Caramelized onion and gruyere focaccia and the excellent "Bloodline"

Now that I have brought my husband to the dark side – the side of the addicted to TV series – he keeps asking me what we’ll watch next: I find it both funny and lovely and I hope he stays this way for good. :)

We finished watching the first season of The Americans and while Netflix doesn’t bring us more episodes – I cannot wait! – I suggested we watched Bloodline, for its great cast and

Chocolate Cream Cheese Pound Cake

I wanted to buy some cocoa powder but some how when I was in the supermarket, it just slip my mind.  So, I had to pen it down and reminded both of my girls to remind me to buy some cocoa powder when we are in the supermarket again.  I wanted to buy some Talentie's gelato that was on sale in Albertson so I told my girls, lets go look for the cocoa powder.  The Everyday Essential brand of cocoa powder was on clearance for $1.72 and the original price is only $1.99! I was like no way, why is it so cheap compared to Hershey's brand??  I checked the ingredient list and it said 100% cocoa powder.  Checked the ingredient list on Hershey's and it said cocoa powder.  So, I grabbed the last two cocoa powders that were on clearance.  Didn't know I had been paying so much extra for cocoa powder until now.  Now I know where I would go for cocoa powder when I am out again!

I loved this cream cheese pound cake recipe and wanted to create a chocolate version out of it and here it is!  This pound cake is not very sweet, I would say mild in sweetness as I reduce the sweetness in this.  If you like a sweet cake just use 2 cups of sugar.   This cake is a must-try because oh it's so good!

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Almond syrup cake and more bad TV news

I apparently spoke too soon, guys – days ago I found out that another one of my favorite TV series has been cancelled. :(

The good thing is I’m not the only one disappointed by the news about Hannibal and like me many others are hoping that the show gets saved by Netflix or some other network – let's hope it works, right, boys? ;)

I’ve loved Hannibal ever since its beginning – how could I not

Simply Butter Cake

I was looking for a butter cake recipe that I had tried before but somehow lost the recipe.  I found this recipe at allrecipes.com that seem like the one I was looking for.  So, I set out to give this recipe a try.  It turned out buttery with vanilla fragrant but the texture was not really what I was searching for.  I don't know whether it was me using the raw cane sugar instead of granulated white sugar has anything to do with it?  It was soft with buttery vanilla flavor!

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Dulce de leche swirl congo bars

Sometimes I buy cookbooks and wait anxiously for them to arrive by mail only to go through them back and forth countless times without any idea of which recipe to start using them from – I know it sounds stupid, but that is exactly what happens around here.

Then it takes me forever to go back to that cookbook, not because I did not like it but because there were lots of other recipes grabbing

Peanut and white chocolate brownies and the amazing Viola

Back in January I watched the Golden Globes and many of my favorites took awards home – among them was Ruth Wilson, who is absolutely amazing in The Affair, but she was competing head to head with another actress I deeply admire, the über talented Viola Davis. Back then I hadn’t watched How to Get Away with Murder yet but got immediately interested in it.

The show is really that good and each

Matcha Cranberries Cookies

I created this matcha cranberries cookies with matcha icing on Sunday.  Sunday is my rest day and also a day for my girls and I to make cookies or cake.  I need to let them practice more so that they can improve their skills in all areas, such as rolling, cutting and icing.  Have to train them to become little helpers in the kitchen and be independent!

Sorry, I won't be sharing this recipe.  :P

Poppy seed cake and a certain horror movie

I am a coward when it comes to watching horror movies – I usually spend 2/3 of them with my eyes closed – but I am a kid from the 70s and therefore was more than curious to watch the remake of one of the movies that scared the bejeesus out of me back in the day.

I would never do such thing alone, so my husband was in charge of holding my hands whenever necessary – he also had memories of Carol

Thai Basil Chicken Fried Rice

My girls and I loved the Thai basil fried rice that a restaurant serve here.  So,  I tried to recreate it at home.  I think I need to add more basil and jalapeno because it was not spicy at all (perhaps jalapeno now is not spicy?) and it lacked the fragrant of basil.  I will need to attempt this recipe again with double the amount of jalapeno and Thai basil!

You can replace the chicken with shrimp, beef or pork or make it vegetarian, it's all up to your preference.

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