Caramel Popcorn

My uncle in New Jersey sent a Balikbayan Box loaded with candies, snacks and chips. One such item that made its way to us was a box of popcorn.

On Friday, my sister sent me a text message saying she was lent a DVD of the movie Serendipity. So, it was movie night and it was time to bring out the popcorn.

Celebrations by Sharon - Party Cupcake Mix

There is no shame in using a baking mix especially if one cannot think of a recipe off the top of her head is pressed for time.

 

I was doing the groceries this afternoon and remembered 2 friends were stopping by. They were celebrating their birthdays and I wanted to bake them something for the occasion. I was browsing the grocery's baking aisle and figured I would use a baking mix. There were many choices, from the internationally renowned Betty Crocker to Magic Time and even the local Maya line. But I chose to go with the "Celebrations by Sharon" mixes. I was drawn to the boxes (I'm weird that way...)

Talk about visual appeal!

Avocado Pie

What do you do when you have just one avocado, and a household of 9 who each wants a taste? You make avocado pie!

Following the fiasco of my bitter avocado ice cream, I had to make sure my next avocado endeavor did not turn out the same way. I know I shouldn't cook the avocado, so this dessert is chilled.

Cinnamon Rolls

What is your favorite smell?

I absolutely love the smell of warm cinnamon rolls. When I take them out of the oven, I love it when its scent wafts throughout the entire house.

Cinnamon is also one of my favorite spices. Whether it is paired with apples in Apple Pie, or added to the sugar Snickerdoodles are rolled in, it's always an interesting flavor.

The Case of the Bitter Avocado

A couple of days ago, my dad brought home avocados. We love slicing them up and mixing them with powdered milk and sugar for an easy dessert. 

This time, I decided I would take it a bit further and figured I would make Avocado Ice Cream. I had frozen leftover yolks and figured this would be the perfect time to use them. I made an ice cream base with cream, milk, sugar and yolks and added to that the slightly mashed avocados. I cooked everything on top of a double boiler.

Brazo de Mercedes

Brazo de Mercedes is my favorite cake. I love the sweetness of the custard and the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of the meringue roll. I learned how to make this at a Cake Decorating class, and I knew I just had to try this at home for my family.

I took photos of practically every step and they're quite easy to follow, so you'll have no excuse not to make these.

Cocoa Macaroons

Sometimes, I feel like making dessert out of what I have on hand. It's a way to stretch my imagination and discover new tastes that can become new favorites.

For Father's Day, I wanted to make something sweet that my dad will enjoy. So I checked out the fridge and the kitchen cabinets for ingredients I can use. I found shredded coconut (courtesy of my Tita Malou, who also loves to cook) and decided I would make macaroons.

Toasted Coconut Marshmallows

Marshmallows are so much fun to eat. Whenever I pop one into my mouth, I feel like a child. I just love the texture of the marshmallow.

There are many variations of this loved snack: minis, chocolate covered, and even jelly-filled.

And who knew they were easy to make? Here's a grown-up version of the beloved treat: