Cooking Up a Storm

You may have noticed that I've been really into cooking & baking lately. My constant visits to gorgeous food blogs on the net has awakened the long-dormant Martha Stewart/Ina Garten in me. And getting recipes and knowing that they look good & actually taste good makes it so much easier.

Just recently, I've edited my blog to include updates on some food blogs that I actually follow: smittenkitchen, pioneerwoman (I heart!), our very own pinoycook.net and simplyrecipes (have to add some more). Locally, I am inspired by blogs of scrappers (or relations) who also indulge in their culinary passion among them Tnapay, Sheryl Martinez (hubby's a fantastic chef/foodie), Lee Imao's food critique blog, among others.

And I got even more excited when I got this baby just this January 2009.

No, it's not a 5-digit Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer though it certainly looks like one. It's a Protech Meat Processor (well, don't ask me.....that's what it said on their mailer!) which I bought from Makro Cubao. The demo unit displayed right at the entrance immediately beckoned to me as I walked in to do my regular shopping.

"Buy me! Buy me! Haven't you been wanting to have me or something like me ever since?" "

"Bet you're expensive!"

"I'm only P3,999!"

I looked at the price and said to myself, "Hhmmmm.... P3,999 for a Kitchen Aid is not bad at all." (I didn't know yet what it actually was )

"Whoa!" That's when I did a double-take! How can a KA be so cheap!

Flashback: I HAVE been wishing to have one of these ever since. Years ago, I remember it selling for about P15k at Price Smart (now S&R). Well yes it was cheaper than the going price then at Rustan's but still much too steep for me. Besides, DH said that it was a refurbished unit, whatever that meant. Anyway, I still had my trusty hand mixer (but makes me pasmado after baking...lol!)

Mind you it wasn't an easy decision for me. What if it breaks down after a few days? What if it just looks like a KA but doesn't perform like one? Oh, but it's just too good a deal to let go so I interviewed the merchandiser and asked for a demo of a unit. He took out the bowl , the paddle, the dough hook, the wire whip... oh dear, they look exactly like a KA! A bonus is the meat grinder attachment with 2 blades. Am I dreaming?

Ok, after 10 minutes it was riding on my cart and I was walked around with a silly grin on my face as I hurried to finish my shopping.

So today I baked Crispy Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies by Smitten Kitchen and Ina Garten's Chocolate which I saw from Tnapay's blog.

The cookies turned out into giants because I was in hurry to put the dough on the pan. I used an ice cream scooper which makes it so much easier. Verdict: It is (!) crispy outside & chewy inside. Just make sure to add more chocolate chips if making giant ones. Definitely a keeper. Meanwhile, Ina Garten 's chocolate recipe is also a keeper. It's easy to follow and delicious. Just not so hot about the chocolate frosting. Maybe I'll use my old one.

Of course, DS was kind enough to "clean" the bowl & spatula for me.And for dinner, we had Pasta Puttanesca
and Chicken Pot Pie. Try this recipe I got from Smitten Kitchen! It is absolutely easy to make and really, really yummy!

I usually psych and prepare myself a few days before by looking for recipes and checking if I have the ingredients at hand. I just make one final trip to the grocery before the chosen cooking day. Hmmmm... I 'm really enjoying myself. And my family, too! Uh-oh, just a bit scared about the waist-line.

Oh well, I'm hanging up my apron for now . Now off to see what I can whip up next....

We Made These Today.....

For this brand new year, I told myself I'd spend more time in the kitchen. Aside from scrapbooking blogs, I also regularly visit food blogs and have been inspired by all the baking & cooking these talented people have been doing. I've actually been baking since I was a child. Learned mostly by reading recipe books and watching & helping my mom & aunt bake. There are a few tested recipes I've kept for years and going over them sure brought back good memories.

Today, I tried a peanut butter cookie recipe I found at smittenkitchen.com. We always have chocolate chip oatmeal cookies at home so I decided to try out this one. My youngest DS was my able assistant and made the whole process even more enjoyable. His job was to roll the cookies into small balls & put chocolate chips on top. And his reward for all the hard work? Of course, he got to lick the bowl and spatula!

The verdict? I found them quite delicious, DD & youngest DS gave the thumbs up & eldest DS found them just "ok" because he says he didn't like peanut butter in his cookies (lol)! Try it! Of course, I had to take pictures of these lovelies.