Food Porn

When James and I first got together I told him I didn't know how to cook.  So that was a BIG, FAT lie.  Okay, so it's more of a half-truth.  I don't cook traditional Filipino meals, much to James' disappointment.  But it's not like the man is starving either.  So here's a small sampling of goodies that I've made.  Sometimes I'm just wiped out from cooking or baking, that I just forget to grab the camera for pictures.  

 So Sweet.... 

Cake Ball Cupcakes

Belle's 4th Birthday

http://www.bakerella.com/

 

So easy and elegant to make.

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

Recipe

- Strawberries, washed with the tops scooped out  (I like to use a melon baller.)

- Philadelphia Ready-To-Eat Cheesecake Filling  

- Chocolate (Optional)

- Graham Cracker Crumbs (Optional)

Scoop cheesecake filling into a gallon-size zip bag.  Cut corner off.  Squeeze filling into strawberry, swirling to the top.  Set onto cookie sheet/tray topped with wax paper.  Leave in fridge for at least 2 hours to let filling set.  If you want to get really fancy, you can dip or drizzle chocolate on your berries and dust the filling with the graham cracker crumbs!

Mmmm... Bueno!

Elote Salad

https://sites.google.com/a/duodishes.com/the-duo-dishes-recipes/street-love

So Sweet....

Hershey's Chocolate Cake & Frosting with a Graham Cracker Crust

Austin's 2nd Birthday

http://www.hersheys.com/pure-recipes/4276/Celebration%20Chocolate%20Cake.aspx?ICID=HER1376

Alright, I know.  It doesn't help that I've got a sweet tooth.  I should probably make something healthy, like a salad or something.  I'd probably fit my jeans a little bit better too....  :p

I hope you enjoyed the goodies.  Trust me when I tell you they were delicious!!  And I promise I'll try to take more pictures of my kitchen masterpieces.  

xoxo - Irina

Holy Cow..... It's been a long while!!

So a lot of stuff has gone down since I've last been on - it's been like, 5 months.  

Let's start with......

I started a Seasonal Job with Target back in March.  It was kinda lame, so needless to say I don't work there anymore.  Funny thing is that I use to LOVE shopping there, now I just kind of avoid the place.

"Can I help you find something?"

We also had the Cienega Family come over for an overnighter.  James and Oliver usually end up pretty damn drunk, while Renee and I are cooking up some good eats in the kitchen while we yell at lovingly care for our kids. 

Our babes in the morning.  

The menfolk were hungover and too sleep-deprived for pictures.

Talk about carbolicious.....

So this evening I made some Cougar Gold Mac & Cheese.  We bought the 1lb. tin of Cougar Gold last October for $20 at Costco.  That's a pretty darn good deal considering a tin starts at $32 at our local QFC.  Seriously, that's like the price of a pair of Tiny TOMS for Austin.  Who doesn't love mac & cheese, right?!  And anyone can make boxed mac & cheese.  Good grief - I make it at least 3 times a week for the kiddos.  Then there's Velveeta Mac.  Yeah, yeah - so it freaking looks like plastic cheese sauce.  But sometimes you gotta get that fix in.  Kinda like Spam....  (But that's another blog for another day!)  I had some Garlic-Herbed chicken marinating for the last 24 hours - threw that under the broiler.  I smelled GOOD in here!  While that was cooking I got the water boiling for the macaroni, 7 minutes later it was done.  I busted into my Cougar Gold reserves and shredded some of that precious gold.  I got some cheese sauce going, mixed it up with some cheesy goodness, threw it in the oven and VOILA!!  Dinner is DONE!!  Check it out, yo........  Don't drool over your keyboards, friends.

 xoxo ~ Irina

 I give you Cougar Gold Mac & Cheese.

Our meal plated ready to go out.

My plate.  

You like how the mac & cheese out-portions the green beans?

Virgin Blogger.......

So a couple of my girlfriends, Sara and Natalie, have blogs and I've totally enjoyed reading about their home makeovers, crafty projects, baby adventures, kitty loving, crazy husband antics, etc, etc, etc.......  And I thought, "I could do that!!"  But I was a little scared......  They told me to give it a try, so here I am at 1:17 in the morning trying to get something put together.  Forgive me if I start to sound random.  But I don't know what to write about.  I've got crazy stories, in fact, I'm full of them!!  I've got 2 young kids and a great husband, so I've got plenty of material to work with.  ;o)  Maybe I'll start a little something, something tomorrow.  I think this blogging thing will be fun.  (I hope you're happy now, Ivy.)  I'm about ready to hit the PUBLISH POST button.  Hopefully it doesn't blow anything up!!!!!!!!