Excited!

1 more sleep (or just a long nap) and our holiday to manila begins, yay!
i still have to pack but i really want to post before we leave!


yesterday, i was inspired to bake a second batch of my special oatmeal cookies: this time with raisins and almonds. i had made an earlier batch the day before, but i forgot to add the almonds. im not sure if that was the reason they turned out softer than usual...or maybe because i used cake flour instead of all purpose flour. anyway, i added chocolate chips to the first batch so they were still inviting. and because they were softer, when they were piled up, they "draped" over each over, and crumbly at the edges. not pretty, i tell ya. so i decided to make another batch. and im happy to report that they turned out firmer (the almonds must have helped in absorbing the excess moisture!) will be hand-carrying them in mama's tupperware to give to the BILs in manila.


actually, i asked the DH if i should just buy napoleones for pasalubong (the filipino version of the hostess gift), but he said the cookies are more personal. plus, i realized they'd keep better too...especially if we're going to stop for breakfast buffet before the trip to sta rosa, a bit of a distance south of the airport by itself. im happier with the newer cookies, although il still be bringing some of the chocolate-chip kind because im sure joben (the youngest BIL) likes those kind too. 


i have to admit, i missed baking. creating something from scratch is nice...and it's gratifying to have the mate and family hanker for my cookies.:) they have been bugging me to make them since last christmas, lol! and now, i have a new fan:  malou gave 1 to her daughter kyla to try, who promptly told her "Ma, don't get a cookie or i wont have any to eat later".  too cute!
and even my spatula sulked because i haven't used it in ages...its head cracked up in the middle of my mixing. oh well, just another thing to buy. i want one of those silicon ones...maybe their kind is less temperamental,lol!


i really need to go pack if i want to get more than a couple of hours sleep before we have to get up by 4am(we're taking the 1st flight out by 6.30).


im taking my laptop along, so i can check in while the boys are busy hanging out (read: drinking). :)
oh and i found this travel journal idea from...Kimberly Lund at The Daily Digi. i think it's the coolest thing, i hate that i didn't stumble on it before our puerto princesa, palawan trip last february! all the stories i would have documented, sigh. so i want to be able to work on it while the experience is freshest!


really gotta go...catch you again soon! a bientot!