Christmas 2011 Wishlist

Holiday season is here! So, here's my (again) no-holds-barred Christmas wishlist! 

1. CUISINART FROZEN YOGURT, ICE CREAM AND SORBET MAKER

I don't care that Momon and I are on this low-card diet. I want an ice cream maker.  

2. KITCHEN TIMER (CUTE DESIGN)

3. BAKING TOOLS, THE WHOLE SHEBANG

My baking tools and materials are back at my parents' house. Whatever, I just one a new set.

 

4. BOOTS!

5. FANCY PLATES FOR MY PLATE WALL

This is an upcoming decorating project. :-)

6. VINTAGE MIRROR/S

7. VASES -  SHABBY CHIC FEEL

A Journey with Children Book Launch

Finally after 6 months, "A Journey with Children (Living and Working in the Streets in the Philippines)" has been published! It was a privilege to be one of the authors of this coffee-table photobook, assisting Italian photographer Giacomo Pirozzi. The project was under UNICEF Philippines and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 

The launch was extra special and done with highest honor at the Malacanan Palace, with no less than President Benigno Aquino III present to accept the photobook from Lalaine Loreto, 11 years old, of Nayon ng Kabataan.

The launch coincided with the awarding ceremonies of the 2011 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities, which is a regular affair every October to commemorate the Children's Month. UNICEF Country Representative Ms. Vanessa Tobin (leftmost) also received a plaque from DSWD for her unending commitment to help children in the Philippines.

It was so nice to see  some of the children who were featured in the photobook, and of course Giacomo, Mareen, Jonas, Tito Jess Far and all those who worked in the project. The Council for the Welfare of Children and its pool of young facilitators very wisely gathered the children one Saturday prior to the event and showed them the printed book. After seeing it, they drafted a response and a call to action for President Aquino, which was presented to the audience by Lalaine.

Needless to say, the event was also a reunion of so many different organizations working on the advocacy of children's rights. Here we are doing our best to be formal during the cocktails.

These are the young facilitators from CWC who served as ushers during the event. They are (left to right) Rafael Coste, Alexander Macatual, Shane Manopol and Carlo Jagnaan;  and with them are the very young looking (LOL) Ate Ros and Kuya Rex Dayao and Ate Andre Canilang. We all belong to different child-rights organizations who participated/organized in the Philippine National Children's Conference in 2009 and ASEAN Children's Forum in 2010.

And of course, I'm happy because Momon was there to support me. Pinabilib ko lang naman s'ya. Hahaha!

Here we are with the event host, 2010 Ms. Universe 4th runner-up Venus Raj. My goodness, she is a goddess! I'm such a fan, especially now that I know she has an interest in children's rights.

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador--and my super fave singer--Gary Valenciano was also at the event! I was tasked on the spot to introduce him to to all the children who were part of the book. Lucky I have good memory and I was able to remember all the children's names, ages and locations, and give a brief background about their story.

During the introductions, Joshua, who is 11, from Lingap Pangkabataan said, "Ate, kamukha n'ya yung nagsasayaw sa TV" (He looks like that man who dances on TV). I responded, "S'ya yun! (That's him!). 

And Gary said, "Ako yun, yung sa ASAP." (That's me, from ASAP.) Then he dance very discreetly on the spot.

Here I am with Giacomo. Congratulations Giacomo!
May you continue to inspire more people through the children's stories you capture in your photos.

Oh, what an honor to be part of the book. It was a wonderful journey with children.
Please visit www.ajourneywithchildren.com to know more about the photobook.

White Chocolate-Macadamia Cookies

Ask me what I miss the most while on the low-carb diet. It's not the rice, not the pasta, not so much the fruits or candy. What I miss the most is baking--the act of baking. 

Since I can not eat the sweet goodies and the sumptuous breads I used to bake on a regular basis, I have also put my baking projects on the side. Oh how I miss it, I can't begin to explain! So, just to reminisce a bit, I am sharing with you one of my favorite cookie recipes: White Chocolate Macadamia.

 Best served with milk!

This is my family's favorite among the cookies I make. The dough itself is not so sweet, but when you bite into the parts with the white chocolate, it creates the perfect blend of sweetness. The macadamia nuts are also my favorite and its texture and saltiness is a good contrast to the soft and chewy dough. 

Baking this recipe is not the easiest thing. The dough is huge (just look at the 2 blocks of butter below!), extra sticky and a bit heavy to handle. If you're not too careful during baking, it's also easy to pull out the cookies too early or too late and be left with a cookie that is either too soft or not as soft as you intend. Make sure to check it before pulling it out from the oven because the cookies may need a minute or two more or less than stated, sometimes depending on your oven temperature.

But don't worry about all these intricacies. You'll master them in no time. All the hard work will pay off once you receive comments, praises, smiles, hugs, tears, and all the superlatives that are inevitably on your way after sharing these cookies.

Here is the original website where you can get more excellent cookie recipes!  And without further ado, here is the recipe.


White Chocolate Macadamia Cookie Recipe
Makes 60 cookies, using a 1 tablespoon scooper 
Divide the recipe in half if needed


Ingredients:

•     1 pound (2 cups) butter, room temperature
•     1 2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
•     1 cup granulated sugar
•     3 large eggs, room temperature
•     1 tablespoon vanilla
•     4 1/4 cup all purpose white flour
•     2 teaspoons baking soda
•     1 teaspoon salt
•     2 cups (12 ounce bag) white chocolate chips or chunks
•     1 1/4 cup (4 ounces) macadamia nuts, roasted and chopped

Method:

•     Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
•     Line baking sheets with parchment paper. No need to grease.
•     Measure flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and blend together. Set aside.
•     In a large mixing bowl, preferably a heavy-duty mixer, and using the paddle or beater attachment, beat butter until creamy.

•     Add brown sugar and beat again. Scrape down the bowl and add the granualted sugar. Beat until fluffy.
•     Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition.
•     Add vanilla, beat and scrape again.
•     On low speed, add flour mixture 2 cups at a time, and mix well.

•     Mix in white chocolate and macadamia nuts. Mix only until blended.
•     Using a cookie scoop, place dough on prepared baking sheets, spacing evenly to allow for spreading.
•     Bake at 350 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Do NOT over bake these cookies. They continue to bake for a few minutes after they are removed from the oven.

 

•     Transfer to cooling racks. Store in air tight container or plastic bag to stay soft and moist.

Enjoy!

Lisa Macuja's Swan Song Series

Last night, my mom, sister and I trooped to the Aliw Theater to catch the beginning of  Lisa Macuja's Swan Song Series. A "swan song series" is a ballet dancer's last performances of his/her signature ballets. Lisa, one of the Philippines' prima ballerina, is set to ease into retirement within the period of three years, with swan performances of Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote and Giselle. You can read more about it here.

Few people know that I was once a budding ballet dancer myself. I studied ballet from age five to 12, and with all modesty aside (which I have so little of), I was one of the top students of my class. I was just about to transition to point shoes when my teacher in JASMS left and I was forced to enroll in another ballet school where, I guess in hindsight, I was not able to adjust very well. It was also about this time that my interest and talent in playing volleyball blossomed and so I let go of dancing ballet. Although I don't regret any of this, I find myself smiling when I imagine what my life would have been if I continued on my ballet journey. We'll never know, I guess.

So, it goes without saying that, my interest in the art of ballet is deeply rooted in my heart. My mom also took us to see Maniya Barredo's (Philippine's first prima ballerina) final performance of Giselle. I also had the privilege of meeting Lisa Macuja when I was 10 or 11 after her performance of Darna at the CCP. So, when I heard about Lisa's swan song series, I vowed to catch every performance.

I'm not really in the mood nor do I have the ability to give a full review. But let me say this: Lisa Macuja is divine in her performance of the twin roles of White and Black Swan. She deserved every second the overly-extended curtain call at the end of the performance. If there was anything to start her swan song series with, she did it right by starting with Swan Lake. 

Her next performance is on October 21 and 22 for Romeo and Juliet.

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Here is Lisa Macuja's own account of her Swan Lake experience throughout her career.
Very interesting read!

Goodbye, Swan Lake... Hello, Swan Song Series

One Down

It doesn't feel like a whole year has passed. But since Momon and I have been married, we've celebrated one birthday each, all our friends' and families' birthdays and every possible holiday. All the rest of the year was spent having a blast loving and taking care of each other. 

So, it's one down, forever to go. No worries though, time really flies when you're having fun!