My Cupcake giveaways.. ♥♥♥

With Christmas fast approaching, I got busy with baking chocolate cupcakes yesterday as giveaways to family and friends.

The cupcakes were made using the batter from the Super Moist Chocolate Cake recipe. I topped it with homemade butter cream icing and strawberry jam for some extra love. ♥♥♥

Some of the cupcakes before packaging..such a BEAUTY!! ♥♥♥

Boxes full of love..and CHOCOLATES..and STRAWBERRIES..

A personal gift box filled with ♥♥♥..

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous 2014 ahead! :)

♥dei♥

Kitchen Experiment: Super Moist Chocolate Cake ♥♥♥

If there is one thing that I can't resist for dessert, it has got to be the chocolate cake; preferring the moist, gooey kind. :)

I have spent weeks looking and trying out recipes and I was about to give up until just last week, I came upon a recipe bragging for that Ultra Super Moist Cake. I tried it last weekend and it was superbly moist and soft as if you feel like drowning in that deep dark rich brown goodness. :)


SUPER MOIST CHOCOLATE CAKE

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes for the cake; 15-20 minutes for cupcakes
Servings: 1 8x8 cake; 12 pcs 3-oz cupcakes

Super Moist Chocolate Cake topped with Ganache

INGREDIENTS:

For the cake:
1 cup milk
1/3 cup butter
1/4 cup oil (I used canola oil)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
1&1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg, beaten at room temperature
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar

For the ganache:
1/2 cup whipping cream
3/4 cup baking semi-sweet chocolate

PROCEDURE:

For the cake:
1. Heat together milk, butter, oil and cocoa powder until just the butter melts. Let it cool to room temperature.
2. Preheat oven at 180C 10 minutes before baking.

3. Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Add sifted sugar, baking soda and egg into the flour mixture.

4. Add mixed dry ingredients to the cooled wet ingredients. Beat it well using an electric beater or hand whisk until mixed well.
5. Pour batter into greased/lined cake or cupcake pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes for the cake; 15-20 minutes for the cupcakes.

For the ganache:
1. Place the chocolate in a bowl.
2. Heat the whipping cream on low flame till small bubbles start appearing around the edges.
3. Pour the heated cream to the bowl of chocolate. Let it rest for 5 minutes.
4. Whisk it using a manual whisk until it gives a liquid consistency ganache. If you want to thicken it more, place bowl on some ice and whip; it will start thickeing.
5. Spread ganache on cooled cupcakes.


This recipe is perfect for sharing with family and friends this coming holiday season. Happy eating! :)




♥dei♥

Kitchen Experiment: Lengua de Gato ♥♥♥

Baking goodies is the latest hobby I enjoy doing during the weekends. My family, including my turning-1 old nephew, obliges to taste them heartily. (I hope!)

One my favorite things to bake is the Lengua de Gato (Thin Butter Cookie), which my nephew loves to munch using his first two front teeth. :)

LENGUA DE GATO

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

1-1/8 cup flour

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp calamansi or lemon extract

Procedure:

1. Cream butter and sugar in a bowl. Continue mixing until smooth in texture.

2. Add the egg, vanilla extract and calamansi or lemon extract in the butter-sugar mixture.

3. Gradually add the flour in the mixture.

4. Preheat oven at 356F (180C).

5. Spoon or pipe the mixture in a greased pan. They must be spaced an inch apart.

6. Bake the cookies for 3-5 minutes or until their edges turn to light brown.

Lengua de Gato ready for munching! :)

That was so easy right? You can even bake them in your oven toasters at 5 minutes.

Why go up north when you can enjoy these delicious treats at the comfort of your home. Enjoy! :)

♥dei♥

Restaurant Trip: Serye :(

My mother celebrated her 20th year in service and as a celebration she wanted to treat us to dinner.

I have wanted to try out the food at Serye so when I chanced upon a deal they have at 50% off, I recommended it to her.

Wrong choice.

The deal was only meant for their "Special Menu" and we were expecting they were really special. Nah! To think there were only a handful of dishes in that menu yet the food they served us were forgettable in taste and drenched in oil.

Binukadkad na Tilapia with Ensalada Mangga
We could have enjoyed it more if it was served hot and crispy.

Camaron Rebosado
Could not taste the shrimp because of the thick breading.

Crispy Binagoongan
This dish we enjoyed the most.

Honey Fried Chicken
Blah!

Pescado with Sweet n Sour Sauce
Like the shrimp, the fish was missing from the thick breading used.

Boneless Crispy Pata
We added this to our meal (not part of their special menu). This was crispy yet lacked seasoning. And it was expensive too.

Overall, the experience in Serye was forgettable but I am raring to try their well-known barbecues next time around.

♥dei♥

Restaurant Trip: Pasto ♥♥♥

Sometimes I get bored eating just my packed lunch at the office that I crave for some Italian fare.

Good thing I bought Deal Grocer vouchers at 50% off a few weeks back.

Pizza, Pasta, Panini

Menu 1

Menu 2

Crostini with Spinach-Gongonzola Dip
Pasto's version of Italian Crostini with choice of dip.

This is my favorite appetizer at Pasto. ♥♥♥

Diavola
Grilled US Angus Steal with Bell Peppers and Onions in mildly spiced tomato sauce served with Rice Pilaf

This is my favorite entree. ♥♥♥
I prefer my steak in au jus but their spiced tomato sauce made me think otherwise.

My complete lunch! YUM! ♥♥♥

Pasto

*Bonifacio Global City - The Fort Strip Mall, BGC, Taguig City

*Libis - Eastwood Citywalk, Libis, Quezon City

*Ortigas Pasig - El Pueblo de Real, Ruby Rd corner Julia Vargas Ave., Ortigas, Pasig City

*Salcedo Village - 3rd Floor paseo Center, Paseo de Roxas, Salcedo Village, Makati City

*Greenhills - GF Theater Mall, Greenhills, San Juan City

♥dei♥

Getaway: Puerto Princesa - September 2013

Dubbed as the "City within a Jungle", Puerto Princesa is indeed a haven for those nature lovers out there. The city, though bustling with commercial establishments, really lives up to its monicker as the "Cleanest and Greenest City in the World"..

Good thing that the trip was planned months back so we were able to check different options for our stay and found that it is practical to get a tour package. Believe me, it's kind of difficult to do when you're miles away and the permit should be processed at least a week before the trip. So getting the package would save us the effort to get them.

The 4d/3n package tour we got comes with accommodation (@Felix Pension), daily breakfast, Underground River tour and Honda Bay island hopping (2-3 islands). We opted to do the city tour ourselves since we will just have to squish it in our schedule if time permits.

The travel to the Underground River took two and a half hours (boat ride included) while Honda Bay is approximately 30 minutes from the city proper. The sights going to and from are definitely worth the long travel; plus we had a splendid time feeding the different kinds of fish during the island hopping trip! :)

Calm waters of Honda Bay :)

Sabang Wharf going to the Underground River

Secluded beach on the way to the Underground River

The city tour can be done just by renting a tricycle for Php 600.00 for four hours (maximum of 5 passengers each tricycle). They will bring you to the Crocodile Farm, Mitra's Ranch, Baker's Hill, Butterfly Garden, Tribal Village, Cathedral, Plaza Cuartel and Baywalk. Have them take you to Cora's Souvenir Shop at the LRC Center for the cheapest souvenirs. :)

For dinner, be sure to reserve a table at Ka Lui for the freshest seafood dishes and go next to Kinabuch for the Tamilok Tempura (if you do not want to eat it raw) and Crocodile Sisig. :)

Here's the list of expenses for our trip:

**The package tour price is subject to the number of participants; above package price was for two guests.




♥dei♥

Restaurant Trip: Brasas ♥♥♥

I have always wanted to tour the Latin Americas and what better way to do this than having a gastronomic trip by way of the first of its kind restaurant in the Metro.

Brasas, meaning live coal, stayed true to their concept serving budget-friendly good grilled food.

I have been hearing good reviews about the food at Brasas and it was such a delight to find out that they were offering a deal at their branches in SM Aura and The Block SM North (less 50% off) thru Deal Grocer.

My sister offered to drive me up north and accompany me as I redeem my vouchers. Between the two of us, here are the food items we had for our late lunch.

ENSALADA DE LA CASA
Charcoal grilled meat (Pork) with Mixed Greens, Seasonal Veggies, Crunchy Tortilla Chips for an added texture tossed in Lime Cilantro dressing.

We liked how the crunch of the chips but found the dressing too "lime-y" for our taste. Next time we'll try the Orange Walnut dressing. :)

CARNE ASADA FRIES
Large-cut Fries topped with Special Chili, Monterey Jack cheese, Tomato Salsa  and Sour Cream.

The toppings were generous and even though the fries went soggy, it still tasted delicioso! ♥♥♥

AREPAS
Grilled Corn Cakes topped with Grilled Beef, Tomato, Sauteed Onions and their Chipotle Sauce.

I adored these sweet savory things. It was love at first bite! ♥♥♥
There were four cakes in their serving but I totally forgot to take a picture before gorging on the first cake. :D

CARNE ASADA
Charcoal Grilled Sirloin with South American Slaw, Petacones and Spanish Rice.

The beef was so juicy and tender. I would have loved this with the rice and beans; but nevertheless this dish was superbly done. ♥♥

PUERCO ASADO
Slow-roasted Pork Belly with Crunchy Skin, South American Slaw, Fried Plantains, Rice and Beans.

WINNER! The meat was melt in your mouth and the skin was super crunchy. The fried plantains were a hit with my sister, while I loved the rice and beans. ♥♥♥

The food and ambiance at Brasas gave me the Latin American vibe even for just a few hours. I will definitely come back here (with or without vouchers) and have another serving of their Puerco Asado. ♥♥♥

Brasas

5th Floor Podium, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City

Food Court, 4th Floor SM Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig

4th Floor The Block, SM North EDSA, Quezon City

♥dei♥

Kitchen Experiment: Creamy Tuna Pesto ♥♥♥

One thing my youngest sister, Dianne, and I loves doing together is experimenting in the kitchen. She would often rush home and let us try the dish they made at school (she's an HRM graduate) and we will try to replicate it at home.

Here is one of the dishes that we have grown to love as it is a breeze to make. I prepare this whenever we have unexpected visitors or if we just wanna have an easy pasta dish. This recipe has been shared with some of my friends and colleagues too.


CREAMY TUNA PESTO

Ingredients:

½ kilo spaghetti / macaroni twists

2 cans tuna flakes in oil

1 can mushroom (optional)

1 pack pesto (McCormick)

1 pouch (270 ml) evaporated milk

1 medium Onion

3 cloves Garlic

½ cup grated cheese

Salt

Pepper

Thyme (optional)

Procedure:

1. Boil noodles in water, oil, salt, pepper & thyme (optional) until cooked.

2. Sauté onion and garlic in oil, add tuna flakes (oil included) and mushrooms. Add ½ cup water, cheese and milk. Let it simmer.

3. Dissolve pesto in ¼ cup water and add in to mixture.

4. Add pasta and let it simmer until sauce thickens.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves 3-4

Cost: Php 100.00 to 150.00

*For a lighter version, you can disregard the addition of milk in the recipe.

The pesto in this dish is not the fresh one though as we find it too "leafy" for our taste. Enjoy!

A complete and hearty meal. ♥♥♥

♥dei♥

Restaurant Trip: Bag of Beans - Tagaytay City ♥♥♥

Last year, I had the chance to attend the church wedding of my friend Rutchelle held at the scenic and romantic Tagaytay Highlands.

The wedding was scheduled in the afternoon so our group decided to leave Manila early and  have brunch at the main of Bag of Beans branch.

The restaurant is located at the back of the bakery.

The rustic and natural design of this restaurant gives out a homey ambiance. Their menu speaks out homey as well; they have pasta, pies, all-day breakfast items and some items for the kids.

Here are the dishes we had for brunch that day:

Sausage and Eggs breakfast platter

Baked Lasagna

Fettuccine with mushrooms

Spaghetti

Grilled Pork Chops with Steamed Veggies and Rice

Grilled Tanigue with Steamed Veggies and Rice

Roast Beef with Mashed Potato and Steamed Veggies

We were a group of happy diners and it was obvious in our faces during the photo booth session at the wedding. :)

*This took place last April of 2012. (late post)

Bag of Beans

115 Aguinaldo Highway, Mendez Crossing West

Tagaytay City 4120
Tel No. (046) 413 4356

♥dei♥

Restaurant Trip: Sumosam ♥♥♥

I love Japanese food. My father, who once worked in Osaka, opened our taste buds in the Japanese way of eating. :D

When Sumosam Shangri-la opened to the public a few years ago, they offered a deal for anything in their menu at 50% off thru CashCashPinoy. Raring to taste what this restaurant has to offer, without much ado, I purchased some vouchers intending to use it with the family.

This was my first trip at Sumosam and it was a surprise to find such an extensive menu that choosing was an improbable task.

We decided to have the "Tournament", which is a meal good for 4 pax (currently priced at 1600+), so that we could have a taste of a handful of dishes. When we visited they have a promo of free drinks if you dine between 2pm to 6pm, which we happily availed. :)

The Tournament ♥♥♥
It was served on a large wooden tray and was appetizing (in real life!)
My bad for the bad quality picture taken by my phone.. :(

Bacon wrapped asparagus

Beef Teppan

Chicken Yakitori

House Salad
We did not enjoy it that much..too much dressing, I guess.

Japanese Fried Rice

Oyster Teppan

Ika Fry

For getting that much amount of food at half the price (with the use of vouchers), the meal was definitely sulit. :)

I will definitely come back for some sushi and the other good looking dishes in their menu.


Sumosam 
6/F Shangri-la Plaza Gourmet Walk, EDSAWack Wack, Mandaluyong(02) 637-5704

♥dei♥

Kitchen Experiment: The bread of salt ♥♥♥

A staple in a Filipino breakfast is our very own Pan de Sal.

You can buy this bread as early as 4:00 in the morning in your nearest bakery.

My grandparents used to own a bakery and we liked our Pan de sal either dipped in barako coffee or smothered with some butter on top.

Missing the aroma of freshly baked pan de sal, I searched for a recipe and tried it at home.

Pan de Sal recipe:

 Ingredients:
  1 cup of lukewarm water
  1 tsp of instant dry yeast
  1 tsp of salt
  1/4 cup of sugar
  1/4 cup of oil
  1-1/2 cup of all-purpose flour
  1-1/2 cup of bread flour
  extra flour for dusting
  extra oil for greasing the bowl
  1/4 cup of fine bread crumbs for coating

Procedure:
 1. Pour water into a large mixing bowl and sprinkle yeast over it. Leave for 10 minutes or until mixture is bubbly.
 2. Add the salt, sugar and oil to the yeast mixture and stir.
 3. Add 3/4 cups each of the all-purpose and bread flours. Mix well. The dough should be wet and sticky at this point.
 4. Add the remaining flour and mix well. The texture of the dough is uneven at this point but will start to come together.
 5. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until it becomes elastic.
 6. Put the dough in an oiled bowl, turning it around to coat entire surface with oil.
 7. Cover bowl and place in a dark place, away from direct light, to make it rise.
    Tip: 1-2 hours will have the dough doubled in size; but for softer bread, leave it for another 1-2 hours.

 8. Punch the dough and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Roll into log then cut into four equal pieces.

 9. take one portion and roll again into a log. Cut into six pieces. Do the same to the other three portions.

10. Roll each piece of the dough in bread crumbs. Arrange on a baking try at least an inch apart. Leave to rise for another 30 to 45 minutes.

11. About 10 minutes before the dough is done rising, preheat oven to 325F and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Preparation time seems forever but the final result was so soft and yum!

Soft pandesal

♥dei♥

A 60th birthday party ♥♥

Last July 27, my parents and I were invited to attend the 60th birthday celebration of my Ninong Fred in Parañaque.

Since the party was to start at exactly 5pm plus the fact that we were not familiar with the location, we decided to hit the road a little early.

We arrived 15 minutes before the party started so I was able to take pictures without too much crowd.

We were greeted by my Ninong's life size posters.

These life sized posters show his sporty lifestyle.

The tables were set up nicely.

We were led to our table which was located farthest from the stage BUT nearest the buffet tables.. ♥

My companions for the night, Dad and Mom.

The buffet table, which is very visible to where we sat. ♥

This is by far the most balanced part of the buffet..brownies (GOOD) and veggie sticks (BAD).. LOL

Sushi and Sashimi station

Super Garlic-ky Sotanghon ♥♥
I loved that this noodles were firm and tasted nice.

Roast Beef on top of Mashed Potatoes ♥
The beef were super tender however the mashed potato tasted dry and burnt already.

Chicken Balinese ♥♥
I liked the taste of it however the chicken were kinda dry.

Hawaiian Pork Roast ♥
Not a big fan of this, it was too sweet for my taste.

Garlic Prawns ♥
Not too garlic-ky and the prawns were slightly over-cooked.

Grilled Gindara with Mango Chutney ♥
It tasted weird.

Mango-Banana-Nutella crepe ♥♥
This saved my day. I had two of these; one as appetizer and the other for dessert. hehe

Thank you for the wonderful time Ninong and may you be blessed as another digit adds to your years.


♥dei♥