Be conscious

We are all concerned about the petition of Meralco for increased rates, which is pending before the Supreme Court. If granted, consumers will be paying more per kilowatt-hour. While having our fingers crossed the SC will eventually deny the petition, let us now start to be conscious of our energy consumption, lest we find ourselves with shocking electricity bills. Meralco has threatened sporadic blackouts if they are not allowed to collect the increase. Shall we call this blackmail?

As homemakers, let’s look at how we can save. Refrain from using your electric ovens and turbo broilers often. You may switch to liquified petroleum gas (LPG) but won’t this follow the way of Meralco as far as prices are concerned? Be sure lights are turned off when nobody is in the room and when sunlight has already crept into your house. If the family is small, sleep in one room where everybody can be cooled by one air conditioning unit. The homemaker has many woes, this is just one of them.

We found another young entrepreneur who has ventured into home-baking. Maita who resides in our village in Molino, Cavite, has concocted a line of cupcakes and cookies, through an enterprise she calls Discover Desserts. Rightly so, for a lot of us are always wanting to find new sweets, whether they are original or inspired by existing products.

Riding on the popularity of red velvet cakes, Maita has produced red velvet cookies which are soft and chewy. They are actually very colorful when placed on a platter and set on one’s dining table. The cookies are priced at P18 per. The other flavors are peanut butter and chips, P15; and white chocolate with cashew, P12. Her cupcakes are vanilla with cream cheese frosting, P43; the novel calamansi with butter cream frosting, P41; choco and pili with carrot. Contact Maita through cell numbers 0917-866,1485 and 0933-4849157, or email [email protected]

We were disappointed not to find any vegetable vendors at the weekend market in Evia on Daang Hari. What we found were food stalls from which diners can get their fill and settle down at any of the tables and chairs scattered in the area. We took note of Guin’s Homemade Specialties consisting of baked empanadas (chicken and tuna), carrot loaves, oatmeal and raisin cookies. There is a lady who sells daing na bangus (three in a pack) for P150.

That evening we settled for dinner at Reyes Barbecue inside Rustan’s. Apparently, this is a favorite stop of residents in the area, either to have their meals or to take home some barbecue. Each set is priced at P145 and the serving is substantial. Their more popular item aside from the pork BBQ is the boneless chicken. But we took the daing na bangus which came with achara and a spicy dip.

Fifteen years ago, we chanced upon Cold Storage at the old Anson’s Emporuim in Makati. At that time, we were just getting familiarized with Japanese sushi and sashimi. The company has expanded and outlets are now found in various supermarkets. They have sustained the quality of their products. A platter of sushi and sashimi is always a welcome starter when one is entertaining at home.

Here are some words and terms which you may encounter in an Asian recipe. Sour star fruit is kamias; four angled or winged beans is sigarillas; and lady’s fingers are okra.

Price watch. Cabbage goes for P69 a kilo; carrots, P106; potatoes, P119; sitao, P73; tomatoes, P45. These led one homemaker to exclaim “Ay, ang mahal na ng gulay!”

Watch your budget now!

E-mail me at [email protected].