Chocolate Crinkles

I baked a batch of Chocolate Crinkles tonight.  I have not done that in years!!! I think more than 6 years.  Whew!

I am having lunch tomorrow with the friends of my mom and we will do a Valentine exchange gifts.

I dug up my old, old recipe book.  I used to bake and take orders eons ago.  This is a very easy recipe, even the kids can do it. I do not even remember from which cookbook I got it.  No mixer needed, just an oven.

Chocolate Crinkles



2 C. plus 2 T. all purpose flour, sifted
2 t. baking powder, sifted
1/2 t. salt
1/2 C. cooking oil
1 3/4 C. white sugar
3 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1/2 C. Bensdorp Cocoa (Cooks Exchange, Powerplant - Rockwell)
powdered sugar

Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl.

In another bowl, beat oil and sugar with a spatula or wooden spoon.  Add eggs one at a time.  Then the vanilla and cocoa.

Gradually add the flour mixture and beat until well blended.

Refrigerate for at least an hour.



Scoop into balls and roll in powdered sugar.



Place on greased pan or lined with a silicone mat.

Bake in a pre-heated oven, 300 F - 150 C for 10 minutes.



Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring onto a cooling rack.

Since the theme is Valentines, I sprinkled little edible hearts in the plastic container.



Tied a ribbon



and hopefully, the recipients will enjoy the cookies.

Ramen

I have been having this crazy RAMEN obsession since yesterday.  I do not know why, it is vertigo in a bowl but I could not help myself.  I read in a book that I should imitate the way the Japanese eat because the incidence of diabetes is not high in their country.

As soon as I woke up today, I called up Ukokkei Ramen Ron and asked what time they open on Sundays.  11:30 am.  I immediately dressed up and was at their door a few minutes before opening time.  Yay for me!  I was the first customer to enter the ramen house.



It is my second time to eat there and ordered the same thing: Lunch Set A.



A big bowl of Miso Ramen



macaroni salad



half an order of chahan (surprisingly ... not greasy nor oily at all!)



and

4 pieces of gyoza.



I loved that their ramen noodles were sooo chewy and springy!!! 



The broth was really yum ... creamy from the miso ... lots and lots of sodium...  ahahaha and had a bit of oil.  I even added chili oil.

If it is not too bad for my vertigo, I would like to eat here every Sunday ... but I do have to limit my salty food intake.

It is already over the limit as it is.  Sugar is not so bad this morning because it is less than 200.

I thought Ukokkei  Ramen Ron was closed yesterday afternoon so I went to Shinjuku, Makati Avenue for merienda.

I had the Miso Ramen





and an order of 4-pc gyoza.



It hit the spot ... my craving for ramen was satisfied.

I still prefer the broth and the noodles of Ukokkei.  Dreaming of my next ramen fix.

Confirmation Day of Sophie

I am the Ninang of Sophie for her Confirmation.  I never realized I was also her Godmother when she was baptized.  I have always been Tata to the kids and she never called me Ninang.

Funny story .... the night before, she went to my house and said: Tata, you cannot wear anything revealing or spaghetti strap tomorrow!

Hahahahaha! She was so afraid I might just do that.  Good thing I found in my baul a Sunday dress... so .... Whew!!!  



See? I looked like a respectable Godmother! 

Sohpie with my Kuya and her Mom.



We just had a simple celebration at Chilis, Rockwell.

Burger Slammers



Chicken Tenders



Beef Fajitas



and ......   wait for it .......

Ninang only had vegetable soup



and

salad of the day!!!!



I started my diet yesterday.

After lunch, everybody was so tired and sleepy because we had to wake up early for the mass.

La Tienda, Polaris St., Bel-Air

The new name of my blog should be, The Confessional.  I have no self control nor the will power to resist temptation. 

PD invited for me dinner and I easily said, YES!  We were cruising Jupiter for a viable restaurant, good thing, I was on the right lane when she said: Let us eat at La Tienda!  A quick twist of the steering wheel and there we were .... God is still good to me, valet parking was available.

The place was packed, with men. 



How odd ... I think we were the only two women in the place, well maybe there was another one, but that was it.

We ordered the La Tienda Paella, with chicken, pork, sausage and seafood.  Had to place our order as soon as we sat down because cooking time would take 45 minutes.

We were not bored while waiting.  There was a trio serenading us with Spanish music.



We had bread sticks...



.... freshly baked mini baguette with butter



and Sopa de Mariscos.



And then ... Lo and Behold!!!!! Somebody ordered Cuchinillo!  The lady server was chopping it with a plate!!!! 



Ohhhh Yum!!! 



You need to order it 2 days in advance and it costs 4,500 pesos.

Finally, our Paella arrived.



Hmmm .... it was good.  Nothing wrong with it ... but as usual .... I prefer my recipe over theirs.  Even the sister of Mayette, Joy, said, mine was so much better than one she had in Spain.

We also had the Lengua Estofado.



Ummmm ... I just cooked that two weeks ago.  I am not saying it was not good, it was all right but .....   LOL I should be modest but I am not. You have to try my version and judge for yourself.

Still .... I was so full! I could hardly stand and walk!  I think when I sat in the car, the steering wheel was bumping my big belly!

I texted my friends and Mayette replied,  I was truly back in circulation!  

I have to psyche myself up.  I have to repeat to myself over and over that I have to go vegan again ... but not yet.  Saturday is Sophies confirmation day and I am having lunch with my senior friends on Monday.

It takes a lot of will power especially on my part.  I will do it again.  I will just surprise you guys!  I do not want to announce my diet plans anymore!

Not yet ....

I already announced to the world that I am a Pesco-Vegetarian.  Well .... I am not yet one.  I really tried but I could not go back to being a vegan nor a pesco vegetarian.  I have been going out all week long and eating as though I am not a diabetic.  My blood sugar went up again to 300 the other day.  TSK. TSK. TSK.

So, this was the reason why I have been quiet the whole week ... I better fess up..... (Some pictures are not very clear because I only used my Blackberry.)

I went to Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Quezon City because it was her Feast Day last February 11.  My friends said I went to Elars Lechon, Quezon Ave. corner Speaker E. Perez Street and the church was just a stop over.



I ordered 1/4 k., my favorite part, ribs, of course.  I got used to soy sauce and vinegar and not the liver sauce anymore.

Then, also on the same day, I went to Cash and Carry Supermarket, I saw a sign and it said: Makati Supermarket Spaghetti at Sizzlers.  Of course, I had to try.



In one of my insane late night moments, I ordered for delivery a super big Ham and Cheese from LOTSA Pizza.



I love the Pinoy kind of pizza, reminds me of 3M pizza when I was a kid.  I remember this white house in Q.C. with a little kiosk outside their gate.

Celine and I went to 168 yesterday because she was looking for a particular shawl given to her as a gift and she wanted to buy more in different colors.

 I went along for the trip because Tita Butchie said the Roasted Lechon at Mitzis, 168 food court was really good.

Roasted Pork Belly with Fried Rice and Tofu



And also the Kikiam.



I had to try, since I only go to 168 once a year. 

I do not know why people think  the goods there are less expensive but it is not true.  I was able to buy a pair of white short - shorts  LOL well .... my friends and I call it a different name but too crude to mention in my blog at the Fashion Bazaar section of Market Market for only 150 pesos!  But in 168, the exact pair of shorts costs 250 pesos!  And a beach cover up in Landmark is only 229 but in 168 it is 350 pesos!  

Celine got the Phad Thai from Chariya Thai Kitchen.



Japanese lunch with my friends today at Kikufuji - Little Tokyo, Pasong Tamo.

Jing ordered the Mixed Tempura.



Celine got the Katsudon.



I ate the Tonkatsu lunch set meal.



Each set meal came with:

salad (I already ate half of the portion before I remembered to take pics)



sashimi choice - Uni



a chicken dish (no picture)

miso soup



Japanese rice.

Let us not forgot that I ate at Kamayan Filipino Buffet last Valentines Day.   I treated PD to lunch!  She always invites me so I thought it was my turn to surprise her. She and I had a date!

I really, really, really need to go back to my Vegan Diet.  It is the only thing that would make my sugar go down.  I have to give myself a talk and convince my brain that is the best course of action.

HAHAHAHAHAHA!  Why does my blog seem like a confessional booth of all my food sins?

Yabu

PD invited me to have lunch at The House of Yabu in Megamall. 



I told her I am now a Pesco-Vegetarian, which means I can eat seafood, eggs and milk plus plant based food.  Coming from being a vegan, the pesco-vegetarian diet is a feast for me already.  I was only a vegan for 3 weeks but when Lisa and I were in Boracay, I noticed that I have a bald spot on my head as big as a 5 peso coin!!!  My Ate who is on Cohen had to go to a doctor because of excessive hair loss.  Lack of protein.

So, back to Yabu .... the place was packed and lots of people waiting outside to be seated.  We were there before noon so we did not have to wait long.

They gave me a small bowl with toasted sesame seeds which I ground with the mini pestle. 



Then I poured the tonkatsu sauce.



I ordered the Hiroshima Oyster set.  It came with rice, miso soup, fruits and unlimited serving of shredded cabbage.



I know I am not supposed to eat pork but  I was there already, I ordered 60 grams of Hire (pork tenderloin).



Since they made me wait so long for my order because they made a mistake, they gave me a complimentary Lava cake with vanilla ice cream.  I did not finish though because it was too sweet.



They were very nice and apologetic for the mix up.

PD would always introduce me to delicious but sinful stuff.  We ordered the Gong Cha Milk Wintermelon Tea.



Heavenly!!! Divine!!!! YUM!!!  I cannot drink this often though.  An occasional treat, maybe.

I hope this new diet would do wonders for me.  Wish me luck!!!  No more meat except when in Cebu! :)