SELECTA HERSHEY'S COLLECTION : REESE'S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

I went to the grocery to pick up some household thingies when I saw this on the ice cream freezer chest, Selecta's Hershey's collection. The other two is Hershey's Milk Chocolate and Hershey's Kisses. Since I love peanut butter and Reese's i chose this.

Seems like plain chocolate ice cream on top but it has a lot of reese's peanut butter cup chunks on it.

Its ok ..... but their chocolate truffles by Chef Laudico is still the best for me.

Marianna's Baked Goodies

I have been busy with work, Marianna and baking that I have been lacking entries in my blog. But this one should not be missed....

Finally, I did get to advertise my "baked goods" hoping that I could reach other markets aside from our office.

Chewy oatmeal cookies (choice of chocolate chips or raisins)  

(8 pcs per pack for Php 55.00)
A whole wheat flour based cookie with a hint of cinnamon

Chocolate Crinkles

(10 pieces per pack for Php 55.00)

Brownie cupcakes with white chocolate

(18 pesos per piece)

Carrot Cupcakes (25 pesos per piece); Carrot Loaf (180 pesos per loaf)

Ingredients : Grated Carrots with walnuts and raisins

- whole wheat flour may be used upon request

Banana Loaf (Php 150.00 per loaf) / Banana Cupcakes ( Php 18.00 per piece)

Ingredients : Mashed Bananas, walnuts or cashews and crushed pineapple

whole wheat flour may also be used upon request.

I may be new to this but Im very excited. I also plan to take some cake design lessons to further expand my baked goodies.

Hoping and praying that we could go well with this. Para din di na kailangan umalis si hubby for work ...

Missing my Hubby Yet Again ...

Hubby left again last January 15, but this time, 6mos lang contract nya. He did bargain for this and the office granted a shorter contract for him. Gusto nga sana nya mas maikli pa so he'll try to look for a shorter contract when he come home again this July. He regularly leaves us for work pero I think this is the first time that I saw and felt that he is genuinely sad. Nalulungkot daw kasi sya pag naiisip nya si Marianna. Nitong bakasyon nya kasi, halos araw araw sila magkasama kaya talagang naging close sila mag daddy. Malungkot but sacrifices had to be done. Im very lucky to have a husband like Mark. I admire him for his love and dedication as a husband and daddy and as a son. Take good care of your self sweetie. Marianna and I love you so much. See you July. God bless.

BRAZO DE MERCEDES By The Sweet Life by Ange

Gidget, a  chat friend of mine introduced me to The Sweetlife by Ange. Her knowing my sweet tooth recommended their Brazo de Mercedes to be the best she ever tasted.

Having searched their site :http://www.thesweetlifebyange.com/index.php?page=sweet-surrender , I have also shared this new found information to a fellow sweet tooth friend of mine, Ghelai who graciously brought me some to taste ....

Their brochure 

the brazo de mercedes before opening the package

this one cost less than Php 300.00, just enough for hubby and me

My "tikim" almost took more than 1/4 of the whole piece ...

Layers of soft meringue, custard and french vanilla ice cream on graham craker crust and its a must that it must be frozen or else the ice cream would melt.

My verdict: a nice twist on a classic brazo de mercedes. for a sweet tooth like me, i did enjoyed every bite and finished the whole piece in one sitting (with hubby having to eat 1/4 of it) but i don't think i can finish another piece one after the other. it has some "suya" factor that needs to fade first before you could enjoy another bite after eating a big chunk. but i would definitely come back for more and probably would enjoy other flavors like mango, strawberry and chocolate which you have to order in advance. 

THE SWEET LIFE BY ANGE

Upper Ground Floor, Vernida I Condominium

120 Amorsolo Street, Legaspi Village, Makati

815-01-88*752-86-92*403-97-29 & 0917-8238198

Email: inquiry@thesweetlifebyange.com

Carrot Cupcakes

I love love love carrot cake! Kaya nung nag ka oven at nakapag bake ako, isa sa mga una kong hinanap na recipe is for carrot cupcakes. I have adopted a recipe from Barefoot contessa and twiked it a little.

CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES

Ingredients:

2 cups refined sugar
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon iodized salt
3 pcs grated medium sized carrots
1 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven at 200 degrees celcius

Beat sugar,oil and vanilla together in a bowl . Add the eggs, one at a time. In another bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Mix the dry and wet ingredients together. Add the grated carrots, raisins and walnuts to the mixture. Mix until just combined

 CARROT CAKE BATTER

Line muffin pans with paper liners. Scoop the batter into 18 muffin cups until each is 3/4 cup full. Bake at 200 degrees C for 10 minutes and reduce oven temperature to 180 degrees C and cook for another 10 mins or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a rack when done.



CARROT CUPCAKES

My mom and officemates absolutely love this. I even add 1/2 cup rolled oats in one of my batches to make it healthier and more filling! Masarap din daw according sa mga naka kain, hehe.

Hello 2011, Good bye and Thank you 2010!

Hello blog! I have missed more than a month updating you. I have been busy with the holidays, baking, doing office work and spending time with hubby and baby. During the holidays, we prepared food for noche buena and media noche (hoping to post about it soon), with  baking, I have been making cookies and cupcakes here and there to give away (recipes to come ...) after work which I would say that Im very lucky that I don't get to do much overtime, I usually come early from work to have some play time and sweet time with my baby and hubby.

Hmmm. What are the things that I won't forget about 2010? In general, it was a good year for us. God is so good to be always there to guide, bless and protect me and my family. It is in 2010 that I got promoted at the office (with matching promotion on work loads as well, hehe) but I was happy to oblige with the challenge and with the help of my bosses, I would say and I do hope that I did met their expectations.

Blessings in different forms came from different places. Some experiences, not so good but still ends up well as I learned more things about life. Lets just live it just the way it is and make the most of what we already have.

Another one that would remain quite a while is when I won the 3rd prize in our christmas party raffle! The prize? $ 300.00 !!! I was even doubting during the party that my raffle ball was missing! he he. I was super blessed I would say. This really came in handy during the holidays.

In 2010, I have gained friends and experiences that I will forever treasure. Thank you 2010. Thank you God.
Hello 2011.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Icing

Made these cupcakes last Night. Nakaka adik pala mag bake! Kinuha ko lang yung recipe sa likod ng lalagyan nung binili ko na Hershey's na unsweeted Cocoa. Pati icing dun din. Ultimate Chocolate cake na nilagay ko sa cupcake molds at yung icing na pinipe ko lang using an end of a plastic zip lock container.

Assorted icing designs na napagkatuwaan ko lang gawin kagabi. Na tawag na nga ko ng asawa ko at akala kung ano na nangyari sa kin. Im tired from work at nag luto pa ng dinner pagdating ko ng bahay tapos di talaga ko pumayag na di makapag bake na kahit yung recipe sa lalagyan ng cocoa ay di ko pinatawad.

Nag enjoy naman ako kaya may smiley dyan! haha



Had this piece this morning. Masarap! hehe
At dahil sobrang nag enjoy ako kakalagay ng icing, bibili na ko ng pipe bukas.....

Next project ko? Red velvet cupcakes naman :-)

Yanna's School ID

This had me laughing this afternoon at work today.

I was in the middle of reconciling an account when hubby sent me this picture of Marianna's ID

I cried laughing for quite a while.

Ang gara naman kasi ng itsura ng anak ko. Parang naging kulot. Kulot na gulat! haha.
Nagulo siguro yung ipit nya. Pati yung ribbon pilipit. Tapos kita pa yung kapraso nung bag nyang pink.

I love you anak. You always make mommy happy.

I'll keep this ID of yours to taunt you in the future, hehe.



Chocolate Crinkles

From making chocolate oatmeal cookies, here is 

another cookie recipe that I tried in the Yummy Bake, Give & Sell recipe collection

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 eggs

1/2 cup dark cocoa powder (I used hersheys)

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar (sifted)

PROCEDURES:

1. In a bowl, combine oil, sugar and vanilla. Mix together. Add eggs, one at a time.

2. Sift together cocoa, flour and baking powder. Add the creamed mixture and blend well.

3. Chill dough for at least 4 hours.

4. Preheat oven to 350 deg F. Line a baking tray with wax paper. Set aside.

5. Scoop the dough then roll in sifted confectioners' sugar.

6. Place on the baking tray at least two inches apart.

7. Bake for at least 12 minutes then cool.

sifted flour, cocoa and baking powder mixture

dough mixture before chilling 

crinkles taken off the oven to cool

chocolate crinkles close up

crinkles stored for future snacking

This was my first try and have baked a few more batches after it. I even brought some at the office to sell but i did came out differently from my first try. There are batches that were too thick and the others a little dry. After this, I just hope that my next batch would came out as I would want them to be after a few adjustments from my previous tries.

This also serves as my entry for FOOD FRIDAY for this week

Have a great weekend everyone!

The Burger Project

After seeing this Burger store at a blog site and watching it in one of the episodes of Where you at in MYX, i have been bugging my brother to visit the place.

Last Saturday, we did had the chance to go here.The place was not that big. I was a little deceived by the pictures ....  Never the less , the place was cozy enough for a burger joint

List where you can customize your BRGR ...

Designer BRGR Board

My filled up Order sheet ... 

Order sheets are then submitted at the counter

Vanilla Milk Shake - Php 145.00

Their other milk shakes variants are strawberry, blueberry, choco peanut and good ol choc'lit all for Php 145.00 each

I'm a sucker for anything sweet and their milk shake did not disappoint

Marky Mark BRGR  (hubby's Burger creation)

 Beef burger, Blue cheese, Mango salsa, Jalapeno peppers, tomato in Poppy seed bun

Hubby did like his burger but claims he liked the burgers more in Wham Burgers.

I think its all in the combination ....

Fries - Php 60.00

This was supposed to be for my niece Ria 

We should have told them not to put chili powder

Sweet Potato Fries - Php 60.00

 This one was better than the fries. The natural sweetness of the sweet potato compliments the light kick from the chili powder

TOFURIFIC BURGER

Tofu BRGR, mozzarella cheese, Mango salsa, lettuce and tomato in an Oatmeal bun.

I did go for the lighter choice and it all tasted well together.

BUNGAL BRGR

This one was Kuya's Friend Burger.

Beef burger, cheddar cheese, pineapple slice, onion rings, egg and bacon in a Poppy seed bun.

An odd combination. But a very good and filling one according to him.

Funny name. He may turn out BUNGAL if he had this burger all in one bite, hehe.

BUNGO BRGR

My Kuya's burger. 

Chicken burger, cheddar cheese, canadian bacon. tomato and lettuce in a poppy seed bun.

They had this sliced in half since he's claiming he's on a diet and shared this with his wife.

Having my first bite on my TOFURIFIC BURGER

The burger was really huge and I wasn't able to finish mine and had more than half of it to go.

Hubby looking satisfied with his BRGR

Me and My Niece Ria

 I just can't resist having our picture taken at the wall with their logo inside the store

Glass wall at the entrace of the store with drawings of the steps on ordering your BRGR

The Burger Project is a different burger experience that is worth the visit ....

THE BURGER PROJECT


122 Maginhawa, Teahers Vill, QC
351-74-74
theburgerproject.com
theburgerproject@yahoo.com
Open daily 11 am - 12 mn

Sunday Lunch at Tokyo Tokyo

After going to Mama for a visit and  to bring some of my baked cookies, we ended up having lunch at Tokyo Tokyo at Victory Mall here in Caloocan

4 pcs California Maki 

Eto lang ang sushi na nakakain ko. Ni hindi namin nagalaw yung wasabe. Not a big fan of it. Para kasing nagagagat yung anghang.

Signature red Iced tea

Although masarap Iced tea nila, parang mas masarap dati. Lately kasi madalas natatabangan ako every time we get to order this.

Marianna having as sip from Daddy's Iced Tea

 Ang anak ko, pawis na pawis. Napaka mainitin kasi nya at ang kapal ng buhok. Bukod pa dun, nag tatalon sya sa kama dun kila mama habang pabalik balik na nakikipag laro ng peak a boo sa lola nya.

Sumo Remix : Beef Misono with Prawn and Vegie Tempura

I rarely eat beef. But if i do i really dont eat much. Gulay at yung tempura ang kinain ko dito. Si yanna gusto nya yung beef kaya yun sinusubo ko sa kanya.

Hubby getting a Prawn Tempura

It was his place of choice and already had this in mind when we came in. He really loves prawns/shrimps.

We left full and had a short walk from here to Pure Gold to buy some stuff .

Parang medyo matatagalan na ulit before we come back to Tokyo Tokyo again to dine out. Wala na kasi sila masyadong bago to choose from. Tapos nawala pa yung Tuna Misono na fave ko. I hope they'll bring it back again.

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I was excited when hubby bought me an oven because I have been wanting to try baking for the longest time. My first baking project would be these Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. I used a recipe on Yummy's Bake, Give, Sell cook book (hmmmm, i like the idea of selling my baked goods as soon as I get the hang of baking)

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup chocolate chips

PROCEDURES:

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg F ( 180 deg C ) and grease baking tray
2. In a bowl, combine flour, oats and baking powder
3. In a separate bowl, cream butter with the white and brown sugars until light (use a mixer or a wire whisk). Then add egg and vanilla extract.
4. Stir in the flour mixture and Fold in the chocolate chips in the mixture
5. Drop batter by tablespoons on the baking tray leaving enough space between the cookies
6. Bake until the edges are lightly browned for about 15 mins then cool cookies before storing

Mixture approximately makes 30 cookies but mine only made 12 cookies since i made bigger ones

Cookies while baking inside the oven

Cookies removed to cool ...

close up look at my chewy chocolate chip cookies ...

cookies ready for storing 

( only 6 cookies were left upon completing this entry of mine. i have been munching on them from the moment they cooled off, hehe )

Not bad for my first try. Hubby did liked it. I even missed out the salt and the cinnamon in the recipe, good thing they still came out well :-)

Next on line ..... CHOCOLATE CRINKLES 

This also serves as my FOOD FRIDAY entry for the week

Lunch Date at Sbarro

Last thursday, Hubby accompanied me when I renewed my passport.

I promised to treat him for lunch to any resto of his choice ...

We ended up eating at Sbarro

 Deep-Dish pizza and Cream Dory in Lemon Sauce

The meat lovers deep dish pizza was soaked in tomato sauce and most of what I can taste from it was bell pepper. I prefer their white deep dish pizza.

The cream dory in Lemon sauce was nice and light.

Egg plant parmegana & a slice of cheesecake (toppings: blueberry, mango & cherry)

The eggplant parmegana tasted like the deep dish pizza except with the eggplant. Probably because of the same tomato based sauce in it.

The cheesecake was really good. I would order a slice of this again when we dine out at Sbarro.



We always order Raspberry Iced tea when we go here   ...

After lunch, hubby and I did some HHWW at the mall as we scout for an oven range ....

Then we head on Dairy queen to rest our feets and have something sweet and refreshing sa well



 Citrus Cooler for Hubby (Php 79.00)

Small Green Tea Moolate for me (Php 39.00)

My green tea moolate was relatively small but it was all the satisfying bulk that I really needed. It was tasty too. I could compare it to the Green tea smoothies in some fro-yo stores.

I love eating out. Specially with hubby. While he's here on leave for work, im looking forward for more eating out dates with him and Marianna.