In my basket: The cookbook

An excerpt from the Introduction: In My Basket: The Cookbook is more than just a folio of recipes. Having for many years, written a column by the same name for the Star Week Magazine, the Sunday supplement of the Philippine Star, I have become sensitive to the many and varied needs, particularly of the working homemaker. In the process, I have not only developed new recipes and introduced innovations on some more traditional fare, but also devoted much time and attention to details involving the serving and the preparation of meals, from the sourcing of ingredients to the table settings, from simple day-to-day family meals to the more challenging demands of setting a fine table for entertaining. Thus, this book contains not only recipes culled from an extensive family collection and from the flies of The Private Kitchen, my food order business, but also new concoctions and contributions from friends and family, as well as useful tips on a variety of subjects, including menu planning and cost-cutting for those who must maintain a tight budget.