Year: 2011

Daring Bakers Challenge: Croissants and Papa’s Promise

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Paris was my childhood dream destination. Whenever someone talks about France I always have Papa’s picture with the Eiffel Tower on the background on my mind. Paris was my Papa’s last business trip before he left for heaven, and I held on to his promise that someday I would see the beautiful tower. I logged in to the Daring Kitchens forum to check what was the challenge and for this month’s challenge its describe as Fresh, Fluffy, French … this challenge had me at French! And I was right, we are making Croissants. Every time we buy a pack of chocolate croissants at C4 I always tell my bana C that I want to try and make one but of course you know me and my long list of must bake. That’s why I was very excited to start making them (I waited till deadline week!) but then reading the very looong procedure was a bit of a turn off. To my surprise making them was quite easy, only the waiting was painful as preparation took almost …

We survived 1st week of school

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A week has passed since V started kindergarten and we can conclude that he is enjoying his time. Few funny things happened though… Sunday (1st day of swimming lessons):    He went home with an extra swimming trunks and when I asked him about it, he insisted that his friend gave it to him. As I was stripping him off his school uniform to my surprise “Where’s your brief, love?” he replied with a smile “I gave it to my friend.”  When C arrive home from work he proudly showed his dad the extra trunks “I have a surprise for you Daddy! Taaannaaan…See new underpants!” Monday:     “Ma, Teacher got upset with V because I don’t know how to listen” This was the only day that he didn’t come home with a star on his hand (or face) Tuesday (P.E. Class):     Came home wearing a different pair of shoes. Wednesday:     He would always greet me with a big smile as the school bus door opens but today was different he look …

a happy basketball day to my bana – C

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C turned 33 last September 8 and we didn’t get to celebrate 😦 but I made him a basketball themed cupcake and cake that we shared among friends. His office big boss was in Dubai on his birthday week, he went home late to attend meetings and entertain guests who flew from Thailand and London. He instead had birthday dinner with them, to which V complained “Why no daddy? It’s night time and happy birthday today.” He’s not into big celebration for his birthday, and was even not too keen to bring the basketball themed cupcakes (above) in the office. “Ma why did you have to make yourself too busy forming fondant (he hates fondant) when all I wanted was plain chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing.” When he saw my sad face, “Love, I just don’t want you to get tired. Thank you for the cupcakes.” Yes, he’s appreciative and sweet that way.  I also want to make the cupcakes pretty! Would it not be more odd if I designed a 33 y.o grown man’s …

Little Man went to school

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We have been preparing V for months, talking about playing with friends in school and him riding a school bus with no Mommy. Day before kindergarten start we had this conversation… M: You will go to school tomorrow na. V: Don’t be sad Mama. You’re a big girl, just cook adobo and wait for Vierte. And he gave me a big hug and a yummy wet kiss. Writing this now just makes me cry, wasn’t it not just yesterday that I gave birth to a bouncy baby boy. Books covered and labeled. Uniform washed and ironed. Shoes brushed and socks ready. V all set for school. I was up at 3:30am definitely excited for V’s school day and by 6am breakfast was ready. Daddy C slowly whispered to him “it’s time to wake up little boy.”  We had a bit of a struggle that morning V crying that he wants Mommy to go to school with him. “I don’t have a mommy to embrace me there” After bath time he was his cheerful self again …

School Bag Tag

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The day we got back from our vacation we claimed V’s school books and uniform, yes we are excited. V has a total of 10 books which I have yet to label and cover. Book cover used here is very different from the book cover we use back home. A mom friend advised me to cover a dummy book on my first try and do it slowly. I’m looking for ways to personalize book labels and bag tags, doing crafts is just not my thing, I can only do one if there’s an instruction (with illustrations please) right in front of me. That’s why I’m happy that I came across Jill’s blog – Controlling my Chaos, she’s a teacher with two lovely daughter, I absolutely love how she organize things and how she makes things pretty. Anyway, I got this  bag tag idea from Jill I don’t have any digital scrapbook software instead I used MS powerpoint, I have yet to find a wood and a Mod Podged mentioned on the post. Any tips you’d like to …

Vacation mode

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1 more sleep and we’re on vacation! I’ve been busy making list of things we need to bring: travel documents, hotel reservations, medical papers, government records, and emergency numbers.  Clothes – done. Now what else? Stay safe everyone!

Fresh Fraiser Cake

Fresh Fraisiers for July Daring Bakers

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20 something Jana of Cherry Tea Cakes was our July Daring Bakers’ host and she challenges us to make Fresh Frasiers inspired by recipes written by Elisabeth M. Prueitt and Chad Robertson in the beautiful cookbook Tartine. The day the challenge was revealed I was both scared, excited and full of questions – what if I don’t find the ingredients, what if I won’t be able to complete or if I totally fail? I stumbled upon Daring Bakers way back 2006 I applied, got accepted then I backed out and didn’t once again got the nerve to join the group, guess life back then was well kinda complicated. Here I am 5 years after my first attempt to be a Daring Baker actually completing a challenge but waited the last minute. Yes, I was studying the recipe for weeks and only managed to work on the challenge yesterday because my phone reminded me of the deadline. Lazy lazy me. This is my first time to incorporate fresh fruits on a cake, reading how to make Fresh Fraisier made me …