Peanut Butter Cupcakes

Ever since I was a kid, peanut butter is one of the most common spreads we have.  I still remember how my mom used to buy those peanut butter (ones with the orange cover and clear plastic canister) and best served with a hot pandesal.  Yum! Yum!

Now that I am grown up, I seldom see those classic peanut butter my mom used to give me.  My hubby is a fan of Peanut Butter so I decided to make cupcakes out of it.  Did a lot of trial and error (as a newbie in baking) and I got this as the first result:

It was yummy, made the frosting without any milk (just melt it over a hot boiling water for it was intended for a frosting--but has failed).  It end up as a hard shell...same with my cupcakes.  Not that moist enough.

They said you have to try and try until you succeed.  Now after so much trial and researching, I got to find a recipe that has made it even moist:

Cupcake:

2.5 cups cake flour

2.5 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

4 eggs

1 & 1/3 cups melted butter (unsalted)

1.5 cups caster sugar

3 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup oil (Canola or Olive)

1 & 1/3 cups peanut butter 

1 cup buttermilk (1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar then add whole milk until 1 cup line and let it stand for 5 minutes before using)

Frosting (chocolate):

3/4 cup dark chocolate bar

1/2 cup milk (add more if desired)

yields 41-42 cupcakes for an ice cream scoop batter for each liner (cut in half the measurements if you want a lesser number of cupcakes)

Baked for 30-35 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (conventional oven), 20-22 minutes on a convection oven.

Tadaaa!

The frosting looks more presentable (thanks to my FOOD-A-HOLIC DAD) and the cupcake is moist!  (because of buttermilk and not the usual whole milk which I have used previously).

I got some feedback that the peanut butter is kinda "overwhelming in taste".  I have used the LUDY's Peanut butter here.  But when I tried using a creamy peanut butter, it turned out much better :)

Let me know yours too and your suggestions are all free so we can come up with a better recipe!

Enjoy!

-xoxo-

Choco Flan Recipe (Impossible Cake)

Chocoflan is a Mexican Dessert made with flan and chocolate cake topped with Caramel or Cajeta Sauce. This cake is also known as "Impossible Cake." On the contrary, it was very easy to make.

CARAMEL SAUCE MIXTURE:

-1/2 cup Cajeta (Mexican Caramel Sauce)

 or

-1/2 cup granulated sugar

-2 tbsp water

(combine 2 ingredients cook in medium heat for 7 minutes)

FLAN MIXTURE:

-1 package of cream cheese (8 oz)

-1 can evaporated milk

-4 eggs

-1 tsp vanilla

-1 cup sugar

(mix in a blender until smooth)

CHOCOLATE CAKE LAYER:

-1 package (2 layer size) of chocolate cake mixture

-1 cup water

-1/3 cup oil

-3 eggs

(mix with hand mixer until smooth)

Then add 1/2 cup sour cream

(Mix again)

Put the caramel mixture on the round pan.

Then put the Chocolate Cake Mixture on top of it.

Then Add the Flan mixture.

Grease an aluminum foil and cover the round pan.

Put the round pan on a larger rectangular with water halfway. (water bath)

Bake in in preheated 375F for 1 1/2hour or until toothpick comes out clean.

Cool it after baking.

Chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.

Place it in a pan inverted.

Enjoy!

-xoxo-

BURGER industry: Does SIZE really MATTER?

Are you a sausage lover?  Burger fanatic?  Want BIG BURGERS? You can have both!
SIZE MATTERS Sausage Burgers is the answer!
They are offering flame-grilled sausage burgers.

To try out one,  I ordered last time at 2121212 (TwoAnyOne) Delivery hotline.
After few minutes, tadaaa:

1/2 lb Double Patty BLT Italian Garlic - Php 245.00

(Bacon & American Cheddar cheese sandwiched between 2 Hungarian sausage patties topped with farm fresh lettuce & tomatoes in an oat bun)

See how generous are they: 

You can actually smell the smokiness of the sausage and the patties' juices bursts.

If you are not a big eater, 2 people can share this burger. ^_^

I also ordered these one:

Jalapeno Cheese Studs - Php 70.00

You can see it's cheesiness for every bite :)

A different kick for Jalapeno & Cheese in one!

SIZE MATTERS Sausage Burgers is one of the newest contender of the BIG BURGER SOCIETY...the edge on it...they are offering burgers for sausage lovers which made them different from others!

So if you are craving for literally "BIG BURGERS" and you love sausages, this is definitely for you!

To SUM it up,  SIZE MATTERS Sausage Burgers are best for those Sausage Burger Lovers out there.

RATING: (out of 10-highest)

Taste:  9 (smoky, juicy and tender sausage patty, but a bit salty for me) 
Size:   10 (enough to fill your hungry stomach)

Price:   8 (a bit pricey compared to the common fast food burgers but I think the product deserves it)

*My rating is how I tasted their food based on my experience*

-xoxo-

SIZE MATTERS Sausage Burgers is located at 3F No. 186 Tomas Morato (Bldg. beside Kopiroti) corner Scout de Guia, Quezon City.

Hours	Mon - Sun: 11:00 am - 11:00 pm

Email	sizematterssausages@yahoo.com
Phone	4138715

View the complete menu here:
http://www.munchpunch.com/9924/size-matters-sausage-burgers-tomas-morato/menu

Note:  They cater delivery by calling 2121212.

D-Original Rodics Diner: Where one of the best TAPSILOG can be found

For so long we are looking for a delicious TAPSILOG at a low cost...and we're glad we found one.
TAPSILOG:  Coined from the word Tapa (salt-cured beef ), Sinangag (fried garlic rice) and Itlog (fried egg).

The food establishment was called Rodics Diner.  We particularly visited their branch at Salcedo St. in Makati.

Main branch: U.P. Shopping Center, U.P. Campus, Q.C.

Their TAPSILOG is great tasting, the rice is good and the TAPA is awesome (a bit of sweet-salty taste).  

 Php 70.00

We end up ordering 3 TAPSILOG hahaha! 

So if you are on a budget, we personally recommend this one.  

 -xoxo-

FOOD-A-HOLIC COUPLE

Chicken Teriyaki Recipe

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup Rice wine (or dry Sherry wine)

1 teaspoon Sesame oil

1 1/2 cups soy sauce

3 tablespoons Brown sugar

3 tablespoons Honey

Onions  (minced)
Garlic  (minced)
Ginger  (minced)

1 tablespoon Cornstarch diluted in half cup of water

2 pieces Chicken Breast 

PROCEDURES:
1. Saute garlic, onion and ginger.
2. Put the chicken breast. Saute until it's half cook.
3. Set aside the chicken breast.

4. Now using the same pan, pour the first 5 ingredients.
5. Simmer it for a 3-5 minutes.
6. While simmering, cut the chicken breast into strips.
7. Now pour the chicken strips on it.
8. Pour the diluted cornstarch.
9. Let it simmer while occasionally stirring it for another 5 minutes or until the sauce thickens.
10. Serve while it's hot.

                       Serving Suggestion

-xoxo-

FOOD-A-HOLIC DAD

Heavenly Good: Holy Kettle Corn!

Ever since I was a child, I am really not fond of eating popcorns.  In fact, a lot of sidewalk vendors selling this "colored popcorns" were seen all over our place in Tondo, but none of them tickles me.  Maybe because my mom doesn't want  me to buy street foods and she was saying those are dirty (madumi) foods.  But the main factor why I don't like popcorns is that every time my mom cooks popcorn for us, I end up crying 'coz those "unwanted" hard little kernels keeps on going inside my tooth,  and it really hurts. T_T


Just recently, I have discovered this popcorn when it was handed over to me at Blue Water Day Spa (When we attended the Wednesday Groovy Movie) sponsored by When in Manila.  Oh by the way, I seldom watch movie and I intentionally didn't want to eat inside a Cinema, that's why I really don't know how does Holy Kettle Corn tastes like hahaha.

So to make the long story short, I bought these popcorns (2 big bags) at MRT Ayala.

                                              Php 70.00

What's good in it, it is a snack great for someone who is counting calories...like me ^_^

Everything is less, but the taste is still great!!!  Awesome!

                                               High in Fiber

It is really a great experience eating this popcorn.  Packaging is nice.  The moment I opened it up, the aroma is mouth-watering.

And the kernels are easy to eat.  No hard unpopped kernels!

Each kernel is packed with the goodness of a popped corn, with mild sweetness and saltiness in it.  With every bite you can notice it's crunchiness on the outside and the puffiness on the inside.  Everything is perfectly done. 

Honestly, I am now a fan of this popcorn.
One and only.

                                        HOLY KETTLE CORN!

REVIEW: (Rating is 1 to 10, 10 is the highest)

TASTE:  10
PRICE:  10
PACKAGING: 10

Visit HOLY KETTLE CORN!  in their website, also in their FACEBOOK FAN PAGE.

-xoxo-

Note: This article was originally posted on my other blog: http://www.gracesongbird.blogspot.com

TIRAMISU KAHLUA REFRIGERATOR CAKE

INGREDIENTS:
Graham crackers (3 packs to 1 can)

1 pound cream cheese, softened (2 ~ 8 ounce packages)

1 to 2 cans condensed milk (But on this particular recipe I only used one). It really depends on one's taste preference.  My version is less sweeter.

1 Tbsp vanilla

1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp instant coffee
1/2 cup room temperature water
1 1/2 cups Kahlua (Php 650.00 - 850.00)

4 cans of Nestle Cream

1/2 cup cocoa powder
crushed Graham

PROCEDURE:
Mixture 1:
Spoon cocoa powder into a sugar then shake, or when ready, use a small strainer or sieve.

Mixture 2:
Beat softened cream cheese in medium to high speed until smooth and creamy.  

Add condensed milk & vanilla. Beat again until fluffy. Transfer to large mixing bowl and set aside.

Mixture 3:
Dissolve instant coffee in room temperature water. Add Kahlua coffee liquor, stir and set aside.

Whip Nestle cream (with 3 1/2 tbsp. sugar) on high speed until stiff.

Fold whipped cream into Mixture 2 with spatula and blend well.

Put the mixture of cream into the pan.

Quickly dip the graham crackers into Mixture 3.
Place it on the baking pan.

Sprinkle Mixture 1 over it.

Repeat the procedure 2 to 3X.

On the top part, sprinkle crushed graham and Mixture 1.

Freeze for 6 hours.

Serve.

Servings:
Makes 3 pans.

Cost:
Approximately Php 750.00 ^_^

-xoxo-