Ice Candy

honeymansi, watermelon lambanog cocktail, and mango lime 

This year, it seems Spring took a vacation somewhere cooler because Summer arrived directly from Winter. Our Yoshino cherries bloomed almost overnight and it's so warm that for the first time we had to turn on our AC in the middle of March. It's perfect timing that our KCC hosts, Arnold and Jun, chose ice candy for this month's theme to cool us off. Thank you guys.

Read more »

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I don't bake cookies as often anymore but once in a while a recipe gets my full attention. I read at Serious Eats a review of Pierre Herme Pastries cookbook and it is not too favorable. According to the reviewer, the instructions are not very clear probably due to poor translations or the recipes just don't work as they should. Then I saw a recipe from the same book, of good old Chocolate Chip Cookies using 70% cacao dark chocolate and either pecan or macadamia nuts. The recipe and the link to the web site is at the bottom of the post.

Read more »

Mango, Cherry, and Orange Salad with Mint and Moscato

There're lots and lots of mangoes already at the Asian markets and Costco. I cubed a few pieces and made a very yummy fruit salad with pitted [frozen] sweet cherries and fresh oranges. The salad doesn't have added sugar; the fruits are mixed with cheap sweet wine and chopped mint. Very refreshing and bright, just like Spring.

Read more »

The Daring Cooks: Brave the Braise

Pin It

braised fennel bulbs, baby carrots, and onions

The March, 2012 Daring Cooks’ Challenge was hosted by Carol, a/k/a Poisonive – and she challenged us all to learn the art of Braising!  Carol focused on Michael Ruhlman’s technique and shared with us some of his expertise from his book “Ruhlman’s Twenty”.

Read more »