Baking Day

I may not be the best baker but I still managed to bake a few goodies today. I made Lance's favorite puto and brownies. I plan to start my Christmas baking next week, mostly Cat's tongue cookies and some homemade oreos. The bread pudding, cupcakes and more puto will have to wait a day before Christmas.

I didn't want to bake too early because the kids will just finish everything unless I make huge batches. I am itching to start but this coming week is going to be a busy one again. If only the kids' Christmas vacation was scheduled a week before Christmas and not two days before :D

Puto vs. Cheese Muffin: And the Winner is?

Cheese Muffins

Last week I made Lance's favorite puto and he's been snacking on that in school. According to him, his classmate called it a cheese muffin and from then on he'll refer to it as that. Puto is actually steamed rice muffin but I don't steam mine, I bake them. I use this recipe as my guide, believe me when I say it's the best puto recipe out there.

Puto as the winner!

Anyway, I made two dozens. Lance brought two per day and he would eat some after school. I decided to make him a real cheese muffin just in case he'll like it better than the puto. And his verdict? Still the puto or should I say, the cheese muffin formerly known as the puto :D

Easter 2011

We did it for the second time and could be the start of a family tradition, the kids went egg hunting once again. Last year, the Easter Bunny left a map but this year, he left some clues as to where he hid the eggs.

first clue directed them to the shovel where another clue was waiting

more eggs in their wagon

The kids had a blast, me too (love, love the chocolates)! Next year, we'll be more organized and we'll ask the Easter Bunny to hide more eggs.

found some eggs near the huge tree

and yes, more near the fence!

I wanted to prepare an Easter Feast at home but we opted for an Easter (potluck) Picnic at Henderson with our Lethbridge Family. The weather was nice and the food was a usual in abundance. Most importantly, the company and laughter made the afternoon all the more wonderful.

happy egg hunters

A Happy Easter indeed! I wonder what the elusive Easter bunny has in store for next year!

Rice muffins for the potluck

A Week's Kitchen Activities

The kids have been helping in the kitchen quite a lot these past few days and they wouldn't cook anything other than their favorite puto. They had fun making colorful ones, they love the mixing part and putting cheese. Lance can finish a dozen in one sitting while Lei can finish all the cheese :D

Aside from the puto, the kids also love making pizza. This time we didn't make the dough anymore. I used leftover bread which I usually save for making garlic bread. Lance brushed the pizza sauce while Lei was in charge of the toppings. Another fun activity and snack afterwards for my kids.

Since it was St. Patrick's Day last Wednesday, I asked the kids if they wanted to eat something green, only Lei grabbed the offer with too much excitement opting for green milk. Yesterday, she requested for purple milk and according to her it was delicious.

I now have cans and cans of coconut milk in my kitchen cupboards and as I was arranging them, I saw a bag of dried taro leaves which we purchased last month. I realized I haven't cooked them yet because I keep forgetting to buy shrimps but since I couldn't wait no more, I decided to cook Laing (Taro leaves with Coconut Milk) and just put pork instead. It was my first time to cook this dish and the recipes on the internet were quite confusing so I just threw all the ingredients in a pan (garlic, onion, ginger, pork, taro leaves, coconut milk and shrimp paste) cooked them in medium fire without stirring. Both my Mom and my mother in law can cook delicious Laing and mine was also good for a first timer. For me it was delicious and the most important thing was it wasn't itchy on the throat. We ate it for three days I think and it was still yummy. I can't wait to buy another bag of dried taro leaves. I'll remember to buy shrimps too, or crabs and lots and lots of chilies!!!

Pretty in Purple

While Lei was taking a nap, Lance and I spent some time together in the kitchen making his favorite puto. This time we added a few drops of blue and red food color resulting to purple puto. My puto monster is once again happy and full! Now he's requesting for blue and red ones. I said NO of course, we compromised and agreed on green. If Lei was awake, she would have wanted pink ones and I'm pretty sure she wouldn't take NO for an answer. My life is indeed a colorful one :D

Puto Pao

Puto + Pork Asado filling = Puto Pao

Our freezer is almost empty except for some pork fats so I decided to finally make Puto Pao and use the pork fats for the asado filling. I made it alright just that I didn't achieve the right amount of tenderness of the pork, so once again, I'd have to make some adjustments on the recipe but other than that it's still Puto Pao. Maybe next time I'll try my luck and make Siopao!

Yummier Puto

I just made puto from scratch and it's a success! It's more delicious compared to my previous putos. I can't wait for Lance to go home from school. From now on, no more puto mix, I'll just stock up on flour and eggs, the rest of the ingredients (butter, milk and sugar) we always have and maybe I now have a reason to buy a hand mixer.

The only difficult part was beating the egg whites until stiff, I only used a whisk and it took me awhile, not to mention my arm got sore but the end result, soft and fluffy puto, was worth getting sore. I don't mind going through all that again but since it's Christmas, maybe I could write to Santa and ask for a hand mixer. Promise Santa, there'll be puto and milk waiting for you!

Snackin' Pinoy Style

Finally made the puto and turon. Lance as usual feasted on the puto and before the day has ended, no trace of it was left. I made 18 pcs, 6 were minis and had bigger slices of cheese on top. I promised Lance I'll make colored ones the next time like the ones he used to eat in the Philippines. I could also try making puto pao, with asado pork inside and salted egg on top...yumyum!

Yesterday, I made turon for the first time and decided to bring some to Lance's school. I let the other parents and the teachers taste it and they all liked it. They said I could bring it on snack day because the kids might like it. They all said it's yummy and even asked for the recipe.

Hmmm, what should I bring next time?