Trick or Treat? Halloween is a much celebrated day in our family since my husband brought the tradition to our kids. Over the years, I have learned to be creative with party decors and festive Halloween dishes. I prepare a simple party menu that are in various hue and colors of orange such as spaghetti, or fried chicken. Usually a Halloween cake adorns our table. Here are examples of Halloween cakes.

These beautifully crafted Halloween themed cakes are from the bakery of Baguio Country Club.

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Posted: October 31st, 2008 under Baking Tips.
Comments: 1

8 or 9-Inch Double Crust
1 level cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening (half butter/half margarine)
1 to 4 tablespoons ice water

Procedure for the Crust

1. Combine flour, salt in bowl. Create well.

2. In the well, add margarine and butter.

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Posted: September 8th, 2008 under Baking Recipes, Baking Tips.
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Before we freak out about the metric and English systems of measurement, here is my sister, Lorna’s own table.

1 ounce = 28.4 grams (rounded off)

1 gram = .035 oz.
1 kilogram = 2.21 lbs. (or 2.2 lbs.)
1 oz. = 28.35 gms. (or 28.4 gms., rounded up)
1 lb. = 453.59 gms. (or 454 gms., rounded up)
1 tsp. = 4.9 milliliters
1 tbsp. = 14.8 milliliters
1 cup = 236.6 milliliters
1 liter = 1.06 quarts or 1,000 milliliters

1 oz. = 2 tbsps. = 28.4 gms. = 30 cc.
1 ml. = 20 drops

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Posted: March 2nd, 2008 under Baking Tips, Supplies & Equipment.
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My Principles in Food Preparation teacher in UP Diliman was the late Matilde P. Guzman. My sister and I, as well as her notable graduates such as Sylvia Reynoso-Gala and Nora Daza, all benefited from the basic food principles that she taught us.

Studying her manual, “Principles of Cooking,” was my life-line. I found a blog entry about Mrs. Guzman during her early days — and looking at the photos reminded me of Mom’s life in UP Diliman.

Remember that Coconut milk or cream can be used undiluted or diluted thick or thin by adding hot water to fresh grated coconut meat. The quantity of the cream extracted by a coconut depends on its size, and on the ripeness of the coconut meat.

As a rule, 1/2 cup undiluted cream can be obtained from a large mature coconut . It will also yield about 300 grams meat.

300 grams meat yields 4 cups grated coconut.

4 cups coconut yields 1/2 cup undiluted cream.

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Posted: January 15th, 2008 under Baking Tips, Recipes, desserts, kakanin.
Comments: 3