Recipe | Nutella Cupcakes

When I started learning how to properly use our Oven Toaster to bake cupcakes, I started checking so many cupcake videos on YouTube to know about different flavor combinations. One of the "easy" cupcakes to do is the Nutella Cupcakes, which I baked when my sister celebrated her birthday three days ago.


Nutella Cupcakes
{yield - 10 cupcakes}

Ingredients - Cupcakes

• 1 box Maya Butter Cake Mix
• 4 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 medium eggs
• 1 to 2 tablespoons cocoa powder (optional)

Ingredients - Frosting

• 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon Nutella spread
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Let's bake!

> Cream softened butter and blend in the cake mix until well combined.

> Make a well in the center and add in eggs - one at a time - lightly mixing the batter in between eggs.
> Add the water and mix until well combined, making sure not to over mix the batter.
> Line muffin trays with cupcake liners and pour in batter, filling 2/3 of each cup.
> If using oven toaster, cover the tray with aluminum foil and bake in the oven toaster for 7 minutes.
> Take out the foil cover once it reached the 7 minute mark and bake further for three more minutes.
> Once the cupcakes are fully baked, cool them on racks and set aside.

To make the frosting, just beat the butter and cream cheese together until well combined, the pour in the vanilla, followed by the Nutella spread. Beat further then slowly add the powdered the sugar. Continue beating the mixture using an electric mixer until it becomes fluffy. As always, if it's too heavy, add milk (one tablespoon at a time) or if it's too light, add more powdered sugar. Top cupcakes with the frosting using a spoon or a piping bag, making sure the cupcakes are completely cool before frosting them. If it's warm, the heat will just melt the frosting. Drizzle the cupcakes with Nutella spread before serving. Also, you can also bore a hole into the cupcakes and fill it with Nutella spread, if you want to. I didn't do this as I don't want to overwhelm myself with the Nutella flavor.

As you can see, I made two kinds of cupcakes. When I checked YouTube for videos, most of the videos used chocolate cupcakes, but one used vanilla cupcakes because chocolate cupcakes might drown the Nutella flavor. To find out which I prefer, I decided to make two different kinds.

I just made the batter and made five cupcakes using the basic mix, and for the second batch, I added a tablespoon of cocoa powder and half a tablespoon of water into the remaining batter. Personally, I preferred the chocolate one more maybe because adding the cocoa powder made the cupcake less sweeter compared the butter cupcakes. My sister and mother loved it, and I was a happy baker.

This Christmas, we will certainly make our own cupcakes, but of all the ones we baked, we loved the Carrot Cupcakes with Sour Cream Frosting the best, so that would be part of our Noche Buena menu.

“Nutcracker” Christmas Encore at Bizu Patisserie

Bizu Patisserie, once again, takes you on a journey to Tchaikovsky’s Land of the Sweets with its Christmas 2013 Collection overflowing with favorites and unique offerings sure to make everyone’s holidays truly enchanting.

The season’s masterpiece is Bizu’s Grand Carousel. Reminiscent of Caroussel de la Tour Eiffel in Paris, it is filled with classic butter cookies, crisp tuile, luscious chocolate-covered pretzels and crunchy caramel popcorn. Wind it up and hear a captivating tune.

Taking the spotlight is Bizu’s Chestnut Cake, a combination of chestnut cremeaux, moist speculoos cake and caramel glaze topped with chestnut cream.

Welcome back some Bizu favorites. Indulge in the sweetness of Rudolph, a Christmas chocolate ornament ball with crème caramel filling and a moist chocolate brownie base. Set the Christmas table with Noël Fruit Cake made of Valrhona chocolate, pecans and dark cherries. Try the Christmas Carrot and Walnut Cake topped with rich brown butter cream cheese.

Melchor Croquembouche makes for a grand holiday table centerpiece. A lovely tower of profiteroles filled with pastry cream dipped in white and dark chocolate. Choose between an 18-inch tall croquembouche with 130 cream puffs or a 12- inch tall croquembouche with 60 cream puffs.

Christmas in Bizu is, of course, not complete without its signature Macaron de Paris. These masterpieces are almond meringue shells filled with a luscious combination of buttercream. Order in boxes of 8, 14 and 28 or get the Macaron Pyramid, another show stopping centerpiece that holds 40 pieces. Just for the holidays, Bizu offers Speculoos, a lightly spiced ginger and cinnamon-flavored macaron.

Something new are Bizu’s Chocolate Nut Butter Spreads, creamy and smooth combinations of chocolate and nut flavors with a hint of sweetness and a touch of saltiness. Try all four flavors: Hazelnut Milk Chocolate Butter, Macadamia and White Chocolate Butter, Almond Roca Butter and Pistachio White Chocolate Butter.

The Pot de Crème is another addition to Bizu’s Christmas Collection. The soft French crème comes in four flavors: Madagascar Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Burnt Caramel and Sugar Free Gianduja Hazelnut.

Bizu puts a distinct spin on the much loved popcorn with its Gourmet Popcorn. Enjoy the light and popping crunch of caramel popcorn in three flavors: Salted Caramel; Dark Chocolate, Almonds and Pretzel; and Pistachio, White Chocolate and Macaron.

Cheese Tarts, another newcomer, is a perfect Christmas gift. This smooth and dense mascarpone cheesecake over flaky puff pastry is available per piece or in a lovely box of six.

New Ensaymada flavors make a vow this season. The three new flavors of Queso de Bola and Chorizo, Italian Pistachio and White Chocolate and Cheese Roll join the traditional Dark Chocolate, Almond Praline and Classic Cheese.

Bizu is well known for its luxurious French Gâteau. Each one is a sight to behold and every bite is unforgettably delicious. Have a taste of Samba, Opera, Nirvana, Amour, Roca, sugarless and flourless Jolie, sugarless Naomi, Tiramisu, Strawberry Shortcake and Chiboust in Blueberry, Mango and Strawberry.

Make the holidays more memorable with Bizu’s Savoury Holiday Traditions. Yuletide Pork Crown Roast is a festive circlet of juicy chops with a hearty stuffing of apples, chestnuts and sausages. Bizu's signature Ten-Hour Roast Beef Belly is so tender it melts in your mouth and comes with sidings of crunchy vegetables and creamy mushroom sauce.

Whole Turkey Roast is all plump, juicy and golden brown and comes with a signature stuffing of apples, chestnut and sausages with a duet of gravy and cranberry sauce. A perfect addition to any Christmas dinner and party is the Baked Salmon Rockefeller, baked Norwegian salmon layered with creamy spinach and topped with parmesan mornay sauce. Complete the celebration with Chicken Liver Paté and Smoked Salmon and Caviar for the appetizers.

This Christmas, celebrate the taste of joie de vivre only at Bizu. To order, email concierge@bizugroupe.com or call 845-0590 to 93. Visit Bizu Patisserie branches near you. Greenbelt 2 (757-2498), One Rockwell Tower, (478-7755 or 779-5044), Greenhills Promenade (724-2498 or 726-2496), Alabang Town Center (809-2498, 772-1917, or 772-1918), St. Luke’s Global City (823-6621) and Le Petit Bizu Robinsons Magnolia (467-0670).

Drop by the Bizu Christmas Carriage at the North Court of Power Plant Mall and our Christmas stall at the Greenbelt 3 Park. Email conciergeteam@bizugroupe.com or check out www.bizuchristmas.com. Like us on facebook.com/ilovebizu and follow us on twitter.com/bizuph.

Krazy Garlik Goes to Greenhills

Go on a garlicky adventure while tasting the different recipes from around the clove with Krazy Garlik’s newest branch at Promenade’s New Wing in Greenhills. Adding to the garlicky goodness of its roster of four restaurants, Krazy Garlik is now ready to feed the hungry foodies of the north. With flavors that will excite even non-believers, you shouldn’t miss out on this dining destination that glorifies the beautiful taste of garlic.

We have everything for everybody. But for the adventurous, taste Kraaazy meals like Garlik Snowflakes pizza with a cream sauce base topped with shrimps, pineapples, and garlic flakes or go for the Garlicky Crispy Pata or 40 Kloves Chicken that brings the love for garlic to a whole new level. Enjoy porkchop and Thai-inspired dishes like Pad Thai and Crispy Orange Shrimp, which will satisfy those who seek the more laid-back comforts of home. Best pair them with Kraaazy drinks like our best-selling popping boba and jelly drinks that burst in your mouth with fruity flavor. And as you go on to dessert, you can always depend on the Cream Catalana, a Spanish style-crème bruleè, or the Crepe Dynamite to end your Kraaazy meal with a bang.

You can always drop by Krazy Garlik at the 2nd Level, New Wing and taste the love with Krazy Garlik’s Kraaazy meals. With store hours of 11 am to 11 pm, we’re ready to serve the best of the garlic-infused dishes from around the world. And with our new opening blowout in Greenhills, enjoy 50% off the price of the all time favorite 40 Kloves Chicken from Dec 9 to 13, 2013 only. Get it for as low as Php207 for half chicken and Php397 for whole chicken valid only at Promenade branch. And if you decide to drive off and be somewhere else, we’ll be at Greenbelt 5, Newport Mall, Alabang Town Center, and a soon-to-open branch at Shangri-La Mall to serve you the to serve you garlicky dishes you’ll go kraaazy for and you ought not to miss.

To learn more about Krazy Garlik, find them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: KrazyGarlikPH and join us with hashtags #KrazyGarlikPH #KrazyGarlikGhils

You can also visit their official website at www.krazygarlik.com.ph

Celebrating Christmas at Max's Restaurant

For three years now, Max's Restaurant hosted Christmas party for their family in the blogosphere, but unlike the first two parties, this year's celebration was different ad more memorable and touching.


I started blogging for Max's Restaurant February 2011, and over the years I have made good friends with people from Max's Restaurant as well as with my fellow bloggers, that each event became a place for us to share stories, laughter, and good times... making us a part of one big happy family. For this get together, we first exchanged a goodie box and our prayers, hopes, and wishes to our fellow bloggers then shared a sumptuous dinner -


Pancit Canton


Pancit Luglug


Lumpiang Shanghai

...all served in Cater Tray and good to be shared.


Of course, a party at Max's Restaurant is never complete without the Sarap to the Bones fried chicken. Umm umm good!


For this Christmas season, Max's Restaurant offers two Holiday food packages

Max's Holiday Meal - Crispy Pata 4 Sharing
Lechon may be too much for small families or small group of friends to devour on, so the best next thing is to have Crispy Pata on the table! This awesome fork-tender goodness is now available for only 399 pesos, giving you a savings of as much as 225 pesos. To complete the meal, you may also opt to go with the Crispy Pata 4 Sharing, comprising of one Crispy Pata, paired with either Chopseuy or Sizzling Tofu, plus rice and any Pepsi product for only 799 pesos.

Holiday Party Package
For bigger groups, Max's Holiday Party Package is just the perfect choice. Good for 10 to 12 people, this package is made up of: 2 whole servings of Fried Chicken, Lumpiang Shanghai Cater Tray, a choice between Pancit Luglug or Pancit Canton Cater Tray, and 12 pieces of Max's Corner Bakery Ensaimada. Available for take out or delivery, this Holiday Party Package can be availed starting today, 16 December 2013 until 05 January 2014 for only 2,199 pesos.


For dessert, we were served the Max's Corner Bakery Holiday Chocolate Cakes - {clockwise from top} Salted Caramel Tableya, Choco Moist, Triple Treat, Toffee Torte, and Choco Merengue Delight. I tasted each of the cakes, and I personally loved the Choco Moist the most.


This year has been a very tough one for the Philippines. After the war in Zamboanga, it was followed by a typhoon that hit the same province, then an earthquake in Visayas, and one super typhoon, which also hit the Visayas region. It was so devastating that relief efforts were launched worldwide. The Max's Group of Companies took part of this, but instead of collecting donations, they launched HOPE #BeStrongPhilippines, encouraging diners to share their donations thru the Philippine Red Cross, which had the capacity to collect and distribute donations collected.

Last year, the Christmas Party hosted by Max's Restaurant was made up of dinner, followed by the Bloggers Got Talent and a raffle. This year, as much as we all have to move forward and carry on with lives, the essence of Christmas is by sharing, so instead of hosting another videoke night with raffle, Max's Restaurant decided to donate the amount intended for this party to the Philippine Red Cross in behalf of their blogger friends. This was a very touching thing for them to do. Personally, just having a time shared together - regardless of what food we eat - is already enough to make it a great Christmas Party, but because Max's Restaurant thought of their blogger friends and donating some money on our behalf made this party a truly memorable one.


Before we left, we were given a HOPE T-Shirt as well as 2014 Calendar. My sister and I attended the event so each of us received these gifts, but when we got home, mom liked the shirt so much that she borrowed sister's shirt so we can have a picture together.

Christmas season may be a busy one for us, so if you think preparing dishes can be a little overwhelming for you, do know that Max's Restaurant is always ready to cater for your Christmas Party, Noche Buena, and Media Noche needs!

For more details, please check www.maxschicken.com or their Facebook page.

Kumpletuhin ang Sarap ng Pasko with Jollibee Chickenjoy Bucket Treats!

Second week of December is usually the time for Christmas parties left and right, and last Sunday, my mom and I attended our first Christmas Party when we attended the party organized by Jollibee, attended by different bloggers and their families. The moment we arrived, my mom and I quickly lined at the photo booth and had fun posing for pictures using the different props.

It is a party for families and for the kids, so when the host - Ms. Tricia Chiongbian formally opened the party, she quickly called in different families for different games.


Game 1 was the Picture Finder game, families were given magazines, cartolina, scissors, and glue and they had to cut out five images that depicted things they love doing as a family. The winning family was given 1000 pesos worth of Jollibee GCs.


Game 2 was the Trivia Game, which was divided into two levels. First set of questions were to be answered by the kids and the second set of questions were intended for the adults to answer. The winning pair won a Jollibee dancing doll.


Game 3 was Charades. It was also divided into different categories and the winning family won 1000 pesos worth of Jollibee GCs and a Jollibee dancing doll.


Of course, a Jollibee party is not a Jollibee party if a Jollibee mascot won't be there!



Jollibee aims to have families enjoy time together, so for this event they invited celebrity couple Lander Vera Perez and Regine Tolentino with their daughters. One of the things their family enjoy doing together is dancing, and aside from having a boutique, they also do Zumba together. Regine Tolentino is well known for her dancing skills (she even has dance workout DVDs), so it was a surprise news that her husband is now a certified Zumba instructor and today was his debut to the world. Zumba is one of the things I like to do but still struggle with because Zumba is quite heavy on the legs and just 5 minutes of doing it makes my legs dead tired.


What we feasted on for that lunch was the new Jollibee Chickenjoy Bucket Treats, featuring their new side dishes - the Buttered Corn and Mashed Potatoes.

Priced at 599 pesos, the Chickenjoy Bucket Treats consist of a bucket of Chickenjoy (8 pieces), 4 cups of rice, two sets of the new side dishes, 4 regular cups of Coke, and 4 cups of sundae (Chocolate or Strawberry).

For couples or those who enjoy solitary eating, Jollibee is also offering the Chickenjoy Super Value Meal which consist of 2 piece Chickenjoy, rice, two new side dishes, sundae and regular Coke for 169 pesos.


Both new side dishes aren't new to the taste for I think all of us have tasted mashed potatoes and sweet corn, but I loved these both side dishes. It is refreshing to see these served in Jollibee because of course not everybody wants rice with their Chickenjoy, some prefer other kinds of carbs and these were good choices.

This Christmas, it will just be us three girls and we were still deciding what to serve. Sister was thinking of purchasing cooked food while mom prefer for us to prepare food no matter how simple the dish would be, and should we decide to go with cooked food, this would be a good option.

The new Jollibee Chickenjoy Bucket Treats featuring the new side dishes are now available in Jollibee stores, go try it out!

Before the party ended, they gave out raffle prizes, and I unfortunately didn't win anything. Sad as it may be, I was still thankful I was invited for this event, that I spent it with my mom, and I am definitely thankful for the gift they gave before we left.