Healthy Carrot Cake

     This carrot cake is for my friend Corrie's parents who had celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary yesterday. Wow! They have already come this far and wishing them to reach 50th. Then probably they might want me to make their golden anniversary cake hehehe.

     This cake is made from carrots with ground cinnamon, crushed pineapple and raisins. I used raw sugar (we called it here Mascubado) because of its not too sweet and the vitamins and minerals are still present on it.While it is in the oven, the whole house smells like a combination of everything... smells heavenly! It made my mouth watery and want to take a bite from it.  I guess the neighbors are drooling over the sweet scent on the air coming from the oven.  The icing was made from cream cheese, a little of butter, vanilla, lemon and some confectioners sugar so the taste isn't too sweet... just the right amount of sweetness.

     I delivered the cake personally to her parents. They already moved to Talisay City so I have no idea where to find them. Good thing I'm familiar with the subdivision and there were only few houses. The address says block 5 and I find myself asking for direction in block 18... Gosh! Thirteen blocks away. I laughed at myself thinking why I haven't asked someone in the guard house. Then I remember, there's no one in the guard house. I was texting Corrie who's in Aussie right now asking for directions. Luckily, someone pointed to me about a new house being constructed and when I got there I saw Corrie's father. Her mom let me in to their new house. A cute modern bungalow type house with wide space for gardening but the place isn't finish yet. Have a chat with her mom like 30 minutes or more before going home then call it a day. 

Happy Birthday to my Papu Soryme

Another year had been added to your life. Whether it  was good or not so good, I'm still thankful because I was part of that whole year that had passed. And now that we are undergoing some misunderstanding, I felt that you are drifting away from me or did you intentionally drift away from me? But i'm still hoping we can patch it up together before its too late. Still wishing you the best in life and hope all your heart's desire to come true.. Wherever you are... Take good care of yourself.. Still loving you so much.. Happy Happy birthday.

Meriah Hazel's Baptism Cake

     This simple cake made of orange chiffon frosted with boiled icing and decorated with sugar flowers is for my newest goddaughter Meriah Hazel. This isnt my first time to make boiled icing but all failed in the past. It always gave me headache wondering what went wrong. Makes me think that the problem must be with the ingredients, my sugar must not be ready yet, the procedure or is it because I'm only using an electric hand mixer.  My first try with boiled icing was a total failure. It icing became runny after I put colors on it, even if I'm using a gel color. And the colors sink to the bottom after a few minutes. Then the next one, I overcooked the sugar which makes the icing crunchy, with solid crystals on it.  My third try was kinda alright. It has the perfect firmness but after I put colors on it, it became a little bit soggy.  This is my fourth try, its not perfect because I was in a hurry and the sugar wasn't ready yet.  With more practice I think I'll be able to do it perfectly next time.

Easter Sunday Getaway to Mambukal Mountain Resort

     Last Easter Sunday my family decided to have our first family outing this summer in Mambukal Mountain Resort in Brgy. Minuyan, Murcia. After several days of fasting and observing the season of lent, Easter Sunday would be the perfect day for a celebration and family bonding. This isn't our first time to be here and as a matter of fact this place is very close to my heart.  This is where Ruel realized his true feelings for me.

     Mambukal Mountain Resort is 1,200 feet above sea level and serves an an entry or gateway to mountaineers who wants to climb Mount Kanlaon. From Bacolod City, it is 20 to 30 minutes drive by private car and 30 to 45 minutes by public utility vehicle.  There are plenty of PUV's plying the Bacolod-Mambucal route and their terminal is located on the south portion of the Libertad Public Market. Transportation fare is somewhat between Php 35-40.

Starry Starry Chocolatey Cake

     When it comes to cakes, we Filpinos just couldn't resist a calorific chocolate cake.  Ruel's second cousin will be celebrating his 21st birthday today and they requested if I can make them a simple chocolate birthday cake.
     I don't know why I'm so addicted to chocolates, chocolate candies and bars, chocolate drinks and lots and lots of cakes with chocolate as one of its ingredients.

    Instead of the usual two layers with filling in between, I made it three layers of super super rich in Swiss cocoa chocolate cake. The filling is a vanilla pudding made of egg yolks, milk, sugar, cornstarch, butter and vanilla.
     For the frosting, I used Bensdorp cocoa, condensed milk, evaporated milk and butter cooked for several hours in a double boiler until it thickens in spreading consistency.  This is a very tedious job and next time i'll try cooking it in a heavy saucepan to lessen the cooking time.
     And my chocolate icing needs more time cooking because after a few minutes of pouring it on the cake, the icing started dripping on the sides leaving the top portion with a very thin coat. Good thing I didn't pour everything on the cake so I return the icing on the stove.
      Not much on the presentation, just star shape candy sprinkles.  I just hope that they would like the taste.  This is my first non fondant birthday cake and I hope that I can also make a cake with boiled icing but I think I need to practice more on making boiled icing. More egg white and sugar to waste (sigh).

Ben 10 Fondant Cake for Michael

     Before the year 2010 ends I would like to share the second birthday cake that I created.  Last December 26, our baby brother Michael celebrated his 5th birthday. Every year we make sure that he will have a small birthday party at home for him and for his friends in the neighborhood. And every year, we always order a birthday cake but since his birthday falls on the last week of the year its always hard to find a bakeshop or cake house that still  accepts cake orders and not to mention the prices of the cakes are soaring up because of the holiday season.

My First Fondant Cake: Dora

     Hi guys I am back. I was busy preparing for the Christmas day last week and the preparation was dreadful.  Last December 23, Ruel asked me if I can make a cake for Karylle, his cute little cousin.  We planned to give her a cake for her birthday since October but it slipped off my mind because that topic was not brought up anymore.  And two days before her birthday he sent me a message asking if I can make a Dora cake for Karylle, I said yes.

Michael's First Trick or Treating

     Saint Paul Child Development Center, Michael's school, held their first Halloween party last October 27 in Mayfair Plaza. The students came dressed in their favorite fantasy or superhero costume.

    Michael wore a pirate costume that mom an I made from an old brown bathrobe, light yellow blouse and multicolored pants.  It took us  over a week to finish his costume. I got the design from one of the pirate pictures I saw on the internet. The costume turned out cute and our baby looked like an adorable little pirate.

     They play games like give-me-what-i-want, garter relay and number hunt. The clown showed some magic tricks that the kids enjoyed watching as well as the adults. Then the kids ate and shared the foods that they brought.

     After the exchanged of gifts, we all went home. All the kids went home with lots of treats they received from the party but Michael went home with an extra prize for winning forth place for the best in costume.