Soothe Stress, Bake Yourself Happy

When you are stressed , food is not necessarily the answer. Well, not eating it anyway. There's something about baking that I'm finding quite nourishing these days. It's quite a stress-reducing activity. I found baking had a calming effect on me without knowing that was what it was doing. I love chocolate chip cookies, anything with chocolate will do, really! But a traditional favorite comfort cookie loaded with semi-sweet chocolate chips, will take you to a whole new level! These chocolate chip cookies are great...you get a double dose of chocolate. Baking chocolate chip cookies is relaxing for several reasons.

First, there is the aromatherapy: Anytime you combine ingredients such as vanilla extract, cinnamon, chocolate and butter, spread them out on a cookie sheet and insert them into a hot oven, your house filled with a sweet scent that reminds you of childhood, Christmas and other pleasantly nostalgic associations. Second, baking keeps your hands busy, making it nearly impossible to multitask. With your fingers covered in gooey dough, checking your messages is pretty much out of the question. When you are up to your elbows in batter and chocolate, you are more likely inclined to miss phone calls. What's more, although baking doesn't require a huge amount of mental effort, it is very good for focusing the mind because it often relies on very exact measurements, consulting of recipes and coordinating of various mechanical tasks (attaching the proper blade to the mixer, setting up a double boiler to melt some chocolate) require just enough thought to keep you from dwelling too heavily on non-baking concerns. Having complete focus on a recipe and not allowing yourself to be distracted by your thoughts can have a therapeutic affect. It's nice to know that something as simple as baking chocolate chip cookies has such a positive effect on our emotions.

Another reason baking makes me feel good is because I can make things for someone else. It's not just the physical process of baking that can soothe the mind but also the rewards I get when baking for others. It's the selfless nature of spending time creating something for another person that can really affect us in a positive way. We often bake for people as an expression of love, whether to cheer them up, celebrate an occasion or 'just because' and because of this baking takes on a more important meaning than just creating deliciousness - it becomes a means of communicating.

All in all, baking is very therapeutic for me. Sometimes just baking for a loved one for no reason at all is enough to make you feel better, because you're taking care of them. The end result is usually delicious, and sometimes smiles back if I want it to. There is nothing better to lift the spirits than getting complimented on something you have spent your time creating for someone else to enjoy. So, next time you're feeling down, pick up that rolling pin and bake us something gooey and delicious, after all, in many countries, making and giving food is an expression of love. Come on, you know you want to!

Bocas: Like Dying and Going to Pastry Heaven

The last week was one whole week of pigging out with so many reunions happening over the holidays. My reunion with some friends was made sweeter at Bocas Modern Patisserie. We were very fortunate to try out French pastries at a patisserie shop owned by a French chef. I discovered Bocas in Instagram when one of the people I followed posted a mouth watering cake. Of course who would not want to know which place that cake was from when it’s very instagrammable?

What I love about Bocas is they go with everything unusual, something that the Cebuanos haven’t tried before. It is the newest slice of heaven in town. The interior design of the shop is great, evoking a predominantly industrial-like vibe (although the place is quiet small), providing a charming set-up. The ambiance gave me a feeling like I was in a different country. The designs are very nice, picturesque, featuring its own intricate details. Basically, their concept is classic French pastry presented in stylish and contemporary forms, using modern techniques and textures, showcased in a modern looking chiller.

It is an intimate shop where folks can enjoy their dessert choices while pairing it with a selection of coffee, tea, homemade soda and sparkling wine, to name a few. The place is a good dating spot for couples looking for a bit of privacy and coziness. The place is also perfect for a little "me time" while having dessert and coffee (be sure to bring a good book with you). It felt like France came to Cebu.

After tasting their desserts, my view of desserts changed. I took my first bite and it felt like I died and went to dessert heaven. It just melted in my mouth and had just the right touch of sweetness. They don't taste like the cakes and pastries we can readily buy in most shops. They're almost beyond what I tasted before, a fusion of the classic and contemporary. Dessert fanatics can expect classic French pastries with a twist as it is uniquely presented in a modern and stylish fashion. You will surely crave for their scrumptious desserts served French style.

Modern techniques and textures showcased in a modern looking chiller.

Strawberry Cheesecake

Chocolate Genoise, Coconut Mousse, Caramel Mousse

Chou Chantilly

Croquantine Chocolate Biscuit Chocolate Cream Mousse & Glaze

Eclair, French Vanilla Cream Fondant

Malagos Cacao

Yule Log

There's nothing like a touch of sweetness in one’s life for an added dose of flavor. At Bocas Modern Patisserie, desserts aren’t just the cherry on top of one’s day, but rather it is the highlight.

Me (The Doormat)... Not!

Just recently, a friend (supposedly) had everything in his life (work, family, love…) gone wrong (read: feeling like a two-by-four hitting him on the head). And since I'm a pretty good counselor, I tolerated him calling me at all hours in the night (and even when I'm at work), even me missing work just so he could vent out his anger and frustrations (translate: whine, moan and bitch) over his work and family. He probably looked upon me as a comfort, a reassuring constant that remains in this tumultuous, chaotic whirl of loss--and renewal. But now that everything seems fine, he's nowhere to be found. The least the creep could have done was send some flowers or something -- a note, email, text message, instant message… but no, nothing, nada! And there were "unmentionable" things he did too!

OK! So I tried to help, but he screwed me over! I should learn from it. I've got to wake up and smell the coffee here. When a pal does something hurtful to you, it can feel like your heart's been chewed up and spit out onto the pavement. It's tough when someone you thought was your friend pulls a fast one on you. Betrayal can launch you into an emotional tailspin. Your thoughts might range from, "Why would someone who supposedly cares about me do something so mean?" to "How dare he!" Of course, most of the time, it'll be big of you to (gulp!) forgive.

Recovering from any kind of betrayal is never easy. No matter what the issue once was, forgiveness is always a difficult -- but real -- part of friendships. Many people think that they must just let go of the past to move on. Along with causing grief and trepidation, that approach limits personal growth. Rather than hate a period of our life, the person we "used to be" or people we've met along the way, learn to find the way each experience helped us become strong. When we take this approach our entire life opens up and we begin to build bridges naturally. Then, each person we meet -- whether we like them or not -- becomes another bridge, a new way to deepen the love and understanding we become capable of.

But, then again, there are those rare instances when it's OK to say "See ya!" and times, when the friend's offense is more severe, it's definitely better -- even wiser -- to forget the so-called friendship. I was a doormat for too long- and I'm done being one!