Midlife Crisis? :)

I guess you can say that you're having a midlife crisis when you Google something like: "What will I do with my life?"...which is exactly what I did...in a moment of desperation to seek answers. I got into a website/blog that suggested writing 100 things you want to do in a span on 20 minutes. It could be a career you want to have, or people you'd like to meet. It could be realistic; it could be grandiose; or it could be downright impossible! It could be just about anything under the sun you want out of life. And so in a desperate way of finding comfort in knowing that there may be answers out there, I did make a list. I only got to 60, which took me longer than 20 minutes, by the way. And so here it goes: (try not to laugh!) =)

1. Get married in a church.

2. Have kids.

3. Learn how to decorate a cake.

4. Enroll in cake decorating classes.

5. Have a baking/cake business and be my own boss.

6. Live abroad.

7. Study abroad.

8. Buy a beautiful house with a nice kitchen.

9. Plant my own garden.

10. Bake birthday cakes for each of my family, every single year.

11. Make grand wedding cakes.

12. Travel around the Philippines.

13. Travel around Asia.

14. Travel across Europe.

15. Have a grand vacation with my ENTIRE family.

16. Get married by the beach! (On second thought) =)

17. Learn how to swim.

18. Learn how to surf.

19. Have my own baking supply store.

20. Take up my Master's Degree.

21. Teach in a school.

22. Be a blessing.

23. Love deeply, like there's no tomorrow.

24. Forgive often (and easily).

25. Ask forgiveness...often (no matter how hard).

26. Pray every day, even if I don't feel like it.

27. Be grateful, even under difficult circumstances.

28. Clean my room regularly. :p

29. Do my laundry more often. :D

30. Cook for my (future) husband every day.

31. Bake for my (future) kids almost every day.

32. Laugh more often.

33. Live without regrets (from now on) ;)

34. Make better decisions.

35. Save up for the rainy days.

36. Pay off all my (credit card) debts.

37. Love what I do.

38. Do what I love.

39. Eat healthy.

40. Spend wisely.

41. Exercise!

42. Lose "unnecessary" weight.

43. Stay in touch with old friends.

44. Stay in love!

45. Be a better daughter.

46. Be a better sister.

47. Eat out with my family more often.

48. Spend "quality time" with my family more often.

49. Relinquish my pride.

50. REALLY learn from my mistakes.

51. Read more novels.

52. Write more thoughts.

53. Be inspired.

54. Live out my passions.

55. Learn how to paint.

56. Be creative.

57. Learn how to ice skate.

58. Go on sky diving (at least once!) =)

59. Pamper myself more often.

60. Enjoy life! (...because I'm almost halfway there!)

=)

Where Have All Blog Posts Gone?

Has it been three months?!

I've been so busy lately I haven't visited my own blog for almost three months now...much less the other blogs I follow. If I hadn't seen my friend create his own blog, I never would've remembered I had one! (Yep, I was that busy!)

So whatever happened to the baby cookies I planned to bake and decorate? Or the Easter and summer cookies I've been excited about? Or the blueberry bagels I found at a weekend flea market? Or all the possibilities of baking with boxes of fresh ripe strawberries I bought from Baguio City?

Surely, they could've been blog posts...

But I decided to "live" and not just write. So they went by un-posted. Un-posted but definitely devoured...with my insatiable appetite for more sweetness...and more life.

Happy Thursday! And happy baking!

♥♥♥

Happy Heart's Day!

I meant to bake something today (or yesterday... or any other day of this past week). I've been excited about baking for V-day since the 1st of the month! I have sketched my cookie design ideas and bought a new tin heart cookie cutter. I even had an impulsive buy at the craft store when I saw this red wooden rose, and imagined it would be a great stencil for powdered sugar on top of a chocolate cupcake or brownie. I was psyched, alright.

But... I've been sidetracked by more important issues in my life. Surely, what could be more important than baking something sweet for the Valentine weekend?

Well, I'm getting married! My fiancé and I have been unofficially talking about it for a few months now, but this time, we finally caved in. So it has been a hectic couple of days for me, scouring the internet for ideas on thousand different topics, like venues, dresses, cakes, caterers, color motif, wedding song, you name it! And then calling and emailing potential suppliers for rates and availability...not to mention going to the church and the city office to get a head start on the legal requirements. It was a busy week, indeed! I'm pretty sure I'm off to a good start though, considering that the wedding date we're targeting is still in September. :) (Yeah, I am that excited!)

So for now, baking for V-day would have to be postponed till next year. :) But still, I'm wishing everyone had a Happy Heart's Day! And I sure hope your hearts are all as happy as mine. ♥

They Have Arrived

I had a big grin this morning. My much awaited package from Karen's Cookies has arrived. True to their word, my order was shipped the next day I placed it online. It arrived at my local post office approximately two weeks after (just as it was stated on Karen's website for international shipping). And my "ever-reliable" local post office just sent it to me today (one week after the package arrived to them!). But all is well that ends well. Now all my apprehension has disappeared! :)

I may need to explain my "little apprehension"...

I used to work for the fraud department of a credit card company. We receive calls from people who either lost their credit cards, had it stolen, or were victims of counterfeit cards, online hackers, and the like. And believe me, criminals really have ways. So I was a little apprehensive placing online orders using credit cards. In fact, I NEVER do. At least until I saw Karen's website. I've been reading good words about her store from the blogs I love to read like Sweet Sugarbelle and Cookie Crazie, and I was compelled to check it. The first time I saw it, I felt like a kid in a candy store! I just have to have everything she sells! :) I think I browsed for hours! But with a little bit of self control and a handy dandy calculator in front of me (to check dollar conversion rates), I finally settled for this purchase. I couldn't be happier with it. I especially like the handwritten "thank you" note from Mike on the order slip, and the complimentary "extra". They really have good customer service, and I highly recommend them. I will definitely make another purchase soon, I've got a long list to go!


♥♥♥

Thanks Bridget!

One of my cookie idols, Bridget of Bake at 350, featured my Christmas cookies on her Smart Cookies page for January. I can't describe how ecstatic I was when I saw her email! The first decorated cookies I made were only made possible because of cookiers like her who are generous enough to share their knowledge, tips and tutorials to aspiring and clueless cookie-decorator-wannabes like me. =)  Bridget, and my other cookie idols, Marian, Callye and Glory inspires me to no end. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank you Bridget, for such as sweet gesture!

Lots of hugs! ♥




Photo Note:
Smart Cookies Logo is property of Bake at 350 website. =)

Another Good Find!

I think it's true what they say, you never really know what you're looking for until you find it. And sometimes, you find it in the most unexpected places.

On my way home this evening, I decided to browse some magazines at Book Sale. I think I've professed countless times how much I love that store for its bargain books and magazines. And just when you think you've seen all they have to offer, they surprise you with something totally unexpected.

I noticed this little box because of the familiarity of the title. And I say "little" because as seen on the photo above, it's really very tiny! I got curious how a a large volume of Joy of Cooking could fit in such a tiny box. Only when I got closer did I realize that it was cookie kit. The label at the back indicated that it contains recipes and four miniature cookie cutters. And the best part about it is the price (of course!) -- only Php35 (approximately less than US$1). It couldn't get any cheaper than that! (Have I already mentioned I love bargains?)

Since I've started taking interest in cookie decorating, I've made it my goal to collect as much cookie cutters as I could find (well, most likely, as much cookie cutters as I could afford). I realized that good quality cookie cutters are not as prevalent here than it probably is overseas. You have to look for it in specialty shops because the ones sold inside groceries and supermarkets are usually the plastic ones that look more like toys. And by specialty shops, I mean the high-end stores in the big city, two hours away from where I live. So you could probably imagine my joy when I saw this kit and realized I'll get four cute cookie cutters for such a small price. (Yeah... I'm really easy to please just like that.)

I was so happy, I didn't care if the booklet that came with it was so tiny, I could barely read the recipes. =) Truly, it's another good find!

♥♥♥

Container Fever

I thought I was all set with my cookie decorating preparation. I've been very diligent in reading my favorite cookie-decorating blogs, like Sweetopia and Bake at 350, just to make sure I didn't miss anything for my first cookie-decorating project. But then when I went to my local grocery store this afternoon to buy some staples like flour, sugar and butter, I remember I needed some containers for my icing.

First, I needed some container bowls where I can mix and separate my colored icing. I opted for the plastic ones with lids, following Bridget's advice..and because it's generally less expensive and more practical.

Then I remember I also needed some squeeze-bottle containers for the runny flood icing.

And while browsing the grocery aisles, I saw more containers and I remember I also needed the large air-tight ones where I can store the baked cookies in.

I tried to remember Marian's advice to use a separate spatula for royal icing, so I grabbed one on my way to the cashier, along with tons of powdered sugar (just in case one pound is not enough!). =)

My shopping basket is already overflowing at this point, but I needed to make another trip to the baking aisle to get some cocoa powder (which has nothing to do with my cookie decorating project, by the way...or with containers for that matter). I couldn't find my favorite brand of cocoa powder (and that's Hershey's, in case you're wondering) but saw this Van Houten version instead. I guess with Christmas fast approaching, the supermarket stocks are gradually vanishing! I haven't tried baking with Van Houten cocoa powder before but I'm looking forward to bake with it and see if it's any good.

Ok, back to containers.

After all these shopping, I'm hoping I won't need to visit that plastic-filled aisle for a very long time! =) Now it's time for the fun part -- baking and decorating. Yay!

♥♥♥

All Set For Cookies

I went to my former company today to take care of some more docs and to get my final pay. After en-cashing my check, I went straight to the mall. (Of course!) The holiday madness at malls this year was a little too scary for me! Probably because I haven't been out of the house as much as I should, that the sight of so many people walking about in one confined building made my imagination run wild. Earthquake, bombing, stampede (and all other worst case scenarios) bombarded my thoughts for a split second there... It may sound severe but not at all impossible in this tropical country with political unrest. And the line of vehicles in slow moving traffic constantly reminded me of the road accident down South involving seventeen vehicles earlier this week. But enough of the grim stuff! Back to the mall. =)

I was still debating in my mind whether to do the decorated sugar cookies this year or to stick to the usual drop cookies I bake for Christmas day. Then I went to Cooks Exchange in Glorietta, one of my favorite baking supply store. My only goal there was to buy some disposable piping bags to stock up on (as a "just-in-case" extra supply). Then I saw piping tips... and I couldn't help myself, I just had to ask the store personnel if there was a #1, 2 & 3...just as Bridget recommended (I've been religiously reading her blog and all her cookie decorating tips, and even printed out her hand-outs). And then while browsing, I also saw Americolor Soft Gel Paste (another one of Bridget's recommendation!) So you see, I only had to ask if there's meringue powder available, and I'd be all set for a cookie decorating project! (Well, I still need some powdered sugar but that's already available in my local grocery store.) As you've already guessed, I've bought more stuff than what I had intended (it usually happens to me!).


It's a good thing I can still practice self control in times of panic buying, or I probably would've spent half of my final pay buying everything I see! It's addictive like that at Cooks Exchange...you just want to buy everything you see...it's like a baker's playground..my idea of heaven, really. =) And no, this is not paid advertising..I just really love that store! So then I went home, toting my plastic bag of goodies... with a satisfied smile on my face and a renewed excitement for my holiday baking. 


♥♥♥

I Missed This View

This is what I usually see when I open my eyes first thing in the morning. The treetops and the clear blue skies from outside my window, the music of the birds' chirping, the cool early morning breeze... they all make my mornings brighter and better. Sometimes, if I wake up really early, I could even see this:

Or this:

The colors of the morning sky are so spectacular! It makes me grateful to be alive just looking at them! Sometimes, it even makes me feel closer to God. Who wouldn't want to wake up to mornings like this? 

A couple of months ago though,  I had to re-arrange my bedroom furniture to make room for a new desktop computer, and with my bed no longer adjacent to the window, this "view" was no more. Or at least it wasn't the same anymore. Maybe I'm really just obsessive-compulsive, but life hasn't been the same ever since. I sort of felt restless...like something was not right. I just couldn't function the way I used to! Don't get me wrong, I don't believe in feng shui or any of that superstitious stuff (I'm really just O.C.) =) I guess I'm kinda used to the old comfort of my "old" bedroom...and I missed that...and I want it back, including the view from my window. So with brainstorming, pencil sketches, and some more furniture re-arranging, I figured out a way to bring back my "morning view" to where it used to be. I had to compromise on some window space to make room for my book shelf (as you can see on the first photo), but that's okay..better than nothing at all! =)

It feels great...like I'm back to my old self! Now I can function properly again. =)

(In case you're wondering, this blog has not been renamed "Confessions of an Obsessive-Compulsive Girl".... it's just one of those days.) =)

♥♥♥

Cuddly Guardians

I was rearranging my bedroom furniture the other day to make room for the new desktop we bought. Not knowing where to put these cuddly dolls (some of which I've had since grade school, and was preciously salvaged from the Milenyo flood, that I still keep for sentimental purposes only, and no, I'm not being trying to be defensive.. ;D hahaha), I decided to plop them over my cooking/baking magazine collection. They looked so perfectly perched on top, that I can't help but share them here. ;o)

♥♥♥

What's in the Name?

Sugarized (adj) - derivative of "sugared"; meaning coated with sugar, or to add sugar to something.

The first time I discovered that I have a sweet tooth was when I was in grade school. My aunt brought home imported Japanese cookies given to her by a friend, and as soon as I sank my teeth on its chewy exterior, and diverse flavors stared playing on my mouth, I knew I was hooked. I could not stop munching. And I had not stopped since.

Little did I know that my penchant for pastries would eventually progress into my passion for baking. I realized that it's not so much as eating sweets that captivated me when I bake (although I would love to eat everything I bake!), but the transition of the flour, sugar and eggs into the finished pastry. Baking is, indeed, an exact science, but for me, it's more of a work of art. Countless times, I keep peeking in my oven to watch my batter rise and transform into something sweet and scrumptious. And usually while browsing, I can't stop ogling at the photos on my recipe books and magazines. I would love to learn more and explore other avenues, like cake decorating, if time, money and opportunity would allow me.

So what's in the name? Just like a plain sugarized doughnut or sugar cookie, "sugarized" is basically how I see my life right now: plain and ordinary, but when coated with sugar (family, friends, and love), it becomes special, and sweet, and definitely worth devouring every minute!

♥♥♥

About a week ago, I decided to dust off my pans once and for all and bake something for my office friends. I was originally planning for cupcakes, but I realized that the frosting may be too tedious for the limited time I had. So I browsed on my ever-reliable recipe books, and I found a simple recipe that I've been wanting to make: banana bars.

It was a little less sweeter than I had wanted, but my friends seemed to like them, so I guess it was okay. I opted to add walnuts even if the recipe doesn't call for them. I just thought walnuts would be a good addition to the bananas and chocolate chips in there. By the way, the recipe was from The Nestle Toll House Best-Loved Cookie book, which I had scouted at Booksale two years ago for only P90!!! Good find!

♥♥♥

It's Been a Year!

After a year of hiatus, I decided to come back! Armed with a new look, a new name and a new perspective (just my blog, not me personally), I decided I need to rekindle my passion for baking, which I had temporarily & unintentionally forgotten.

Has it really been a year?!

What kept me busy this past year is mostly work. Aside from the expected holiday baking, I can't really remember the last time I took out my baking sheet and wire whisk to whip up something from the kitchen. Laziness probably played a part, or maybe just a sudden lost of interest. Hopefully, this will be the start of a new era for me and my baking. Sometimes, as they say, one just needs to go back to his first love.

The Occasional Baker

I would like to think I'm a passionate baker. But in reality, I'm just an occasional baker. Unlike when I first started, baking is now just a hobby that I do when I can find the time and the need to do so. I can still think of the many recipes I've been planning to make but still haven't; the baking books I've been planning to buy and still haven't; and the numerous baking tools and equipment I've been planning to have but still haven't found the necessity to own. Sometimes, the mere thoughts of all these keeps me awake at night (or in my case, during the day). The compilation of those unmade recipes, unread books, and unused pans are now eating up space in my shelf and bedroom floor; not to mention taking a toll on my wallet. This self-diagnosed disease of "acquiring everything about baking" is getting expensive by the day. But knowing myself well, I know there would be more to come... more stuff to buy and keep and forget about, more recipes to collect, more to add on my "to-do-list", or more appropriately, on my "to-do-when-I-can-find-the-time-list".

Until then, I guess I'll just remain as the "occasional baker", who would be very lucky if she finds just a fraction of the time, to at least excel in her craft, and be reminded of what her true passion is, in this whirlwind of busy nothingness, called life. Ü

♥♥♥

Life and Baking

Wow! I can't believe it has been two months since I last updated my blog. Time goes by so fast! I've been busy with some stuff... (excuses!!!) ;o) My gosh, I miss blogging! But not as much as I miss baking! Within the last two months, I think I've only baked twice. Both were gifts to be given, done with time constraint, hence, I didn't have the luxury to take pictures and post it on my blog. (excuses again!) But honestly, I missed doing this. "THIS" pertaining to doing nothing but sit comfortably on a chair in front of a computer, read some baking & food blogs, write my own one, visit my favorite sites, discover new recipes, copy them on my little index cards, read some email, read some more blogs, salivate from the mouth-watering photos, bookmark recipes that I plan to make soon (and then forget about it!), and then call it a day when my back starts to ache after about five hours. ;o) Now this is life! (or at least, how I wish it would be on a daily basis) ;o) Time is so hard to find these days. I hate it when work gets in the way of what's really important to me. Don't get me wrong, my job is important to me, it's my source of income. But I really wish it's related to what my true passion is. I envy those people whose work doesn't feel like work because they're doing what they love every single day of their lives. How I wish I could have the same priviledge. Unfortunately for me, I can only squeeze in my baking during my free time, of which I don't get a lot these days. But I'm still hopeful. :) I know someday I'll get to the point where work wouldn't feel like work because I'll be doing what I love doing. I still consider myself lucky, because at least, I know what I want to do. I know a lot of people who still doesn't know what they wanna do with their lives, who still haven't discovered what their true passions are, who are still at the crossroads of their lives thinking about its purpose. I know mine, and if only for that, I am happy.

Mrs. Fields Cookie Book

I always feel nostalgic whenever I buy cookies from Mrs. Fields. The very first cookies I made came from her cookie book which, unfortunately, was destroyed by the flood of typhoon Milenyo. Despite my efforts to save the precious pages, it was totally unusable. I would've wanted to buy another copy but it was already out of print. That book was published eons ago. It actually belonged to my Mom which she borrowed from one of her previous office mates who had already migrated to another country. The reason why I loved the book so much (aside from the fact that I love cookies), is the variation of the recipes and the ease of the process. Mrs. Fields did make the book easy to follow, which was suitable for beginners. That's also where I found the ultimate chocolate chip cookies that I love to bake. She had a secret ingredient that adds a little something to an ordinary chocolate chip cookie recipe. And so whenever I buy her cookies (which aren't inexpensive), and have that same familiar taste in my mouth, I can't help but feel nostalgic (and stingy). Almost always, I say to myself: "I could've made this myself if I hadn't lost the freakin' book!"


Anyways, while I was reading one of the food blogs I adore, I chanced upon a website called OldCookbooks.com. They sell old, out of print cookbooks from all genre, cuisine and baking. Of course they're all second hand books but, according to them, still of good quality. I immediately searched for this book, and surprise of all surprises, I found it! The price was reasonable, $7.75 (roughly P400). But to ship it to the Philippines would cost three times the price of the book itself! I was debating whether to order it or not. As of now, I still haven't decided. Maybe it's time to graduate from easy cookies and learn a different recipe. Maybe it's time I upgrade my baking skills. But then again, who wants to make fancy cookies that'll take forever to make when you just want to satisfy your craving for the good ol' chocolate chip cookies you've always known to love?

The Secret to a Good Recipe?

ONLY THE BEST INGREDIENTS! My favorite brands are:




Hershey's for cocoa, which I like using for brownies, cookies & cakes. Karo for light corn syryp, used in sugar cookie frosting; {I also have a recipe for fondant which uses corn syrup, but I haven't tried it yet}. And my favorite honey: Suebee!


Pillsbury for all purpose flour and cornstarch; Calumet for baking powder.


I love Mccormick!!! I use it for vanilla and other extracts, food coloring for tinting cookies, cream of tartar, cinnamon, nutmeg and other spices.


Magnolia Gold Butter and Nestle Fresh Milk -- Simply the best!

Bits and Pieces

My recipe books and recipe collection... (so far :))

Nissin Wafers

My all-time favorite snack. ;o) Reminds me of my childhood...