The day started somewhat cloudy. As I opened my bedroom windows, I doubted the sun would come out; but it did a little later. While I was busy working, the kitchen windows were opened slightly, letting the fresh air in. I suddenly thought of how close spring will be, it seemed like it’s already in [...]
Chinese New Year is today, Monday, January 23, 2012; and it will be the beginning of the year of the Dragon. I’m pretty excited this year because my parents are here and we get to celebrate it together for the first time after a long time being apart. This type of celebration is truly felt [...]
Eating sweetened tangyuan or onde-onde (in Bahasa Indonesia) during Chinese Winter Solstice Festival may become a yearly occurrence now. Before my parents moved close to me, I didn’t always remember to make onde-onde in the month of December; or sometimes I was too lazy to make some. But now, my mom is my motivation to [...]
I finally had a time to bake sweets for Christmas…ah, the joy of having two-week break from work. It gave me a motivation to bake, it prepared me to be ready for Christmas. Thus the sweet is aptly named Christmas almond truffle bars. I’ve made this actually years before, don’t remember anymore if I’ve ever [...]
Monkeying around in the kitchen
Here are some recent explorations from my kitchen (with occasional help from Mom): Chicken Pesto pizza, a relatively simple pizza made from store-bought pesto, grilled chicken, mozzarella and Provolone cheeses. New Haven White Clam pizza, a new favorite of my son and I. I can’t believe how simple it is to make this pizza, much...
Bittersweet Chocolate-Walnut Bundt Cake
I bought this book, Intensely Chocolate by Carole Bloom, thinking that there have got to be some good recipes in it. But I was slightly disappointed by this recipe; though the appearance is quite beautiful, the taste is not what I expected. Perhaps, because there is not egg nor butter in the cake, instead, sour...
Shrimp, Corn and Avocado Tostadas
Everyone is talking about green and yellow and black and yellow for the upcoming game on Sunday. You know what it is, it is the Super Bowl XLV. What you eat or nibble during the game is equally important. Perhaps this shrimp, corn, and avocado tostadas will satisfy the hunger for something crunchy, salty,...
Steamed Nian Gao with Shredded Coconut
Tomorrow is Chinese New Year and I feel extra special this year because my parents are here with me. By some luck, my mom has her last Indonesian nian gao with her. Somebody must have brought it with her and gave it to her. This specialty cake is only available during Chinese New Year and is called...
Fried Sweet Potato Dumplings
Oh, where has the time gone by? There has been so much going on in my household that I have not updating this blog recently. My parents have finally settled in their house, while the transition has not been as easy and smooth as we have expected it, the life routine has caught up with...
Pear-Cranberry Pie with Almond Meal Crust
The year 2010 has come to just one more day. It has been a good year to me, it’s full of surprises, mostly good thankfully. It has also been a busy year, with work, traveling to Indonesia, and parents moving across the state. I like to stay busy and the goals for this year have...
Iced-Lemon Ginger Cookies
Christmas is only two days away. With it comes a joy in my life; I’ve accomplished my biggest undertaking of the year, helping my parents move to Oregon. The plan to move was dreamed up years ago but the time has never been right for my parents. Until at last they decided that this year...
Marbled Green Tea Yogurt Cake
Just a quick post from what I’ve tried a few weeks ago. I saw this recipe in Fine Cooking, but instead of regular yogurt cake I added green tea powder and marbled the appearance. I didn’t make a new ganache since I had some leftover. Overall, it was an okay cake, the texture was not...
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Ira Rodrigues on Black-Eyed Peas and Corn Salad
i will definitely give it a try liz and plenty cho... -
CJ at Food Stories on Black-Eyed Peas and Corn Salad
I just found your site on foodblogs.com so I thoug... -
Sue B. on Black-Eyed Peas and Corn Salad
Super delicious, Eliza! Fresh and zesty as a compl... -
Lisa @ Snappy Gourmet on Orange Chocolate Bundt Cake
I love bundt cakes! This sounds great! Thanks ... -
bujibear on Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie
my use to make one similar to this and i have been...
This sanctuary is a means for me to express my creativity through food and photography. I am delighted in simple things in life so you will not see any pretentious in everything I write here.
My passion is in baking, whether it is Western-or Asian-style baking, I love them all. While baking doesn't always happen all the time, cooking is a must for me so what I cook is occasionally posted here too. I'm completely self-taught in both baking and cooking, everything you see here is all homemade.
Enjoy your time here, I'm glad you've come and visited my site. 
