Guilty pleasures

     I'm sure we all have at least one guilty pleasure. I have many. :D At some point, we just can't say no, like it's a now or never moment. I eat these occasionally, but I definitely don't feel guilty. As they say... live a little. ;)

McDonalds McSpicy

     McDonalds (or McDo as we Pinoys call it) has been an all time favorite! Since the buzz about the McSpicy has been ongoing, I decided to check it out. I bought the McSpicy meal because I love their fries! :D You can feel the slight kick. It reminds me of the KFC Zinger, but enjoyed it just the same. 

Now, the food from home...

Hot chocolate

     Chocolate is a constant craving. Since I don't take coffee that much now, I often look for chocolate for breakfast. Having a nice cup of hot chocolate first thing in the morning is heaven, especially with mini marshmallows on top. I love the American and Spanish (the thick one) type. To lessen the guilt, I use coconut sugar.

Pasta Carbonara

     Carbonara is one of my favorite pastas! Based on research, it was originally made with eggs, cheese and bacon. I tried making the original recipe, where I cooked the bacon and onions in olive oil. After, pasta and Parmesan cheese are added and mixed. I cooked the egg separately until I got the soft boiled consistency and mixed everything. I was pleasantly surprised... still creamy but not too rich.

Espresso Brownies

     The first time I encountered Espresso Brownies was in Sugarhouse and loved it! Since it's no longer available, it's a good thing I came across a recipe online and did it. The only difference is I used my old reliable brownie recipe and did the coffee glaze. Results were positive. #grateful ^_^

Western food from home

     I'll be going Western this time... mostly Italian and American. Mom and Dad told me they were in the US and Europe when I was in Mom's tummy. They said one of the owners of one of their favorite restaurants in Italy always applauded Mom when she finished her meal, which was usually pasta. My family is divided when it comes to food preference, the boys go for Asian food and the girls go for Western food. Nonetheless, it's fulfilling to know the works in our kitchen are very much appreciated by everyone.

Salad

-Our version is composed of Romaine lettuce, tomato, cheese cubes. Dressing may vary. Sometimes we add, cranberries and walnuts too.

Cheesy garlic bread

Roasted vegetables

-Zucchini, Red Pepper, Eggplant, Garlic and Onions in olive oil and spices.

Tuna spaghetti

-Got this recipe from my friend, Gypsy. Here I replaced the cream with plain yogurt for a healthier alternative. 

Spaghetti with sausage & eggplant

Spaghetti Aglio Olio

-Spaghetti cooked in olive oil, garlic and chili flakes.

Spaghetti and meatballs

Smoked salmon pasta

-Cooked with butter, cream, garlic, onions, parsley and caviar (the cheapest one) for garnish. 

Pesto baked chicken

     I also featured Bruschetta and Pesto in my previous posts. Now let's go to dessert...

Blueberry cheesecake

(mini)

Oreo cheesecake

(mini)

Mom's Sour Cream Walnut Coffee Cake...

and here's a slice.

Mango Cobbler

-This is originally Peach Cobbler. After seeing the recipe, it reminded me of the mango cobbler in Cookbook Kitchen.

Brownies with white chocolate

     There's list of recipes for trial which gets longer and longer. Not to worry... I'll be sharing more kitchen experiments in the future. In the mean time... Happy eating!