My Supermarket Fix

I can't believe it's weekend again!  It seems like I just finished putting away the newly washed clothes and its laundry time again! (Weekends are our laundry time)

Besides doing laundry, one of the things we do (I love to do!) is going to the Supermarket, my happy place! 

When you are at the Supermarket, did you ever want to look at other people's carts? (Come on, just say it, haha!)  Well, I do!  Haha!  Not that I'm nosy, I'm just. . . curious!  I'm just curious what other people have in their list or what brand they prefer or if there are new stuff in the market I don't know about or that they might have tried something which is better than what we are using.

So if you are a curious person like me, I am sharing with you some of my favorite (tried and tested) supermarket finds these past few months:

I love to stock up on pasta sauces for those days when you don't know what to eat and you have to eat, haha!  I know that food made from scratch is better and healthier but let's face it, we can't do it ALL THE TIME.

For the pasta sauce, I always buy Bertolli's Alfredo Sauce because it is the best white sauce I've tried and the kids love it!  The kids love it so much that they don't like the tomato-based sauces anymore.  It's creamy and cheesy (it has Parmesan cheese).  It's a good basic pasta sauce which you work around to impress the family!  

Image from www.villabertolli.com

You can just heat the sauce but I take it up a notch and put some bacon love in it!  Toss some bacon in the pan and wait for the bacon to render its fat because that is what you're going to use when you saute your onion.  I also put some veggies in it.  

I think your picky eater will love it!  (Mine did)

I am a junkie. . .okay that didn't sound right, haha!  I mean I am a junkie. . . I love junk food!  I love Chips and dips!  My most favorite dip. . . Stonemill's Spinach and Artichoke Parmesan dip!

Image from www.shopwell.com

It is best when it is heated. . . warning: it can be addicting!  For those times when I'm lazy to prepare my lunch, I just grab a bag of chips and my favorite soda (must be ice cold!). . . and I'm a happy camper!

I tried using it as an omelette filling too and it was so good!  We had it for 2 days and had to stop because it's just bad, haha!  

(Now I feel like fixing myself an omelette, haha!)

I also like having some instant sauce mix in the pantry.  Lee Kum Kee is one brand that I like.  I've tried Lee Kum Kee's Chicken Wrap sauce (blogged about it here) and loved it!  So I thought of trying their Mongolian Beef which was good too!  

Another Lee Kum Kee product which I like is their Oyster sauce.  Oyster sauce is a staple in our pantry because it just adds or enhances the flavor of the food that you cook.  I love that Lee Kum Kee came out with a NO MSG and Gluten-free oyster sauce!  I just hope it's true, haha!

Since I have a sweet tooth (a really sweet one, hehe) and I love sweet endings, do you know what is the best (ever!!!) brownie in a box in my book?  It is still Ghirardelli's Triple Chocolate Brownie mix. I guarantee this!  

It's so moist and super chocolatey. . . and with choco chips!

The other day, Hubby and I feel like having a fancy dessert. . . at home!  So we just heated the brownie in the microwave for 20 seconds and put a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and tadahhh . . .

Brownie ala Mode!

Who says you can't have a fancy dessert at home?! 

It was definitely good. . .that I will bake another batch after I put up this post! haha!

Will be sharing more of my supermarket finds in the future.  As they say. . . Sharing is Caring! =)

Have a good weekend everyone!!!

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

I tried baking chocolate chip cookies once . . . and I failed!  They came out looking underbaked and got hard when they cooled down.  I don't know how we were able to finish that batch (or probably I threw them out?!  Haha!)  I know cookies are one of the easiest treats to bake but I was more successful with my muffins. . . . which were all that I baked since then, haha! 

I wanted to try baking cookies again but just like when your heart gets broken, you're scared of trying the second time because you're afraid that things won't work out (again).  But then a better person come along and gives you that happiness you've been looking for.  (Yes, I'm still talking about the cookies, haha!)

In this case, the better lover came from Sally's blog (www.sallysbakingaddiction.com).  Since I have tried a couple of Sally's recipes, I thought I should try her Chocolate Chip cookie recipe!  And just like finding the right person,  everything felt right! =)

Love is sweeter the second time around . . . 

M&Ms for the Princess and Dark Choco chunks for me!

I was so, so happy with the recipe!  The only thing I will change when I bake the next batch is to use Semi-Sweet Choco Chips (I used milk chocolate).  There was one tip I got from Sally, you get a better flavor for your cookie when you chill the dough longer.

Oh and the good thing about this recipe. . . you don't need a mixer!

If you want to try this recipe, I suggest you head over to Sally's page for the recipe because she has a detailed post about the recipe that is worth reading.

If you like a chewy chocolate chip cookie, this recipe is for you!

Happy Baking!!!

Love at first bite =)

DOUGH-NUT Throw!

We had some day (DAYS actually, haha!) old donuts sitting at the counter which were staring at me. They look lonely. . . dull and lifeless. . .

See what I mean? Haha!

We had some before and I made French Toast out of them.  I could have done the same thing for this batch but I think even a French Toast can't save them, haha!  They weren't hard as a rock (not yet. . . but just about to turn to, haha) but they have become dry.

So I googled for some recipes and found. . . DOUGHNUT BREAD PUDDING!!!! (Ting,ting,ting,ting!)

Why not right?!

I got the recipe from the All Recipes website.  

Here are the ingredients:

4 stale glazed donuts

1/2 cup raisins or other dried fruit

2 eggs (room temperature)

1 can of evaporated milk (12 oz)

2 tbsps of white sugar (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

1 teaspoon grated orange zest

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Notes: 

1. I didn't put any raisins in it because Hubby HATES them (while I love them!)

2. I didn't put white sugar because it might get too sweet because the donuts had glaze on them . . . but I was wrong, haha!  A couple of tablespoons won't hurt, heehee.  My solution?  Vanilla sauce!  Please see recipe below.

3. Didn't put almond extract and nutmeg because I didn't have any (but still, the pudding came out good, so if you don't have any, don't worry)

4. I used lemon juice instead of orange zest (if you don't have lemon or orange, you can use orange juice)

Btw, here is a useful link for different cooking/baking ingredient substitutions =)

5. I didn't do the water bath (pls. see #3 step in the baking directions).  I just placed my baking dish right in the oven. 

Baking Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).  Lightly grease a small baking dish.

2. Tear the donuts into bite-size pieces. Combine donut pieces and raisins in the prepared baking dish. In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to blend together the eggs, evaporated milk, sugar, vanilla extract and almond extract. Mix in the cinnamon and nutmeg. Pour the milk mixture over the donuts in the dish, and press down lightly to help absorption. Let stand for 15 minutes, or cover and refrigerate overnight.

3. Place the baking dish inside a larger baking dish, and fill the outer dish with enough water to go about halfway up the sides. A dishcloth may also be placed under the bread dish, to prevent drying.
Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

By the way, I always (always!) eat my bread pudding with vanilla sauce.  Since the recipe didn't come with one, I searched and found a good one in the same site.

Vanilla Sauce

Ingredients:
1/2 light brown sugar

1 pinch of ground cinnamon

1 egg

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 1/4 cups whole milk

1 pinch of salt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions:

For vanilla sauce, whisk 1/2 cup of light brown sugar, the flour, a pinch of cinnamon, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of melted butter, 1 1/4 cups of whole milk,and salt together in a heavy saucepan until smooth. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and the sauce coats the back of a spoon, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the vanilla extract. Pour sauce over warm bread pudding, or serve on the side in a bowl.

And here is your reward. . . . 

A warm bread pudding with a creamy and custard-like vanilla sauce!

So comforting. . . . =)

WIshing everyone a nice weekend ahead!

No to Food Waste! (Repurposing bread trimmings)

Growing up, one of the most valuable lessons my parents taught me was not to waste food.  Their most favorite line when we were seated at the dining table? "Finish your food".  They meant ALL of it, including each grain of rice.  Oh and it didn't stop there.  They end that statement with . . . "You are blessed because there are kids who don't have anything to eat".   I think this is why I didn't become a picky eater.  I wasn't picky AT ALL . . . that they had to control me, haha!

This morning, I didn't have the heart to throw the bread trimmings we got from the cookie cutter sandwiches I made for the Princess.

A sample of the bread trimmings (this one had Nutella in it so I ate it as it is)

I had some that didn't have any spread so I thought of turning them to croutons since we are having some Cream of Broccoli soup for lunch (NOT homemade, thank you Campbell's!).  I love putting croutons in creamy soups for that added crunch and texture.

So I made some using a non-stick pan and it is easy as 1-2-3.

1. Chop the bread into small pieces.

2. Coat your pan with butter and then put your bread cubes

3. Over medium heat, toss them frequently until they get toasted (the way you like them) and crunchy.  By the way, I seasoned them with a little bit of salt and garlic powder too for some flavor.

They are just what I need to make our bowl of soup, (though it was from a can) a little bit more special.  

Say NO to food waste!

Say Cheese! (A Pinoy Cheese Cupcake Recipe)

I am excited to share with you this new recipe which I tried yesterday!

I've been baking different cupcakes (banana, blueberry, carrot) but I haven't baked something which has that Filipino flavor.  So for a change, I thought of baking Filipino Cheese Cupcake!  I miss home and I have all the ingredients I need! Haha!  I have a big block (it's big that I still have some left after doing this recipe, haha) of cheddar cheese that was meant for the Mac and Cheese of the kids and a jar of condensed milk.  I think it's the condensed milk that makes this Cheese Cupcake truly Pinoy because we have a sweet tooth (not an expert answer, just an opinion haha!).  

Cheese and Condensed Milk?!  I am getting excited!  It's a good play of flavors right?

I got the recipe from Kawaling Pinoy (which has become one of my favorite sources for recipes). This cupcake recipe is easy to make and easy to follow that you can bake some for breakfast.  It has the right sweetness (for us) and a good balance of flavors from the cheese and condensed milk.  Definitely a keeper!  

Having one of this and coffee (or your favorite hot drink) . . . is pure joy. 

Hope you like it too =)

You get that golden brown crust on top

And a moist and fluffy cake inside with cheese bits!

This recipe is from Kawaling Pinoy.

Ingredients

• 1-3/4 cups flour, sifted
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup quick-melt cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt.
2. In a medium bowl, beat butter, sugar and eggs.
3. Beginning and ending with flour mixture, add flour mixture in thirds and 1/2 of sweetened condensed milk in between. Beat at low speed with every addition.
4. Add quick-melt cheese and stir to combine.
5. Using a scoop or spoon, fill paper-lined muffin cups to 3/4 full. Top with cheddar cheese and bake in a 350 F oven for about 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean and top is golden. Allow to cool.

Easy Dessert Recipe: No-bake Blueberry Cheesecake

Food cravings come and go but my craving for blueberry hasn't stopped! (Not pregnant!)

Last week, I thought of making a No-bake Blueberry Cheesecake.  Actually, I prefer the baked kind. However, the No-Bake one holds a special place in my heart. The first time I ever had one was in high school when D (a very dear friend) made one for our get-together.  It was love at first bite!   (Back then, the only dessert for me would be anything that has chocolate in it, haha!)  I think this was how my romance with blueberries started. =)

So I googled, saw a lot of recipes, compared and finally. . . picked Mom-Friday's take on this no-bake cheesecake recipe.  

What do I like about it?  I like that it was her Mom's recipe.  There's something special about recipes which you learn from your parents. . . . and she used cinnamon for the crust, haha!  I'm glad I did! We love it! The recipe had the taste I was looking for.  While making and eating this cheesecake, a wave of nostalgia swept over me.  It brought me back to high school and to my childhood friends, our Christmas get-togethers with endless stories and laughter.

It is amazing how food fills our appetite and our hearts at the same time. =)

For the complete recipe, please click on this link which will bring you to My Mom Friday's recipe.   She has a detailed instructions and pictures for the recipe.

Happy Weekend and Happy Baking . . . I mean, Happy No-Baking! =)

Spot On!

There is a saying which says "Patience is a virtue".  This was something which holds true to me. . . before the kids came, haha!

Parenthood is not a walk in the park.  I have to say that it brings out the best and the worst in me!  

There are days when I get heart melting moments.  Like when the other day, my Princess said:

"Mama look at the pink mirror (her toy), you're beautiful"  *Awwwww*

And then I imagine what my life will be without them!

And then there are days when I just want to scream and breakdown!  Sometimes I'm just too tired from doing household chores (and there are still so many things left to do) that I become impatient with the little ones.  And when this sets in, for sure, there is some yelling bound to happen (which breaks my heart).  Then, I feel I need a breather and I start to miss the life I had before I had them.

And then I imagine what my life will be without them!

But however hard it is, those precious moments are far greater than the ehrrrmm, let's just say, the "emotionally charged ones" haha!

And there is no imagining what my life will be without them because. . . I just can't. =)

To end this post, would just like to share with you an IG post shared by (working.mom.ksa) which is funny and true! =)

Spot on!  Haha!