Gourmet Miles

CEBU, Philippines - It's a most rewarding journey as guests continue to enjoy extra mileage while dining in style. Philippine Airlines' Mabuhay Miles ties up once again with Marco Polo Hotels as they bring back the "Gourmet Miles" promo.

This year, the newly opened Marco Polo Ortigas joins Marco Polo Plaza Cebu and Marco Polo Davao in the "Gourmet Miles" tie-up.

For a minimum bill on a single check the guest earns "miles" or points at the hotels' participating food and beverage outlets. In Marco Polo Plaza Cebu, "Gourmet Miles" can be earned at Café Marco, El Viento Restaurant and Pool Bar, and Blu Bar & Grill. In Marco Polo Davao, the promo holds at Café Marco, Lotus Court and Polo Bistro Restaurant. In Marco Polo Ortigas points are now available at Café Pronto, Cucina, Lung Hin and Vu's.

Meaningful journeys begin at Marco Polo Hotels. The "Gourmet Miles" promo runs until December 31 this year.

For inquiries and reservations, the Marco Polo website is: www.marcopolohotels.com.

Cooking Smart

Feeling the squeeze? Try these painless ways to trim your food budget. You'll find you can still eat well and save money.

                .               Carefully monitor leftovers. Use them as snacks               or lunch, or freeze them to use another time.

                .               Try to include "filling" food on your          menus for the   hearty eaters in your family. Chili, stew, soup, sandwiches and slow cooker dishes are good     choices.

                .               Remember that sometimes quantity counts more than quality. For instance, you can serve two                 packages of chicken franks for almost the same                price as one package of beef franks. But don't   substitute with foods your family won't eat.

                .               Prepare hot cereals for breakfast. They're more               economical and filling than cold cereals.

                .               Plan a "bake day" when all can pitch in. assign    kitchen tasks to family members and prepare                 inexpensive, homemade snacks to freeze or refrigerate.

                .               Recycle food scarps in soups, casseroles and       omelets; even vegetable skins go into soup stocks.

                .               Substitute boneless chicken breasts or turkey    cutlets in recipes calling for expensive veal cutlets.

                .               Make your own salad dressing by the bottle and               keep it in the refrigerator.

                .               Save time and money with one dish salad meals.              Combine diced leftover meat, fish or poultry with                 fresh vegetables.

                .               Don't waste milk by using it for scrambles eggs or omelets. Milk makes eggs watery because it                 won't blend with them. Use water, which makes egg fluffy.

                .               Create healthful, low-cost meals based on dried               beans with leftover meats and fresh vegetables.

                .               Keep a pot of homemade basic brown soup stock, made of beef bones and vegetables,               in the refrigerator. It's convenient - and inexpensive - base for delicious soups and stews.        Boil it up every few days.

                .               To cook a stock overnight without            worrying about it, cover the pot and place it in a 225 degree                 oven until the next morning.

                .               Buy good-quality pots and pans, even if  they cost           more. You'll save in the long run because better                 equipment lasts longer.

-  from Hints, Tips & Smart Advices By FamilyCircle