Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies

Continuing on my family's health nut periods (like most people this 2013, I've noticed), I started to crave for sweets while stuck in the house. Normally, I would bake cookies or muffins and be happy, but I want to maintain our low-cal diet. I wouldn't want to discourage the rest of the family members with their diet by baking some over-indulgent desserts. Now don't worry, this won't turn into a strictly healthy, no sugars, no carb diet blog. I'm just being inclusive for those who do want something a little less guilty.

With a little bit of searching, a little bit of tweaking, I was able to come up with mini cookies that are delicious but still within limit of a balanced snack. You get chocolate in every bite which is really my main concern and by using whole wheat flour, it hits the right spot.

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Last weekend, I had quite an adventure, I knew I was in for something but I had no actual idea what would happen to me. Last weekend, I went to Cebu and it was my first time. Cebu, lovely readers is one of the beautiful islands in the Philippines. We have over 7000 islands, and Cebu is one of the metropolitan islands in the country. It's a shame that I only stayed in the city and didn't get to go to the beaches, but there will be another time for that, definitely. Last weekend in Cebu was their great Sinuog Festival to celebrate the Sto. Nino, which is the image of the baby Jesus that made itself a staple image in the Filipino home by way of Cebu. Now how do you celebrate in Cebu? By parading the streets, not to mention partying in them.

I won't go into detail but I will tell you it was a sinful weekend. If you ever go to Cebu, it is a crime to leave without tasting their lechon, and I just really enjoyed my stay. To salvage myself, I decided to make a bit of a healthy but still yummy snack - granola bars!

Mushroom Risotto/Arancini Di Riso

Well, aren't you guys in a treat for today! Bear with me for this might be a bit of a long post. Let's talk about rice. For Filipinos it has been a long-time staple, one of the things we produce extensively. In Asia, we normally eat this as is, plain with a viand. Or if you're lucky, with garlic! If you don't know how to prepare plain rice, that's pretty sad especially if you're Asian.

Anyway. Wanting something filling for dinner with just my brother and I in the house, I decided to make a long-awaited risotto. I've never made risotto before although I have eaten it in some places. Growing up in a country that eats rice three times a day, I always wondered how different making risotto could be. Surprise, surprise, Arborio rice is a lot different from regular let's say, Sinandomeng rice? In terms of water quantities that is. Risotto requires tender love and care, and a lot of attention. Absolutely satisfying though!

Whole Wheat Muffins

Dear readers,

Well aren't we all glad that I have finally raised my blog out of the grave? Apologies for not posting in so long, especially during the holidays where people are out and about looking for recipes to spice up the holiday spirit. December was a lot busier than I expected with all the holiday feasts and parties spread throughout the month, which would totally make me sound like a cool person having attended so much, seeing as I have a life. On the contrary however, I did not attend so much parties. In all honesty, I was sick most days during the holidays and I wasn't all too pumped out to get out of my bed and get baking. Also because that would be quite unhygienic.

Now that I'm back to blogging, let me just all greet you a late Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! It's 2013 and clearly, we didn't die as the Mayans sort of predicted we would, and what better way to celebrate our being alive than by good recipes that will keep us alive longer? Over the holidays, not that I've been a health nut or anything, but I have been a little more precocious with what I eat to prevent an expansive gain of holiday weight and to lose them should I gain some. So let's start the new year with a healthy breakfast recipe shall we?

Whole Wheat Muffins are a real treat when you've found your go-to recipe. Something that's not too sweet with the right amount texture to bite into and healthy enough to start your day with!