Christmas is already around the corner. 

And while my office workload is a bit overwhelming come this season, nothing can indeed stop me from feeling and celebrating the Christmas spirit. So during my free time, I whipped up one of my favorite pasta dishes to make. I don't have much free time these days so just imagine that with the limited time I had, I was able to come up with this simple but satisfying dish. 

So to those who juggle so many tasks this coming Christmas eve, here's one dish you can prepare with your limited time. 

CREAMY BACON MUSHROOM PASTA

WHAT YOU NEED:

•          500g Linguine pasta
•          1/2 tablespoon olive oil
•          80g butter
•          1 large onion, finely chopped
•          400g shredded bacon
•         1 can Jolly  Mushrooms
•          2 cans Jolly Cream of Mushroom
•          1/2 cup water
•          1 pack all-purpose cream
•          2 cups grated tasty cheese
•          Salt and pepper

 

STEPS 

1.    In a large saucepan of salted boiling water, cook pasta according to packet instructions. Drain well.
2.    Meanwhile, in another frypan, cook bacon until crisp and brown. Set aside.
3.    Heat a large frypan. Add oil, butter and onion until it changes color.
4.    Add the Jolly mushrooms and stir until mushrooms are tender.
5.    Add the bacon to the pan, setting aside a portion for garnish.
6.    Add the all-purpose cream and Jolly Cream of Mushroom. Add ½ cup of water to soften the sauce. Bring to a boil. Then simmer for a 2-3 minutes or until slightly thickened.
7.    Add the cheese to the sauce. Then add the cooked pasta.
8.    Stir through sauce until it is evenly mixed throughout the pasta.
9.    Garnish top with bacon and more cheese. Serve and enjoy. 

Let me know if you've given this recipe a try by sharing your experience below. Remember, no matter how busy your Christmas season may be, don't forget to #MakeItJolly. 

Have a blessed Christmas everyone!

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Special thanks to  http://www.flyacecorp.com/  for sending these products. 

For more jolly recipes, visit https://www.facebook.com/JollyFoods/.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Pardon the lack of posts here in my food blog but if you were also following my lifestyle blog, MISS LITRATISTA, you would probably have an idea what made me busy these past few days, weeks, and months. But now I'm back, I hope to devote more time for this blog this 2015 and still continue to bring you more stories about my gastronomic adventures. Crossing fingers!

But first, let me kick off the new year with, oh well, backlogs! I stumbled upon a number of drafts which I haven't started writing about so here I go, trying to share them one at a time. 

So if there's one thing I wish you all for this year, it will be loads of sweetness in your life. And what better way to be sweet is no other than indulging in sweetness overload! Take a pick from any of these hyperglycemic delights from one of my favorite dessert places in Davao City, Dulce Vida by Tiny Kitchen Bakery + Resto, located at Tulip Drive Extension, Ecoland Subdivision, Matina.

OREO CHEESECAKE

MAJOR MAJOR CAKE

TIRAMISU CAKE

BRAZO DE MERCEDES (one of my favorites from Dulce Vida by Tiny Kitchen)

PILAR'S CARROT CAKE

TORTA CHOCOLATE

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

Discovering a new branch of Tiny Kitchen within a few kilometers from my home base is like finding a pot of gold. I just find it inconvenient for me to travel more than 8-10 kilometers to their main branch at Torres St. just to satisfy my cravings for their sumptuous delights. But with this nearby branch, I can just easily put them cravings away in just one ride.

Another good news is, aside from just pastries and desserts, Dulce Vida Bakery + Resto also offers rice meals, pastas and other dishes which you can also find at their main branch. 

ANGUS BEEF STEW

CHICKEN CASSEROLE

MARBELLA PASTA (SPAGHETTI)

HOUSE SALAD

DULCE VIDA CHICKEN SET

MARBELLA PASTA (PENNE)

The place can be a bit small and just perfect for couples and to a maximum groups of 4, but if you're coming in a number a bit more than that, then better proceed to their main branch instead. Another word of warning too, the place closes early so don't expect it to cap off your midnight cravings.

DULCE VIDA by Tiny Kitchen Bakery + Resto
Tulip Drive Extension, Ecoland Subd.
Matina, Davao City
Contact No: +6382-3059232

During the first day of the DFAT2013 adventure, our third and final pitstop for that day is at Greenwich Ilustre where they hosted a bloggers blowout not only limited to the DFAT participants but to other bloggers as well. It was a fun-filled gathering of food and prizes and to introduce the new and improved version of the Lasagna Supreme, Hawaiian Overload and Greenwich Special Overload.

Greenwich Lasagna

Just when you thought that the best couldn't get any better, Greenwich introduced a better version of their well-loved Lasagna Supreme with thicker noodles, chunkier meat sauce and blended with a much cheesier and creamier sauce. Every plate comes with a piece of Garlic Stix, a perfect addition to this popular Greenwich favorite. The Lasagna Supreme comes in two sizes - the Snack Size which is priced at Php 79.00 and the Full Size for only Php 99.00.

Greenwich Ultimate Special Overload

The Greenwich Ultimate Special Overload Pizza is undeniably one of my favorites from this food chain. This time, it has been made even better and more overloaded with 13 mouth-watering toppings including a sprinkle of fresh vegetables and generous serving of mozarella and cheddar cheese that will truly give you an extreme gastronomic journey. It is indeed a flavorful experience in every bite.

I have a confession to make. 

Contrary to my health teachings as a nurse, I do not like eating vegetables nor do I even indulge regularly in healthy food choices. But I also admit that there are also days when you feel like craving for them, or just feel like ditching away the rice on the plate for something healthier like greens and fruits.

I discovered Rego's Cafe when I had a meeting with my classmate in MAN, Jay, who just recently came back from his Manila trip at that time. We were supposed to meet in Happy Lemon but since we were both hungry, we decided to look for a place to dine instead. I wasn't in the mood for something heavy since I was aiming for a few days off from rice at that time. Then, we spotted Rego's Cafe. I was lucky to have seen this cozy and charming restaurant at The Peak just when my taste buds were craving for something healthier. To be honest, it was my first time to have heard of this restaurant's name but what really caught my attention were the affordable price and healthy food selections on their menu.

GRILLED CHICKEN CEASAR SALAD

One thing that made me love this Grilled Chicken Ceasar Salad is that there are lots of dried cranberries which added more flavor to it. The grilled chicken is tasty and flavorful which complemented the crispiness of the lettuce and cucumber.

CHICKEN, FISH AND FRIES

This order was supposedly made up of chicken, fish and fries but the owner of Rego's Cafe told us that their fries is not good enough to be served so I opted to add more fish in it. I truly admired the honesty of the owner, who also happened to be Joshua's classmate in high school. That means to say that they really serve only the best and high quality products to their customers.