peak in our country, a lot of us are getting hooked on learning the Korean culture especially their food and cuisine. No wonder why Korean restaurants offering authentic Korean cuisines started to show up all over the Metro. For the past few years, I have tried a lot of these restaurants offering Korean food, and there is only a handful of them have given me the satisfaction for the authentic Korean taste that I was looking for. Just recently I found a hidden gem for authentic Korean dishes in the Metro. "Busan Kitchen", the name itself speaks of their humble beginning, using only the authentic Korean ingredients, the freshest meats, and vegetables. Their menu is savory, fresh, and one-of-a-kind. Their mouth-watering and savory dishes were delivered on our doorstep, and We were able to try the following: Samgyeopsal Set A meal set packed with flavor and color, with the meat perfectly grilled which you can heartily enjo...

During the duration of the lockdown period because of COVID-19, We realized a lot of things in our life, we've also learned to make the most of what we have and to adjust ourselves to the "new normal". It was a perfect example of an event in our life where we've been caught off guard since almost all of the access that we have to the outside world has been limited that even the ability to buy groceries and personal needs has been a luxury. While the whole Metro Manila is being quarantined, few brave souls came out to aid their fellow Filipinos in delivering their needs during the entire duration of the quarantine while risking their health to support their families while their regular jobs have been halted. These are the brave Delivery Riders, the unsung heroes that served as a bridge for us to buy what we need while we are in the comfort of our own homes. Imagine the risk that they are facing every time they are on the road, with that in mind is ...

Health experts reveal that it is not enough that the water you drink looks clean to the naked eye. Your water should also be proven clean through lab tests, to avoid common water bourne diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, and gastroenteritis. Unfiltered water also has many potential contaminants, such as chlorine, heavy metals and allergens, as well as parasites. Despite this, keep in mind that water is also important in everyday hydration. A document released by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition cites hydration as a key to supporting the body’s ability to fight the COVID-19 virus and support the immune system, recommending 2-4 ounces of clear liquid beverages every 15 minutes. “Keeping properly hydrated at a time like this refreshes our bodies and keeps the virus away,” said Dr. Sybil R. Bravo, a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital and a member of the Blood-Bourne Infectious Diseases Core Te...

Being away from your family and loved-ones brings unimaginable sadness. Imagine this struggle that our OFW's need to face every day as they perform their duties in different countries missing every event with their families. I still remember when I was an OFW in Hong Kong, despite my everyday struggle in missing my family, I always think of their future and that makes me stronger. Providing them what they need and sending money to my loved ones back in the Philippines gives me satisfaction from all the sacrifices I made abroad, and of course, sending the hard-earned money requires a trusted remittance partner where I can ensure that my family will receive it safely, and that's where BDO partner establishment helped me. Experts in the Philippines and other countries have been warning us: along with the wave of COVID-19 infections would be a wave of mental illness. There’s no avoiding that: people are anxious, afraid, and many have lost jobs and face an uncertain future....

PRIORITIZING HEALTH. Repatriated overseas Filipinos at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) receive hygiene kits before they go back home to their respective provinces. In coordination with BDO Foundation, BDO Remit turned over hundreds of bags of hygiene kits to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 and the PITX, which were then distributed to overseas Filipinos who were sent back here due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The repatriated overseas Filipinos, who have already tested negative in the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and completed their required quarantine period, were then transported back to their home provinces thru the assistance of OWWA.