Hafa Adai Bloggers!!
I have not ignored my blog, I just have not had much time to update it! I wish there was a mobile blog site to which I can upload photos, similar to what I do on facebook. Anyway, all is well here on Saipan, except that the political arena is getting hotter than ever! so intense...

In my world of food, I made banana cake last night, along with some fried banana's (madoya). I have baked, but sort of cut down on baking these past few weeks, but now that my housekeeper is back, I plan on getting back to my daily baking routines, since I don't have to wash the dishes.. :)

Okay, I will update this blog again soon. Stay safe everyone!

Happy Cultural Heritage Day

The CNMI celebrates Cultural Heritage Day today, October 12, 2009 while the rest of the world celebrate Columbus day. Go figure.

I am at home, with the kids and hubby. I made pot roast this morning and served it for lunch (simmered for like 6 hours, so it was nice and tender). I am making my first attempt at a italian dessert called penna cotta. In fact, one of the reasons why I like to go to Giovanni's at the Hyatt is for this dessert. It is so delicate but yet delicious. I cant wait to see how it turns out. Now, two things could happen when you make a delicious dessert that your family and friends like
1) your friends and family will continue to ask you to make the dessert
2) you will go broke continually buying ingredients... go figure..

LOL

Anyway, I will post more later. Take care CNMI and to my fellow bloggers!

Fresh Baked sweet bread

Thanks to my good friend Donna and the recipe she gave me, I made sweet bread AGAIN last night, it is just so heartwarming to smell freshly baked bread, baking at your house, the aromatic smell is better than any spray bottle you can buy!!! LOL..

On Saturday, I made a toffee bar, oh my goodness, this is also insanely delicious.... topped with walnuts, almonds and pecans, this was also quite on the expensive side, but I think well worth it!!

Then it was chocolate cake. We were doing some work around the house and I felt that the workers helping me needed a great big chocolate cake to boost their energy, and they were so thrilled!

Okay, for the finale, I made KAHLUA PIE last night. My husband was all over this pie, oh my goodness!!! It is a cream pie and homemade cookie crusts. I wish I made more as I had to ration my sister when she came over last night!! I will make more next time, it is just that all my baking ingredients are taking a toll on my baking budget, or my budget for that matter!

Sunday BBQ

I JUST LOVE MY FAMILY... I love how everyone always gathers at the farm on Sundays!

The best part, FOOD! There is always more than enough barbecue for everyone.

Good food, good company, what more can I ask for... LOL

GRAB A PLATE AND FORK AND DIG IN... enjoy!

BBQ Pork ribs

mmm' mmm good..

ham

Shrimp tempura (chamorro style) they are like shrimp fritters with mixed vegetable, fried till brown and crispy.. YUMMY

Chicken Aroscaldo (similar to rice porridge, but tastier!)

Burgers, farm style..LOL

AND YOUNG COCONUT... I AM ALWAYS EXTRA HAPPY WHEN THERE IS YOUNG COCONUT TO DRINK AND EAT AFTER....

Cream cake with fruit topping

Homemade cake topped with fresh cream and berries.... it was delicious....

All Berried out...

All berried out.....

I am so glad that a new store on island has brought in fresh fruits at a reasonable price. Well, either the strawberries are reasonably priced, or it is just in season in the mainland therefore the prices have dropped. A quart of strawberries could cost you about $9.00 US DOLLARS. I refuse to pay so much! I did but fresh strawberries, blueberries and cherries (Quart and pint sizes for under $25.00 still pricier than the mainland, but about half the price on other markets on island!) So what does a girl do with all these fruits? PARFAIT...

Fish, cookies and coconuts!!

My nephew went fishing on Saturday, and he caught a bluebanded surgeonfish, which is my favorite! Scientific name is Acanthurus lineatus locally called hiyok!! ("y" is pronounced as a "z")

This nice Japanese lady (one of my mom's customers at her marine sports counter) offered me a Japanese cookie....it was delicious!

And coconuts....... we had the guys grab some coconuts from the coconut trees!!

Wednesday Night Baking part III

Okay, this is the last installment of my "Wednesday Night Baking"
I made "sweet bread" the recipe came from my friend Donna! Thanks Donna! The bread was indeed soft and oh my goodness, I think just the aroma of bread baking in your oven was so sweet, it was therapeautical. Donna's recipes are always fullproof and I cant wait to get more of her recipes, (hint, hint, hint Donna!!) I love baking!!!

Waiting for the dough to rise...

mmm-mmm-good.. fresh baked bread!

Wednesday Night Baking part II

Here is my part II of what I made last night....

I was busy, as the cake was baking (see Wednesday Night baking below), I made a batch of cookies and a batch of chamorro style "rosketi" they are a drier version of shortbread...

This batch was special, and was made for my hubby... as he was working the next day. Since he works on the boat all day (he is a USCGS Marine Merchant/technical word for US Coast Guard Boat captain...LOL) I send him to work with a quart size ziplock bag full of goodies, for his snacking pleasure.... winkz!

Wednesday Night Baking.....

I don't know what it was, but I was in the mood for some baking again last night (yeah, when am I not in the mood?) The wierd thing is my hubby was also waiting, for the cake and bread to be done. I made this delicious cake last night, it has pecans and coconut and is so moist it is sinfully delicious. This is what I will bring on the next party I go to... I am so excited! My sister Bobbie gave me the recipe, I am so glad she found it!

You can see how moist the cake was, it was so delicious!!!

Thank you "SIS" for this wonderful cake recipe...

Cookies, Cookies, and more cookies

My famous "male" chocoloate chip cookie (male cookie=has nuts!!LMAO)female cookies - no nuts.. lol
all wrapped up and look peeerrrrtttyyy ! I stopped bringing cookies on platters/cookie baskets or trays because there are so many flies for afternoon gatherings. I have started wrapping them individually, they look cute and are delicious too...

Chocolate-white chips cookie, yes with nuts

My aunt sent me another 50lbs of chocolates, white chocolate, semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate, cream cheese, marscapone cheese, colby jack cheese, cheddar cheese, you name it!! I was happy with the packages and started baking right away....