Summer in January...

Summer for me came early this year.
Spent the last week of January basking in the sun at the beautiful island of Boracay.=)

 Pristine beach with its powdery white sand, clear water...........I could go on and on and on..........

Hubby had their division kick-off and I immediately followed right at the last day of the conference  -  I just couldn't wait and was giddy with excitement to be with my favorite person in the world.=)

 These gals were so much fun to be with that it felt like we have known each other for ages.   We came as acquaintances ( my hubby's friends' wives - got it? )  and left as friends.=)

 It's my 2nd time to be in Bora, my husband's 15th time..............huwhaaaaattt???!!!

The 1st time we did the usual - island hopping, snorkeling, banana boat ride........
This time,   we chose to just BUM around and ENJOY whatever there is to do along the long strip of white beach.

And ENJOY we did!!!

The beach, I think, is the perfect venue to do this.

Group Jumpshot perfection.

The guys did their thing.....

...and we did ours.

We kept our tummies happy too!

Of course, the baker in me didn't pass up the chance to try Bora's famous CALAMANSI MUFFIN!
Mmmmm......heavenly even sans the frosting.      It's slightly toasted on the outside,  soft and crumbly inside,   with just the right amount of tang.

Didn't get to meet Nadine, who came up with the recipe, but we were greeted by her mom Lee instead.     Muffin cost Php 45 each.    Bought myself 2 boxes of 6's to bring home to my family and hubby's.    At the airport on the way back, we realized we forgot to buy for ourselves.=(

As of this writing,   I am seriously craving for one! Sheesh!

I have got to make me one of those muffins.=)  Searched the net and stumbled upon a recipe at Pepper.ph

Go on and recreate it,   recipe can be found below or here.

CALAMANSI MUFFIN
from Pepper.ph

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup calamansi

Mix together dry ingredients in a bowl : all purpose flour, baking powder, salt.  Set aside.
Mix together milk and calamansi in a bowl.  Set aside.
Cream butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes.
Add eggs one at a time and mix well.
Add in milk mixture and flour mixture.
Mix until well blended.  Don't overmix.
Scoop in non-stick muffin pans.
Bake in preheated 350 degrees fahrenheit oven for 18-23 minutes.

These muffins can be paired with milk I guess but I found it best paired with........

Avocado Mango!!!!!

Still a lot of things to try and do and so little time. ( stayed for 3 days/2 nights )
But despite that short a stay.............I had FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!!

Till next time, Boracay!

Enjoy!

Pink and Gold Dessert Table

Hey.
I'm back in the blogosphere.  Have been on hiatus since forever, I guess.
But I'm turning over a new leaf.=)

1st blog post for the 1st month of a new year.
It seems very fitting to post the 1st dessert buffet table I made.

A few days right before Christmas, I was commissioned to do a baptismal theme in pink and gold motif.  My brain was packed with lots of ideas since I was given a freehand on the design.

I have started making cake pops and marshmallow pops then.
This was the perfect avenue to showcase my creations.

Enjoy the pictures!

 

I threw in strawberry gummy candies and Hershey kisses with "thank you" sticker printables made by my cousin Vanessa, which I paintstakingly sticked at the bottom of each chocolate kiss.

These were last minute inclusion to the menu.  There were still a lot of cake scraps ( the domed top sliced off the cake ), I figured "Why not make an ice cream cone cupcake?"

It was tiring having to prepare a lot of things for the party.  But when all the goodies were gone, I was beaming with joy.=)

I deserve a pat on the back..........or a massage would be better. **wink**