There is no better way for me to start a new year than
with that which I start each and every day – a good breakfast. That is how I started last year, and,
fingers-crossed, how I hope to start the years to come as well. What better way to start anything than with
something delicious to fortify you for whatever is to come right?
with that which I start each and every day – a good breakfast. That is how I started last year, and,
fingers-crossed, how I hope to start the years to come as well. What better way to start anything than with
something delicious to fortify you for whatever is to come right?
But first, before we get to what’s to come, allow me to
take a look back at what was. I made a
list of humble (blog and food related) goals last year and, I am happy to report, was able to achieve,
or at least make decent headway, on most:
take a look back at what was. I made a
list of humble (blog and food related) goals last year and, I am happy to report, was able to achieve,
or at least make decent headway, on most:
- Post more often – Keeping it steady at once a week…which
is more than my average in the past years, and, between my day job and life in
general, a comfortable pace for me. So,
check! - Make more breakfasts – At least one breakfast post per month
on the average! More than before…so,
check! - Use more leftovers – I did this a lot…although majority
not shared on this blog. So,
semi-check! And I’ll try to share more
of this in 2012. Avoiding food waste is
still one of my missions. - Explore new ways to share my love for food with more of
you – Last year was my first year as a columnist in Yummy magazine, another
venue where I share my cooking adventures with you. I am delighted that they have not only kept
me on for another year, but have given me a new two-page layout to boot! And I am thrilled to bits with how it
looks! If you’re curious, this month’s issue is already out 🙂 Let me know what
you think! The Yummy team is an absolute
pleasure to work with and I am chuffed to be working with them again this year. - Use my cookbooks and magazines more often – Hmmm, if I am
totally honest this is another semi-check.
I have certainly used them…but not as much as I’ve wanted to. Something to look forward to this year then
🙂 - Give my blog a new/updated look – This, I am so very
happy to report, is a major check! Out
of complete serendipity I stumbled upon Fancy Girl Designs thanks to DaintyMom. Patricia knew exactly what I wanted
and I love my new look up, down, and sideways!
So, without further ado, it’s onwards to 2012! But first, breakfast…
Choco Coco Oatmeal
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 tableas cacao (this is unsweetened chocolate, a little over 5 grams per tablea)
- 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
- 2-3 teaspoons dark muscovado sugar, or to taste
- Chopped cashews to top
– Heat the coconut milk and water in a saucepan until you
see small bubbles form on the sides. Add the tableas and stir until most of it is melted.
see small bubbles form on the sides. Add the tableas and stir until most of it is melted.
– When the cacao is almost all dissolved, add the oats to the coconut milk/water and stir. Cover and cook for 10-15
minutes, stirring occasionally.
minutes, stirring occasionally.
– Uncover the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, until
thickened and cooked to your liking.
Maybe another 10 minutes. Sweeten to taste with the muscovado.
thickened and cooked to your liking.
Maybe another 10 minutes. Sweeten to taste with the muscovado.
– Serve warm topped with chopped cashews.
I am not sure if it has anything to do with anything, but
it looks like putting my goals up here actually helped me achieve them. Or maybe throwing them out in the face of the
universe shamed me into doing them.
Whatever the case, I’ve decided to share a few goals for new year with you once more. Again, these aren’t so much “resolutions” as “directions”
that I want to take this year food-wise and blog-wise (we can leave out my goals of using more make-up and moisturizer I think):
it looks like putting my goals up here actually helped me achieve them. Or maybe throwing them out in the face of the
universe shamed me into doing them.
Whatever the case, I’ve decided to share a few goals for new year with you once more. Again, these aren’t so much “resolutions” as “directions”
that I want to take this year food-wise and blog-wise (we can leave out my goals of using more make-up and moisturizer I think):
- Using more local ingredients – Although I will never be
able to refuse a fresh fig, chanterelle mushrooms, or olive oil, I will try to
weave more local ingredients into our meals, and highlight them here on my
blog. We are lucky to live in a country
rich in all sorts of vegetables, fruits, and seafood! In this oatmeal the chocolate I used was a
local tablea (like a big chocolate tablet) called subasta. We have a lot of different tablea available
but subasta is my favorite. Both the
subasta and the muscovado I used for this oatmeal are locally sourced and sold in one of my favorite shops. - Recording of the more Filipino dishes I cook here – Despite my love
for cooking, I am late in the game when it comes to Filipino food, a fact Ihave lamented before. That does not mean
I am not having a wickedly exhilarating time experimenting with Filipino food
in my little kitchen. This year I plan
to share this all with you! - Avoiding food waste – The fight against food waste continues!
And in more general themes, as mentioned in my last post…Enjoy
the show! Stop and smell the coffee. Live more in the here and now. Be conscious of the beauty that is ever
present. Be grateful. Be nice (a sadly underrated quality in my
book), in fact, rock niceness! Connect.
Kiss and hug and give. Happiness
is free and totally in your power to achieve!
the show! Stop and smell the coffee. Live more in the here and now. Be conscious of the beauty that is ever
present. Be grateful. Be nice (a sadly underrated quality in my
book), in fact, rock niceness! Connect.
Kiss and hug and give. Happiness
is free and totally in your power to achieve!
Onwards and upwards my friends!
Just in case you were wondering, the oatmeal turned out lovely — super creamy and deeply chocolate-y, thanks to the earthy quality of the cacao. The coconut milk provided a robust, yet not too assertive, base. Very luxurious, yet homey too. If you don’t have access to Filipino tablea you can use a similar amount of unsweetened chocolate.
Best of luck to you and your family for the new year, Joey. Me, I'm looking forward to flying off to the Highlands! (And a whole new culinary experience, at that!)
The oatmeal looks super, btw. 😀
OMG, what a decadent dessert! That oatmeal looks really scrummy.
Cheers,
Rosa
Well done on your goals for last year! Wish I could say the same..lol.. Well in all fairness to myself I have achieved some of my goals but not all so those are back on the list for this year. love the look of this choco oatmeal!
oh that looks good and at least healthier 😀
this sounds like a great breakfast to have on a rainy weekend morning. I'm not a bfast person and I'm not fond of oatmeal but cooking it in coconut milk instead of water is a revelation for me. hahaha! good luck on your resolutions and more posts to come! 😀
Hi Midge! Thank you! Good luck to you over there and keep in touch! Looking forward to reading about your highland adventures 🙂
Thanks Rosa! It feels decadent but at the same time homey…like a comforting chocolate pudding you would have as a child 🙂
Hi Simone! Thank you! I've got some back on the list for this year as well 😉
Hi pinkc00kies! Yes, a little bit healthier 😉
Hi Gio! This would be perfect on a rainy morning! I am very fond of oatmeal 🙂 Aside from coconut milk, you can also try cooking it in carabao's milk…now that's luxurious!
chocolate for breakfast? wow this sounds better and better
This is the sort of dish that would convert my husband who thinks oatmeal is much too healthy for anything but cookies 🙂 Wishing you and your family the best in 2012!
Are you sure this is for breakfast? It´s so decadent that I could have it for dessert. Great recipe.
Mmm.. looks super yummy, I think I may add a little flax and ground almonds to mine!
jenetta
Brava on accomplishing so much of your goals for last year! I wish I could say the same for myself but I am forever an optimist and will keep trying. It's such a pleasure reading your blog and your Yummy column! I look forward to picking up the new issue and checking out your new layout.
As always, thank you for sharing such a delicious recipe! 😎
Drool! Happy New Year!:)
Hi Beti! Yes, why not right? 🙂
Hi Weekend Gourmet! I love oatmeal and plan on converting the world! All the best to you in 2012 as well!
Hi perudelights! Breakfast or dessert…any which way you like it! 😉
Hi Jenetta! That sounds good…you can adjust this to suit your taste!
Hi Tracey! Thank you! Those were just the goals for the blog though…my goal to wear more make-up was sadly unachieved. Well, that’s what 2012 is for 😉
Hi Shalum! Happy new year to you as well!!
Oh wow, that looks so delicious!! I need to make it 🙂 All the best to you in this new year!
All the very best for 2012 Joey. Chocolate makes it all so decadent and this oatmeal looks incredible! Looking forward to 2012 with you!
all the best! I am so proud and inspired by you 🙂
This looks incredible!
I came across your blog today and enjoyed it. Is it ok if we re-post some of your entries in our newsletter? I just think a lot of the food and beverage people who visit our community would like reading some of your posts, even though they are mainly industry professionals, they are still ‘foodies’. Let me know. 🙂
Neilesh
This oatmeal looks amazing and I’ve been inspired to feature it in my Friday Food Fetish roundup. And I'll be sharing on Pinterest. Please let me know if you have any objections and KEEP IT COMING!
I am always looking for new ways to prepare oatmeal and this one is definitely going on the list! I love your idea of "directions" instead of "resolutions", sounds much more attainable. Happy New Year, all the best for 2012!
Hi Berni! Hope you like it! Wishing you the best for 2012 as well!
Hi Meeta! Looking forward to 2012 as well 🙂 And reading more of your delicious posts!
Hi Anh! Oh you are too sweet and kind! All the best to you too!
Hi BMoore! Thanks 🙂
Hi Neilish! Glad to hear you enjoy the blog 🙂 Could you send your request to my email please (it’s on the sidebar)?
Hi JavelinWarrior! Thanks 🙂
Hi LyB! I am also on the lookout for new ways with oatmeal 🙂 Here’s to going in the directions we choose this 2012!! 🙂
That oatmeal looks fantastic and will hopefully bring life (and color) to my boring breakfast staple.
Hi Joey! Do you think this would work with steel cut oats too? This looks great!
Hi lazyblackcat! Glad you think so 🙂 I love oatmeal and do my best to make it yummy for the rest of the world!
Hi Part Time Homemaker! I am sure it would – the texture would be different and you would have to adjust the cooking time (steel cut cooks longer) but I am sure it would be just as good 🙂
This is so yummy! This reminds me of the champorado my mom used to make for me when I was a kid. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Sheryll! I think the champorados of my childhood may have had a little influence here 🙂