Turning Three

Today, we celebrate our blog's third year! Thank you to you, our dear friends and readers, for continuing to follow us on our journey. We are grateful that although we blogged less this year, you all continued to visit the site  to back read our old posts. 2015 was a challenging year, but we made a conscious effort to dwell not on what we didn't have, but focused instead on our blessings. As we leave all the challenges and difficulties of the past behind, we hope you continue to join us as we look forward to a brighter and abundant new year!

With much love,
Cyn & Bianca

Kitchen Stories: Fresh Fruit Tarts

We love that we've been spending lots of the time in the kitchen this week. These past months have been awfully busy, most especially with Bianca's fully loaded college schedule. Breakfast is always rushed or on the go, and by the time we're both home for dinner, we just want to get it over with so we can turn in for the night or in her case, do homework.

I'm so grateful for this short break we're having now to bond over food and cooking at home. We actually argue a lot when we're in the kitchen about how certain things should be done. But it's all in good fun and we always have a good laugh about it afterwards!

One of our favorite things to make are desserts with all kinds of berries. These picture perfect Fresh Fruit Tarts can be made with your choice of fruits as well - we're just partial to strawberries and blueberries. The tart shells can be made in advance and can keep for a month in the freezer. You can also opt to use ready made tart shells, like we did.*

Fresh Fruit Tarts
makes 6

For the Crust:
(recipe by Arleen Sevilla-Agustin)

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1/4 cup vegetable shortening, room temperature
3-4 tablespoons cold water

Cut in butter and vegetable shortening into flour using a pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles a coarse meal.

Sprinkle cold water all at once over mixture and stir to blend until pastry is moist enough to hold together. Gather with hand and shape into a ball. Flatten into a disc and wrap with plastic wrap, chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 F degrees. Roll out chilled dough and press evenly into mini tart pans. Prick the bottoms with a fork, then lay a piece of parchment paper on each tart and put in dried beans as weights.

Place pie tarts on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Take out the paper with pie weights and return to oven for another 10 minutes, until golden brown. Cool crust completely.

For the Pastry Cream:

3 large egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups fresh whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Fruit:

1 cup sliced strawberries
1 cup blueberries
apricot jam, warmed and strained (optional)

In a medium sized, heatproof bowl, mix egg yolks, sugar together. Add in flour and cornstarch, mixing until you get a thick,smooth paste.

Heat milk in a saucepan until almost boiling, just until you start to see wisps of steam. Remove from heat. Slowly pour a little of the hot milk into the egg mixture and whisk to combine. Continue pouring the milk in a thin stream into the eggs, whisking continuously.

When all the milk have been added to the mixture, pour everything back in the saucepan. Set the pan back to medium heat and cook until boiling, whisking constantly to prevent curdling. As soon as mixture thickens to a pudding like consistency, whisk for a few more seconds then immediately remove from heat. Stir in vanilla extract. 

Pour pastry cream into a bowl and cover with plastic wrap pressed right up against the surface of the cream.This will prevent the cream from forming a skin. Cool completely to room temperature then chill for at least 1 hour before using. Pastry cream will keep for about 3 days in refrigerator.

To assemble, fill tarts with cream and top with berries or fresh fruits of choice. Gently brush with apricot jam if desired.

Nothing inspires us to cook and to be more creative in the kitchen more than new tableware and props to play around with. We all "eat with our eyes" first, and our initial visual impression of food most certainly affects our sense of taste. So, no matter how simple a dish may be, we always find ways to serve it as appetizing and inviting as possible. Many thanks again to Bungalow 300 for helping us create our colorful and fun kitchen story for today!

Bungalow 300 items featured:
Bellini Tray in Teal
Danish Trays in Bamboo Green and Citrin Yellow
Shell Dipping Bowls
Cutlery Dinner Plate
Black Bird Plate
Chocolat Small Dish
Eleanor Bear Holiday Ornaments
Inabel Napkins and Hand Towels
Inabel Table Runner in Black & White

*tart shells were specially made for us by Arleen Sevilla-Agustin. Do check out her custom, made-to-order cakes, cupcakes and cookies at Arleen's Sweet Art.

Kitchen Stories: Baked Eggs with Spinach & Mushrooms

Baked eggs are great for brunch, and when served with a salad of leafy greens and some warm crusty bread, it's satisfying enough to double as dinner. They're cooked in individual ramekins so they're easy enough to be multiplied for a crowd. So perfect for entertaining! They can be dressed up in so many ways, with a lot of delicious flavor combinations. You can add bacon, sausages, cheese, tomatoes, potatoes and even quinoa, then just leave in the oven to cook! 

Baked Eggs with Spinach & Mushrooms
Serves 6

500 grams fresh baby spinach
1 small white onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
4 tablespoons butter
350 grams fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced (we used baby portobello)
1/2 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper
6 large eggs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cut off thick stems from spinach and discard. Clean spinach leaves by soaking in a large bowl or basin with water to loosen any sand or dirt. Drain, then repeat soaking and draining until clean. Transfer directly to a heavy skillet set over medium-low heat, no need to dry. Cook spinach leaves, turning with tongs, until wilted about 30 seconds. Set aside. 

Wipe skillet  dry, then melt butter on medium heat. Cook onions and garlic until softened, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add sliced mushrooms and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring until mushrooms have softened and released liquid. Continue cooking until all the liquid has evaporated. This should take about 8 minutes.

Stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, cooked spinach and season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove skillet from heat and allow  mixture to cool.

Brush 6 ramekins or oven-safe bowls with a little butter. Fill each with spinach and mushrooms. Create wells or indentations by pushing the filling to the sides of the bowl, large enough to fit an egg. Crack 1 egg into each well and cook in oven until whites are firm and yolks are still runny, about 15-18 minutes.

I know we've been away for quite some time, but one look at these pretty tableware from furniture and home store, Bungalow 300 was enough to lure us back into the kitchen to start cooking again! View their Holiday Gift Catalogue here or catch their pop up store for beautiful gift ideas at the Corte de las Palmas in Alabang Town Center from November 20 to 25.

Bungalow 300 items featured:
Raffia Placemats in Zen Black & White and Pomelo
Bone Side Plate and Salad Plate
Wooden Plates

Hey, Hello, Hi!

Happy last day of August, friends!! : ) 

This August has been an adjustment period for me - I've been trying to get used to waking up at four in the morning so I can get to school on time. It has been a real struggle to stay alert enough for my seven-thirty AM classes, and to get around my college campus without getting horribly lost. Lots of things are continuing to change as I to learn to be independent in a huge new world where things are incredibly different. 

Time management has always been my number one issue. I've never been that girl who can juggle a million tasks at once, and be so focused that I can get everything done. I think it's because I don't like being forced into creating something. My work only comes out good when I'm happy to do that work. 

I've been finding it difficult to keep myself inspired, to keep finding something to write about or take photos of. During my long, five-month summer, I'll admit I was mostly at home or with friends, doing nothing particularly productive. I had a short stint doing some apprentice work in an advertising agency as I'm hoping to major in PR & Advertising. I gained lots of valuable insights during that time, but I was itching to do something more. I waited and waited for opportunities to come, but I didn't go looking for them. And I think that's why I've been in such a stagnant phase. 

So, in my resolve to shake off this uninspired and humdrum state I've been going through, I decided to challenge myself and sign up for a bunch of school organizations. They scare me, because being part of things means having more responsibilities, apart from the pressures of being a college freshie.  But I'm gonna do my best, guys. Wish me lots of luck this year! 

To mom - thanks for all the sacrifices you make for me. I don't know what I would do without you. Thanks for waking up even earlier than I do just to prepare my baon and help me get ready for the day, even if I know it's difficult. I love you! We're gonna achieve all our goals, I promise.

♡♡♡ Bianca

Starting Over

Hello! I'm back. And hopefully, for good this time. I have been missing in action on the blog for most of the summer. I wrote in a post earlier that the summer heat was difficult for me, and I'm just so glad that it's finally over! Having Parkinson's Disease, my body is always in motion. From fine hand tremors to bouts of whole body shaking, I'm constantly moving and breaking into a sweat, so the escalating temperatures were just too much for me to bear. I lost my appetite to eat, and  had little energy to do anything. I reserved my time for family, house chores (because they need to get done even if you don't want to) and for taking care of myself. It took a lot for someone to coax me to get out of the house. It was just too much trouble for me to get ready and dress up.

I was thankful when the heat started letting up in June. I had so many plans and a long to-do list that I put on hold and was eager to get a move on. I was already getting stressed and frustrated because I wanted to accomplish so many things. But, by some twist of fate, a much needed house repair which included a re-piping of our water lines (sigh and double sigh) needed my attention and supervision. Just looking at the chaos of construction materials, the diggings around the house, the dust and the whole mess of it all just made me sick all over again. Everyday, I would summon positive thoughts to reassure myself that after the repairs were done, everything will be beautiful and in order. At the tail end of all this, my sister, who helps take care of me and who is in charge of preparing our meals, was leaving for a two week trip abroad, so I had to prepare myself physically and mentally to manage the household alone.

And, yes, finally, all is quiet and back to normal in the house again, except for some bit of tidying up in the living room, which I will get to as soon as I catch my breath. Bianca's well into her first two weeks as a college freshman, and in between house repairs and what seemed liked a mad dash to get her ready with everything she needed for school, I had no time to feel sentimental that my one and only child was beginning what will be the last chapter in her life as a student. More on that soon.

Bianca on her first day in grade school. Where did time go?

I must admit that it took some time to get my groove back into blogging and writing again. It's always a challenge whenever you stop and re-start something. But although I was away from the blog these past months, my mind was constantly composing sentences and paragraphs for stories I wanted to share. I am very proud of myself that I was able to get through this very long hot summer, and more importantly, that I managed not to set the house on fire while the sister was away! It might seem trivial, but for someone who has limited mobility and compromised cognitive functions, it's an accomplishment. I always say that I started this blog as a journal for Bianca and I to look back on. It is and will always be our happy place and I'm pretty sure I will be glad that I wrote this post when I come across it years from now.

Dear Bianca,

Thank you for taking good care of me this summer. I know it was hard sometimes because I was short tempered due to stress. I will always be grateful for your patience and kindness. I love you!

We might not have accomplished our goal to get to London for your 17th birthday. It seemed like we were getting closer and then suddenly further from our dream. But you know I never give up. We shouldn't give up. I am positive that it will all happen in good time.....because all good things take time.

Always, 

Mama 

Kitchen Stories- Pan Grilled Sausages & Apples

Well, hello there! I'm so sorry we've been so quiet here on the blog. This summer heat has been particularly difficult for me, leaving me feeling sick and weak with little energy to do anything. All I wanted to do was stay in a cool, air conditioned space and never leave. But, life must go on and I'm relieved that the heat is slowly letting up and we're finally experiencing occasional rain. I've put Bianca in charge of our Instagram and Facebook page, and we hope you've been following and enjoying all the photos and updates she's been posting.

I'm slowly getting back into the kitchen - I've missed cooking and sharing our recipes with you! Here's one we made last week. It's quite simple, and you won't break a sweat, we promise! Do try it out soon!

Pan Grilled Sausages & Apples

8 Sweet or Hot Italian Sausages, or a combination of both
2 Apples, we used Fuji apples, but you can also use Granny Smith
2 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon brown sugar

Core and slice apples into thin wedges and toss in a bowl with brown sugar, set aside. Put a non stick grill pan over medium heat, add sausages and cook until nice and brown, turning occasionally about 5 minutes. When sausages are cooked through, remove from heat and set aside.

Warm butter in a skillet, then stir in apples with brown sugar. Cook, stirring gently until caramelized, with still a little bit of crunch to it. Slice sausages as desired and mix in pan with apples. Serve with crusty bread or mashed potatoes.

Book Club

My love for stories started when I was in my mom's womb and she would read to me, and reading continues to be a huge part of my life. When I was younger, I had a book club with my neighbors and friends. That really encouraged me to read regularly. Books can transport you to different worlds, help you realize truths about living and following your dreams, and really good books can change your perspective and stay with you forever. These are a few of my childhood favorites, that, in my opinion, are timeless. I hope you get the chance to pick up some of these books - though they are written for children, I think that everyone can enjoy them! Happy reading! 

Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild: Ballet Shoes is a story following three adopted girls who launch themselves into performing arts to support their poor family. It's taught me loads of lessons about growing up and balancing studying with my other responsibilities and interests. It was first published in 1936, a completely different era to the one we live in right now, but I quickly fell in love with it when I was just six years old - it was the very first book I read for my book club. It's both humorous and moving, and I'm pretty sure I've flipped through this tattered copy over a hundred times...this is a book I'd recommend to everyone!

Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters by Lesley M.M. Blume: When Virginia Somerset moves into the apartment next to eleven-year-old Cornelia Englehart, Cornelia becomes fascinated with the older woman's stories about her adventures all over the world.  I love this book because it fueled my love for traveling and seeing new places - and it was the first time I had ever come across the word 'audacious!' At its simplest, it's a tale about love, friendship, and crazy wonderful adventures. It's definitely a timeless story to me.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall: One of the most charming stories I've ever read! This is the story of the Penderwick sisters' summer vacation in a rented cottage behind the sprawling Arundel Hall estate. These were girls that I immediately considered my friends, and as I continued on reading I naturally identified with them. It's been said before, but reading this book is like the literary equivalent of a summer day - easy-breezy, memorable, and laugh-out-loud funny.

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh: O.K, so this book might've guided me into my most annoying phase as a tween - keeping a confidential spy notebook and writing down my inner ramblings as well as what I really thought about everyone I knew - but it taught me to be curious, and it taught me that it's okay to be myself, and it's okay to have bad days. Harriet is just a kid trying to figure herself out, and this book deals with rejection and loss. But it's also ridiculously hilarious and optimistic.

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett: I've always been intrigued by mystery and suspense novels. It's a challenge to bury clues within text without giving the entire plot away. As young Petra Andalee and Calder Pillay solve the case of a stolen Vermeer painting, they uncover a chain of events intertwined with real-life art history. This book really makes you think and read between the lines. Plus, the illustrations are amazing!