Category: Shakes, Juices and Smoothies

Peking Garden Serves the Best Peking Duck in the City

By livelifeandlove on December 13, 2023

At Peking Garden Greenbelt 5 Ayala Center Makati city, we celebrated the 90th birthday of my aunt Conchita with family, relatives and close friends. The fine dining hosted for more than 50 people, we all occupied 5 round tables leaving one table for food platform. The food was served at 7:30 as guests began to arrive as early as 7 in the evening allowing time for conversation and getting to know each other.

Prayers before meals was offered to thank God for our blessings.The birthday music (Chinese version) playing in the background to match the birthday celebration.The celebration brings family members, relatives and special friends closer together on the table, not only on this occasion but to every event. All the guests elegantly dressed in red and that includes me.This kind of gathering serves as a good bonding for us, helps us to strengthen relationship and connections especially to the business group.

For family celebrations, we normally had dinner in a closed-door room to ensure our own privacy. Scent of good food surrounds us, we are surrounded by the aroma of delicious cuisine throughout the evening. No significant Chinese occasion would be considered complete without an abundance of delectable cuisine involved. There was enough food served and mouthwatering. Awesome! It was an evening with a well balanced meal that contains all necessary nutrients. It not a fatty dishes, not even hot or spicy.

The birthday menu checklist, best selection of favorites are rare treats, variety of Chinese dishes contains low in calories and fats. Obviously, an expensive choices. The soothing effect of all seafood is irresistible so with the signature dish, the ”Peking Duck” How else to explain the sight of good food that gives such a burst of appetite.The presence of more favorites gives more excitement to eat. It’a an oriental feast!

Elegant and beautiful setting

Peking Garden Restaurant

The 90th birthday of my aunt is a significant milestone in one’s life, it is frequently marked by a grand celebration. In general, the older the person the larger the celebration.

The beautiful celebrant, Aunt Conchita cutting her birthday cake.

Birthday cheers and singing the birthday song. While the guests were enjoying, the menu goes a long way creating a good mood. The assortment of food becomes the focal point here. The 12 courses meal, a selection of Chinese specialties. You can see from the menu itself. Yum! I love this food, some are my favorites…

Lively look on the table,sparkling and superb! Everything was arranged oriental style. It’s a 12 courses meal for the celebration. Lets get started,this is such a long list of courses up to 12 and one vegetable salad not on list, that makes it 13-course meal all in all!

Vegetable salad complimented the meal. The best starter going to the main course.

Birthday Misua with Shrimp and Mushroom

In Chinese culture, the custom of eating noodles are thought to bring luck and long life so, everybody must eat noodles served for longer life. My appreciation for all courses, I was trying to get a picture perfect for the first course. The first course, it’s a Birthday Misua with Shrimp and Mushroom.

The 2nd course is a Doubled-boiled Winter Melon Soup with Assorted Seafood. It is clear and tasty. Why clear? well, you don’t see any tiny floating particles, totally clean and clear! Winter melon was considered to be healthy, nourishing and cleansing to the body.

For me, a delicious soup is when you bring up the total hotness of natural flavor of seafood and vegetables.

Each round table is good for 12 guests and to every table, one Broiled-Winter Melon Soup bowl each. What a huge and heavy shell. It’s just perfect enough for 12 people. You can see the assorted seafood individual bowl down there, nourishing and full of flavor. The 4 empty wintermelon shell which serves as a serving dish for the soup.

In a small bowl, it is hot and delicious.It gives specific taste as it is appealing.

The 3rd course is Peking Duck, the restaurant signature dish. Peking duck can be prepared in a number of ways. In spite of the variety of specialties, the Peking duck still remains the favorite dish of the night.

In here, it is served two-ways, you can see below as details shown on photos and the other one is Minced duck with Fresh Lettuce.

The crispy skin of Peking Duck with a stalk of spring onion. How to wrap a Peking Duck? Click this link

Cutting the Peking duck breast in thin slices

The clever way of dividing into pieces. Thin flesh of Peking duck carefully arranged in a circular shape following the edge of the plate.

The duck flesh at the center and the crispy skin on the edge of the plate or vice versa.

Strips of Peking duck served with tortilla, stalks of spring onions and Hoisin sauce.

The whole Peking Duck is a special treat for all of us, full of flavor and deliciously fragrant. It’s addicting, once you start eating it, you just can’t stop, you want more and soon craving to eat again.

The 4th course is Deep Fried Almond Prawns.

Prawns breaded with thin almonds.The perfect match.

The 5th course is Braised Sliced Abalone with Vegetables

Pretty Oh so good! The sparkling abalone is tender and tasty. The fresh green color of the vegetables was completely preserved maintaining vegetables green color and nutritive value.

The 6th course is Whole Lapu-lapu with Scramble Egg White

Whole Lapu-lapu with Scramble Egg White served on a big oval platter, looks deliciously elegant.

The 7th course is Sauteed French Bean with Minced Garlic. The only vegetable being served aside from the salad, preserving the fresh green color, it is sweet and crisp.

The 8th course is Golden Crabs with Salted Egg

The 9th course is Minced Duck with Fresh Lettuce

The Minced duck serves with iceberg lettuce cup and Hoisin sauce. It’s an iceberg lettuce wrap.

The 10th course is Steamed Supreme Soup and Pork Dumpling.

Steamed Supreme Soup and Pork Dumpling, something that will suit your taste.

Champagne Moët & Chandon, French champagne appropriate for the event. The world’s most loved French champagne.

Cheers! Happiness and good health for everyone! Long life for aunt Conchita!

The 11th and 12th courses are desserts; Birthday Bun and Chilled Mango Shake with Sago. I’ve missed to photographed the last one.

Sweet dessert, the Birthday Bun, What’s inside the Birthday Bun? A sweet bean paste.

This is my plate. How good is that? Always on the go for my favorite choice! My appetite grows stronger for food, after the first bite and another bite leads to another bite, there seem to be more…

Bravo ! Highlight of the evening’s entertainment was a special number,violin solo rendition by Jason Gan.( one of Aunt Conchita’s grandchildren) The audience were all quiet as excited to hear the musical piece. Jason’s twin sister a lovely girl, Daniela, check photo above beside Aunt Conchita.

Other photos taken during the celebration. You will see here all the guests who flocked to the elegant and fabulous evening gathering; family members, relatives and special friends. It was a celebration full of laughter and excitement. The birthday treat is a blessing and sign of thoughtfulness. Thank you so much aunt Conchita!

Peking Garden Restaurant specializes in authentic Chinese cuisine. When we have celebrations, we usually host them here, we are frequent customers at this restaurant, whatever dish was ordered, it was always excellent and the ambiance made you feel comfortable while dining.

I’d like to give a round of applause to all foods served on the list item. I would like to thank the chefs for all the dishes that are offered. Congratulations and Best wishes!

Peking Garden offers package rates for private functions and special events

For updates and more information

Peking Garden 4/L Greenbelt 5 Phase 2, Ayala Center, Makati City

Contact Numbers: (02) 729-0567, (02) 729-0719

Thank you Fellas for reading my blog!

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas | Shakes, Juices and Smoothies

Orange Man/Fruit Carving

By livelifeandlove on July 28, 2021

For my orange man fruit art, I’m using the best choice of my own Valencia oranges, it is the world’s most famous variety of orange and the best kind when it comes to juicing however juicing comes after my creative fruit art. I’m in the mood to show my personal touch, this is a hands on carving and cutting tricks. If you are happy, you can apply the same mood to your hands.

Oranges with bright orange skin with wonderful scent and sweet flesh is really good. Tangerine can also be used in the same way as oranges. It was fun making something different to attract the kids, these photos will tempt you to try one for your kids.

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas | Shakes, Juices and Smoothies

Shakes, Smoothies, and Juices

By livelifeandlove on July 12, 2021

All fruits are infinitely mixable according to your own likes. It is the simplest thing to make and most refreshing after a hard work. Nowadays, almost all recipes are printed in cookbooks and magazines that serves as a kitchen reference, we all eat and serve the same kind but there’s changes every season, the process of making adding new flavors and variations. What do you think? When the next idea will come from? Unless you’ll try to make and remake to love it first before sharing with others. You don’t need to order shake in the restaurant if you know how to make it yourself and it’s economical, you’ll also feel the good mood knowing you are saving energy and money. With too many fruits around, you can do more for it.

I devoted a bit of my abundant free time in making different kinds of shakes, smoothies and juices using fresh fruits in season such as; mangoes, papayas, cantaloupes, strawberries, blueberries, pears, apples, bananas and many more. There are many ways to do it, like the mix together ways. I’ve combined blending the mild sweetness, sour, delightfully sweet and others which includes; a low calorie shake for diabetics, trendy summer delight for dieters and delightful drinks for weight gainers.

I never break the habit of bringing our favorite fruits on the table no matter if it is a juice, shake or smoothies as long as anything nutritious is made out of fruits.

Few creative props added like fruit slices and mini umbrellas for good presentation.

Some of our healthy drinks is an everyday fruit choice for the family. I will always welcome any family member to make the right choice and suggestion on what kind of fruit to blend for the day. This is how I value our health and handle their cravings.

My everyday habit to make fruit shake for the family. Literally, there are many ways to serve fruits, one favorite of mine is turning fruits into drinks too. It’s not only refreshing but also healthy and nutritious.

There’s no shortage of these fruits, It’s always available in the market and you can even use the leftover fruits in the refrigerator.

Shakes, Smoothies, and Juices that you’ll love

Try one of these and see!

Sweet Papaya Smoothie

Refreshing Watermelon Shake

Apple-Kiwi Berry Shake

Pear and Pineapple Shake

Peach-Mango Shake

Pineapple Juice

Avocado Shake

Guyabano or Soursop Smoothie

Kiwi Shake

Always remember the health benefits of fruit shakes, smoothies and juices. Way to ensure you’ll receive all these vital nutrients that we need to stay healthy, full of energy and fight off diseases. All the goodness on the inside will have a positive effect on the outside. Ok fellas! Stay safe and healthy. Fruit shake and Smoothie recipes coming up next. See you again next posts..

Thank you for reading my blog!

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas | Shakes, Juices and Smoothies

Fresh Fruits in a Cocktail Glass

By livelifeandlove on October 24, 2020

Serving whatever you have on hand is the most laid-back method to host guests. There’s no need to scramble to come up with a meal idea; just open the fridge and pull out whatever gives you the most energy. I’m sure they’d appreciate a plate of fresh, healthy fruits as they arrived, and any variety of fruit is always on hand and ready to be presented.

The good thing about serving fruits? It can be ready in a matter of minutes and is an excellent way to get your daily dose of vitamins and minerals. The option for today is healthy and delicious. Serving fruits in cocktail glasses isn’t my normal procedure, but when time is of the essence due to a rush, I always go for it! Self-prepared fresh fruits have no equal, and they only take around 10 to 15 minutes to prepare, requiring no cooking on your part.

Fill your fridge and table with as many different kinds of fruit as possible. You can often tell which fruit flavor goes best with which by experimenting with different combinations. I have experimented with combining fruits of varying flavors and textures, as well as arranging fruit slices in a wide variety of containers, including bowls, plates, cups, boats, and cocktail glasses.

To ensure a clean cut, I used a paring knife because it is lighter and more manageable than a regular knife. The fruits should have a high concentration of sweetness and aroma for the best possible mix.

Note : When buying fruits ,make a good selection of family favorites. It must be firm, free of bruises and fresh.

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Recipes for busy moms/Fruits/Desserts/Salad/Decorative Ideas | Shakes, Juices and Smoothies

Home Cooking during Pandemic

By livelifeandlove on October 12, 2020

Note: This is the continuation of my blog, ”Home Cooking during Coronavirus Pandemic”

Home cooking during this season offers another marvelous opportunity to cook more and to eat more, it’s a day entirely dedicated to enjoying home-cooked meals. These days, planning a meal for the family is simple, but it can be difficult to accommodate everyone’s preferences. As a result, many households end up preparing more than one meal at the same time, which results in more time spent cooking.

The pandemic has made it more difficult for everyone to go out and shop, as there are now more factors to think about (such as the best days to go out shopping) and less readily available food. Due to a rise in the number of home cooks, both experienced chefs and those just starting out are finding themselves short on staple ingredients. Thank goodness there are plenty of grocery stores close by. Because I am alone in the kitchen, I have to work quickly when time is of the essence and I need to get dinner on the table as soon as possible. By planning meals in advance or the day before and taking advantage of a few shortcuts, I save not only time but money as well. The high price of food is beyond my means. I always choose the cheapest option.

Since the pandemic began, my life has taken a turn for the worse, and I often feel hopeless about the future. I’m sure I’m not the only one who shudders at the thought of what comes after a pandemic; in preparation for it, I’ve been extra careful ever since, and I even made some rules for the house to ensure that everyone stays healthy and safe. Like all mothers, I have to enforce strict rules at home.

No matter what the norm of the future turns out to be, the food we eat every day won’t change. Home-cooked meals are unparalleled. I feel closer to my family now that I have experienced a true taste of home. Agreed, it’s a pleasure to prepare a meal for a loved one.

Here are my tried and true family meals during the pandemic

At home, I served two different types of recipes, along with a soup or salad as an appetizer. In order to maintain a healthy diet, I focus on selecting foods that are high in the essential nutrients. In an effort to model healthy eating behaviors for my children, I prepare vegetables on a daily basis. Creating special versions of dishes we eat on a regular basis is one of the ways I try to brighten my family’s day and communicate my love and concern to them through the medium of food.

My before and after cooking pictures

Before

If I’m going to cook, I want the scent to permeate the entire house; believe me when I say that it almost always gets everyone in the family gathered around the table right away.

After

Here’s one I prepared earlier, it’s a Classic Morcon a dish that is well-liked by all. I usually make extra food so that I can save some for the next day or keep some on hand for a quick dinner the day after that. Also, I like to have something ready to go for lunch the day after that. Since it is a meal that has already been prepared, heating it up on the weekend will be relatively simple.

Before/After pictures of Mango Float

Mango Float, an icebox cake layered with fresh ripe mangoes, graham crumbs, condensed milk, and, of course, the Alaska Crema whipped cream, is a cold delights dessert. Making this sweet treat is a breeze.

Before/After Pictures

Cholesterol Free Pancake with fresh fruits for breakfast. My cholesterol-free pancake routine is getting boring, so I’m going to switch things up by adding fresh fruit. When we make our own breakfast, I can control what goes into my family’s food.

Before/After cooking pictures of Garlic Buttered Crabs

We prefer male crabs because their larger claws hold more white meat, but the female crab’s meat, especially the orange fat they call “aligue,” is tastier in my opinion.

Before/After pictures of Oysters omelette

My Oyster Omelette is a wonderful addition to the table, and because it is so simple to make, it is an excellent choice for a speedy meal on hectic days. I purchased these oysters at SM Supermarket, where they were contained in a transparent plastic brick and priced appropriately. When shopping for oysters at the grocery store, it is important to be aware of the different types available and determine which ones are best suited for cooking. Oysters purchased there are safe to consume, but when I go to the wet market, I always make sure to ask the vendors there where the oysters originate because this is a common question. I don’t buy oysters or any other shellfish that comes from Cavite waters because I just think they are dirty. The red tide poisoning that comes from Cavite oysters is extremely dangerous. Oysters can be obtained in an easy and risk-free manner by purchasing them from supermarkets; however, they need to be cooked on the same day that they are purchased.

Easy Beef Nachos our favorite snack.

My homemade Assorted Fruit Shakes and Smoothies

I love surprises! This is something a little special to serve.

Pineapple-Pear Shake

Kiwi-Strawberry Shake

There is nothing better than foods that have been cooked at home, especially when the kitchen is in charge. It takes a little bit of patience to achieve great results when using any of my cooking methods, whether they are modern or traditional. However, this is all worth it in order to make our house a better place….

I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. Maintain your safety and good health.

Take care and Goodnight fellas!

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My Indoor and Outdoor Photography | Shakes, Juices and Smoothies

Summer Shakes, Juices and Smoothies

By livelifeandlove on April 26, 2019

What is summer without cold drinks? Just got a refreshing boost to beat the heat, it’s a fresh fruit harvest to enjoy the quality of luscious fruits for your summer shakes, juices and smoothies. Grab the sweetest and mellow flavor fruits mixed with almost a sour piece and blend it, juice it, smooth it down to make a healthy and energy booster drinks. Even without your favorite tropical fruit, you can substitute any kind of fruit and blend together bringing 2 or more fruits to decide your faves after a hot day would be enough to cool your taste buds.

Mango shake is perfect during hot hour, it’s totally cool and watery moisture makes the best mood.