Cookie and Cake Gifts

Want some mouthwatering treats like those?

I do too! :D I have many times mentioned how baking for me is not as easy as one, two, three. For the past years I have always relied on ready made cake, cookie mixes that I'd particularly ask for a friend to buy for me.

Easy is the word to describe this baking process, especially if you opt for Davidscookies' mail order cookies of ready to bake doughs...of course, they also deliver freshly baked cookies, cakes and tarts. (Same day or 1-2 days delivery service.)

Take 2 sets of this wonderful looking tart sampler and you get shipping for free! Or order any among the fruit tarts with your favorite sweet berry, mango, apple and more. Sending them as a gift is also a wonderful idea, you save time and yet be able to give a perfect present.

Davidscookies also offers birthday cake delivery, sells gift baskets and cookie jars, most of all they have specially made cakes an brownies for those who are under a diet like me! Order one now or send me one! :D

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Food Friday - Salmonwrap

Sometime ago I posted about wraps around the world with one of my most favorites missing. Salmon wrap (of course, I'm the salmon freak!) is a mix of smoked salmon fillets, salad and dressing in a wrap especially made by Nordsee. I can't tell what its made of :D. When in a hurry and haven't yet eaten I grab this from the nearest Nordsee and proceed to my destination while taking bites in turns...this is very convenient and fulfilling too! Nordsee also sells tuna wraps but I am too loyal for salmon lol...

Happy Weekend!

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Gefüllte Rote Paprika

 

 

I was thrilled to see the orange paprika than the usual green in this tricolor vegetable pack. The kids prefer them raw but would pick them out when in a chopseuy dish and left uneaten.

So tonight I tried baking a paprika filled with sauteed ground beef combined with tomato, spices and mashed potatoes.

This is normally served with a sauce which I do not have a recipe of.  

 

 

 

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Lasang Pinoy Sundays - Wraps around the World

Though not all are to be seen here, I have compiled a few cuisines of anything wrapped.

Crepes, France; Palatschinken, Austria; Pfannkuchen, Germany

This treat has a different name depending on the region where it is eaten and on what is used as a filling. Above is Quark (curd cheese) wrapped in pancakes and served with vanilla sauce. Nutella-filled is also an all time kids' favorite! (But I just had to say I prefer our Pinas crepes...)

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Ground beef filled Canneloni, Italy

Technically, this dish is filled than wrapped. :D I cooked the canneloni tubes for four minutes on boiling water, they were not so easy to fill up as I have thought, some ripped a little in the process.

For the filling, use ground beef, garlic, onions combined with bechamel sauce, that of parmesan cheese, butter and milk (ricotta and spinach are a popular combination too). On baking dish, put some bechamel sauce and place the tubes, top again with sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake for 20 minutes at 190°C.

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Temaki or hand rolls, Japan -

One of the easiest way to serve sushi rice, take half of a nori mat, place a spoonful of sushi rice then top with your favorite fish or veggies. Roll the nori into a cone and eat immediately so the nori would stay crisp (it tends to absorb the moisture of rice).

I only had spam and surimi and fried bangus flakes, I like this with shrimps and avocado.

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Dürüm Kebap, Turkey; Gyros, Greece; Shawarma, Arab

A foodie friend of mine once talked about her fondness for Dürüm Kebaps, I do not share the same thought but I had one for today's theme.

Dürüm (wrapper used) is like wheatflour tortilla (used for burritos). Slices of meat that are cooked via a turning roast (döner) are placed with lettuce, tomato, onions and yogurt sauce that has garlic, pepper, dill and olive oil and called Tzatziki in Greece. Also Gyros are placed on a pita bread like the usual Döner kebap of Turkey.

Shawarma, if I remember, usually has garlic sauce on it. (Please correct me if I'm wrong).

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Tortillas etc, Mexico

Thin, unleavened, flat bread made from cornflour, best with lettuce, flavored ground beef, salsa and cheese. Fajitas, Taquitos, Gorditas, Chilaquiles, Enchilada, Quesadilla and Tacos are some of the dishes that uses tortilla cornflour.

Burritos, Chimichanga, and Pitas on the other hand uses wheatflour. Roti (India and neighbouring lands), Blintz (Russia and lands upnorth), Baleadas (Honduras) are other variety of thin breads based on wheatflour

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Chun juan, China; Runbing, Taiwan; Cha gio, Vietnam; Lumpia, Philippines
Simply---Spring Rolls

Though the name spring has nothing to do with the dish, this finger food is popular not only in Asia but around the world too. There are vegetable and meat, uncooked and deep fried varieties. Other versions in different asian regions as well as Europe are enjoyed.

My favorite would be lumpiang sariwa topped with the peanut sauce my mom makes perfectly.

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Lasang Pinoy Sundays is a weekly GALLERY of the FILIPINO TASTE focusing on Food Photography.

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Food Friday - Upside Down Pineapple cake

I baked this cake the day before I made the Black Forest cake few days back. Since I had no eggs, I used an eggless recipe that substituted vinegar. (I was surprised too!)

The dough was good but nothing special, I also forgot to brush up the baking pan with a glaze of sugar syrup so the bottom didn't turn into a beautiful brown.

Win some, lose some as the cliche goes. I didn't do well on this one but succeeded with the Black Forest! ;-)

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Ruby Tuesday - Lingonberry jam/Preiselbeeren Kompott

When was the last time you visited Ikea? I think my last trip there was more or less a year! :D

When I hear Ikea, the colorful and elegant furniture comes to mind second only to their Restaurant, I am always reminded of their Köttbular/meatballs with creamsauce and lingonberry jam. This jam is a curious ingredient for me, who prefers cheese and butter on my toast. Gladly, I have found a better and enjoyable way of serving jams.

Below is one way to enjoy lingonberry jam, as sidedish for breaded camembert and some veggies. The creamsauce with jam and pommes is a delectable combination too!

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Lasang Pinoy Sundays - I ♥ FOOD!

Breaded Camembert...a hearty breakfast served with salad, veggies and lingonberry jam. Though we do not celebrate heart's day the kids find these heart-shaped treats (and chocolates) cute! They eat with much gusto finishing 2 pieces each.

Lasang Pinoy Sundays is a weekly GALLERY of the FILIPINO TASTE focusing on Food Photography.

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Food Friday - Orange-y Duck!

My kiddos love duck, feeding live ones and eating the meat itself :D well, not necessarily the ones they fed though.

When we opt for Chinese delivery on those lazy nights, I make sure duck is included in the menu but now, I can cook duck meat at home thanks to frozen, boneless duck meat sold in the market. At 8euros per pack (10.03$, good for a family of 5) we can enjoy duck dishes with less fat!

I placed the flavored (salt and pepper only) duck meat on an aluminum foil and secure the sides so the juice stays as a marinade then baked it for around 30 minutes. I removed the meat from the foil while I transferred the juice to a small pan, added some sugar then combined with juices of 2 oranges. I heated this sauce up a little then poured over meat, you'll never go wrong with this combo!

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Layer (eat) up!

(For my foodie friend Joy)

I had always wanted to try this, (German-original) Schwarz-Wälder-Kirsch Torte or Black Forest Cherry Cake. I wanted to because all those ready made I buy costs 12Euros (15$) which I find sour compared to the variation I always enjoyed at Red Ribbon. Second reason; since the theme over at LaPiS is layered, I thought this is my best chance to challenge myself in baking. Of course, cherries are red, perfect for Ruby Tuesday!

I had planned to bake last Saturday, unfortunately in between the excitement I forgot to buy eggs! Since Sunday is closed all the stores day, I waited for today and here, baked my very first successful cake! I followed the recipe here.

INGREDIENTS

* 265 g all-purpose flour
* 400 g white sugar
* 65 g unsweetened cocoa powder
* 7 g baking powder
* 3 g baking soda
* 5 g salt
* 3 eggs
* 235 ml milk
* 120 ml vegetable oil
* 15 ml vanilla extract
* 2 (20 ounce) cans pitted sour cherries
* 200 g white sugar
* 30 g cornstarch
* 5 ml vanilla extract
* 710 ml heavy whipping cream
* 40 g confectioners' sugar



Procedure:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch, round, cake pans; cover bottoms with waxed paper. (I used an 11 inch pan so I didn't divide the cake later).

2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 2 cups sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil, and 1 tablespoon vanilla; beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake for 35 minutes, or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Loosen edges, and remove to racks to cool completely.

4. Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Combine reserved juice, cherries, 1 cup sugar and cornstarch in a 2 quart saucepan. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool before using.

5. Combine whipping cream and confectioner's sugar in a chilled medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form.

6. With long serrated knife, split each cake layer horizontally in half (if you used 9 inch pans). Tear one split layer into crumbs; set aside. Reserve 1 1/2 cups Frosting for decorating cake; set aside. Gently brush loose crumbs off top and side of each cake layer with pasty brush or hands. To assemble, place one cake layer on cake plate.

Spread with 1 cup frosting; top with 3/4 cup cherry topping. Top with second cake layer; repeat layers of frosting and cherry topping. Top with third cake layer. Frost side of cake. Pat reserved crumbs onto frosting on side of cake. Spoon reserved frosting into pastry bag fitted with star decorator tip. Pipe around top and bottom edges of cake. Spoon remaining cherry topping onto top of cake.

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I deliberately topped half of the cake with cherries while the other has icing on it only because the bigger boy doesn't want lots of them. That's his slice on the first photo. Enjoy!

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Food Friday - Nilaga

One of the very few dishes that takes me a step closer to home.

I used to cook this dish with whatever is available, meaning, beef and bulalo plus chinakohl (chinese cabbage of the pekinensis type) but whenever I get the chance to visit the asia shop, I buy bok choi (petsay though also under the chinese cabbage family), plaintains (saba) and sweet corn...The saba however are bottled and sweetened, unfortunately, hard to bite too. I had to separately boil them in water before dropping them down the big pot.

Served with rice, another meal to enjoy in this cold season!

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Ruby Tuesday - Tomato Soup

This is my daughter's favorite soup, sadly I don't make this from scratch since I do not have that much time preparing it. But I would love to try it sometime. So I got this from allrecipes.com, might as well try:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup chopped carrot
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 2 (28 ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
• 3 1/2 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tablespoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 drops hot pepper sauce

Procedure:

1. Heat oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic until onion is tender.
2. Add carrot and celery; cook 7 to 9 minutes until tender, stirring frequently. Stir in tomatoes, broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt, thyme, pepper and hot pepper sauce. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring frequently.

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A soup full of vitamin C to fight off the winter cold! Enjoy the week!

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Lasang Pinoy Sundays - Steamed

Following my last post of another Salmon dish you might think that we always have salmon on our table. Well, I am a self-confessed salmon freak anyway :) but this dish was from last week when I thought that the theme then was 'steamed.' :D

What you will need for this dish:
Salmon fillets
Lemon juice
Dill (fresh or dried)
Salt
Pepper
Water/Fish stock
White Wine
Lettuce leaves
Steamer

Lay lettuce leaves on top of your steamer.

Place salmon fillets on lettuce and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place some sprigs of dill on top of salmon or sprinkle with dried dill weed.

Pour in the fish stock, white wine and juice of half the lemon in the bottom pot. Add the dill sprigs (reserving a few) or 1 tblsp. of dried dill weed. Bring this to a simmer.

Place the top rack of steamer on the simmering liquid and cover. Steam for 5 to 10 minutes or until the salmon turns a very light (whitish) pink. Remove from heat and let cool covered.

Serve with rice (steamed too!) and steamed veggies.

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Lasang Pinoy Sundays is a weekly GALLERY of the FILIPINO TASTE focusing on Food Photography. If you want to join this meme, please click the button.

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Food Friday - Baked Salmon

Yaay, its fishtime! :D

Half of the whole salmon baked with sourcreme, cheese and herbs. I did not notice that we have no regular rice anymore, so I paired this dish with mashed potato...a good combo too! :)

Note to self: I really need to work on this camera, I have trouble making good food presentation, if not I'd revert to my old P&S...sigh*

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Ruby Tuesday - Apfelstrüdel

These apples have been sitting in our kitchen for a week now. I think the kids grew tired as they have almost everyday eaten them...not just at home but in the Kindergarten/school too.

So what's the best thing to do with not so shiny apples? Apfelstüdel of course!

I follow a recipe that I memorized from a friend.

But here is an easy recipe for making one.






I think you'd agree that apples and cinnamon go well together!






I forgot to brush it with egg! Lol.





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Eye Candy too!

Last week, the sushi/maki lover in me was so ecstatic about california makis wrapped with salmon and sesame seeds I had from a local joint. Browsing online, I saw this california rolls interestingly wrapped with avocado and tuna. These are signature rolls offered on Yama Sushi Bar and Grill Menu in Mission Viejo, CA.

Unbelievably priced as low as 8.50$ each serving, these maki rolls are made exclusively with Japanese cooking aesthetics in mind. I mean, how presentable should your food be? This presentation certainly adds appeal to the foods served, a real eye candy that definitely satisfies the palate too! Other Japanese dishes are offered; noodles, miso soup, rice or a combination of them (bento).

Yama sushi on the lake, named such is strategically located beside a lake, customers enjoy a wonderful view along with great food. Want to hold a banquet? Contact them now and reserve the place for your special use.

YAMA SUSHI & GRILL
(Best Sushi Orange County)
27782 Vista Del Lago C-22
Mission Viejo, CA

(949) - 716-YAMA (9262)

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