Chefie’s World

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My nephew, JL had great tasting strawberry shortcake in Baguio, he said, the real one, shortcake from the Southern part of the United States so guess what I did after three days, I served him the same thing. With sweet strawberries and aerosol Elle et Vire whipped cream, it was heavenly and truly the way he wanted it….I had my share but wasn’t very happy with the biscuit so I have been testing some recipes for the past few days…hope you enjoy….happy v! Visit Yummy magazine website and see my happy V menu…
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Kinain ko sa eroplano, masarap!

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sa Rhode Island, napakalamig!

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thanksgiving dinner namin sa princeton

Masarap talaga magbakasyon, sobrang sarap….pero para sa akin mas buo ang bakasyon kapag may pag-aaral din, yun ang pahinga sa akin, ang matuto ng ibang kaalaman na makakatulong sa ginagawa ko. Bawat taon lagi kung ginagawa ang pagpunta sa America para makita ko ang aking kapatid na si Edgardo.. di naman siya nakakauwi at ito rin ang oras na makapagdala ako ng mga pagkaing galing sa atin, tuyong danggit, pusit, ensaymada , ang polvoron ni Ate Cynthia at marami pang iba. Nalaman ko di kailangan ng napakadaming damit pagpupunta sa America kasi makakabili ka dun ng sandamukal.

Akala ko mas matatandaan ako ng aking mga guro kasi hinggit lang naman sa isang taon ako wala pero di sila sigurado kung sino ako….pero habang tumatagal ang panahon naiisip nila ako sa dami ba naming tinuturuan nila, pano nila ako makikilala….pag nasa Amerika ako, nalilimutan ko lahat ng mga problema dito sa Pilipinas, sobrang alaga ako duon sa Amerika. Pinagluluto ako ni Ate Myrla ang pinapasaya ni Joel, ang aking pamangkin na napaka talas at talino katulad ko…hahahah. Nakapagbakasyon din kami sa Boston nung Thanksgiving weekend, napaka ganda doon, iba din ang Newport, Rhode Island kung saan ang mga bahay ay sin laki ng mall ditto..makikita ninyo sa mga litrato.
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Celebrating New Year in Langham Hotel, Kowloon, Hongkong

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Of no work, why? The schedule for this year was done this way and I am very happy. Last month was very, very hectic and I had hard time catching up on what my life was all about. So, one resolution I wanted to do before I started teaching again was to clean one of my rooms at home. This room has all my magazines, second hand cookbooks I get from BookSale, old gifts that never got to be used and a whole lot of humongous tupperwares housing my old friends, Paul Smith, Ben Sherman, Giorgio Armani Exchange, Calvin Klein. Strange that I still have a lot of old clothes that I cherish because I love them or maybe due to my inheriting one trait Mommy Luring left me…keeping clothes and a lot of junk, mom was a child of World War 2, I know that most of you have mothers, aunts and relatives who are like this. Another reason is I have clothes for increase and decrease of weight, hehe. So I cleaned up the room, realized that I had quite a number of school bags and shoes. So decided to fix and give some away, guess what Apol is wearing now….even my gardener, LukeLuke looks so smart wearing his Camper slippers, love it…..the other reason for this clean up is I really want to make every look clean and organized and also get to turn on the aircon in this room which I don’t get to use as often. Second reason, is an arrival of three big balikbayan boxes this month, filled with books, old clothes and pastry equipments. There has to be space for these things. Mom used to have a stock room built when one of her containers arrive so I want the room to accept all these new items.
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I haven’t been writing any post for the past month, and I just realized that there was no entry for February. If I would not write for a week for the plain reason that I was busy, not being able to write for a month means I am even busier than busy…get it….why should I be complaining when tons of people are losing work and here I am with so much more work for three people to do. So, is this the only reason I have….yup and pure laziness.

I just get bored with the routine having to do the same thing over and over again. Even my programs in school I change when I get totally bored so at times, some students are lucky to get this new recipe for a Lemon Lime Butter Cake with Pistachio Flavored Whipped Cream and Fresh Strawberry or should I be generous to share, the Javier Tapa…wow, I get so hungry at this time of the night.

Tremendous work, aside from the teaching classes which I truly enjoy, I am back to the one art that I also have fun doing, food styling. Quite a practice for me since I have this method that I cook the exact recipe to the letter and then fix it from there to become more artistic…..dealing with a variety of photographers, art directors, set stylists and friends who just come to become a great source of laughter or the latest gossip moving around town. I am truly happy with the friendships I have due to this craft. Hope you get to see my work soon.

I am also back again teaching at the USDA Culinary Theater for three American produce companies, the US Poultry and Egg Council, US Dry Pea and Lentil Council, US Dry Beans Council. In one of my demos, I had a US Embassy guest, so I had to speak English for three hours straight, wow…my nose just flew away, walang nosebleed…..And an interesting question was thrown by one, “ Why do chefs love to get or pinch their salt with their fingers, when they can always use a small spoon? I guess the main answer is being human and being tactile, we always want to feel salt and through that sense, one can measure better….my pinch is different from yours…Do you have a better answer than mine? Share it with me, leave it in the comments part of my blog.

Then I started teaching last Thursday….A new group of a mixture and blend of old and young, serious and not, courteous or just plain innocent….After almost three or four months of taking culinary, they still don’t get it…and I have another question, Why do more and more people now don’t read simple procedures….I have a group that relies on one girl and the whole group call each other “girl” Another group is still some place in time, they are not organize, no one seems to lead the group. Clueless shell reverse group is slow but sure and comes out with great work, I just don’t know if they have any memory of what they just did.

Anyway, it’s 12:32am, I am about to sleep, affected by Francis M’s death especially when I saw Joey de Leon crying his heart out and lastly, can I share, tonight’s episode of Maalala Mo Kaya had an old couple who loved each other until death….made me shed a few tears…..I miss Mama and Papa…

Buy Yummy Magazine March Issue, I really look good even wearing a polo that is 18 years old.

Best Chocolate Cake as of tonight: Rosanna – in La Vista – 9293872
Recipe of the Week:

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It was a thousand days ago that Joseph, our Manila Bulletin coordinator of articles asked me to do a spread on Christmas cakes ranging from easy to a medium difficulty. Of course, since it is the season of giving, I didn’t negate his request. I came out with desserts all kitchen tested, scrumptiously tasted and more. I made for the easy ones; Strawberry Crisp and Pineapple Miracle since most of the layered cake where difficult to do for the first time baker. Then we made Pistachio Cream Cake, Chocolate Tablea Cake, Cranberry Cheesecake, Sticky Mango Pudding and Dulce de Leche Walnut Pie.
I am recreating the recipes that were featured there so that you can do the same in your home before Christmas or New Year. Enjoy and keep baking!

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I was in Davao since last Thursday to do a cooking/baking demonstration for Gaisano Mall of Davao. This was requested two months ago and it has finally materialized. You know it usually is before or after Chrismas am I in Davao…I love it…I really like going there except for…………Getting back to the real reason I was there, Friday was just for preparation of the recipe, ingredients and tasting portions to feed at least 250 people who would go and watch. The grocery has been having a display and promotion of Western American products and part of this was my demonstration. I did Rye Pecan Bread, Fruit and Oatmeal Cookies, Fig and Walnut Bars and Honey Corn Muffins, all with products coming from WUSATA which stands for Western United States Agricultural Trade Associations. Although the stage was quite high, I think I was effective in presenting new ingredients to be made in to popular or common baked goodies, variations were also talked about during the events. Since the mall had a midnight sale, we had quite a number of participants and wonderers ( wondering what was going on ) but still wanted a sample of whatever I was presenting. I was helped by four graduates of our Intensive Cooking and Baking Program in Davao who were very efficient, quick and industrious, super sipag, I didn’t have to detail them with the work they had to do. Also, the witches or should I say girls of CACS Davao were there…Tita Butz, Agnes the Witch, Jovie, Yaya Cita came to advertise and market the school. A fulfilling and tiring event just a few days away from the season of plenty. Enjoy the recipes!

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December 20, 2008

I received a text from ironchef jabes if it would be good for him to give my cell number to a kapuso researcher looking for a chef who makes healthy desserts. Of course, during the season of plenty, I obliged and got myself to confirm a shoot without asking permission from the school about it. This was a Sunday and the filming would be the next day. I only had four hours to research – healthy dessert for a talent who wants to eat less this Christmas season. I decided to use the desserts that I taught in a class two dozen full moons ago and it really did give me an idea to be a bit more creative.

It appeared last night and all I can say is I look just like Santa without the white beard but with no neck too. I was so fat on television….I felt blotted but anyway, I enjoyed making the variation para naman hindi siya corny….the main dessert shown was my Mango Fruit Snow but I actually made two more good tasting desserts with less calories, good for you ingredients and very textural so theirs a play in the mouth as they say.

Mango Fruit Snow is a light dessert with a mango gelatine base where meringues was folded in to make it appealing, its like ice cream for people with no teeth. Decorated with strawberries, kiwis and more mango. I am not using too much sugar but a bit of Splenda.

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November 9, 2008

We ate dinner as a family today….the Gavino and Javier Family – all complete, the 12 of us. Remember the picture in Japan with nephews and nieces plus a set of two couples, that’s Kuya Titong and Ate Cynthia, Kuya Teboy and Ate Althea….we all met in Choi’s Garden, the former Country Waffle in Annapolis. The restaurant looks like a studio right out of the movie, Get Smart with James Bond sidings as well as modern Chinese and super baduy chandelier that sparkles to the max, even the stair railings were glass, what can you say? The food was generally good, my Chinese students told me that the pigeon was good but be careful with the msg which I didn’t feel the effects of after having a 10 course dinner. I enjoyed the shrimp roll which was wrapped in bihon and then fried – hard to eat but great for presentation, the squid and mushroom stir fry was different but excellent in taste and texture, their yang chow had lots of “sahog” and tasty but a bit oily for my tongue and for my face….the second way for the Peking duck, the minced duck meat with lettuce wrap was awesome, never had anything as good as this, had smoky, burnt flavor. Other dishes we had are tried and tested ones that are also offered in some Chinese places like steamed prawns and lapulapu …Food is always the best when you share it with the people you love…I was just happy sharing a Coke with Ate and having my nephew, JL having fun with my Yaya jokes, seeing my eldest niece, Karla who I don’t see as often as I should….This was one of those nights I would not trade for anything other.

Asianong Pastel

I made this dish for a leading condiments company but I have modified it a bit for better flavor and flair….

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Before the brouhaha over the Bourdain arrival, I had to do photo shoots for the Christmas edition of two magazines, one I got to take pictures of, the other I totally forgot since so much of myself was part of the whole event. In other words, I just didn’t find the time to remember to get my camera.
For the other magazine, it was six different cakes and desserts that would be part of any Christmas gathering. I envisioned a repertoire of different sweet things that can be made by professionals as well as housewives. I had some real interesting cakes and a spoon dessert I made from scratch which will throw you off your seats. The desserts were; Pistachio Cream Cake with Mixed Berry Topping, Orange and Currant Bundt Cake with Candied Orange Peel, Dulce Manga, Japanese Cheesecake, Caramel Chocolate Meringue Torte and Praline Potato Torte. Are you getting hungry to eat or you just want a recipe?
I tend to be very straightforward again, at times to an advantage but at most time, not….. I have been scolded by a lot of people due to this. Aside from this, one of my recipes in Yummy Magazine, the Popcorn and Shrimp Salad was reviewed by a fellow blogger. Do check it out. And I would like to thank them for just having me in their blog.
The other shoot was a potluck party scene with nine recipes I made and wow, I was so exhausted with that shoot. I had to ask six of my students to be part of the whole look with matching clothes and entertaining personalities. I loved the recipes I made since they all came from the old files I have which was used for my 1990’s catering gigs.
Here are some for you to enjoy, cook or bake and share with friends and family.

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