Cheers to Another Year

Our mini herb garden

Picking basil leaves for my birthday bash

Freshly harvested organic basil leaves

Shrimps for the seafood pasta

Marinara sauce for the seafood pasta

Breaded chicken breast fillets for the Chicken Parmigiana

Fried until golden brown

Flat noodles for the seafood pasta

Regular spaghetti noodles for the pesto pasta

The perfect Parmesan cheese for the Pesto Pasta and Chicken Parmigiana

The stars of the evening

Chicken Parmigiana topped with tomato sauce and melted Mozzarella cheese

The most requested Pesto Pasta

Sliced French Bread

Seafood Pasta

Curtain Call

Happy Birthday to me!

My relatives seemed to be clicking the “Like” button.

A month ago, I celebrated my birthday. For the nth time, we did what we do best, pasta and chicken. So, of course, pesto pasta took centerstage. Joining the limelight were Seafood Pasta (with lots of shrimps in it) and Chicken Parmigiana. The cast would not have been complete without the slices of French  Bread and herbed and spiced olive oil with balsamic vinegar. The Chicken Parmigiana which was also taught to us by our ever- generous and patient friend , Chef Bryan Jimenez , was made of chicken breast fillet, bread crumbs , especially concocted tomato sauce, Dijon mustard and mozzarella cheese. Modesty aside, it was a big hit among our guests, especially to my nephew Egan Sanchez, who kept on telling me, “That chicken is sooooo good!”  Indeed, it was an evening of good food, good company, good laughs, good memories. 

WOW! Davao

The Reception Hall

Watching the AVP created by Davao-based photographer par-excellence, Ben Young III.

     Sweet little thing called Lachi’s

Choco Mallow Bite

Choco Pecan Tartlet

Carrot Walnut Cake

Silvanas

NY-Style Cheesecake

Leftmost and rightmost: The Mike and Melvin Aviles, proprietors of Lachi's Sans Rival Atbp.

Lachi’s Durian Cheesecake

A few weeks ago, my family and some relatives from my father's side (23 of us) flew to Davao City, a very spectacular place located in Southern Mindanao to attend my cousin Toti's wedding. When we got there, we were toured around the city by our good friends Tita Jinky Yuson, Tita Nene Yuson, and Tito Alfie Peralta. 

As I gazed upon the lovely couple, I said to myself, Toti and Raige Catipon could have graced the cover of a wedding magazine. Toti looked dashing in his barong, custom- made from Lumban, Laguna, and Raige was stunning in her  chic gown with an intricately beaded bodice and exquisitely detailed peacock-inspired trail.

The church and the reception hall at the Marco Polo Hotel were enchantingly decorated by Noel E. Tanza.  Fresh tulips, roses, orchids, colored chandeliers and crystal candelabras bedecked the dining area.

The food was glorious! But what struck me most was the dessert corner catered by the famous Lachi’s Sans Rival Atbp.  Proprietors Mike and Melvin Aviles (they are twins) personally supervised the serving of their mouth-watering specialty desserts. What earned my two thumbs up was the Durian Cheesecake. So divine. Honestly, I am not much of a durian fan, but this cheesecake totally changed the image of durian in my mind and in my taste buds. I noticed that Lachi’s desserts are not too sweet, another plus factor. From what I have heard, Lachi’s also serves sumptuous dishes like Grilled Pork Ribs, Grilled Porkchops, Pork Marinara, Crispy Lechon Kawali, Stuffed Chicken, and many more. For those travelling to Davao City, I recommend Lachi’s located along Mabini Ave. Ruby Street , Marfori Heights.

To view the enchanting wedding of Toti and Raige, you may visit: 

http://goldentouch5.com/index.php?option=com_wgpicasa&view=album&album=5620590141594711105&page=1&Itemid=94

Dear Darla

The pizza cut into rectangular slices

Step 1: Take a rectangular slice of pizza

Step 2: Spread a layer of arugula greens and top with alfalfa sprouts. Drizzle with chili oil.

Step 3: Roll the pizza crust tightly.

Step 4: Roll until it forms a mini wrap.

Step 5: Dig in!

Are you a part of the Yellow Cab’s Dear Darla fans club?  Dear Darla, my all time favorite pizza derived its name from the characters Darla and Alfalfa in the movie, Little Rascals. The main ingredients of Dear Darla pizza are alfalfa sprouts and arugula leaves. Alfalfa, a member of the legume family, contains a wide range of vitamins making it a good source of anti-oxidant. The very succulent arugula leaf is best known for its phytochemical components, thus, high in anti-cancer properties.  Fresh-from-the-oven thin-crust pizza pie is cut into rectangular pieces and topped with  a special tomato sauce, cheese, onions, pepperoni and olives. The crunchy greens give a flicker of freshness to each bite of the Dear Darla pizza.

Whoever is behind the concoction of the Dear Darla pizza is a genius. A masterpiece, indeed.

Strawberry-filled cupcakes

Strawberry-filled cupcakes

        A few weeks ago, my cousin from Jacksonville, Florida,  Tin Catipon-Sanchez, together with her husband Dennis and their  three handsome kids Egan, Gage and Kian came home to the Philippines for the wedding of her youngest brother, Toti.  As a welcome treat to my nephews, I baked sponge cupcakes. I used a paring knife to cut a 1-inch-deep piece from the top of each cupcake, filled each hole with a teaspoon of stawberry jam and replaced the  cutout pieces. For frosting, I tinted the boiled icing pink , piped it on top, and finished it off  with a fresh strawberry.