Snack Attack!

Guess who the Winners are :)

Today is our project day . It means we are going to present our lovely blog in front of the class! SOOOO EXCITING! 😉

We decided to give the class a taste of our experience, so our classmates could take a part in our project.

We want to admit this preparation week was pretty intense but we got through it and now are ready to show results to the audience!

My life is never going to be the same since I tried Mik Mik sweetened milk powder!

(Photo credit: http://aboutcagayandeoro.com/throwback-feature-10-snacks-loved-kids/)

I’m happy to introduce my breakthrough of the day to you :) HAHAHA

This is the best invention ever!!! I wish I could have this amazing stuff in my childhood... Probably I would have been a different person 

This whole week has been a blur that I totally forgot to write a review regarding my Russian food challenge yesterday, so let me backtrack a little and set things right.

As you probably know by now, I went to Maryia’s flat yesterday morning so we could film the 1st part of our video. I was really excited because aside from the Kvas, I have no clue as to what Russian cuisine is. I’ve never been to the country nor to a Russian restaurant, but I was ready to face this food challenge with an open-mind and with little expectations as possible.

After setting the table and the camera, we got right down to business. 

1. Manka (Semolina porridge) 

I’ve already mentioned this in one of my posts, but this has got to be my new favorite now. It was like eating Cerelac, which I enjoyed a lot. Even after we finished doing the video, I was still eating this creamy milky stuff! For reals, yo! LOL 😋

(Photo credit: http://www.kitchenrussian.com/articles/view/24)

2. Tvorog (Cottage cheese)

I LOVE CHEESE, but to be honest, I don’t think I’ve had cottage cheese before. I was expecting it to have a pungent smell and a strong taste, but I was surprised it wasn’t like that at all. It was dry, which is different from the regular wet cottage cheese I normally see in the supermarket. I approve of this!

3. Kurinaya Pechen & Grechka (Chicken liver & buckwheat)

Where do I even begin??? HAHAHA! Right after I told Maryia that I wanted to be surprised by the next dish, she brings out a plate full of brown stuff. My childhood flashed before my eyes and I immediately wanted to take back what I said. Hahahaha! The buckwheat was pretty good but I was never a fan of liver, and I don’t reckon I ever will be. But I knew Maryia woke up early and really made an effort to cook so I had to eat at least one chicken liver. My left eye was slightly tearing up while I was chewing. No kidding. 😂😂😂 I’m really sorry about that, Maryia! It wasn’t because of your cooking at all. I just never liked liver. 🙊 

My morning started awesomely... You can’t even imagine guys :) I woke up and my breakfast was ready to eat! Anne prepared several dishes that were served perfectly for me :) I’m the happiest person in the world! Usually, I prefer to eat different kinds of porridge in the morning, and my morning food is pretty plain but not today... hehe :) My Filipino breakfast was full of various flavours! I was kindly surprised how diversely it could be! The camera was set and we began our Food experiment Part 2! Anne served the first dish for me... It looked like a yam potato cream soup with... BANANA???!! WHAAAAAAAAT??! Yes, you are reading correctly. This is a bit weird, isn’t it? I’m a brave person though, and I tasted it :) hahaha

(Photo credit: http://www.kawalingpinoy.com/ginataang-halo-halo/)

To be honest, I expected a different flavour but the Filipino Bilo-Bilo turned out very delicious!!! Surprise, surprii-i-ise!

Bilo-bilo is a Filipino dessert or snack. It is made of sticky rice balls in coconut milk with sugar, mini tapioca pearls, jackfruit, saba banana, and tubers. The sticky rice balls are made from sweet rice mixed with water, then rounded.

The next dish was even better! It’s called Kutsinta. This is one of my favourites from today’s food tasting. You’re never going to guess what it is made from! Please take a look at the picture below and try to make a guess :) GOOD LUCK!

(Photo credit: http://www.mystylerecipe.net/kutsinta/)

If you are not Filipino, you’d think about anything but rice. HAHAHAHA :)

Going to Maryia's place to do the Filipino food challenge felt like judgement day. SERIOUSLY. I know a couple of friends/ex-colleagues who we're quite critical and got disappointed when they tried Filipino food and I didn't want that to happen this time. I was anxious... I felt very uneasy... I wanted to delay the process BUT I also wanted to get it over and done with! So, I finally decided to muster all my courage and just presented my first dish. I was preparing for the WORST reaction, but Maryia was such a good sport and was open-minded about trying everything. After getting over the initial roadblock, I felt comfortable sharing the other things I prepared for her. Below is the list of everything on today’s menu: 

Ginataang bilo-bilo (Glutinous or sticky rice balls, plantain bananas, jackfruit, sweet potatoes and tapioca pearls cooked in coconut milk)

Kutsinta (Steamed rice cake)

Chicharon (Fried pork belly or fried pork rinds)

Kropek (Prawn crackers)

Lechon paksiw (Sweet and tangy pork stew made with chopped lechon, vinegar, sugar and liver sauce)

Calamansi juice (Calamondin / Philippine lime)

Dried mangoes

Spicy sampalok candy (Tamarind pulp, sugar, salt, spices)

Choc-nut (Peanut milk chocolate)

Mik-mik (Sweetened milk powder) HER FAVORITE! 😜

Here’s a picture of her plates after eating, so I think it’s pretty safe to say Maryia wasn’t grossed out or anything. In fact, I think she enjoyed it because she almost finished all the lechon paksiw in her bowl. I even left all the kutsinta for her and her husband, and all the remaining Mik-mik. LOL. 😂

I would say this challenge was a SUCCESS, yeah? Yeah. 👍 👌 👊

Maryia was up until 5 in the morning editing this. LOL.

After doing the Russian food challenge yesterday morning, I think I’ve found a new breakfast favorite. While this might have become unpopular with Russian kids, it has certainly found a place in my heart. And my tummy. 😋  

Click on the link above to read more about this yummy treat.