For the Love of Baking..

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..

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..

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..

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..

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. :)