Yema Cake

I've been seeing some of my Filipino friends posting photos of yema cake the past few weeks, and I promised myself I will try to make it when I get the chance. "What is yema?", you may ask. Well, yema is a custard candy in the Philippines that is made from egg yolks and condensed milk. It is usually in a pyramid shape wrapped in colorful cellophane. A few years ago, it was brought into another level by turning it into a type of cake. I honestly haven't tried one because I haven't been to the Philippines in a long time. But I've heard and read so much about it...and learned that it's actually just a chiffon cake frosted with yema. So yesterday, I decided to try making it using the chiffon cake recipe that I normally use and my yema recipe which I tweaked a little to make it spreadable...and this is what I came up with!

The yema cakes I've seen on the web all look plain so I added some almond slices to make it fancy! I am not sure if my cake tastes like the original yema cake in the Philippines, but there's one thing I'm sure about...my family and I enjoyed it! The chiffon cake is nothing new...but the yema on it made it such a wonderful treat! 

Try it and let me know what you think...

Easy Baked Salmon with Almonds and Onion Soup Mix

Looking for a simple yet delicious way to prepare salmon? 

Well here's what you're looking for. In this recipe, mayonnaise and onion soup mix are all you need to flavor the salmon. The toasted almonds are scattered on the top for crunch and added flavor. You'll surely be surprised with how easy and quick the preparation is, and you'll love the fancy and delicious result!

Try it and let me know what you think! 

Easy Cheesecake with Peanut Butter Graham Crust and Oreo Topping

It's my daughter's 12th birthday today! Last week, I was asking her what cake she wants...and she said she prefers to celebrate with a plain cheesecake. But last weekend while we were having lunch, she told me she wants something with peanut butter. I thought that's what she really wants 'coz she soooo loves peanut butter. But then the other day, she said she'd rather have an Oreo cake. There I realized that she's not even sure of what cake she really wants...so I thought I'll just make something that would let her enjoy all three - plain cheesecake, peanut butter and Oreo! And that is how I came up with this Cheesecake with Peanut Butter Graham Crust and Oreo Topping. 

This is one simple cheesecake recipe that's perfect for the peanut butter and Oreo lovers out there. It's also easy to make. No need for water bath because the top of the cheesecake will be covered with whipped cream and Oreos so nobody will really notice if it darkens or even if it cracks. But no need to worry about cracking; as long as you don't overbake, you're fine! 

The birthday girl loves her cheesecake! She said it looks fabulous and is really yummy and has the perfect balance of peanut butter and Oreo! Try it for yourself and let me know what you think!

Whole Wheat Strawberry Bread with Walnut Crumble

Come spring time, strawberries are everywhere and really cheap here, and with me and my youngest daughter being big fans of these nutrient-packed red gems, we always buy lots of them. We enjoy eating strawberries fresh...but we also love making them into smoothies, jam, ice cream, ice candies, and yummy desserts like strawberry and cream in puff pastry cups and chocolate mousse and strawberry trifle. Lately, we've been making lots of strawberry cookies and strawberry bread too! And guess what? The whole family is loving them! 

This Whole Wheat Strawberry Bread with Walnut Crumble that I am sharing with you today is my family's new favorite. The recipe is very much like that of my Banana Bread, the only difference is that I used whole wheat flour for this instead of bread flour and I substituted vanilla with maple syrup.

My eldest daughter who always says she hates strawberries is so into this strawberry bread. And the hubs says it's as good as his favorite banana bread. Well, it's so soft, moist and really delicious...no wonder we all love it! It's wonderful hot or cold, for snack or as a dessert and even for breakfast! For the crumble, you can substitute walnut with pecans. You can even use your favorite cereal! I've tried Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Honey Bunches of Oats with Pecans, and Banana Nut Crunch...and I tell you, the bread always turned out great! 

Hope you'll try it so you'll know what I'm talking about.