Food: What's New from P.F. Chang's

I was so excited to hear about P.F. Chang's latest creations, most of which you can only find in the Philippines. These new additions to the menu were developed by their own commissary team for about a year and went through a series of approvals.

I went ahead to try them out the other day, and they are yummy. Oh my goodness. My favorite of the bunch? The steak for the main course and chocolate buchi for dessert.

Here are the photos for your enjoyment.

Ahi Cucumber Salad

This Ahi Cucumber salad is a refreshing treat of smoky Seared Ahi Tuna, cool cucumber slivers, roasted tomatoes, blanched asparagus, juicy peaches and dill herbs tossed in our sweet, creamy and tangy dressing. Intriguing but true, no pasta in this dish! At first I thought they added fetuccine but I couldn't place my finger on it until they said those were cucumbers. Pure genius.

Dim Sum variety and their Tuna Tataki

Tuna Tataki is probably one of my all-time favorites. I think the fried wonton disks made the difference. It's a perfect pica-pica dish for parties.

P.F. Chang's also launched a variety of new dim sum flavors as well. I must try them again. Hmm, maybe they should offer unlimited dim sum promotions eh?

Xiao Long Bao

Although this was only my second time having Xiao Long Bao, I thought it was yummier than the one I had before. I like P.F. Chang's version because the dough they used really held the soup inside before I ate it. Xiao Long Bao is meant to be eaten whole, so that when you bite onto it, the broth will burst into your mouth.

Flaming Red Wontons

This is my favorite dim sum among the bunch. The Flaming Red Wontons are pork dumplings covered with P.F. Chang's signature chili sauce with scallions and sesame seeds. You'll love this is you like your food spicy.

Grilled Angus Flank Steak

Another new addition to their menu is this Grilled Angus Flank Steak. It is a hefty plate of marinated sliced US Angus flank steak, grilled to perfection, and served with a sweet and savory side of grilled hoisin glazed peaches and Chinese eggplant. It is perfect for any carnivore.

Chocolate Buchi

My husband and I love buchi. Buchis are traditional sesame rice balls with red bean filling. But P.F. Chang's take on it? They filled it with chocolate. The chocolate tasted like Flat Tops, and I happen to love Flat Tops, so yeah, you guessed it. I think I ate most of the buchi in our table. Haha.

Make sure to visit P.F. Chang's and get to taste their new stuff. Maybe we'll see each other there because I'm planning to go back very soon!

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P.F. Changs's Alabang Town Center
The Street, Corte de las Palmas
Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City
Phone: 869-7837
Email: alabang@pfchangs.com.ph

P.F. Changs's Bonifacio Global City
W Global Center, 9th Avenue corner 30th Street
Bonifacio Global City, City of Taguig
Phone: 808-7389; 664-5956
 Email: thefort@pfchangs.com.ph

Crafts/DIY: Container Box

My daughter loves Kraft's Macaroni & Cheese (Easy Mac) so much we always get boxes and boxes from S&R (our Costco here in Manila). I thought its size was perfect for putting some of my craft tools in. So I made it more presentable.

I had a cool patterned kraft gift wrapper on hand, some Mod Podge, scissors and a cosmetic sponge I have in my dresser.

I cut the paper into size so there is a bit going over the top for a smoother finish. I applied Mod Podge on the box using the sponge, and stuck the paper onto the box.

Not too bad. :)

Crafts/DIY: Paper Flowers Workshop

I will be holding a paper flowers workshop this coming November 9, 2013. Save the date folks. Details to follow.

Like us on facebook: www.facebook.com/craftedforyou

October is SIDS Awareness Month

Safe sleep habits are just as important as healthy sleep habits. In most first-world countries, safe sleep education is being pushed by the government. In fact, there are even laws that mandate US hospitals to educate new parents about safe sleep prior to discharge. Sadly, there is still no government support and a huge lack of public education about safe sleep in the Philippines.

This October is SIDS Awareness Month. Halo Philippines (http://www.halophilippines.com), the local distributor of the Halo SleepSack wearable blanket, amplifies its campaign to spread the word about safe sleep. Along with fellow safe sleep advocates, Forty Weeks and Then Some hopes to start a yearly tradition of promoting safe sleep for the continuous education of parents.

What is SIDS? 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines the dangers that may steal the lives of our precious little ones.

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID): The death of an infant that occurs suddenly and unexpectedly. After a case investigation, these deaths may be diagnosed as suffocation, asphyxia, entrapment, infection, ingestions, metabolic diseases, cardiac arrhythmias, trauma (accidental or non-accidental), or SIDS.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): The sudden death of an infant that cannot be explained after a thorough investigation is conducted, including a complete autopsy, examination of the death scene, and a review of the clinical history. SIDS is a type of SUID.

Accidental Suffocation and Strangulation in Bed (ASSB) also is a type of sleep-related SUID. This includes infant deaths related to airway obstruction (asphyxia) in a sleeping environment caused by—

1. Suffocation by soft bedding—such as a pillow or waterbed mattress.
2. Overlay—another person overlaying or rolling on top of or against the infant.
3. Wedging or entrapment—wedging between two objects such as a mattress and wall, bed frame, or furniture.
4. Strangulation—such as when an infant’s head and neck become caught between crib railings.

How to Reduce the Risk 

In support of SIDS Awareness Month, Halo Philippines has put together this public service reminder on safe sleep.

Created by a parent who lost a child to SIDS, the award-winning Halo SleepSack is a wearable blanket that eliminates the risk of a baby getting entangled with clothing and loose bedding during sleep. It is worn over pajamas or a t-shirt in place of loose blankets that can easily be kicked off, thus ensuring a better night’s sleep. It is the safer way to sleep.TM

Halo is the No. 1 wearable blanket in the market today. Its name has become synonymous to quality and safety that translates to value for money. In fact, Halo is the only brand trusted and used by over 1,200 US hospitals and NICUs, and is consistently voted by parenting authorities as the No.1 baby must-have.

With sizes for newborns up to 5 years old, babies can grow with Halo and experience safer, healthier sleep, which in turn promotes physical and mental development.

As a special treat for my blog readers, Halo Philippines is giving 15% discount on all Halo SleepSacks for the entire month of October! Just key in my blog name, Forty Weeks, under “customer instructions” when you check out your order at www.halophilippines.com.

How You Can Help 

Together with Halo Philippines, we ask our readers and community to help us raise awareness for SIDS and safe sleep. We ask that you share this post with your family, friends and your community.

Here are some ways you can help:

• Click the “Facebook” Share button at the bottom of this post. 
• Share this post on Twitter and tag with #safesleepph 
• Like Halo Philippines’ facebook page (www.facebook.com/halophilippines).

Together, we can do our part to help promote safe sleep for all babies!

Toddler: Cough, Colds and Fever -- Could It Be Pneumonia?

A simple answer to this is yes.

I am not a doctor and I am only speaking through my own experience with my baby. This is the season of pneumonia in children.

My daughter had a fever accompanied with cough and colds that started two Sundays ago. We were just trying to control her fever, colds and cough by giving her medicine prescribed by her pediatrician. We have a nebulizer at home, and it was helpful to give fast relief for her respiratory symptoms. Her fever went up and down throughout the week. She lost her appetite for solid foods. She just drank formula. It was good timing that we were scheduled to go to her pediatrician Friday morning. So we went.

It turned out that my daughter had pneumonia. Some symptoms to watch out for aside from cough, colds and fever are phlegm sounds from cough, rapid breathing and dryness of lips. Her lungs had fluid also, which was another sign of pneumonia, the doctor said. Right then and there, our pediatrician recommended to have Allie admitted at the hospital so she can get started with the medicine. The doctor's clinic was already at the hospital so it was convenient. We went down to the ER first to get her started with the IV (fluids and antibiotic) because there was no room ready yet.

I tell you mommies, it was one of the most painful things to watch -- getting the IV in your child's veins. The nurses had to wrap her with the blanket so she will not move. Sigh. If I could trade places with her I would. I only had an IV once, when I gave birth to Allie, and it was more painful than giving birth. Well, at least for me.

But Allie's a trooper. She cried not because of the IV, but there were just so many nurses trying to hold her still to get the IV in. She was cool with the IV. I'm so proud of her.

We stayed at the hospital overnight. Allie was given non-stop paracetamol (until her fever was way down), salbutamol (nebulizer), and antibiotic. She was discharged when her fever didn't come back. Her nurses were all awesome. I felt Allie became more at ease with them during our hospital stay. She didn't shy away when they checked her. She was just chill. She slept a lot too. She looks kawawa here but during our hospital stay, she was playing, riding her IV cart (haha) or watching Phineas and Ferb/ Hi-5. She was bummed when the room TV didn't have Disney Jr. on cable. Good thing Daddy E brought her tablet.

What can you do to prevent your child from having pneumonia? BabyCenter has these three in mind.

Number 1. Keep you child updated on her vaccines. Allie was supposed to have her pneumonia vaccine that Friday we went to the doctor. A little too late. Pneumonia got to her a week early. Boo.
Number 2. Practice good hygiene. Start with always wash your child's hands. Kids play a lot. On the bed, on the floor, everywhere. So wash their hands as often as possible to prevent germs from getting to them.
Number 3. Keep your house a smoke-free home. Very obvious.

I have another to add.

Number 4. Do not let your child play with other kids who are coughing or have colds (and this goes the other way around too). Your kid (or other kids) might catch it from them.

We're home now. But we still need to use the nebulizer about 3-4 times a day until her cough's gone. She's taking antibiotics for a week too. Her pediatrician says it will take weeks until her cough is totally gone. I just hope she recovers quickly.