Hello!!! So sorry for being away for so long. I've been quite busy testing my baking skills and now I decided to put it into good use. I created a Facebook page for my business and it is called VANILLA PLATTER. 

My house of baked goodies caters mainly to Lucenahins' sweet tooth because my products are perishable. But since my sister stays and works in Manila, Manilenyos can get a chance to taste them. We do meet ups for faster delivery (and its more affordable too!).

So far, I am still collecting feedback from my customers. I am open to suggestions for my products' improvement.

My version of chewy chocolate chips cookies are selling steadily!!!

I love the feeling that my sweets reaches out to the child within and creates wonderful memories specially if shared with love ones. I think that is the reason why they are called comfort foods. :)

So guys and gals, I'll rest for now. I still need to bake a fresh batch of cookies tomorrow.  Tatah!!!

ADDICTING CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE WITH CHOCOLATE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

I have tried more or less 10 recipes to satisfy my craving for a moist and delectable cupcake. Some came out as epic fails; burnt and awful; some came out bland, some came out too cake-y for my taste and some almost hit the spot. Hopeful, I continue my quest for the ultimate chocolate cupcake recipe. I found this recipe on Cupcake Project,  I think last January  but was just too busy (or lazy) to hit the kitchen and whip it up. NOW, I decided to give it a try because I finally found a cool baking supplies store -- Bakers Nook -- here in our city which caters goods and tools for wanna-be and professional bakers. No excuses for me so yeah, I baked some heavenly cupcakes this afternoon!

With Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting!

Prepared for my Tita Ecar.

No sprinkles yet looks so good!

This one is for my Tita Fe

Just a note, I tweaked this recipe a little because I cannot find sour cream, I used homemade buttermilk as a substitute. Came out perfect for me anyways. :)

But if you want the original recipe click this link -- Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake

Ultimate Chocolate Cupcake (with a tweak)

Ingredients:

1/4 cup ( 2 oz)  unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup ( 7 oz) sugar

2 oz  (57 grams) dark chocolate, chopped (I used Colatta Compound Dark Chocolate Bars)

2 large eggs, room temperature

2 large egg yolks, room temperature

1/2 cup + 1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil

2 tsp vanilla extract ( pls. use the real thing, makes a difference)

1/3 cup homemade buttermilk ( 1/3 cup milk then add 1/3 tbsp. vinegar or lemon)

1 cup all-purpose flour

Lovely Twins!

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup cocoa powder 

1/2 cup room temp. water

Way to whip it:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter with fork then add sugar and mix. 

3. Melt the chocolate in a double-boiler or microwave. Now if you don't have any of these, you can improvise. Just don't let the bowl of chocolate touch the boiling water.

4. Once the melted chocolate is cool enough to touch, add it to the butter/sugar mixture. Mix well.

5. Add eggs one at a time. Mix until well combined.

6. Add the oil, vanilla and buttermilk into the mixture. Mix, mix, mix.

7. In another bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking soda and cocoa powder. Use a fork or whisk to combine.

8. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture in three (3) parts. Make sure to mix well every addition to avoid lumps.

9. Mix in the water until combined.

9. Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and pop it in the oven for 18 minutes.

10. When your timer rings, check the cupcakes by inserting a toothpick in the middle. Should come out clean. If there is just an insy, tinsy bit of chocolate in the toothpick, it's ok to take the cups out, it will still cook itself for a few minutes.

11. Immediately remove the cupcakes from the muffin pan and let cool in a wire rack. 

12. Design your cupcakes or just eat them when cool already. I put chocolate cream cheese frosting in mine. 

Savor your chocolate success friends! And don't forget to visit my blog for more yummy eats. Mmwwahhh!!!

First Day of Baking... COCONUT MACAROONS!!!

August 9, 2013

My sister came home to spend her long weekend with us!(Yipee!!!) And of course if she's home, we get to bake something together, and this time we decided to bake three goodies! First of, we made this aromatic coconut macaroons that my husband requested. This is our first time to bake macaroons and we were kind of afraid that it might turn out disgusting, half-baked or over-baked. Fortunately, it turned out to be fantastic golden brown macaroons with the right amount of sweetness and soft inner texture!

We got the ingredients from Panlasang Pinoy website but we altered it a little to satisfy our taste buds.

So, for those who are craving for coconut macaroons, let us start by preparing these ingredients:

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
400 grams or 14 oz condensed milk
250-300 grams desiccated or shredded coconut
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Now let us start whippin' and bakin'!

Directions:
1. Cream the butter with fork.
2. Add the 1/2 cup butter gradually and mix well.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla and mix well.
4. Add the condensed milk, whisk again until you reach a thin creamy consistency.
5. Gradually add the desiccated coconut and evenly spread it till the mixture is thick but still creamy.
6. In a mold (we prefer the ones with paper liners), place 1 tbsp. of the mixture on each cup.
7. Pre-heat the oven to 370°F for 10 minutes.
8.  Bake those babies for 20-30 minutes or until color turns golden brown.
9. Let it sit in the mold for 5 more minutes then take it out and put it on a wire rack to cool.
10. Enjoy your macaroons!

CLASSIC CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIPS COOKIES

I know it's been quite long but I'm back!!!

Let me start with this, my 4-year old has a sweet tooth just like his Tatay (father) and so I decided to bake something that he will truly enjoy. I started searching for a chocolate chips cookies recipe and I got one from Pinterest. 

These classic chocolate chips cookies  are fun to do and so yummy and chewy that I think it is a waste not to share it with you. The batch I made yielded 11 large cookies  (almost the size of a saucer) but my son and I  cannot keep our hands off this sinful snacks that we ended up with just three cookies come night time!!! Just tellin',  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!! 

Now I know you cannot wait to try this one out so here's the link to Emily's blog where I got the recipe --- www.nourishem.com

Enjoy the oven heat!!! Mwwaaahhh!!! 

DARNA NG BUHAY KO

Kaarawan ngayon ng aking pinakamamahal na Mama. At kahit ngayon na malayo sya sa amin, nais ko sanang ipahatid sa kanya ang aking pasasalamat at pagbati. Nawa ay mapakinggan ng kanyang puso ang aming hiling upang manumbalik ang kanyang sigla. Ma, para po sa inyo ito:

Mahal kong ina, ang puso ko ay tinigib mo ng ligaya

Pagkat iyong pagmamahal ay ramdam sa twina

Kahit pa ang pagitan ng mga puso ay milya-milya

Pagkat ikaw ay nasa Europa at ako’y nasa Asya.

Kaya’t ngayong iyong kaarawan ay muling sumapit

Nais sana’y ngiti sa puso ang syang aking ialay

Pagkat walang maibibigay ngayon sa iyo aking Inay

Kung hindi pagbating galing sa puso ng sa iyo ay nawalay.

Mahal kong ina, wala na akong mahihiling pa

Kung hindi manumbalik ang lakas at pag-asa

Pagkat nais ko sanang ikaw ay makitang maligaya

At aming mapaglingkuran sa tuwi-tuwina.

Kaya’t iyong pagdamutan itong payak na pagbati

Buon Compleanno!!! Mula sa mga labing nakangiti

Nawa’y init ng aming yakap iyong maramdaman,

At sana’y makasama na kita sa susunod mong kaarawan.

Mahal na mahal kita Mama. Kulang pa siguro ang anumang yaman sa mundo upang mapantayan ang iyong mga sakripisyo. Salamat po Darna ng buhay namin. Mmmwwahhh!!!!

Ito ang Totoong Stress Reliever!

10:41 ng umaga: oras habang isinusulat ko ang artikulong ito. Medyo natagalan bago ko naipost dahil sa ilang gawaing kailangan kong unahin. Pero dahil sa kagustuhan kong ibahagi sa inyo ang pagpapala na naramdaman ko dahil sa isang desisyong ginawa ko, inihabol ko pa rin kahit 8:45 na ng gabi.


To start the story, Ilang beses na ba nating narinig ang salawikain na ito: “Love your enemies as you love your self”? Napakahirap diba? Dahil kung madali yan, dapat walang World War I, walang World War II, walang civilian unrest sa Afghanistan at walang apartheid sa Africa. Pero dahil sobrang Extra Challenge sa ating mga tao ang mga  katagang yan, bibihira lang ang nagppraktis at kabilang ako sa mga taong yan.


Hello!?! Sino naman kayang taong magmamahal ng kaaway nya? Nung trinaydor ka ba ng bestfriend mo at inagaw ang jowa mo natuwa ka ba? Sinabi mo ba, “Uy friend don’t worry hindi ako galit dahil love kita. Ok lang kahit kayo na ni Papa P ko.”? Syempre hindi, di ba? Malamang-lamang, sinumpa-sumpa mo yung ex-bestfriend mo at ex-jowa mo na sana mamatay na silang dalawa. Or dinasal-dasal mo kay Lord na sana ma-karma sila! It is our defensive reflex. Normal talagang magalit ka sa taong nanakit sa iyo.


Isa pang example, naranasan nyo na ba na mismong magulang, tito, tita, pinsan, kapatid, jowa, kaibigan, kalaguyo o kung sino pa mang close sa inyo ang ang nilait-lait kayo, nilibak, niyurakan, pinagchismisan at inaway  to the point na naramdaman nyo na worthless kayo? Kasi ako, oo. At sobrang sakit sa bangs! Pakiramdam mo nangingimi buong ulo mo, nangangapal at nag-iinit pisngi mo, nanginginig katawan mo at gusto mo talagang manakit ng tao! Sa point na iyon ng buhay ko,  dahil hindi ko kayang lumaban, ang nagawa ko na lang ay umiyak ng umiyak ng umiyak at magtanim ng sama ng loob sa taong iyon hanggang ang nararamdaman ko na lang ay pagkamuhi  sa kanya. Hindi ko siya kayang patawarin, iyon pa kayang mahalin!

But just this very day, nang ito ang naging paksa ng preaching ni Bro. Bo, parang may kung anong nagbukas ng puso ko at tenga ko para pakinggan sya. Para unawain kung bakit ko kelangang gawin yon. At alam nyo ba kung ano ang narealize ko? Na ang gaan pala sa pakiramdam pag nagpatawad ka at nag let go. Iniiyak ko kanina lahat-lahat sa Diyos ang nararamdaman kong galit, sama ng loob at kahihiyan. At natutunan ko ring patawarin ang sarili ko. Alam ko may natitira pa ring bitterness, maaaring may hate pa rin na katiting but at the very least, narealize ko na kelangan kong tanggapin na hindi maganda para sa katawan, utak at puso ko ang di mag-let go ng galit. Na yung galit na yun against my detractors ay hindi nakakatulong sa paglago ko bilang tao. Na at the end of the day, talo ako pag di ako nagpatawad kasi dinadagdagan ko lang ang stress sa buhay ko.

Hindi madali ang proseso na ito pero pwede. Nasa iyo ang pagpili. Nasa iyo ang desisyon. Walang mamimilit sayo dahil ito ay journey ng self-realization. Hindi ko trabaho ang pilitin kang magbukas ng puso mo. Obligasyon mo yun sa sarili mo.  

Pagputok ng Taba, Ilag sa Kaliwa!

Ok, first-time kong nagluto ng makasalanang Litsong Kawali at aaminin kong na - excite ako at kinabahan. Ang totoo nyan dapat Baked Rosemary Chicken ang gagawin ko kaso naman pagkatunaw nung yelo sa karne, Boom!!! Baboy pala at hindi manok ang balumbon ng nagyeyelong karne sa freezer!


Para di masayang ang baboy na inilabas ko, kinumusta ko muna si pareng Google. 

Ako: Hellong pareng Google! Musta ka nman? Favor naman pare, need ko recipe ng litsong kawali, baka kasi masira ung baboy na nilabas ko, yari ako kay Tatay (tawag ko sa asawa ko).

Pareng Google: Eto marami pa rin clients. Tuloy lang negosyo. Litson Kawali? Sureness! Yun lang pala eh. Mamili ka na lang sa kanila ha. Charraaaaaannnn!!!

Ako: Daming Salamat pareng Google! Safe na tenga ko!

Sa dami ng binigay ni pareng Google, ito ang napili kong sundin:


Recipe: Lechon Kawali
Ingredients
2 lbs pork belly
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp whole pepper corn
5 pcs dried bay leaves
3 cups cooking Oil
34 ounces Water


http://panlasangpinoy.com/2009/03/13/lechon-kawali/


Pagkatapos kong ihanda mga rekado at hugasan ang kaserola at kawaling gagamitin, diretso na sa pagluluto. Tinantya ko na lang ung tubig sabay salang sa stove. Pagkatapos kumulo sabay lagay ng asin, paminta at  laurel. Sunod kong inilagay ang liempo at hinayaang kumulo lang ang tubig habang nagbabasa ako ng Fairy Tail manga episode 292.  After 30 or so minutes, tininidor ko ang liempo at sa awa nman e malambot na at mabango ang karne.

Ahon time!!!!!


Pagka-ahon ko ng karne, palamig konti then salang ko naman ang kawaling may mantika na animo’y swimming pool  para sa mga langgam.  Nang maramdaman na ng palad ko na pwede na ang init, excited akong isinalang si liempo and there goes that crackling sound! Ang ganda tingnan ng kumukulong mantikang pinagbababaran ngayon ng karneng ulam ko para sa tanghalian pero alam ko anytime, BOOOM!!! Puputok ang mantika kaya kinakabahan na ako at dahan-dahang lumayo sa mainit na kawali. Nang malayo-layo na ako, mga four feet away, at kasalukuyang kinukutingting ang baked mojo potatoes upang ilagay sa pinggan, isang nakakatakot na pagputok mula sa lugar ng kawali ang ikinagitla ko.


S**t!!! Ayan na nga! Lintik talagang mantika, kapag nkadait sa tubig tlgang sumasabog eh! Ok, takot talaga ako sa pumuputok na mantika. Heller!!! Sino naman kayang matinong tao ang hindi kakabahan e lapnos balat mo pag tinamaan ka! 


Matapos ang ilan pang nakakatakot na putukan, may nerbyos na lumapit ako sa kawali and presto, luto na ang isang pisngi ng karne. Oras na para ibaligtad! Gamit ang aming old but trusty tongs, dahan-dahan kong ibinaligtad si karne at umulit na naman ang pagkulo ng langis sa kawali. Nakangiti na ako during this time kasi malapit nang mabusog ang kumakalam kong tyan. Hehheheh!!! 


Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto , iniahon ko na ang liempo at ipinatong sa plastik na takip ng Skyflakes (kasi basa pa ung sangkalan namin).  Abot ang ngiti sa tengang tinadtad ko ang aking mainit-init na litsong kawali, inilagay sa pinggan at inihain sa mesa.  


Yeebaaahh!!! Kainan na!!!