Home Cooked

My family attended my aunt's 61st birthday celebration a few weeks ago. Everyone looks forward to events like this because we rarely see each other. I miss them and as expected, there were lots of updating from each other. I didn't notice the time. It was already 12 midnight when we left my aunt's house.

My aunt is a great cook and I think two of her children got her talent in the kitchen. I eagerly anticipate seeing my cousins and my niece and yes, the food that they will be serving. Nothing unusual or grand but they really cook well.

Three of my favorites from my aunt's menu are chicken cordon bleu, spaghetti with meatballs and biko!

I was so inspired by how my cousin prepared this that I tried doing this last weekend I think. She said she just followed what she saw in YouTube. That's the problem with me. I don't have the patience like that when it comes to cooking. Anyway, the appearance of what I did was nothing like this but taste is okay. I have to start somewhere, y'know.


Chicken cordon bleu
And I thought I have mastered spaghetti. Well, compared to this, a big NO. They only added Italian sauce and added meatballs with basil but I don't know why it tastes sooo good.


Spaghetti with Meatballs
Oh yes, my all time favorite dessert, biko! I love this!


Biko
I don't have their talent for cooking but I'm working on it. I have been working on it and will continue to work on it. I don't surrender easily. :)

*All pictures courtesy of my cousin posted in my aunt's Facebook.

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

WELCOME 2012! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I woke up early to prepare the food and other things we need to celebrate NEW YEAR'S EVE. The new year always, always excites me!

It will get so busy as the day progresses so let me just make a quick but sincere and really excited and happy greeting here in my blog. :)

Thank You, God, for all the blessings of 2011. Lessons learned, experiences gained, loved with all my heart, happiness earned. Life well lived. I am looking forward to another wonderful year. Thank You for providing me great family and friends I can count on.

Welcome 2012! Cheers! God, let the good times roll! Thank You! I'm looking forward to my breakthrough year this 2012! :)

I wish everyone a truly fulfilling and happy 2012! A peaceful and joyful year ahead of us. May all the desires of our hearts come true according to God's will.

God bless!

*Image from this website: Photoming.

My Favorite New Year's Eve Delights

I tried a different menu for the NY's Eve. Nothing really grand but I did away with        the usual food we prepare year in and year out. And the best part was just having enough serving. Yes, the food still lasted for three or four days but at least not a week like the past years. Haha.

Anyway, my top three favorites for the night were 1.) the chocolate cake from Mary Grace, 2.) Seafood Pasta, 3.) Shrimp and Ham Jambalaya.

I would have preferred the cake to have the caramel drizzle all over but the staff said we should have pre-ordered the cake with the drizzle. Now I know. My husband had to go back for the cake after an hour because they ran out of it and the delivery was scheduled at lunch time. Well, I can't allow not to have this cake for NY's Eve.


By the way, I'm the only cake lover in our house so we still have more than 1/4 of the cake. How do you measure that, more than 1/4 but less than 1/3.

Next was the jambalaya. I sourced the net for this. Yummy! We all love this. I love the smoked sausage and the shrimp which I added so generously. That's one thing we have in common with my family - shrimps. I was tempted to hide shelled shrimps underneath for my own consumption. Lol.


I saw the recipe for this seafood pasta from one of my networks over at Facebook. It was a link from Nestle actually. Squid rings, fish fillet, shrimp, shiitake mushroom, light cream, bacon bits. Instead of penne I used the wheat pasta which my mom sent me. I saved a few pesos and had a healthier serving. :)


Oh yes, I didn't bother to take off the plastic wraps before I took pictures. :D

New Year celebration is one my favorite times of the year. It's now back to the daily grind for me as well as the no-rice meal diet. Glad to note I did not gain much weight during the holidays...well, 2 lbs. And from 117 lbs, my target is to hit 112 lbs until the second week of February. May the force be with me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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