Apples & Almonds Cupcakes by Faith

Craving for something sweet, delicious and different?  Looking for something to give your loved ones that is interesting, unique and not mainstream?  Fret no more, Apples and Almonds Cupcakes by Faith is the answer to your problems.

I was given a free taste by Apples & Almonds and with just one bite, I can honestly say, it is one hell of a cupcake!  It is delicious and fresh.  You can actually smell the cupcake when you take it out of its packaging.  Believe me, I know how to tell a fresh dessert or pastry from not.

Having their motto:  "Indulge in the extraordinary!"  One will surely say.. Huh?  are cupcakes extraordinary?  Well, looking at it physically, it is like any other cupcakes but wait until you sink your teeth and taste it then you can actually say, truly they live up to their motto.  It is in fact one extraordinary cupcake.  Starting from opening the packaging, smelling its freshest ingredients to actually tasting it.  You don't even want to throw the wrapper because you are wishing you still have more in your hands.

At present, they are offering 4 mouth-watering, drooling flavours:

 

-          Choco n’Smore

o        Rich chocolate cupcakes topped with fluffy marshmallow with a choco crust to end things right.

 

-          Apple & Cinnamon

o        Luscious Apple cupcakes with a hint of cinnamon, sweet caramel filling and special cream cheese frosting.

 

-          Almond & Maple

o        Nutty Almond cupcakes, topped in a creamy maple frosting

 

-          Banoffee

o        Your dessert in a cup! Fluffy Banana Toffee cupcakes, topped with special maple cream cheese frosting. *BEST-SELLER*

Each cupcake is worth Php 60.00 (so affordable!).  But wait! There is more! hahaha!  You can get these cupcakes at a discount when purchasing it by the dozen.  A dozen cupcakes is worth Php 700.00  (beat the value of that!).  According to Apples and Almonds, the discounted price is applicable only for box of 6/12, individually packed cupcakes is not included in the discounted price even if you order 12.  No problem with that, because each individual packed cupcake has a special packaging and a unique cupcake liner.

HOW TO ORDER:

Since Apples & Almonds wants its cupcakes delivered to you fresh.  Please allow 2-3 days lead time in ordering these spectacular cupcakes prior to delivery.  You have 4 options to choose from in ordering these cupcakes:

1.) you can send them an email at apples_almonds@yahoo.com

2.) visit their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/apples.almonds

3.) twit them at http://www.twitter.com/@apples_almonds

4.) Call them at 0917-9826219

The Kori Kohi Coffee of UCC

What is a Kori Kohi Coffee?  Well, it is simple coffee ice cubes in a glass wherein you put warm milk on to the coffee cubes until the cubes melt and blend with the milk.  I've tried this at UCC Coffee in Temple Drive.  It is great to know that people reinvent things to make simple iced coffee into something different.  The Kori Kohi coffee is priced at Php 195.00 per glass.  Not cheap?  Certainly!  But it is worth the try.

Flashpacking vs. Backpacking

The term backpacking has been with us for quite some time now.  We are very comfortable with the word and the term.  Backpacking refers to budget travelers and I mean BUDGET travelers wherein they will stay at cheaper accommodation such as guest houses, hostels, inns and etc. and cut on their expenses on food and shopping.  They like to travel and explore and learn whether it is domestic or international.  There are a lot of definitions but for me a backpacker is simply a budget conscious traveler that doesn't mind what will they skip as long as they get to their dream destination.

My question right now is... You are a budget traveler BUT are you really a backpacker? 

There is a new term that has been circling in the travel industry and it is known as flashpacking.  This is a coined term that is gaining popularity.  Since this is a newly coined term, there are different opinions that define flashpacking. 

For me, Flashpacking simply means:  a budget travel but is willing to shell out more moohlah in their travels.  Instead of checking-in at hostels and inns, they prefer a more comfortable hotel (not the 5star ones) that is near the city center or the shopping district for convenience and accessibility.  They don't mind eating in restaurants that serves the best local cuisine even though it is a bit pricy.  They don't just simply go for the nearest street food vendor or the friendly neighborhood fast food chain to satisfy their hunger.

A flashpacker is an upgraded backpacker wherein they have more money to spend on additional comfort (ex. a 3 star hotel vs. inns), convenience (the location), luxury (food and shopping) that backpackers tend to ignore.

Scenarios to help you understand more:

Scenario 1:  Collette is a product specialist of a company and at 28 years of age.  She loves traveling and she makes sure that it is part of her annual plan, to travel 1 domestic and 1 international to least.  She waits for seat sales of her favorite low-cost airline.  She saves on her travels and wants to stay in a more comfortable accommodation and choose to stay at hotels ranging from USD 180 to 250 a night, eat the best food that the place she will visit.  Check out recommended restaurants and cuisine that the city has to offer.  She is even allocating her budget for shopping because she heard that there is a big H&M or Uniqlo store in that city. A FLASHPACKER

Scenario 2:  Johnny is an accounting clerk at 21 years of age.  He loves traveling and is passionate to learn in every travel he experience.  Keeps a travel journal and writes every detail of it.  Travels 4 times domestically in a year, 2 of which by air the other 2 by land or sea.  He doesn't want to spend too much on his accommodation and feels its a waste of money to spend on a nice hotel so he opts to sleep in a guesthouse or an inn.  Sacrifices some of the best dishes the place can offer if its quite expensive but never skips his love for traveling.  He will always go to where his heart pleases, it is not the comfort, luxury and prestige of his travel, as long as he is able to go to his destination it is fine by him. A BACKPACKER

So what kind of a traveler are you? :)

Morong, Rizal

 Morong is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Rizal and is the home of the very very beautiful St. Joseph Parish Church.  Education is a priority in Morong and thus became a center of education in the 70's to the 90's.

The facade of St. Joseph Parish Church is very beautiful.  I was captivated by its beauty and its work of art.  It is built by Chinese craftsmen in 1615. Lion sculptures are evidence of this fact but unfortunately one was stolen.  Seeing the facade in the picture is already jaw-dropping but wait until you are actually standing in front of the church and experience it live :)

There is nothing much to see or do in Morong, we just went there to see the majestic facade of St. Joseph Parish Church.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Going to Morong is easily accessible via the Manila East Road.  Head towards Ortigas Ave. Extension, you will be passing by Cainta, Taytay, Angono, Binangonan and Cardona.  Each town/city has its own pride and you can stop in each as you head towards Morong.  After Morong, if you decide to continue, you will reach Baras and Tanay which is the home of another 2 remarkable church.

Lucban Church - Quezon Province

Lucban Church in Quezon Province is another of the thousands of baroque churches in the Philippines.  This Church had undergone a test of time as it is said in it's incription : "The first church, built in 1595, was ruined in 1629. The second church was constructed between 1630 and 1640, but was seriously damaged by fire in 1733. The present church was completed in 1738 and the convent in 1743.

It still stands tall and proud in the town of Lucban til this date and is the center of the famous Pahiyas Festival that is celebrated every May 15 in honor of St. Isidore, the patron saint of all the farmers.  Pahiyas is celebrated by showcasing different agricultural products and the highlight of the festival is the so-called KIPING.  Kiping is a rice-made decoration that is shaped into leaf-like structures, it can be eaten afterwards.

Lucban is also famous for its longganisa.  Longganisa is very similar to sausages in other western countries.  The flavor of Lucan Longganisa is garlicky and a bit salty as opposed to the longganisa that is made in Cebu which are sweet.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Lucban can be accessed in two ways; the first route is via the SLEX (South Luzon Expressway) and the other route is via the Manila East Road.

Via SLEX - traverse the length of the SLEX and exit at Turbina.  Take the Pan Philippine Highway (AH26).  You will be passing through the towns and cities of Sto. Tomas, San Pablo, Tiaong, Candelaria, Sariaya and Lucena City.  Upon reaching Lucena, take the Tayabas-Lucena road and it is connecting to the Tayabas-Lucban Road.  It is a bit of an uphill climb.  Should there be no traffic, one can reach Lucban in a matter of 3 to 4 hours.  This route is shorter, simpler and faster since you will be traveling in the expressway.

Via Manila East Road - this is the other way opposite of SLEX.  You will be passing through the cities and towns of Rizal Province.  Passing through the towns and cities of Laguna - Mabitac, Siniloan, Pangil, Pagsanjan.  Upon reaching Pagsanjan, take the Pagsanjan-Cavinti Road.  Upon reaching a split in the road, head for Luisana's direction.  When you reach Luisina,  you have two options, take the Majayjay Route or take the Luisana route, either way it will lead you to Lucban.  Just look for the signs along the road that points you to the direction of Lucban.  Be careful when plying this route since it is longer and the roads are zig-zagged.  The good side is, you will be able to stop by the different historical and old churches in Laguna.  So if you have the luxury of time, I suggest take the road less traveled by which is this route. :)

Bamboo Organ - Las Piñas City

The famous Las Piñas Bamboo Organ is located in St. Joseph Parish Church at the city of Las Piñas. (Southern Metro Manila) The organ is declared as a National Cultural Treasure.  The address of the church where the Bamboo organ is housed is P. Diego Cera Ave., Manuyo, Poblacion, Las Piñas City.

Upon our arrival in St. Joseph Parish Church, we were hoping that the Bamboo organ is being played but we didn't expect much since it was not on a Sunday.  Luckily, there was an on-going wedding celebration inside the church and we are blessed enough that the organ is indeed playing.  Seeing the organ is one thing, hearing it play is another.  Such a wonderful creation, organ out of bamboo.  It is what I called:  Proudly Philippine Made :)

The International Bamboo Organ Festival is from February 23 to 29, 2012.  Please visit http://www.bambooorgan.org/news.html for more information.

How To Get There:

By Car -- I suggest you ply Cavitex (Manila-Cavite Expressway) instead of using SLEX (South Luzon Expressway).  Not only the location of the church is near Cavitex its also WAY CHEAPER!.  From Makati, take EDSA, take the u-turn slot before going to MOA and then pass by Roxas Blvd.  Just go straight and you will see the toll gate of Cavitex.  Exit at Zapote.

Barasoain Church - Malolos, Bulacan

The Philippines' religion is dominated by Roman Catholic and that explains the numerous remarkable, baroque and historical churches and one of which is the Barasoain Church.

This is one of the most remarkable, memorable and important churches in Philippine History because this was the site of the First Philippine Republic.  It is dubbed as the Cradle of Democracy in the East.  Built in 1630.

The term "Barasoain" was derived from a place in Spain to which the missionaries found the place in Malolos in striking similarity. When the Spanish-Filipino revolution broke-out, revolutionaries coined the term "baras ng suwail", which means "dungeon of the defiant" (By Wikipedia).

It was such a wonderful feeling standing there in front of the church as I reminisce my own history.  The democracy we are currently enjoying until the present.  Not only is this place holy but it is packed with full of memories.  It is a different sensation when we read its history in our classrooms compared to actually seeing the Church herself.

How To Get There:

By Car -->  head towards NLEX (North Luzon Expressway) and exit the expressway in Tabang.  Follow the route that leads to Malolos.  From there, you will find the historical Barasoain Church.

It's Been Awhile...

Dear Fellow Readers,

I am really sorry for not being able to update this blog. Had other priorities before but right now I am thinking of reviving it again. I will focus more on travel this time but of course there will still be food articles from time to time. I miss writing and I miss sharing my thoughts to you.

I don't know when I will start writing but I want to revive this the soonest.

See you soon and really sorry for not updating this anymore!

Best Regards,

Jonas :)