Why did I start this blog? I have been having episodes of inflammation in my hands and fingers, feet and toes, and joints for some time now. I’ve consulted the doctor and have had tests done. It’s not rheumatoid arthritis and my uric acid is normal (tho at times borderline normal). In an effort to determine which food triggers the inflammation, I have been systematically eliminating certain foods from my diet and then bringing them back. After several years, I have now come to the conclusion that I seem to be reacting to animal protein in general (like some sort of allergic reaction). Different animal proteins affect me to different degrees; some cause inflammation faster than others. So I have decided to reduce my intake of meat. No, I am not going vegetarian; maybe semi-vegetarian if there is such a thing. I will be adding interesting and not too difficult recipes here as I find them. I will also include arthritis management tips that have worked for me.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Silken Tofu



Yes, it’s been a while since my last post. I’ve been travelling some. After I got back I've been excitedly engaged in my new-found hobby – quilting! But the other day we discovered something new and I’d like to share it with you.

My husband and I were driving to San Pablo City when we were pleasantly surprised by the sign on the roadside. There was a newly opened restaurant; it was called YouTofu. My hubby just loves his tofu while I look upon tofu as a healthy alternative to meat. So although we had just eaten lunch, we turned into the road to check out the place.

The place was owned by a couple (Filipina married to a Taiwanese) who made their own tofu; there were two varieties – soft tofu and tokwa (fry-able tofu with a “skin”). The packaging was impressive. They even had soy milk!

Among the dishes on the menu was a tofu dessert. Perfect! When the silken tofu was brought to the table, we both reacted, “Oh wow, that’s a lot!”, but the wife reassured us that we would have no trouble finishing it off. It was a whole block of their soft, silken tofu that had been sliced and then doused with sweetened condensed milk and topped with small cubes/rectangles of “gulaman” (agar jelly). They also gave us a pot of their (house) hot tea (to contrast the sweetness of the dessert, according to the wife). The sweetness was just right for us tho and it did not take very long for us to clean the plate!

We also ordered take out for dinner. The wife said that “rushy tofu” was their best seller so far – it consisted of cubes of tokwa with slivers of pork in their special sauce. It was yummy! Their soy milk was good too! We will definitely go back there!