Mais Queso (Corn and Cheese) Ice Cream Nests

Holy Week officially started yesterday and that means Easter is here in just 6 days! I'm pretty sure that everyone's busy preparing for some get together this weekend, so I feel that there's nothing better for me to share today than this ice cream treat that will be perfect for Easter dessert. Whether you're planning something festive or you're just thinking of a simple family lunch, this is something that's sure to give delight not only to the kids but to the whole family. Everyone will surely find this to be so refreshing after the egg hunt.

When I saw this on meals.com, I knew I have to try it. This ice cream nests idea is actually perfect not just for Easter but for all kinds of occasions. It's such a fun alternative to the usual cone. My girls find this way of serving ice cream too cute. For this post, I used homemade Mais Queso (Corn and Cheese) Ice Cream, (a favorite Filipino ice cream that I haven't had for ages), but you can actually use any ice cream flavor you want. 

Check out my version of Nestle's Easter Ice Cream Nests and let me know what you think!

By the way, starting this Wednesday, I will be doing PiTCC's Favorite Dishes from Around The World every 1st and 3rd Wednedays of the month, wherein I'll be asking fabulous bloggers to guest post with one of my favorite non-Filipino dishes. I can't wait to introduce you to my first guest blogger!!! I'm sure most of you are familiar with her. Here's a hint...she's Italian! :) Be sure to come back this Wednesday to meet her and find out about one of my favorite seafood dishes...

Three Cheese Filipino Style Baked Macaroni

Today, I'm bringing you a favorite pasta dish in the Philippines...the Baked Macaroni. Like the all time favorite Macaroni and Cheese here in the US, Filipino Style Baked Macaroni has elbow macaroni and cheese as the basic ingredients, but it has a tomato based meat sauce which is a little sweet like the sauce used in Filipino Style Spaghetti.

The most common version of baked macaroni in the Philippines is simply cooked pasta combined with meat sauce then topped with shredded cheddar cheese. The version that I'm going to share with you is my family's favorite. This is how I've been making Baked Macaroni since we got here in the US. The addition of mushrooms in the meat sauce makes it more special. The topping is also different. It 's a lot better than the usual melted cheddar cheese topping. It's creamy and cheesier, and both kids and adults will surely love it!

Check it out and do give it a try! It doesn't only make a delicious filling meal any day of the week, it's a perfect pasta dish for special occasions too...like Valentine's Day! ;)

Ham, Potato, Turkey and Three Cheese Casserole and Some Blog Awards

Before I go to today's recipe, I want to take this chance to thank five of my awesome blogger friends for sharing some blog awards with me which I am truly grateful for. Some of the awards were from last year. My sincerest apologies for acknowledging them just now. I would also like to take this opportunity to share these with some wonderful bloggers who I admire for their effort in putting up a terrific blog.

  

Blog on Fire Award and Cute Little Chef Award 

Thanks Kym of Free Spirit Eater for these!

I'm passing on these awards to:

Easy Food Smith

Lover for Food
Grubarazzi

~~~ooo~~~

  

 Cherry on Top Award and The Versatile Blogger Award

Thanks Shirley of Shirley's Luxury Haven for these two awards and also to 

Jo of Chick & Gorgeous Treats for The Versatile Blogger Award!!!

I am passing on these awards to:

Barbara of Spanish4Kiddos
Bianca of Becoming Bianca 

Laura of A Healthy Jalapeno

Ridwan of Ridwan's Kitchen

Richard of What's Cooking at Richard's

~~~ooo~~~

The Fabulous Blog Award

Thanks EasyFoodSmith for this!

I am passing on this award to:

Gerry of Foodness Gracious

Jo of Chick & Gorgeous Treats 
Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic
Kym of Free Spirit Eater

Lyn of The Lovely Pantry

Shirley of Shirley's Luxury Haven

~~~ooo~~~

 Cherry on Top Award,The Cutest Blog Award, Kreativ Blogger and The Circle of Friends Award

Thanks Akheela of TorviewToronto for these!

I am passing on these awards to:

Amy of uTry.It

Anne of Made In Hongkong
Biren of RotinRice
Jessica of Kitchen Belleicious

Katerina of Culinary Flavors
Lindsey of Lindselicious
 Lizzy of That Skinny Chick Can Bake
MJ of MJ's Kitchen
Nava of Nava-K 
Ping of Ping's Pickings
Swathi of Zesty South Indian Kitchen
Tina of Flourtrader

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
 If you are one of the award recipients, feel free to share it with  your blog friends who you think are deserving like you! 

 ~~~ooo~~~

And now, for today's recipe:

This Ham, Potato, Turkey and Three Cheese Casserole is a delicious all-in-one meal that I came up with to make use of our leftover ham and turkey from the holidays. 

I combined sweet ham, turkey, potatoes, heavy cream and three kinds of cheese (American, cheddar and Parmesan) to make this as cheesy and creamy as my daughters want it to be, then I topped it with Panko bread crumbs for a crunchy finish. This is just so delicious not to mention so easy to prepare. You just have to combine all the ingredients, topped it with cheese sauce which you just have to whisk on the stove for a few minutes, then put it in the oven.

Comfort food at its finest is what this is! You should really give this a try! This also works well with chicken or with just plain ham or sausage...