Pineapple Marmalade in Pan de Sal Toast

Having a pineapple marmalade is okay with pan de sal toast but ... with Mom making it from scratch totally makes a big difference. Sweet, tart and from the heart I must say this concoction is. Thank you so much Mom for a bountiful plate of love, care, joy and understanding . We salute you simply for being a wonderful person, mother to me and my sisters, a wife to dad, a mother-in-law to V, a grandmother to L and J., and even a great daughter to your mother. Thank you for raising us this way. I love you...Just want to say that I always strive for perfection in my craft because I can see that you deserve more when you get older.

Random F A C T S about Myself...

I have been tagged by Ms. Unice of Lamesa at Kusina to post 8 random facts about myself. Thanks Unice for such a sweet invite. We do have similarities but ofcourse there will always be some qualities and traits I will have. Well, it is quite hard to acknowledge oneself but I have to be honest,lol. So here it is.

1. I want to make things simple. In short, I hate complicate things, if I feel like doing this, then that is what I will focus on.
2. I like to express what and how I feel, communication is very important in anything that you do especailly when working with other people.
3. I think people are naturally nice and I can say I am realizing that I have many friends and ofcourse just a few are the best ones, which are rare to find.
4. I love to appreciate things, people and their achievements. It is important that people around me should be acknowledged in anything that they do. I love making people good. I nevr want to complain to God about my life because all these are great blessings from HIM.
5. I am so, so, so inclined in arts. Anything about arts: food, arts, music and the people.
6. I am a very disciplined person having reached the age of 30,lol, finally. When you are discpline, a day is not enough to do all the great things you want to accomplish. "Time is gold".
7. I love food. Anything about it. I never stop reading about it, working with it... sharing it with my loved ones. Food is my passion.
8. I do have my family as my support but my son is the greatest thing that God has given me. My purpose and my strength. I am happy as a person and I share that with my son.

Once again, Unice thanks for tagging me. More power to you!

Midget baker...

My dearest son, thank you for sharing me those wonderful moments even in the kitchen. I want to let you know that my kitchen is yours too. It was so touching for you to annoy mom that day to make somecookies we brought in Hong Kong a few months ago. It was a chocolate chip cookie that you liked in that whole box of cookies. I know that this will be a good start for you to love mom's passion, baking. Thatis why I have alotted a small space for in my hub. There you have all you need for playing and baking, goodluck and happy baking son!Love, mom...
[This is my son's version of chocolate chip cookies which is a mixture of cake flour and all purpose flour, butterbrown sugar and white sugar, baking soda, baking powder, eggs, vanilla and some chocolate chips. It was baked at 350 F for about 9-10 minutes.]

I c e C r e a m please...

My son, always when visiting my aunt's house who is also a neighbor would ask for a bowl of cream. I guess that is instant recall for him, that everytime he comes to the house , autamitcally, ice cream please is what he utters. I took a shot of this beautiful bowl of strawberry ice cream by the window while watching my son indulge on this cool treat. Well I just have to find time to make homemade ice cream. I wish I can serve him this flavor. Yummy...

Goodmoring D a d...

Mango-Kalamansi Crepe

I wake up 5:00 a.m. everyday to start my daily routine of exercise, having a good breakfast with mom and dad and so on. Since it is Father's Day, had to give up my regimen and make a good and hearty dessert for dad. Crepes are one if the easiests dessert you can do. Just made it from scratch, made some creamy filling, sliced up some mangoes. The crepe was cooked in kalamansi-syrup to add flavor. I think mango goes well with chocolate so I used it as a garnish with kalamansi zest. Mom and dad liked it and that completed my day. Happy Father's Day to all too...

103 P o s t s, Time flies...

I would like to thank those people who have enjoyed reading my entires, I did as well. No words candescribe how I feel for having reached this point from the first time it was introduced to me by my cuz Ces of SpiCes. It only started back when I was still in Delaware, after work, when I would run into anygrocery to grab just anything not for anything else but for blogging... and for dinner I should say. Ienjoyed every moment of it. I think this is the most educational and worthful activity than just strollin the mall and spend money.
Until now that I have been back to the Philippines, I still udpate my blog since it is highly related to what I do, I bake and I bake. Yes I am inspiredto create new treats not just for my future plan of owning my own place but it just feels right to do such. I need not say too much about the place-"Buon Giornno" , hello,good morning in Italian, but the place is a must see if you happen to be in Tagaytay. The food was great as recommended by one of my neighbors in our village, thanks by the way to her. Just so ironic that my son loved the Pasta Arabiatta,which is spicy and instead I had the kiddie meal-the ordinary spaghetti and the works. Together with us,are mom and my auntie Aw. We enjoyed it!

R e t r o Cake

Remember the retro days,the 80's in particular? Oh I love those good old days when mom used
to bake such desserts. Mom used to have her own small place when she was still single, BAKEHOUSE Manila of which I didn't know not until I really interviewd her about her passion for cooking. I always tell people that she is a great cook, not because Im her daughter but she really does have the talent. Well, mom this cake is for you -Luscious Yema Cake-This is just an Orange sponge drizzled with a rich custard. Yumm...

F i n o...

I grew up watching my mom set up the table for a special and simple dinner. We love to make any ocassionnot-so perfectly executed but I guarantee that as you step your feet in our home, you would reallyfeel like your in your own. I guess I was used to having a good meal with all the works of setting up a table ,be it just casual or formal.
This is my entry for my cuz' Ces of SpiCes as she hosts "Fine Dining" for all bloggers. This just a simplegenre of how mom and I set up for a luncheon at home with rustic touch since we used an oldcollection of country printed table napkin. The salt and pepper shakers are my favorite. Little teapotsthey look like. The water goblet is always available to really set the mood. I usually serve wine ondinners but maybe even adding a white wine glass to this set up looks even better if you are to servechicken or seafood.

Always,always,dad is in charge of flowers,believe it or not he love doing the arrangement,yes this artificial ,really looks good to me.
Thanks to Ces (ate ces)for such a wonderful idea of hosting this kind of event.

Beignet T r i o...

Beignet also known as french doughnuts belongs to the doughnut family. Some are baked and mostlydeep-fried. These trio of beignets is made of flour, leavener, flavoring and sugar. It is usually served as plainly-dredged in sugar or even tossed in confectioner's sugar and I added something into it that made it evenbetter..
Honestly I love to hang out in bookstores especially while I was in the states to kill time or just so I can read while having a good cup of cappuccino. I was in Barnes and Noble bookstore back in Delaware browsingthrough an interesting and newly launched book, I forgot the title but it is all about great desserts fromsome famous pastry chefs in New York. My mom was looking for a good dougnut recipe back home (here in the Philippines) and so I gave her this. She liked the recipe and everything about it. It came out very soft anda little crunchy on the outside. There is a secret component added into this and I think it will remain a secret. It is good and perfect as snack or as breakfast. So when you ran into a good recipe, try to right it down, only time can tell how far that rare-find can go. It can be worth millions.

My No. 1 Fan...

C L O U D Cake

Someone who has achieved so much !

TOFFEE CRUNCH CAKE

Happy birthday Dad. I made two cakes for someone who truly has given me support throughout the years.Dad is already 62 years old and soon to retire. J and I will be there for you all the way when you get tojust wake in the morning with mom talking about how life have just begun..I guess no words can describe how great you are for all things you have done for me, the entire family. I love you dad. Cheers...

THE LETTER A- Fresh!

A is for A P P L E ! This versatile fruit is available year round especially in the Philippines. I remember having my Product Identification Class at CIA,gave me quite a challenge in knowing the varieties of apples:granny smith-the cooking apple,Fuji,comice,red delicious and the like. Each kind has it's owncharacteristics. It is highy important for you to know these facts especailly when you are into baking.
"An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away". Remember that saying?! I still believe that consuming atleast 3-5 kinds of fruits everyday aides in having a healthy body. You feel lighter and beautiful if you eat more fruits and vegetables than that of meat. Well, eating desserts after every meal personally perks me up and I must say it is really included in my own food pyramid.
This is a photo of fresh Fuji apples all line up on a almond-shaped wooden bowl. Yes they really look delicious and can be served as simple as it isHave some apple!

This is so rewarding

I am delighted to be praised by this special person , my son. _ _ _ _ _ always stays with me while I work in my test kitchen, aside from the fact that I feel he is big enough not to be taken care of by his nanny. I know I will never push him to be like his mom but I can see that he really has the heart for cooking. I am certain that he will be artistically-inclined when he grows up. Anyways, I am putting together a series of products and I was all stressed and I just made this parfait since I know I have not made one my lifetime. He was sleeping in the couch and he suddenly woke up and said "ang galing mo mommy". I felt so happy and that is just what I need for that day. I love you too and thanks for being an inspiration to me. I am more eager to do my best and I know one day we'll look back and say " we did it"( an all time expression of _ _ _ _ _ ).