Mary Grace Chocolate Cake

I texted my husband the other day that I want him to surprise me so he better buy me a chocolate or a mocha cake. He texted back that sure he will buy me at _______ (insert name of the famous neighborhood bakery). I messaged back and said never mind. Nothing wrong with the bakeshop but I have something else on mind.

I was sweating it out at the gym with a thought in mind that I will have a tiny bite/slice of chocolate cake when I get home. I am pretty sure my husband will buy me either at Goldilocks or at Red Ribbon since these are the nearest where he was at the time.

I was eager with anticipation going home. I went straight to the ref to have a bite of my cake. Yes, that's how I crave for my cake. Haha. Imagine last year, I never had a taste of any cake as far as I can remember because I was on a diet for my weight loss management program. This is torture for a cake person like me. Now that I have reached my ideal weight, I can have my cake and eat it too...in moderation...and not weekly, once in a while. :)

Thanks husband for my Mary Grace chocolate cake. Next time, ask for a caramel drizzle, :)

KFC Delivery

My daughter has caught the Double Down fever. I have not tried this and I don't have any plans to try. It's just too much for me. I wonder how many calories this food has. I am giving in to my daughter's craving now because it's a novelty for her but it will soon wear off I know. In fact I guess it is starting to wear off after her fourth try. That should be enough.

I was not feeling all too well last night because of my cold. I had no energy to prepare any food. Since it was just me and my daughter at home during dinner last night, I decided for a delivery. More like my daughter decided for a KFC delivery.

I had one piece chicken, removed the skin and just ate the meat, did not touch the rice. You tell me, I might as well had opened a can of meat loaf to serve as my dinner and saved a hundred or so pesos. But delivery is at P200 minimum so I had to order for myself too. My daughter had her Double Down and fries.

One-piece Original Recipe Chicken, Double Down, Large Fries, P245 thereabouts

I wonder why there is no box for the Double Down when I ordered to-go from one of their branches. I asked the cashier where's the box. She said there is no box and that's how they really package DD - inside a wrapper, tucked in a plastic KFC bag. Cutting down paper cost? But it's better if it's in a box not just for delivery but also for to-go orders.


Double Down, P100
What I appreciate about KFC is their 30-minute assurance of food delivery. Unlike other delivery restaurants which give a range of 30-45 minutes, KFC is quite confident for the 30-minutes alloted delivery time. The other food chains have more network/branches compared to KFC but they cannot promise a faster delivery time.

I am just hoping the delivery persons of KFC are not racing against time with their motorcycle. That would be dangerous. Safety is still number one. But anyway, so far, KFC delivery have been on time and true to their 30-minute commitment. Clap, clap, clap.

Dinner After A Movie

It was Italianni's night after watching Gullivers Travels a few weeks back. The daughter and the husband are not fans of this particular restaurant but since we have not visited the restaurant for a few months already, they gave in to my request.


Fried Calamari, Piccolo - P295
For starters we had fried calamari. I actually don't eat this for no apparent reason. So it was husband who consumed a huge portion of this.


I actually forgot what this is. I guess it's Frutti di Mare based on Italianni's menu description I found online. Husband loves mussels such pasta with lots of it is always his first choice. If this is what I think it is, it's at P595 for a regular serving.


Parmesan Crusted Fish Fillet, Regular - P595
This is what I had. I have always loved fish topped with cheese, whatever kind of cheese.


Lasagna P325
The daughter ordered for lasagna. She loves this with lots of mozzarella cheese.

It has been a very busy February so far. We intend to have a long weekend off on the last week of February since the 25th is a holiday! :)

In the meantime, have a great week ahead!

***More food sharing at Picture Clusters and Food Trip Friday.

Jillie Bean's Deli

The past days had been really stressful plus the fact that I almost had flu. Let me take it easy tonight. One of my stress relievers at night is my virtual kitchen. I visit this three times a week, sometimes less if I am really tired to play Cafe World at night. I don't spend much time with it but I have to say this is the only game left in my FB.

Most people in my list keep on sending invitations for Cityville and keep on sending/asking gifts for FarmVille. A lot of them have outgrown Cafe World but not me. Haha. I love the different tasks I get to see when I log on. This game is pretty easy too. It's also not time consuming. The average time that I spend here is about 15 minutes and yet I can maintain a cute and neat kitchen. :)

I love the sound it makes when the chef is cooking. I love the food that were finished tonight. Look.....

There's red burrito, birthday cupcakes and waldorf salad. Inside the deep fryer by the way are fried onions.

I love the colors! If only it's this easy to cook in my real kitchen. I just pick a recipe, put them all together in one pot, leave them for a few hours or even a day, and they are all ready for consumption when I get back. Life would be easier then. :)

Don't We Just Love to Eat?

This Friday's theme for Mommy Moments is "New Family Photo". Here are our most recent pictures among the many pictures I've taken or asked to be taken. I love taking pictures of my family.

The first one was taken on Dec. 29 after church. We had our dinner at Luk Foo, a newly opened restaurant near our place. I was first introduced in this restaurant during a birthday of a mommy blogger buddy. She treated us at another branch of Luk Foo. I love their spare ribs and peking duck.

The second picture was taken at Italianni's. We had our dinner there after watching Gulliver's Travels. And the third picture was taken at Max's. I just came from an out-of-office meeting, called hubby if he can pick me up because it was pretty late and I was a bit tired to call a cab. We had late dinner before going home. Or more like they had, not me. :) I'm watching my diet.


The family that dines together, stays together.

***Read more sharing at Mommy Journey.

Sunday Bonding

The husband has work on Sundays so it's usually just me and my daughter who go out and bond. After church today we went to the mall for our lunch and did some groceries and a little shopping. I bought her a camera case and a tote bag which she will use on their class' field trip next week.

This is just so ordinary but I really look forward to weekends when we can just be with each other whether at home, the mall, a recreation park, hotel, movies, bookstore, tiangge, salon - wherever as long as we are happy with what we are doing together. I cherish times like these with my family. Simple events (or in this case, non-event) like these make it great to look back when all these are just memories.

This was how it was with my family then. It really makes me feel good looking back at my childhood - visiting my aunt's house and walking a kilometer or so to get a ride. There was not much public transport back then in Diliman, Quezon City. We also go to Luneta Park for some picnic. We go to C.O.D. in Cubao during the holidays to watch the show in front of the department store. Yes, that was how simple our life was. But it still makes me smile when I remember those times. Simple joys and yet they keep me happy until now.

Anyway, back to the present time.

Again, it was T.G.I.Friday's. I have mentioned countless times this is my daughter's favorite restaurant. She said she likes the ambiance. Ambiance, yes, from a twelve year old. When I was twelve I only know about SM Foodcourt and Jollibee. She said she likes the wall decorations with old mementos just like a museum.

I like their tacos in spinach and cheese dip. Yummy dip!

This is already good for two, about P245.

My daughter, as usual, had her chicken fingers with fries and honey mustard dressing.

Chicken Fingers, P295

And as usual too, I had my favorite from TGIF, cajun shrimp and chicken pasta. This is really good, must try!

In creamy spicy sauce, P335 for regular plate

And lookie here, part of our groceries include our healthy binge. I did not bother to include the rest outside the green basket. They are indulgences we should be doing without. Haha.

Since I had pasta for lunch, I made sure I will eat light for my next meals for the day. I thought of papaya and toasted wheat crackers.

Don't we all wish it's always a weekend? Or any day just spent with the family doing mundane things which make you simply happy.

The Tourist

Finally I have watched The Tourist. I have wanted to watch this movie from the first time I read about it because it stars Johnny Depp. Though I am not so fond of his long hair here and his beard, still, it's Johnny Depp. I watch him not only for his looks but for his talent. He is a great actor and an accidental movie star.

I like the opening scene - Angelina Jolie under surveillance from the police working for Scotland Yard. I like it when she went out of the building looking so poised and elegant. In fact I should say looking at how beautiful Jolie is made me continue watching the film and not choosing to snooze instead.

Sometimes the film borders on the ridiculous but I guess it was deliberately done, like a satire on gangster films. It was really funny how Depp and Jolie even danced in the middle of a very critical moment. It was also funny how the crowd in the party sort of parted in half to make way for Jolie's arrival. Well, she is stunning but it was too contrived. But as I've said methinks that was the point. Emphasize the obvious.

Yes, I find the film really slow. I kept on waiting when it's going to pick up, have some action and some witty dialogues. It's not until about 70% of the film has gone when I got really interested with what is going on. Who is Alexander Pearce.

I love Angelina's gait. I love her full lips and her make-up and how she moves her head. That's about it. Johnny Depp is as usual good. Though I love him when his character is more intense or over the top, I still find him credible as a timid, unsuspecting Math teacher here.

Paul Bettany is also good, I love his accent. I remember him as Silas from The Da Vinci Code. This guy should be given more breaks. Timothy Dalton is a lot better when he stopped playing James Bond.

This movie grew on me. I thought it will just be one of those movies I've watched because I love The Depp. Well, yes it is but the twist, which I quite suspected, leaves me snickering. Nice one. This will make you say I knew it all along and leaves you quite satisfied.