Baking with Love

There is no gift better than the thing you personally craft for your special someone. Cards, scrapbooks, portraits, bracelets and shirts are just some of the most popular items that can be personalized. The word “personalization” can actually be defined as the practice of exerting an effort to churn out a present for someone whom you want to feel extra special and unique. This simple act makes gift-giving sweeter and more appealing to both the giver and the receiver.

Try forgetting the boring memorabilia for a while, and consider offering your darling with yummy treats that you especially baked just for him or her. Remember that sweets, aside from flowers, never fail to serve as a charmer.

Bake with your love one in mind and take some cues from Executive Chef Rudolf Ranada of MOST Institute Culinary School. Here are some tips on baking brownies, that will sure bring you closer to your girl’s heart

1. Be very patient. (especially when you are not that much into pastry)


2. Follow the recipe. You will produce lesser quality if you don’t do so. If the recipe says one cup of sugar, you have to put one cup of sugar. Making “tantsa” simply wouldn’t work because there is no discipline in it. When you become a professional chef, that’s the time you make your own recipe.


3. Taste it. Good chefs are known to be good eaters. If you are too conscious with your abs, the kitchen is not the place for you. You have to taste whatever it is that you’re cooking or baking.
   
4. Underbake it. Brownies are the easiest to bake because they are basically melted chocolate, butter, sugar, eggs, nuts and flour. To prevent brownies from becoming too dry, underbake it. If the recipe calls for 30 minutes in 3500F, take it out from the oven after 25 minutes or five minutes earlier. This will make brownies gooey in the inside. When you cut the brownies, you will have a fudge layer in the middle portion. You may also start baking the classic recipes of apple pies and chocolate cakes.


5. Research and experiment. Instead of using almonds, try hazel or macadamia nuts if your budget is not tight. Add a little twist to your brownies. Cut a small piece, put it in a plate and microwave. Get a scoop of ice cream and add it on top. Now, share a plate of this divine dessert with your dearest! Myka Santiago

Want to learn more about baking and pastries? Enroll in a culinary course at Most Institute. Click here for contact details.

How Not to Crash as a Comic Artist

Comics has succeeded in creating its own tradition in the Philippine Literature, owing history to Filipino artist-writers who contributed art and stories to Hapi, Holiday, Hiwaga, Aliwan, Tagalog Klasiks, Espesyal Komiks and other popular comic magazines of long-ago. And then, there were the likes of Alfredo P. Alacala, Nestor Redondo and Francisco V. Conching who became well recognized in the field. Now, young readers still choose to patronize the great works of Larry Alcala and Pol Medina Jr., as new names aspire to be included in the list of Filipino comic artists.

In contemporary days, a college barkada headed by Jescie James “Da Bhoss” Palabay started a Filipino Comic Magazine publication. “Ilabas ang utak ng Pinoy” was their art’s primary thesis, and “Culture Shock” was the first title they came up with. After a short while, they changed it to “Culture Crash” which basically concerned the rowdy crash of cultures taking place in the Filipino system. Culture Crash Comics was launched in the year 2000, with the appearance of the very first issue on August. Issue No. 14, the last one to be sold in the market, was released in 2004. Culture Crash followers were disheartened when the group stopped their publications. The artists said, comic-making seems easy but it never is. Unsurprisingly, the biggest challenge they encountered was the lack of resources—time and finances.

Despite the breakup, each Culture Crash artist still has his presence felt in the comics industry. And to relate the stories of a few, Mark Navarro is now a creative director of Level Up and a freelance comic books seller, while Jon Zamar is a freelance graphic artist (concept art and digital art) for local and international companies.

And in line with their group and individual success, Jio Beltran, Jon, Mark, Melvin Calingo also known as Taga-Ilog and the rest of the gang willingly shared some tips for aspiring independent comic artists.

• Passion. Every comic artist must love what he or she is doing. Passion will drive you to create more and more comics. It will also help if you find a graphic art-related job to complement your hobby. With this lifestyle, you will get to earn and have fun at the same time.


• Support. Find a financier who believes in you and in what you do. However, Jio related, your product must already be in good quality to start with.


• Publicity. Let the public feel your presence. Release as much comics (books, magazines, etc.) as you can.


• Controversy. Create buzz. Take advantage of the functions of the Internet and popular social networking sites to promote your works.


• Media. Since everything has already started to roll up in the Internet, web comics are now gaining popularity in the online scene. You may choose to upload your comics in the cyberspace and make it accessible to the public as what Jio plans to do. Or just put supplements in the net and publish the real thing as Indie like what the Taga-Ilog prefers.


• Time Management. It is difficult to find time and funds, especially if you are already raising your own family. In this case, it is always better to take comics as a sideline. But if you have a financier who can really carry you on, do it full-time.


• Decision Making. If your comics are now in hype, think hard before accepting any television offer. Be sure you have already completed a series before doing so and that the television company that will buy your publication is a trusted one. As Mark stated, “TV is a very different animal (compared to comics)”.

The popular artists behind Culture Crash Magazine continue to amaze their fans with their achievements in the arts. Perhaps, the legendary comic magazine has not suffered an upsetting crash at all. Kubori Kikiam is still in business and if only each of them would have enough reserves, more Indie komiks will be released under these well-liked names. Myka Santiago

Meet some of aspiring comic artists here.