THE SEARCH FOR ELUSIVE BAKING INGREDIENTS

     I was hoping to start baking this weekend and finally use my new muffin pans...and so today on the last day before the weekend, I decided to go and search for my baking ingredients. After eating lunch and logout, I went off to Farmers to hunt for the old baking supply store that I used to see near the plastics supply store just off the wet market. But surprisingly...it wasn't there anymore! They say it moved a few years ago to P. Tuazon cor. 8th street (near Western) but I never noticed because I had no need for it then...but now that I do, I suddenly missed it! Well, it seems I didn't have much choice and so I walked in the direction of SM Cubao to look for it. It was a long walk but the weather was cool - not too hot and a bit windy even.    When I finally found the place I knew it was there even before I could see it...well, baking supply stores have that unique kind of smell that distinguishes it from everything else...the place wasn't really a store, just a nondescript hole in the wall that was carved out of this very huge warehouse filled with sacks and sacks of flour, starches, sugars and everything sweet and wonderful...it smelled heavenly, like freshly baking bread though there was no bakery in sight...but alas, the ingredient I was searching for was not available - cornmeal for my corn muffins sana...And so I returned to Shopwise, hoping against hope that they have it there (a blogger said she found her cornmeal at Landmark so I tried my luck at Shopwise since I'm so far from any Landmark store) But still I went home dejected and empty-handed... I decided to change plans and do carrot muffins instead...I went back to the bakery supplies store and bought more flour and also nuts and raisins for the carrot cupcake na din.    I guess I may need to make a trip to Landmark soon to buy that cornmeal flour if I really want to do that corn muffin...meanwhile, I can do carrot cupcakes or even chocolate ones too. I just hope the baking supply store would soon carry everything I need...I'm just glad that they're near enough for me to make that rare trip every once in a while to stock up on most ingredients that I would need for baking goodies! Just hoping that I would always find the time and, of course...the money to bake for my family!!! Goodluck to me!

MY FIRST SILICONE MUFFIN PAN!

 The first time I visited Gourdo’s was during my mom's birthday last year...but I already knew then that the place is a gold mine for the latest kitchen gadget or other unique kitchen finds. So when I learned that there was a Gourdo's branch at Gateway, Cubao and it was right across pa where we bought a sansrival cake for Mama (Mary Grace bakeshop, I think) I immediately made plans to visit the place. Then, as luck would have it, after Mama's birthday dinner at Superbowl she said she needed to buy some cutlery and so I suggested Gourdo's and offered to accompany her there. Yipee! I got my chance to visit and browse thru the store as planned...    And indeed Gourdo's was truly a kitchen foodie's mecca! My eyes literally popped out of its sockets upon seeing the oh-so-many kitchen thingys that I wanted to buy but can't just yet. I saw many things that I have long wanted to have --- like a clear glass coffee press, stainless pepper grinder, bamboo style spoons and forks and my fave thing of all - silicone bakeware! Ever since I saw some of it in Sassy Veneracion's blog I just knew I wanted to have some. And indeed there were all kinds of them there. I even saw some that were already a bit dirty but were on sale at only PhP500.00. Just too bad that I didn't have money then...but I vowed to myself that I would surely go back and buy that!    I finally got my chance when I went off to buy gifts for a good friend and I decided to buy her some silicone bakeware since she is, after all, fond of baking…and since I was there na naman, I decided to buy a silicone muffin pan for myself…yippee!   Dream come true! I guess this would be my first step to fulfilling one of my new year’s resolutions to get back to baking once again…next, I would be buying round and square casserole pans (either silicone or ceramic) for my plans to make cakes or brownies…oh gosh I am so excited already…I wonder what my first cupcake to make would be??? Cheese, carrot or chocolate…hmnnn??? But first I need to scrounge around my old recipe files and buy some ingredients…ooooh I can’t wait for the weekend!