Tasty exploration's new domain

Frappe Paradise in Pizza Hut

Greek frappé (or Café frappé) is a foam-covered iced coffee drink made from instant coffee (generally, spray-dried). It is very popular in Greece and Cyprus, especially during the summer, but has now spread to other countries.

In French, when describing a drink, the word frappé means shaken or chilled; however, in popular Greek culture, the word frappé is predominantly taken to refer to the shaking associated with the preparation of a café frappé.

During our visit to Pizza Hut, I discovered that they they have fruit frappes aside from their coffee frappe. I personally prefer the yogurt fruit dance. It's a yogurt with milk and fruit mix. I love it's milky taste.

You could also have Choco Chip temptation, Raspberry Romance or the Kiwi Frappe. Each glass is 65 baht.



The combination of pureed fruit, yogurt (plain or flavored), juice, and crushed ice makes for a delicious drink that is full of nutrients. They make a great breakfast and are also lovely served as a light after dinner drink on a hot summer's night.

I need YOU as my referral, please?

It all started with a deep respect and support for my marces, Kaye and Pehpot, who jointly hold the biggest blogversary contest this year (a whooping $200 for the highest pointer) that I joined the contest. The result of the contest update yesterday, March 8, made me realized that I'm in for the amazing race of my entire blogging career! I'm the 2nd highest pointer as of March 8, 2010 12:00 pm PHT. There's no turning back. I need not quit this game amidst my very hectic schedules. I need to earn more points to bag the first prize-$200! and the good news is YOU could help me by joining the grandest contest of the year by following the very, very simple steps:

Step 1: Open your dashboard and create a new post, put in a title of your choice.
Step2: Copy the codes that can be found HERE.
Step 3: Publish your post and copy the URL or link location then comment with the URL of your post HERE.
Step 4: Create a new post in your blog and copy the codes that can be found HERE.
Step 5: Publish your post and copy the URL or link location and comment with the URL of your post HERE.

Easy peasy right? In just 5 simple steps you are already qualified to join Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest! Please don't forget to mention that I, Genejosh, referred you to join the contest. By simply mentioning my name, you're helping me earn additional 50 points and YOU just gain 200 entrecard credits from me and a linky love to my PR 2 blogs (Our Adventures with Hyzyd and Away from Home) . You will also have a chance to win $5 by just posting about the contest, too!

The contest will end on March 18 so I'm encouraging you all to JOIN NOW!!!

P.S. What would I do to the $200 if ever I WIN because of your help? I will tell you later but this I can assure you, I will use the money in a wise and benevolent purpose.

Thank you so much.

Meet the MAJOR Sponsors of Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest

Below are the four MAJOR sponsors of Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary contest:

I Am Buraot
A blog about politics, the environment, religion, philanthropy, and everything else that is life. Author is known for his generosity in sponsoring contests. The home of the famous EntreDropper.

Anak Ni Kulapo
Yet another blog of Buraot. If you want to die laughing, then go visit Anak Ni Kulapo. His life in the US and hilarious stuff about his home country are only two of the must-sees in this blog.


Seiko's Diary
The blog title says it all. This is Seiko's journal about being a mom to her five gorgeous kiddos, her take on life in general, and random musings of a woman who loves life.

Mom Conversations
A new blog about everything concerning mothers: pregnancy, health and fitness and babies are the current categories, under which are detailed articles containing tips and valuable information for moms everywhere.

Please drop by these blogs if you have the time and see why they are worthy of a special mention. :)

Pizza Hut's Newest promotion

There's a new craze at Pizza Hut this month. It's their 12 cones pizza filled with creamed crabstick , shrimps and pineapple slices. If you buy this pizza alone it cost 339 baht but if you'll get the package with 12 Cones Pizza, 4 pieces New Orleans Wings or the Spicy BBQ Wings , Bread Sticks with dipping sauce, shrimp buschetta and Spaghetti with mixed seafood in spicy sauce, it will only cost 499 baht.

My hubby loves the 12 cones pizza and we went there twice this week!

12 cones pizza

bread sticks with dipping sauce

shrimp buschetta

an entry for:

Easier chance to win $200!

Remember about my post about Kaye and Pehpot's Blogversary Contest where they'll be giving away more than $500 worth of cash and prizes? There's a good news! Instead of reviewing the 4 major sponsors and blogging about the contest in order to qualify, they make it easier for YOU! All you need to do is just blog about the contest with the banners and links of the sponsors. Codes are provided for you. All you need to do is just add add some creative, catchy or funny description about the contest. The most creative post about the contest will win TWO months of advertising in Adgitize, which means a traffic blast for you! So what are you waiting for, join now and start earning points by leaving comments to the hostesses' blogs and sponsors or blog reviewing . The highest pointer will win $200! Click on the contest banner for more details. Before I forget, please don't forget to mention Genejosh as your referrer. Inform me too so that I could give you a linky love and 200 entrecard credits. Thank you so much!

JOIN now before the contest ends on February 28!

Level 1 Sponsors:

I Am Buraot : Anak Ni Kulapo : Seiko's Diary : Mom Conversations

Level 2 Sponsors:

Brisbane Australia : The Latest Buzz : 113Tidbits - Social Feeds And Daring Commentary : Thoughts And Obsessions : Just About Anything : Blog Appetite : Home Buddies

Level 3 Sponsors:

His Unfailing Love : My Memories and Crystals : Bacolod and Beyond Journey

Azumi : Fab Momma : Mara's Personal Bubble : Mara's Appetite : The Pinay Blogger @ Home : Diva Fabulosa : Best Vacation Places : Momma Wannabee : Advising Writers :United World Poets : A Mom's Life and Loves : The Blogger Hub : : Travelin' With Marie : Happy Thoughts, Happy Tot : Stalking Mind : Living Life To The Fullest : Online Mommy's Corner : Her And History : Careless Whispers : In My Psyche : My Quality Day : Just Throw Money : My Journey To Life : Cotton Candy Buzz : The Mommy Journey : Super Gulaman : Pen, Paper and Pan : Niko's Blog : Lover's Mushroom : Yena's World : Girls Rule! : Online Trends Now : Husband of A Blogger : Glitter Page : Here Comes The Bride : Heart Random : Novice On Blogging (Noob) : At Home Here : Sexy Blogging : My Camerasexy : Dishes By Pehpot : Wonder Wifey : Coffee, Anyone? : Clarisse After Dark : Jena Isle's Random Thoughts : Where The Moon Shines : Crossroads.. Where Ideas Meet : Simple Pero Rock : It's not always about me... : Pinay Mommy Online : A Woman Remembers :
Beng's Entertainment Spree : Yashiro : My Thoughts, My Heart, My Turf : Embrace Life : How I Earn Money Online

Happy Award for my tasty exploration

Are you happy? I am 100% happy. I have Jesus Christ in my heart. He teaches me to happy even on small things. He gave me wisdom on how to be happy no matter what life throws at me.

Nedekcir gave me a Happy 101 Award. Thank you so much. You make me happier.

Here are some of the reasons that contribute to my happiness:

1. close relationship with God
2. my happy and contented family
3. my calling as a teacher
4. my friends both online and offline
5. a simple date with hubby, a kiss from Hyzyd
6. nutritious and delicious food
7. great movies
8. good books
9. blogging
10. witnessing miracles, seeing prayers being answered.

Studies on what makes people happy reveal that it doesn't have much to do with material goods or high achievement; it seems to whittle down to your outlook on life, and the quality of your relationships with the people around you. If you appreciate your life you are sure to be a happy person!

Be Happy!

Adventures with Mara's Appetite

Tasty Exploration was born to house my food exploration here in Thailand. I think I've found my counterpart in Mara's Appetite. The author loves to explore food too. Obviously, she confessed that she spend most of her money on food. I am with her for that...he..he...

Visiting Mara's food site, you'll notice right and then that it's a food blog because of the images on her header that features cakes and sweets. The page elements are well-organized and there's no unnecessary widgets on the page. I noticed that on her sidebar she had the "Tip Box" where she'll use the tips/donations for a noble cause- to buy a G11 camera for better Food Photos or for purchase of a much suited layout. Now, that shows that this author is dead serious of giving the best for her readers. She values customers!

One thing that also came to my attention is her love for Japanese cuisine! I'm a Japanese food lover, too! That would bring us together...he..he..I just hope that the author will take time to make a page about herself to know her better. Her love for food and writing food reviews will surely paves the way of becoming a certified food reviewer in the blogosphere.

Click on and let's join the adventures of Mara's Appetite!

Licking Pehpot's dishes

When the wonder mom of the new generation, Marce Pehpot, isn't prattling on about blogging tips and and earning online tricks, writing reviews , researching on woman's health or taking photographs , she's cooking in her own kitchen .

Let's taste Pehpot's dishes today at Dishes by Pehpot. It's a Filipino food blog that features the author’s own recipes and gorgeous photos of her culinary creations. Visiting her blog makes me miss Filipino dishes like Pork Sinigang and Nilagang Baka . Instead of missing them, why not cook them using the recipes shared by the author? She writes her direction in a simple way and keep descriptions as brief and to the point as possible, without compromising the accuracy. The use of numerals when writing the recipe is very helpful as well as the preparation steps that includes all special instructions and cooking times.

Dishes by Pehpot has three column template which its post area is in farther left side.It looks clean and professional (as always) and I noticed it has the same pattern as with the other blogs.
Header and footer is designed by the author herself. The image of a mom in her kitchen suits well to the blog's theme. No other template bears the same image and that makes it stand out to the rest of other food blogs.

a proof to show to you that header and footer is created by Pehpot

As a home cook, I am grateful to Dishes by Pehpot for sharing Filipino recipes. I am recommending this site to my friends here in Thailand who's craving for Filipino dishes.

Shaking beef

One of my new year resolutions is to try something new especially in cooking . What's the use of being a "food explorer"? LOL!

I tried SHAKING BEEF. The recipe is from the Periplus Mini Cookbook. This is good for 4 servings.

Ingredients:

750 g piece lean beef fillet
1 1/2 tbsp fish sauce
1 1/2 tbsp light soy sauce (if you noticed in the market, there are different kinds of soy sauce. It takes me time to look for it coz what's available in my kitchen is the thick soy sauce)
1 1/2 tsp caster (superfine sugar)
6 garlic cloves, crushed
3 spring onions (scallions), white part only finely chopped
60 ml (1/4 cup) vegetable oil
2 tsp rice vinegar
2 tsp lime juice
1 tsp light soy sauce, extra
100 g mignonette or green or lettuce leaves ( I forgot that we just consumed our lettuce, so I just steamed bok choy or Chinese white cabbage instead:))

Procedure:

1. Cut the beef fillet into 2 cm (3/4 inch) cubes and place in a non-metallic bowl. Combine the fish sauce, soysauce, sugar, garlic, spring onion and 1 tsp of the oil in a small bowl or jug with 3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper and 1/2 tsp salt. Pour over the meat, toss together so that the meat is well coated, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight. (In my case, it's 24 hours)

2. To make the dressing, combine the rice vinegar, lime juice, extra soysauce, 2 tsp of the oil and 2 tsp water in a non-metallic bowl or jug. Wash, trim and dry the lettuce leaves, then toss with the dressing. Arrange the leaves on a serving plate. (as i told you, lettuce is not available in my kitchen, so I just steamed the bok choy and dressed it:))

3. Heat a wok over high heat, add 1 tbsp of the oil ans swirl to coat the side of the wok. When the oil is hot, add half the beef in one layer, allowing it to sit without stirring for 1 minute, so that a brown crust forms on the bottom. Stir-fry the beef quickly, or use the handle to shake the wok vigorously, tossing the beef around in the heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes for medium-rare, or until cooked to your liking ( I like well-done). Remove from the wok and repeat with the remaining oil and beef. Arrange the beef over the lettuce leaves and serve immediately with steamed rice.

It taste like steak, said my hubby. I'm just glad he like it. That's the important thing coz he's the only customer I have...LOL!

entry for

Yummy Sunday- Fried Rice with Seafood

I order "Kaw Pad Talae" Fried rice with seafood in one of the local restaurant in Bangkok and I didn't expect that shrimp would be served in this form...LOL! It's usually served shelled.

I think everybody know how to cook fried rice but Thai fried rice gets much of its unique flavor from the mix of fish sauce, soy sauce, chili peppers and lime. The cilantro and a dusting of pre-ground white pepper gives the flavors a clean, rounded finish.

I wanna share the recipe I learned from Group Recipes:

Ingredients:

* 2 bowls of cooked rice (cold)
* 50 grams of seafood (shrimp & squid)
* 50 grams of pork (finely sliced)
* 100 grams of kay lan or cabbage
* 2 eggs
* 50 grams of onions, finely sliced
* 2 garlic, finely chopped
* 1 chilli ( if you like the heat)
* 1 fresh tomato, cut into small slices
* 1 tbs soy sauce
* 1 tbs oyster sauce
* 1 teaspoon fish sauce
* pinch of sugar
* 2 tbs of oil
* pinch of salt and pepper


Directions:

1. with oil, saute garlic and onion (chilli) until fragrant
2. add pork, keep stirring until pork is cooked and brown
3. add seafood, stir well add tomatoes, kay lan toss well
4. add eggs, scramble,
5. add rice, soy sauce, oyster sauce, fish sauce and sugar, salt and pepper
6. taste, if it's not salty enough you can add more fish sauce
7. and if you like a richer flavor add more oyster sauce
8. serve hot
9. if you like, you can serve it with a sunny side up

Making great fried rice requires a number of tricks:
- A wok - it is the best tool for fried rice. If you don't, it can be tricky but still manageable.
- High heat - you want your pan as hot as possible. That's why it frequently tastes so much better at a restaurant.
- Dry rice - Making your rice a little drier than normal or using day-old rice keeps the rice from clumping together and turning into wok-concrete.
- Ground black or white pepper and lime - You'll be surprised how much flavor the ground pepper and lime can bring to fried rice.

Happy Sunday and enjoy drooling for foods at Perfectly Blended.

on exploring my own kitchen

I've been changing this blog's templates from one template to another for the past few days and since it's a free blogger template, I've seen lot of us using the same template I opted lately. So, I revert to this original template designed alone for Tasty Exploration by a good friend of mine, the owner of Femikey's Design. I really wonder why I decided to change the look of this blog which in fact when I finally decided to upload back the old template, I love it all over again! LOL! It's just man's nature not to be contented of what's in front of him but when it's gone you'll have to look for it. Oh, man! It's so confusing...LOL!

So much of my "blahs", this new year I wanted to try exploring food in my own kitchen especially the Thai dishes. I've been in Thailand for almost 4 years now but I'm not yet expert on their food in terms of cooking them in my own kitchen rather than ordering them. It's just that I'm not familiar with their other ingredients and I don't know where to find them. I'm looking for some Thai dishes' recipes and luckily this month I found some at SEED bookstore. If I could have budget, I would love to purchase some recipe booklet and try them in my own kitchen and share some with you .

If you're here in Thailand, I don't know if you would be like me who'd like to prefer eating outside coz it's affordable, it's very delicious in spite of it's "chili" and nutritious. You could even have 3 varieties of viand for only 30 baht. Now that I have my own family, I prefer cooking for them amidst my pretty hectic schedules.

I just hope that through this blog, I'll be inspired and motivated to explore more in my kitchen so that I do have something to offer to you even once a week, right?

That's all for now and Happy Children's Day in Thailand:)

Yummy Sunday- Daiichi's Menu

Happy New Year to all Yummy Sunday participants! I wanna share to you the menu we had during the new year's party of our school. I don't get the exact name of each menu but I'll try to describe some of the ingredients. I tried to name them Daichii's Menu coz the venue of the party is in Daichii Hotel.

sliced fried chicken with mayonnaise and sliced lemon on top and garnished with dried seaweeds

seafood salad with fish balls and meat balls

stir-fried seafood with hot dog and quails' eggs on edible bread basket

More Yummy food at Perfectly Blended.

Happy New year 2010!