Slow Cooker Beef Caldereta (Kalderetang Baka)

This Asian beef stew (Beef Caldereta) is robust in flavor and so delicious! Cooking in the slow cooker makes it very convenient, too. Serve with Jasmine rice.

Sometime last year when the weather was starting to get cooler, I had this intense craving for Filipino food. In particular, I was longing for a steamy bowl of Beef Caldereta, a classic Filipino beef stew originally based on a Spanish stew, hence the name, (we were colonized by Spain for over 300 years, remember?) but with a distinctly and authentic Asian flair! It is a dish you will commonly find in any major celebration in the Philippines - weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, you name it. It is usually made with either beef or goat though you may also find versions of chicken or pork. Naturally, it pairs perfectly well with rice!

Cherry and Panettone Trifle

Freshly whipped cream, yummy custard, fruits plus Italian Panettone or any sponge cake make this a delicious and party-perfect Trifle! 

My kids and I love Italian Panettone! When the chilly fall season finally arrives, you can be certain that we look for and buy at least a loaf or two of this special holiday bread (or cake as others readily point out but I won't argue with anyone over this! I love it either way!). I compare it to a brioche loaf - deliciously sweet, buttery and tender! During the Christmas season it comes in many varieties - plain, with chocolate chips or loaded with fruits so it's like a fruitcake and taste a little bit like it, too! I guess because it was Christmas I gravitated to the more festive looking Panettone loaf that I saw.

White Chocolate Chex Party Mix

So deliciously good and highly addictive!! Chex cereal, chopped pretzels and pistachios smothered in white chocolate and subtly spiced with Nutmeg or Cinnamon - this White Chocolate Chex Party Mix is the ultimate party snack! NO BAKE!

Happy New Year!!! In just a few more hours we will officially welcome 2017!! I don't know about you, but I can honestly say, I can't wait for the new year to come. 2016 has been a really tough year for myself, personally, and for my entire family. We've had many challenges, some illnesses and yes, even the passing of a loved one. The great thing is, through all the trials and difficulties, we have felt God's love and mercy. So, we look forward to 2017 with much hope, knowing that no matter what, the Lord is with us!

Top 16 Recipes of 2016

Only a few more days to go and we shall all welcome the new year! Before the year officially ends, I just want to thank all of our loyal readers and followers for supporting us throughout the year! It has been another wonderful year of blogging - many new and delicious recipes tried and enjoyed, many wonderful bloggers met and certainly many awesome readers and followers we got acquainted with. It is such a blessing to be able do something I really enjoy - cooking - and being able to share them with all of you is a major bonus! Again, thank you very much and wishing you all a 2016 full of blessings and happy memories!

The Essence of Christmas

A very Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!!

I had it all planned out in my mind a few weeks back. We would invite a family from our church and celebrate Christmas lunch with them. It would be a feast with several Asian main courses, some appetizers and for dessert - authentic Christmas Pudding imported from England which we brought back home from our last trip! I was really excited with preparing the menu and activities and was looking forward to having an enjoyable dinner and a great time of fellowship.