Cupcakes

Baking my first cupcake

I am a big fan of cupcakes, chocolate cupcake specifically. I'm not much into carrot cakes or other flavors but I can sure give it a try. Ordering online can be a little bit expensive especially if there is an event and i wanted to have some. Last weekend,I had extra money and ample time to visit chocolate lover at QC and grab a couple of baking tools and ingredients. Much to my eagerness to baked, we will be having it for my brothers birthday. (walang testing testing! party agad!)

My friends who loves to baked and cook for her family gave me the recipe from her mom's old notes. She tried and tested the moist cake recipe and it was a success. And as expected, her family love it. Since her feedback was enough, I also use the recipe from her handy dandy recipe notebook for my first-time baking the cupcakes. Good thing I'm into moist cakes and cupcakes too!.

The steps in the recipe where clear. She made sure that first time baker  can follow it easily. I just fret before putting goods in the stove because I expected the mixture to be harder. The outcome of mixing the ingredients together can be compared to the consistency of a thick hot cocoa. I though I did something wrong.

Thankfully after baking it for 15 minutes (170C), it became ready-to-eat cupcakes! My only mistake in this project is that I do not put flame on the lower part of the oven, but thanks to my instinct to put in on just in time before my cupcakes erupts like a volcanoes. Nonetheless, I can give myself a pat in the back for doing a great job considering that i don't have any background in baking. I just need a couple of minor adjustments like baking time, temperature, and the perfect ingredients then maybe I can get a hang on this.

The recipe made 21 cupcakes but it would be 20 cupcakes if I added more in the pans. I'm not sure how much I spent for this but it's definitely worth the money and the time. I baked this for my brother's birthday and it is super hit!

Desserts like cupcakes are definitely sweeter if you're the one to make it!

People of my year 2012

This Post is dedicated to those who made a difference in my life for the year 2012, my little way of saying thank you for all they've done whether they know it or not :) this post is similar to what I have read in the magazines "people of the year". I guess its not too late to have one and besides, I know everybody have their own list too.

Meet the people of my year 2012

                                                         

Queency Mae Dela Cruz

Queency is my friend for around eight years now. She used to be my partners in crime way back college days, though we are not batch mates, we shared ideas and thoughts on our organizations we are both members/officers. We also became office mates, travel mate and ka-talk mates!. Queency is crazy, fun, funny and at the same time passionate, hardworking and driven. She even helped me out planning my wedding and making my souvenir plans for real (at pumayag pa maging abay!). She is in Canada now, pursuing what she was planned four years ago, and i am happy for her. She may not know it but she is a huge influence on me, reminding me that its to good to be crazy and be emotional once in a while. It keep us human and keep us sane and an inspiration for me to strive higher. Life would be so boring without kinse!

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My C2/Premiere EDD Design Team

This year was the year i proved to myself that if you work hard and that if you love what you do and the people you worked with, they will all love you back. They gave me extra care and patience since i am carrying a baby and having a hard time working while having a huge tummy. My EDD family have been part of my life for over 5 years now and it just feels so good to know that hard work with love really pays off. This is a real team kapamilya, kapatid and kapuso all in one. I salute you guys for  the great friendship and good teamwork effort all the time. Kudos c2!

                                                           

Jei Aryan Gratil Parras

He was my bundle of joy and my angel sent by heaven. I had a hard time delivering him at the hospital because of my asthma and my not so normal labor process, but thank God after 3 long days at the labor room we are both safe. He is nine months now and starting to walk by his own, he laugh's a lot, dances whenever he hear beats, cuddles at night and gave me cute smile when he wakes up. ahhhhh! so priceless. Being a mom of this cute angle is the most precious gift i have received for this year and will forever give me a mommyhood experience that life has to offer. I love you son! :)

Sheila Marie Malvar Parras

Ate sheila has been an ate to me for three years now and what i love about her is she strongly face her life with poise and calm attitude. Every single time i get to talk to ate sheila, i am inspired to do what i want and make a move on some dream of mine ( including my day dreams!). She proves again and again that we can achieve what we want if we put our heart into it. It is her being such a caring and concerned  mother  and ate  that make her shine so bright. Her posh life was just an additional and the kikay factor ever make her so adorable. PS i still dunno what happen whenever im with her there is something kikay spirit that comes in into my body also...lakas makahawa! :P

Maracel Therese Yap Agner " Chingkay"

Chingkay is one of my best friend since college days (AdU days!) we are dorm mates. I can honestly say that she is one of the people who knows me the most. We sadly don't see each other as often as we used to, but she is still one those who keeps me grounded. Just this year she got her most awaited job to pursue her writing talent, she is an artist by heart and i idolized her ever since. Her fearlessness is one of the thing i look up to the most and i hope to be more like her this year. I miss you dear!

Mary Ann Castillo Gratil "tess"

My sister made it to this list. My family actually made it to this list (as it would yours too, i believe) but my sister has some major life event every year that's make me admire her strong character even more. This year she flew all the way in Jeddah to work as what she wanted ever since, being a nurse (Hospital angels in disguise, that's what i called them!) but unfortunately not on our beloved country (I hate the fact that sometimes we need to go abroad just to work for what we want that our country could not offer us, sigh!), but she waited for it for a long time. I am confident that she is happy right now and i know she can adopt to wherever she is for she is the most strongest person in my life. Good things happen to good people. My awesome sister is the proof of that.

Adelaida Castillo Gratil

My mama of course, this list will not be complete without her. Last year was very emotional to both of us, I got married, I gave birth and live separately. I know it was hard for her that her panganay is now living a bit far from her (as in 15 minutes away lang! haha) however, i saw mama so happy with her first apo Jeian she would even borrowed Jeian overnight and spoil him on what he wants. She's very young at heart, very active, and a very strong woman. I'm always eager to share with anyone and everyone  about the amazing way she brought up me and my siblings, not just when we were kids, but to this day that we "kids" are adults.

  Edwin Maravilla Gratil

Of course my father is on the list also, same with mama this year has brought a huge changes  in our home  since  i live separately and have my own family. I remembered him  when we walked down the isle teary eyed (so emotional!). He drove me in my regular check up and spoil me in my paglilihi episode. I can't describe how proud lolo he is when Jeian was born. He would always tell "we will surely play basketball together apo". Up to now even mama and papa parted ways whenever there is a time to catch up I still feel nothing has changed we are still the loud and happy family we used to. I admire him for being a good provider, very humble and super patience.

Ryan Germino Parras

I guess I feel its "understood" that a significant other is a major force in one's life, I want to share how in awe I am of his good heartedness. He is so thoughtful to me that i become more thoughtful as well. My best friend for life, my partner and my soul mate happen to be my husband. We got married this year and living with our humble home and blessed with cutie little boy Jeian. What more can i ask for? Knowing that i have someone i can share with and defend on forever. ahhh cheesy!

Shiggy, Rein and Ate Ryce

And lastly, my office best bud which is also my travel bud, my ate's, my mentor and my best friends. We shared each others company and "baon" for over five years now, and I can say I had the most wonderful friends ever.  Every laughter is treasured for life :). One thing in common, we all love to eat!.

I admire shiggy for being a cool mom to her beautiful daughter. She loves to travel (which i loved too)-That gave us inspiration to hold on to our work and more sidelines!, You can easily drag her anywhere and can adjust to every people she met. We shared ideas up to last drop and laugh until our stomach hurts.

Ate ryce is my first mentor in work, the best ate ever!, she is so thoughtful and caring. I admire her eagerness to learn in everything that life has to offer her.

Rein is funny, crazy and sweet. I admire her for being a strong willed superwoman, loving mom, and great cook! :). Even though we often see her now, we still squeezed in time to see each other once in a while.