Soyannaise is fast becoming the new mayonnaise. Here’s how to make it – and start a business with it.

Soyannaise is a breakthrough in the health-food industry. A soy-based cream, it can be used as a spread, dressing or dip and is very easy t prepare. It can also be a viable business venture because you can supply the product to so many restaurants and stores that need it for their salads and healthy sandwiches. Because these stores are targeting the health-conscious, soyannaise is perfect for them.

Producers that intend to supply restaurants and stores with soyannaise must first contact the store’s purchasing officer or manager, who normally would require samples. One or two bottles for sampling should be presented to them along with some chips, sandwiches, and salads that the target customers could sample the product with.

Aside from being a healthier alternative to mayonnaise and other high-cholesterol dressing, soyannaise is very easy to prepare. All you need to do is mix the following ingredients in a blender.

250 g sterilized tofu

250 ml soy milk

1/8 cup calamansi extract

2 tablespoons minced garlic

2 tablespoons chopped white onions

2 tablespoons honey

All of these ingredients are available from supermarkets and public markets. Blend all of them until the mix becomes smooth and creamy. The longer you blend them, the better. This is because the mixture becomes creamier and thicker and bubbles are prevented from forming.

It is best to use sterilized tofu for soyannise, for it makes the product last for 7 to 10 days when refrigerated. If other types or tofu are used, the product would last only one ot two days when chille. And if you use ordinary tofu, you can’t have the smooth texture typical of mayonnaise, and since the mixture would last only for a day, it must be consumed immediately.

Aside from original garlic flavor, other flavors can also be sued for soyannaise, like pesto or hot-chili soyannaise. (To make pesto soyannaise, cook fresh basil in olive oil and blend it with other ingredients listed above). Try to experiment with other flavors so you can have unique products to offer to stores.

This recipe yields about 500ml of soyannaise for a total cost of only around P120, including your overheads. You can bottle the soyannaise for retail at P150 per 250ml, giving you a 100 percent profit margin. But if you are planning to supply it to stores, it would be better to invest n your own label and packaging.

Also, it’s advisable to have your soyannaise tested and registered with the Bureau of Food and Drugs; later, you can also try getting halal accreditation for it. Making these additional steps and investments is needed if you want to commercialize your product and have a good fighting chance against similar products in the market.

By Mishell M. Malabaguio

MANILA, Philippines – A Filipino has received international recognition for his innovative effort in educating poor children.

Efren Peñaflorida, who started the “Kariton Klassroom” to bring education to poor children, has been named CNN Hero of the Year, the cable news network announced yesterday.

According to the CNN website, Peñaflorida was selected after getting the highest number of online votes, which reached 2.75 million in seven weeks.

The 28-year-old teacher from Cavite City bested nine other contenders from different countries.
Peñaflorida received the award from actress Eva Mendes at the conclusion of “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute” held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Saturday night in the US.

He received $100,000 cash to continue his work with his group, Dynamic Teen Company, according to CNN.

The cash prize is on top of the $25,000 bonus that Peñaflorida received after he was included in the top 10 CNN Heroes.

“Our planet is filled with heroes, young and old, rich and poor, man, woman of different colors, shapes and sizes. We are one great tapestry,” Peñaflorida said in his acceptance speech before an audience of about 3,000.

Peñaflorida urged the crowd to “be the hero to the next one in need.”

He also called on them to “serve well, serve others above yourself and be happy to serve.”

“As I always tell to my co-volunteers... you are the change that you dream as I am the change that I dream and collectively we are the change that this world needs to be,” Peñaflorida said.

As a child, Penaflorida chose education over gang life in Cavite City and vowed to create a way for other children to make the same choice.

Peñaflorida said he was occasionally bullied and beaten by street gangs, which prompted him to decide to come to the aid of street children and rescue them from poverty and neglect through education.

Peñaflorida created a program that brought books to children in slums and on the streets, and the 10,000 members of his Dynamic Teen Company have brought reading, writing and hygiene to 1,500 youngsters.
“My message to children of all races, please, to embrace learning and love it for it will embrace and love you back and enable you to change your world,” Peñaflorida said.

Peñaflorida’s group was first recognized after it won the Bayaning Pilipino award for its heroic work in bringing education to poor children in Cavite.

Since 1997, more than 10,000 volunteers are now helping in educating more than 1,500 kids in depressed areas in Cavite.

The group later launched the “Kariton Klassroom,” an innovative way of bringing the classroom to the children in the depressed areas.

The pushcart classroom is now complete with teaching aids, blackboards and even folding tables and chairs to allow children to sit and read materials provided in a mini-library – a far cry from the humble effort of loading the books and school supplies in large plastic bags.

Peñaflorida now earns a living as a public school teacher in Cavite but still continues his pushcart classrooms on weekends where volunteers have started teaching the street urchins of Manila.

Peñaflorida recalled that he and other volunteers had to endure discrimination and even being branded as “trash collectors” with their pushcarts whenever they carry out their noble mission.

The public, however, took notice of Peñaflorida’s ingenious way of bring education to poor children by nominating him to the CNN’s list of heroes for this year.

Peñaflorida was a member of Club 8586, a youth group in Cavite that financed his elementary and high school education.

When CNN early this year announced its annual search for Heroes, Club 8586 nominated Peñaflorida.
CNN’s Blue Ribbon Panel sifted through 9,000 nominees from over 100 countries, and soon narrowed down its choices to 28. On Oct. 1 (Oct. 2 in Manila), CNN announced its top 10 finalists for its Hero of the Year. Peñaflorida made it.


A brief moment of triumph

Peñaflorida said his inclusion in CNN’s Top 10 “gave Filipinos a breath of fresh air, a brief moment to cheer and celebrate,” since the Philippines was still reeling from the weeklong floods and devastation wrought by storms “Ondoy” and “Pepeng.”

During gala night, the top 10 CNN Heroes, chosen by a blue-ribbon panel from an initial pool of more than 9,000 viewer nominations, were each honored with a documentary tribute and introduced by a celebrity presenter, according to the Web site. Each of the top 10 Heroes received $25,000.

The finalists were selected by a panel that included former US secretary of state Colin Powell, Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Turner. The winner was chosen online by the public, with nearly 3 million votes cast.
The presenters during gala night included Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Neil Patrick Harris, Pierce Brosnan, Dwayne Johnson, Mendes, Randy Jackson, Greg Kinnear, George Lopez and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Grammy Award-winning artist Carrie Underwood, R&B crooner Maxwell and British pop sensation Leona Lewis performed during the gala event.

CNN anchor Anderson Cooper hosted the event that would be shown on Nov. 26, at 9 p.m. EST on CNN.
Before the announcement of winners, Peñaflorida told ABS-CBN that if Filipinos wanted to see change, they should start within themselves.

After receiving the honor, Peñaflorida said more poor and uneducated children will benefit from the award.
He said 90 percent of the cash grant would go to Dynamic Teen Company and the remainder would go to the Church.

“Nothing for me. I was here to represent the poor children (of the Philippines),” Peñaflorida said.
He added the several politicians who have started courting him after making it to the CNN’s top list would not make a difference.

Peñaflorida vowed to continue his work and offer himself as an example of an underprivileged kid who fell victim to violence driven by poverty and yet found a way to lift himself up.

For him, seeing the smiles of the children who rush to meet him when they spot his humble pushcart is enough reward for his efforts.

The Caviteño teacher could be hailed as another icon like boxing legend and seven-world titleholder Manny Pacquiao to many Filipinos.

But for Peñaflorida, as this year’s CNN Hero of the Year, the real heroes are the volunteers of Kariton Klassroom.

“And of course, for the Lord that allowed me to receive this award. He is the reason why I am here,” Peñaflorida said. 

- (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

Heart disease is a leading men's health threat. take charge of heart health by making healthier lifestyle choices. 

For example:

    *  Don't smoke or use other tobacco products. Avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.

    * Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fiber and fish.

    * Cut back on foods high in saturated fat and sodium.

    * If you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure, follow your doctor's treatment recommendations.

    * Include physical activity in your daily routine.

    * Maintain a healthy weight.

    * If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. Too much alcohol can raise blood pressure.

    * If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control.

    * Manage stress.

All dads have their own daily glitches. But with their busy schedule, endless obligations, and multi-tasking duties, these tiny blunders can be absolutely justified. So moms, teens and kids, let’s try to do our part and make dad’s life extra easier with these small efforts that will mean a world of difference to them.

1.    ORGANIZE HIS CLOSET. Spare him the hassle moments of finding that right pair of socks. Arrange his ties, socks, and hankies according to colors and prints.

2.    DADDY TRAY. Don’t blame him for always losing his keys. Keep all his necessities handy by assigning a tray near the door for dad’s daily necessities such as car keys, eyeglasses, pen and charger.

3.    DO THE CAR WASH. Give dad a rest on weekends by doing the car wash yourself or volunteer to drive it to the nearest car wash in your neighborhood.

4.    UPDATE HIS CALENDAR. Help dad keep track of important errands and occasions by keeping notes of important dates such as license renewal, doctor’s appointment, cable shows, events, birthdays and even warranty expiration dates for his gadgets.

5.    STUFF HIS CAR. Stack his car with useful necessities such as umbrella, road maps, flashlights, plastic bags, jumper cables, multi-bit screwdriver, blanket, first aid kit, towel, duct tape, rag, etc. All these may come handy in sudden emergencies.

6.    DIGITIZE HIS MUSIC COLLECTION. The tech age is coming full-swing but some dads will never find it easy to let go of his cd collection. In your spare time, rip his cds one by one and save it in his mp3 player, iPod or hard drive. He will highly appreciate this especially with his old-time favorites and rare to find cds.

7.    DAD-FRIENDLY KITCHEN. Some dads will always have a hard time finding their way around the kitchen. So make sure all his needs in the kitchen are all stacked and organized at least in one exact space or portion. Allot a corner in the kitchen or the fridge for his coffee mugs, vitamins, power drinks and food supplements.

8.     DAD’S READ. Buying his reading materials regularly can be a tiring chore for dad. Make it more efficient for him by applying and availing a daily and monthly subscription of his favorite newspaper and magazines.

9.    SITE UPDATES. Update dad with new internet sites, blogs and other online discoveries that you know will highly interest him and even be useful for his daily errands. Just email him the links and everything will be a click away from his computer.

10.   SEND HIM A SALE BUZZ. Dad’s rarely keep radar on sales and promos so they always end up buying some stuff with the most unbelievable and unreasonable prices. So the next time you shop or spot an ongoing sale of a car store, men’s clothes and other men stores, give dad a buzz so he can visit the store in his own spare time.

Back in 1999, Robert G. Hagstrom wrote a book about the legendary investor Warren Buffett, entitled "The Warren Buffett Portfolio". What's so great about the book, and what makes it different from the countless other books and articles written about the "Oracle of Omaha" is that it offers the reader valuable insight into how Buffett actually thinks about investments. In other words, the book delves into the psychological mindset that has made Buffett so fabulously wealthy. (For more on Warren Buffett and his current holdings, check out Coattail Investor.)

Although investors could benefit from reading the entire book, we've selected a bite-sized sampling of the tips and suggestions regarding the investor mindset and ways that an investor can improve their stock selection that will help you get inside Buffett's head.

1. Think of Stocks as a Business
Many investors think of stocks and the stock market in general as nothing more than little pieces of paper being traded back and forth among investors, which might help prevent investors from becoming too emotional over a given position but it doesn't necessarily allow them to make the best possible investment decisions.

That's why Buffett has stated he believes stockholders should think of themselves as "part owners" of the business in which they are investing. By thinking that way, both Hagstrom and Buffett argue that investors will tend to avoid making off-the-cuff investment decisions, and become more focused on the longer term. Furthermore, longer-term "owners" also tend to analyze situations in greater detail and then put a great eal of thought into buy and sell decisions. Hagstrom says this increased thought and analysis tends to lead to improved investment returns.

2. Increase the Size of Your Investment


While it rarely - if ever - makes sense for investors to "put all of their eggs in one basket," putting all your eggs in too many baskets may not be a good thing either. Buffett contends that over-diversification can hamper returns as much as a lack of diversification. That's why he doesn't invest in mutual funds. It's also why he prefers to make significant investments in just a handful of companies.

Buffett is a firm believer that an investor must first do his or her homework before investing in any security. But after that due diligence process is completed, an investor should feel comfortable enough to dedicate a sizable portion of assets to that stock. They should also feel comfortable in winnowing down their overall investment portfolio to a handful of good companies with excellent growth prospects.

Buffett's stance on taking time to properly allocate your funds is furthered with his comment that it's not just about the best company, but how you feel about the company. If the best business you own presents the least financial risk and has the most favorable long-term prospects, why would you put money into your 20th favorite business rather than add money to the top choices?

3. Reduce Portfolio Turnover
Rapidly trading in and out of stocks can potentially make an individual a lot of money, but according to Buffett this trader is actually hampering his or her investment returns. That's because portfolio turnover increases the amount of taxes that must be paid on capital gains and boosts the total amount of commission dollars that must be paid in a given year.

The "Oracle" contends that what makes sense in business also makes sense in stocks: An investor should ordinarily hold a small piece of an outstanding business with the same tenacity that an owner would exhibit if he owned all of that business.

Investors must think long term. By having that mindset, they can avoid paying huge commission fees and lofty short-term capital gains taxes. They'll also be more apt to ride out any short-term fluctuations in the business, and to ultimately reap the rewards of increased earnings and/or dividends over time.

4. Develop Alternative Benchmarks
While stock prices may be the ultimate barometer of the success or failure of a given investment choice, Buffett does not focus on this metric. Instead, he analyzes and pores over the underlying economics of a given business or group of businesses. If a company is doing what it takes to grow itself on a profitable basis, then the share price will ultimately take care of itself.

Successful investors must look at the companies they own and study their true earnings potential. If the fundamentals are solid and the company is enhancing shareholder value by generating consistent bottom-line growth, the share price, in the long term, should reflect that.

5. Learn to Think in Probabilities
Bridge is a card game in which the most successful players are able to judge mathematical probabilities to beat their opponents. Perhaps not surprisingly, Buffett loves and actively plays the game, and he takes the strategies beyond the game into the investing world.

Buffett suggests that investors focus on the economics of the companies they own (in other words the underlying businesses), and then try to weigh the probability that certain events will or will not transpire, much like a Bridge player checking the probabilities of his opponents' hands. He adds that by focusing on the economic aspect of the equation and not the stock price, an investor will be more accurate in his or her ability to judge probability.

Thinking in probabilities has its advantages. For example, an investor that ponders the probability that a company will report a certain rate of earnings growth over a period of five or 10 years is much more apt to ride out short-term fluctuations in the share price. By extension, this means that his investment returns are likely to be superior and that he will also realize fewer transaction and/or capital gains costs.

6. Recognize the Psychological Aspects of Investing
Very simply, this means that individuals must understand that there is a psychological mindset that the successful investor tends to have. More specifically, the successful investor will focus on probabilities and economic issues and let decisions be ruled by rational, as opposed to emotional, thinking.

More than anything, investors' own emotions can be their worst enemy. Buffett contends that the key to overcoming emotions is being able to "retain your belief in the real fundamentals of the business and to not get too concerned about the stock market."

Investors should realize that there is a certain psychological mindset that they should have if they want to be successful and try to implement that mindset.

7. Ignore Market Forecasts
There is an old saying that the Dow "climbs a wall of worry". In other words, in spite of the negativity in the marketplace, and those who perpetually contend that a recession is "just around the corner", the markets have fared quite well over time. Therefore, doomsayers should be ignored.

On the other side of the coin, there are just as many eternal optimists who argue that the stock market is headed perpetually higher. These should be ignored as well.

In all this confusion, Buffett suggests that investors should focus their efforts of isolating and investing in shares that are not currently being accurately valued by the market. The logic here is that as the stock market begins to realize the company's intrinsic value(through higher prices and greater demand), the investor will stand to make a lot of money.

8. Wait for the Fat Pitch
Hagstrom's book uses the model of legendary baseball player Ted Williams as an example of a wise investor. Williams would wait for a specific pitch (in an area of the plate where he knew he had a high probability of making contact with the ball) before swinging. It is said that this discipline enabled Williams to have a higher lifetime batting average than the average player.

Buffett, in the same way, suggests that all investors act as if they owned a lifetime decision card with only 20 investment choice punches in it. The logic is that this should prevent them from making mediocre investment choices and hopefully, by extension, enhance the overall returns of their respective portfolios.

Bottom Line
"The Warren Buffett Portfolio" is a timeless book that offers valuable insight into the psychological mindset of the legendary investor Warren Buffett. Of course, if learning how to invest like Warren Buffett were as easy as reading a book, everyone would be rich! But if you take that time and effort to implement some of Buffett's proven strategies, you could be on your way to better stock selection and greater returns.
by Glenn Curtis