How to make beef tapa

Beef tapa can come in several ways —as lunch boxes, sandwiches, frozen bulk purchases, etc.—so you have a number of business options. I so love beef tapa from Jollibee -- it's the best (just me speaking) ;) Very, very tasty and the meat is so tender. Last month, I tried this one with matching fried rice and egg.

Materials needed:

• Meat pounder, P50 (I also use meat tenderizer)
• Stainless steel bowl, P150
• Plastic container, P50
• Frying pan, P200
• 1 kg. lean beef (beefsteak cut, round, or rump), sliced ¼ inch thick, P250
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• Sugar
• 2 tbsp. finely chopped garlic
• ½ tsp. MSG
• 2 tbsp. distilled white vinegar
• Soy sauce (optional)
• Vegetable oil
  

Getting started:

• Use the meat pounder to tenderize and thin out the meat.
• Place the meat into the stainless steel bowl, together with salt, pepper, sugar, chopped garlic, MSG, white vinegar, and 3 to 4 tablespoons of soy sauce. Mix well.
• Transfer everything to a plastic container, and let meat marinate for about 12 hours in the refrigerator. Remove and mix again.
• You can opt to repack and freeze the meat for a later date. When the meat is ready to be served, fry in a hot pan, using vegetable oil. Enjoy!
  

source: www.entrepreneur.com.ph

Hand-Painted Pots

Gardening is one of the fastest growing pastimes in most places. For the entrepreneur seeking to capitalize on the huge demand for garden-related products, look no further than starting a business that creates and sells one-of-a-kind, hand-painted clay gardening pots. More and more people are searching for unique and interesting ways in which to display their flowers and shrubs, so why not create extraordinary planting pots for these consumers and start making money. Simply purchase clay planting pots from a local wholesale company and paint and decorate the pots with unique, interesting and colorful themes and designs. Once completed, the flowerpots can be sold in various ways, including directly to specialty retailers and garden centers on a wholesale basis and to residential and commercial interior decorators and garden planners. You can also sell them by renting a sales table at a local craft show or flea market, or by putting the on the internet.

source: www.entrepreneur.com; photo from www.apartmenttherapy.com

How to make beaded slippers

Wearing slippers (tsinelas) as a fashion statement began just a few years ago, but thanks to its extreme comfort and versatility, this trend is here to stay. Women treat flip-flops like dressed-up sandals.

Materials needed:

• Long nose pliers, P35 to P120
• Fishing line (30mm thick), P40 for a big roll
• Heavy duty glue gun, P200 to P300,
• Small glue stick, P3 to P5 per piece, (All available at hardware stores)
• Scissors
• Needles
• 1 pair of plain rubber slippers or flip-flops, P25 at wholesale price (available at department stores or Divisoria)
• 1 to 1.5 yards of satin or organza ribbons, P4 to P8 per yard
• Various accessories (i.e. beads, pearls, sequins), P0.05 to P10 per piece. (Both available at fabric stores)

Getting started:

1. Check the flip-flops to make sure there is no damage or defect, and the surface is clean and dry.

2. To provide a strong base on which to secure the accessories, you’ll need to wrap the thong especially on the top middle part where the toes are inserted with a ribbon.
   

3. Keep wrapping the ribbon around the thong, continuously using the glue gun as you go to secure placement. Make sure the ribbon lies flat on the thong, especially on the top middle part where the toes are inserted. Finish on the upper part of the flip-flop, so as not to make the wearer uncomfortable with the bump the glue may form.

4. It’s best to plan how you want the accessories to be placed on the thong. Once you’ve decided, cut about half a yard of the fishing line and thread it through the needle. Sew on the accessories, stitching from the top middle part going downwards, and making sure that the knotted part is on the top of the thong.

5. Survey your work to check that both sides have a balanced design. Then, tie a strong but clean knot on the end for durability.
   

Tips:

When starting out, don’t buy too much of the same accessory. You don’t want to invest all your profit on one item when you only really need a small amount.

Keep a good supply of sturdy needles. The rubber thong material on which you’ll sew the bead is quite hard and thick.

How Much Will You Make

Jaja Beltran of Colors and Me spends about P47.25 to create a pair of child-sized flip-flops, and sells them for P65 – P75 to dealers, and P90 to P100 for outright sales. With these figures, Beltran already recoups her P1,000 starting capital after selling about 20 pairs of flip-flops.

source: http://www.entrepreneur.com.ph; photo: http://www.sulit.com.ph

How to Make Polvoron

Just like pastillas, polvoron has become a favorite gift to give to overseas friends and family. There is such a huge demand for polvoron that in a survey conducted by the Business section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer last 2007, Goldilock’s Bakeshop named polvoron as their top-selling item—it sold more than their cakes!

Materials & Ingredients needed:

• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wooden spoon
• Saucepan
• Japanese paper or cellophane
• Polvoron molder, P24
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups powdered milk
• 1 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 cups sugar
  

Getting started:

1. On a pan, toast flour in moderate heat for about 15 minutes, or until light brown, stirring constantly to avoid burning.

2. Remove the pan and transfer the mixture into a big bowl.

3. Add the powdered milk, and toss for another 3-4 minutes.

4. Add sugar and melted butter. Mix well.

5. Fill the polvoron mould with the mixture, press it hard by using a spoon, then release it. If it is still too loose, add more butter or olive oil. Make sure that you could pick up the polvoron without it crumbling straight away.

6. Place the polvoron in an airtight container, then chill in the fridge until firm.

7. Carefully wrap the polvoron individually in japanese paper or cellophane.

8. Keep the polvoron refrigerated until you want to eat them. You can store them on the fridge for about a week, or you can freeze them.
   

Credit Card Tips

I applied for a secured credit card at BPI last year. I find it very convenient because I don't have to carry cash all the time. When me and my friends go shopping, I ask them to give me their cash and use my card instead. By doing that, I get more reward points and use that cash in short-term sidelines/investments/rackets. I am given 20 days to pay my bills..so I use that time to earn some money.

There are other promos included, like for example, if I use my card within that promo period for a minimum single transaction of P1,000, I get a free food item from Chowking. I was able to take out 2 pork siomai and 2 siopao asado last Wednesday. It's really nice to get freebies! I don't like having credit cards before but seeing as I can be creative with it, why not ;)

Just remember to always use your credit card wisely and pay your bills on time.

How to Make Empanada

An empanada is one pastry that crosses income segments. It can be sold to the masses at mall kiosks, or to the well-heeled at Sunday neighborhood markets or even at 5-star hotels! It’s up to you to decide.

Materials needed:

• Measuring cups and spoons
• Mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Chopping board
• Baking tray
  

For the crust:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tbsp salt
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 1/3 cup ice water
  

For the filling:

• 1 medium sized onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 2 tomatoes, peeled
• 2 cups cooked beef, chopped
• 1/2 cup beef stock
• 1/4 cup raisins
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/8 tsp. ground cumin, P105 for 500 grams
• Salt and pepper to taste

To make the filling:

• Saute onions and garlic in hot oil until translucent.
• Add meat, sauté 5 more minutes. Stir in tomatoes, stock and remaining ingredients.
• Simmer for 30 minutes.
  

Getting started

1. First, make the crust. Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.

2. Cut the shortening into the flour as though you were making a pie crust by working it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

3. Sprinkle dough with just enough cold water so that it will just hold together. Knead together briefly and allow to rest, covered about 10 minutes.

4. Roll dough out on a lightly floured board to circles about 3-4 inches in diameter.

5. Place a spoonful of empanada filling of your choice on one side of the circle. Moisten the edges of the circle with a small amount of water and fold the dough over the filling to make a half circle. Press the edges together to seal.

6. You can opt to make a pattern on the edges of the crust by pressing on it with the tines of a fork. Vary your patterns if you are making empanadas with different fillings to distinguish one from the other.

7. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.

source: http://www.entrepreneur.com.ph

How to Make Puto Kutsinta

Puto kutsinta is a Filipino delicacy that is brown in color, sticky and glutinous. It is made of rice flour and served with grated coconut. It is one of my favorite snacks :)

Materials needed:

• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Wooden spoon
• Muffin pans or small, shallow bowls
• 2 cups cassava flour
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 4 tsp. lihia or lye water, P22.50 for 250 grams (available in supermarkets)
• 2 cups pandan juice
• 8 tsp. butter
• 2 cups brown sugar
• Freshly grated coconut as topping

Getting started:

1. Mix the butter and sugar.
2. Sift the all-purpose flour and cassava flour.
3. Combine this with the mixed butter and sugar.
4. Pour the pandan juice and lihia (lye water) and mix again until it the texture is smooth.
5. Pour into a muffin pan or shallow bowls, making sure to leave room at the top.
6. Steam for 20 minutes.
7. You may sell this with grated coconut on the side.

source: http://www.entrepreneur.com.ph; photo from http://www.forkpress.com