Feeding Cookie Monster

I have this love and hate relationship with food, especially junk food. You know these are bad for you but you still eat it anyway?! There’s just this something in junk foods that’s so hard to resist and turn your back on! Hmph! It is usually in these situations that I can so relate with an old saying by the elders, “I’d rather die happy and full, than hungry and be missing out on all those delicious foods!”.

Recently, I’m in search for the best and most gooey chocolate chip cookies in town. Best in my definition is not too sweet, chewy and soft, and the chocolates are gooey and melty even when the cookies have been aired out for sometime. I’ve been trying to recreate these in my kitchen, as well. I’ve tested out different things, from copycat recipes (like the Levain chocolate chip cookies, famous in NYC or that of Solenn Heussaff’s version), procedures, to 2 eggs or 1 egg + 1 egg yolk. Still, I haven’t achieved that perfect chocolate chip cookie in my definition. I have perfected the taste to my liking, as well as the rustic look of the cookie (sorry, I don’t like my cookies shaped perfectly); it’s in having the chocolates gooey and melty that still remains a puzzle to me. I’m thinking, it has something to do with the right chocolate chip/bar to use.

As I’m still in the testing out stage of perfecting my version of the chocolate chip cookies, why not go in search for the best cookies in town to have my cookie fix? 🙂 After all, you can’t go wrong with having a cookie from time to time, right? Or of having too much cookie – is that even an issue?

Anyway, in my quest for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, I’ve narrowed it down to 2 bakers – Inglorious cookies and Tati’s Cookies. I like that the cookies from both bakers have the rustic look and not the perfectly shaped one; and they have the small and big versions of the cookies. Both bakers have social media presence, so it’s easier to locate them and look at their offerings. Inglorious cookies have pop-up stores already, 1 in Robinson’s Galleria and another in Ayala Malls Central Bloc. Tati’s Cookies, however, doesn’t have one and you’ll have to order in advance, I think 2 days prior. Prices of the cookies from both bakers are just about right, not too pricey.

Between these 2 bakers, I’d go for Tati’s cookies though. Hence, the collage above. I got the 2 variants – Dark Chocolate Chip with Walnut and Double Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies. The cookies are not too sweet which I so love; it’s super chewy and gooey, and it was able to maintain its chewiness and gooeyness even after 2-3 days of opening and stored at room temperature. I know! It’s amazing, right?! The cookies are overwhelmingly big too, I can’t finish one cookie in one sitting even when paired with coffee. But, I might be ordering these again soon if I’m still unable to perfect my version. 😛

Do let me know your thoughts on where to buy the perfect chocolate chip/bar to use in baking and what brand or type of chocolate. I believe this is the key to achieving perfection! 🙂

New Year, New Goals

It’s the new year and once again it’s time to make new resolutions and goals. I’m actually not the type who makes new year’s resolutions. Not because I don’t believe in those, it’s just that for some reason, I can’t seem to stick to the resolutions I’ve identified. I’m more of the goal settings and bucket list identification gal.

It’s for this reason that planners work well for me. Planners allows me to visualize my goals for the year, plan for my day or week or month, as well as stay organized (as I’m scatterbrained sometimes, on top of being fickle minded 😛 ). I like my planners simple and straightforward, which is why I’ve never got into Journalling (as it’s a current trend these days). I think it’s my 3rd year of having 3 separate planners – one is for personal purposes, another is for work, and third is for the side-business (my small baking business) or any other uncategorized stuff like errands that are not directly related to me.

Typically, for my personal planner, belle de jour power planner has always been my choice. I love the simplicity apart from the coupons included in the planner. I also like the monthly write ups and the inspirational quotes they’ve placed per week. These planners comes with a dream board wherein I can put pictures or lists that I dream of achieving for the year. In most recent versions, it comes with a check list of things that you can do; kind of like a bucket list but more of a generic female things to do. Sweet, right?!

For work, I usually go for CBTL planners. It’s so easier to complete, as they only require 12 stamps compared with Starbucks’. I like the paper used in these planners as well since it doesn’t blot easily, as I’m fond of using ink or gel pens rather than regular ballpens.

Lastly, for my 3rd planner, I’ve opted to have the Starbucks’ travel planner for this year. It’s super handy (small and not bulky) and don’t have the typical dates or weeks we get in regular planners. It’s just like having a notebook that you can carry everyday with you in your bag.

Now, I’m all set for the year! Having 3 separate planners might be costly and inefficient, but if it makes me be inspired, stay organized and be on track in achieving my goals for the year, then I’m happy and content. 🙂

This is not a promotion on the planners, these are just my personal choices. You have to look for that planner that would suit you best.

Happy New Year! Good luck to us, whether it be achieving goals or resolutions!

All about ME

Hello! Welcome to my blog! I’m Kiara, your friendly gal pal in this side of the world.

I like to read (mostly shallow type of books 🙂 ), long drives, listening to music, traveling, binge watch on movies, tv series & k-dramas, baking and recently ventured into cooking as well. By day, I’m a Research Data Analyst in an R & D company and I work for my family, which is just my Dad and myself.

In this blog site, I’ll share my personal experiences about life; my reviews on books I’m reading, tv series or k-dramas I’m watching; my kitchen adventures and misadventures which may or may not include food and restaurant reviews 🙂 . Basically, we’ll talk on just about anything and everything under the sun.

So, this is me. All me!

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