Cafe Fernando

Chocolate Chip M&M Cookies

I like personalized things. Be it an apron or napkins with initials OR a candy with your blog’s name on it!

I can see the envy in your eye, fellow blogger!

Well , let me tell you… It was not very easy to get. Especially when your blog’s name sounds like a real cafe. Upon my order, a customer representative from M&M emailed me a very long and detailed agreement asking me to sign and basically promise that I will not market, resell or otherwise distribute these candies to any third party for commercial purposes.

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Stuffed Vine Leaves & The Ultimate Dolma Machine

I am always on the lookout for interesting finds to blog about and I had my eyes extra wide open on the day of my Grand Bazaar visit. I knew something special would come along. On our way down from Grand Bazaar to the kitchen supplies store, we walked by a street stand. This man was showcasing a simple yet very handy tool, which I’d like to call “The Ultimate Dolma Machine”.

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Peach, Mango & Vanilla Jam

After reading through last month’s Sugar High Friday posts at Delicious Days, I couldn’t resist making my own jam.

This was going to be my first, so I tried to read through most of the entries and jam making secrets from several websites. I was specifically looking for a peach jam recipe, because I knew that the sugar-fruit ratio vary according to type and ripeness of the fruit. I was set to prepare a peach jam/marmalade/preserve (if you are also confused as to which one to call your preserved fruit, check out the Wikipedia entry for definitions – mine is somewhere between jam and preserve) with the addition of a mango that I couldn’t resist when I saw on the shelves and of course a vanilla pod for the delicious smell.

I am quite happy with the result. Pulsing the fruit just a little in the hand-held blender yielded the crunchy texture that I was aiming at. The vanilla smell could have been stronger, I think. The sugar amount is perfect though; not too sweet – just the way I like.

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