Easy last-minute nibbles for New Year's Eve? Salted chocolate brownie cookies. Crispy and slightly chewy around the edges, soft and moist brownie goodness in the center. YAS!

Wow, Christmas is literally less than two days away. Time does fly even though there have been many times this year when I thought otherwise, hah!

2015 has been tremendously wonderful: M and I got married in one of the best beaches in the world, we traveled to Europe, we moved into our own cozy apartment, I enrolled in yoga teacher training, met friends for keeps, and now I'm making my own espresso in my own little machine (oh joy!). Of course it hasn't been all rainbows and butterflies (duh, e.g. weddings bring out the crazy in people) but one of the things that I am most thankful for this year is the path of self-discovery that it led me to.

Christmas is just around the corner and what better way to celebrate than with crispy, fatty, tasty, mouthwatering lechon... unless you are not home in the Philippines for the holidays and in foreign land where authentic litson is nowhere to be found. In that case, SUPER crispy pork belly litson is the next best thing, which is exactly what we have on the blog today. YEY!

From Rome, we traveled to Florence. It is a more laid-back city with fewer tourists and I wish we had more time to stay longer. The entire city center, with all the tourist spots (except Piazzale Michelangelo which is 30 minutes away and not part of the city center anyway), is walkable. Not much gelato here since we only stayed a couple of days but there is an excellent Aglio e Olio 'round these parts.

OMG, where have you been Chas? It's been what, 3 months (?!), since your last post! I know, I know. <smacks self on the forehead> Sorry!

Last August, M and I went honeymooning in Italy and France. Yey! <cue fireworks and heart-eyed emojis> We waited (and saved up) a long time to go on a vacation to Europe so this was a much anticipated, much needed break. Of course I have to write about the glorious desserts we tried, right? First on the agenda is: GELATO. First stop: Rome.