When he passed away about a year ago, my Dad left behind a lifetime of stories that I will remember with tenderness. One of them was about the time he visited Japan in the 90s. He spoke about sumo wrestlers and geishas, and of course, about the incredible food. In particular, some nameless fish that he ate on the train early one day. He would have known too, having grown up close to the Sea in a town known for its fish. He raved about this fish so much he had no words to describe it. That picture is somehow so clear in my mind it was as if I was there. But 20 years would pass before I would visit Japan for the first time.

There are some things that are perfect for making on a whim. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are one such thing. Except for the raisins, we usually have most of these ingredients in the pantry, and were in the midst of changing oatmeal brands when the question about what to do with about 3 cups of the former favorite arose.

We enjoy mangoes all year round in the Philippines, all kinds of mangoes! But none are as renowned as the ones from the island of Guimaras. Fleshy, supple, and sublimely sweet, ripened Guimaras mangoes are eaten plainly. In the summer there’s nothing like mangoes eaten cold, made into ice candy or a more elaborate frozen dessert, or sometimes blended into a mango shake. In fact, mango shakes are a favorite simple pleasure no matter where you go or what season it is in the Philippines.

After a round of fertilizer, both the fruiting and the “possibly fruiting” lemons are growing new leaves. But I can tell you for sure that in a few weeks those leaves will succumb to the mysterious pests that have plagued our lemons for years. Our Eugenia desperately needs pruning and cacti need repotting. In my heart I will debate once again why I keep doing this to myself.

Chocolate buttercream is something of a must in your baking repertoire. So it’s good to find a reliable recipe that’s both easy to execute and flexible. You can use chocolate buttercream to frost a classic round chocolate cake or a sheet cake of another flavour, or to pipe on cupcakes. It’s a simple way to make both the kids and the adults happy.