I’m in College and I’m broke.

Creative ways to Make Money in your College Years

By: Samantha Abegail Canada

Most of us would want to make the most of our college years without having so much to worry about our finances. Almost all of us want to make more than our budget-stretched allowances from our parents to enjoy our college more and to provide for our needs and wants. Given all these, how can a college student get financially independent without compromising his studies?

Long ago, my Friends and I started a small business out of our hobby. We never thought that the outcome of our finished product, the simple Maja Blanca (what we call now as MajaDeliciosa Bonita) would turn out to be a major success.

Let me share some creative ways to be financially independent in College.

• Find your passion and let it work for you.

      

  Are you into photography, cooking, art or music? Well maybe it’s time to turn those passions            into money-making ventures. Bear in mind that you need a good portfolio to start with. Build           yourself if you think you need more room for improvement and show off your work to your           friends.    Once you've achieved your goal, you can start selling your services by advertising it online.

•       Find a part-time, seasonal or an on-call job.

Look for a job that you can do without sacrificing your student life. Some fast-food restaurants cater to working students and can their work schedules very suitable to students. Just make sure to balance the time between work, rest and studies.

•        Start an online shop.

Very common nowadays are sellers advertising their stuff on Social Media. It’s a great way to start business because it’s free! If you still have good old stuff and you want to make room for new stuff while making money, maybe it’s time to advertise those pre-loved items, get more trusted re sellers and gain more customers too. Setting up an online store isn't easy. You need to know your way around the internet and be clever enough to keep yourself from getting scammed either from the buyer or the supplier.

•      Find “Raket” in and outside the school.

I meant “Raket” in a good way. You can earn extra income as a tutor, an online English teacher or even as a student aid. You can also take part in online surveys, or mystery shopper jobs. Whatever works well with you, just make sure to balance everything.

Hope these tips help you. Happy hunting! God bless. 

courtesy: Wikihow.com

Our Healthy Maja

Reasons Why You need to eat Maja.

By Miraluna Aldiano

Saying that our MajaDelisyosa Bonita is a healthy and vitamin-packed dessert is just underrated. What’s in it really for you? Here are top 5 reasons why.

•  It’s a healthy food for the eyes.

One important sense of the body is seeing. By the eyes, we can see a clear vision. Life isn’t complete if we can’t see. Squash, being one of the main ingredients in our Squash Maja, is a well-known vegetable that’s enriched with Vitamin A, which is good for the eye sight. Through eating kalabasa we are able to take good care of our eyes.

•  Take it to the bone.

Calcium, another vitamin acquired in consuming milk is also a main ingredient in our Maja. It helps in the growth and replication of our bones. Moreover, Calcium strengthens our bones to reduce the risk of Osteoporosis in old age.

•  The Big C.

Cancer is one big killer disease in today’s society. And for more information, squash is not just food for the eyes. A recent study at the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii show that cell communication allows the transfer of growth-inhibiting signals from normal to abnormal cells. Beta carotene, which is found in yellow vegetables and other carotenoids, can turn on a gene that encourages this communication, helping to prevent the growth of cancerous cells.

•   I heart you.

Good news for chocolate lovers! The latest research backs up claims that chocolate actually has benefits for your cardiovascular health.  In a 9-year Swedish study of more than 31,000 women, those who ate one or two servings of dark chocolate each week cut their risk for heart failure by as much as a third. In connection to this, another study shows that the bioactive compounds in cocoa can improve blood flow in the arteries and cause a small but statistically significant decrease in blood pressure. Now, that’s a good reason to indulge in the chocolaty goodness of our Chocolate Maja Variant.

•  Vitamin-Packed Goodies!

Coconut milk, one of the main ingredients in Maja is immensely rich in vitamins and minerals. Coconut milk contains high levels of some of the important minerals like, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc. It also contains a significant amount of vitamin C and E. One cup of coconut milk (about 240 gm) contains 13 gm carbohydrates, 5 gm fiber, 5 gm protein and 57 gm fats, mainly saturated fats. One cup of coconut milk can provide about 552 calories, which means that coconut milk is high in calories and hence, should be consumed in small amounts. It’s just so amazing how you can find all these delightful vitamins in a bite-size snack.

MajaDeliciosa Bonita, more than just a delightful dessert

by: Magic Erika Junrie Baranggot

Maja is a popular dessert among Filipinos. It can be served with different presentations. Ordinarily, when served in the Philippines, it usually contains small kernels of sweet corn inside and topped with flakes of roasted coconut meat. Often, it will also have shredded cheddar cheese on top. This delicious treat is adapted from the traditional Spanish holiday dessert, “Manjar Blanco” which means white delicacy. It has the consistency of thick gelatin and is usually creamy white in color.

Most of us rarely eat Maja Blanca as a kid. The rare occasion I would have had it would have been at someone else’s home or out at a Filipino Restaurant. So, I was a bit surprised when it placed quite high in the list of favorite pinoy desserts.

This is a great snack for the whole family, particularly for the kids who don’t eat veggies; it is a perfect way to sneak in some healthy ingredients to their dessert without them knowing that they have actually eaten some vegetables. Though, it is also a fun way of introducing the kids to eat healthier and nutritious snack than consuming their favorite junk foods.

Maja Kalabasa Recipe is the healthier version of the famous dessert, which is known and much loved by every Filipinos as Maja Blanca or Coconut cake. Unlike the traditional Maja Blanca that is usually in white color, this Maja Kalabasa Recipe is like a golden pudding made with squash, which makes this dessert absolutely nutritious and vitamin-packed.

Some of the kids would also enjoy the healthy goodness of Maja Ube with its deep purple color, and delectable, sweet creamy taste. Apart from that, there’s also a fun twist to that dessert: The MajaChoco Loco for chocolate fans. This is an innovation that has been recently developed and is now hitting high in the market.

From Humble Beginnings

How It Started

My friends and I love to cook for our family. We are not that good in cooking but you don’t need to be an expert chef to cook. It became a hobby because all you have to do is just use your imagination, your available resources and cook with passion. Last two years we made our first Maja Blanca. We we tried to sell it to our classmates, and to our surprise, they loved the taste and encouraged us to cook again. The second time we cooked Maja Blanca we added squash on it. They liked it even more and has since then gained customers and patrons. Later on, we decided to come up with a brand name Maja Deliciousa Bonita.

Top List of Mouth-Watering Philippine Native Delicacies

By: Kristabel Loquias

Philippine has a different kinds of delicious native delicacies, most Overseas Filipino Workers are highly delighted on the taste of every Filipinos delicacies. We have a different fresh ingredients here in the Philippines that symbolizes the gratitude of every farmers. Some of the native delicacies are the following:

Photo Credits: tammikuujournal.wordpress.com

• Suman – is a rice cake and it is made from glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk, and often steamed wrapped in buli or buri palm (coryphia) leaves. It is usually sprinkled with sugar. Suman is a popular snack among the Filipinos. It is also served with fresh ripe mangoes for added flavor. Suman easily fulfills hunger and more often than not, it is heavy in the stomach, making the consumer full in just few bites of the delectable rice cake.

Photo Credits: http://www.pinoyhapagkainan.com/cassava-cake/

• Cassava Cake – is a classic Filipino dessert made from grated cassava (manioc).Cassava is also known as kamoteng kahoy and balinghoy in the Philippines. Casssava starch is also used to make tapioca. Since fresh cassava dug from the ground, the people assigned in preparing the cassava needs to do the digging, cleaning, peeling, and shredding. The hardy carbohydrate rich crop is a major food staple across the developing world; in the Philippines, it is predominantly eaten as sweet.

  

• Palitaw – from the word litaw the tagalong word for “float” or “rise”. It is a small, flat, sweet rice cake eaten in the Philippines. They are made from malagkit (sticky rice) washed, soaked, and then ground. It shaped like cakes are done once they float to the surface of the boiling water and are then coated with grated coconut and dusted with a mixture of toasted sesame seeds and sugar before serving.

 

Photo Credits: http://www.pingdesserts.com/

•   Espasol – or Baye-baye is a cylinder shaped Filipino rice cake originating from the province of Laguna. It is made from rice flour cooked in coconut milk and sweetened coconut strips, dusted with toasted rice four.

Photo Credits: http://www.manillenials.com/

•   Biko - is just one of the ways of making a Filipino sticky rice treat. It's not a tedious process, it's just hard on the arm because of the mixing. Biko is the quintessential Filipino native delicacy. It is made from glutinous rice that is first partially cooked, then mixed with coconut milk until very thick in consistency.It’s usually chewy and takes hour to make a real labor of love.

Not your Ordinary Maja

by: Kristabel Loquias and Sam Canada

Maja blanca (Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈmaha ˈblaŋka] mah-a-blank-a) is a Filipino dessert made primarily from coconut milk. It is usually served during fiestas and during the holidays, especially Christmas. Often called Coconut Pudding, this luscious dessert is easy to make and the ingredients are very common. Maja Blanca can easily be adapted to include various other ingredients. Examples include squash Maja Blanca which uses Calabasas (Filipino: kalabasa). 

Our Best Seller: Squash Maja

Unlike the traditional Maja Blanca that is usually white in color, our squash Maja Blanca is made up with pumpkin which makes this dessert absolutely nutritious. This is a great snack for the whole family, particularly for the kids who don’t eat veggies. 

If your kids are not too fond of eating vegetables, this is a perfect way to sneak in some healthy ingredients to their dessert without them knowing. Though, it is also fun way of introducing healthier and nutritious snack options to your kids than consuming junk foods. 

Ubebe I love your way!

Here's another darling of the crowd: Maja de Ube. It's basically a coconut pudding that is mixed with purple yam; therefore it has a purple color and the consistency of thick gelatin. It is creamy and has a delicate flavor. Coconut milk, cornstarch and mashed ube mixture are cooked over a low flame for a short period of time. When the mixture thickens, the top is sprinkled with coconut flakes or coconut sports and corn. 

You'll Go Loco over Choco!

Yes, who would expect this? I bet you would all crave for the rich luscious chocolate indulged with the creamy goodness of coconut milk. This is by far, the latest product innovation from MajadelisyosaBonita. Ever since it's early launch this year, this delectable and mouth watering goody is gaining popularity among avid consumers.

MAKE YOUR OWN MAJA BLANCA

(Maja Blanca Recipe)

By: Russche Ocampos

Photo Credits: http://panlasangpinoy.com/

Maja Blanca is one of the most common Philippine desserts, made up of sugar, cornstarch and coconut milk.  Some people would call it Coconut Pudding.

It is also one of the best desserts here in the country, as it is simple to make and the ingredients are so affordable and yet it will surely satisfy your tummy. Filipinos are hospitable when they have visitors. They usually serve snacks to their guests and Maja Blanca is one of them. Maja Blanca stems out from The Philippine’s rich culture and history. It is usually served during family gatherings, Christmas season, New Year and many other special occasions.

These are the ingredients needed that will help you to make your own delicious Maja Blanca.

Just be sure that when you make it, pour out some love so that your Maja taste would taste like no other.

Ingredients:

·         1 cup cornstarch

·         5 cups coconut milk

·         1 cup freshmilk

·         18 ounces condensed milk

·         1 cup brown sugar

·         7 tablespoon roasted grated coconut

·         18 ounces whole sweet corn kernel

Photo Credist: http://research.fuseink.com

  Steps:

1. In a cooking pot, pour the Coconut Milk and bring to a boil.

2. Pour in the Sweet Corn Kernel, Condensed Milk, and Sugar.

3. Stir it, until all the ingredients are dissolved.

4. Simmer for 9 minutes.

5. Mix the cornstarch and the Fresh Milk, and whisk until the cornstarch is completely dissolved.

6. Stir while cooking until it becomes thick.

7. Pour the mixture in a molding tray and flatten the surface of the mixture evenly with a

8. Let the mixture cool down and refrigerate for 2 hours.

9. Sprinkle some Latik or Pinipig. (Optional)

10. Cut the maja into slices

11. Serve it with a tea or coffee

And that’s how simply Maja Blanca is made. All you need to do is to follow each step indicated in this Maja Blanca Recipe. We all love desserts and it is our sweet course. So why not try to make a delicious Maja Blanca? Finally, serve your Maja Blanca with a smile to your family, friends and others.

Share your best Maja Blanca with them and make everyone’s day. 

How To Save When Shopping for Ingredients?

Budget Saving Tips When Buying Ingredients

By: Russche Ocampos 

Budget has always been a concern for consumers. When you go to the malls and grocery, you will always see that most people, if not all, carry their list of the things that they need to buy when shopping some stuff. They follow the list religiously so as not to exceed the allocated budget.

The same is true when buying ingredients. We need to be budget-conscious all the time but we also have to be careful not to compromise the quality and taste of the ingredients.

To avoid Overspending, make a sensible budget allocation to your food.

Here are some tips:

1. STICK TO YOUR SHOPPING LIST

      - If you go shopping without a list, you are like throwing your money away. You need to prepare a list of everything you need, pulling from your weekly menu. Make sure that you don’t forget the necessities. Now stick to your list religiously.

2. PLAN OUT A WEEKLY MENU

    - This is the best way to ensure that your list is complete, and that you have enough to serve your family dinner for a week.

3. HAVE A PRACTICAL BUDGET

    - When you go to store, know exactly how much you need to spend.

4. CHOOSE A BUDGET-FRIENDLY STORE

    - If you feel pressed for time and cannot afford to spend time clipping coupons and matching them up to sales, focus more on shopping at stores that will save you the money with their generally lower prices.

5. CHECK THE UNIT PRICES

    - To ensure that you are getting the best available price on an item, check the unit price, which can be found on the item’s price tag. You need to not only compare different brands, but also different sizes.

6. ONLY USE COUPONS FOR ITEMS YOU WERE PLANNING TO BUY

    - Don’t let the store employee trick you into buying something that’s not included on your list.

7. USE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE

    - Got a bunch of leftover ingredients (half an onion, a bit of tomato, some pasta, a few other veggies) combine them for a quick meal, so that these don’t go to waste before your next grocery trip. The more you can stretch the food, and the less you waste, the less you’ll spend in the long run.

These tips may help you to save money when buying your ingredients needed to your planned meals in family.

How Maja Came To Be

The Origin of Maja 

By: Mira Luna Aldiano

If you grew up in the Philippines, you would know what Maja is. But for the sake of others, let’s trace down the origin of this famous Filipino Dessert and let’s find out how Maja Blanca emerged in the Philippine Culture.

What Is Maja?

Maja Blanca is a Filipino dessert comprised mainly of Coconut Milk and Corn Starch. Some people coin this dessert as Coconut Pudding, which I think made more sense. When you go to town Fiestas, Holidays, and other festive occasions in a Filipino home, you would most likely find this dessert being served.

Maja Originated from Spain and is adapted from the traditional Spanish Dessert, “Manyar Blanco”, which is a Spanish word for “White Delicacy”.

There are different kinds of Maja. The more common ones are: Maja de Ube, Maja con Maiz, Squash Maja. The most delicious and vitamin-enriched kind of Maja is the Squash Maja. It’s famous for being affordable. Squash, the main ingredient of Squash Maja is a great source of Vitamin A, or Beta Carotene which is very important for good eye sight and great skin. 

Are you allergic?

Food Allergies you might get from Maja Blanca’s Ingredients

By: Angel Bert Encoy

Photo credit: www.thisoldhouse.com

We Filipinos are fond of eating. We love to eat different kinds of delicious foods. But there are foods that would give us allergies. Some of the most common food allergens are: cow’s milk, eggs, peanuts, fish, shell fish, tree nuts, soy and wheat. The most common food allergy signs and symptoms are: tingling or itching in the mouth, face, tongue and throat or other parts of the body, wheezing, nasal congestion or breathing difficulty, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lightheaded, or fainting. If you have allergy on some of these foods mentioned above, you must take extra precaution on your foods.

One examples of the food recipe that may have food allergens is the most popular Filipino Dessert, Maja Blanca. It is usually served during Fiesta and Holidays. Maja Blanca has coconut milk which may trigger some food allergies. Peanuts and Tree nuts are relatively common and is estimated to occur in around 1:1000 infants and 1:200 to 1:500 adults. By contrast, allergic reactions to coconuts are relatively rare. It may be rare, but you still have to manage what you’re eating if you’re allergic to any food that has coconut. The most common symptoms of coconut allergy are: abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, itching of the mouth, throat, eyes, and skin, difficulty in swallowing, nasal congestion and shortness of breath.

Photo Credit: northshorekids.com

Another ingredient of Maja that may cause allergy is corn. This may be difficult to manage because of the high number of food product contained in various forms of corn such as, Corn Starch, Modified Food Starch, Vinegar and Vanilla Extract. However, it is an allergen that often goes unrecognized. Its symptoms include hives or skin rashes, nausea, stomach cramps, indigestion, vomiting or diarrhea, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, headaches, asthma and Anaphylaxis- a potentially life- threatening reaction that impairs breathing and can send the body into a shock.

Food allergies are really difficult to manage because a few of them are used in making different products that are also used in cooking different recipes. If you are not careful enough of what you eat, you might be one of the victims of food allergy. It may not be severe but for other people, an allergic food reaction can be frightening and can even pose a threat to one’s life. So be responsible and extra careful of the food that you ingest.

The Delectable and Healthy Maja

by: AngelBert Encoy

Maja is one of the most popular Filipino desserts. It is usually served with small kernels of sweet corn inside and topped with flakes of roasted coconut meat. Often, it will also have shredded cheddar cheese on top. To become more exciting and nutritious to eat, there are other flavors of Maja tjat can be cooked like Squash, Maja Blanca with Mango, Maja Ube and Pina Maja Blanca.

Maja is perfect for those people who are aiming to lose some weight. This contains just the right amount of calories and carbohydrates that our body needs. It also has Vitamin C that will help to prevent colds, protects the body’s immunity, and defends us from health risks such as: Cardiovascular Diseases, prenatal health problems, eye disease and even skin wrinkling. Of Course, Maja is cooked with Coconut Milk that contains calcium to help us build and maintain strong bones.

Maja Blanca can be cooked in different flavors, making it even more nutritious. The squash Maja has low calories; rich in vitamins that will help us prevent cancer and obesity. The vitamins in Squash help us to maintain good eyesight, healthy colon, a healthy heart and strong bones. Aside from that, it also helps us to improve digestion, reduce sweet cravings, and also contains antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.

Spiny on the outside, sweet on the inside, pineapples are one of the most fantastic fruits that can also be one of the ingredients of Maja. It contains high amount of Vitamin C and manganese which is important for antioxidant defenses. It is also fat- free, cholesterol-free and has dietary fiber which is essential in keeping your intestines healthy. Maja can also be cooked with mango and there are many health benefits that we can derive from it. According to a research, mango has rich antioxidants which help in fighting against colon, breast, prostate cancers and leukemia. It lowers blood cholesterol and clears skin. It also maintains healthy eye and alkalizes the whole body.

Maja Blanca is not just a great dessert, but is also nutritious. The different versions and flavors of maja are very good for our health. Now you can enjoy great food at the same time maintain your good health.