The Dough Puncher

Devil's Food Cake..

2011-12-10T01:33:00.000-08:00

Too much frosting!

I've always wanted to create the perfect chocolate cake my entire baking life. I've came across recipes of famous pastry chefs from different countries (from books) and little did I know that I would find it from one of our country's most popular and multi-awarded pastry chef, Chef Ernie Babaran.

It's only now that I realize it just takes a little bit of faith and perspective to achieve one's dream, based on a feature I read about Chef Ernie's very inspiring story. His Fundamentals of Pastry Arts class is the one thing I look forward to the most every week. It's amazing how you can learn so many things in a short period of time. It's truly an honor to be in the same kitchen as he is.

Devil's Food Cake is a moist, deep dark chocolate layer cake. Anyone with a chocolate addiction will surely be satisfied with its intense chocolate flavor. Of course, you're going to get it from the best brands of cocoa and chocolate compound. I used Valrhona with this cake and it was absolutely superb. There are also some ingredients I get to use for the first time and because of the awesomeness of this recipe, I'd sure still be making it in the future.

Recipe Link
Devil's Food Cake

'Ice'-ing On The Cake..

2011-04-27T23:42:00.000-07:00

I couldn't just let a significant day for my friends and family go by without whipping up a little something for them, anyone that is important to me. I once made a birthday cake for my grandmother a couple of years ago. It honestly looked really bad, but it tasted pretty good. If you guys remember, I made Pink and Purple cupcakes for my lovely niece Bianca on her 7th birthday last year. And how could I ever forget my friend Fleur's 25 and Fabulous birthday party. Just recently, I also made my husband a birthday cake, unfortunately I wasn't able to take pictures because we don't have the camera at the moment. Baking for them makes me happy.

A couple of weeks back, my sister Ella and I were planning about my niece's 1st birthday party over the phone. I was once again asked to make cupcakes and of course, I gladly took the job. Then I thought it's about time I explore the colorful world of cake decorating and make a 9 inch Chocolate Cake with Vanilla frosting. I was pretty scared at first but I went on and dominate the frosting.

It was actually not that complicated. You just need the right tools and be focused. Take your time, don't rush. Feel confident that you'll get it done and relax. That's the main thing I learned in the process.

I've been watching cake decorating videos on youtube for years and I can say it really helped me a lot. My wonderful husband also provided me with books of professional cake decorators where I discovered the dos and donts, and which flavor of frosting best matches with different flavors of cakes. My sister Ella gave me a turntable which is one the must-haves when it come to decorating cakes specially for the round ones. I know the cake isn't perfect, but I am happy that I was able to pipe pearl borders in a cake for the first time. The little black dots were supposed to look like mickey but unfortunately didn't turn out that way but I know I can do better next time.

The cake and cupcake toppers were made by my sister. It was just simply googled, printed then taped in a toothpick and I can say it was real cute though my sister had a hard time cutting them.

I felt good about the result of my hard work, above all the little troubles I went through. I have to say it was a little better looking than I expected. :)

Peanut Butter Cup Bars..

2011-03-10T21:02:00.000-08:00

Once again, a Peanut Butter dessert that will surely bring the house down. Since I wanted to do something productive with the last bottle of peanut butter in my kitchen, not just to spread it on bread or pancakes, I decided to make Peanut Butter Cup Bars again from Brown Eyed Baker.

Photo taken by Brown Eyed Baker

I must say, It is absolutely fantastic! Texture was amazing, not overwhelmingly sweet and you get the subtle taste of the graham crackers. Need I say more! It is the perfect giveaway for the holidays coz it's ridiculously easy to make and it's delicious. Go on and see for yourself.

Peanut Butter Cup Bars Recipe
(Recipe adapted from Stylish Cuisine)

Peanut Butter Fudge..

2011-03-09T22:13:00.000-08:00

Peanut butter is one of the best things in life. I can practically live with just bread and peanut butter and anything with peanut butter in it never fails to satisfy my taste buds. I remember when I was just getting started to learn how to bake, I made Chocolate and PB Swirl Bars, though it didn't look pleasant in the eyes it tasted so good, that I almost ate half the pan by myself (of course I gave our friends and neighbors a few slices). My husband is also a big fan and he loves it on Chocolate Cupcakes. I can say that Chocolate is always and always will be its perfect match.

I was unaware that I still have 2 bottles of Peter Pan in my kitchen (leftovers from my hectic December last year) and being the peanut butter freak that I am, I spontaneously knew what I was going to do with it. First, I made Peanut Butter Fudge from The Brown Eyed Baker. The love for peanut butter is the greatest thing we have in common. I am a huge fan of the blog coz she features stupendously simple and luscious recipes of any kind.

Photo from Brown Eyed Baker

The fudge was absolutely amazing! The texture was good, a little too sweet I can say but all in all, it's the perfect go to dessert. The amount of butter really accentuated the bursting flavor of the peanut butter. I put in small paper cups and boxed it for my friends to share and they went nuts about it.

Go on and share the love! :D
Just click the link below for the recipe.
Peanut Butter Fudge
(Recipe adapted from Joy of Cooking)

Tyrone & Amor's Wedding Cupcakes..

2011-01-04T11:04:00.000-08:00

The day finally came for our friend Tyrone's wedding. It was long confirmed and finalized that I will be catering cupcakes for their wedding. The first design plan was actually the Popcorn Cupcakes we made as samples to match their movies/Hollywood theme but the bride didn't agree with it and went for the simple and traditional look.

Chocolate Cupcake with Bride & Groom Candy Topper..

The color themes were red and silver, so I did it with red frosting and just topped 40 pieces of the cuppies with metallic dragees for a silver touch. It was a hundred Chocolate Cupcakes with bride and groom candy topper.

The wedding was just amazingly fabulous. It was thee wedding every bride would wish for. The bride Amor was glowing beautifully in her sparkly white dress, and Tyrone was just as perfect. My daughter Kursten was one of the flower girls and I can say the entourage's wardrobes were astonishing. The reception venue was gorgeous and the food was absolutely mind-blowing. Amor did a pretty good job in organizing everything.

Congratulations You Two!! Have a wonderful life together.. :D

Cupcakes for the Christmas Season..

2011-01-02T09:36:00.000-08:00

December was undoubtedly the busiest month for us bakers because of the holiday season. I was absolutely thrilled because it was the most number of cupcake order I've had so far and I'm delightful that I was able to give my customers the best service they deserve. It was true when I mentioned 'nothing satisfies me more than happy customers'. :D

I got a huge order of assorted cupcakes from my uncle Romel on the first week of December. He was very specific about the cupcake designs that I'm terrified I might not be able to make it. Some of the frosting designs I made wasn't actually what we agreed about but he still loved it. Thank God! I was really exhausted in the process, but gladly fulfilled at the end of the day. It was fun doing business with him, considering I was only 3 or 4 the last time I saw him. It was like having a reunion and doing business at the same time.

Banana Chocolate, Chocolate Vanilla and Butter Vanilla..

My friend Arlyn who I used to work with back at Ignite Media Incorporated is a fan of KC's Cupcakes (not to brag :D) that it is indeed why it was her first choice to give away for the holidays. (Thanks Ate Arlyn!) :D

Anette is a common friend of my husband and I. She ordered a dozen Banana Cupcakes and a dozen Molten Chocolate Cake to add up on their Christmas Feast.

These are just the few works I had for the holiday season. All in all, I am grateful that KC's Cupcakes did so well for the year 2010. And I hope it gets better as I continue my journey as a baker for the year 2011. I look forward to new challenges and more learning, to strengthen my craft and love for baking.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!! :D

Chocolate Truffles..

2010-12-27T18:22:00.000-08:00

It was last week of November when I suddenly craved for Chocolate Truffles my sister in law Alcee used to make for some of her friends at work. The timing was perfect because I had leftover dark chocolates we (Melody, Katrina and I at Melody's place) used to make Molten Chocolate Cakes last week which we usually make Chocolate Truffles out of.

It was basically a refrigerated chocolate ganache, rounded and rolled on cocoa. I love it because it's incredibly easy to make, absolutely satisfying and, well, it's chocolate! what's not to love?!

Go on and make some for the holidays. :)
Chocolate Truffles Recipe

Cookie Frenzy..

2010-11-24T01:54:00.000-08:00

I had plenty of orders for chocolate chip cookies from my husband's colleagues and some of my friends yesterday. I was so excited because I got to pull out this huge and somewhat expensive stainless steel bowl my husband gave me last year which I only used once.

Hips and lower back still hurts but I had so much fun baking last night because I was watching Gilmore Girls season 4 at the same time. :D

Gorgeous Red Cupcakes..

2010-11-24T01:27:00.000-08:00

I made these cupcakes for a friend of my friend Lucille's grandmother's 62nd birthday celebration (a little confusing, yes). The color theme was red and silver so it was indeed a no brainer that metallic dragees are the perfect cupcake topping for it. It was my first time to use red frosting and I can say they look pretty fabulous. :D

Individually packed Banana Cake with Vanilla Frosting

Thoughts and Plans..

2010-11-17T23:13:00.000-08:00

I was thinking of something better to with the leftover chocolate cupcakes I made for my uncle's cupcake samples last week and I was planning to make cake balls. Unfortunately I ran out of time and it took me 5 days to realize I still have it in my daughter's cookie jar, so then I had no choice but to dispose of it.

Banana, Butter and Chocolate..

My blogging is kind of slow for the past weeks, not that I'm getting lazy or anything. I love blogging but it hit me, I want to work again. I'm planning to get a job next year, of course with my husband's approval (not sure if he's going to approve of it). I'm still going to bake and that's for sure. Actually my friend Laine and I came up with our business plan over a phone conversation. It just came up. I'm blessed to have a friend who knows everything and willing to help whatever it takes. I was thinking I could work while we're still planning our business coz I'm sure it's gonna take months of preparation for it.

I'm turning 24 on the 21st of November. I don't know why but I'm excited. I don't really celebrate my birthday the traditional way. We just go to the movies, buy a couple of stuff (books to be specific), buy cupcakes at Cupcakes by Sonja and have a lovely dinner at my favorite restaurants. I love it that way and I wouldn't ask for a better gift.

I'm happy to share that baking calendar for the month of December is full and I'm going to sure be spending a lot of time in the kitchen.

It has been a wonderful year and I have a lot of things to be thankful for. You're going to sure see more of The Dough Puncher on December. Thank you so much for checking us out. :D

Chock-full of Chips..

2010-11-02T01:57:00.000-07:00

It's been weeks since my last post. I really missed my blog. The past weeks has been fun. We went to Laguna (the entire clan) in celebration of my grandfather's birthday and my incredible Aunt's visit here from Japan. We rented this huge house for a couple of days and we had a crazy yet extremely great time. We played a lot of games just like the good old days, not having to worry about anything but have fun. It's good to be silly every once in a while. You feel younger. :D

After playfulness comes sickness. I've been sick for 3 days now. Still not getting any better. I felt the sudden urge to bake this morning. I really miss my oven. I'm missing a lot of things lately. I immediately grabbed my book 'The Ultimate Cookie Cookbook' by Better Homes and Gardens and browsed for another cookie recipe for my daughter Kursten. As much as I want to exert more effort in baking today, I still feel awful so I went for the simple Chock-full of Chips.

The moment I saw 3 types of chocolate in the recipe, I instantly knew it was it and Kursten will surely love it. Semisweet chocolate chips, candy-coated milk chocolate pieces and white chocolate chips? What more could you possibly ask for. It's like dying and going to heaven.

What I really love about this cookie is that it has a healthy twist in its own little way, considering wheat flakes and oats are best known for its fiber content. Burst of chocolatey goodness that will mindblowingly satisfy even the sweetest tooth. You get the amazing combination of crisp wheat flakes that complements the soft and chewy consistency of the cookie itself and gooey melted chocolate at first bite.

She just can't get enough..

The Cookie Jar of Awesomeness..

I'm glad to be in the great position of sharing the recipe. Have fun baking! :D

Chock-Full of Chip
Yields 48 cookies

2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
1 cup wheat flakes
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup miniature candy coated milk chocolate pieces
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350F.
In a medium bowl, stir together flour, oats, cereal, baking powder. baking soda and salt. set aside.
In a very large mixing bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
Add granulated sugar and brown sugar.
Beat until combined, scraping sides of the bowl occasionally.
Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined.
Beat in as much of the flour mixture as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour mixture.
Stir in the semisweet chocolate chips. candy-coated milk chocolate pieces and white chocolate chips.
Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutesor until golden brown.
Let stand for 1 minute on the cookie sheet.
Transfer to a wire rack; cool.

Heaven On a Rainy Day..

2010-10-17T23:30:00.000-07:00

It's been a rainy weekend and I can't think of a better way to spend it than have a warm and gooey Molten Chocolate Cake. I discovered it from my sister-in-law Alcee and it was ever since our 'go to' recipe when it comes to dessert. I even used to sell it back in my previous company (PostManila) and it's always been the main event of the evening. I made these babies originally for my husband's colleagues, I just snatched a couple of pieces for our dinner dessert. It goes perfectly with a dollop of cream or vanilla ice-cream.

Recipe Link:
Molten Chocolate Cake

Happy Baking!!! :D

A 'Friend's' Birthday Cupcakes..

2010-10-09T01:19:00.000-07:00

These are the cupcakes my friend Lucille ordered 3 days ago and picked up yesterday. She said it's for a 'friend' and each candy topper theme has it's own meaning that even I, can't understand. It's kind of an inside joke I guess.

It is all Banana Cake with Vanilla Frosting and edible themed candy toppers. So cute!! :D

Sneaky Snickers..

2010-10-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

I love Snickers! It is one of my favorite chocolate bars ever since I was little. I remember every time a relative comes home from the States, they give us this huge bag of assorted chocolate bars, unfortunately my sister and I had to share it with our cousins from upstairs and the next day early morning, my sister Ella would be the first one to get Snickers and take it to school, so I always end up having Milkyway or Butterfingers instead (a sad memory of my childhood). :D

This morning, while I was thinking of something better to do with my friend/regular customer Lucille's cupcakes (as a thank you gift coz she ordered 3 dozen Banana Cake with Vanilla Frosting and candy toppers for a friend's birthday. see next post.), I suddenly craved for Snickers and then I thought, Lucille will flip if she see some chopped Snickers on her cupcakes. Who wouldn't? So I went on with the plan and she did flipped when she saw the cupcakes.

I used it with Banana Cake and I honestly think it went well with Snickers. It kind of gave me the impression of Banana Split. And to make it even more heavenly, I drizzled it with Chocolate Ganache made with Vanhouten chocolate chips. Snickers is usually paired with chocolate cake but I find it a little redundant in chocolate so I thought I'd give it a little twist.

Here's the links of recipes you can try:
Banana Cupcakes
Basic Buttercream
Chocolate Ganache

Back in Business..

2010-10-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

The business was kind of slow for the past weeks sucking the life out of me. So when my good friend Hanzel called to place an order last weekend, I was brought back to life. I can proudly say that baking is my addiction. Well, I know this can be hard to believe but I don't really eat what I bake, so it is the baking process that I'm addicted to (a little defensive I know, but it is true).

Hanz ordered a dozen Butter Cake with Chocolate Frosting and Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting. My husband's colleagues also ordered 2 dozen of Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting and then, I was instantly back in business.

Hanzel is one of the 'few but true' friends that I have. We used to work together back in PostManila. One of my unforgettable moments with her was last year, it was her first day (I think) at work and we still barely know each other, I was having a rough day at work then I received a text message from her, saying "I'm just here if you need someone to talk to..". And that was the beginning of our friendship. She's a strong woman that even Brock Lesnar won't be able to take her down.

I drizzled the Chocolate Cupcakes with Ganache for a change. I always try my best to come up with something different every time. Hanz told me on facebook that her colleagues loved the cupcakes. Nothing satisfies me more than happy customers. It's a one man show and it's tough but I'm not going anywhere. I love my job. :D

My New Baking Buddy..

2010-10-02T11:03:00.000-07:00

It was a huge surprise when my old friend Melody called me this afternoon going crazy about wanting to learn how to bake and just the perfect timing, I'm alone for the weekend coz Kursten is at my Mom's house and husband is at work, she came over right away to pick me up. She just got married and being the typical stepford wife that I am (not really), I agreed to teach her some of the few tricks I know about baking. After a long discussion of what we are going to bake, we finally agreed to make her and her husband's favorite Banana Muffins. We used my version of the recipe except less sweet so we reduced the amount of sugar by 4 tablespoons.

making sure each muffin is of the same size.. OC..

We went to Fort Bonifacio first to buy her mom Tamales but when we got there, they ran out. So Mel bought her mom sweet meats instead (we call it 'kakanin' here in the Philippines. not sure if it's the right English term). Of course, like what I've mentioned in my earlier post, I always go to Cupcakes by Sonja every time I visit Serendra and since Melody unbelievably haven't been there before. She was like a little girl in the candy store when we stepped inside Cupcakes by Sonja and just as amazed when she took her first bite on her Chocolate Mint Cupcake. Taking her to that cupcake store turned out to be a pretty good idea coz she told me she's not a big fan before, but she is now. She said she'll definitely come back for more.


Clockwise: The Elvis, Mint Condition, Choco Cream Pie, Bunny Huggers Carrot Cake, Vanilla Sunshine and Peppermint Patty..

We were so happy that Mel's first ever baked goody turned out great. It's a good thing I have few cupcake boxes left and Mel was able to take the muffins home to his husband. I really hope he liked it. I look forward to baking again with Melody coz I honestly need a baking buddy..

Popcorn Cupcakes..

2010-09-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

In preparation for our friend Tyrone's movie/cinema themed wedding, my husband came up with a brilliant idea of making Popcorn Cupcakes instead of ordinary frosted cupcakes that the bride Amor and I agreed about and they both liked it. So last night, we made a few samples to see if it's going to work out and as it looked like, it did. I used a boxed cake mix with this one because I know for sure that it's going to end up with my usual beneficiaries, (the guards in our building) so I thought no need for the extra effort.

I plan to do Butter Cupcakes to match with the Butter Popcorn image and my husband will be doing the Popcorn container out of creativity. It's great to have an artistic husband around, less trouble and easy work. This one's just for trial and I'm sure the actual Popcorn Cupcakes that we're going to do for the wedding will look more natural and realistic. Stay tuned! :D

Martha's Crumb Cake..

2010-09-18T12:39:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to try making this cake ever since I saw it in an episode of Cake Boss (Reality Show of the famous Carlo's Bakery in New Jersey), where most people says they have the most exquisite Crumb Cake you'll ever have. I thought I'll do some research about this cake and hopefully, if I'm lucky to find the perfect recipe, I'd be able to add this up on my home-baking business menu. That way, I can introduce it to Filipinos that are not really familiar with this type of cake. After weeks of searching, I finally decided to start with Martha Stewart's recipe of New York Crumb Cake.

I know I'm not a pro, but I'm just going to share my viewpoint of the recipe. I honestly didn't get the taste I was expecting. The cake was dry, dense and bland. I was absolutely sure I followed the recipe perfectly and I even bought the best ingredients because I had such high expectation that it's going to turn out superb. Or maybe that's how it should really taste but it's just not my type of cake. I really want to want this but I really don't. But like I said, this is just my viewpoint of the recipe. We all have different standards for food.

I still plan to try other recipes of this cake or even make my own until I find the right one that will pass the Filipinos' distinctive taste.

KC's Cupcakes on Cupcakes Take The Cake!

2010-09-16T10:42:00.000-07:00


The #1 Cupcake Blog.. Oh yeah!

For me, as a cupcake baker, for my cupcakes to be posted on Cupcakes Take The Cake is a great honor. I'm a big fan of the blog and the inspiration it gives was one of the reasons why I decided to focus on cupcakes for my home business. I'm just so happy they acknowledged my work. Thanks to my husband Jobert for helping me design those pink and yellow chocolate cupcakes. Thank God I have a creative husband. :D

25 and Fabulous!

2010-09-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our friend Fleur's birthday at Cuba Bar Shaw Boulevard last Sunday. I gave her Chocolate Cupcakes as a gift and even though it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to look like, she still loved it. My husband helped with the decorations not to mention his famous 'flourish design' using royal icing. It felt great doing stuff together especially when it comes to baking which is not his thing.

I first met this wonderful friend of mine in Colliers International at Makati City, where we both used to work in 2006 and we became close friends ever since. We hung out when I was still pregnant with Kursten and I can say she was the one that made me enjoy my pregnancy. It's funny because we always have our houses near each other by accident.

The party was great. I've never had so much fun for a very long time. We played billiards and we hit the karaoke. I was the photographer for the night (I don't mean to brag but I take pretty awesome pictures). I did a lot of catching up with our friend Laine coz it's been years since we last saw each other so I asked her to just stay at our place for the night. I met Fleur's family and friends and I was so happy I got new friends. The food was good, the place was stunning. The party was fabulous!

It's sad that I'm not going to be able to see her often from now on, because she already resigned from work to take care of her Dad and she's going back home to Batangas soon. She always puts her family first and it is the best thing I love about her. I'm really going to miss her. She lives just a few blocks away from our place and I could visit her anytime I want, but now it will take 3 to 4 hours of trip to see her. We've been sisters for years and It's going to stay that way forever.

Pink & Purple..

2010-09-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

It was my niece Bianca's birthday party yesterday (though it kind of looked like it was my Mom's) and I was assigned for the cupcakes. It wasn't really a very pleasant day for me because we got stuck in traffic on our way to the mall (we first bought Bianca a gift before going to the party) and it was burning hot despite of the rain. I was melting the entire time and I have no choice but to endure it. All I wanted was to make my niece happy so despite the humid weather, we still did our job and kept the party going. We bought the Barbie bag that Bianca wished for. The Purple and Pink cupcakes that I made was so simple and cute, yet it still turned out to be a crowd pleaser.

The first thing I love about baking cupcakes is the frosting part. I get to play with different colors of frostings and sprinkles which is a lot of fun. It's like 1st grade all over again.

After the party, we went to Shangrila Mall to relax a little and eat dinner. We weren't able to eat much at the party because the house was already crowded. We stayed outside the entire time so we thought it wouldn't hurt if we stay in the mall for a little while.

Goin' Bananas!

2010-09-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks back, we went to my brother-in-law's music video shoot (Nikki Gil's video) in a studio near Robinsons Pioneer at Boni Avenue. The studio was so cool and it kind of look like an art gallery from outside. They have a classy small cafeteria in case anyone gets hungry during the shoot. While everybody's busy around me, something caught my attention. It was this good looking Banana Muffins displayed at the corner of the bar. It looks really attractive that I forcefully asked my husband to buy me some, ignoring the "you're on a diet!" look on his face. It was just as good as how it looks. Fantastic!

I still had the banana muffin fever the next day so I thought, why not make them myself? I browsed my favorite websites for recipe and went straight to the grocery store to buy bananas, since I already have the basic ingredients at home. I substituted some of the ingredients to what I think will make the muffins outstanding. No picture this time because Mom borrowed our camera that entire week.

Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins
Serves 20 to 24 muffins

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup butter (melted)
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
3/4 cup bittersweet chocolate bar (coarsely chopped)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In another bowl, combine the egg, butter, yogurt and vanilla.
Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.
Fold in bananas and chocolate chunks.
Fill greased or paper-lined muffin pan two-thirds full.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 22-25 minutes until golden brown or toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

I substituted brown sugar instead of white sugar, butter instead of vegetable oil (muffins turned out moist, still) for more flavor and bittersweet chocolate chunks instead of semisweet chocolate chips. It was awesome! I know we all have our own standards for food, but I can say this is one of the best recipes I've ever tried. :D

Banana Chocolate Chunk Muffins

Oreo Lovin'..

2010-09-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

I tried this cheesecake recipe courtesy of my sister-in-law Alcee's Oreo Recipes Cookbook back in 2007. It's for my husband actually (as I've mentioned in my earlier post, I don't eat cheese..). I brought a few slices at work for them to try. My former Boss Dave Hukom said the gelatin was over powering so I took the liberty of changing the recipe a little bit. I don't have a nice camera that time and I refuse to use my camera phone because of poor quality so I just downloaded a photo from DeviantArt. I'm sure it's going to be awesome. :D

Easy Oreo Cheesecake Recipe

Serves 8 to 10 people

Ingredients:

1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz.) OREO Cookies, divided

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted

1/2 tsp. Knox Gelatin

3 tbsp. milk

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

3/4 cup Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 cups whipping cream

Instructions:

Coarsely chop 15 cookies.
Finely crush remaining cookies and mix with butter.
Press onto bottom of 13x9-inch pan.
Refrigerate while preparing filling.
Beat whipping cream in a bowl with hand/stand mixer until soft peaks.
In a small saucer, heat milk and gelatin in microwave oven for 15 seconds or until melted.
Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and gelatin mixture in a large bowl until well blended.
Gently fold in whipping cream and chopped cookies.
Spoon over crust.
Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

Enjoy!

Kc's Oreo Cheesecake

Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe..

2010-09-01T03:10:00.000-07:00

I forgot to add the recipe on my first post 'It's Blueberry Week..'. So this one's for Suhaina. Go ahead and give it a try. :D

Crust:
1 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup brown sugar

Filling:
1/3 cup sugar
2 bars cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups whipping cream
1 can blueberry pie filling (preferably Comstock)
1 tsp unflavored colorless gelatin (preferably Knox)
3 tbsp water

Instructions:

Combine all the crust ingredients with a fork until well blended.
Press in a 9 inch pie pan.
Chill in the fridge for about 15 minutes.
Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer.
Add in vanilla extract.
Dissolve the gelatin in water and add in the cream cheese mixture.
Beat until well blended and cream cheese fluffy.
Add in the whipping cream and fold gently.
Spoon over crust and let chill in the fridge for about 3 hours or until set.
Top with some blueberry pie filling or fresh ones which ever you prefer.
Can do your favorite fruit topping too!

Have a pleasant day you all.. :D

Blueberry Cheesecake Recipe

One Fine Sunday..

2010-09-01T01:31:00.000-07:00

Kursten was at my mom's house last week for the weekend and it was a fine day so Jobert and I decided to go to Serendra at Fort Bonifacio to take a walk and splurge a little on food and books. We thought it was the perfect time to go on a date considering we haven't had one ever since I resigned from work. I love it there. The place was wonderful and we get to see different types of people. From Paris Hilton clones with dogs in their purses to trashy skateboarders doing tricks which is kind of fun to look at. I could just stay there and read a good book all day. The ambiance was amazingly relaxing.

We first went to Cupcakes by Sonja and bought PB&J. I always make sure I try one of their flavors each time I go there for research purposes (honestly!). I've already tried Vanilla Sunshine and Chocolate Surprise, Jobert tried Flourless Chocolate Cupcake and Creme Brulee Cupcake Tart. I've read reviews of their cupcakes and most of them said the frosting was way too sweet. Maybe some of them just don't know what it's made of. As a baker, I too find frosting recipes way too sweet but I couldn't do anything about it because that's how it is. We can't control the sweetness because it's made out of pure confectioner's sugar to achieve the right consistency. For me the cupcakes were awesome. The cake has its perfect texture, a little crumby and moist that blended well with the Peanut butter frosting and Grape jam topping. Cupcakes by Sonja inspires me to not be afraid to explore new flavors and ingredients. I will surely be back there for more. :D

Photo by Manilla Gateway

Photo taken using Jobert's IPhone 3GS..

After that, we ate Razon's famous Halo-halo and Pansit Luglog for merienda at Market Market's outdoor food court.We were surrounded by beautiful flowers. How great was that?

Next stop, Fully Booked. We we're actually planning to go to the movies but it rained so hard so we decided to just stay there, read and shop for books. Jobert bought me a cupcake cookbook titled 'Wild about Cupcakes' by Rachel Lane for my research and he bought himself 2 of his favorite novels. We stayed there for an hour and a half I think. Then the rain stopped and we headed to Pancake House for dinner.

Photo by The Geek Brewery

I had Salisbury Steak and Calamansi Juice, Jobert ordered his favorite Aroz ala Cubana and Iced Tea. It was a wonderful day being with my husband. It reminded me of our dates when we were still boyfriends and girlfriends with the 'kilig' factor. It was great. I have everything I've ever wanted. A simple life and a happy family. What more can I ask for? :D

For the Love of Baking..

2010-08-24T04:02:00.000-07:00

I started baking just after my husband and I got married in 2006, thanks to my sister-in-law Alcee for the oven she gave us as her wedding gift. Little did I know that I'll be interested in it since I'm not the patient, organized and creative type which Baking utterly requires (but I am now :D).

It is the great challenge and satisfaction of seeing how my products turn out that made me decide 'this is what I want to do'. I get to express the creative side of me that I never would've thought I have. Seeing smiles on my friends' faces in exchange for a box of cupcakes is priceless. I could even get to give my daughter something to look forward to every week (she loves my chocolate chip cookies). Baking made me closer to them.

I'm not going to stop learning until I'm able to make the best of the best, not just for the people I love, but to anyone who wants to make lovely memories of childhood and friendship, or simply the pleasure of good taste.

Otto's Birthday Cupcakes..

2010-08-20T00:44:00.000-07:00

Few weeks back, I got featured on my friend Richie's blog (True Adventures of the World's Pickiest Eater). And because it is indeed an influential blog as well as the blogger, I got to do business with Ms. Pam Pajarillo for her son Otto's birthday.

She ordered 2 boxes of assorted cupcakes (Banana Cake with Chocolate Buttercream and Orange Cake with Vanilla Buttercream), Half a dozen of Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Buttercream for Otto's teachers in school and 12 individually packed Chocolate Cakes for Otto's classmates. All cupcakes were topped with Cars candy topper as Ms. Pam requested.

Orange Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream

Kid's Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

Chocolate Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream

Ms. Pam is a great customer. I really hope I could do business with her again in the future. The baking process actually went well and I was able to finish it all in half a day. Otto is celebrating his 5th birthday today. Happy Birthday Otto!! Get well.. Ms. Pam told me he got sick last night that's why I didn't get to meet him when I delivered the cupcakes this morning at Raya School in Timog QC.

Another job done and more coming. :D

Valentine's Day Cupcakes..

2010-07-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

I would just like to share you guys about my first High Humidity Icing. If you may notice on the picture below, the icing was cracked. It's because the consistency was too stiff. It was my first time to use High Humidity Icing so I was a little hesitant to add more milk.

These cupcakes were ordered by Ms. Tricia of ZAP!, where my husband used to work in 2007. They ordered it as a Valentine's Day gift for their clients. They liked the taste of the cake and the frosting so far. Flavor of the cake was Banana. I know it seem a little outdated, I just want to show you guys that I somehow progressed in frosting piping. ;)

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies.. Indeed..

2010-07-29T00:17:00.000-07:00

I have this recipe for years and it has always been my family and friend's favorite. I got the recipe in a cookbook my friend Fleur Zara gave me titled 'Heavenly Chocolate Recipes' and since then, I held on to it. I've already tried other recipes but they didn't suit my taste.

Photo taken by Jobert Monteras

The moment my friend gave me the book, we tried the chocolatechip cookies recipe right away and we didn't expect it to be that good. It is crisp on the outside and gooey on the inside. The quick cooking oats gave it the perfect texture a chocolatechip cookie should have. You could even add nuts or substitute raisins to chocolate chips if you want to make it more healthy.

Every time I bake these babies, my daughter would get a chair, put it in the kitchen, check if it's already cooked from time to time and watch every movement I make. She can literally eat a handful of cookies fresh out of the oven. She is my biggest fan.

Here's the recipe and see for yourself.. :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yields 2 dozen

1/2 cup Butter (softened)

3/4 cup White Sugar

3/4 cup Brown Sugar

1 Egg

1 tablespoon Water

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

1 cup Flour

1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 1/2 cups Quick Cooking Oats

6 ounces Chocolate Chips

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350'F.
In a mixing bowl, combine butter, sugars, egg, water and vanilla and beat well.
Add dry ingredients and mix well.
Add oats and chocolate chips and mix well.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto baking tray and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until light brown.

Note: If you want outstanding results, use the best brand of ingredients there is. :)

Best Chocolate Chip Cookies

Friends for Life..

2010-07-14T22:44:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday (July 10), my friends Ram Medina, Jaja Gonzales and Gale Barcena back in HSBC where I worked in 2007, paid me a visit. Ram brought us her mom's famous Crispy Pata and Sisig, Jaja brought Lechon Manok. Gale came a little late and she wasn't able to prepare something, which is fine coz her presence is important more than anything else. Our friend JL didn't make it for some reason we haven't figured out yet, but we're pretty sure it's credible. We know JL, she keeps her promise, so maybe something more important came up. :)

The Arrival..

I baked Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream frosting (an all time favorite) for them . We spent the whole day feasting, talking about the good old days, endless picture taking and swimming. Ram requested for Spaghetti so I asked my Mom to cook. The food was awesome. The Crispy Pata was breath taking as well as the Sisig. The Lechon Manok was very appetizing because of It's mild sweetness. Mom's Spaghetti was sensational, as always. :) We're only four, but we have enough to feed ten. :)

this isn't actually the consistency I was aiming for..

It was sad that at the end of the day, we had to go our separate ways again. After all these years, they haven't changed a bit. It was so much fun being with them, no dull moments, just plain fun. Though I was thinking of what happened to JL that whole time, hoping she was just trying to surprise us, with ice cream in hand. But it's all good. :)

It feels really good to have true friends that's going to stick with you, for better or for worse, through thick and thin. :)

Kursten's Birthday

2010-07-09T03:57:00.000-07:00

December 5 of year 2009, we celebrated Kursten's 3rd Birthday at McDonalds Glorrietta. We were actually aiming for McDonalds El Pueblo, the one in Ortigas but it was fully booked. It was only 3 days before the date that we were able to find a venue and lucky for us, it was near both mine and my husband's office.

I was actually having second thoughts about the cake, to buy or to bake? But I've decided to just bake them myself, since it was my baby girl's special day.

The cupcakes turned out pretty good. I made 50 Butter cupcakes and just accessorized it with candy toppers. I bought a cupcake tower (gold is the only available color that day) for a better presentation. It looked proffesional ;) for a rookie like me. I also brought boxes for individual cupcakes in case anyone wants to take it home. Everybody loved it.

It was a great party coz our families, friends and colleagues were there. Though Kursten had a tantrum the entire day, we still managed to have a great time.

Food was fine, the usual of course. We chose the best package available. All in all, the party was a total success despite of the last minute preparations. My husband and I were contented that the people who attended had a great time as well as our Baby Girl. :)

Baby Shower Cupcakes

2010-07-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

Last June 28, my friend Richie sent me a text message saying that he's going to hire me in baking cupcakes for a family member's baby shower. I excitedly accepted the order since I wasn't able to bake for awhile because of my husband's conditions (I'm not going to elaborate :D). Richie confirmed the order of 60 cupcakes in 3 flavors (Mocha, Chocolate and Butter). 2 days before the delivery date which is on July 3, I went to Sweetcraft in Boni Avenue for ingredients. Prices of ingredients are pretty high at the moment but it didn't matter since I am baking for a friend.

I started baking the next day at 11:00 AM. It was a little hard for me to bake and take care of my daughter Kursten at the same time. I have a small oven that can bake only 12 cupcakes at a time, I had 3 flavors to mix with just a hand mixer and a lot of baking utensils to wash. I usually wash my baking utensils right after using it because it makes me more comfortable since my kitchen is a little crowded. I had a little trouble with my chocolate cupcakes recipe that I can't figure out so I had no choice but to do it again. I finished frosting the cupcakes at 11:30 PM. I was so exhausted.

Been longing to grab one..

The next day, I was supposed to deliver the cupcakes to Tomas Morato, QC. but my Mom had to go to the hospital and nobody-else was available to take care of Kursten so I asked Richie to pick the cupcakes up instead. He came with his beautiful wife Rina at 3:00 PM.

2 days later, I uploaded some pictures of the cupcakes on Facebook and found a notification that Richie made a comment on my photo album which made everything worth it.

"FYI sold out cupcakes mo, and everyone found the designs so adorable! My nephew must've eaten 10 all by himself.. I had around 4 hehe"

I was so happy that all of my hard-work was paid off and I was able to make people happy with what I created.

photo taken by Rina..

I've came to the realization that my love for baking is unconditional. That it doesn't matter if I always get tired baking hundreds of cupcakes with just a hand mixer, that my oven can only bake 12 cupcakes at a time and that my kitchen is too small for home baking business. None of this matters to me. A little dramatic, but true. :D

It's Blueberry Week..

2010-07-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

I was craving for blueberry flavored deserts for the past few days of April, so I came up with the idea of making Blueberry Cheesecake. The funny thing is 'I don't eat cheese', any type of cheese at all, because the smell makes me feel nauseous. My relatives call me 'Keso' though. I find it annoying when I was little but got used to it eventually. It's a little crazy but I took my chances.

next time I'll do better with the plating.. :D

I got lucky in finding the perfect recipe that satisfied my taste. Not too sweet and cheesy, just right. The consistency of the batter was awesome and I got that by not putting too much gelatin in the batter. I reduced the amount of gelatin by half a teaspoon and it divulged the natural texture and creaminess coming from the cream and cheese mixture. Though the blueberry pie filling I bought wasn't that good because the brand I was aiming for wasn't available, It still became a huge hit. My husband and Mom loved it. Surprisingly, I loved it as well. Cheese isn't so bad after all. Think I'm going to stick to this recipe for awhile. After all, there is always room for improvement.

2 days later, I bought Yummy Magazine to check out the featured recipe of Pastry Chef Aileen Anastacio. I've tried a couple of her recipes for the past 2 issues of Yummy Magazine and it was both delicious. Just in time! The featured recipe was Blueberry Muffins. No second thoughts and I went to the grocery store for ingredients. Apparently I wasn't able to bake it that day because there's no available blueberries in that store. So I went to Rustan's the next day and lucky for me, they still had 2 packs of blueberries left. Though it's not that fresh already, I went on and bought it. Tadaaaah!! :D

fresh out of the oven..

The recipe was just as I expected, "outstanding". Though it took 40 minutes to bake (it was supposed to be just 1 tablespoonful per paper cup for 20-25 minutes, but I made it 2), the texture was perfect. It has this blueberry burst and buttery flavor, not too sweet yet very moist sensation that was indeed mind blowing. The streusel on top gave it a little crisp that blended well with the soft and cake-like texture of the muffin.

ready to go..

The next day, I went to my family in Caloocan and brought them some of the muffins. Just after a few minutes, muffins were gone. They undeniably loved it and asked for more the next time I visit. It was all worth it, not to mention the 16 oz. blueberries worth 350 Pesos for 16 muffins. Well, I'm not rich.. So 350 pesos for a few ounces of blueberries is a little expensive for me. :D

Another great recipe that is definitely going to be in my 'Best Recipes' list.

Blueberry Muffin Recipe

Serves 12 muffins Prep Time 10 minutes Cooking Time 20 to 22 minutes

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup oil
1 1/3 cups buttermilk
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups frozen blueberries

For the streusel
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375˚F. Line muffin tins with paper cups.
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
In another bowl, whisk together oil, buttermilk, egg, and vanilla. Pour over the flour mixture. Mix just until combined.
Add the frozen blueberries.
Using a 2-ounce ice cream scooper, scoop the batter over the muffin cups.
Make the streusel:Combine the flour, butter, and light brown sugar and mix until it resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle top of each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of streusel.
Bake for 20 to 22 minutes or until tops are golden. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Note: You can use either Frozen or Fresh Blueberries.

Blueberry Muffin Recipe