Light and Warmth, and Love.

Taking a break from the usual food posts. Here is a more personal one for you darlings. 

My little one. The reason why I wake up every morning, the reason why I continue to smile and hope and thrive to find myself. Often times it is difficult as she is slightly impatient as toddlers usually are... But my little one is so loving, that each warm hug and gentle kiss melts my heart.

It is a challenge, a challenge to be a better mother... a challenge to nurture her, help her gain weight when she is so picky with food, to teach her in every way that I can... to simply be a mother that I would look up to, if it weren't me in that position.

She is the light of my life. Perhaps even the heart of my craft and this blog. She scoots herself up a chair beside me while I weigh out the ingredients and she says "Mommy, tulong ako" (Mommy, I'll help). Her favorite chore is to mix anything she sees that has a fork or a mixing utensil with it. It can be messy, and most of the time, especially when it is a paid job, I ask her to play or ask Mr. DD to carry her away to eat or play or watch Princess movies that she loves. She cries, asking for me... And comes back when she smells the sweet aroma from the oven envelop the house. She takes a peek in the oven door, careful not to get too close. I ask her for a kiss and tell her that I love her, she always answers.

When it is done, and I take the baked cupcakes out of the oven, she approaches and says "Mommy, cupcake?" and I say, "Yes, baby."

She eats what I bake, sometimes she doesn't. But when she shows so much interest with the things that I love, watching with me while I play baking videos on my phone... it touches my heart, knowing that maybe one day she'll be a great cook or baker or pastry chef in the future.

Or she'll be running Dessert Darling with me.

Whatever the future holds, I know that I will love her for the rest of my life.

April Memories

Mr. DD and I had spent half our day with the children of Cribs Foundation. It was a very touching and emotional day for me, having a soft spot for babies and children. The company he works for had given help to them. I wish I had brought food for them, but I don't know if this is possible since I had only volunteered. The toddlers were adorable and sweet, and I had emotionally attached myself to a plump little boy. I still think of him on a daily basis, hoping he is well.

Here is a little info about Cribs:

C.R.I.B.S. (Create Responsive Infants By Sharing) was started in 1974 in Manila by two Lutheran missionary wives who took home five sick babies from the Reception and Study Center for Children of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. This was the beginning of a Foster Care Program by a non-government organization in the Philippines. From its humble beginnings, CRIBS has grown into a leading child-caring agency licensed by the DSWD.

Programs and Services

The RECEIVING HOME PROGRAM provides an alternative home environment for abandoned, surrendered and neglected children aged days old to 2 ½ years old. The program is staffed with professional, compassionate and competent caregivers to ensure optimum health care, nutrition and age-appropriate stimulation for early detection of developmental delays and prevention of illness. In CRIBS, each child is uniquely loved.

The PLACEMENT PROGRAM focuses on the placement of children into loving homes whether of biological, foster or adoptive families.

FOSTER CARE provides temporary family care for children awaiting completion of adoption procedures. Through family life experiences, children recognize the idea of having parents and siblings, which is an important transition before final adoption.

The NEW BEGINNINGS PROGRAM is a residential home for young female survivors of sexual abuse aged 7-17 years. It provides a nurturing and therapeutic environment for the healing and recovery of each child. The program utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach in meeting the physical, emotional, educational and spiritual needs of the children. In CRIBS, healing through the arts is an important part of the recovery process.

To address the urgent needs of the girls with no families to go home to, RIBS recently opened a GROUP HOME PROGRAM to provide continuous schooling and skills capacity building to prepare them for independent living.

For those girls who have families and who have completed the phases of healing, CRIBS provides AFTER-CARE SERVICE which includes counseling, educational aid and referrals for livelihood assistance.

The VOLUNTEER & RESOURCE GENERATION PROGRAM ensures that there is a dynamic pool of volunteers to help deliver optimum service. The interests, talents, expertise and resources of CRIBS volunteers are mobilized to serve the interest of the children and to support program needs

You may find their website here for more information about how to help these children, and also their facebook page. I am hoping to come back to Cribs and spend another day caring for the children.

Spent some quality time with the family, eating Pho for the first time. And drinking our favorite favorite Milk tea (for me, yakultea now) from Serenitea.

My first official order for a dozen Red Velvet Cupcakes (P520)!

...And a few orders for Revel Bar (P320 for 9"x9")!

I am incredibly thankful for the increase in orders. I am hoping for a better month in May!

How about you? How was April for you?

Chocolate Chip Cookies and Doubts

There's a silent comfort that I feel while baking, also while eating cookies. Cookies remind me of what it used to feel like being a kid, it reminds me of my mom.

There are days when I wonder if I have enough skill to pursue my love for baking... I have been looking around blogs to see that many are more knowledgeable in melding flavors, many have the funds, the capabilities and the background to dream big. I felt stuck, unable to do anything for some time. The heat was also an addition. How can anyone have a hot oven running at this temperature? But mostly, I am just in doubt. I shrug my shoulders and say to myself, don't overthink it. In fact, don't think about it. Just bake when you feel like it. Bake to make yourself happy. That's what your good at. And here I am.

The chocolate chip cookies I have to share with you are not exactly the type I prefer.. but they are delicious regardless. Think of biting into the crisp cookie, and discover its chewy center. It is easy to overcook them, and you might lose that chewiness that I enjoy in them. Some of them ended up cooking in twelve to thirteen minutes, my oven rising up to 400 degrees. I regulate the temperature by opening the oven door a bit for less than a minute.

I've kept mine in a large glass cookie jar Hubby and I have bought at a thrift store less than a year ago. You may store yours in a zip-lock bag.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

adapted from Jacque Torres

2 Cups minus 2 tablespoons Cake Flour

1 2/3 Cups Bread Flour

1 1/4 teaspoons Baking Soda

1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 1/2 teaspoons Salt

2 1/2 sticks Unsalted Butter

1 1/4 Cups Light Brown Sugar

1 Cup plus 2 tablespoons Granulated Sugar

2 large eggs, 1 egg  yolk

2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

1 1/4 pounds Bittersweet or Semi-sweet chocolate feves or chips

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer, cream the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy, about five minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined.

3. Drop chocolate chips/pieces in and fold into batter.

4. Roll cookie dough and wrap with plastic wrap/cling wrap. Chill for atleast 3 hours, preferrably a day to three days. The dough develops flavor while sitting on the refrigerator. Dough may be used in batches.

5. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

6. Scoops and roll the dough into balls and place on baking sheet, making sure to leave space in between each cookies as it will flatten and spread during baking. You may add a sprinkle of good quality sea salt on top prior to baking. You may also just cut the rolled cookie dough and do not have to roll them into balls. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown but still soft. Mine had baked less than 15 minutes, time may differ. Be sure to check once in a while after the 10 minute mark.

7. Enjoy!

I am starting to dislike how small my photos are. I edit them big, and they end up almost half its size and loses some detail. They also seem to get darker when I post them here. Hm, what do you think? I'm making more of an effort to improve my photos. The lighting inside the house is underwhelming, and I can't always shoot outside. Any tips?