Every year as summer rolls in again and the days get hotter and hotter to the point of sweltering, I begin to notice that the things I may have loved snacking on and eating during the early part of the year are no longer that high on my priority list (for example: that delicious hot chocolate that I seemed to crave nightly is no longer comforting, it’s just plain hot, and I’d rather have ice-cold water or iced tea to satiate my summer thirst). That’s actually one of the many things that change during the middle months of the year and this summer I’ve put together my "hot days" hot list, including all the things I know I’m going to enjoy snacking on this summer season!
Though hot chocolate is definitely out, my sweet tooth is still craving its dose of sugar. Last year what I was loving was ice cold melon balls (as in cantaloupe) with sugar. Weird, I know, but it seemed that no matter what, whenever I wanted a snack, this is what I had to have. This year, I’m back to one of my first loves ever  cookies! My mother can attest to my early love of these sweet treats. Even when I was a little girl I would always get my hand stuck in the cookie jar  literally. And now, they are always high on my sweets list and top my summer snack cravings, whether eaten alone or a la mode with a delicious scoop of ice cream!
And am I picky with my cookie choices? Well, let’s just say I don’t discriminate  Milk Chocolate Chip, White Chocolate Chunk Macadamia (a classic favorite), Chewy Fudge, Peanut Butter  they are all welcome in my cookie jar. Most especially if they are from cookie expert Mrs. Fields whose delicious treats not only sound scrumptious but taste just as good as they sound! Indeed, Mrs. Fields is all about perfection and it’s evident in every bite of their delightful snacks. In addition to signature cookies and brownies, lovers of Mrs. Fields can also enjoy muffins, bagels and croissants as well. It’s all about customer satisfaction through quality food and services and, heck, I know I’m satisfied with my dozen (comprised of Milk Chocolate Chip, Milk Chocolate Macadamia, White Chocolate Chunk Macadamia and Peanut Butter).
And this May 2007, Mrs. Fields will be expanding its already well-loved lineup even more. We can all look forward to having more cookie choices in colorful and stylish designs, ensuring more than just a sweet treat but an entire cookie experience unlike no other! Do I sound a bit like Cookie Monster now? I don’t mind; hey, I love me my chocolate chips!
And of course, summer is definitely the time for shakes! Both on the dance floor and off! My hot days are never complete without my token fruit shake. While here in Manila I love Apple Shakes from Fruitas and my all-time favorite Manila shake  Strawberry Mango from Fruit Magic. But, while I enjoy these a lot (I had five the other day and fell victim to immense brain freeze), my ultimate faves are still the shakes from that famous little bahay kubo in Boracay. Yup, beach bunnies know what I’m talking about  Jonah’s in Bora still has the most delicious shakes ever! I always want a Banana Choco Peanut shake and when I’m feeling fruity I’ll opt for Strawberry Mango or Strawberry Banana. Either way, I’m guzzling these babies down like there’s no tomorrow. After all, I know I’ll miss them terribly when I’m back in Manila so whenever I sun worship on Bora’s white sand shores I have as many as I can without terminally freezing my brain!
Okay, bad for you or not, I have to admit I am a total soda pop girl. I love my Coke and Pepsi and throughout the regular months of the year I’m sure I consume my fill of both but ironically these last few weeks what I’ve been looking for the most is a throwback to my youth. It began with spotting Dr. Pepper in the supermarket a while back. I used to love this growing up and it reminded me of sleepovers in my basement with cartons of leftover Chinese food  oh, that delicious Tao Tao Chow Mein  and six packs of Dr. Pepper, Cherry Coke, and Mountain Dew with my favorite childhood gal pals. Now, of course, we’ve all grown up and gone our separate ways but my love for these lesser popular soda pops remains the same.
And this summer my mother has actually managed to find all my favorites and keeps me smiling with supplies of Mountain Dew and Cherry Coke (a can of which I am actually polishing off as I write this column). Some people say that our sense of smell is an amazing memory trigger and I wholeheartedly agree with that, but it’s amazing how strong a trigger our taste buds can be as well… (I can practically feel our old basement’s carpet under my feet!)
| Summer is brought to us by the letter "S" |
And finally, rounding off my hot day list of treats are my two favorite summer snacks  Sabrett and Subway. Now this is hardly anything new since I’ve always been a French fries and barbeque kind of girl. My taste is simple and I love enjoying comfort foods like hot dogs and sandwiches especially during the summer when everyone is always on the go. I’m lucky, too, because my boyfriend loves this as well and doesn’t mind trekking out with me to the nearest Sabrett (usually Rockwell) or the nearest Subway (usually Podium) for our hot dog and sandwich fix. Just the other day, we ended up staying in the Mall of Asia long enough for us to have Sabrett for lunch (plain for me and sweet-onion-filled for him) and Subway for dinner (I love the chicken teriyaki and he opts for a plethora of cold cuts  and black olives!). Oh, yes! Do the days get any better than this?
So, indeed, I am all set for my choice of summer indulgences this year. But, as with every year, I finish it all off with a dose of moderation. Exercise and proper portions will keep me from expanding to whale-like proportions and will ensure I don’t freak out when my clothes don’t fit after the sunny season. Likewise, since I’ve decided that skincare should come first this year I’m going to load up on the sunblock and forego tanning to lechon manok-like standards. After all, I want to ensure that I’m around to enjoy more sunny seasons after this. Have a great summer, everyone!