One Bowl Yummy Pumpkin Muffins

Use this as your basic formula for  yummy Pumpkin Muffins! Add your favorite baking chips for extra deliciousness!

One day earlier in the school year my little boy came home very excited and declared he will be doing some baking the next day. I asked him what inspired him to do that? He said their class baked some pumpkin muffins that day and that he enjoyed them so much he wanted to make them again. He was totally motivated to do it that he, in fact, got the recipe and brought it home!

Raisin Corn Muffins

We're back in Michigan this weekend. A friend of ours got married this Saturday and we came to attend their wedding. As you can imagine, we had such a lovely time. It was great not only to be able to join our friends in their momentous occasion but it was also such a joy to see many familiar faces and hear familiar voices. I won't forget what my 9 year old boy said when the plane touched down in Grand Rapids, "It's great to be back in the place I was born." Sounds strange and funny when it comes from a little boy but the sentiment is not just true to him but certainly for all of us. Because both our kids were born here, it will certainly be our home to come to wherever we may end up in the future.

Strawberry Bread

During the papal visit in the Philippines (January 2015), three working days were declared holidays. Sandwiched in these days is a weekend so there was in-effect a 5-day holiday period. My siblings and I took advantage of this long weekend and decided to go up north and visit the Banaue, Sagada and Baguio areas. These three places are some of the top destinations in the Philippines. Banaue has the world-famous rice terraces considered as the 8th wonder of the world. Sagada is the place to go if you wish to go hiking, climbing, spelunking and engage in other extreme adventures. Of course, Baguio City with its cooler weather is considered as the summer capital of the Philippines.

Cranberry Pecan Bread with Apple Cider Glaze

The other day I went to the grocery for some food shopping. I got excited when I saw some fresh cranberries already being sold. You see, I love baking with cranberries! I love the tangy flavor it imparts to baked goodies particularly sweet breads and cakes. I got myself a pack and decided that I should make my favorite Cranberry Orange Bread when I get home or at least pretty soon. However, as it sometimes happen, I forgot to buy some oranges. I was frustrated because I was really craving some nutty cranberry bread at that time. What was I to do?

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

My two kids were both born in the month of October and only 3 days apart. As you can imagine, this is quite a busy month for us. Thankfully, since they are still quite young they haven't really demanded their own separate birthday parties yet. For now they are quite happy to celebrate their birthdays in their classrooms with their classmates. There's only one condition I need to fulfill - that is, they want me to make something yummy for their class on their birthday.

20 Wholesome and Delicious After School Snacks

Tomorrow my little boy begins his first day of school for the 2014-2015 academic year. He is going to 3rd grade. He's excited to go though a little bit nervous because this is a new school for him as we transferred from Holland, Michigan to Connecticut this summer. Thankfully, last week he already met two of his classmates during a soccer camp. With at least two familiar faces in a different and new environment, it won't be totally alienating or strange. I hope that he'll easily gain new friends like he did in his previous school. But, as you know, being a Mom, I worry more for him than he does.

Peach and Blueberry Financiers

A Financier is a small French Almond Cake traditionally baked in the shape of a gold bar, hence the name. Some say that it is called such because the cake became popular in the financial district of Paris surrounding the Paris stock exchange and was named after its wealthy bankers. Its main ingredient is the almond flour (ground or finely crushed) though it's distinct feature comes from the use of  beurre noisette (brown butter).