Exploring the World and Coming Home by May

09/28/2020

Here is mom’s protégé’s recipe of Chicken Noodle Soup

08/22/2020

Cheese Cupcakes (Pinoy recipe) ~ every food has a story, and this cupcake is no different. The first time I tried this sweet/savory cupcake was in college while I was doing my practicum class for Food Service, (which today is quite like the Culinary Arts course.)

Anyway, back to the cupcake, I loved it so much that I paid for a piece every single day. Even if that meant I have to walk to/from my boarding house and university campus because I already spent my transportation money for my cupcake. Then graduation came, and I began working in foodservice businesses. Later on, acquainted with many different kinds of cheese desserts, soon, I have forgotten about my favorite cheese cupcakes.

Fast-forward to when I am already here in California, and I stumbled on this old favorite sweet & salty goody of mine! I saw it at one of the Asian stores in my area. Of course, I was ecstatic to see it again after a gazillion of years since I last had it. Without any hesitation, I bought a dozen of the $3.50 per piece cupcake. When I brought it home, I had my children tried it and lo and behold my son loved it that it became a favorite of his too! The truth is, my son is not born with a sweet tooth, but surprisingly, he liked it. Perhaps it is the combination of sweetness and saltiness that appealed to his tastebuds; that’s why he almost became addicted to it!

The thing is, a $3.00-small cupcake is a bit too much, I thought. So, I searched on the internet a recipe so that I can just bake it myself. But. Futile. Until just last week, I saw a post of the food vblogger - - on IG her photo and recipe for Cheese Cupcake! Can you imagine how excited and happy I was?

Today, we bake our own Cheese Cupcakes! Here are some pictures of my very first Cheese Cupcake! ⬆️ I modified the recipe a little bit by using grated parmesan cheese for its toppings (only.) That way, it is a crunchy-bite!

06/02/2020

Home to unique indoor and outdoor museums, exquisite architectures, fascinating bridges, and serene water views in between, how could you not visit this intraurban? If that is not enough, be prepared to be welcomed by upbeat local owners of homestyle eats, cozy cafes, and sweet-smelling bakeries! Please follow the link and keep reading... 😊

Stockholm is the 'Venice of the North,' that's what they say. But I must add, the 'Paris of Scandinavia'. It should be a must-visit city.

03/26/2020

Craving for Skinless Longaniza? If you have a few pounds of grind pork in your fridge, why not make your own longaniza?! It’s very easy to make. I am sharing the recipe that I also learned, but with a little twist to my own taste. I added toasted then pounded cumin and coriander spices to this recipe. I hope you’ll try it in your homes while you’re quarantined because of what is going on right now! Have fun! 😊 😂

03/08/2020

Rest Areas in Central California...

02/18/2020

Share ko lang etong dish-washing tip ko using lemon peels or kalamansi peels. Don’t throw them away kaagad pag na extract nio na yong juice. Pwede pa eto at magandang pang hugas nang mga plato, and pots & pans! At pag nagamit nio na sa mga plato, instead of tossing the sapal sa basurahan, ilagay nio sa compost bin para pang fertilizer sa mga tanim nio! Oh di ba? Bonga?!

TRANSLATION 😊

I just want to share my dish-washing tips using lemon peels or lime peels. Don't throw them away as soon as you extract that juice. The lemon skin or peelings can still be use to wash dishes or pots & pans!

Please watch this video how I used it as “soap.” And after you have used it on the plates, again, instead of tossing the pulp in the trash, put it in the compost bin for your plant fertilizer! Great, right?!

Who among you out there have been using this technique? Or do you have other uses for lemons too after extracting the juice? Please share!

02/15/2020

OOTD!!

02/13/2020

Cooked by me this past Tuesday, was this pot of "Nilagang Baka" (or Beef Stew), a dish enjoyed and loved by Filipinos! Every region in the country, I believed, has its own version of this dish, but I also think that Pinoys will agree that it is indeed a comfort food too! Literally, it is! Because when someone is sick, Nilagang Baka is straight on its way to the table!

When a former workmate of mine has posted a few times on her FB page that she has been sick (coughing and suffering from a sore throat,) I thought that maybe I can share her our Pinoy stew— Nilagang Baka! So, on Tuesday, I got my hands full in the kitchen and then brought this pot of soup to her. I added extra leeks to the dish because this herb (or vegetable) has a soothing effect!

“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." — Stephen Grellet

“I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -Maya Angelou

02/07/2020

“C❤️❤️king is very therapeutic ...” I haven’t seen my son in two days even though we lived in the same roof. That’s because he has been very busy with school and so am I with various responsibilities. I thought I wanted to surprise him so, I cooked his favorite comfort food— home-prep hamburger and roasted bite-size medley potatoes. When the food was ready, I went to his room and told him I have a surprise for him! We went downstairs to the kitchen and when he saw what I prepared he was very happy and gave me this very gentle loving hug! And while he was hugging me his hands were gently caressing my back almost like comforting. And then he said, “mom, thank you very much. It’s just what I needed. It has been difficult for me the last few days because of school requirements.” Then at the end of his meal I told him to not worry about the pots and dishes I used for cooking. “Are you sure?! Because I can do this,” was his reply. I insisted on doing it myself and told him, “just continue with your studies and don’t forget to go to the gym later ok?! And we laughed together!

02/04/2020

Really? How much cheese can you have?! 😉

02/01/2020

My kitchen is a mess! Again! But...that’s fine! Cooking is where my heart is! 🥰 Anyway, I tried something new in my cooking! That is using “anise” as one of the main ingredients in my Scallop Pasta! Not bad for a first try! My family loves the meal! (again!)

01/27/2020

The making of my Hamburger Souvlaki (Greek Sandwich)