The Whipped Kitchen Feature Ingredient: Graham Crackers

 It is one of those days that I feel the need to create a cookie recipe. But I have to challenge myself. The Goal: Make use of what is readily available in the cupboard. Upon checking on my inventory, since I haven't gone to the supermarket yet, I only have flour, chocolate chips, graham crackers and oatmeal aside from the basics like baking soda, Sugar and Butter is always present in the fridge. Yes, while looking at my checklist I could already see the picture of what I might end up doing. And so the debate in my mind finally came to a conclusion: two cookie recipes. I included the Chocolate Chips indeed and also Oatmeal Cookies. I just can't leave my graham sitting there lonely so I included it to both recipes. I remember from an episode of Buddy's Bakery Rescue that a simple cookie dough could come up with different variations. With this in mind, I know I could never go wrong. It might not be original since I looked it up on Goggle and found similar recipes. :( With my goal in mind, I'll still go on with my recipes.
Graham Crackers is our basic ingredient when we are baking pies specifically we use this as the crust if we want no bake, ref pies. It is also the one in the 3 ingredient s'mores that we loved. But honestly it never came to my mind that it can also be used in baking cookies. Using Graham Crackers gives that extra chewy on cookies especially if to be put in the fridge for a couple of minutes before baking.
This two cookie recipe that I would like to share is of my own version. Hope you'll enjoy it as much as my family did. :)

Graham Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• 6 pcs crushed graham crackers
• 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 pc egg
• 1 tsp vanilla

Cooking Directions

1. Pre heat the oven to 350 F. Cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the egg and vanilla until light and fluffy. Set aside.
2. In another mixing bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients. ( graham crackers, flour, baking soda and salt) Make sure to sift the flour, baking soda and salt first to avoid lumps.
3. Mix the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until well combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
4. Using the basic cookie scoop (about 2 Tbsp) drop a scoop on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. About 2 inches apart each cookie.
5. Bake for 10 minutes. Take out of the oven and let it stay in the cookie sheet for a couple of minutes to set. Cool completely on a cookie rack.

Different Baking Stores to Suit your Baking Needs

  The first question that I had when I'm starting my Baking Business is where to find the right utensils and ingredients to use. You see not all leading Supermarkets caters to the needs of a newbie like me. There might be some but the real problem here is if you are a budget conscious person like me," How can I afford it?"  Freak no more my co-baking-newbie enthusiasts! Here are my list of Baking Shops that would help you find retail ingredients and quality utensils. The best of all is

it's affordable. So, let's start.

• RM Box Center - Located at Sta. Mesa Manila, RM Boxes are I believe the sole distributor of commercial and personalized boxes here in the Philippines. If you see those beautiful cupcake boxes on a christening event, I'm pretty sure it's from RM. I found their website on Google upon browsing looking for a boxes and cookie pouches. Their location may be a bit far from me because I'm here in the South area. Fortunately, you can place your orders online which I often did. I really love how sturdy their boxes are. They are made from recycled materials so don't worry no trees are harmed. Their boxes are so fancy that a customer came up to me one time telling me that she might use the boxes again for another occasion. RM Boxes also have cupcake liners, fancy pouches, novelty boxes and accessories of your liking. They also accept customized boxes and tags for business and personal use. And what you'll love about them is that they are all affordable. I once ran out of fancy pouches for my cookies that I had to buy from a nearby supermarket. I never imagined how big the price difference is. A piece of advice, find time to save up so you could buy in bulk. Believe me, you will be saving more. 

• Love 2 Bake Co. - Because I reside from the South I find this more accessible than going to Quinta Market in Quiapo. For me, this is Killion and New Sin Kian Heng rolled into one. Love 2 Bake is located in BF Homes, Paranaque. Just look for Frution Bldg. The Building is located at the back of the wet market. For newbies like me, a place like this is haven for us. Just like Killion, they sell Baking ingredients like flour, chocolates, nuts, sprinkles in retail. They also sell boxes and plastic packaging, fondant icings and fondant designs. Any baker could ask for is available here. Baking utensils are also sold here even to cupcake and cake holder. What I also love about the store is that every sales person is knowledgeable of what the store is selling. They also give some alternatives on certain products that will fit your needs. Really accommodating and friendly staff. You could also order online for those who don't have time to visit the physical store. Also, for those who want to have crash courses on baking or fondant icing making, Love 2 Bake conducts special classes. 

• Just Bake It-  My other alternative. Sometimes inevitable circumstances occur and your favorite store just ran out of that certain ingredient you would be using for a function. This is my lifesaver on those occasions. Some commodities may be a peso or two higher but the best part especially for those urgent situations is that they allow credit cards. The also have retail baking ingredients, and wide array of imported baking utensils .And if you want those cupcake of yours to have top of the edge design Just Bake It  offers the Edible Image Printing. Imagine seeing the face of your loved ones printed on her favorite cake. Really an awesome idea. High end imported baking utensils and ingredients are also available for those who wants to invest more on their baking. Workshops and Baking Demos are available for those interested. Ordering Online can also be done for people who are not too sure of their location. 

• The Landmark Makati - Located at the 2nd floor, I find their Baking Section more dedicated than that of some Department store. Mostly a wide variety of Baking utensils to choose from. In here I bought my first cookie sheet and measuring cups/spoon. They also carry retail ingredients in their supermarket which is a plus. For the beginners or baking enthusiasts, you'll never go wrong at Landmark.

• SM Supermarket - I'm glad to see that they now carry retails on baking ingredients like flours, chocolates, nuts and even plastic packaging and RM cupcake liners. Expect a higher price thou but nevertheless for those emergencies, we could count on them.

 If you have time you could visit Divisoria specifically along Sto. Cristo where you could find Bestway and Estanislao Trading. Quiapo where Killion, Mostwell, Peotraco and Commoner is located. For those who want to buy in bulks these is the place to be. For those who are located in the North area Sweetcraft in Mandaluyong is for you. There are also specialty stores like Baker's Depot Cooks Exchange and Gourdo's if you really want to invest more.

I hope in my own little way, I was able to help you newbies in finding your perfect Baking store. 

Whipped: How it all started

 Having a sweet tooth is one if not the main reason why my determination to learn baking flourished. I subscribed to different You Tube sensations and often follow their recipes. As I stated that I haven't taken my Baking classes yet, still I self educate myself by asking Google. It seems that my dreams of being a baker was put into confirmation when I decided to put up a small business. I search for a salable recipe to whom I'm subscribed to then bake it. My siblings and I decided to sell this and fortunately my first batch was a success. Thus, marked the birth of Whipped.

 We first had cupcakes on our menu but due to the growing family of people selling  that we opt to focus on cookies. Cupcakes would then be offered for give-aways or by special requests. 

Cookies was then offered to my bother's office mates who are now my loyal clients. I just started from an old time favorite which is Chocolate Chip Cookies. Until I slowly add one kind after another. Or I'll see the latest trend on the Baking World and would put up my own version. One of these are the famous Cookie Cups of Dominique Ansel. Though I must admit that I had a hard time finding the right concoction of making my cookie dough hold up that milk.

From the Whipped Kitchen: "Happy Birthday Mama"

  Yesterday was my Mom's natal day. Thus the reason why I wasn't able to put up a blog for two consecutive days. Whenever there's an occasion or a family event, I'm always tasked to prepare everything. I play a few roles on a particular day. I budget, do the buying, prepare and cook. Sometimes, if the situation asks to, I also play the hostess. So yesterday is one of those days.
I just prepared my mom's old time favorite. Spaghetti and Chicken Macaroni Salad ( Filipino Style) *wink* simply because she isn't a picky eater and is also conventional.

From the Whipped Kitchen: The Red Velvet Cookie Cups Recipe

  Hello Sugar! I wasn't able to post yesterday because it's a Sunday which is for me is a family day. It is the day of the week where we put aside our work, relax, have fun or be simply with the family. We spare our day to spend quality time with our loved ones because with them that we got to be our real self again. I'm lucky that I have a very supportive siblings. When I say supportive, they are my biggest fan. Everything I do, I owe it to them. Like this Red Velvet Cookie Cups that I made a few weeks ago which became an instant favorite in the family.

I've been meaning to do this recipe but it's too scared to start. My fears includes a lot of what if's that I started to drop the idea. But thankfully, through some guide lines that I got from watching You Tube and reading Blogs that I finally got the formula. Special thanks to the Spache the Spatula for being my virtual mentor.
Enjoy!

The Whipped Kitchen Features: "Spache The Spatula"

  As a newbie blogger, I frequent sites that inspires me on a given day. But most, because I do bake, it would always concerns "Food". Recently, I got a chance to visit this wonderful blog of Rachel . Reading it gives me the high. I never been so ecstatic to hit our kitchen and bake or cook. Baking aside from cooking is a passion, Though as I said, I haven't taken any formal classroom studies yet. So far, my learning set up would be the rest of the You Tube sensations and my Google. Anyways, first thing that I look for when I visit a site is if it's easy to do. Really a golden rule for a newbie like me. Second, if the ingredients are available locally. Sometimes, well most I give this an exemption especially if I like the recipe. I just look for a readily alternative that I could find through Goggle's suggestion. Those I bear in mind and Rachel really hits those spot. I just happend to discover her blog upon searching  recipes to try for a bazaar. Then as what they say "...the rest is history".

From the Whipped Kitchen: The Mango Graham Cookies Recipe

Lately we've been experiencing the sudden raise in temperature. Just means to say that Summer is officially kickin in. Yay or Nay?! A lot different in compared to last year, the prelude month to summer stays a bit colder that of now. Better get those summer gears out from your closets because it'll be coming I think earlier.
So, like one of my dreams of having a Coffee Shop, I also dream
of releasing new flavors for my creations in every event of the year like, Summer. *wink*
My inspiration I got from what my mom brought yesterday, which is an ice cream stick. Yes, a famous ice cream brand released a Mango Graham flavor on their list. But what Mango has got to do with the weather? You see, we are very fond of making shakes and the likes, anything that has a big participation of shaved ice. And the most popular of all is, right. Mangoes. Proud to say that the Philippine Mangoes are the best in the world. In short, I made a bold imitation of the famous Mango Graham in my cookies. Hope you enjoy my cookies as much as I do and lets celebrate Summer!

Mango Graham Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup All Purpose Flour
• 6 pc Graham Crackers
• 1 tsp Baking soda
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup Dried Mangoes diced
• 8 oz Unsalted Butter
• 1/8 cup Cream Cheese
• 2 pc Eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Crush the graham crackers in a Ziploc bag until almost powdered but leave a few chunks.
3. In a medium bowl, combine all the dry ingredients ( graham, flour, baking soda) set aside.
4. In another bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and cream cheese for a few minutes. Add eggs one at a time and vanilla. Mix until you have a glossy texture.
5. Add in the flour mixture and the dried mangoes. Mix until well combined.
6. Using a standard size cookie scoop, drop the dough unto the cookie sheets, at least 2 inches apart. For extra chewiness, you may refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before baking.
7. Bake for 12 minutes. Allow to cool in the cookie sheets for 5 minutes before transferring to a cookie rack.
8. Makes 18 cookies

To Love and Behold, My story untold

 Everybody has that what we call "one true love..." or "my priced possession.." It may be a person, a pet, a thing or a DREAM. For me, it's the latter. 

I never really thought that I would make cooking a profession. Well not that I'm already a professional chef on that matter. I took up CA or Culinary Arts Course only by accident. Though I really do love to cook but only for the love of my family. Fond of watching TLC and Food Network. Idolizing Giada de Laurentiis and Anthony Bourdain. 

So there. I wore my toque and fulfill my dreams.

But.. I haven't completed my study yet. I still have one course left and that is Baking. Just because I have personal fears to tackle that I already left that dream be a dream. 

I still continued to cook. Be it with an occasion or just a simple day, my meal would be pleasant. It may came from a you tube cooking sensation, a blog post from which I subscribed or from a recipe book that I tweaked because of the availability of a foreign ingredient. But as what I put it, my "inner goddess" whom I call nudges me to do baking. So maybe i'm fearless, even though i don't have my 101's on how to i started selling cupcakes.

For starters, i made this Laura Vitale Chocolate Crumb Cake.

Chocolate Crumb Cake by Laura Vitale

Chocolate Crumb Cake my version

Please don't judge. I know there is a huge difference but trust me it's still Chocolate. *smiley inserted*

Being not educated with the basics, i readily just relied on my instincts. I know... I know. It's a No! No! but my passion is really kicking hard. Yes, i had my burnt ones, the under cooked, the one that didn't rise, and the laughing-pill-kind-of-cupcake because of too much sugar.

But what I learned about this ( aside from my undying passion) is that you have to be patient.

As you looked at that cupcake waiting to rise, you see your hardships. In getting the right measurement, choosing the less expensive ingredient to conversion. And when you finally see the dome forming in you feel success!  I may sound shallow but first timers would attest to this.

 And so my baking journey continues. I might still continue my baking course because it's a Must! I joined my brother's company bazaar. I had some promising offers but as of now I still want to give time to my Love. You see my dream is something to Behold. A very impressive dream from a girl who only has the passion to hold on to.