Quick Update : Moving to a New and Better Server

Update: The blog has been moved to the new server already. We hope everyone can already view our posts now. 🙂

Just a quick announcement. Our blog (this one) will be under intermittent maintenance from now until probably Saturday night. I’ll be moving this blog to a new server to address DNS issues resulting to some people not being able to access this site completely.

In the meantime, please check for updates at our Facebook page. We’re already working on finishing the validation of all entries in our first anniversary giveaway. And over the weekend, we’ll announce our California Crunch giveaway winners.

We have more giveaways coming soon so make sure you’ve already subscribed to our updates or followed us on Facebook and Twitter.

Hope you all have an awesome weekend! 🙂

CLOSED: Certified Foodies First Anniversary Giveaway

One year.

We can’t believe that this food blog, Certified Foodies, has been in existence for over a year now.

We started this humble blog in May 2010 with the purpose of sharing our own recipes of dishes that we Pinoys usually don’t prepare at home. It may be because they seem complicated or too messy to cook. We wanted to show people that noob cooks (Mhel) or better skilled ones (Kenneth) can experiment and add their own twists to different recipes and flavors.

Since then, we’ve aimed to hopefully encourage people that cooking is fun. Our very own Nanay (yes, we’re siblings! :D) has shown us how much you can enjoy cooking at home. That’s why the kitchen is our favorite area in our home. We get to cook whatever we want, whenever we prefer. And she willingly (:D) tastes them, compliments or criticizes us accordingly and in a very amusing way. 😀

She’s even very supportive of our food blog. Whenever we’re dining out, she’ll always recommend we try something new. Why? ‘Cause she’s seen the development of this blog and is actually enjoying being part of all this.

A lot has happened in the past year, including our discovery of new flavor combinations and cuisines that we usually would be scared to taste. Our palates have matured and we now are looking forward to more foodie adventures. 🙂

Mhel and Ken - We're siblings who love to cook and go on food trips - CertifiedFoodies.comFierce-fierce-an 😀

We honestly can’t believe the amount of support we’re getting from our fellow foodies. From moms who have tried our recipes and added their own twists to it (definitely a win for us!) to fellow food lovers who finally worked up the courage to try something new just because of our recommendations, ahhh… for that, WE THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts… and bellies :D, especially those who find the time to visit our blog and comment.

By the way, we hope you’d consider this food blog for your list of Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2011. For all those who have already voted for us, THANK YOU SO MUCH! 🙂

 

Why is this giveaway launching today, July 12, 2011?

Today, Kenneth, one of the authors of this blog, will be starting his journey towards fulfilling his culinary dreams. So, it was just fitting to start our giveaway on a very remarkable day in our lives.

Very soon, he’ll be sharing his new recipes, and tips and techniques that he learned from culinary school. So, make sure you stay tuned for that!

 


 

Alright, enough introduction. Let’s get on to our FIRST ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY. But, we hope you did read the paragraphs here. You’ll know why later. 😉

Join CertifiedFoodies.com's First Anniversary Giveaway

GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.

 

Shepherds Pie Inspired Cottage Pie : Recipe + Photos

Michelle and I love comfort food. Ever since I found out about Shepherd’s Pie while watching our favorite foodie TV shows, I’ve been dying to make it myself. Shepherd's Pie turned Cottage Pie on a Plate - CertifiedFoodies.com I’ve watched Chef Gordon Ramsay‘s version of making Shepherd’s Pie on Youtube and he actually made it very easy (the video after the jump). Shepherd’s Pie is actually made of minced lamb. And since lamb is rarely available and usually expensive here in the Philippines, I tried using beef mince for this recipe I’ll be sharing today. So, technically I made a Cottage Pie. Both Cottage and Shepherd’s Pies don’t have bottom pastry crusts unlike standard pies. They are actually traditionally made with leftover roast meat, but, are now often made with ground meat, mostly beef or lamb, and topped with mashed potato. Continue reading Shepherds Pie Inspired Cottage Pie : Recipe + Photos