Yes, I know... another post about bananas.  

But!

Hazelnut Cocoa Chocolate Chip Brownies

Where my 'I'd rather stay at home than (insert whatever it is that you'd rather not be doing)' buddies at?!

Mocha Cheesecake Brownies

It all started with a block of cream cheese.  

The original plan was to make bibingka and sprinkle the cream cheese all over it.  But a banana leaf needed for lining the pan was always forgotten and never made an appearance in our household.  Days turned to a week and I started to crave for something really chocolaty.

And bibingka is definitely not chocolaty!

Toasted Walnut Banana Cake

But in simpler words: banana cake.  My lola Vita's banana cake.  I only named this one like so because it sounds fancier than just 'banana cake'.

And if it sounds more interesting, you'll most likely not ignore yet another banana recipe.

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes + Caramelized Bananas

I love breakfast food, yes.  But as much as I adore the whole breakfast concept, I'm not really too keen on waking up early.  Oh I still remember the mornings when I would willingly wake up at dawn and prepare for training.  Yep!  I once dreamt of becoming a pro athlete, too, you know.

A couple (more than a couple, actually) years has passed and I've yet to get that waking-up-early habit back.  But my love for everything breakfast stayed with me.

But you and I and everybody know that breakfast can be enjoyed any time of the day!  Right? Or damn right!?!

Churros

Truth be told, the only reason I took the plunge and made churros was because our oven is in bad shape.

Like it still has power and heats up but the temperature dial is broken.  I know I could just get an oven thermometer but ehh!  Plus, I also wanted to know how churros made from scratch differ or be similar to the ones we buy.

Matcha Crinkle Cookies

I knew right away that matcha will be a favorite after my first bite of my first ever matcha-flavored food.  It was a humble yet glorious lil muffin and its insides were softly tinged green (!!!).  Since then whenever I see 'matcha' on a blog, Pinterest, tumblr and everywhere else, I just go nuts and seconds later, I'll be reading up on that blog post and bookmarking it after.

I even bought freaking soy milk just so I could make iced matcha latte!  Have you ever tried making iced matcha latte?  Without a bamboo whisk? Which I didn't know was called that prior to reading up on homemade matcha lattes.  

Oh well!

Cinnamon Raisin Rolls

These cinnamon raisin rolls?  

They were meant to be knots.

Brown Butter and Honey Pistachio Blondies

Let's start this post by me telling you, dear gal/pal, that I made these blondies* the moment I got out of bed.  Actually before I got out of bed I had to debate with myself (who doesn't!?) if I should get up now or in 10 or 30 minutes...

So there I was in the kitchen, in my PJs, socks and crazy bed hair and not yet fueled by coffee, making quite a noise as I gather the ingredients needed for this recipe.

Lemon Graham Squares

When I think of graham crackers, images of gooey and ultra sweet s'mores come to mind.  Immediately.  Like there's nothing else to think of other than that, right?  But what if you aren't feeling s'mores at the moment?

I know.  Strange.

But when you do feel unfeeling s'mores, gather the lemons life (or your local market) may give you!  This one right here is going to be good.  Real good!

Triple Chocolate Espresso Cookies

...actually the proper name for these should be 'quadruple chocolate espresso cookies'.  Why I didn't name them so?  Ehh...  Let's just go with 'triple chocolate' and pretend it's the truth.

Got half an hour or more to spare?

Matcha Chocolate Cupcakes

It amazes me when I see somebody eat a cupcake and they don't get any frosting on their nose.  Or all over their face.  Like excuse you, kind soul, but how much magic did it cost so you could enjoy cupcakes out in public and not unconsciously smear frosting all over your face?

But of course if there's a fork to aid you, then this whole cupcake eating business will probably be less messy.  Probably.

Mocha Hazelnut Streusel Loaf

If you grew up or stayed for sometime in the PH, you may or may not have had a slice of Goldilocks' mocha cake.  Yes, it's the one with the mega buttery frosting and the mega delicious coffee-flavored chiffon.

This little babe of a loaf right here tastes pretty close to that.

Dare I say that this, even without frosting, tastes better?

Birthday Cake Blondies

First things first... Happy New Year!  And yes, I'm fully aware that it has been 4 days since we welcomed 2016.  But here I am with my very first post for the year!

A question or three, though: Have you seen the movie "Howl's Moving Castle"?  Would you like to meet a scarecrow named 'Turniphead'?  But most importantly, Howl.  Doesn't he look adorable with this hair color?

Should I stop talking about the movie and start with what this post is really about?

Yeah, I think I should.  Just don't annoy Calcifer too much.  Okay, I'll stop for real now!

Double Chocolate Oreo Brownies

Is there a pack of Oreos in your pantry that you haven't opened or eaten yet?  Yes?

You could definitely enjoy those on their own or with a glass of milk where you'll dunk the entire pack one by one and the cookies will get mushy and fall apart... things can get real messy but at least you'll have Oreo milk!

But sometimes Oreo milk or plain Oreos just won't do, right?  Think of them mixed within something that's just as delicious; like ice cream or cookies or brownies!

S'mores Cupcakes

My friend, can you actually believe it's already December?  Can you? Can you?  Because I can't.

This year is like the one sports car whizzing past all the other cars on the highway, leaving all the other cars behind.  That is if it isn't bumper-to-bumper traffic.

I can go on and on about how I'm still in disbelief that we're only a few more weeks until the new year (!!!), but we have something to discuss.

Yes.  That.

Cookies and Cream Cake

There's a wall in my bedroom that is filled with sticky notes.  In those notes I have written down the recipes I want to try, what ingredients are needed and when I plan to make them.

I enjoy looking at that wall because it serves as a reminder that I can try to be organized.

Not that I follow what's on that wall strictly.  I don't.  I can't.

Ahh!!

Oatmeal Chocolate Coffee Cookies

Admittedly, I am (absolutely) not oatmeal's biggest fan.

But what do I have for you today?  Another post about oatmeal cookies!  Ha!

Chocolate Lava Cupcake

I remember watching Barefoot Contessa and Rachael Ray's 30 Minute Meals (way, way) before and enjoying whatever meal they prepare and cook on the show.  They made cooking seem so easy and fun (but the dishes!) and were truly inspirational.  But that was before I got into baking and gutsy enough to stand in front of the stove and attempt to cook anything.

So I mainly tuned in just for the sake of watching them cook up delicious food and eventually getting hungry because of it.  Are you guilty of the same habit?  We aren't alone on this I'm sure!

Brown Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies with a twist!

When I discover a new blog and get smitten with everything about it instantly, I'd spend a good amount of time on it.  

Going through the posts, admiring the beautiful photos, enjoying the funny stories...it's a wonderful cycle really.

And everything is made even more wonderful when a cookie recipe has you inhaling 3 (okay, maybe 4) cookies as soon as they come out of the oven.  Don't tell me it hasn't happened to you!