The NRA Show - National Restaurant Association Trade Show

By Lu

NRA Sign at the Show

I always anticipate the coming of the NRA every year. Every one who isn't in the know always says to me.."The National Riffle Association?! You're into guns?!" Hell yeah, I am.

Just kidding! If I have a gun, it has to be a Glock 18 and it has to be pink. So, since I am sure I can't have that, thus, I don't like guns. However, I do like the other NRA, The National Restaurant Association. The NRA holds a trade show each year and it has always been in Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center (ever since the first time I've attended anyway). If you have been to McCormick Place, you know it is a huge place. Therefore, you're right to guess that this show is also massive.

The NRA show is not open to the public - only to those in the industry and you have to have a company Tax ID number in order to obtain a credential. The show is filled with all kinds of restaurant suppliers from furniture, menu design and technology, plates and kitchen wares, kitchen equipment, and decorations. Also, most major food companies would have a booth. You will find from small suppliers of specialty food products to the giants like Coca Cola. You definitely will see what is trendy right now in the food and restaurant world. I noticed before with Bob Chinn's Restaurant in Wheeling, Illinois - every time after the NRA, there would always be a change to their menu or component of a menu item. I used to see Bob walking the show, and thus why I put two and two together.

McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois

The first time I came to the NRA, I was an exhibitor with my old company. It was tiring as you had to work the floor, and then you still had to go to business dinners afterward. Now, I just come as a visitor and I'd say it's so much more fun. I can come and see everything, sampling things, and having fun. The bad part is I still get tired.

A snippet of the NRA show floor

The last NRA show was held last weekend and ended this Tuesday (May 21-24, 2011). I went with Helen and Michael on Sunday, May 22 and it was a blast. Helen wanted to come earlier, but we didn't end up leaving until 10 a.m. We thought we had enough time to walk the whole entire floor in 5 hours. We barely did it, but at the end, we were exhausted. Our feet were so sore. We had to get a foot massage afterward. However, I couldn't say it wasn't fun. It was worth the throbbing cramping pain on my calves all night. Nothing that Aleve couldn't help.

The show was fantastic as always. I'd love to share with you some of the highlights for me.

MY FAVORITES
Some of my very favorite food items/brands made appearance on the show! The only two favorites I didn't find this year was Nathan's Hotdog and Phillip's Crab. I remember the delish crab cake samples Phillip's used to always serve. They were there, but I must have missed it. Darn!

Achatz Pie Company

Achatz Pie Company has a booth and their pies are awesome! You can find them at Whole Foods or other specialty stores and through their online store. They are quite pricey however.

People in the US, especially in Chicago, would think that this pie company belongs to the celebrated chef of Alinea's fame, Grant Achatz. Well, not quite. The pie company is run by his cousin and it is located in Shelby Township, Michigan. It does not come from Alinea's kitchen. It is kind of funny because if you are familiar with Alinea's molecular gastronomy style, it is so far removed from old fashion flaky cherry pie. 

But, apparently the apple does not fall far from the tree. Both Achatzes seem to have superior skills in the kitchen. Different styles perhaps - but both have very successful businesses. I'd say it is not shabby at all  to have the name "Achatz" though people don't always know how to pronounce it correctly. It is pronounced as "akets."

Guittard Chocolate

One of my favorite chocolates to bake with, other than Callebaut, Guittard sampled one of the best chocolate cakes ever on the NRA show.

My sample cup

Need I say more? I wish I could go back and forth, getting my free LavAzza Cappuccino. However, I had to save the stomach for more sampling. I really am tempted to open my own LavAzza franchise. I love this coffee so much!

Nueske's Bacon

My old co-workers, Chef Jim Reynolds and Chef Kerri Fisher introduced me to Nueske's Bacon at the NRA some years back. They told me this would be the best applewood smoked bacon ever in existence.

They were right. This Bacon is out of this world good. Back  then, we would go back and forth to the Nueske's booth for bacon samples. We could eat it all day.

Nueske's is a company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and they know how to cure pork. This bacon is not cheap, but worth every penny.

If you're ever in Wisconsin, try to stop at Nueske's or you can get it by the pound at Sendik's grocery stores. There are some national chains that may sell it. I am not sure which one however. But google it or something. This is not a pedestrian bacon by any means!


THE VARIOUS DISPLAYS

Mouth Watering Dessert Case

Abundance of Breads

Cheese and more Cheese

Deli Case by Dietz & Watson

Ludo Truck, by Ludo LeFebvre, Food Trucks are definitely trending on this year NRA.

SAMPLES

Fruit Bobba

I think the fruit bobba is my best find this year. I went back several times for more. They're pretty much bubbles and when you bite into it, fruit juice bursted into your mouth. Helen said Red Mango has started using this as one of their toppings. Yum! I can't wait to go to Red Mango for some fruit bobbas!

Beer anyone?

Frozen Yogurts dominated the show. So many of them!

Fried Shrimp and Stuffed Sole from Trident Seafood.

Super tender prime rib!

FOOD PEOPLE AND FUNNIES

Not in Hoboken, not in NRA, Cake Boss is popular

Chefs at Rational Oven were giving demonstration

Michael, picking a fight with Heinz Ketchup Bottle. Shout out to Kerri!

Chef Paul Prudhomme is skinny now!

Had to take picture of this decadent looking chocolate caramel cake. OMG!

Keegan Gerhard from Food Network, doing demo

All the freebies I bagged. I didn't do that good in snagging things this year.

Me and Top Chef Season 7, Kevin Sbraga

All in all, I was satisfied with this year's show. The best for me again was the Fruit Bobba. Silly I  know, but that was what I like. I also had samples of tons of cookies, soups, various hotdogs and sausages from Vienna Beef, Dietz and Watson. I was missing Nathan's and Hebrew National this year. I had a taste of super yummy cheese that I will track down and find and it's called "Crema Kasa". That cheese was so smooth, buttery and had so much flavor. It reminded me of a Dutch cheese I used to have back home. The endless food trucks were also showing me that it is getting even more popular now. Other than the popular people I took picture of, I was sad to miss David Burke and Mario Rizzotti from Barilla Pasta and Iron Chef America's Judge. It was cool to meet and talk to Top Chef Kevin Sbraga as well. Last year, I saw Blais and Spike Mandelsohn. I so wished I could have met Michael and Brian Voltaggio as well. But, oh well...maybe next year. I talked to Kevin about our blog and gave him our business card. He said he'd check it out. Sure...  but I do hope he would!

Till next year, NRA!

Mapo Restaurant - Naperville, IL

By Lu

Chili Rubbed Chicken

I try not to write something very local to my vicinity (all the time) as I know our audience is spread all around the world; yet, I have to make an exception once in awhile. After all, things around me are the things I get to experience and report on. Especially now that my sister is taking her time trotting all over the US, you are sort of stuck with me and my materials. Hey, it's not that bad, right?

No doubt that there are hundreds, even thousands of restaurants in Chicagoland area. Some are renowned and famous all over the country, if not the world. Why did I choose to write about this small restaurant in a corner strip mall in Naperville, Illinois? Well, because I had some of the most unique and spiciest foods I've ever tasted there. This restaurant definitely deserves a spot on my top shelf.

TV shows like "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern," or "Man vs. Food." portray the new breeds of eaters: the adventurous kind, the competitive kind, and the gorging kind. Well, you can do all those kinds of eating at Mapo. Their foods are definitely adventurous and they don't really serve just the mainstream American Chinese menu. You need to ask the server for their special menu or specialties. If not, you will miss out. If you ever see a TV show when they try to compete eating wings with the hottest sauce possible - well, you will discover a new kind of spicy at Mapo. Lastly, when you eat there, it is almost guaranteed that you will gorge yourself!

The first time I went to Mapo was with my friend, Helen. Helen and Michael (her husband) introduced me to the "Chili Rubbed Chicken," there. This dish is small nuggets of chicken that have been deep fried so crispy and rubbed with dried red peppers, and then pan fried again with more dried chilies. If you ever tried those dried red chili peppers from Szechuan, you know they're HOT HOT HOT!

I fell in love with that dish almost immediately. Some of my friends thought I don't like spicy food. That is not true. I don't like adding hot sauce to my food to spice it up. But, if the dish is already spicy, I love it! I'm definitely not the competitive kind of eater; however, I did try to see how far I could go there at Mapo.

This restaurant definitely serves the spiciest yummiest Chinese food in Chicagoland. There's another place that is known for serving spicy food in Chicago, Lao Sze Chuan. However, I must say I do like Mapo better. That "Chili Rubbed Chicken" always invites me back there each time! They're so succulent, so crispy, so spicy, and you can't have enough of it! If you close your eyes and chew on a piece of crispy chicken, it actually tastes like a crispy spicy bacon! What's not to like?!

Last night, I dined there with my friends C.K, Sabrina, and Kinzie. C.K and his wife, Sabrina go there all the time and know the owner quite well. We got the royal treatment almost immediately. Hey, I could get used to this! They talked in Chinese and though I couldn't understand what was said, I knew it would yield something delicious on the table. I wasn't too far off from that estimation.

We relaxed and drank some tea while we were waiting for the food to come. The ambiance was nice, and the table was covered with white paper. I didn't miss the sticky tables at most Chinese restaurants I must say. Plus, the companies I had were fabulous. I knew I was off to a great Friday night.

Mouth Watering Chicken

The first dish came, and it was a cold appetizer called "Mouth Watering Chicken." Damn straight it was mouth watering! You could smell the spices and the spicy oil almost immediately. I could also called this dish "Mouth Numbing Chicken," as it was so hot! Szechuan peppers have that unique sensation of numbing your mouth instead of lighting it on fire like a Habanero would. Yep, I was off to a good start in the pepper lane.

Then, the array of dishes hit the table one by one: My pick was of course "Chili Rubbed Chicken." It's a must-have for me. C.K, Sab, and Kinz were probably laughing at me for being so amateur about Mapo. It was okay though! I had a hunch that I was about to get schooled and I was happy about it. Next came C.K's favorite: "Sampan Pork." This dish consisted of deep fried short ribs of pork, spiced up with some melange of ground-up spices that were deep fried to create crunchy and crispy crumbs of tasty goodness. Imagine those crispy batter pieces that you can get from KFC? Imagine it ten times better! Sampan in Malay means a small boat. I still didn't get the correlation to why the pork was called small boat pork. C.K also told me that one of their cooks is Indonesian and thus why some of the names are in Malay or Bahasa Indonesia. But, I was too busy eating and gnawing on those ribs to worry about the name!

Sampan Pork

I thought we had all of our dishes. Nope. Next - Sabrina's favorite, broiled white fish, but it almost looked like the fish was poached in the spicy red colored oil. When you looked at the dish and the oil, it just looked like it was going to nuke your mouth on fire. Then, you would imagine the pain later on. I was a little afraid in the beginning. I took the fish and strain the oil as much as possible. C.K then spooned the oil and put in my plate.."You have to eat it with the oil, lah! Try a little." he said in not so many words. He was kind and put some oil on the side of my plate. Sab told me that the oil has a medicinal quality of some sort. She is about 7 months pregnant and since she got pregnant the only Chinese food she likes are the spicy kinds. She loved the fish, and I agreed with her. The fish was so sweet, tender, juicy, and spicy. It was damn good.

Broiled White Fish in Spicy Oil

Kang Kung sauteed with Garlic

Thank goodness C.K also ordered a veggie dish. This one wasn't spicy but it complemented the other dishes very well and helped cool your palette. C.K ordered the "Kang Kung" or water spinach sauteed with garlic. Water spinach is a well known green legume in South East Asia. They look  like spinach, but their leaves are triangular and longer than spinach. Their stems are hollow and crunchy and they are usually grown in the swamp - thus the name, water spinach. Kang Kung can also make you really drowsy if you eat a lot of it. It is a yummy vegetable for sure.

The only bad thing for me eating super spicy food was that I had to eat it with rice to cut some of the heat. However, you then kept on adding rice and you ended up overeating. I was gorging last night because that heat made you wanting more, and then you kept on adding rice. Before you knew it, your pants were about to bust open. Yikes.

Even though I was too busy gorging myself and I forgot to take pictures of my friends; I had a chance to be nosy and looked at what other people were eating. This couple on the next table was eating a noodle soup that looked so good. C.K told me it was the "Spicy Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup." The beef cubes were slow cooked in a broth spiced with dried red peppers, star anise, and other Chinese herbs, served with homemade white noodle, and garnished with cilantro. My mom used to make this when I was young and I really love that soup. I definitely have to come back and try Mapo's version of this soup. C.K said it was one of their most famous dishes in the menu.

Kinz is a great professional photographer and too bad he didn't bring his camera. I made him take some pictures for me using my humble camera. So, if you think the picture is nice - it is probably his doing. If it is bad, it's definitely mine!

I had such a great time there. Not only the dishes were delicious, the friends and conversation were top shelf!

If you like spicy food and not afraid to try something that will get your temperature to rise, try Mapo! Bring friends so you can order several different dishes to get the best experience. Spice things up a little - pun definitely intended!


MAPO 
1563 Naperville Wheaton Rd
Naperville, IL 60563
(630) 420-1388 

Not Your Everyday Pineapple Upside Down Cake

By Lu

A slice of Pineapple Upside Down Cake, piping hot from the oven!

I've been making this cake for as long as I could remember. I didn't really remember where I got the recipe at first. I believe it was from this make-shift recipe compilation "cookbook" bound by a twine that was given to me by my high school/early college boyfriend's grandmother. I think she gave it to me when we helped her move residence one year when I was a freshman in college. She had some stuff to throw away but I took that book. It has some very good recipes.
Later on, I also found a similar recipe in a book called "365 Great Cakes and Pies." It is slightly different but it is quite the same in taste. This is not the typical yellow cake Pineapple Upside Down Cake. This version has a unique almost corn bread taste and texture to it. I love it! Plus, many of my friends actually like it too.

I was remembered (at one point) at the company I used to work for first thing out of college as the girl who baked this very cake. I made several friends for life from having worked for this company. Tricia and Tina are two of the great friends I made there. Tricia,  to this day, still asks me for this cake - among other things :D (the others being egg rolls and kim chi poo. Sorry, inside joke).

We have planned to get together today, and I happened to have leftover buttermilk from making Red Velvet Cake last week. It was totally perfect to use it up for this cake. So, I came ready with cake at hand!

Further, I happened to post the picture of the cake on Facebook to entice some of my friends I am playing "Food War" game with. Food War is a fun thing I do with my childhood friends, Chika, Peggy, Audrey, and Liza. We post pictures of food that are mouth-watering trying to get the other to break down and cry from wanting it so bad! It is a little sadistic especially for people like me, who constantly craving food from my native country and can't get them where I live. Audrey, who happens to live in Jakarta, is happily posting pictures of Indonesian delicacies that literally make me drool and keep on drooling! Man, I need to start wearing a bib!

I didn't plan for my next post to be another recipe; however, from posting the picture, I received several requests for recipe of this cake. I aim to please; so, here it is!

INGREDIENTS:

1 can of sliced pineapple
Maraschino cherries
1 cup granulated sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
2 large eggs (separated yolks and white)
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup yellow corn meal (not corn-starch/Maizena! This is more like polenta)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit/ 175 degree Celcius. Next, start preparing the ingredients and measure them accordingly. In one bowl, put all the dry ingredients - flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt,  and corn meal. Put it aside. Also measure your buttermilk and get it ready to go. Separate the yolks from the white of the eggs. Put the whites in a bowl where you can whisk or mix later on. The easiest way to separate an egg is to crack it open on the palm of your hand, and let the egg white falls through your finger and onto a bowl, leaving the yolk intact on your hand. If you don't want to get your hands dirty, my mom always crack the shell in two in the middle, and then transferring the yolk back and forth from one shell to another until all the egg white safely falls onto a bowl underneath. Your choice.

Prepare a 10 inch (+/- 25 cm) round pan for baking. Spray the side with non-stick cooking spray or grease it with melted butter. Sprinkle an even layer of brown sugar on the bottom of the pan. If you don't want it to be so sweet, you can lessen the brown sugar and don't use the whole cup and a half. If you prefer it with a thick layer of caramelized granules of brown sugar, then go nuts! Next, arrange the slices of pineapple on top of the brown sugar. Add Maraschino cherries to decorate the hole of what used to be the core of pineapple. You can also use fresh pineapple if you choose. You have to cook the fresh slices first however in a Microwave or stove top with about 1/4 cup of sugar. I think it is too much extra work, but I didn't say it can't be done. Opening up a can seems much easier, especially since we are going to bake the pineapple anyway. You can also add chopped pecans on the area where the brown sugar is not covered by the pineapple slices. However, this is totally optional. Once the pan is prepared, set it aside.

In the mixer bowl, add sugar and butter. Cream well using a medium to high speed on your electric mixer. Then add the egg yolk one by one. Mix well, and stop mixer occasionally to scrape the side of the bowl so everything will be evenly mixed. Add vanilla. Then lower the mixer speed and add flour mixture little by little alternating with the buttermilk, starting and ending with flour mixture. Beat well.

You have to do a fancy maneuvering with your mixer as you will need to beat the egg white in a separate clean bowl and using clean beaters. This can get cumbersome especially if you only have one of each. But it can be done! Think ahead. Don't tell me I didn't warn you. Worse come to worst, you can always use a whisk. Beat the egg white until it is stiff but not dry. Then, fold the egg white in the cake batter with a spatula. Do not stir it, fold it - scrape from the side of bowl and sweep it to the top, and repeat until it is mixed well.

Add the batter on top of the arranged pineapple slices in the pan. Bake it for 40 to 45 minutes or until cake tester (using tooth pick or skewer) inserted to the center of the cake comes out clean, and not wet anymore. With a knife, loosen cake from the edge of pan. Put a serving plate on top of pan, and immediately invert onto it. Thus, the name "Upside Down" cake came from! Oh, do not forget to use oven mitten as it will be hot! Once the cake is safely inverted, lift pan and voila! Let it cool, and then serve with a generous dollop of whipped cream!

Tina and Tricia - let them eat cake!

I think this cake is so easy to make and it tastes super scrumptious. Some people don't like corn meal texture or taste, but I think it makes this cake so unique, and not your every day Pineapple Upside Down Cake.

Tina and I went to visit Tricia today at her house and she got her wish to again taste my Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Believe me, it has been years since she last had it. Though her two year old son, Brennan, was too "distracted" to eat the cake, her husband and daughter didn't! Her little angel, Ava, at first was skeptical about trying something new, but she decided to give it a go. Then, she asked for a second slice! Oh, that made my day! Brian, her husband, also had a second helping! The only thing missing is our other friend, Corinna, who lives in Tennessee. I wish she could have joined us. It is not the same without her and I think she would have enjoyed this blast from the past afternoon treat!

Cute little Ava taking a bite of the cake!

Tricia just left me a comment on Facebook: "This is my fave cake ever. Been years since I had it, but it did not let me down today. Delish! Thank you Lulu. You are so sweet to bake and bring it over."

That is one of the reasons I love to bake for my friends! It makes everything worth it. Now, go make it and enjoy!

Red Velvet Cupcake

By Lu

Red Velvet Cupcake, cut in halves

If you are one of our regular readers, you may notice that I have been doing all the writing lately. I am sure some of you miss Ri and are wondering where the hell is she. Well, she's been taking time off to do some traveling with her husband. She's doing something fun and I have no doubt when she comes back, she will have tons to write about. So, bear with me! I hope I don't bore you too much!

Talking about Ri, she bought me a Red Velvet Cake for my birthday. The cake was so yummy that for awhile I was craving it every day. It was hard to find a bakery nearby to where I live that sells the cake. Turned out, Labriola Bakery by me in Lombard does sell the cake and cupcake. I bought the cupcake several days in a row. I could have bought three or four all at once to eat; but, I didn't think I would want it again the next day! But, I did!

I also have been watching "Cupcake Wars" on the Food Network and I have to admit I am a little fascinated with cupcakes lately. I am usually not a cupcake fan. I didn't get why now it is so popular. But watching the show, I got fascinated on how these competitors came up with various different flavor profiles and how creative they are in creating a winning cupcake. One cupcake maker did a tuna and wasabi cup cake. That is just nuts. Not only they have to worry about the taste, but they also have to think of decorations and the display. Also, one of the carpenters on the show (they're brothers by the way - they build the displays for the competitors) is totally cute. I think his name is Justin. He's really easy on the eyes and his displays always win. I want to be on team Justin!

On the "Cupcake Wars" episodes I watched, almost every one did a rendition of Red Velvet Cupcake - thus, my further fascination with it. So I had to try and make it home myself.  Because of "Cupcake Wars" also I chose to make the cupcake version instead of the layered cake version. My first try wasn't bad, but not as good as I wanted it to be. I followed a recipe online but the bake time was too much as my cake was totally dry. However, my second try was quite good and tasted like store bought!

I ended up combining the recipes I found online - between Paula Deen's recipe and The Joy of Baking's recipe. I compared the two and I made my cake how I usually bake a cake and it turned out pretty darn good. Most of the recipes I found online are pretty comparable; so, there isn't big changes here. A couple points to mention: I prefer to bake cake with oil rather than butter. I found oil makes the cake much moister than butter. Next, we always have to use food coloring to get the red color for Red Velvet. Some people said the red coloring comes from a chemical reaction of vinegar and buttermilk. It has some truth that the reaction brought out the red in the cocoa powder. However, it only works with unprocessed cocoa, and it won't get as red as the Red Velvet we know nowadays. So, yes - red food coloring is needed. Lastly, I found out that real Red Velvet must have pecans. So, instead of decorating it with the cake crumbs, I decorate mine with chopped pecans. Here's the recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

2.5 cup sifted cake flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon regular or Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoon red food coloring
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

Heat oven to 350 degree Fahrenheit/ 175 degree Celcius. Prepare one or two muffin tins. This recipe yields between 18 to 20 cupcakes. Line each muffin hole with paper cups. Start measuring your ingredients. Put dry ingredients (flour, cocoa powder, and salt in a bowl).

Next, measure the buttermilk, pour it into a bowl and mix it with the red food coloring. Mix it well. In another bowl, mix baking soda and vinegar and let it fizzed (wait to mix it until it is about time to add it to the batter).

In the mixer bowl, add sugar and oil. Mix well using medium speed electric mixer until it turned light and fluffy. Add egg one at a time, beating well after each addition. Then, add flour mixture and alternating it with the buttermilk and coloring mixture. Add it in three parts, starting and ending with the flour. Mix the baking soda and vinegar. Let it fizzed and add to the batter. Once it is mixed well, stop the mixer.

Spoon the batter into the the muffin cup. I found ice cream scooper works the best and the least messy. You can also try using pastry bag. However, just spooning it with regular spoon is guaranteed messy. I wouldn't recommend it. Fill it about 3/4 full.

Bake the cup cakes about 15 to 25 minutes. Yes, there's a big gap here. It is really depending on how your oven is calibrated. I would totally watch the cake especially for the first time. The recipe I saw told me to bake it between 25 to 30 minutes. My cup cakes were dry and too brown in the bottom. The next time, I only baked it between 12 to 15 minutes. I tested using a tooth pick. If the tooth pick comes out clean, not wet with batter, I'd say yank it! So, watch it and test it for the first batch.

Let it cool. Then decorate with cream cheese frosting, and sprinkle chopped pecans for decoration.

I saw some very elaborate cream cheese frosting recipes as well. However, I stuck with my super simple yet proven tasty cream cheese frosting:

2 packages of 8 oz Philadelphia cream cheese
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar (adjust to taste if you would like it sweeter - add a little more)
2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.

Whipped them good until creamy. Taste it for sweetness and then it is ready to use. Put frosting in a piping bag and and then pipe the the frosting on top of cooled cup cakes. No piping bag? No worries, just slather it! It is still guaranteed good.

Some people at work thought these cupcakes were store bought. I still haven't made it enough time to want to brag about it. Some said my cake wasn't sweet enough. However, with the frosting being sweet, I thought the cake was perfect in sweetness. You'll be the judge! Go ahead and try it! It is definitely cheaper than shelling out $5 a pop for a bakery cup cake.

When I brought these cupcakes to work, two of my co-workers made a diet resolution and would have started that day on that fine Monday morning. When they saw the cupcakes, they changed their mind! Whoops! However, they told me it was worth the calories! Whew - I didn't feel so bad then.

Hope you will try it too and make sure you set your diet resolution the next Monday, mkay?!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

By Lu

Mother's Day...what a beautiful holiday. This is the day where we celebrate that one person who gave us life. I know, we should celebrate it every day. Yet, it is great that there's one special day where we take the time and make sure that moms get special treatment they so deserve. Moms always put you first and sacrifice their comfort and happiness for others, especially for their children. It is only right if one day a year they have no choice but to let their children put them first for a change.

I didn't remember much celebrating Mother's Day back home in Indonesia. Over there, Mother's Day is observed on December 22...way too close to Christmas. It is not as big of a holiday as Mother's Day over here in the US. However, I know my mom deserves the day just like every other moms over here.

My mom, Linda Alam

I'm so lucky that I have three moms I could love. My mother, Linda, who gave me life, is the most beautiful woman in the world and I owe it to her for giving me a chance to live in this world. Not only she's beautiful, but she is so smart and kind. Without her, I wouldn't be the person I am right now. I remember when I was growing up, my mom and I at times clashed. I remember her chasing me with a broom stick ready to give me a whoop ass. I probably deserved it too. Actually, I know I deserved it. However, over the years, we grew to be best friends. Even though I live so far away from her, we talk almost daily over Blackberry Messenger and once a week through Skype. It is always fun when all of us get on the conference call: My mama in Jakarta, Ri in Nepal, Annette in Norway, and me in Chicago. When I was in pain and sobbing whether it was because of a boy who broke my heart or a root canal, I called my mom in between tears that fell on my cheek.

My mom is also the best cook and baker! I know I am totally biased; however, those who have tasted my mom's food can attest! The three of us daughters, really did inherit a great talent from my mom. Every time I am home, I just love cooking and baking with her. I learned so much techniques from her. She really does have tons of knowledge. When I was young though, she couldn't get me to step foot in the kitchen. Only if I listened to her! Little did I know I grew up loving to cook so much. If I knew it early on, I would have gone to Culinary School and be a chef. So, kids..listen to your mom! They do know best!

The last time all of us girls together at home in Jakarta, November 2010

My two moms - Cherryl and Linda

When I left Indonesia to become an exchange student in
high school in the US, I acquired a new family. The Cook's became like my own family and I spent my early adult life with them. After my host parents divorced, my American dad, Dale, married a wonderful woman named Cherryl. She's not my original host mom - but a step host mom if there's such a term! However, she grew to be a wonderful mom to me. I enjoy her company sincerely. We also have a ritual where we go to the spa twice a year - just the girls in the family. I love it!

One of the hardest parts of living so far away is when it comes to the holiday season. I couldn't imagine if I didn't have my American family and friends here. It would have been unbearable if I were to be alone on holidays. In my 18 years here, I made it home once for Christmas. Cherryl always includes me in every family gatherings - birthdays, reunions, parties, and holidays. Spending holidays together knowing that even though I am far from my real family, yet I still have a family that love me nearby makes me feel so so lucky. When my real parents came to visit over here, it is so awesome that they get along great! My mom, Cherryl, and I would go shopping and go to the spa while the dads would golf all day. It is great to have one mom. It is even better to have two moms!

Eve and I

I never planned this one; however, my co-worker, Eve, adopted me as her baby girl. We work together and we spend 9 hours a day Monday through Friday together for the last six years. Momma Eve has seen me through my best days, my happy days, my stressed out days, and days when I just wanted to curl up and cry. When I was in love and happy, she couldn't get any happier for me. She could smile and be giddy as if she was the one in love. When I was sad, she felt my pain. I couldn't thank her enough for always being there for me. She's not just a co-worker and a friend, but she is a surrogate mom to me. I feel protected by her knowing that she has my best interest at heart. She has two fantastic boys. Boys are fun, but they're nothing like a daughter! I am lucky to have many great friends that transcend friendship itself and I'm lucky to have Eve in my life. It is great to have one mom. It is even better to have two moms! Yet, having three moms is best!

I wonder at times if I will ever be lucky enough to be a mom someday. My friend, Helen, told me about some restaurants giving away things such as moms eat for free on Mother's Day. She asked me to go and I told her I couldn't because I am not a mom. She said to me that they wouldn't check. I wondered to myself will I ever be able to dine for free because I am a mom? Who knows! I know my mom is dying to be a grandma, especially since most of her friends all have grandchildren now. I hope Ri and Annette will make her dream come true. They have better chances than me to turn it around in a timely manner since they both are married!

However, having friends who are moms makes it fun for me. I love playing with my friends' kids and many of my friends are the cutest moms. Some of them are new moms and they're having a ball with their babies! Well, at the very least, I get to have fun baking for their baby showers!

So, I thought I would dedicate this post to moms every where! I dedicate this not only to my moms, but also to all the top shelf moms around me. Here is a shout out to you! I hope you enjoy this collection of photographs of mothers and their children and grandchildren.

Ri and Emak (My dad's mom)

My grandma, Angelina, is the sweetest grandma. She is in her eighties but she is spunky as ever! I remember great times at my grandma's when my sisters and I were young. Emak, as I call her, makes the best fried chicken and this Indonesian dessert made from Taro Roots and palm sugar (Sagu Rangi). Every time I come home, she will make me some. Lately she is getting weaker and can't spend too much time in the kitchen, but I love her just the same.

Karen (Sandrine's Mom), Soon (Tina's Mom), Tina, me, and Sandrine

This picture was taken several weeks ago when we did the March of Dimes walk in Chicago to raise money for a charity that supports mothers and babies. What a perfect charity to talk about on Mother's Day as they raise awareness on pregnancy, babies, prematurity, birth defects, etc. Tina and Sandrine both took their moms to the walk. The only mom missing is mine! Both moms have been so good to me. They both spoil me with good food while my mom is far away!

Dawa and Ariana

Dawa is Ri's close friend from her college days. They were both International students in a small town in Wisconsin. Dawa is originally from Malawi. After graduation, Ri went home to Jakarta and Dawa stayed put in Wisconsin, got married to her college sweetheart, and just added a beautiful baby girl to the family. Dawa named her baby girl Ariana Louise! What a great name! :D

Sandrine (Mom), Karen (Grandma), and Brode

My friend, Sandrine, became a new mom late last year and I got myself a new little munchkin to play with. Sandrine always refers to me as Lulu Yee Yee for Brode's benefit. That means auntie Lulu in Chinese. I baked up a storm for her baby shower, and had such a great time in welcoming this cute little boy. He is growing so fast and it has been super fantastic to track his changes from a baby to the handsome boy in tuxedo in mere seven months. This boy is going to break some hearts I know it!

Daniella and her beautiful daughters: Victoria, Audrey, Chiara, and Daphne

If one lady makes me jealous on a continuous basis about being a mom and loving it, it's Daniella. I grew up with two sisters and I just know having four daughters would be so great! Not only that, Daniella also has tons of pictures illustrating all the fun she is having with her girls! I'm sure boys are fun too but I wouldn't know. I always wanted a brother, but I never got one. All I know now I wouldn't trade my two sisters for the world. These girls will find out how lucky they are having each other. I can never get bored looking at Daniella's pictures of her and her girls. They're so beautiful and and just look at them! Don't they look like they're having an absolute blast together? I'd say!

Jill and Sienna

Sienna is the happiest little girl and she is growing so fast. This picture was just taken earlier today. We went for dinner and since it was nice outside, we took a walk by the pond. I still remember when she was just born, and now she's running around and balancing herself on the gutter on the side walk just like a little gymnast. Maybe someday we will be watching Jilly's little girl on television competing in the Olympic!

Sabrina, awaiting her baby in the summer

This is Sabrina's first Mother's Day. Who said Mother's Day only apply after the baby's born? I'm sure there's a lot of mothering to do even when the baby is still in the womb. It's true when they say a woman looks the most beautiful when she's pregnant. I think Sabrina and her husband, C.K, are expecting a baby boy; however, look how pretty she looks I almost thought the baby should be a girl. Either way, the baby boy will be happy when he opens his eyes for the first time and sees that he has a beautiful mommy. Congratulations Sabrina - I can't wait to bake for your baby shower!

Tricia and Ava

I really really think Ava is the most beautiful little girl I've ever seen. She is not just cute. She is not just pretty. She is BEAUTIFUL. She can win any kinds of pageant competition. She is also so sweet. When Tricia writes me in her catch up emails and telling me about Ava and her little brother, Brennan, - I could feel the pure joy of being a mother. There was a time when I thought my friends' kids are the best form of birth control. However, now I totally understand the whole concept of loving. It didn't make me feel left out for not having a child; yet, it gave me ability to appreciate my mom even more. Tricia was my boss at one time and she had a very thriving career. She gave it up to be a stay at home mom and I don't think she has ever regretted her decision. Again, mom sacrifices anything for the sake of her children and how lucky those children are!

Kimberly and Brent

From the identical big smiles you can already tell they're related! Kim is my co-worker and she's a successful career-woman in a big world of men in automotive industry. Yet, she still manages to be a great mom who raised an American Hero. Brent is in the US Army and he was deployed last year in Iraq. Having been with someone in the military, I knew how it felt to have a loved one so far away in the war zone. I couldn't imagine how a mom would feel. I am sure there were a lot of prayers said, a lot of time spent worrying, and a lot of hoping that he would be home safe soon. When he finally came home, all those yearning and praying would be all worth it as all worries were gone and replaced by pride bursting like fireworks on the Fourth of July. Even so, Kim gave credits to her mom as without her mom, they wouldn't be the remarkable human beings they are today. Thank you, Kim, for raising a great man who risks his life for his country, and thank you, Brent, for your services. I also want to extend the thanks to all moms (especially, Kathy VH) out there whose sons and daughters are in the battlefields. May God bless you and your child.

Debbie and Fiona

Debbie, or I call her with her childhood name, Chika, is an old friend from grade school. We grew up together and I found my love for writing being her friend as we used to listen to a radio program that told a story like a diary. Being the impressionable little kids, we then both wrote scripts following that radio program's format. I took it all the way and keep on writing. Even now, I do at times still write in a diary format though it would be a total fiction. Our teachers in school caught me writing during class one time and I wrote about this crazy family drama - dysfunctional family with parents divorcing and kids having problem and wanting to attempt suicide. Of course since it was in a diary format, they thought I was writing about me killing myself. I was like no..no..no...I love myself too much to ever want to do that! I swear it was just pure imagination! We still talk about writing now and she encourages me to take my writing even more seriously. Now, she is a mom of two and the funny thing is she named her babies with two of my favorite names, Ariel and Fiona! Great minds think alike.

Isabella and Helen

Last but not least - it is time for Helen and her little girl, Isabella. I remember when Helen and Michael told me that they were expecting. We were at Maggiano's having dinner and then they told me she was pregnant. I was so happy for them and instantly already thought of what to do about the shower. I remember cooking up a storm for the shower! It was so much fun. I remember having to tie Helen's shoe laces when she was nine months pregnant. I remember it was pouring rain when I went to the hospital to see little Isabella for the first time. It has been so much fun watching her grow from a little baby to a gorgeous happy little girl. We used to dance together when she was really small. I would hold her in my arms and do the tango and cha cha dance. She would giggle like crazy! Her laugh is so infectious and she never fails to give you the sweetest smile. She is such a ham! It makes me happy and proud to be Auntie Lulu. I'm sure it makes my friend Helen more than happy and proud to be her mom.

I think Sunday will be a gorgeous Spring day filled with love. Even though I can't spend Mother's Day with my mom, I hope she will be having a great day over there in Indonesia. I also wish the happiest Mother's Day to every mom in the world. I know each and every one of you work very hard being a mom and to raise children who will be our future. It is not an easy business being a mom! If it is easy, it won't start with a process called "Labor!"

Moms - we love you and Happy Mother's Day!!

Special Mother's Day cheers to the following great moms who have touched my life: Inge Alam, Pamela Gillette, Carol Moonert, Adele Kazin Spiro, Kathy Van Horn, and my late grandma, Sri Wahyuti.