Thursday, May 31, 2012

Garden Boom!

Remember this tiny plot from last year? I had sweet corn, bell peppers, eggplant, tarragon, cherry tomatoes and a few spindly marigold plants. 
I was happy with my plot. 


Well, it's been growing ever since...and now I'm deliriously happy with my garden!

I get to go out early in the morning, still in my pj's, with a steaming cup of coffee. Look at what's growing, watch the bees fly from one flower to another, brush against the fragrant herb bushes and pick off a few flowers to brighten up my kitchen as I go through a busy day of baking.

I have bushes of bright cosmos, marigolds, zinnias and hydrangeas intermingled with cherry tomatoes and spinach. We converted an old slide into a large herb bed, now housing flat leaf parsley, curly parsley, Thai basil, purple basil, sweet basil, lemon basil, thyme, cilantro, rosemary and oregano. The old tiny plot has been overrun with tarragon and large fennel bulbs. Old wine bottles are used as a partition between more cherry tomatoes, sunflowers and bunching onions. Chocolate mint, peppermint and spearmint crawl out of half a dozen pots on the stairs while a very determined squash plant is trying to invade the cosmos and hibiscus. Five hard working calamansi trees line the edge of the garden but my lone lemon tree is still shy about producing more fruit. 
Yes, I am ecstatic about my simple garden:) Now, if only I could keep those pesky snails away from my lettuce!

Turkey Pastrami Sandwich

Toasted whole wheat baguette slathered with freshly made pesto and sharp Dijon mustard, stringy mozzarella, peppery turkey pastrami, crunchy vegetables and a topping of organic mixed greens. Washed down with a passion fruit and dalandan smoothie.
Yummy! Lunch is served;) 

I just had to take a shot of my view (Taal Lake with Taal volcano right there on the upper left corner) while lazily picking on my sandwich:)
Happy days...

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

A Birthday Celebration...Vanilla Cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream

I made this vanilla cake with swiss meringue buttercream for my nephew's birthday:) 
A relatively simple looking cake outside, until you slice in, revealing all the colorful layers...


Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Pies, pies, pies!

Pies now available at The Blue Cottage Bakeshop
  • Chicken and Mushroom Pie
  • Spicy Beef Pie
  • Beef and Beer Pie
  • Peach and Cinnamon Pie
  • Apple Streusel Pie

Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Spicy Beef Pie

Beef and Beer Pie

Peach and Cinnamon Pie

Apple Streusel Pie

Also Available

Calamansi Muffins
Banana Streusel Muffins
Passion Fruit Muffins 
Cheesecake Brownies
Bittersweet Chocolate Biscotti
Cashew Biscotti
Coconut Bicotti
Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookies
Vanilla Butter Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Coming Soon...

Braised Lamb Pie
BBQ Pulled Pork Pie
 Chorizo and Egg Pie
Tuna and Mozzarella Pie
Cherry Pie
Chocolate Banana Cream Pie
Macapuno Pie
Tarts, Quiches, and more...

Monday, May 14, 2012