The Jollibee Glazed Chickenjoy - #Extraordinarilicious!

Whenever there is something new at Jollibee, we here in the family seemed to want to try it as soon as possible. The glazed fried chicken seemed to be the trend, and I have tasted a few of those, so when Jollibee came up with their own version - the Glazed Chickenjoy, I knew I just have to try it out.

chicken for dinner, book for dessert

My first taste of it wasn't as good as I hoped - it was too sweet for my liking, kinda like eating Chicken Tocino, but there's something in it that I liked, so while the first taste didn't send me to the moon, it was something I am still looking forward to eat in the future. My sister loved it a lot, and told me maybe the one I ate was already cold that's why I didn't appreciate it much. She knows I prefer my soy chicken / glazed fried chicken piping hot.

the book is mine, by the way.

Last Valentine's Day, friends at Jollibee sent me this bucket of Glazed Chickenjoy, and it was great timing because it was lunch time, and my mom and I haven't cooked yet (we just spent VDay at home). It was still very hot, so thinking of what my sister told me about my last Glazed Chickenjoy experience, I said to myself that if I still didn't quite like it while it was still hot, then probably this food and I aren't on the same page.

Well, I loved it the second time around. The sauce wasn't so sweet like it was the first time, it had a good mix of sweet and savory (the classic Chickenjoy flavor is very much present), and it was simply Extraordinarylicious! When I told my sister about it, all she could say was "Now you know you have to eat it as soon as possible." What I loved - the chicken cuts are big, the chicken are juicy and very flavorful on the inside, and that they didn't skimp on the glaze.

I can see my reflection... hahaha.

The gift I received contained these cute IOU Coupons... some already have prints, some were blank, which I could fill out using the red pen. This coupon made me laugh - told my mom "Can I just give you a bear hug instead?" Hahahaha, I am so lazy to clean my room, that's why.

The Jollibee Glazed Chickenjoy is now available in all Jollibee stores nationwide, the Jollibee Glazed Chickenjoy meal with rice and a regular drink is at 90 pesos, while their Super Value Meal with a side dish of buttered corn is for 102 pesos. If you want to go for sharing, you may go for the bucket meals - 6-piece bucket with 3 rice and drinks is at 378 pesos while the 8-piece bucket with 4 rice and drinks is at 499 pesos. If you want the best of both Chickenjoy worlds, go for the mix of classic Chickenjoy and the Glazed Chicken, so everybody will be happy.

*** Jenn ***

Say "I Love You" with Chocolates

Valentine's Day was last weekend, I know... but there wasn't any rule saying you only need to express your love during Valentine's Day, right? In fact, I think it is sweeter whenever people express their love and appreciation when it's not Valentine's Day.

Some people find it difficult to say the words "I love you" for a number of reasons, but that doesn't mean one cannot express love anymore. There are a number of ways to show and say it, but if chocolate's your way, these three recipes from The Maya Kitchen will surely be of great help.    



Angel Food Cake Tiramisu
{makes 8 servings}

Ingredients:

{for the angel food cake}:
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon MAYA Cake Flour, sifted
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 +1/3 cup egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar

{for the coffee syrup}:
1/2- 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup hot water
2 tablespoons coffee liqueur

{for the cream topping}:
1 bar cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons low-fat milk
2 tablespoons plain yogurt
1 piece vanilla bean pod
1/2 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons cocoa powder, for garnish


Directions for baking:

Prepare angel food cake. Preheat oven to 350ᵒF/177ᵒC. Line the bottom of an 8-inch square pan. Set aside. Sift flour, salt and ¼ cup of sugar 4 times. Set aside. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Add vanilla extract and remaining sugar gradually and continue beating until stiff. Fold in flour mixture gently; blend well. Pour into the prepared pan and smoothen the top. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or until done. Loosen the sides by using a spatula or dinner knife and invert cake on a wire rack to cool for about an hour.

Prepare coffee syrup. Dissolve coffee powder and sugar in hot water. Add coffee liqueur and stir well.

Prepare cream topping. Beat cream cheese, sugar and confectioners’ sugar until the sugars are dissolved. Beat in milk and yogurt. Split the vanilla bean pod lengthwise and scrape the seeds; beat in the mixture. Set aside. Whip the cream until double in size. Fold whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture. Transfer to a piping bag with a round piping tip.

To assemble. Transfer cake to a plate. Brush with coffee syrup until well-soaked. Pipe cream on top of the cake. Dust with cocoa powder on top.



CHOCOLATE HEART FUDGE BROWNIES
{makes 4 servings (4 x 4” squares)}

Ingredients:
1 pack MAYA Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix 500g
1/2  cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup chopped cashew nuts
dark chocolate, melted, as needed
chocolate heart cut-outs, as needed
whipped cream (optional)

Directions for Baking:

Preheat oven to 325°F/163°C. Grease and line the bottom of an 8-inch square pan. Set aside.

In a bowl, stir brownie mix, butter, water, eggs and nuts (set some aside for topping) until well blended.

Spread in prepared pan and top with reserved nuts.

Bake for 30-35 minutes. Cool completely before cutting. Drizzle or spread melted chocolate on top of brownies and decorate as desired.


CHOCOLATE MERINGUE KISSES
{makes 15-20 pieces}

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon MAYA Cornstarch
6 tablespoons sugar
2 egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
pinch salt
1/3 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
dark chocolate, melted, as needed

Directions for baking:

Preheat oven to 300ᵒF/149ᵒC. Line one cookie sheet with baking paper and set aside. In a bowl, combine cornstarch and sugar. Mix well then set aside.

Using a stand mixer on high speed with whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, cream of tartar, salt and vanilla extract until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low and gradually add the cornstarch and sugar mixture. Return to high speed and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in the cocoa powder.

Transfer mixture to a piping bag with a star tip. Pipe meringue kisses on the cookie sheet and bake for 40 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave the tray inside the oven for one hour.

Let the meringue kisses cool at room temperature for at least 10 minutes. Once cooled, dip half in melted chocolate.

Let the chocolate-dipped meringue kisses set on a lined cookie sheet and transfer to an airtight container.

I hope these three chocolate-y recipes come as a great help. The brownies are the easiest to make since the Maya Brownie Mix is available in most groceries and we have used it several times and believe me, it tasted like the brownies we usually buy. I am personally going to try the meringue, I think it is a very good party giveaway and gift to friends...not to mention it has the potential to turn in money (if I did sell them, of course).

*** Jenn ***

The Jollibee Tuna Pie is Back!

Jollibee has always been our go-to fastfood chain. Sometimes, even if we just ate at Jollibee three days ago, we always welcome the chance to eat there again. Yes, we do have our own personal favorites - the Jollibee food that we always order, but if there is one Jollibee offering that my mom always look forward to during this time of the year, it would have to be the Tuna Pie.

....and it's back!!!

Last year, it was already March when this became available again, so none of us expected it would be available this soon.

As always, this is available as is or part of a value meal, but something new for this year, the Tuna Pie is now available in Trio Pack for only P115, which allows you to save 5 pesos compared to buying three separate solo pies.

I got to try it the other day and some great things never change - flavor wise, but one great change I noticed was that the two pies I have eaten so far had a lot of tuna chunks inside. Now that's a good value for money.

I am not sure just until when this is available, so now that it's back, catch it while it's still there.

*** Jenn ***

PS - the triangle box is not available.. I just used it as a prop for this picture - so you can see Jollibee's Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram links. :)

Celebrate Valentine's Day at Max's Restaurant

For many people, Valentine's Day is such a special day. I know, we should express our love every day and not just on Valentine's Day, but... it is like an anniversary - a special day celebrating love. Have you made plans for that day? If you want to provide a sumptuous lunch or dinner with your loveydoves and still save some precious money for other things, I suggest you go to Max's Restaurant, because they are currently offering Meal for Two, where you get to pair --


Max's Fried Chicken (half serving) with Kangkong Stuffed Tofu OR


with Sizzing Tofu...

as well as 2 servings of rice, Iced Tea, and Buko Pandan. Not too heavy, but sure to fill your tummies! Personally, I loved the Sizzling Tofu because I loved the blend of cream and celery, but the Kangkong Stuffed Tofu tasted great, too! This meal is priced for only P525 only, allowing you to save as much as P191.

Now, if you're the type who celebrates Valentine's Day on the actual day, it's just fine. This meal is on offer until the end of February 2015, so even when Valentine's Day has passed and you still crave for the perfect combination Max's Fried Chicken and Tofu bring, you can always come back and have some more.

Hashtag "Forever Alone" on VDay? Why not celebrate with your barkada or with your family? Groups who dine at Max's Restaurant between February 13 and 15, with a minimum bill of 1,500 pesos will get a box of chocolate and caramel bites for free!

Meanwhile, Max's Corner Bakery offers awesome sweet treats for your sweets -


Choco Peanut Butter Cake
a rich and moist chocolate cake, filled with premium peanut butter icing and coated with delicious chocolate frosting.

Peanut Butter isn't one of my favorite flavors, but this cake had a great balance of chocolate and peanut butter, and the chocolate cake was dense yet very moist, just like how I want my chocolate cake to be. It is great to eat this chilled, but I kinda liked my cake on room temperature, with the peanut butter frosting already softened.


White Chocolate Butter Cake
a delectably light and fluffy butter cake garnished with milky white chocolate shavings and topped with rich whipped cream and cherry.

I wasn't able to cut the cake because I didn't want to ruin the heart shape, but inside of this cake is a light cherry frosting - not at all sweet, the sweetness coming mostly from the white chocolate shavings.

These cakes may be small, but just enough to satisfy the sweet tooth, and it's not overwhelming to carry and give - it is actually cute!


If fancy cakes aren't your type, and you just want the simple cake rolls, Max's Corner Bakery now offers a new kind of cake rolls. Before, these rolls just come in single flavors (my favorite is the mango), but because Valentine's Day is usually for couples - they also married two different flavors to create one awesome cake roll pairing! It comes in four flavors - Ube Strawberry, Jelly Pandan, Choco Peanut Butter, and Choco Mocha.

Whether you're single or not, there's something for you at Max's Restaurant this Valentine's Day. These offerings are available on all branches nationwide. For more information, head on to the Max's Restaurant website - http://www.maxschicken.com or check their Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/maxsrestaurant. They are also on Instagram (@maxschicken)



*** Jenn ***