Bicol Expreeeessss! (Maggi Magic Meal Review)

Living in a studio type room with no kitchen would make you maximize every resource that you have. Just recently, we had a new addition to the set of appliances (which is composed of an electric fan and laptop) that we have  - a RICE COOKER!

This machine would certainly lower down the expenses I have for food. Instead of buying a cup of rice for 8 pesos, I can buy a half kilo of uncooked rice for 14 pesos. That would be good for 6 meals already. Amazing zzzavings!

I've been seeing this commercial on the rare occasions I tune in to the TV. I wanted to try this out as soon as I got my hands on the new rice cooker. Okay, masyado akong masaya sa rice cooker.

Anyway, I got to try the advertised and strain-ly belted "Bicol Express" in the commercial. The Maggi Magic Meals pack costs around 35 pesos which comes along with the plastic bag where you'd put all the good stuff in. One pack can cook half a kilo of meat. It's actually very easy to prepare.


First, you have to cut the meat into thin slices and then prepare the sitaw or baguio beans. 

Second, put the meat, sitaw, Maggi Magic Meals mix, and 6 teaspoons of water into the bag and then tie the end into a knot. Massage to spread the mix.

 Place the plastic inside the rice cooker on top of the washed rice.You're cooking the rice and the viand at the same time.

Patiently wait for 45 excruciating minutes and then the rice and the ulam is good to go! :)

Cooking it is definitely no fuss at all. Then again, I think it would be more convenient if they also put in meat and vegetables in the mix so there's no need to buy meat from the market. Ang tamad lang.  :))

Now let's go to the pro's and con's of the Maggi Magic Meals:

WHY I LOVE IT:

1. Very easy to prepare. No need to fuss with buying and preparation of ingredients from the market.
2. Meat is very tender. This comes to no surprise considering 45 mins cooking time.
3. No need to have a lot of cooking materials, just a plain old rice cooker would do the magic.

WHY I DON'T LIKE IT:

1. The taste is not powerful compared to the traditional way of cooking it. Somehow, I felt it lacked the "gata" and "ginisa" factor. Frankly, it's quite bland but it doesn't disappoint either.
2. Not so healthy since it's obviously loaded with sodium and MSG. Not good for people who have high blood pressures.
3. The price isn't that far if you cook it the traditional way. It's probably just a 50 peso difference.