Wash happening?

You know you're getting old - and becoming a Tito - when things like dishwashing liquids excite you.

That's happening in my case since I've been adding bottles and bottles of dishwashing liquid to my online grocery cart. And this is my latest discovery:

Ajax with Lime and Vinegar!

Vinegar is known to remove stains and lime removes odours, so this is going to be a great combination.

I can't believe I'm waxing poetic over a dishwashing liquid.

Tito-mode on!

Baker’s backtracking and box

Seems like I’m determined to go back to my baking roots!

Trivia: I started baking when I was in high school. I’d make cakes, brownies, cookies and tarts. Two books served as my baking guides:

“Let’s Cook with Nora” was Mom’s cookbook. But there was a section on cakes and pastries, and that’s what I would usually concentrate on. So, if you see fingerprints of flour, cocoa and oil, those would be mine.

“The Maya Baking Book.” Was the 2nd book. I bought that from my own allowance, and I remember trying to make silvanas for the first time (it was a failure) and cashew caramel tarts (it was a resounding success!)

I continued baking throughout college, and even when I was already working in Adformatix as a copywriter. In fact, I remember one Christmas when I gifted my bosses with cookies that I baked myself!

Eventually, life as a creative became so hectic that I stopped baking. Then, my culinary interests shifted from Sandwich-making which I enjoyed, especially when I made sandwiches for my students (Panini Palace in the house!) making breakfast for Mark in Tokyo, making Mexican food like Quesadillas and Fajitas (Muchas gracias a mis anfitriones en Mexico por ensenarme,) to making s’mores and waffles for my creative Kaniguans.

Then, a few weeks ago, I started baking again. Starting with brownies, then cookies, then a brownie and cookie hybrid.

And today, I decided to have a dedicated food box for all my baking ingredients! That’s to make the, easier to find, and it’ll make baking easier to do when I feel like doing it again.

Looks like i’m seriously going back to baking.

Make and Bake part 3

And we're on a roll!

Since Ate Bullet was making her signature Baked Macaroni and the oven was already running, I thought of whipping up something fast with stuff that was currently in the kitchen.

The result, these chocolate cookies with chocolate chips and walnuts.

They kinda look like brownies, but are cookies. So, it might fall under those food-hybrids. Brookies, perhaps?

Despite it being an instantaneous and last-minute activity, it turned out really well. Not bad for a last minute make and bake!

Make and Bake part 2

Look who’s working the oven again today.

And this morning’s creation is S’mores cookies!

This recipe is actually Javier’s recipe. He once baked this for school, and he left the recipe posted on our refrigerator door. I’ve been eyeing it for quite sometime now, and i’ve been telling myself that i’ll bake it one of these days,

And today was that day.

It wasn’t bad for a first attempt. But I think I can make it better the s’more I make it.

Make and Bake

Well, I did say I'd make something, right?

And that "something" was Cherry Cheesecake brownies!

Honestly, it's been years since I last baked from scratch, so there was a bit of hesitation. But since the ingredients and baking implements were there, my mind and heart said: "Go for it!"

And my first foray back into baking wasn't that bad.

One down. More baking goodies to go!