tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33549435622018022472012-01-13T11:14:43.258-08:00Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.comBlogger1101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-82570479733716257842011-11-21T01:43:00.000-08:002011-11-21T01:43:54.019-08:00

Is it just me or does the days going by way too fast? November seemed like it just started but it just hit me Thanksgiving will only be a few days from now. Next thing, Christmas will be around and we'll be welcoming 2012 --Ack, I'm certainly not ready for the holidays just yet. There's been a whirlwind of events in my family lately: celebrating three birthdays in one week and a 11-11-11

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-65837864998277081462011-11-16T23:44:00.000-08:002011-11-17T15:47:26.132-08:00

I've been thinking for weeks now of what bundt to bake to celebrate National Bundt Day with Mary, The Food Librarian. She has been posting a bundt every single day for thirty days leading up to this food holiday. I've even gone through her archives and round-up from the previous years. Last minute inspiration while thinking about my last year's Ube Chiffon Flan Bundt led me to bake a Coconut

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-91939479572522848982011-10-30T21:26:00.000-07:002011-10-30T21:26:34.269-07:00

Chocolate: check. Cream cheese: check. Streusel: check. This week we start the Muffin Monday series on holiday muffins. And what a great muffin to start! All the different components you could ask for in a muffin are all here: rich chocolate flavor and creamy cheese topped with crumbly streusel. Inspired by all the pumpkin recipes this Halloween season, I added some to the cream cheese. Enjoy!

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-30051776018347942492011-10-27T02:31:00.000-07:002011-10-27T02:31:21.491-07:00

 It's been many years now that my family have been enjoying our neighbor's bounty of figs; we are truly lucky to have friends willing to share them with us. Our neighbor have several trees of Black Mission variety in his property, also ones he grew from cuttings he brought in from his home country that have finally started to bear fruit this year. So for weeks,my family and I would feast on figs

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-83855130567701618062011-10-23T21:58:00.000-07:002011-10-24T10:05:41.546-07:00

I had thought about sitting out on this week's Muffin Monday since I have already made plans to bake two birthday cakes this week. But when Anuradha sent us the challenge to bake Citrus Coconut Muffins, I immediately thought calamansi (kalamansi) so I knew I couldn't refuse baking these. The original recipe asked for zest from lemons and oranges and I used calamansi all the way. I'm sure any

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-74587829385733884742011-10-21T02:23:00.000-07:002011-10-21T17:03:59.502-07:00

This month marks the third year baking with The Cake Slice; we will be baking from The Cake Book by Tish Boyle. The book have separate chapters from chiffon cakes to pound cakes, butter-based cakes and fruit-based ones, flourless cakes, mousse and ice cream cakes, even chapters on cheesecakes and meringue cakes. I'm very excited to be baking from this book and have many recipes already

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-9683848960139675562011-10-16T22:55:00.000-07:002011-10-19T23:02:32.597-07:00

I am happy to welcome another week with these Clementine Date Muffins. Just lightly-sweetened muffins filled with chopped dates and cashews, perfumed with zest of clementines. Freshly-squeezed juice along with yogurt and just a little bit of butter gives these muffins a tender and moist crumb. Surprisingly not a dense loaf I was expecting which I usually think of dates in baked goods.

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-5502490230693184132011-10-03T01:16:00.000-07:002011-10-04T01:17:59.025-07:00

I am pleased to welcome another week with a delicious muffin baked along the Muffin Monday bakers. This time, we give you a savory one. I have been looking forward each week to getting Anuradha's recipe, secretly hoping it will be a savory one. :)  It has been awhile since we offered Spinach Feta Muffins. We used zucchini this time mixed in with your herbs of choice, along with sesame seeds for

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-60437165018544869062011-09-26T02:30:00.000-07:002011-09-26T02:30:52.513-07:00

I am not much of a fan of carrot cakes so was surprised to find these carrot spice muffins to my liking. A healthy recipe using whole wheat flour and warmed up by spices that evoke Autumn. I liked that you can either use brown sugar or honey to sweeten it though decided to try agave syrup since I've been wanting to try baking with it. You may also use buttermilk or yogurt plus even more

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-61572469346932208352011-09-25T17:26:00.000-07:002011-09-29T01:22:30.073-07:00

Itlog na Maalat (salted duck eggs) and kamatis (tomatoes): the quintessential Filipino side dish. Though labeled as a salad, it is not eaten before the main meal customary in Western dining. It's more considered a side dish to be eaten along with your ulam (viand) and of course, steamed rice. A few months ago in Spring, the egg vendor at my farmers market was selling duck eggs so thought I'd

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-30014865849336511742011-09-20T02:17:00.000-07:002011-09-20T02:17:30.057-07:00

This will be the last month The Cake Slice will be baking from the book Cake Keeper Cakes by Lauren Chattman. I have not been very active this year with our baking group due to work so made sure I made time this weekend to bake Blackberry-Pecan Snack Cake. It just happens that my mother-in-law was also throwing a small party this weekend and she had put me in charge of desserts. I know that she

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-21389391040686517072011-09-19T03:07:00.000-07:002011-09-19T03:15:33.294-07:00

It has been one of those weekends, very busy but enjoyed every minute of it! My mother-in-law had a small party at her house and she put me in charge of desserts. I was very excited to get baking and actually spent a whole day and a half baking treats. (I took a quick picture and shared it on Twitter.) One of the treats are these Peanut Butter and Jelly Mufins, a simple and easy recipe with

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-60561131569471644772011-09-12T02:23:00.000-07:002011-09-12T02:23:45.661-07:00

This week's Muffin Monday recipe came courtesy of New York Times' Recipes for Health series. The muffin consists of granola baked along whole wheat flour, sweetened by raisins and a touch of honey. The healthiest muffin baked so far by the Muffin Monday bakers! I had planned on making granola for this muffin recipe but weekend plans got the best of me so ended up using this organic granola. I

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-71777987632350003132011-09-05T03:18:00.000-07:002011-09-05T03:18:24.668-07:00

I'm so glad I was able to join this week's Muffin Monday. My unpredictable work schedule can sometime make me feel like a stranger in my own kitchen so suddenly finding myself with three full days off from work helped me get reacquainted and start baking again. So far I've baked semolina corn bread, made cherry frozen yogurt and bake a chocolate birthday cake for my sister-in-law. I also baked

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-33262533401055204092011-08-29T02:10:00.000-07:002011-08-29T02:12:08.649-07:00

The Muffin Monday baking group is to bake Rum Raisin Muffins this week but I'm sure you can already tell these muffins don't have rum nor raisins. Let me explain. I've been called to work last week, the reason I missed last week's Snickers Muffins, which have left me no time to cook, much less bake. (Thank goodness for my husband who takes up kitchen duties when I'm busy at work.) I didn't have

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-35740037188394605792011-08-26T06:25:00.000-07:002011-08-26T08:27:25.668-07:00

It's Friday! The weekend's finally here. For me, that means going to the farmers market -- one of the things I look forward to all week. Though, weekends are also lazy days at home so my family and I never get to the market as early as we would like. That means missing out on squash blossoms for these beautiful flowers always sell quickly. It seems like I've been on a hunt for squash blossoms

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-31191611201947927112011-08-14T22:20:00.000-07:002011-08-29T02:09:38.465-07:00

Ever since I joined Muffin Monday, I find myself looking forward more enthusiastically to Mondays. I mean a little baked good can really get your week to a great start. This week's recipe is Doughnut Muffins, the easiest recipe so far. The original recipe makes about 10 regular-sized muffins. I decided to make mini muffins to mimic the doughnut holes and I yielded 24 minis. These muffins were 

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-11472919654438662682011-08-07T22:35:00.000-07:002011-08-09T01:26:37.893-07:00

I always think of something sweet when muffins are mentioned so I'm glad to bake these savory Spinach Feta Muffins for this week's Muffin Monday. Along with spinach and feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and more cheese (Parmesan) are also baked in. An easy recipe to put together; I've already made plans to bake them again this week. When I first received the recipe, right away it reminded me of

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-16536111519089378232011-07-31T22:20:00.000-07:002011-08-01T00:40:32.920-07:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted! I was unexpectedly called to work in short notice and as always, it took longer than planned. I ended up working four weeks straight (mostly 16-hour days) with only a total of two days off. This surely got this little old blog of mine neglected. So when work finally ended Thursday, I was excited to start cooking and baking again in my own

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-76803953323234126052011-06-26T03:03:00.000-07:002011-06-26T03:05:58.050-07:00

Though I have been absent here for a couple of months, I've been baking up plenty of cakes. Last month, my youngest son turned seven and I baked him his request for a pineapple cake. This month alone, six people I know celebrated their birthdays. They all love to receive a cake since I've started the tradition several years back of baking birthday cakes. This Lychee Mousse Cake was especially

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-41963358187870470412011-06-20T01:48:00.000-07:002011-06-26T08:54:27.649-07:00

This month's theme for Kulinarya is White to correspond for the wedding month of June chosen by Adora of Adora's Box and Diona of Tita Flips.  I made Ginataang Bilo-Bilo, a snack or dessert that consists of tubers like sweet potatoes, yams and cassava plus tropical fruits like saba (or burro) bananas and jackfruit. It may also include sago (tapioca) pearls and all are simmered in sweetened

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-89451806294038774952011-04-01T17:47:00.000-07:002011-04-02T00:06:53.143-07:00

#TaytoRiCo. Huh? It's a Cooking Challenge concocted up right on Twitter by @jmfield, @DailySpud and @TangledNoodle to come up with a dish, sweet or savory, that consists of potato (Tayto), Rice (Ri) and Coconut (Co). I was definitely up for the challenge. Right away I wanted to make Ginataang Bilo-Bilo (sometimes called Ginataang Halo-Halo) since all three are well represented in this dish:

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-64102597535023034192011-03-30T01:28:00.000-07:002011-04-07T01:49:07.937-07:00

Today I am participating in an Online Bake Sale for Japan organized by Sabrina of Tomato Tart.  I will be making Strawberry Polvoron and Green Tea Polvoron. I made them extra cute and shaped them into Hello Kitty, hoping they get lots of bids which means more money raised to give to Second Harvest Japan. I made Strawberry Polvoron before here. I will be sending a dozen Strawberry and

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-28737484986048291162011-03-20T16:57:00.000-07:002011-03-21T00:53:05.099-07:00

Thank you to Erika of Ivory Hut for choosing vegetables for our Kulinary Cooking Club theme this month. Many choices came up and I wanted to cook them all, from the classic Pinakbet (Filipino Vegetable Stew) to Adobong Sitaw, my favorite way of preparing string beans to Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelet), a simple two-ingredient dish that my kids adore. So cook I did but one major problem: no

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-83877787158466119852011-03-03T02:58:00.000-08:002011-03-03T03:03:06.948-08:00

My husband's favorite treat growing up are Pop-Tarts and of course he wanted our children to enjoy them like he did growing up. I don't like them very much (shh, don't tell him) for I find them too sweet for my taste. My husband and I can agree there are way too many unnecessary ingredients in these toaster pastries. So when he gets a craving, we usually buy this organic brand but this gave me a

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-64925532494523714912011-02-14T08:41:00.000-08:002011-02-14T09:01:15.773-08:00

Just a little something to let you know I'm back! While you wait while I work on more recipes to post, just a reminder that I am on Twitter. Follow me @carolineadobo and let's get this conversation going! :) I used the brownie recipe in Thomas Keller's ad hoc cookbook (my favorite at the moment) baked in a heart-shaped silicone pan. I'm sure your favorite brownie recipe will work. Then cover

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-18400003988248626472010-11-21T23:35:00.000-08:002010-11-22T01:14:39.073-08:00

This month marks the first year anniversary of Kulinarya Cooking Club. Thanks to Kath, Trish and Trissa, all the way across the globe in Australia, for starting a group that highlights our colorful Filipino cuisine. To mark this special occasion, Anna and Dahlia chose a festive theme to celebrate: Relleno, a term for stuffed food like chicken, fish, crab or vegetables. I made Rellenong

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-54734018663633410002010-11-15T13:51:00.000-08:002010-11-16T16:57:53.466-08:00

If you ask a Filipino what their favorite dessert is, more than likely their answer would be Leche Flan and/or anything with Ube (Purple Yam). I love them both so I didn't hesitate to put them together in this dessert so you get to enjoy two sweets at once: Ube Chiffon Flan Bundt Cake. I first learned about the awesomeness that is Flan Cake from Tracey of Tangled Noodle last year when she

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-69046202084408101502010-10-25T23:10:00.000-07:002011-06-20T01:44:45.343-07:00

The Kulinarya Cooking Club chose to highlight Suman this month. Suman are Filipino cakes that are wrapped in leaves and steamed. Every town or region have their own specialty. Most suman are usually made with glutinous rice and cooked in coconut milk. Some suman recipes require the rice to be soaked, even treated with lye, before being rolled in leaves. Banana leaves are usually used to wrap them

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-23473737064022849172010-10-23T17:05:00.000-07:002010-10-25T02:43:25.844-07:00

I love lavender, the scent and color but I have to admit I have had no experience cooking with lavender. So when I found out lavender is October's theme of International Incident Party I was stumped. When I asked my husband for ideas, he jokingly told me to make soap so needless to say I am on my own here. Last minute inspiration came from my pantry, a jar of vanilla sugar staring right at me.

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-63317653539672623682010-10-20T12:27:00.000-07:002010-10-20T12:27:20.612-07:00

I'm finally baking! Just in time for this month's installment of The Cake Slice. We start off our third year of baking from the book: Cake Keeper Cakes, a promising cookbook filled with different types of cakes: from round ones to loafs, bundts to crumb cakes, chiffon and snacking cakes. I'm excited to get this year started with this book. The first cake our group chose is Pumpkin Chocolate Chip

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-84880993691510134832010-09-11T01:28:00.000-07:002010-09-11T01:29:49.973-07:00

Oh, thank goodness it's the weekend! This past two weeks have been crazy to say the least. A new school year just started and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. My kids' homeschool program have added new courses and activities this year that my kids and I are slowly getting used to it. I am sure that we'll catch up as the year progresses but today more than ever I've been looking forward to not

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-82082443715850732682010-08-29T21:44:00.001-07:002010-08-30T02:51:18.453-07:00

This weekend had turned out to be quite eventful for our family. Besides our usual trip to the farmers market on Saturday, we decided to attend The Food Rendezvous held in Venice. This was the first of what would be monthly get-together of local food artisans and I wanted to know more of the food and products they are featuring. There were also nonprofit food and agricultural organizations 

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-73786845114739934992010-08-22T20:59:00.001-07:002010-08-23T03:32:39.280-07:00

The Kulinarya theme chosen by Malou and Cherrie for this month is Lumpia, the Filipino version of springrolls. Since I have already featured Lumpiang Shanghai before, I thought of making something different: Lumpiang Sariwa.The word sariwa means fresh in Tagalog which implies the freshness of the ingredients. This lumpia also got their name because they are not fried. Instead of using thin rice

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-57139339631852768512010-08-21T23:02:00.000-07:002010-08-30T17:02:08.999-07:00

Hooray, I finally made it to the party - the International Incident Party, a blog event started by Penny (of Jeroxie: Addictive & Consuming). It has taken me months trying to get in the party, from dumplings to noodles and tacos. But I encountered problems one after another: from camera not working to battery stopped charging and mostly running out of time. This month, I made sure to make time

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-78150742703772904872010-08-19T11:45:00.000-07:002010-08-22T09:32:22.759-07:00

I had the best plans laid out this summer. I told myself that once my children are on summer break, I will devote some time on this little blog of mine. "One post a week, at least" was what I said. But then work called, a 2-week gig wasn't bad but next thing I knew it kept getting extended: 16-hour days, staying until past midnight at Disneyland (without my family, it was not enjoyable at all),

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-68381572128657263902010-06-28T08:02:00.000-07:002010-06-29T08:23:48.807-07:00

Please welcome the first Filipino food truck in Los Angeles: The Manila Machine.Several months ago, a certain LA Times article asked why Filipino cuisine has yet to assimilate into the the mainstream, especially in Los Angeles where there are more than a handful of Filipino-American chefs working in well-established fine restaurants. I found it upsetting that even though these chefs cook Filipino

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-5734189194106357562010-06-25T23:57:00.000-07:002010-06-27T02:26:39.153-07:00

This month's cake chosen by The Cake Slice bakers is a very easy and simple cake to whip up. Reminiscent of blueberry scones, it's another pleasant way to enjoy blueberries that are plentiful at the farmers' markets at the moment. I am sure other berries may be used instead of blueberries like blackberries or raspberries. Maybe even chopped-up strawberries, too! And once berry season has passed,

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-16265441097521220602010-06-22T06:21:00.000-07:002010-06-22T06:21:00.459-07:00

When I found out this month's theme is Pinoy BBQ, I immediately thought of cooking Pork BBQ on a stick - a childhood favorite! Usually considered street food, vendors hawk these (and other cuts of meats on a stick) out on the street corners cooked from their makeshift grills. They are also a very popular party food. When you serve them, they are usually the first thing that gets eaten right away;

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-88516378297009697722010-06-15T02:59:00.000-07:002010-06-15T09:44:39.701-07:00

My family and I went on a road trip a few weeks ago. We loaded up our minivan after work Friday night and headed north for a 7-hour drive to The Bay Area. We arrived at 3 AM tired from the drive (though the boys fell asleep after a couple hours in the van) but excited because in a few more hours we were going to be at Soul Food Farm, a farm that raises chickens and eggs on organic pastures.I have

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-18339946595325765622010-05-23T10:00:00.000-07:002010-06-22T03:54:35.808-07:00

This month's Kulinarya Cooking Club theme is pancit. Olive and I chose to highlight noodles, the Chinese influence to the Filipino cuisine. Noodles signify long life and so they are served on birthdays as part of the celebration. My youngest son turned six this month so there were plenty of pancit cooked and enjoyed.There are many types of pancit in the Filipino cuisine based on the type of

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-40884941073423021322010-05-09T11:29:00.000-07:002010-05-09T11:40:08.176-07:00

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-7586339517484132452010-04-21T00:10:00.000-07:002010-11-14T00:48:04.721-08:00

I got called to work today and will be until Saturday. So I'm off to Pasadena. I don't mind since I will be close to Euro Pane for my macaron fix. :) So driving all over town doing last-minute shopping. Of course, I had to make a quick stop there. Woohoo, they had all flavors today so got one of each. First up is espresso with bittersweet chocolate ganache (top left with cracks). Now I know why

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-18638505212474239382010-04-18T04:43:00.000-07:002010-04-21T01:09:55.013-07:00

This month, the Kulinarya Cooking Club presents Polvoron (Tagalog, Pulboron). The crumbly, creamy pastry, likened to shortbread, is beloved by all Filipinos. Philippines, a former colony of Spain, had adapted this shortbread and made it their own. The best thing about them, they are never baked! This recipe is very easy to make but it posed a challenge for me since you need a special tool to

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-65475426297064248972010-03-31T22:40:00.000-07:002010-04-01T23:28:19.264-07:00

My family loves farmers' markets. We usually go to a couple of the markets nearby and on Fridays, our city has one. So once schoolwork is done, we would walk on over, armed with our little pushcart, to check out the new things they offer and buy our usual: three dozen eggs, bunches of broccoli, tangerines, hydroponic bok choy and John Dory from the fish vendor.So while I was chatting with the

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-27320544706645556182010-03-30T00:09:00.000-07:002011-03-30T01:20:24.919-07:00

Actually, these are Meyer Lemon Sugar Cookies. I had this crazy idea of making these cookies into "letter tiles" for my kids to get excited about playing Scrabble, my favorite board game growing up. I love Scrabble and I would always beg my older siblings to play with me. Never mind that I was only five years old at the time and can't spell words longer than 3 letters! But my brothers and sister

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-35032318916502555002010-03-29T17:15:00.000-07:002010-03-29T17:15:44.368-07:00

My husband works not more than two miles from our home. So around noon, he swings by to say hello and the family gets to have lunch together. A couple of weeks ago, he came later than expected. Why? Because he had stopped by a stranger's house, knocked on their door and asked if they would sell him some Meyer Lemons off their tree! He came home with his hands full of scratches, carrying a big bag

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-37190911469598349622010-03-21T20:00:00.001-07:002010-03-30T17:50:05.587-07:00

Empanada is something I have never done before. So when I found out it was our theme for this month, I was lost for ideas. I have no recollection of my family making this at home but we have eaten them plenty of times and always enjoyed them. My mother usually would just buy them from the bakery or order it from a neighbor who makes them from scratch. Growing up, I do remember stashing a few of

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-13262612123269626492010-03-20T20:48:00.000-07:002010-03-21T11:19:46.383-07:00

This month, The Cake Slice is featuring Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. For me, there is nothing better to welcome Spring and the warmer days ahead than with this sunny cake. Usually when an upside-down cake is mentioned, it's assumed it has pineapple. Growing up in the Philippines, pineapples are always eaten at my household since they grow abundantly there. Eating pineapples now always remind of my

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-73933597345144256312010-03-20T16:46:00.001-07:002010-03-20T20:50:54.416-07:00

A few weeks ago, I found out from a little bird that March 20th is Macaron Day. So to celebrate, I figured I'll try making some macarons again. I just recently found out about MacTweets blog dedicated to the macaron and wanted to join their monthly round-up. I had planned on making macarons last weekend but my husband, Mr. Feijoada, made plans for our kitchen, too! He decided to make ketchup from

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-65694152555216144592010-02-28T00:26:00.000-08:002010-02-28T00:34:59.161-08:00

This month's theme for Kulinarya Cooking Club is Leche Flan chosen by Trissa. I have already posted about Leche Flan recipe last year. Please take a look at it here and make sure you read a funny comment (made anonymously, of course) by a person who calls himself Lolo (grandfather in Tagalog) who tried to shame me for it was not a "traditional" Filipino recipe.If Lolo thought my recipe was not

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-55143695687949667822010-02-20T20:04:00.000-08:002010-02-21T08:24:01.032-08:00

Time for cake! This time it's a gooey, sticky, chocolatey one that is so easy to bake. Haven't had time to update my blog due to work. Luckily, I had a day off today and this cake was made in no time at all.My boys and I were playing Lego while the cake was baking. When it was time to take pictures, the boys thought it would be great for their Lego Star Wars to be in the picture. Then I decided

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-21289738801915394422009-12-20T00:32:00.000-08:002009-12-20T01:49:05.903-08:00

Could you tell I was excited to be baking again with the The Cake Slice Bakers? Having missed the last few months, I am glad to be able to join in and bake this month's pick: White Chocolate Layer Cake. Our group gave an option to decorate the cake to go with the white theme and the holiday season. I was full of ideas until I happen to browse the Martha Stewart Holiday Sweets issue (Any day now,

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-48411817954022144672009-12-19T23:59:00.000-08:002009-12-25T22:05:37.510-08:00

I would like to introduce you to a cooking group I joined: Kulinarya Cooking Club. Kulinarya Cooking Club (KCC) was started by Trish, Kath and Trissa -- Filipino foodies who are passionate about the Filipino culture and its colorful cuisine. Each month KCC will showcase a dish along with our family recipes. By sharing these recipes, we hope you find the same passion and love for Filipino Food as

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-69317707607637501662009-12-12T16:45:00.000-08:002009-12-12T23:40:48.031-08:00

Today, I woke up to the sound of rain rapping on my window panes. My husband had already left for work and my boys were already busy watching their Saturday morning cartoons. These past several Saturdays have been the same since we've moved to our new place. I am slowly getting used to it. But today, it is raining and it is different somehow. It made me miss my husband more.I baked these little

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-52283535793665860112009-12-04T12:41:00.000-08:002009-12-05T21:54:31.745-08:00

Yeah, I'm still alive. Just going through, you know, LIFE, cuz it happens. Thanks to everyone who checked up on me. To make a long story short, what was supposed to be a 30-mile move got delayed several weeks. But every thing is fine now. Most of the boxes are unpacked, the family is slowly getting back to our normal routine and finally picking up the camera.For now, I give you my husband's labor

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-32909754222485844602009-09-17T00:37:00.000-07:002009-09-18T01:15:18.541-07:00

My apologies to the Martha Stewart's Cupcakes Club for the late posting of this month's cupcake selection. I have been called to work this week which meant 14-16 hour work days, reporting at 8AM and not coming home until midnight. I finally got to baking these cupcakes after a short work day (8-hour day).Got home at 5 o'clock in the afternoon and started baking. I took these pictures before

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-51511741303847411582009-09-14T06:36:00.000-07:002009-09-15T02:34:53.835-07:00

I've gone bananas! This is what happens when I deny my cravings for turon. Last week I was craving turon big time which led to some experiments in the kitchen. As you can tell from my previous post, I tried to bake turon using phyllo dough instead of lumpia wrappers. This time I went another step further and these are the results: turon cupcakes! Brown sugar pound cake filled with banana sauce

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-60801416515466737142009-09-12T21:00:00.000-07:002009-09-14T06:33:58.650-07:00

I've been craving turon for weeks and finally made them. Turon has always been my favorite treat growing up. I remember how I loved these growing up (and still do), I figure I shouldn't deprive my kids and have them miss out on these delicious treats.Turon are made up of saba bananas rolled in brown sugar and langka then rolled up in lumpia (spring roll) wrapper and fried. Yum! Saba bananas

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-3130913099456765312009-09-08T23:26:00.000-07:002009-09-09T00:33:46.581-07:00

I attempted to make macarons for the second time yesterday and realized I never posted my first time from a few weeks ago. I followed Tartlette's recipe to the letter found in Desserts Magazine.These turned out so much better than I hoped! I remember when I was baking these, I told myself not expect much, this is just a trial run. I'm normally a very optimistic person overall, but on this baking

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-5172572561902716802009-09-01T01:38:00.000-07:002009-09-02T02:36:51.705-07:00

Yesterday was my boys' official first day of school. We had a late morning start since they were still tired from spending Sunday at the beach. We wouldn't have gone to the beach if I remembered it would be a school day the next day. What happened to school starting the day after Labor Day?! In all, the boys' first day went smoothly, my youngest starts Kindergarten this year so he was really

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-42534687394756415812009-08-20T10:22:00.000-07:002009-08-20T14:07:53.855-07:00

This month, The Cake Slice Bakers chose a cake modeled after petits fours, those tiny creations of cake layered with jam, marzipan, chocolate or fondant and decorated with a piped icing flowers. I was just glad I had to make it on a much bigger scale! This sure was a challenge to me since it was my first time to work with marzipan.Even though assembling the cake involved many components, it was a

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-18582214511846147212009-08-15T09:42:00.000-07:002009-08-16T00:01:43.210-07:00

Welcome to the first posting for a new baking group: Martha Stewart Cupcake Club (MSC). Our group will be baking one recipe a month from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes. Big thanks to Betty of Eat My Cupcake for organizing this group. Like her, I've had the book since it was released in June and can never find the time to try the recipes. I am finding I am a better blogger when there are deadlines. :)

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-9637429579221701732009-07-20T19:23:00.000-07:002009-07-21T00:59:07.298-07:00

The Cake Slice Bakers choice for this month is a cake that features the classic pairing of lemons and blueberries. So delicious, a perfect balance of flavors and I thought all the components are portioned just right.The cake was very easy to put together. My two alterations to the recipe: 1) I creamed the butter with a reduced amount of sugar (by a half cup), and 2) I doubled the lemon zest (

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-76407525854327041352009-06-20T06:47:00.001-07:002009-06-20T22:28:02.735-07:00

The Cake Slice Bakers has done it again! Another great cake from the book we are baking from for a year: Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes. And a perfect cake to celebrate the beginning of summer.The cake is a lovely interpretation of a tropical drink that combines pineapple juice and coconut milk and boozed up with rum. (Although I made this cake sans booze because of my kids -- it's a

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-52550280701314849902009-05-21T00:03:00.000-07:002009-05-21T03:12:41.933-07:00

When I saw this recipe from The Food Librarian, I knew it was something I wanted to make right away. So Mother's Day weekend, while the kids were off watching their Saturday morning cartoons (btw, do other kids still do that these days? Mine do 'cause we got rid of cable), I was left alone uninterrupted in the kichen which ended in me making four different baked goods. This was one of them.When I

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-68609227482568346912009-05-20T00:30:00.000-07:002009-05-20T02:32:41.130-07:00

It was my youngest son's birthday this month and all he ever wanted was a treasure chest birthday cake. He got this idea from a kid's cookbook his brother borrowed from the library months ago. As soon as he saw the picture, he told me right away he wanted a "pirate cake" (as he calls it) for his birthday. For weeks, he would ask me if I remember the cake from the cookbook and he would tell his

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-21333083296485009372009-05-17T21:53:00.000-07:002009-05-18T22:23:48.748-07:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I've picked the last of the Meyer lemons from my tree. So far this season, besides making cake, I've also made sorbet, candied peels, curd, lemonade and meringue with them. Most of them were eaten right away without having gotten their pictures taken. :(These pictures were actually taken the day after I made "Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Meyer Lemon Mousse" recipe

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-81004771228124720632009-04-30T23:29:00.000-07:002009-05-09T01:32:10.915-07:00

(These were taken back in January and finally get to post it. Finally!!)The title pretty much says it all. A fun dessert my kids (heck, any kid at heart) can not resist. This dessert can be done a variety of colors. I usually ask my kids to pick what colors they like. They can be done a variety of shapes, too! These ones were simply cut into cubes but I've used different cookie cutters to cut

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-47500983793587770432009-04-20T01:28:00.000-07:002009-04-20T18:09:52.839-07:00

Another great pick by the The Cake Slice Bakers! Chai Cake with Honey-Ginger Cream seems so straight-forward and simple but it tasted so much more delicious than it sounds. I love chai tea and was looking forward to having some in cake form.The cake used milk infused with chai tea plus an addition of some cinnamon and cardamom which made it a nicely spiced cake. Grinding those cardamom pods sure

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-43976252029652332052009-03-20T09:26:00.000-07:002009-03-23T11:21:33.885-07:00

I was really looking forward to baking this cake. (I've been voting for this cake to come up on top for a couple months now.) You see, I have a new found love for sweets featuring bright citrus flavors. Ever since I've made desserts with kalamansi several weeks ago, I am hooked!Sour flavors has always been prominent in savory dishes in Filipino cooking (a great example is sinigang) so I was not

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-85223801869219532442009-03-19T23:41:00.000-07:002009-03-20T00:54:19.012-07:00

I can't believe it has been two whole months since I updated my blog! I have to apologize for being out so long, I didn't expect my job to keep me away; I couldn't even find time to update that I was gonna be gone.I have this little gig working for a very rich Brazilian doctor/businessman (Dr. B). He and his family has a vacation home here. So these past two months I've taken Dr. B's son's friend

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-16358849398476370332009-01-20T01:13:00.000-08:002009-01-20T01:39:05.422-08:00

Hey there, I'm still here! Just in time for The Cake Slice Bakers' monthly mingle. This month we baked a Banana Cake with Praline Filling and White Chocolate Ganache (whew, that's a mouthful) from the book Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes.This is basically a white cake flavored with banana and spiced with cinnamon. The recipe asked for 2 cups of sugar which I thought will make a very

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-64208493265883739202009-01-01T09:01:00.000-08:002010-02-27T21:33:23.000-08:00

Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a joyous holiday season. I spent the days prior to Christmas preparing for two celebrations: my family's Noche Buena (also my baby brother's birthday) and D's family's Christmas dinner. Besides making Pancit Palabok for my brother's birthday (noodles signifies long life) and a birthday cake, I made desserts for both dinners and one of them is Leche Flan, a rich,

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-29194029303150051632008-12-21T21:40:00.000-08:002008-12-28T00:45:58.897-08:00

It's finally beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our house, especially our kitchen! D has been busy baking and cooking for the Christmas festivities, we have to set up a schedule of what goes in the oven.D and the kids love donuts. (Who doesn't, right?) Last summer, we drove around all over town looking for decent donuts. Except for a few, we found out that most use a pre-made mix. So D and

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-17275495600557840292008-12-20T20:29:00.001-08:002008-12-20T22:26:37.930-08:00

A cake tailor-made for the holiday season! The Chocolate-Hazelnut Nutcracker Cake is composed of three layers of sponge cake made from finely ground toasted hazelnuts, graham cracker crumbs and grated chocolate. The cake was moistened with Rum Syrup and filled and frosted with Creme Chantilly.This is the first time I've seen graham cracker crumbs used in a cake. I thought it was so unusual, I

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-28890758542156208352008-12-16T19:17:00.000-08:002008-12-18T15:57:13.691-08:00

As you know, I got some kalamansi from my mother. So far I made cookies from the zest, curd from the juice and figured I go all out and make candied kalamansi peel. Knowing it will be some time until I can get ahold of these fruits again, I wanted to preserve them so I can enjoy them even longer.Since I previously zested them and their skin were thin to begin with, I didn't bother boiling them in

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-54832347532357469582008-12-13T23:22:00.000-08:002008-12-15T12:29:48.540-08:00

I made Lemon Curd a few months back and been wanting to try it using Kalamansi. When my Mom gave me some, I finally got the chance! Last time, I mentioned I got about 25 Kalamansi and these yielded me a little more than half a cup of juice and about four tablespoons of zest. I already used most of the zest to make my Kalamansi Meltaway Cookies so I only have enough zest left over to make about a

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-17947452480614856342008-12-10T22:54:00.000-08:002008-12-12T15:24:32.507-08:00

My mother gave me some kalamansi that her friend had given her. Unlike my family, her friend was lucky enough to have a kalamansi tree in her backyard. Mom passed them down to me since she knows these will be better off with me. Besides using it for a dipping sauce (sawsawan), Mom had no idea what to make of them. She had them for days now and they are getting really ripe.Kalamansi (or calamansi)

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-41406894355660541352008-12-06T22:32:00.000-08:002009-03-22T23:39:30.913-07:00

My husband and I are very lucky to have friends that are gardeners. A good friend's pomegranate tree has yielded plenty of fruit and we were given loads of pomegranates to enjoy. So for days, the boys, D. and I would eat one (sometimes two) every day.After a couple of weeks, we barely made a dent on our pomegranate stash. But we also know we won't be able to enjoy these fruits once the

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-28812429513959287362008-12-01T11:26:00.000-08:002008-12-01T21:22:28.889-08:00

We were invited to an 18th birthday for a beautiful, sweet girl who we have known since she was little. (Her sister and my cousin went to school together since first grade. All the while, we've gotten to know her and her parents and they have become part of the family.) When I RSVP'ed, D. and I offered to provide cake for the party. The party will be at a restaurant and her sister said there will

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-45114666902801169152008-11-29T10:56:00.000-08:002008-11-29T15:23:21.990-08:00

Dessert for Thanksgiving dinner at my in-laws was my niece's birthday cake: Dulce de Leche Cake. Cinnamon-flavored cake layered with rum syrup and filled and frosted with dulce de leche cream.The cake is from Sky High: Triple-Layer Cakes, the recipe as it appears on the book can be found here. Husband had to bake two batches of cake since the first batch deflated. We salvaged one layer from the

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-17793206751955628952008-11-28T20:06:00.000-08:002008-11-29T12:20:11.509-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday and your tummies were full with good food shared among good company. Lucky us, we took part on not just one, but two Thanksgiving feasts yesterday. First up, to my in-law's house were we had a traditional (and early, 4PM) Thanksgiving dinner.Husband was in charge of the turkey so after breakfast, D and I packed the turkey (rubbed with crushed

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-22587841386221570542008-11-20T20:48:00.000-08:002008-11-22T00:30:43.867-08:00

Aaaaacck!! I thought posting for The Cake Slice is tomorrow. I had planned to bake the cake this morning, take pictures of the cake before the sun set (to take advantage of the gorgeous light) and get the post ready tonight for publishing the next day. So after a leisurely breakfast of fresh-baked croissants (courtesy of D), I glanced in the calendar and realized today is the 20th! Aaaaacck!!

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-52251920257131560182008-11-17T20:19:00.000-08:002008-11-25T21:34:24.105-08:00

It was our turn to bring snacks for my 8 year old's Pony League game yesterday. Since the Philadelphia Phillies is the 2008 World Series Champions, my husband, D, thought these soft pretzels will be great to pass out. He woke up extra early (6AM) to bake them and even printed out this note for the kids in the team:Philadelphia Phillies2008 World Series ChampionsIf you were to watch The Phillies

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-29480101840066980012008-11-16T23:28:00.000-08:002008-11-17T02:44:57.976-08:00

A pumpkin pie with an Asian twist. After years of baking the same old pumpkin pie, I figured I venture out a little and this is the result.The combination of coconut matched really well with the pumpkin. White chocolate was thinly layered between the coconut cookie crust and coconut-pumpkin filling to prevent the crust from being soggy. I lessened the spices just a little so it wouldn't overpower

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-87205177879257417352008-11-13T21:42:00.000-08:002008-11-14T00:52:56.818-08:00

I grew up without an oven in Manila. Breads and other baked goods always came from the neighborhood bakery. So when I arrived in LA, I was very eager to bake but was a little apprehensive about it as well since I didn't know how or where to begin.Luckily, I met Betty and Duncan (and even Pill DB). They got me started baking and haven't stopped ever since. Weekends during high school and college

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-4671379925378454082008-11-10T21:39:00.000-08:002011-11-21T02:37:55.345-08:00

The weather has been cooling down this past several days, it's finally starting to feel like Fall. Cooler weather to me always means time to make Arroz Caldo. This rice soup can be closely compared to Chinese congee or rice porridge. I remember eating this all the time when I was little, usually served during the rainy season or when someone in the family is starting to get the sniffles. Maybe

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-415327013482929612008-11-09T00:39:00.000-08:002008-11-10T01:51:53.447-08:00

The middle kid turned six on Thursday. Andre (his name as you can tell from the cake) was a very difficult cake "client". Usually, weeks before my kids' birthday, I would ask them what they would want for their cake; flavors, fillings, how many layers, things like that. But Andre, oh boy, he had very specific instructions on how he wanted his birthday cake to look like.Andre originally wanted a

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-36547921309374725242008-11-02T23:38:00.000-08:002008-11-07T17:44:40.510-08:00

This weekend seemed a very long one, not just because Daylight Savings Time ended today but also due to all the activities my family did -- we were quite busy and I am tired! Friday, of course was Halloween and we got an early start. My husband and I took the kids to see Diavolo, a Los Angeles-based modern dance group that performs all over the country. They are a dynamic group of dancers that

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-47647269617431153002008-10-28T23:45:00.000-07:002008-10-31T12:46:11.673-07:00

When I saw these adorable gingerbread cookies that Rosie of Rosie Bakes a 'Peace' of Cake made, I knew instantly this is what I wanted to bake with my kids for Halloween. I just couldn't resist, they are so cute!the ghoulish army waiting for their "bones" to dry upMy husband suggested another monster to bake, like mummies. So we played around with royal icing and this is what we came up with.

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-75633795670985806122008-10-23T23:37:00.000-07:002008-10-24T00:05:14.847-07:00

This is one of my favorite ways to eat eggplant. Roasting eggplants gives them a smoky flavor (even more so if done over charcoal) and turns the flesh smooth and creamy. You can serve the eggplant on its own or add tomatoes and onions (like red, sweet white or even green scallions, whatever you prefer or have in hand) to extend the dish and have more to pass around the dinner table.The long and

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-63672935197823021762008-10-20T00:05:00.000-07:002008-11-07T17:44:17.143-08:00

I love cakes. And I love baking cakes even more. Imagine how excited I was when I found out that Gigi of Gigi Cakes, along with Katie of Apple & Spice, had started a new baking group: The Cake Slice. The group will be baking once a month from a cookbook for a year.This year we will be baking from "Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes" by Alisa Huntsman and Peter Wynne which I did not own

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-78549093190825994872008-10-15T20:16:00.000-07:002009-01-17T16:12:00.581-08:00

I'm back! I just spent the last four days chauffering wealthy Brasilians all over LA. I drove them to see Wicked at the Pantages, then after the show, a late dinner at Mr. Chow. The next day, took them shopping at Rodeo Drive and South Coast Plaza and another late dinner at Matsuhisa. I'm so glad somebody's enjoying and spending their money amidst this economic crisis.And talking about spending

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-1509377814595784202008-10-06T21:51:00.000-07:002008-10-13T21:03:12.222-07:00

Remember eating Lemonhead candies? I used to eat them with my baby brother (who is 8 years younger) and my litle cousin (who is 4 years younger than my lil' bro) when I picked them up from school. I would babysit them in the afternoon up until my aunt picked my cousin up after work and my parents would come home. I was in highschool and only been in US a couple years. Back then, I had trouble

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-46680478910313640902008-10-02T15:08:00.000-07:002008-10-04T00:16:26.504-07:00

In the Philippines, cassava is called kamoteng kahoy which literally means wooden yam. They are usually prepared to make sweets, the most popular I know of is cassava cake. I also remember eating them just boiled and sprinkled with freshly-grated coconut and a little sugar. Mmmm, simply yummy.In Brazil, cassava is called mandioca. Brazilians eat them in a variety of ways, mostly in savory dishes.

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-52507295263949202242008-09-29T21:33:00.000-07:002008-10-01T15:03:32.092-07:00

My dad got an upo (Filipino bottle gourd or white squash) that one of his friend grew in their garden. So when I saw him this weekend, he proudly showed me this and casually mentioned he also have some shrimp in the fridge. That's a hint I should start cooking.I haven't had upo in years and remember eating it all the time in the Philippines. I've eaten it cooked with different meats (ground pork,

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-12994644294099767862008-09-25T22:52:00.000-07:002008-09-29T20:02:59.033-07:00

I'm addicted to my Microplane zester. So addicted, I need to zest the oranges first before I peel and feed them to my kids for snacks. So addicted, I zest my lemons first before squeezing them for lemonade. I even zest my limes. (I'm weird, I already know that!) I have jars and jars filled with these zest mixed in with sugar in my fridge. So every time I open the fridge, I have these jars always

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-66457431877358903732008-09-20T23:05:00.000-07:002008-09-21T17:29:04.138-07:00

Here's a very easy vegetarian dish I make when I'm pressed for time. It's also so simple to make and is very tasty.Heat up 2 tablespoon cooking oil in a wok on high heat. Place 2 finely minced garlic and cook until fragrant and golden brown. You may put more garlic if you like, just like I did :)Place 5-6 bunches of bok choy that have been cut and cleaned and stir until greens have lightly wilted

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3354943562201802247.post-62440884615877975612008-09-17T19:57:00.000-07:002008-09-21T17:30:34.768-07:00

Like I said from my previous post, I am reading Sherry Yard's book The Secrets of Baking. This book is awesome! I like how she divided up the book down to basic ingredients and techniques. She also explained how the ingredients interact with one another and gives you the reasons behind the directions.Even though I am tempted to try her "Master Combinations" I think I need to take it slow and

Carolinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15116781195928711601noreply@blogger.com4