♥ Sugarized! ♥

Midlife Crisis? :)

2011-08-20T16:09:00.000+08:00

I guess you can say that you're having a midlife crisis when you Google something like: "What will I do with my life?"...which is exactly what I did...in a moment of desperation to seek answers. I got into a website/blog that suggested writing 100 things you want to do in a span on 20 minutes. It could be a career you want to have, or people you'd like to meet. It could be realistic; it could be grandiose; or it could be downright impossible! It could be just about anything under the sun you want out of life. And so in a desperate way of finding comfort in knowing that there may be answers out there, I did make a list. I only got to 60, which took me longer than 20 minutes, by the way. And so here it goes: (try not to laugh!) =)

1. Get married in a church.

2. Have kids.

3. Learn how to decorate a cake.

4. Enroll in cake decorating classes.

5. Have a baking/cake business and be my own boss.

6. Live abroad.

7. Study abroad.

8. Buy a beautiful house with a nice kitchen.

9. Plant my own garden.

10. Bake birthday cakes for each of my family, every single year.

11. Make grand wedding cakes.

12. Travel around the Philippines.

13. Travel around Asia.

14. Travel across Europe.

15. Have a grand vacation with my ENTIRE family.

16. Get married by the beach! (On second thought) =)

17. Learn how to swim.

18. Learn how to surf.

19. Have my own baking supply store.

20. Take up my Master's Degree.

21. Teach in a school.

22. Be a blessing.

23. Love deeply, like there's no tomorrow.

24. Forgive often (and easily).

25. Ask forgiveness...often (no matter how hard).

26. Pray every day, even if I don't feel like it.

27. Be grateful, even under difficult circumstances.

28. Clean my room regularly. :p

29. Do my laundry more often. :D

30. Cook for my (future) husband every day.

31. Bake for my (future) kids almost every day.

32. Laugh more often.

33. Live without regrets (from now on) ;)

34. Make better decisions.

35. Save up for the rainy days.

36. Pay off all my (credit card) debts.

37. Love what I do.

38. Do what I love.

39. Eat healthy.

40. Spend wisely.

41. Exercise!

42. Lose "unnecessary" weight.

43. Stay in touch with old friends.

44. Stay in love!

45. Be a better daughter.

46. Be a better sister.

47. Eat out with my family more often.

48. Spend "quality time" with my family more often.

49. Relinquish my pride.

50. REALLY learn from my mistakes.

51. Read more novels.

52. Write more thoughts.

53. Be inspired.

54. Live out my passions.

55. Learn how to paint.

56. Be creative.

57. Learn how to ice skate.

58. Go on sky diving (at least once!) =)

59. Pamper myself more often.

60. Enjoy life! (...because I'm almost halfway there!)

Where Have All Blog Posts Gone?

2011-05-19T10:52:00.000+08:00

Has it been three months?!

I've been so busy lately I haven't visited my own blog for almost three months now...much less the other blogs I follow. If I hadn't seen my friend create his own blog, I never would've remembered I had one! (Yep, I was that busy!)

So whatever happened to the baby cookies I planned to bake and decorate? Or the Easter and summer cookies I've been excited about? Or the blueberry bagels I found at a weekend flea market? Or all the possibilities of baking with boxes of fresh ripe strawberries I bought from Baguio City?

Surely, they could've been blog posts...

But I decided to "live" and not just write. So they went by un-posted. Un-posted but definitely devoured...with my insatiable appetite for more sweetness...and more life.

Happy Thursday! And happy baking!

♥♥♥

Vegan Brownies

2011-02-24T03:35:00.002+08:00

I'm not vegan, just to set the record straight. And I don't have any intention to be one. I tried to become a vegetarian once when I was in college, which lasted for about two days. Then I realized I don't have any other compelling reason to give up my beloved cheeseburger and fries than my desire to be attached to that label, "vegetarian", which kinda sounds cool at that time. (Didn't we all experience the joys and miseries of labeling back when we were in school?!) :)

So why a vegan brownie? Well, I find myself craving for a brownie yesterday, when I found out I don't have anything dairy in the pantry -- no eggs, no butter, no milk. And I've had this recipe for years so I thought I'd give it a try (in a sort of desperate measure kind of thing!). :) There were some negative reviews on the website where I got this recipe, which were holding me back a little into making this. But with my chocolate cravings, I just had to press on. I did not have high hopes for this recipe because of the negative reviews I've mentioned -- but surprisingly, they were good! Understandably, they don't taste like your usual rich and fudgy brownie made with the more "conventional" ingredients. But it did hold up as one of the best tasting brownie I've had. Even my sister who's not so fond of anything sweet loved them! I love that it was not cloyingly sweet as other recipes are. It may come out as bland for some tasters who are used to the conventional brownies, but it's just a perfect balance for me.

I halved the recipe and baked it in an 8x8 square pan. Also, the original recipe called for white sugar, but I found out I also ran out of white sugar, so used brown instead (which makes it more vegan, I think.)

To make it , you'll need:

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup brown sugar
scant 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line all sides of an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. (No need to grease or the brownie will be too greasy)

-Mix all dry ingredients (flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt).

-Add water, stir a bit. Then add the vegetable oil and vanilla. (It's important to add the water first so the flour can develop gluten which will help the other ingredients to bind together. Otherwise, the brownie will be too crumbly.)

-Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Wait at least 10-15 minuted before slicing into squares. Best eaten at room temperature.

You can also add nuts or chocolate chips if you want. But I suggest that the additions be minimal since there isn't any binding ingredient (such as eggs) in the recipe.

Enjoy! :)

Happy Heart's Day!

2011-02-15T03:23:00.001+08:00

I meant to bake something today (or yesterday... or any other day of this past week). I've been excited about baking for V-day since the 1st of the month! I have sketched my cookie design ideas and bought a new tin heart cookie cutter. I even had an impulsive buy at the craft store when I saw this red wooden rose, and imagined it would be a great stencil for powdered sugar on top of a chocolate cupcake or brownie. I was psyched, alright.

But... I've been sidetracked by more important issues in my life. Surely, what could be more important than baking something sweet for the Valentine weekend?

Well, I'm getting married! My fiancé and I have been unofficially talking about it for a few months now, but this time, we finally caved in. So it has been a hectic couple of days for me, scouring the internet for ideas on thousand different topics, like venues, dresses, cakes, caterers, color motif, wedding song, you name it! And then calling and emailing potential suppliers for rates and availability...not to mention going to the church and the city office to get a head start on the legal requirements. It was a busy week, indeed! I'm pretty sure I'm off to a good start though, considering that the wedding date we're targeting is still in September. :) (Yeah, I am that excited!)

So for now, baking for V-day would have to be postponed till next year. :) But still, I'm wishing everyone had a Happy Heart's Day! And I sure hope your hearts are all as happy as mine. ♥

Gingerbread Cupcakes

2011-02-04T22:07:00.001+08:00

I kinda miss the "tastes" of Christmas... I've been thinking a lot about a gingerbread loaf recipe I got from one of my magazines, but couldn't really make it because of some ingredients that would require a special trip to the grocery store. So when I found this recipe from my newsletter subscription, and realized that I have all the ingredients available on hand, I knew I just had to try it.

I had my hopes up...but it was a little disappointing.

For starters, it didn't turn out as I hoped it to be. The molasses was a little overpowering on the recipe. In fact, it's all I could taste it should be called "molasses cupcake"! But it's also possible that it was because I used the dark variety which has a more pronounce and robust flavor. And then there was the ginger... or in this case, the lack of it. I've been looking for that ginger overtones that I find in gingerbread cookies, but this recipe has very weak ginger flavor. It could've been overpowered by the molasses, though.

In the spirit of the upcoming Valentines, I sprinkled the cupcakes with powdered sugar using a home-made stencil. The cuteness of it almost made me forget the slightly unpalatable taste of these babies. Well...almost. :)

♥♥♥

They Have Arrived

2011-01-28T22:17:00.001+08:00

I had a big grin this morning. My much awaited package from Karen's Cookies has arrived. True to their word, my order was shipped the next day I placed it online. It arrived at my local post office approximately two weeks after (just as it was stated on Karen's website for international shipping). And my "ever-reliable" local post office just sent it to me today (one week after the package arrived to them!). But all is well that ends well. Now all my apprehension has disappeared! :)

I may need to explain my "little apprehension"...

I used to work for the fraud department of a credit card company. We receive calls from people who either lost their credit cards, had it stolen, or were victims of counterfeit cards, online hackers, and the like. And believe me, criminals really have ways. So I was a little apprehensive placing online orders using credit cards. In fact, I NEVER do. At least until I saw Karen's website. I've been reading good words about her store from the blogs I love to read like Sweet Sugarbelle and Cookie Crazie, and I was compelled to check it. The first time I saw it, I felt like a kid in a candy store! I just have to have everything she sells! :) I think I browsed for hours! But with a little bit of self control and a handy dandy calculator in front of me (to check dollar conversion rates), I finally settled for this purchase. I couldn't be happier with it. I especially like the handwritten "thank you" note from Mike on the order slip, and the complimentary "extra". They really have good customer service, and I highly recommend them. I will definitely make another purchase soon, I've got a long list to go!

♥♥♥

Early V-day Cookies

2011-01-21T22:58:00.002+08:00

I wasn't planning to make Valentine cookies until next month... but the love of my life had been gone for almost two weeks for a work assignment, and I've missed him so much...hence, the early V-day cookies. =)

It's interesting how I got to decorate these cookies. I've been waiting for the cookie decorating supplies that I ordered online, but they're still MIA. I don't have any more disposable piping bags..and I don't really want to go out of the house and travel far and wide just to get one. (Have I mentioned I live in a rural jungle?) ;) Fortunately, I've been visiting Haniela's blog, and saw a video tutorial where she uses sandwich bags to pipe icing. Very timely for me. It was a little tricky, probably because I'm just starting out with this cookie craft (and still has a lot to learn). But I love the easy clean up! =)

♥♥♥

P.S.
I still cannot pipe a perfect circle. :(

Thanks Bridget!

2011-01-15T01:07:00.001+08:00

One of my cookie idols, Bridget of Bake at 350, featured my Christmas cookies on her Smart Cookies page for January. I can't describe how ecstatic I was when I saw her email! The first decorated cookies I made were only made possible because of cookiers like her who are generous enough to share their knowledge, tips and tutorials to aspiring and clueless cookie-decorator-wannabes like me. =) Bridget, and my other cookie idols, Marian, Callye and Glory inspires me to no end. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank you Bridget, for such as sweet gesture!

Lots of hugs! ♥

Photo Note:
Smart Cookies Logo is property of Bake at 350 website. =)

Another Good Find!

2011-01-13T05:17:00.000+08:00

I think it's true what they say, you never really know what you're looking for until you find it. And sometimes, you find it in the most unexpected places.

On my way home this evening, I decided to browse some magazines at Book Sale. I think I've professed countless times how much I love that store for its bargain books and magazines. And just when you think you've seen all they have to offer, they surprise you with something totally unexpected.

I noticed this little box because of the familiarity of the title. And I say "little" because as seen on the photo above, it's really very tiny! I got curious how a a large volume of Joy of Cooking could fit in such a tiny box. Only when I got closer did I realize that it was cookie kit. The label at the back indicated that it contains recipes and four miniature cookie cutters. And the best part about it is the price (of course!) -- only Php35 (approximately less than US$1). It couldn't get any cheaper than that! (Have I already mentioned I love bargains?)

Since I've started taking interest in cookie decorating, I've made it my goal to collect as much cookie cutters as I could find (well, most likely, as much cookie cutters as I could afford). I realized that good quality cookie cutters are not as prevalent here than it probably is overseas. You have to look for it in specialty shops because the ones sold inside groceries and supermarkets are usually the plastic ones that look more like toys. And by specialty shops, I mean the high-end stores in the big city, two hours away from where I live. So you could probably imagine my joy when I saw this kit and realized I'll get four cute cookie cutters for such a small price. (Yeah... I'm really easy to please just like that.)

I was so happy, I didn't care if the booklet that came with it was so tiny, I could barely read the recipes. =) Truly, it's another good find!

♥♥♥

Birthday Cupcakes

2011-01-11T00:42:00.000+08:00

The love of my life just celebrated his birthday a couple of days ago. When I asked him what he wants for me to bake for his big day, he simply said: "pure and heavy chocolate cake." I opted for cupcakes (with his permission), because I'm not very confident making 9 inch cakes. Something's always not right every time I make them, usually the frosting. Cupcakes are more forgiving when it comes to frosting so cupcake it was.

I used a new recipe I got here...which may be a bad thing because the cupcake was not as chocolatey as I wanted it to be. The chocolate frosting I used was from Hershey's Kitchen recipe, which I've been using for several years now.

I must say, it's really not my favorite cupcake... I've had better. But it was a heavy cupcake, alright! Heavy because of too much frosting! I have to remember to put a little less of it next time. =)

♥
Hershey's Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

♥♥♥

Hello 2011!

2011-01-04T00:10:00.001+08:00

The year 2010 was a little bittersweet to me. I was off to a good start. I've met new friends that I know I'll treasure forever, I had a great time travelling and exploring places I've never been to before, and made more plans exploring more places than my free time could ever handle. But then there were dreams unfulfilled, promises broken, and unexpected sickness in the family. But I have survived.

I've recently come across a quotation about life, from probably one of the wisest people who had ever lived, and it just struck me to the bones:

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is bliss, taste it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

~ Mother Teresa ~

I guess I never thought of my life that way, and it made me realize that I've been caging and boxing-up my life to be a certain way when it really is so much more...and that it's okay if it's not the exact ideal picture of what I would've wanted...because it really is so much more.

So as 2011 ushers in new challenges for me, I've decided to face it with a renewed vigor and an unfaltering spirit. I will welcome new experiences and embrace every struggles with the resolution to win and overcome. I will be thirty this year...and if only for that, I know it's high time to put childish ways behind. I must grow with the times. Gone are the days when I fight the changing of the seasons to keep my life the same "carefree way" it used to be. And man, did I fight hard! Now that I think about it, it seemed stupid...no one can stop and turn back time. Everyone must move forward, everyone must grow old and grow up, including me.

So here's to the coming year! May it grant us all the wishes of our hearts and give us the inspirations where future dreams are made of!

♥

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Topping:
1/4 unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup brown sugar
6-7 pineapple rings/slices (or 1 cup of pineapple chunks)
1/2 cup jarred maraschino cherries, optional

Cake:
2 cups cake flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, separated
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup pineapple juice

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Very lightly grease an 8" or 9" round or square pan.
2. Arrange pineapple slices & cherries on prepared pan. Prepare topping by mixing melted butter and sugar, and pour on prepared baking pan.
3. In a medium bowl, sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Cream butter and sugar. Add yolks to the butter mixture, one at a time and beat until well incorporated. Add vanilla.
4. Alternately add flour mixture and pineapple juice to the butter-yolk mixture, ending with the dry ingredients. Set aside.
5. In a clean and grease-free mixing bowl, whip egg whites until soft peaks form. Fold the egg whites onto the butter-flour mixture one third at a time.
6. Pour mixture onto topping-filled pan, bake for 30-35 mins for the 8" pan (or 20-25 mins for the 9" pan), or until top is lightly browned and cake is firm. Turn over plate. Garnish with more cherries if desired.

This cake is best eaten warm.
Enjoy!

♥♥♥

My First Decorated Cookies

2010-12-27T01:55:00.000+08:00

The last couple of days before Christmas had been like blur to me. I was feeling under the weather...(I hate colds!) But I was too excited to bake and decorate my cookies that lying on bed to rest was definitely not an option. I tried to spread out the work in three days so I won't feel the stress of being rushed. So three days before Christmas, I made the cookie dough -- sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies. Two days before, I shaped and baked them. It was on Christmas eve that I got to decorate. And tough I felt lightheaded and achy all over, I have to admit it was so much fun! I couldn't wait to try out my next cookie decorating project! I'm starting to envision new designs, and I can tell I'm gonna be hooked.

I got the sugar cookie recipe from Bridget of Bake at 350, and the gingerbread cookie recipe was from the book I got a few years ago, Christmas Cookies from the Whimsical Bakehouse. I was having problems with the gingerbread dough, probably because of the humid weather in this "snow-forsaken" tropical country! I had to get it in and out of the freezer almost every five minutes because it was turning out too soft and too mushy to handle. Surprisingly, the sugar cookie dough was VERY workable. I could roll and re-roll it several times, and it didn't get sticky-soft on me like the gingerbread did.

I got my design inspirations from the blogs I love to follow. The polka dot design on trees was inspired by Glory of Glorious Treats, and the swirls were inspired by Marian of Sweetopia. The swirl design was a little intimidating at first, but once I got to try it, I realized it was pretty easy.

I've wanted to make snowflakes cookies ever since but I do not have any cookie cutter for that. Then I saw the idea of designing snowflakes from a plain round cutter and used it as well.

I'm loving the swirls.

And I've shaped way too many cookie trees. So I played with the swirls a bit.

But the design I most enjoyed doing were the gingerbread kids. I was planning to make them look all alike, but it was more fun to make them unique. It kinda gives them their own personality. =)

I loved it so much that I used up all my left over icing for these girls and boys.

♥

I think altogether, my Christmas cookie project was quite successful. Well, despite the little imperfections on my piping here and there...and the runny red polka dot icing...and the crooked outline on the snowflakes that's supposed to be perfectly round...and the...(okay, let's just stop right there.) It was successful. And I'm happy! =)

There are several things that I've learned from this project that I'd like to share. I think no matter how many blog articles I read or how many videos I watch, first-hand experience is still the best teacher.

1. You really DO need a coupler...several of them, actually. I only have one coupler that came with the piping set I bought a few years back, and I was using three sets of piping bag with three different colors of icing. I thought I could get away with it, but the two piping bags without the couplers had icing oozing out from the sides of the tip! It was a little messy...

2. Make sure you let your icing dry overnight UNCOVERED. I was a little paranoid of leaving my cookies to dry out all exposed to air. So while on the baking sheets, I covered the cookies with parchment paper. I was pretty sure the icing was already dry on the surface..but the next morning when I checked on them, some of the icing touching the paper came right off the cookie! (That's okay though, we just ate damaged ones before the guests arrived so all they saw were the pretty ones.) =)

3. Too much icing can kill your appetite! Admittedly, my flood icing on the cookies were a little inconsistent. Some are thin and some are thick as blob. (I blame it on my unsteady hands.) The cookies which got the thicker portions of icing were cloyingly sweet but the other ones were okay.

♥

I sure hope I can remember all those lessons I learned when I take on another cookie decorating project. And I can feel that it won't be long until I try my hands on these again. =)

Happy holidays!

♥♥♥

Container Fever

2010-12-22T04:01:00.000+08:00

I thought I was all set with my cookie decorating preparation. I've been very diligent in reading my favorite cookie-decorating blogs, like Sweetopia and Bake at 350, just to make sure I didn't miss anything for my first cookie-decorating project. But then when I went to my local grocery store this afternoon to buy some staples like flour, sugar and butter, I remember I needed some containers for my icing.

First, I needed some container bowls where I can mix and separate my colored icing. I opted for the plastic ones with lids, following Bridget's advice..and because it's generally less expensive and more practical.

Then I remember I also needed some squeeze-bottle containers for the runny flood icing.

And while browsing the grocery aisles, I saw more containers and I remember I also needed the large air-tight ones where I can store the baked cookies in.

I tried to remember Marian's advice to use a separate spatula for royal icing, so I grabbed one on my way to the cashier, along with tons of powdered sugar (just in case one pound is not enough!). =)

My shopping basket is already overflowing at this point, but I needed to make another trip to the baking aisle to get some cocoa powder (which has nothing to do with my cookie decorating project, by the way...or with containers for that matter). I couldn't find my favorite brand of cocoa powder (and that's Hershey's, in case you're wondering) but saw this Van Houten version instead. I guess with Christmas fast approaching, the supermarket stocks are gradually vanishing! I haven't tried baking with Van Houten cocoa powder before but I'm looking forward to bake with it and see if it's any good.

Ok, back to containers.

After all these shopping, I'm hoping I won't need to visit that plastic-filled aisle for a very long time! =) Now it's time for the fun part -- baking and decorating. Yay!

♥♥♥

All Set For Cookies

2010-12-18T01:37:00.011+08:00

I went to my former company today to take care of some more docs and to get my final pay. After en-cashing my check, I went straight to the mall. (Of course!) The holiday madness at malls this year was a little too scary for me! Probably because I haven't been out of the house as much as I should, that the sight of so many people walking about in one confined building made my imagination run wild. Earthquake, bombing, stampede (and all other worst case scenarios) bombarded my thoughts for a split second there... It may sound severe but not at all impossible in this tropical country with political unrest. And the line of vehicles in slow moving traffic constantly reminded me of the road accident down South involving seventeen vehicles earlier this week. But enough of the grim stuff! Back to the mall. =)

I was still debating in my mind whether to do the decorated sugar cookies this year or to stick to the usual drop cookies I bake for Christmas day. Then I went to Cooks Exchange in Glorietta, one of my favorite baking supply store. My only goal there was to buy some disposable piping bags to stock up on (as a "just-in-case" extra supply). Then I saw piping tips... and I couldn't help myself, I just had to ask the store personnel if there was a #1, 2 & 3...just as Bridget recommended (I've been religiously reading her blog and all her cookie decorating tips, and even printed out her hand-outs). And then while browsing, I also saw Americolor Soft Gel Paste (another one of Bridget's recommendation!) So you see, I only had to ask if there's meringue powder available, and I'd be all set for a cookie decorating project! (Well, I still need some powdered sugar but that's already available in my local grocery store.) As you've already guessed, I've bought more stuff than what I had intended (it usually happens to me!).

It's a good thing I can still practice self control in times of panic buying, or I probably would've spent half of my final pay buying everything I see! It's addictive like that at Cooks Exchange...you just want to buy everything you see...it's like a baker's playground..my idea of heaven, really. =) And no, this is not paid advertising..I just really love that store! So then I went home, toting my plastic bag of goodies... with a satisfied smile on my face and a renewed excitement for my holiday baking.

♥♥♥

Brownies To Go

2010-12-16T03:25:00.001+08:00

I've been without a job for two months now. I resigned from my last one because I had "other plans." In an ideal world, my bank loan would've been granted and I would enroll in a reputable (read: pricey) baking school, finish with a certificate to boast, and then live happily ever after. But then, I do not live in an ideal world, and the Master of the universe clearly has other plans. What that is, I have no idea! So with more than sixty days of free time (to date), the ideal me would've thought I'd spend it baking my heart out! Definitely not the case here. I've learned the hard way that being unemployed for longer than what was intended can take a toll on my bank account. Since I have limited resources, and the with the holidays just around the corner, I decided to use my precious and dwindling baking supplies only when necessary. I am looking forward, though, to my annual cookie-baking-marathon which usually starts a day or two before Christmas. That's when I can splurge!

A couple of days ago, my Mom asked me to bake for her dear neighbor who will be moving to another town -- a neighbor that I didn't even know we had...(and I've been living in our house for more than two decades!) I couldn't say no to my Mom, and besides, she simply asked for brownies. I know a recipe that I've already made several times which could be done in a jiffy, and the ingredients were already in the pantry so there's no need to run to the grocery store. That's a good thing for me, because although I have all the free time in the world right now, I'd still rather stay in the house than go out and brave the congested December traffic or the mob of shoppers in a shopping frenzy. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the holiday madness, including the mob of shoppers...but I don't wanna go through that for just a stick of butter or something. =)

♥♥♥

Early Christmas Gift

2010-11-29T03:42:00.011+08:00

I got an "early" Christmas gift from my sister. She knew I love books. Amazingly, she got this on sale at a local bookstore at 80% off the original price! Can you believe that?! When I browsed the content, I saw that almost all of the cookies are decorated with fondant. I doubt if I could add this on my Christmas baking repertoire since I haven't worked with fondant before... I know it's just a matter of time before I test my hands on fondant, but still... it's sort of too advanced for me. I'd rather start with royal icing. I've been reading a lot about sugar cookies from blogs that I love, like Bake at 350 and Sweetopia, and I wanted to try the techniques I've learned from it. I love the design ideas from this book though, and it's always nice to have a reference instead of using just my imagination.

I'm so happy! Merry Christmas to me! =)

♥♥♥

I Missed This View

2010-11-16T04:19:00.001+08:00

This is what I usually see when I open my eyes first thing in the morning. The treetops and the clear blue skies from outside my window, the music of the birds' chirping, the cool early morning breeze... they all make my mornings brighter and better. Sometimes, if I wake up really early, I could even see this:

Or this:

The colors of the morning sky are so spectacular! It makes me grateful to be alive just looking at them! Sometimes, it even makes me feel closer to God. Who wouldn't want to wake up to mornings like this?

A couple of months ago though, I had to re-arrange my bedroom furniture to make room for a new desktop computer, and with my bed no longer adjacent to the window, this "view" was no more. Or at least it wasn't the same anymore. Maybe I'm really just obsessive-compulsive, but life hasn't been the same ever since. I sort of felt restless...like something was not right. I just couldn't function the way I used to! Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in feng shui or any of that superstitious stuff (I'm really just O.C.) =) I guess I'm kinda used to the old comfort of my "old" bedroom...and I missed that...and I want it back, including the view from my window. So with brainstorming, pencil sketches, and some more furniture re-arranging, I figured out a way to bring back my "morning view" to where it used to be. I had to compromise on some window space to make room for my book shelf (as you can see on the first photo), but that's okay..better than nothing at all! =)

It feels great...like I'm back to my old self! Now I can function properly again. =)

(In case you're wondering, this blog has not been renamed "Confessions of an Obsessive-Compulsive Girl".... it's just one of those days.) =)

♥♥♥

Have You Seen Yellow Apples Before?

2010-11-12T16:20:00.000+08:00

I haven't until a couple of days ago. It was weird, I actually thought they were pears when I saw them on the kitchen table the other day. They were not as sweet as the red ones, but not as tart as the green granny smith variety either. They were actually kinda bland. I knew then that a little sugary sweetness was all it needed.

Yes, another breakfast muffin! Apple Strudel Muffins to be exact. To be quite honest, I rarely bake with apples. My recipe collection for apples were not as extensive as banana baking. But I'm so glad I made these! They were gone in minutes the moment they came out of the oven. My family couldn't be happier. =) We all love the streusel/strudel topping with its crisp, sugary-cinnamon bite. The only request they had was to add more apples to it next time. I only used one, and I agree, it could use more.

The recipe is supposedly good for twelve muffins, but I had a lot of leftovers. I placed them on a mini muffin pan, and I got around six. Ideally you should bake the smaller muffins in a lot less time than the standard size ones, but I completely forgot about it (too busy munching), so they came out crispier, but still good! This recipe is definitely a keeper. =)

♥♥♥

P.S.

I'm confused though, what is the difference between a strudel and a streusel? =)

Breakfast Muffins

2010-11-09T08:41:00.002+08:00

I've been wanting to make healthy breakfast muffins for a couple of days now, but my schedule has been erratic recently. =) I had time this morning, and when I checked the kitchen pantry, the only fruit available were bananas. I think I've lost count of the banana recipes I have -- from loaf breads, to muffins, to cake... So I just picked the easiest one, that only requires minimal ingredients.

For a healthier twist, I added half a cup of quick cooking oats to the original recipe, replaced the butter with margarine, and reduced the salt in half. It turned out dense (in a good way), not too sweet (which is perfect for breakfast), but still moist (which is great!). I was happy to see it forming the dome shape while it was baking, which rarely happens for me when I bake muffins, because usually it turns out flat on top. I might've luckily hit the correct oven temperature this time. =)

Banana Muffin
(original recipe adapted from allrecipes.com)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large bananas, mashed
3/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup butter/margarine, melted
1/2 cup quick cooking oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Coat muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use paper liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
Combine bananas, sugar, egg, and melted butter in a large bowl. Fold in flour mixture, and mix until smooth. Scoop into muffin pans.
Bake in preheated oven. Bake mini muffins for 10 to 15 minutes, and large muffins for 25 to 30 minutes.

♥♥♥

Chocolate Cravings

2010-11-08T01:07:00.001+08:00

I've been craving for some sweet fix for a few days now. And I wanted to try out pastries from a new place just to get my curious taste buds working. So when Richard and I passed by a mall from a doctor's visit, I decided to buy something for me. There was a corner bakeshop called Bread Monster and they have this chocolate muffin that was calling out to me begging to be bought. I was attracted by its name: "Dark Chocolate Muffin"... Sounds decadent. I knew I wouldn't be satisfied with just one, but the idea of eating more than one of the same muffin doesn't sound as appealing either. So I decided to go for their pre-packed assorted box of four. Its got the dark chocolate muffin, the revel bar, s'mores bar, and a brownie (clockwise from top left on the photo above).

dark chocolate muffin

When I got home, I couldn't wait to dig in! I immediately "attacked" the muffin... but to my disappointment, it didn't live up to its name! You see, I was imagining it to be bittersweet with big bold flavors of dark chocolate. It was anything but. It didn't even taste like chocolate! I tried the brownie and the s'mores bar (which was basically, layers of blondie and brownie topped with broiled marshmallows), but they weren't as good as I hoped either. There was something off on the chocolate flavor of all these pastries... It tastes old...like it has been on the display case for far too long than it should be.

brownies

s'mores bar

I swear I would've regretted buying these pastries if it weren't for the revel bar, which to my surprise was actually good! It was made of delicate layers of oatmeal bars, with gooey-melty chocolate in between. This time, the chocolate really does taste like chocolate. It was heaven! It was a little messy to eat, but I think it was part of the fun. =)

revel bar

So yes, my taste buds got to work last night trying out all those pastries, and I've discovered a new favorite, and threw out some. (Well not really, I gave all the half-eaten "unsatisfying" pastries to Richard.) But I'm still craving for that dark, bittersweet chocolatey goodness that I missed. ♥♥♥

Note:

Bread Monster is located at the upper ground floor of Alabang Town Center

An Apple Surprise!

2010-11-05T01:05:00.003+08:00

I know, I know.. Sugarized blog is about baking! But I could not resist posting this one. I was browsing the grocery aisles this evening to buy some "healthy alternatives" for my Mom, since she recently suffered a stroke.. And while I was at the aisle of condiments looking for some low sodium soy sauce, this bottle of a gem caught my eye! Apple Ketchup! I've never heard of apple ketchup before, let alone tried one! I've had the ubiquitous tomato ketchup and the budget-friendly banana ketchup... I've heard of squash ketchup in the past but never saw it in any of the supermarket aisles... but apple?! Surely I gotta try this one. So I did.

The verdict? It sort of tastes similar to banana ketchup, only lighter. If you've had the store-bought sweet and sour sauce in a bottle, the apple ketchup was like a cross between that (without the spiciness), and the banana ketchup variety.

Aside from my curiosity, one of the things that compelled me to buy it is the mighty promise at the back label. I know my photo is blurred, and you probably can't read it! Sorry my camera has really low resolution.. =) So let me read it for you:

Apples are healthy-licious! Apples are rich in Vitamin C and phyto-chemicals called flavonoids and polyphenols that help fight cancer. Plus more whole-body benefits:

- lower blood cholesterol

- better bowel function

- less risk of stroke

- prevent type II diabetes and asthma

Now that's a mighty promise alright! Flavonoids are showing up almost everywhere in the advertising industry. I guess more and more people are getting conscious of healthy-living nowadays. I'm all for that, so I'm not complaining. =) Since my Mom got sick, I really got into thinking about radically changing my family's eating habits and lifestyle. I would want them to be around for a long time. So if this Apple Ketchup is a start, then I think I'm on the right track. =) ♥♥♥

Goodbye Treats

2010-10-14T01:08:00.004+08:00

I just resigned from my last job, and made these treat from my friends at the office. I got the recipe from Martha Stewart Living magazine, which was re-published at their Holiday Special Issue magazine last year. It was an instant hit with my friends! :) Martha Stewart definitely knows a good brownie when she tastes one. I've also made this before when Richard and I visited his brother at the pastoral school. He wasn't feeling well so I figured a little treat would be a nice to help him recover. :)

This is how it looked like when it came out of the oven.

They were a little messy to slice, but they are so yummy!

Here they are all boxed up and ready to be given away! =)

For the recipe, you can give Ms. Stewart a visit! =)

♥♥♥

Julia for my Birthday!

2010-09-19T20:33:00.013+08:00

Guess what I got for my birthday? Lo and behold, it's Julia Child's book "Mastering the Art of French Cooking"! This present was totally unexpected! It wasn't even on my secret wish list. ;o) To get a better grasp, let me share a little history of why this came to be.

My good friend "B" gave me a DVD copy of the movie "Julie and Julia" starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. It was a movie based on the lives of two different individuals, the legendary Julia Child (need I explain who she was!) and Julie Powell, a government call center employee who loves to cook and "blogged her way through Julia Child's cookbook", Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I loved the movie so much, I watched it again with my beau Richard. In fact we both loved it, we watched it again the third time! I guess I like success stories, of people realizing and living their dream, of having all the odds against you and still coming out a winner! This movie is all about that, and more... It's also about good food, better cooking, and finding comfort in loving what you do and doing what you love!

Long story short, Richard was also inspired by the movie, he decided to give me Julia Child's legendary classic book as a birthday gift! Now I have not read far enough to judge and review it, but I'm sure I will love it! (even if I only bake, and don't really know how to cook!) ;o) I feel so grateful to have such loving and supportive man... (similar to Julia's & Julie's husband in the movie) ;o)

Photo note:

I must say I like the original cover of the book, probably because of the color.. it's just so vibrant, compared to the green jacket.

♥♥♥

My Comfort Cookie

2010-09-15T05:33:00.007+08:00

There are times when one has to get out of his comfort zone. It may not be a pleasant decision, but it may be more practical given the situation. In this time of uncertainty, I can only hope that it will all pan out well for me. I must decide in favor of things that will bring more life. I must decide what's good for the rest and not just what's best for me. Will I end up victorious or will I be a failure to myself? Such are the questions that will be answered as time passes by.

For now, it's time to bake! =)

This oatmeal cookie is definitely my favorite recipe! I usually end up baking this whenever I feel the need to eat something comforting and sweet. Sometimes I use raisins, sometimes chocolate chips with walnuts, sometimes all of them! This time, good old chocolate chips will do. I was planning to give these cookies to my pregnant friend "B"... but it had disappeared before I even came back to work! I guess I'll just make another batch for dear "B" soon! =)

♥♥♥

Cuddly Guardians

2010-09-04T19:43:00.003+08:00

I was rearranging my bedroom furniture the other day to make room for the new desktop we bought. Not knowing where to put these cuddly dolls (some of which I've had since grade school, and was preciously salvaged from the Milenyo flood, that I still keep for sentimental purposes only, and no, I'm not being trying to be defensive.. ;D hahaha), I decided to plop them over my cooking/baking magazine collection. They looked so perfectly perched on top, that I can't help but share them here. ;o)

♥♥♥