The leaf of health

Malunggay, in our earlier years, was boiled and given to lactating mothers. Today malunggay has become more than that. It is what we may call the “leaf of health.”

Our friend Dr. Jimmy Galvez Tan and wife Becs collaborated on the book titled “Medicinal Fruits and Vegetables,” which has started our (and other people’s) awareness of natural health food.

Malunggay comes from the horseradish tree, whose roots are spicy, hence it is associated with the Japanese wasabi. Until we had a variety of food made with malunggay, we always thought it was single-use crop. Jimmy writes, “It has seven times more Vitamin C than oranges, four times more calcium and and two times more protein than milk and rich in iron.” Quite a magic tree, really.

Now the market place is being filled with food items made with malunggay. One such store is a stall along the aisle of Market!Market! You won’t miss this one because of its attractive branding. Among the products are pan de sal, at P55 a pack of 10 pieces, which are big and heavy, much unlike the nearly hollow bread one gets from some bakeries; biscocho, crunchy as it should be for P65 for a pack; shing-a-ling for P65; pancit canton for P65; and bottled drinks at P28. These are the products of Moringa Power Foods corporation based in Makati.

The walk through the mall’s entrance yielded some more buys: traditional ensaymada from Tinapayan Festival at P15 each; bottled ginataang puso ng saging from Bicol for P120; and Sebastian bottled mussels from Cebu, which we normally use to make pasta sauce, at P160. Along the entrance to the Metro Gaisano supermarket, one of the more interesting stalls is Cold Diggers, selling ice cream sandwiches using cookies instead of bread, P55 per.

Inside the Metro, some of the new items include the Green Works line of household cleaners from the US; Amocan canned goods such as mock (vegetarian) abalone, P89.75, chicken curry, P130.

Christmas is coming, so get your turkeys now. The Butterball brand is at P168 a kilo. They start from three kilos.

The holidays, indeed, are not so far away. Have you done your Christmas list? We were at the huge S&R Sale on Zapote Road in Muntinlupa where the crowds were unbelievably overflowing. People bought piles upon piles of towels, comforters etc. We got a bargain in the two-liter bottle of extra virgin olive oil at P600 plus. Sadly, they never put fresh meat, seafood, vegetables and fruits on sale.

This is also the time to think of earning some extra money during the holidays when expenses escalate. Enroll in the Business Opportinuty series of San Miguel Great Food club. Food gifts will be highlighted on Oct. 15 while catering favorites and Noche Buena feasts will be taken up on Nov. 15. Classes are held at the Culinary Center in Ugong, Pasig. Call 672-8558 or log on to www.mygreatfood.com.

One place that always fascinates us is Make Room. We can browse around for hours. We recently visited their display room at the Alabang Town Center and immediately thought of Christmas. The have utility trays that are creatively designed, ranging from those with felt-lined ring holders to organizers done in faux leather.

Any man or woman would like to receive boxes for their respective unmentionables. Make Room has some that can be slipped into cabinets much like caddies. We also noted the new collection of houseware items, among them the bamboo line from Lipper International with interesting items, including a bread tray that has two small dishes for dips, a peppermill, a space for cheese and fruits and yes, the bread. Formbu has a line of different bowls made of bamboo slats (outer surface) and recycled plastic. Pretty. Other items we spotted are graters, ice buckets, pizza savers (triangular plastic holders), attractively designed can openers, and sink drainers.

Visit the store, you will be charmed.

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