Foodie Goodie | No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake.

So you want to make your Mom a cake for Mother's Day. But you don't know how to bake. You don't even know how to turn the oven on. And you can't ask Mom for help because it's supposed to be a surprise.

Consider yourself lucky for stumbling upon my blog! Today I will be sharing a no-bake cake recipe that's so easy to follow and takes very little time to make. And I'm pretty sure this yummy dessert will make any mom's heart melt. :)

No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips or Hershey's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 pack (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 pack (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
2 cups frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1 pack (at least 6 oz.) graham cracker crumb crust

Procedure:
1. Place chocolate chips in small microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave at medium for 1 minute, then stir. If necessary, microwave at medium an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chips are melted when stirred. Set aside to cool.
3. Beat cream cheese, sugar and butter in large bowl on medium speed of mixer until creamy.
4. Gradually add melted chips, beating on low speed until blended.
5. Fold in whipped topping until blended; spoon into crust.
6. Refrigerate overnight.
7. Garnish as desired before serving.

As seen on Hershey's Kitchens. Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.

Foodie Goodie | Cakes by Issa Aguilar.

So this food post is going live a little bit late, because my internet connection and phone line went berserk. I was excommunicated for the past 36 hours! Anyhoo, my DSL is up and running, and we're back to regular programming. :)

The little man's Mickey Mouse birthday cake received quite a handful of compliments, and I've been asked where I had the cake made.

Photo credit: Bubbles Cristobal

They were created by none other than my friend Issa Aguilar, whose family owns Golden Wheat Bakery - one of the popular and long-running bakeries in San Pablo City. Issa, whom I fondly call Baker Queen (with reference to Baker King Kim Tak Gu since we're both Kdrama/Kpop addicts) is actually a CPA by profession. She ventured into the cake business not too long ago, after discovering the joy and fulfillment in creating cakes.

And her creations are as good as it looks, I tell you. Those Mickey Mouse cupcakes are the most divine butter cream cupcakes I've ever tasted, and they have walnuts, to boot!

Best butter cream cupcakes ever. :)

The cake, on the other hand, is a yummy chocolate chiffon adorned with Mickey's smiling face plus uber cute lettering.

Cutie patootie font!

And yes, they're edible, too.

Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse!

Thank you for the lovely cake and cupcakes, Issa! Love love! :)

Check out Issa's cake creations here! For orders and inquiries, you may call Golden Wheat Bakery at (049) 5626693 or 09175016694 or send a DM on their Facebook page.

Golden Wheat Bakery - Main
71 A. Bonifacio St., San Pablo City

Golden Wheat Bakery - Los Banos Branch
9568 Batong Malake, Los Banos, Laguna

Shared with Food Friday, Food Trip Friday, and Heavenly Treats Sunday.

Foodie Goodie | Mer-Nel's Chocolate Cake.

Best. 

Chocolate cake. 

Ever.

If you're  from Los Banos, or a UPLB (University of the Philippines Los Banos) student/alumni, or a resident of Laguna, I'm pretty sure you're familiar with this heart-shaped cake. I know, too, that my claim of Mer-Nel's being the best chocolate ever would go uncontested.

What began in 1996 as a small business to support their family's needs has flourished to become a household name and a very popular brand of cakes and pastries. From a humble little bakeshop, this business of Ms. Merle and Mr. Nelson Balicao (guess where the name Mer-Nel's came from, haha) has grown big, and continues to grow bigger.

Aside from the original store along Lopez St., in Los Banos, Mer-Nel's now has a restaurant and function hall located along South Superhighway, and a branch at SM City Calamba.

Mer-Nel's Place
#65 National Highway, Brgy. Maahas, Los Banos, Laguna. 
+63495361145 +63495364544
mernelsplace@gmail.com

Shared with Food Friday, Food Trip Friday, Heavenly Treats, Yummy Sunday, i Heart macro, Pink Saturday, Blue Monday. 

VDay 2012 | Fly Me to Seoul?

The little man and I were supposed to go on an early Valentines date today, but the weather totally spoiled our plan. It's been raining nonstop since yesterday, and the rainfall is showing no sign of giving up. Good luck to all the lovebirds tomorrow, lol.

Within the next 24 hours, business will be booming for flower shops, cake shops, and courier services. Hotels will be fully booked, and restaurants will be buzzing with dating/married/soon-to-be couples.

I won't be part of the Valentine crowd tomorrow, though. Come to think of it, if my husband was here, we wouldn't be joining the bandwagon, either. My husband doesn't like crowded restaurants, and just the thought of having to wait for seats ticks him off.

For the past nine years (wow, we've really been together this long?!), Valentines for us would be dinner at home (pizza delivery or Chinese takeout) plus chocolate cake from Mer-nel's (home of the best chocolate cake ever!) for dessert. Then perhaps a DVD movie, an NBA game, or a UFC match on the telly after.

Vday 2007, with my favorite chocolate cake. And LOL at my bangs. :)

My husband isn't the kind who gives roses or writes love letters. Roses wither, so he buys practical gifts instead. Last year, for instance, he gave me a 13-piece cookware set as a present. The domesticated wife that I am, was more than thrilled to receive his gift. (Happiness with Teflon pans = signs of growing old, lol.)
And instead of wasting paper on a love letter, he'd rather send me a text message or profess his undying love via email. How's that for being a techie and an environmentalist in one? Haha!

Needless to say, I love my husband like crazy, and I still have a huge crush on him, lol. And yes, I miss him to bits. If only flying to Seoul (you land at Incheon airport, of course) was as easy as getting on a plane to Jeju, I'd be there before you could even say Skin 79 Hot Pink Super Plus Triple Function Beblesh Balm.

If you're reading this Daddy, I know you're smiling in giddiness, bwahahaha! I love you!
Sarangheyo! Nomu nomu nomu bogoshippu!
(That's 'I love you' and 'I miss you very very very much in Korean. No, my husband is not Korean. Haha!)

Sharing with the 366, Mommy Moments, and Wednesday Whites.