Muffins… a deadly sugar and butter combo disguised as an acceptable “breakfast” item. Whatever, we’re American, and — how does the phrase go? Everything in moderation, right? The high butter content and high sugar content mixed with real bananas make for a scrumptious marriage. Next time you want to present a special someone with baked…
Beefsteak is one of the first recipes I ever learned how to cook. In an effort to bring some life back into our kitchen after my mom passed away, I was determined to learn some of our household’s favorite Filipino dishes from “the experts” — my mom’s mom and mom’s aunt, of course. The summer…
A thank you note from my favorite elementary school teacher, Mrs. Czerniecki, after my first ever visit to Europe and Paris in 1999. I was in 4th grade. If any of you follow my 20-something blog, The Sum of 20-Something, you already know that the past month has been very hectic for me, as my…
Tinola is a traditional Filipino ginger-garlic based broth. It’s a true comfort food for Filipino households — our version of chicken noodle soup, I’d say. I recently picked up this simple but dynamic recipe for tinolang manok (chicken tinola) from food.com. (My adjustments marked with asterisks.) Ingredients: 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken thighs* salt and pepper,…
Just like in my post about Quaker Oats’ Oatmeal Raisin cookies, there are just some recipes that you can’t tamper with. For classic cookie recipes (and I mean, CLASSIC), Mrs. Fields is still undoubtedly my favorite. I don’t know exactly when my mom, I’m assuming, bought this baking book, but I’d say it’s been in our family…
Quaker Oats has the most perfect recipe for oatmeal raisin cookies. I used to make it regularly for parties, gifts, picnics, or just when my sweet tooth was craving it. The thing is, it requires two sticks of butter and a cup and a half of sugar. On newer packaging of Quaker Oats, they even…
Giniling, like many other Filipino dishes, is not the prettiest in presentation. If done correctly, however, it has the perfect salty and slightly sweet flavor. Giniling is one of the first dishes I ever learned how to cook. My kuya (eldest brother) learned the recipe from our mom, and he passed it down to…
When I told my tita (aunt) that my boyfriend and I were coming to visit her and her family at the their home in Amherst, Massachusetts, she hilariously asked, “You guys aren’t vegetarian, are you? 😦” I assured her we most definitely weren’t, and in case we decided to cook for their family, I asked her if…
When I was a kid, my mom used to buy me frozen, fryable chicken fingers from Costco. I remember them well. They were Tyson and came packaged in a pink bag. It was my after school snack before dinner was ready. She would also make some the night before a school day, cut them into…
Everyone has their own way of making a good grilled cheese, but I must admit, my boyfriend is a MASTER at grilled cheese. One of the best he’s ever made was his latest creation made entirely of Trader Joe (our hero)’s products: Stop by your local TJ’s to pick up the following ingredients to try…
Live life. Love others. 