Viva La Cancun!

     It's been years since we've last went on a vacation, so we've decided to go on a trip-- along with my sister's family (who are from Canada). It was the first time for my family to meet my sister's family, so it was a reunion. It was our 20th anniversary too; my husband and I thought this was a perfect way to celebrate our milestone after years of raising our daughters, working hard, and being busy in general. We couldn't hold in our excitement, mostly because it was our first time in Mexico. The anticipation while waiting for the date was really nerve-wracking.
     We had a lot of fun exploring the island of Isla Mujeres, and the beautiful Marina Lighthouse overlooking the breathtaking view of the Cancun Lagoon.
     We were amazed by the spectacular view and splendid torquoise water of the beaches we visited and the Caribbean Sea as well.
     It was nice to be away from the real world for a few days, just enjoying our trip, relaxing in the beach, and being stress-free from our job. It was really worth it, mainly because of its world class  service and amenities. I wish we could have stay longer. Staying in Cancun was our dream vacation. The memories will forever be cherished by our daughters. I thanked the Lord for protecting us and keeping us safe during our stay in this beautiful island.

Cancun Palace ( the hotel where we stayed )

20th Wedding anniversary celebration

Isla Mujeres ( part of our tour )

A beach below the Mayan Ruins overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

Group picture on our last day at Cancun.

Aventura Cove Palace ( part of our tour )

A view from our hotel room.

At the lobby of Aventura Cove Palace

Mayan Ruins ( Tulum Mexico )

At the pool of  the hotel.

Early morning walk at the beach.

Sunrise ( taken at the back of our hotel )

A view from Aquaworld ( a place where we did the snorkeling excursion )

Lorna's family ( at the entrance going to the Mayan Ruins )

Sweet Dutch Baby

We’ve been busy during the weekdays, so Sunday is our family day. If I have time, I would prepare a special dish or dessert that the whole family could enjoy. Last weekend, I served this “Sweet Dutch Baby,” also known as a German pancake, for breakfast. This is a tasty treat of a plus-sized proportion. This outsized pancake is a fun departure from a typical breakfast fare. I also got this recipe from an old magazine!

Ingredients:

1.    1 medium apple (we used half a Granny Smith and half a Golden Delicious)

2.    3 table spoons sugar

3.    ¾ teaspoon cinnamon

4.    2 tablespoons butter

5.    3 large eggs at room temperature

6.    ½ cup milk at room temperature

7.    ½ cup flour

8.    1/8 teaspoon salt

9.    ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

10.  Confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Step 1:

Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Peel and quarter the apple, then trim away the core. Thinly slice the quarters.

Step 2:

In a small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of the sugar and ¼ teaspoon of the cinnamon with a fork. Add the apple slices and toss until they’re well coated.

Step 3:

Slice the butter into two equal pieces and place them in a 9- or 10-inch glass pie pan or ovenproof skillet.* Put the pan in the oven until the butter melts, about 2 minutes, then use an oven mitt or hot handle holder to remove it from the oven, and swirl the pan to coat its surface.

Step 4:

Spread the apples over the bottom of the pan. Bake until the apples have softened slightly and the butter is bubbling and beginning to brown around the edges, about 10 minutes.

Step 5:

Meanwhile, make the pancake batter. In a blender, combine the eggs, milk, four, salt, vanilla, and the remaining sugar and cinnamon. Blend the ingredients on medium speed until they’re well mixed and frothy, about 1 minute.

Step 6:

Use an oven mitt to carefully remove the dish from the oven. Pour the batter over the apples, then bake the pancake until it’s puffy and golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Let it cool slightly on a wire rack. (Note: It will deflate quite a bit.) Dust the pancake with confectioners’ sugar and cut into wedges before serving.

*It’s best to use a pan at least 9 inches wide. In a smaller pan, the pancake will take longer to cook and be moister and more custardlike.

Easy Vegetable Pie

     Oh my, what a pie! The vegetable pie is a savory blend of cheddar cheese and broccoli. It is especially for picky eaters who don't like vegetables, just like my daughters. This pie is perfect for them. It's kind of like hot pockets that could be baked into individual serving sizes, mini loaf pans, and muffin tops.

     This is such an easy and delicious dish. You can tweak it to your liking with your preferred ingredients, and it always turns out great! Bon Apetit!

Note: If you want it to be a complete meal, just add in some cooked chicken, ham, or any other kind of meat.

Ingredients:
2 cups chopped broccoli or sliced fresh cauliflowerets
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup chopped green bell pepper
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
1/2 cup Original Bisquick® mix
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 eggs

Directions:
1.) Heat oven to 400ºF. Grease 9-inch pie plate. Heat 1 inch salted water to boiling in medium saucepan. Add broccoli; cover and heat to boiling. Cook about 5 minutes or until almost tender; drain thoroughly. Stir together cooked broccoli, onion, bell pepper and cheese in pie plate.

2.) Stir remaining ingredients until blended. Pour into pie plate.

3.) Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes.

Shades of Pink

       It's officially spring, but it snowed a couple days ago. The weather actually warmed up for three days after that, but based on our area's forecast, the rain will return for a few more days. In the meantime, I'm taking advantage of the sunshine, since spring is coming up. It's my favorite season of the year. When you go inside a clothing store during this time, you can see the splashes of green, orange, yellow, and pink colors of its apparel and accessories.
       Now, this post is about the different shades of pink. You don't have to be a girlie girl to rock this color. Also known as fuchsia, it's an ultra-feminine hue that suggests strength, savviness, and self- assurance--and it's guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. When it's done right it looks cool.
        Here's how to wear it. Mix this color with something masculine, like a menswear tailored jacket, or temper a vivid dress with nude or black accessories.

Candles and Roses

      

We threw a surprise birthday party for my sister-in-law, and I chose our piano as the focal point of my decoration plan. Since it occupies a massive space in our living room, why not embellish it for the occasion?

Having a mixture of flowers and candles has always been my favorite arrangement. It creates an elegant and romantic ambience, especially since Valentine’s Day is around the corner. You can use this as a centerpiece for a dining table if you’re planning a dinner for your sweetheart, friends, or family.

Baked Spaghetti

"Satisfying" and "hearty" are great words to describe this one-dish wonder. But in addition to its heartwarming taste, casseroles also offer two things every busy cook can appreciate: convenience and speed.
This recipe is simple to assemble. You just pop them into the oven for baking. Add some fresh fruit in the side or garlic bread, and dinner is ready.
This yummy spaghetti casserole was requested by my daughters, who really love all the cheese. It's perfect, especially during this cold and snowy weather. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 1 package (16 ounces) spaghetti
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 jar (26 ounces) meatless spaghetti sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 5 tablespoons butter, melted
• 2 cups (16 ounces) small-curd cottage cheese
• 4 cups (16 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:
1.) Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce and seasoned salt; set aside.

2.) In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, Parmesan cheese and butter. Drain spaghetti; add to egg mixture and toss to coat.

3.) Place half of the spaghetti mixture in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2in. baking dish. Top the half of the cottage cheese, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Uncover; bake 20-25 minutes longer or unti cheese is melted.

New Year's Bash

We had a New Year's Eve party in our house with friends and family. I wanted the event to be grand and festive, so I chose the dining table to have the biggest, holiday decorating impact. Since it's the gathering spot for celebrations, it deserves special treatment. Our family's tradition for New Year is to have circular objects decorated around our house to respresent luck and fortune for the upcoming year.

Directions:
Tie glasses to the overhead light fixture with varying lengths of ribbon. Knot the ribbon to be sure the glasses are held securely in pace. To continue the theme, fill tall glass vases and wine glasses with fruits. To invert the vases, hold a flat plate on top of the vase and flip it over. Carefully remove the plate from underneath the vase. To flip the wine glasses, placing your hand over the top of the glass should do the trick. Adorn the tops of the vases with single pieces of fruit or clusters of grapes. Use pottery plates and serving pieces for a casual ambience.