I got this recipe online but I don't remember the site anymore. Anyway, it was my first time ever to make a chocolate cake and I must say I was very, very elated by the result. In fact, our tenant when he tasted it asked how I did it. And now he wants me to make them for his friend's daughter's birthday. So, it's really that good, otherwise, he won't recommend me.

Here's the recipe which I simplified and modified a little bit.

50g chocolate--preferrably 85%
2 scoop butter using a table spoon
3/4 cup sugar -- any type of sugar will do
1/2 cup water
1 cup flour or self-raising flour
1/4 cup milk--I used soy milk
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
a pinch of salt

For the Topping

50g chocolate
1 scoop butter
3 tbsp milk
1 can condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla

Procedure

Choose a pan large enough to mix all ingredients. But don't mix them all yet.

1. Melt the butter and chocolate in a hot water and stir continuously.
   
2. When it starts to boil, take away from the stove.
3. Since I use demerara sugar and they are big granules, I also melted the sugar with the chocolate mixture.
4. Beat the egg well and put in the chocolate mix. Beat again until they blend.
   
5. Add the flour and mix well. (Note: if you are using fine sugar add it now. You don't have to melt it like I did but it's really up to you.)
6. Add baking soda and beat well until you see tiny bubbles.
7. Set the oven to 350 Degrees or Gas mark 4
   
8. Pour the mixture in a 8x8 inch baking pan and bake for about 30 minutes.
   

While waiting for the cake, do the topping.

1. Melt the chocolate and butter together until they blend.
   
2. Remove from stove and add the milk and vanilla and beat well until they are well blended.
   
3. Add the condensed milk. Beat well again until blended. Leave until needed.
4. Basically, just pour it into the cake when it's cooked and leave in the oven but switch it off this time. The heat will make the topping thicker but do not cook it.
5. Enjoy your cake.
   

Here's a vegetarian pizza that I made recently. Well, it included dairy cheese but you can substitute a vegetarain cheese for that.

I used mature cheddar cheese, eggplant, mushrooms, onion, and tomato

First I made dough using wholemeal flour. Then I baked it for about 15 minutes. When the crust was half-cooked I decorated it with the ingredients. First was the cheese of course then the eggplant or aubergine as they call it here in the UK, and then mushrooms. Next are the onion rings and the tomato slices. Finally another cheddar cheese on top, just a bit here and there. Sprinke a dash of salt and that's it. Bake until every veg is cooked.

Some of you may find it funny that I use eggplant. But no matter what vegetable you use is fine. Pizzas don't have to be the same way as they do it in pizza hut or shakeys or pizza company. You can mix your own vegetables and they will taste just as good or even better. But always remember, the secret to a great tasting pizza is in the crust. If you put enough salt in it everything else will taste great.

I never thought making lechong manok or roasting chicken was this easy.

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken of course
1 medium onion
3-5 garlic cloves
2 kalamansi or one half lemon
a dash of salt
herbs: thyme, laurel or bay leaves, rosemary
potato (optional)

Procedure:

Wash the chicken thoroughly and pat dry.
Cut the onion in any size you want and crush the garlic. Mix with the lemon, salt, and the herbs you have. If possible pound in a mortar so they mix thoroughly then stuff them in.
Put sliced potatoes around and finally sprinkle salt on the chicken.
Preheat the oven at 200 C or Gas No. 6. Cook the chicken and turn after 30 minutes. Cook for another 30 minutes. Enjoy your lechong manok

Here's a guide to have a balance diet. Print it and stick it on your fridge so you can refer to it and familiarize yourself to it.

Here's probably the simplest pasta recipe called aglio e olio. Don't be fooled by those words. They just mean garlic and oil.  Simply saute the garlic and add it to your freshly boiled pasta. You might think it's kinda boring but it's not. If you wish, you can add parmesan cheese to give it a richer taste.

Just remember, the secret to making it good is in the pasta. So make sure you put sufficient amount of salt in the water when you cook the pasta but just enough to give it a taste.