Bento what?

I just discovered the "Bentoing" thing... While I go nuts about the idea, I wonder where have I been???
Whoever came up with this idea is a genius. I can see my kiddos having a blast eating their lunches while mommy has a blast putting them together.
It is time to find out more about the whole concept!

Yumolicious!

About some inspiration around the kitchen to welcome my favorite season?

Cinnamon Baked Apples with Tangerines and Cranberries

(serves 4)

2 large baking apples, such as McIntosh or Rome Beauty

1 1/4 cups unsweetened apple juice, preferably unfiltered organic

1/2 cup (2 ounces) dried cranberries

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 seedless clementines or tangerines, peeled, separated into segments

Heat oven to 400F. Cut apples in half lengthwise; cut out and discard core, seeds, and stems. Place 1/4 cup of the apple juice in an 8-inch baking dish or casserole. Place apples cut side down over juice. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until apples are tender. Meanwhile, simmer remaining 1 cup apple juice in a small saucepan over medium-high heat 5 minutes. Add cranberries, cinnamon and cloves; reduce heat and simmer uncovered 10 minutes, or until cranberries are plumped, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in clementine sections. Arrange apple halves, cut sides up, on serving dishes. Pour any remaining liquid from dish into cranberry mixture; spoon over apples.

lazy summer (cont.)

...and the final contact-card that accompanied my flan:

FPU classmates seamed to like the chocolate flan. Most of them took cards and thought the idea was clever. I can't wait to take the first order!!

Lazy summer

I started to feel bad about the lazy summer I am having (in terms of design creation), so I opted for updating this almost-forgotten blog. I think the new look is fresh, I'm pretty happy with the change. I plan on keeping it up to date from now on; no matter how insignificant the event might seem, it will be recorded here.

We'll be having the last FPU meeting on Tuesday. I am bringing some chocolate flan and the following two-sided cards along with it -- who knows, if the flan gets to be a hit, I might get some business going! Click on the pictures to see them bigger.

. . . After working on this post for a while and as I was doing my regular search for inspiration, I came across this 101 Cookbooks site that I found absolutely inspiring... I really think this is something I would love to do one day! 

My flan creation

I've been thinking about having a baking sale for quite a while. I've been exploring my options... Perhaps the family favorite should be the way to go -- a traditional mexican flan.


Flan is an oven-baked caramel custard dessert that is quite popular in Mexico. It is made with a top layer of custard paired with the sweetness of a light caramel sauce. When chilled and then inverted to un-mold, the sauce pours over the custard. The typical flavoring is simply vanilla, but there are numerous variations -- coffee being my favorite!


Here my attempt in advertising my vanilla flan. . . Enjoy!