Corona Virus - A Show Stopper

     For the first in many years, people all over the world are being slowed down.  Countries have started implementing lock down in all their affected cities, some even their whole country.  For the first time in many years, families are now beginning to get physically closer, and spending time at home.

     If there is one thing, this dreaded virus has positively done in the human kind, it is giving us time to reflect more and appreciate the things and the people around us.  Before Corona Virus, everybody was busy with so many things, forgetting to slow down and notice the wonderful creations of the One up there.

     Today, after 3 years, I found myself constructing this post.  The last one was in 2017.  I do not know why I have stopped blogging when writing used to be a passion.  Maybe, like everybody else, I was consumed with being busy.  This community lock down has re ignited in me the desire to start blogging again.  So many wonderful things have happened (numerous family travels) and I regret not having blogged those in ''Earth Angel''.  Surely, I can still blog about those, only maybe a little later.

     For now, the world is getting sick by the day.  So many people had been afflicted.  Some had already died.  Some getting better.  We may be from different races, creed, beliefs, and nation, but we are all humans.  Corona Virus is not just one country's war.  It is OUR war.  This is the time that we as humans unite and ensure our continued existence.

I am back! hopefully inspired to start posting the "going arounds" in my life...

It's been a long time....Happy New Year 2015

I know I know, it's been ages since I last made a post but one of my resolutions this year is to keep my blog current. So, keep visiting my site...

Happy New Year to you all, from my family with love...

Dinner Rolls and Liam Neeson's "Taken"

 

I found the best time to have a "me time" without the guilt...and that is when everybody is all tucked up in their beds.  Baking is becoming such a therapeutic activity lately, so I guess, many a goodies will come out from my oven,  for me to enjoy and hopefully for my love ones too. 

One Saturday night, I decided to try to bake Dinner Rolls.  I have been putting off the idea for quiet a while because the procedure would require for some waiting time before the actual baking happens.  It turned out, making this dinner rolls would make me enjoy my "me time" all the more.

Unlike baking a cake, baking breads, specifically dinner rolls would require that the dough be left for an hour or two before you can make it into bread rolls, and ready for the oven.  The window time allowed me to finally watch Taken via DVD that I have long purchased but could not find the time to watch.

Verdict?  I was taken by TAKEN..  Liam Neeson would now be on my list of favorite actors.  And the dinner rolls?  Perfect! - form and taste.

 dough formed into balls and lightly brushed with beaten eggs

Uncooked, those look more like siopao

nicely done

crusty on the outside, soft in the inside

Super yummy!

 

Salad ala Jen & "Basta Pasta"

Creamy salad (fresh romaine lettuce, crunchy lettuce, with lots of cheese, parmesan, olive oil, walnut and almond nuts, pineapple tidbits, dash of pepper, tbsp of mayo, dash of salt, twisted pasta & some secret spices)

                                                                        Up close

                  One afternoon, I decided to make use of Tostitos that was overstaying already in the ref

                            I am calling this Basta Pasta- or simply put- Pasta No name...hahahaha

                                        Basta Pasta must be so delicious! My food critic said so!


                                   

My Joy, My Business

                                                Isn't it great that I get to earn from a hobby?

                                           Sweet Juan- why not?, my son Juan is the sweetest!

                                                    Carrot Cake/loaf in Christmas box

 Sweets Treats

                                                   Sweets in Christmas Boxes                                                                                                                   

Cakes Story

First, there came the oven...originally, i first opted for a cheaper model but had to replace it with that beauty over there.  Since then, the baking never stops at home...well, I am exaggerating of course :-)

              With my able kitchen helper/chef boy and food critic, our creations are always gone in minutes

CARROT CUPCAKES

                                                     First attempt at making carrot cupcakes

                                                             Delicious carrot cupcakes!

 NUTELLA CUPCAKES

                                                 So filling, one cup will leave you full for hours

UBE CAKE ALA RED RIBBON

   I followed a seemingly delicious ube cake recipe that promises an "ube macapuno cake ala Red Ribbon".  

The result was a big disappointment.

The cake turned out to be more like a bread minus all the moisture and  creaminess...

So, I made another one, this time following a much simpler recipe

 

This time, the cake was fluffier, moistier, and definitely tastier.  Topped with creme cheese frosting and macapuno, the cake was gone in a day.

Creamy and super moist

Topped with macapuno, one slice is not enough...

CARROT CAKE

My carrot cupcakes are a success that I decided to make a cake out of the same recipe.  The cake was as expected, a success too

                                                  Carrot Cake with creme cheese frosting

                           Can't get enough of carrot cakes, this time topped with almonds and walnuts

 CHRISTMAS CAKE

 As if the teachers in Juan's class know that I am into baking, my son was tasked to bring cake to share at their Class Christmas Party.  I made a chocolate cake with magic frosting. tadah!- very Christmas-y huh?!

Chocolate cake with the magic frosting

The AFTER

 The BEFORE frosting stage

FIRST EVER FONDANT CAKE

And yes, i tested my little knowledge and no experience at baking fondant cake.  Our Andi had a pink and yellow themed cake when it should have been red and yellow when we celebrated his 2nd Birthday.

I realized, food coloring agents should be handled with care.  I carelessly just happened to mix red with yellow while kneading the fondant..Yah, hands should be totally free of any coloring before trying a new one.  The red mixed with yellow resulted to PINK color.  Not a very Boy-ish color! Indeed!

The saving grace was that the chocolate cake tasted so goood!

UBE CAKE TAKE 2

I baked another ube cake minus the food coloring last Christmas eve.  The taste was excellent plus the form was perfect.  But it would have been more attractive if the color was purple/violet.  Also, the magic frosting, I realized would be best used fresh.  The frosting was a "left over" thing. Ugh, ugly ugly...

Happy with the way it was formed and cooked, if only....

Frosting not doing justice to my perfectly formed Ube Cake